"She'll complete her year tomorrow," Qin Hanliu muttered to herself, adoring her sleeping daughter.
As if spending time with her daughter was a natural panacea, her health improved and stabilized over the past five months she spent.
During that time, Qi Shou was afraid of her being anemic or developing any other health condition, so he went out secretly to buy some tonics and cooked for her.
He was a good cook as he had done that for nearly half his life.
Albeit the lacking seasonings and limited food choices only allowed for basic meals like congee or porridge.
Eating meat was rare in ancient times due it being a delicacy and lower animal birth rate.
Plus, it wasn't a proper industry or business.
Most people just went into forests or mountains to catch wild ducks, hens, deers or the like to eat.
Needless to say, some never returned or returned half-dead.
And due to all these outings, Qi Shou determined another fact.
'The natural energy is somewhat different and it definitely feels like the average person is far stronger than his previous life.'
In his previous life, minor wounds could fester and lead to death despite high-tech medicine and healthcare.
However, people in this era cut off their own arms and feet to survive!
That was a trait of natural-born fighter!
But what if it was just because that's how evolution had hit the future generations due to long getting used to living in comfort?
Thus, he was once again left helpless to confirm his guess.
To add insult to injury, the news of the First Female Emperor was suppressed, so he didn't get to hear anything regarding it.
In the end, he could only hope for Mingzhu's naming ceremony soon.
That was what he kept as his final straw.
And now, hearing his wife's innocent mutter led him to cycle back every action he took ever since regaining past life memories.
He definitely exercised to keep himself in peak condition, so that his body had fewer impurities for future cultivation path.
No matter what, a man had to hope for his dreams and not sit idle, right?
Though, the best thing was the Doting Dad System and its countless rewards.
Alas, most items couldn't be used because it was impossible to explain things like wet wipes, diapers, milk bottles, powedered milk, pure cotton clothes, baby suits, baby hanfu, and many many more.
He could only sneak them in and use them on Mingzhu when no one was looking.
Of course, he definitely used diapers by simply changing the packaging and saying he bought it all from a travelling merchent.
Not very believable but not unbelievable either.
Running away from suspicion wasn't his protocol.
It was better to act mysterious now than shock them all at once.
Qi Shou looked at the moon rising in the night sky and couldn't help but sigh.
"It's been a year already."
Qin Hanliu didn't grasp the meaning and only hmmed noncommittaly.
"Yeah... already a year..."
She seemed to be lamenting how time flew so fast yet Qi Shou was thinking of her health.
But he didn't correct her.
It was better for her to remain unaware of his true thoughts.
'Hey, System! She's gonna be 1 soon. Surely, there'll be rewards?'
[...]
The system remained silent just as usual unless it was time to give rewards.
Qi Shou had truly given his all to understand the system better and try to communicate with it.
However, it was all for naught as it wouldn't communicate with him at all.
"Let's sleep," he said in resignation, leaving it all to fate.
"Mhm," Qin Hanliu nodded and planted a kiss on Mingzhu's face before moving to their bed.
...
An uneventful night ended as Qi Shou woke up and the day continued as usual until it was afternoon.
Mother Qi, Father Qi, Mother Qin, Father Qin, Qin Jiyue, Qin Hanliu, Qi Shou and Mingzhu gathered in the center of the courtyard.
It was an important day as the next generation of the two families was born.
And it held great importance to the Qi and Qin couple as they knew she was the only descendant they'll ever see grow up in their remaining lifetime, if they were blessed.
The mood had turned serious as all eyes focused on Qin Hanliu cradling little Mingzhu in her arms.
It had been long decided that Qin Hanliu will give Mingzhu her official name.
The one-year-period before naming the child and officially registering it was unnerving for everyone as they constantly heard of young children dying of illness or another or not surviving for some reason.
In their eyes, Mingzhu was so adorable and loceable. She was their closest kin.
No one undermined her importance as they perked up their ears upon seeing the movement of Qin Hanliu's lips.
"Mingzhu-ah, dear Mingzhu-ah," Qi Hanliu played with the adorable goofball as she swayed her little arms and feet in her mother's direction.
Qi Shou was the closest to her and felt the most reckless as the system hadn't appeared and Qin Hanliu seemed to be delaying giving the time.
He had been trying to get the name out of her but his dear wife just didn't seem to understand and always managed to evade it.
Truthfully, the poor guy had been the most anxious about his daughter's life and did his utmost to give her specially brewed nutritious milk given by the system whenever possible.
Thanks to that, the little girl looked chubby and fair, her skin glowing and radiant, her hair shining and silky.
Just one glance was enough to mesmerize most people with her cute appearance.
Yet it wasn't enough to shift the focus from her official name.
"Today you're one-year-old and will get your name, how do you feel?" Qin Hanliu whispered softly, kissing Mingzhu's hands and forehead as Qin Hanliu's smile remained radiant.
"Uwaa~"
Hearing the cute little cry from her goofball, she didn't delay any longer and revealed the official name.
"Qingluo. Qi Qingluo. That's the name I decided," Qin Hanliu declared.
'That confirms it,' Qi Shou thought in the split second he heard it.
Others hadn't even had time to react or Qi Shou simply didn't have the mind to pay them any heed.
His mind was constantly bombarded with a familiar "Ding!" sound that he had been awaiting for so long.
[Ding!]