Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 301 Blood connection

December 16th, the first year of the Hanxing era.

Today is the third day since the birth of Princess Liu Yuanchu, but her father, Liu Bian, has still not been able to see this new life that has just entered the world.

According to royal etiquette, newborn princes and princesses would have their bodies examined by imperial physicians on the first day, and their birth date and time would be divined by the Grand Astrologer on the second day.

If the child's fate is not impeded, the "Child Recruitment Ceremony" can only be held on the third day.

The Book of Rites, Inner Rules, states: "When a child is born, a bow is placed to the left of the door for a boy, and a sash is placed to the right of the door for a girl. After three days, the boy can carry the child on his back, and the boy can shoot at the girl."

If a prince is born, Liu Bian, as the father, will also hold the "Shooting Heaven and Earth and the Four Directions Ceremony", which means holding a mulberry wood bow and shooting six arrows of tumbleweed towards heaven and earth and the four directions.

If a princess is born, the "archery ceremony" will not be held.

During the Later Han Dynasty, although "baptism" was not a fixed practice, the imperial family and powerful clans would have their wet nurses bathe the infants on the third day, the "Ceremony for the Successful Candidate of the Imperial Examination," to cleanse their bodies.

Inside the side hall of Yuning Hall, the air was thick with heat.

The wet nurse held Liu Yuanchu in her arms and stood in front of a wooden tub filled with hot water. Peach branches, orchids, mugwort leaves, cinnabar and some spices had been added beforehand to make a bath.

The two nannies held their breath, their arms loosely wrapped around the little princess, fearing that she might fall into any danger.

Another wet nurse held a silk scarf, dipped it in warm bath water, and gently wiped the little princess's body, paying special attention to cleaning her mouth, ears, and palms.

After the ceremony, the eunuchs, in accordance with custom, hung a sash on the right side of the palace gate outside the palace, announcing to the officials and the people that the emperor had gained a princess.

Immediately afterwards, the emperor bestowed rewards: each wet nurse received fifty bolts of silk and one hundred thousand coins, and each nanny received twenty bolts of silk and forty thousand coins.

Of course, the privilege of wearing a sash was originally reserved for the offspring of concubines of the rank of Noble Lady or above.

But since this was the emperor's first child, and the harem was currently without a mistress, the highest-ranking concubines were the Jieyu, so an exception was made.

On December 20th, the seventh day after Liu Yuanchu's birth, after repeated examinations by the imperial physicians, it was confirmed that Liu Qing's "lochia had stopped and her pulse was normal," and the little princess was also healthy. The mother and daughter were finally able to move back to Hanxing Palace to reunite with the emperor.

The ceremony for returning to the palace was quite complicated and required thorough preparation.

Liu Qing first had to bathe and change into a deep red robe, while Liu Yuanchu, still in swaddling clothes, had to be wrapped in five-colored brocade. Mother and daughter rode together in a mica carriage with crimson gauze curtains hanging low. Along the way, a blue felt path was laid to isolate the earth's energy. Eunuchs and soldiers of the Wuwei Camp, carrying peach wood bows and arrows, led the way to drive away evil spirits and drive away misfortune.

As for Liu Qing's sleeping quarters in Hanxing Palace, three days in advance, eunuchs and palace maids sprinkled dogwood water all over the place to remove the foul air.

After going through many complicated rituals, Liu Bian, the husband and father, was finally able to enter the palace and meet the mother and daughter.

Liu Bian walked slowly, but a strange tension lingered in his heart. Although he didn't know why he was nervous, he unconsciously quickened his pace, especially when his eyes fell on the small crib next to the bed.

However, after taking only a few steps, Liu Bian suddenly stopped and turned around to look at Dian Wei, who was following closely behind.

A face covered with a thick beard, eyes like copper bells, fierce and rugged came into view. Liu Bian glanced at Fu Xie, who was handsome and refined, beside him, and patted Dian Wei's broad shoulder, saying, "Junming, you wait outside the palace. Don't frighten my daughter."

"Huh? Waiting? Wei!"

Dian Wei was taken aback, then his thick eyebrows drooped, his face full of grievance, and he responded in a deep voice.

Back when the emperor was still the crown prince, he praised him for his appearance, saying he resembled the ancient villain E Lai and had the looks of a fierce general. But now... even looking at the little princess, he finds his face terrifying.
Dian Wei felt truly frustrated.

Liu Bian had no time to pay attention to the heartbroken Dian Wei, and hurried straight to the bed.

Liu Qing, who was lying on the couch, was pale. When he saw the emperor approaching, he struggled to get up and pay his respects.

Liu Bian quickly stepped forward, firmly pressing his hands on her thin shoulders, and said gently, "Lie down, don't move."

Liu Qing, with her bare face and pale complexion, now exuded a sickly, delicate beauty. Liu Bian held Liu Qing's slightly cold hand and immediately turned to instruct the palace maid, "Bring a warmer hand warmer. Although charcoal is burned for warmth in the bedroom, the doors and windows should not be closed tightly, otherwise it is easy to get charcoal poisoning."

Although Liu Bian was concerned about his daughter, he still did not forget the woman in front of him who had gone through ten months of pregnancy and life-or-death situations to give birth to his child. He gave detailed instructions to the palace maids around Liu Qing.

As for carbon monoxide poisoning, although the people of the Later Han Dynasty did not know the exact cause, they were already aware of it. Liu Qing leaned against the couch, watching the emperor meticulously instructing the palace maids while frequently glancing at the crib not far away. He felt both warm and somewhat amused.

The emperor was clearly mindful of her feelings, which is why he suppressed his urge to see his daughter and came to take care of her first, showing concern and warmth towards her.

Such thoughtfulness is beyond compare. Throughout history, there has never been a man who has taken such good care of a concubine as the current emperor.

Liu Qing silently smiled, gently patted Liu Bian's hand, pointed to the small crib surrounded by railings, and said softly, "My lord, I am fine. Why don't you go and see Yuanchu?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian no longer held back. He turned around and went to the side of the crib, leaning over the railing and gazing intently at the sleeping little one.

On that small face, her delicate nostrils twitched slightly with her breath, and a glistening drop of saliva clung to the corner of her pink lips.

Occasionally, the little guy will unconsciously twist his body and make a soft, meow-like whimper.

The seven-day-old baby wasn't very pretty. Its head was covered with a sparse layer of lanugo, its little head was slightly pointed, and its skin wasn't pink and smooth; the surface of its skin still had fine wrinkles.

Especially on the back of the hands, ankles, and neck, they look wrinkled, like petals that haven't fully unfurled.

The little guy's skin was flushed with an uneven rosy hue, and in some places, faint purple veins could be seen, which were the new blood surging beneath his delicate skin.

And this new blood comes from him, the father!
Liu Bian held his breath and carefully extended his finger, slowly bringing it closer to that small face. His movements were filled with obvious tension and a hint of fear, as he was afraid of disturbing her sound sleep and also afraid that his clumsiness would hurt her delicate skin.

But before Liu Bian could even touch the little guy, the little guy seemed to sense something and slowly opened his sleepy eyes.

Those eyes, seeing the world for the first time, were clear and pure.

Strangely, the little one didn't seem afraid of strangers. Perhaps she could vaguely sense the closeness between the person in front of her and herself. Instead, she grinned and smiled vaguely in Liu Bian's direction, stretching out her little arms as if she wanted to reach him.

That smile instantly melted Liu Bian's heart.

His fingertips trembled slightly as he finally touched his daughter's warm, delicate cheek with utmost gentleness.

The instant their skin touched, an indescribable warmth and excitement coursed through his entire body.

Liu Qing, lying on the couch, took in the undisguised tension and affection in the emperor's eyes, and the last trace of worry in his heart finally vanished.

The emperor truly loved this daughter!
In the royal family, it doesn't matter if a princess is born and the family never sees her again until she starves to death.

Although Liu Qing preferred to give birth to a princess rather than a prince, she had worried that failing to give birth to a prince would displease the emperor, but now she was finally at ease.

Liu Qing's gaze softened as he looked at the father and daughter who had just met, and he softly suggested, "My lord, why don't you give the phoenix a hug?"

Hearing this, Liu Bian turned his head and met Liu Qing's encouraging gaze. He hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and carefully reached his hands under the five-colored brocade swaddling clothes. Steadily, yet with an almost imperceptible tremor, he "lifted" the small, soft body.

Yes, it's about holding it in your hands, not embracing it.

He had never been so panicked before, as if he were holding not his daughter, but a little boy. He dared not hold her tightly, for fear that he might hurt this delicate little life if he used too much force.

Two experienced wet nurses and six nannies gathered around, offering their opinions on the emperor's posture and strength in holding the baby.

However, this young emperor, who was usually adept at handling important military and national affairs, appeared somewhat clumsy and timid at this moment, with a thin layer of sweat even beading on his forehead, as if he were afraid of accidentally bumping into the "treasure" in his arms.

Liu Bian held her stiffly for only a short while before nervously trying to hand her back to the wet nurse.

But as soon as the little guy left his father's arms, his little mouth twitched and he started to cry pitifully.

Liu Bian looked at the little one crying in the wet nurse's arms, took a colorful silk rope that had been prepared beforehand, and tied it to her right arm.

This is a wish for the little one to grow up safely and peacefully, and it embodies the father's expectation for his children's safety and happiness.

(End of this chapter)