As soon as Qiao Zhao spoke, Old Madam Deng and the others looked toward her.

He Shi quickly glanced at Liu Shi and pulled Qiao Zhao aside, saying, “Zhaozhao, you’re still young and don’t understand these things. Let’s listen to your grandmother.”

Although she and Liu Shi didn’t get along well in the past, those were all minor matters. But childbearing was Liu Shi’s sore spot, and she couldn’t bring herself to stab someone in their tender heart.

Qiao Zhao smiled, “Mother, though I’m young, I still know that having one’s biological child is naturally better.”

Old Madam Deng glanced at Liu Shi and sighed, “Third Miss thinks well, and the principle is correct, but things aren’t as simple as you think. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

Liu Shi had a straightforward nature. Seeing Old Madam Deng and He Shi covering for her, she felt stifled instead and spoke directly, “Because Second Aunt can’t bear children. So for the rest of this life, aside from your two younger sisters, there won’t be any more children.”

By the end, her eyes couldn’t help but redden.

She had nearly died giving birth to Chan’er and injured her body, making it difficult to conceive again. Li Guangshu had held her hand and sworn he wouldn’t mind, but now thinking about it, it was simply laughable.

Of course, that man wouldn’t mind—he turned around and had children with someone else. After all, no matter who he had children with, they would still be his children!

“Who says so? I think Second Aunt can still bear children.” Qiao Zhao looked directly into Liu Shi’s eyes, smiling warmly.

Liu Shi’s heart suddenly began pounding, and she instinctively looked toward He Shi’s belly.

He Shi’s belly was already quite prominent, round and full. According to the old people’s experience, it should be a daughter. But for some reason, they all felt it should be a son.

Right, it was because of Third Miss!

Before He Shi became pregnant, Third Miss had said there would be happy news, and shortly after, He Shi indeed became pregnant.

Later, Third Miss also said that He Shi was carrying a younger brother—

The more Liu Shi thought about it, the more rapidly her heart pounded, until she could hardly breathe. She grabbed Qiao Zhao’s hand, “Third Miss, you’re saying I can still bear children?”

She looked at Qiao Zhao as if a drowning person had grasped a lifeline, suddenly bursting with hope and anxiety from despair.

Qiao Zhao nodded, her tone certain, “Second Aunt is still young, of course you can bear children.”

“I, I…” Liu Shi was already incoherent.

He Shi held her belly, listening to their conversation, looking completely puzzled.

Old Madam Deng waved her hand, signaling the servants in the room to withdraw, and asked directly, “Third Miss, there are no outsiders here. Just tell Grandmother plainly what you mean by these words.”

Qiao Zhao no longer kept them in suspense and smiled lightly, “Second Aunt’s infertility, I can treat it.”

“What?” Old Madam Deng and Liu Shi stood up simultaneously, faces full of shock.

Although they had vague suspicions in their hearts, hearing Qiao Zhao say it directly still stirred indescribable tumultuous waves in their hearts.

He Shi also wanted to stand up, but her belly was too large and she couldn’t get up immediately.

“Don’t add to the chaos,” Old Madam Deng helplessly glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law, her gaze not leaving Qiao Zhao’s face.

“Third Miss, you’re saying you can treat my infertility?” Liu Shi grasped Qiao Zhao’s hand with trembling hands, her throat so tight she could barely speak, lips quivering as she said, “You, you mustn’t deceive me—”

By the end, she was choking with emotion.

Qiao Zhao naturally wouldn’t mind Liu Shi’s slip of words and smiled, “Second Aunt, when have I ever deceived anyone?”

Liu Shi stared intently at Qiao Zhao, tears streaming down, “Right, right, Third Miss doesn’t deceive people, Third Miss doesn’t deceive people…”

“Then I’ll go write a prescription first and have someone fetch the medicine. Second Aunt will need to take medicine, receive acupuncture, and take medicinal baths—all three methods together to recover quickly. But there’s one thing to note…”

“Third Miss, please tell me.” Liu Shi’s tone was urgent.

Qiao Zhao looked serious, “During treatment, you cannot share a bed.”

Liu Shi’s face immediately flushed red, gripping Qiao Zhao’s hand, stammering and not knowing what to say.

Having a younger generation remind her of such matters was truly too embarrassing.

“Then I’ll go write the prescription first.” Qiao Zhao gently withdrew her hand and walked toward the door.

“Third Miss—” Liu Shi came to her senses and called out behind her.

Qiao Zhao turned around, smiling warmly, “Second Aunt, is there something else?”

“That…” Liu Shi hesitated, then gathered courage to ask, “Do you think I’ll have a son?”

Hearing this, Qiao Zhao smiled slightly, her tone gentle, “Second Aunt will have her wishes fulfilled.”

After saying this, she lifted the cotton curtain and walked out.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

He Shi held her belly and thought for a long time before coming out with, “Our Zhaozhao definitely wouldn’t speak carelessly.”

Hehehe, she was going to have a son, and Zhaozhao was going to have a younger brother.

“Third Miss indeed isn’t one to speak carelessly.” Old Madam Deng spoke up, her expression complex.

Emotionally, she was willing to believe her third granddaughter’s words, but reason couldn’t agree.

The Third Miss had deep connections with Physician Li, so being able to cure Liu Shi’s infertility, though shocking, was something she still believed. But for Third Miss to now say she could let Liu Shi bear a son, this, this—

Old Madam Deng found it too fantastical.

Even the Goddess of Fertility wouldn’t dare say such things, would she?

“I believe Third Miss’s words!” Liu Shi bit her lip.

Whether emotionally or rationally, she was willing to believe Third Miss. After all, following the Third Miss had never led her wrong!

Thinking this way, Liu Shi suddenly felt enlightened.

As long as Third Miss truly let her bear a son, she and her two daughters would have support in the future, and she wouldn’t have to raise that vixen’s child and be frustrated day and night.

“Old Madam, I’d like to have Third Miss treat my illness first. We can discuss other matters later.” Liu Shi said tactfully.

She understood the old madam’s good intentions, but unless she was truly at the end of her rope, she didn’t want to take that path.

Old Madam Deng smiled, “If it can be cured, that would naturally be best.”

This way, she could worry less in the future, though everything still depended on Third Miss.

It was now noon, and lunch was about to be served in the flower hall of Qingsong Hall.

After returning from the East Residence and tidying up, Li Guangshu was deep in thought.

His eldest cousin’s attitude at the East Residence had been somewhat subtle.

Although his eldest cousin had been demoted, he had been an official in the capital for many years, and those relationships and connections were still there. He might regain his original position at any time. But during this meeting, his eldest cousin’s attitude toward him seemed overly enthusiastic.

There must be something he didn’t know about.

All the masters of the West Residence had already taken their seats in the flower hall. Li Hui, who studied at the Imperial Academy, had originally had his last day of school for the year today, but had left early to rush back.

Li Guangshu’s gaze slowly swept over these relatives he hadn’t seen for a long time, his eyes lingering on eldest niece Li Jiǎo’s face, his heart stirring.

This niece was quite old now, and as the eldest legitimate daughter of both East and West residences, could it be that she had been engaged to a good family, with high-ranking in-laws, which had caused that eldest cousin at the East Residence to change his attitude?

“Son, after years away, the family hasn’t changed much, but several children have grown up. Big Brother, Eldest Miss should be engaged by now, right?”

“Not yet,” Li Guangwen said lazily.

“Eldest Miss isn’t young anymore. If she doesn’t get engaged, it will delay the marriages of the younger nieces. Big Brother and Sister-in-law should hurry.”

Hearing this, Li Jiǎo’s face burned with embarrassment, and she kept her head down without speaking.

Li Guangwen glanced at Li Guangshu sideways, “Who says so? My youngest daughter is already engaged.”