Gu Ziye blushed at the remark but didn’t argue, simply lowering her head to help Su Liyan.
Lu Yuan hadn’t seen the baby yet. It was in the hands of several midwives, who were still gently cleaning the blood off its body.
According to the local customs, a newborn couldn’t be fully washed, only gently wiped clean.
Three days later, a bathing ceremony for the infant would be held in the presence of friends and family.
This bathing ceremony, held on the third day, was called the "Third-Day Bath." It symbolized washing away all filth and misfortune while praying for blessings and good fortune.
It was just like the customs from Lu Yuan’s previous life, such as the "Zhuazhou" ceremony for a one-year-old’s birthday, where you’d invite guests for a al and receive their blessings.
Bengbeng hadn’t had a "Third-Day Bath" ceremony. For the first seven days after coming out of Su Liyan’s belly, Bengbeng was in an egg.
Even when Bengbeng erged from the eggshell, their body was already spotless.
One of the midwives said, "Congratulations, Master. The madam has given birth to a precious daughter!"
Hearing the midwife’s words, Lu Yuan gave Aunt Zhao a kiss on the cheek, then got up to hold his daughter.
Lu Yuan carefully took the baby from the midwife’s hands and held her in his arms.
"There, there. How are you a bigger little fella than your older sister? Look at the size of you," Lu Yuan said, puckering his lips to coo at the baby.
Lu Yuan walked step-by-step over to Aunt Zhao, wanting her to be able to see her child as well.
Hearing Lu Yuan, Gu Ziye added, "Is Bengbeng supposed to be her older sister?"
Gu Ziye was getting a bit confused. Aunt Zhao was an "aunt" to Lu Yuan and Su Liyan, but she was also Lu Yuan’s concubine. So Aunt Zhao’s child and Su Liyan’s child...
Gu Ziye gestured with her hands, muttering to herself as she lowered her head, trying to calculate the generational relationships.
Su Liyan pulled Gu Ziye aside and explained, "’Aunt Zhao’ is just a respectful title my brother and I used for her. We got used to calling her that, so we never changed it."
Gu Ziye nodded in understanding.
"Sis, did she give birth?"
Before anyone saw who it was, they heard Aunt Song’s voice.
Aunt Song had gone to the factory on business today. Lu Yuan had sent a servant to fetch her.
The mont Aunt Song heard the news about her dear sister, she’d excitedly rushed back.
And just now, after entering the Mansion Gate, she had nearly taken a tumble. She’d even snapped the heel off her crimson high-heeled shoe, but luckily, she hadn’t twisted her ankle.
Aunt Song steadied herself against the doorfra, poked her head in, and called out again, "Aiyo, am I late?"
Lu Yuan watched Aunt Song at the doorway, panting heavily, her two mounds of flesh jiggling up and down.
Lu Yuan was still holding the baby, so he could only reply, "Aunt Song, look, isn’t this her right here in my arms? It’s a baby girl!"
Su Liyan quickly helped Aunt Song into the room and found her a stool to sit on.
The Zhao Mansion being so large wasn’t always a good thing; it took so effort just to run from the Mansion Gate to Zhao Qiao’er’s room.
Song iqin took a gulp of water and caught her breath before saying, "The mont I heard she was going into labor, I rushed right back. How could I have started so early and still arrived so late?"
Song iqin and Zhao Qiao’er were the best of friends, true sisters. The two of them could talk about anything and held no secrets from each other.
Their fates were too similar. Both their husbands had died young, and though they both possessed great fortunes, they were lonely and couldn’t escape the gossip of others.
In such a social environnt, the two supported each other, and their bond was beyond question.
Now, things were better. Lu Yuan had taken them both as concubines, bringing them under his wing, and their lives had beco easier.
Zhao Qiao’er replied, "I don’t know what happened either. From the ti my stomach started hurting to when she ca out, it only felt like a mont. It hurt, of course, but with one big push, out she ca."
Hearing her good sister’s words and knowing that Zhao Qiao’er hadn’t suffered much, Song iqin felt relieved.
...
Several maids began taking care of Aunt Zhao’s daily needs.
Zhao Qiao’er’s delivery had been smooth, and her recovery was quick.
Three days later, Lu Yuan invited friends and family to hold a simple "Third-Day Bath" ceremony for his second daughter.
At Aunt Zhao’s insistence, they gave their second daughter the pet na Huanhuan.
Aunt Zhao’s reasoning was that Bengbeng and Huanhuan sounded like a pair of sisters, which felt more intimate.
It was just a pet na, after all. As long as it was easy for everyone to say, it was fine.
Lu Yuan didn’t mind his second daughter being called Huanhuan!
Lu Yuan counted the days. It wouldn’t be long before he had to go to the Provincial City to report on official business.
Before leaving, Lu Yuan planned to take his brother-in-law, Su Changliang, with him. No one knew the affairs of the County Yan better than he did.
However, before departing for the Provincial City, there was one more thing Lu Yuan had to do. The Martial Hall had been built.
Within the Martial Hall Courtyard, more than a dozen large, tile-roofed buildings had been constructed. And, following Lu Yuan’s requirents, two and three-story Western-style houses were built later on.
Otherwise, how could several hundred people possibly live in the Martial Hall?
The Martial Hall Courtyard was also divided by several walls into a few different zones to serve as training grounds.
The training regins differed based on the abilities of the Mansion Guards.
On this day, Lu Yuan deliberately divided the 280 Travelers into four teams.
Each team was assigned one captain and three squad leaders.
Fifth Brother Liu, the first man to challenge Lu Yuan that day, was appointed by Lu Yuan as the captain of the first team.
In front of the 280 Travelers, Lu Yuan raised the rifle he had developed.
This rifle was an upgraded version of the Flintlock Gun, but it was still inferior to the Automatic Rifle he had developed earlier.
The Automatic Rifle had too much firepower, and Lu Yuan had to assemble each one by himself. Lately, he’d been too busy taking care of his wives and children to assemble many.
There was another reason: Lu Yuan didn’t want these several hundred new Mansion Guards to get their hands on Automatic Rifles just yet.
Lu Yuan was afraid that if the technology leaked, he’d be the one to face the dire consequences.
These several hundred rifles had been hastily manufactured by a small workshop in Lu Yuan’s factory.
These rifles were far superior to the Flintlock Guns produced by the factory in Yandu.
Lu Yuan demonstrated how to use the rifle for the new Travelers.
Just a few shots were enough to stun everyone present.
These Travelers had journeyed far and wide. They had seen and even handled fine swords, blades, axes, and even armor.
But they had never seen a weapon like this.
Fifth Brother Liu was the first to ask, "Milord, what kind of weapon is this? Can a shield block it?"
Lu Yuan held up the rifle and said, "This is a gun. Not a long spear like a Red Tassel Spear. This type of ’short gun’ is a long-range weapon. You pull..."
Lu Yuan patiently explained to everyone how to use the rifle in his hands.
After he finished explaining how to use the firearm, Lu Yuan addressed the matter of Fifth Brother Liu calling him "Milord" and corrected everyone.
"From now on, when we’re outside, you don’t need to call ’Milord.’ I’m just a asly Seventh Grade County Magistrate. There are plenty of officials out there with higher ranks than . Just call ’Boss’."
Lu Yuan didn’t like the title "Milord." It felt too awkward. "Boss" sounded better, a bit more roguish.
The n roared in unison!
"Boss!"
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