“Haha… Today is a day of great celebration! Everyone will be generously rewarded!”
Wu Ming trembled slightly, his true self returning, and he joyfully laughed.
“Thank you, Master Wu, for your generosity!”
The nannies, maids, and physicians around him all bowed respectfully, their faces filled with joy.
At this moment, Wu Ming paid no attention to formalities and directly entered the delivery room, ordering the midwife to bring the newborn to him.
“Master Wu, look how strong young Master Wu is! And he even exudes a unique fragrance. He is destined to be extraordinary!”
A midwife brought the swaddled infant, smiling joyfully.
The newborn, surprisingly not crying, looked around fearlessly with his bright eyes. When he saw Wu Ming, he immediately smiled.
“Oh, look how affectionate young Master Wu is toward you!”
The midwife eagerly handed over the baby. Wu Ming carefully cradled him, feeling the connection of blood, and was overwhelmed with emotion.
He remained lost in thought for a moment before carefully examining the child.
The infant’s meridians were fully open, brimming with spiritual energy and emitting a divine glow. In terms of innate talent and potential, it surpassed even the most revered innate Dao bodies.
The essence of a sixth-level deity was naturally extraordinary.
The tiny infant radiated a golden glow under Wu Ming’s celestial vision, and the fragrance detectable by ordinary people was a sign of his essence leaking outward.
“You lot certainly got lucky…”
Wu Ming glanced at the maids and servants in the room. At this moment, his son was like a Ginseng Fruit; even a whiff could heal all ailments and bring longevity.
“This is practically a Tang Sanzang. If other demons or evil beings catch sight of him, it won’t be good. Although I’m not afraid of trouble, constant vigilance is inconvenient…”
He raised his finger like a brush, drew a talisman in the air, summoned condensation, and the room shimmered with spiritual light as a talisman vanished into the infant’s body.
This all happened in an instant. The people around only felt a flash of light before the unusual fragrance in the room seemed to fade slightly.
Unbeknownst to them, Wu Ming had used a talisman to strengthen the infant’s foundation, sealing his divine energy. From this moment on, the child would appear no different from an ordinary person.
“I’ll go see E Xu!”
Wu Ming entered the inner chamber and saw Wu Zhi already sitting up halfway. Except for her slightly pale cheeks, she seemed to have fully recovered.
“After all, she’s a Grand Master, nearly a Martial Saint!”
A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately smiled warmly: “E Xu!”
“Let me see him!”
Wu Zhi reached out to take the baby, cherishing him like the most precious treasure in the world, kissing him repeatedly, unable to contain her affection.
“This is more like a normal woman…”
Wu Ming thought to himself, but naturally wouldn’t spoil the mood and stayed by her side.
“Dear husband, have you chosen a name for our child yet?”
The family of three quietly leaned together for a while before Wu Zhi gently asked.
“Mm… Today, our army captured Dingzhou, and this child was born, as if by divine fate. How about naming him ‘Ding’?”
“Ding? Little Ding?”
Wu Zhi smiled: “What a wonderful name indeed!”
“Wait a moment!”
Her smile suddenly froze: “Our army captured the city today?!”
“Yes, right now, Chen Jingzong and the others should have already stormed the governor and inspector’s mansions.”
Wu Ming replied: “Today, more than a dozen noble families within the city finally seized the opportunity to surrender, with the Xie family orchestrating the effort. Zhang Wenzhen committed suicide, and everything is under control. You don’t need to worry!”
“No! That won’t do!”
Wu Zhi suddenly pushed herself upright, attempting to get out of bed: “With the army entering the city now, we must protect the people, secure the treasury, collect official documents and seals, and capture the rebels. These are all top priorities, complicated and intertwined. Zeng Yu and the others might not be able to handle everything…”
“Miss…”
An attending midwife who had just entered was stunned.
How could she have ever seen such a formidable woman? Having just given birth, she was already thinking about military affairs!
“Just a few days, it’s nothing serious…”
Wu Ming waved his hand, pressing Wu Zhi’s shoulders. Although she was already nearly a Martial Saint, she dared not defy her husband’s authority at this moment and obediently sat back down.
“I’ve already arranged everything for you. Rest for a few days first, and then lead the army into the city. The entire Dingzhou knows that it was under your leadership that the city was captured. No one can take that credit away from you…”
Wu Ming smiled. For some reason, seeing his assurance, Wu Zhi felt reassured.
After lying down for a while, she played with her son again before her eyes sparkled. She summoned a wet nurse and said: “I won’t go out, but surely I can look at the official documents and battle reports, right?”
Seeing her pitifully cute expression, Wu Ming was left speechless…
…
Three days later.
In the Zhou Dynasty world, the three milestones of a newborn’s life—three days, one month, and one hundred days—were the most important, each marked by a blessing ceremony.
Three days after birth, the ceremony known as “Xi San” (washing away impurities) symbolized cleansing misfortune and praying for safety.
Of course, for Wu Ming and Wu Zhi, these elaborate rituals could be skipped if possible. They merely used this opportunity to openly host a grand banquet for their ministers and accept congratulations.
Therefore, earlier, Wu Zhi had eagerly led her troops into the city, taking up residence in the governor’s mansion to suppress resistance.
With the help of the noble families, including the Xie and Lin families, the city gradually returned to order. Except for the strict night curfew, the streets during the day became lively again. Even some previously scarce goods saw price reductions due to the end of the war.
Overall, the situation was quite acceptable.
Inside the governor’s mansion.
“Reporting to the Military Governor!”
Zeng Yu, dressed in a blue robe, held some documents and exuded a refined scholar’s demeanor—if not for his eyes, which kept glancing at the baby in Wu Zhi’s arms.
“Proceed!”
Wu Zhi handed the infant to the wet nurse and responded solemnly.
Zeng Yu finally focused, remembering that the woman before him was not merely a new mother but the commander-in-chief of the Southern Phoenix Army, ruling over seven commanderies of Dingzhou with an army of 100,000. He spoke gravely: “The treasury has been sealed, and all documents and official seals are largely intact. With the Xie family’s assistance, the officials we’ve taken over from have not deliberately obstructed us…”
“All the officials in the city are clever people. How dare they resist?”
Wu Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly, reverting to her decisive demeanor: “Have the rewards and punishments been decided?”
“Yes… During this surrender, with the coordination of the Xie and Lin families, a total of seventeen noble families participated. The most notable contributor was Xie Wusi from the Xie family!”
“As for the one who surrendered the western gate, it was the officer Li Jun!”
“Is Xie Wusi still a commoner? Immediately promote him to county magistrate! And Li Jun? Appoint him as Commander-in-Chief, each to be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver!”
Wu Zhi rubbed her temples: “Grant one rank promotion to the officials who surrendered. Offer official positions to the sons of the noble families, along with rewards of gold, silver, and land. Follow this general rule, prepare the list, and submit it… Also, after the rewards, what about the punishments?”
At this, Zeng Yu involuntarily tensed: “Governor Xu Chun passed away last December… Inspector Gao Shun also retired due to illness last year… As for Zhang Wenzhen’s entire clan, they’ve been detained!”
“Since Xu Chun is already dead, I won’t hold a grudge against him. Gao Shun stepped down early, so there’s no reason to punish him either… As for Zhang Wenzhen?”
Wu Zhi hesitated slightly: “This man was also a great general. I don’t wish to harm his family!”
“Understood!”
With this understanding, the subordinates naturally knew how to proceed.
Zeng Yu relaxed slightly: “The former Director of the Judicial Bureau resisted our entry into the city and was completely wiped out, not a single soul left!”
“There was also a small group of envoys who broke through the city defenses and entered the city. Do we know their whereabouts?”
Wu Zhi suddenly asked about this.
They have not been found. According to the station chief’s report, they left the day before the city fell…
“Really?”
Wu Zhi furrowed her brows: “Issue a wanted notice and pursue them relentlessly!”
“Understood!”
An officer from the Fire Phoenix Guard immediately knelt on one knee beside her and went out to issue orders.
Martial prowess was indeed beneficial for handling administrative affairs.
With the assistance of officials like Zeng Yu, Wu Zhi could read official documents at a glance and write responses swiftly, quickly addressing the accumulated paperwork. She then smiled and said: “Today is a joyful occasion for my son. You must drink a few more cups!”
“Your humble servant will comply!”
Zeng Yu was quite perceptive and bowed in agreement.
Wu Zhi left and went to the inner hall, changed into casual clothes, and then held little Ding’er, joining Wu Ming at the governor’s mansion hall.
The banquet had already been prepared, and invitations had been sent to all the noble families.
After all, as the future rulers, meeting them face-to-face and hosting a banquet were necessary for future governance.
Of course, the infant’s “Xi San” ceremony was thus unscrupulously exploited by his mother.
…
Inside the grand hall, guests filled the room.
“Greetings to the Military Governor!”
“Congratulations to the Military Governor on the birth of your son!”
…
All those present were the cream of the noble families and Wu Zhi’s officials and generals, the elite of the elite. Upon seeing Wu Zhi emerge, their eyes lit up, and they all rushed to offer their congratulations.
Now observing this family of three, the man was of an otherworldly demeanor, the woman exuded heroic grace, and the infant they held was robust and healthy. These three were destined to be the highest-ranking figures ruling Dingzhou.
“My son’s ‘Xi San’ ceremony has been honored by your presence. Your kindness is deeply appreciated!”
As the guests took their seats one by one, Wu Ming could feel many hidden gazes scrutinizing both himself and the infant, prompting him to suppress a smile.
It was common for noble families to employ fortune tellers. They must have sensed the unusual phenomena from that day.
Now that the main event had arrived, how could they not examine it closely?
However, at this moment, Ding’er’s spiritual essence was concealed. To discern his true nature, one would have to break through Wu Ming’s Immortal-level cultivation. For those present, this was indeed an impossible task.
At this time, servants set up tables in the hall, with a massive jade basin placed at the center, filled with herbal water brewed from pagoda tree twigs and mugwort leaves.
Wu Ming was the first to rise, adding a ladle of clear water to the basin, followed by Wu Zhi. This act caused many to ponder deeply.
This was an ancient tradition. According to seniority and status, family members would each add a small ladle of water and some coins to the basin, known as “Tian Pen” (adding water to the basin).
Of course, this tradition was usually reserved for close family members. By inviting outsiders, Wu Zhi was expressing her closeness and goodwill. Those chosen naturally felt immense excitement, eager to show their generosity. They considered even gold and silver coins too vulgar, instead offering precious gems, jade, pearls, and agates, filling the surroundings with a dazzling array of treasures.
The midwife carried little Ding’er, stripped him of his clothes, and placed him in the basin. As the herbal water poured over him, the little fellow let out a loud wail without hesitation.
The midwife, however, was delighted rather than alarmed: “The young master’s cry during the basin ceremony is a sign of great auspiciousness!”
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