binnovel Chapter 1241 Naming Controversy: Dong Bai's Unyielding Spirit
Chapter 1241 Naming Controversy: Dong Bai's Unyielding Spirit
The year 201 arrived in the blink of an eye. The sounds of New Year's firecrackers had barely faded when Chang'an City was already adorned with the atmosphere of the new year. The people, after meals, often discussed a strange occurrence: the Liang Prince's mansion hadn't hired a wet nurse! What woman could possibly bear the sight of a young princess nursing? Finally, news quietly spread: the young princess was actually feeding on tiger's milk! Even more strangely, the magnificent tiger was remarkably gentle with the princess, and even the newborn cubs were affectionate towards her, often playing together.
When the news spread, everyone marveled, saying that the young princess was extraordinary and probably protected by a white tiger.
Ma Chao's mood gradually brightened. Thanks to the miraculous medicine, Dong Bai's postpartum weakness was rapidly recuperating, and her complexion gradually regained its rosy hue. His youngest son, who had been as thin as a kitten, was now plumping up day by day, his cheeks becoming fleshy. Although his cries weren't as loud as his sister's, they had gained strength, truly proving the saying "changing every day." What comforted him most was that the little girl's nursing problem was finally resolved. The tigress was properly settled in the backyard of the mansion, cared for daily by a dedicated person, and her relationship with her little daughter was becoming increasingly harmonious.
Before they knew it, the day of the baby's one-month celebration arrived. The Liang King's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a grand banquet was held, inviting all the civil and military officials of Xiliang. Inside the hall, wine cups clinked and the atmosphere was joyous. Everyone couldn't help but congratulate Ma Chao, and their eyes would occasionally glance behind the screen—although Dong Bai was not present, he had his wet nurse bring two children, and faint babbling sounds could be heard through the screen.
After several rounds of drinks, someone stood up with a smile: "Your Majesty, the two young masters and the young princess are exceptionally gifted. May I ask if they have been given names?"
These words struck a chord with everyone, who chimed in, "Yes, tell us! Such an unusual child must have a wonderful name!"
Ma Chao put down his wine cup, his face showing the gentleness of a father, and said loudly, "This girl is my eldest daughter, Ma Chao, and also the young lady of Xiliang. I have named her 'Linglong'."
"Linglong! What a wonderful name!" everyone praised. "It conveys both elegance and intelligence, truly remarkable!"
Xu Huang leaned closer to Dian Wei and whispered, "Exquisite, huh? A girl raised on tiger's milk probably can't be exquisite, can she?"
"Smack!" Ma Chao, across several tables, slapped Xu Huang on the back of the head, laughing and cursing, "You rascal, you always have such a foul mouth!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Xu Huang scratched the back of his head, chuckling. Ma Chao added, "However, she also has a nickname."
Everyone immediately became interested and listened intently: "Oh? What's your nickname?"
"Call her Tiger Girl." As soon as Ma Chao finished speaking, an even louder burst of laughter erupted in the hall.
Xu Huang laughed the loudest, gesturing wildly as he exclaimed, "That's right! So fitting! Absolutely fitting!"
Ma Chao glared at him, then turned to the concerned looks on everyone's faces, his tone growing increasingly serious: "As for the young master..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji at the table, and then, recalling Zhang Tianshi's miraculous medicine, he said in a deep voice, "This child was born weak and frail. He survived entirely thanks to Zhang Tianshi's miraculous medicine and the meticulous care of the two gentlemen."
Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is too kind. This is due to the young master's great fortune." Their faces showed undisguised satisfaction. It was truly an honor for them as physicians to have been able to nurture such a frail infant to become healthier day by day.
Ma Chao waved his hand and continued, "Bai'er and I are both from Xiliang, born and raised here. This child was born weak, and I hoped that he could be like the mountain ridges of Xiliang, not ostentatious but able to stand firmly, so I named him 'Liang', a single character."
"cold?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, and the noise in the hall suddenly subsided. Ordinary people might use the character "凉" (liáng, meaning cool or refreshing) to name their children, but upon closer examination, the character "凉" often carries a sense of solitude, aloofness, and even a hint of indifference, making it not a commonly used character for naming.
But when it comes to Ma Chao, the word "cold" takes on a completely different weight.
Ma Chao, originally from Xiliang, now commands Chang'an and is the backbone of the Xiliang army and people. Though not explicitly stated, the title "King of Liang" is deeply ingrained in their hearts. This child is the eldest son of the Queen Consort, yet he is named "Liang"—Liang of Xiliang, and Liang of the King of Liang.
A deeper meaning quietly spread in everyone's hearts: this was to firmly bind the child to Xiliang and Ma Chao's foundation.
Li Ru's hand, which was stroking his beard, suddenly stopped. His expression changed several times, and surprise and realization flashed in his eyes, eventually turning into a complex and solemn look. His previously calm heart began to stir again.
Just then, Zhang Lu stood up first, clapped his hands and laughed, "Ma Liang! What a good name! It has the true nature of the King of Liang, and also contains the earnest expectations of his parents. The young master will surely grow up strong and healthy as Your Majesty wishes, and protect this land of Xiliang in the future!"
His words not only pointed out the connection between the "King of Liang" and "Western Liang," but also were so seamless that everyone immediately realized the truth and stood up to agree:
"Ma Liang! What a great name!"
"Young master shares the same name as Xiliang; he will surely become a pillar of Xiliang in the future!"
"It's fate! This must be fate!"
The atmosphere inside the hall became lively again, even more so than before, with toasts rising and falling, all carrying a hint of deliberate intimacy.
Ma Chao smiled as he accepted everyone's congratulations, but his gaze inadvertently swept over Li Ru. Li Ru held a wine cup, his eyes darting around, and although he smiled, the curve of his lips seemed somewhat stiff. Ma Chao's heart skipped a beat; this old fox was probably up to something again.
But he didn't reveal the truth. He simply raised his glass to everyone and said, "You all flatter me. It's enough that my son has grown up safely. Everything else is a matter for later. Come, let's drink! Today we'll only talk about joy, nothing else!"
"cheers!"
The crowd responded enthusiastically. Amidst the clinking of glasses, no one mentioned the hidden meaning of the word "cold" anymore. However, everyone had a new thought in their minds: this legitimate young master was probably destined to compete with the heir apparent from the moment he was named.
As the clamor of the banquet gradually subsided, Ma Chao led Ma Yue through the corridor to Dong Bai's bedchamber. The room was warm and inviting. Dong Bai was reclining on the couch, holding Ma Liang in his arms. The little guy had just finished nursing; his face was rosy, and he was breathing evenly, fast asleep.
When Dong Bai saw them come in, he quickly gestured to the maids to offer them seats, then reached out and patted Ma Yue's little head, asking softly, "Was the banquet quite lively today? It sounded very noisy outside."
Ma Chao sat down beside the couch, his expression darkening. "Everything is fine, except..."
Dong Bai's heart skipped a beat, and he hugged the child in his arms tighter: "What's wrong? Could it be that the name we chose for Ma Liang has made some people have inappropriate thoughts?"
Ma Chao nodded: "Li Ru's eyes have changed. That old fox is probably plotting something again."
Dong Bai raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with disappointment: "He's really persistent!" He then said seriously, "There's no need to worry about this. I'll talk to him about it myself another day."
She turned to look at Ma Yue, her gaze softening: "Yue'er, how did you feel about those things said at the banquet today?"
Ma Yue stood ramrod straight, his little face full of seriousness: "Mother, I have long regarded you as my own mother, and Ma Liang and Linglong are also my own younger brothers and sisters. No matter what happens in the future, as the elder brother, I will definitely protect them."
Dong Bai patted his head with satisfaction: "My good child, from the moment you stood in front of me, I've considered you my own son. If you hadn't been there that night, sword in hand, guarding outside the palace, I really don't know what would have happened..."
She looked down at Ma Liang, who was fast asleep in her arms, and gently brought the child to Ma Yue's face: "Yue'er, look, your brother was born weak. When he was born, he was as thin as a kitten and almost breathless. He was only saved by the miraculous medicine and the care of the two doctors. But the doctor also said that he might not be able to have a strong body in the future."
Dong Bai's voice softened further, tinged with pleading: "Mother has no other requests, only that you ignore the gossip outside, and that you two brothers can grow up together like siblings, supporting each other. You are the older brother, so please protect him more, and protect him for Mother's sake... for the rest of his life, okay?"
Looking at her younger brother's small face, and then at the expectation in Dong Bai's eyes, Ma Yue nodded heavily, her voice clear and firm: "Don't worry, Mother, I will. No matter what happens in the future, with me protecting my brother, no one will be able to bully him!"
Ma Chao watched from the side, a warmth spreading through his heart. He put his arm around Dong Bai's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "With Yue'er's words, we can rest assured. Children's hearts are pure; the schemes of adults can't bother them."
Dong Bai leaned on his shoulder, gazing at the two children with a relieved smile. Ma Liang on the couch seemed to sense something; his little mouth moved, emitting a soft whimper, as if responding to this promise.
Sunlight streamed through the window screens, casting dappled shadows on the floor and gently enveloping the room's warmth, hiding it within the folds of time.
Within a few days, the news spread throughout the teahouses and taverns of Chang'an.
"Have you heard? The Liang Prince's mansion was quite lively the other day!" The storyteller slapped his gavel, took a sip of tea, and lowered his voice, "The Princess Consort specially summoned the Dong family and Li Ru, and made everyone swear allegiance in front of the Crown Prince Ma Yue!"
A fellow drinker chimed in, "Oh? How does one take the oath?"
"Those words are quite harsh!" the gentleman exclaimed, his eyebrows dancing with excitement. "The Princess Consort made it clear that anyone who dares to have any disloyalty towards Prince Ma Yue will not only suffer a terrible end, but the entire Dong family, as well as the eldest daughter Ma Linglong and the second son Ma Liang, will also meet a bad end! Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent!"
"Wow! That's ruthless?"
“That’s right!” chimed in from another tea table. “There were some people whispering before, saying that the Crown Prince was too young and not the Princess’s legitimate son, so he might not be able to hold onto the position of Crown Prince in the future. Especially since the Second Prince was named Ma Liang, it was clear that the King had high hopes for him, and there was no guarantee that things wouldn’t change in the future. But now that the Princess has said such a harsh word, who would dare to speculate?”
"If you ask me, this is a warning shot!" The scholar in the long robe waved his fan. "Think about it, even the Dong family, their own maternal family, had to swear an oath in public. The princess even included her own daughters and sons, all to secure the eldest son's position as heir. Who else would dare to cause trouble?!"
Upon hearing that the Princess had summoned the Dong clan and Li Ru to take an oath, the civil and military officials of Xiliang were all startled, and then they all understood. The Princess's move, seemingly ruthless, was in fact paving the way for Xiliang's future. Taking an oath in public, guaranteeing the safety of the entire Dong family, Linglong, and Ma Liang, was no simple declaration; it was a clear severing of all hope. Anyone who dared to harbor any ill intentions regarding the succession would be making an enemy of the very foundation of Xiliang.
After this battle, Ma Yue's position as heir apparent is now firmly secured. With Lady Dong staking the lives of her entire clan as collateral, and the Princess firmly supporting him, even if other children are born, their position will remain unshakeable. The Princess's actions not only legitimize Ma Yue's claim but also establish an ironclad rule for the Ma family's succession. Imagine, when Ma Yue inherits the throne, grateful for the Princess's act of clearing obstacles for him and vouching for his siblings' safety, how could he not shower Dong Bai, Linglong, and Ma Liang with care and protection? This ensures both present stability and lays the groundwork for future favors—truly a win-win situation.