“What is there to congratulate?” Upon hearing the words “congratulations,” Old Madam Deng’s head began to ache.

Their Li Residence had quite enough joyful occasions recently—they didn’t need people from the Prince’s Residence coming to add more congratulations.

“Old Madam, our Lady Li is with child,” the Prince’s Residence steward said with a smile.

Old Madam Deng was stunned. It took her quite a while to belatedly realize that the “Lady Li” the Prince’s Residence steward mentioned was her eldest granddaughter, Li Jiǎo.

Lady Li!

These three words made Old Madam Deng’s chest feel tight.

Their Li family’s West Residence was at least a family of double Imperial Scholars. The two sons she had raised as a widow were both proper Imperial Scholars, and her eldest son was even a Third-Rank Scholar. No matter what, they were a respectable family, yet now they had produced a daughter who became a concubine!

Yes, becoming a concubine in a Prince’s Residence was considered an honor in many households, and who knew, she might even become an Imperial Noble Consort. But the Li family didn’t care for such things!

“Old Madam, our Lady Li is with child.” Seeing the old lady’s expression was off, the Prince’s Residence steward emphasized and repeated.

Old Madam Deng lifted her eyelids: “I’m not deaf!”

The Prince’s Residence steward looked embarrassed.

This old lady was getting on in years—was her mind becoming a bit unclear?

“Then I’ll trouble the steward to convey my congratulations to His Highness,” Old Madam Deng said indifferently.

Prince Rui had no sons. For the eldest girl to become pregnant at this time might not necessarily be a good thing. What great fortune would it take to smoothly give birth to a son?

The more Old Madam Deng thought about it, the calmer her expression became.

The Prince’s Residence steward was dumbfounded.

That’s it? The old lady’s reaction was wrong! Well, it was possible she was confused and momentarily couldn’t remember who Lady Li was.

“Old Madam, Lady Li is your eldest granddaughter—”

Old Madam Deng looked at the Prince’s Residence steward as if he were mentally challenged: “What else would she be?”

If she weren’t her granddaughter, could she be her grandmother? How did such a person become a Prince’s Residence steward?

The old lady’s opinion of the Prince’s Residence’s prospects grew even dimmer.

The Prince’s Residence steward was beyond caring about such matters and forced a smile: “Old Madam, it’s like this—after Lady Li became pregnant, she particularly misses her family. But since she’s still early in her pregnancy and inconvenient to go out, His Highness ordered me to invite Third Miss to accompany Lady Li and chat with her.”

Old Madam Deng frowned: “Invite Third Miss to the Prince’s Residence to accompany Lady Li and chat?”

It wasn’t unusual for an older sister to invite her younger sister to stay at her residence after marriage, but she knew there was a rift between the eldest girl and Third Miss. Such frozen relations weren’t formed in a day—pregnancy didn’t cause amnesia, so how could she suddenly miss her?

“Yes, Old Madam, you know that pregnant women are different from ordinary people. They say they’re prone to heavy thoughts. Our Prince is afraid it might be bad for the little prince in Lady Li’s belly, so he specifically ordered me to invite Third Miss to the residence.”

Old Madam Deng’s heart jumped.

This Prince’s Residence steward appeared to be all smiles with a courteous attitude, but he kept saying “our Prince” and even mentioned “little prince”—he was putting pressure on her.

If something happened to the eldest girl, were they prepared to blame it on Third Miss not going to accompany her?

Old Madam Deng abandoned the thought of summoning Qiao Zhao and rubbed her temples with her hand, sighing: “What unfortunate timing. The steward should know that on the day Marquis Guanjun departed for the campaign, our Third Miss wasn’t even able to bid him farewell. These past days, the child has been worried about the Marquis’s safety, and her health hasn’t been good. In her condition, she cannot go to the Prince’s Residence—if she passed her illness to Lady Li, that would be a sin.”

She could only step forward to shield Third Miss from this matter. Even if it meant offending Prince Rui, she would be the one to offend him. She was an old woman with half her body already in the grave—what was there to fear?

The Prince’s Residence steward hadn’t expected Old Madam Deng to give such an answer. It sounded watertight, but it was too convenient—clearly a polite refusal.

With matters at this point, the Prince’s Residence steward could only take his leave.

Old Madam Deng breathed a long sigh of relief and instructed her head maid Qing Yun: “Summon Third Miss.”

She needed to properly instruct Third Miss to at least pretend to be ill for a few days so as not to expose the lie.

About two quarters of an hour later, Qiao Zhao arrived: “Granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother.”

Upon seeing Qiao Zhao’s appearance, Old Madam Deng was startled: “Third Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

Qiao Zhao hadn’t slept much the night before. First, she had seen Shao Mingyuan, then hypnotized the death warrior, and witnessed so many bloody scenes. After such great shocks and excitement, both her spirit and body were particularly exhausted. At this moment, she had heavy, dark circles under her eyes and a pale complexion—she truly looked ill.

She naturally couldn’t tell Old Madam Deng about not sleeping all night, so she casually made up an excuse: “I’ve been feeling unwell these past two days. I might have caught a cold during the night.”

“Since you’re ill, why didn’t you tell the family?”

“Grandmother, please don’t worry. It’s nothing serious—I’ll be fine with more rest.”

Old Madam Deng reached out to stroke Qiao Zhao’s hair: “What perfect timing.”

She told Qiao Zhao about the Prince’s Residence steward’s visit and instructed: “Don’t go out these days—stay home peacefully. Now, everyone outside is saying you’re the reincarnation of the Goddess of Fertility. Who knows how many people are watching you?”

Speaking of this, Old Madam Deng sneered: “That old physician at De Ji Hall has no discretion, spreading the news about you diagnosing your second aunt’s pregnancy until everyone knows. That’s what caused all this trouble. Fortunately, they got their comeuppance, too. After the Imperial Physician confirmed your second aunt’s pregnancy, De Ji Hall has been deserted, and many people are going to Ji Sheng Hall for treatment instead.”

“It might not be that old physician’s fault…” Qiao Zhao murmured.

“Third Miss, what did you say?”

“Nothing. Grandmother, granddaughter take her leave.”

In Prince Rui’s Residence, after hearing the steward’s report, Prince Rui frowned slightly: “Forget it. Since Third Miss is unwell, let it be.”

The steward tactfully withdrew.

“Jiǎo, when Third Miss feels better in a few days, I’ll send someone to invite her again.”

Li Jiǎo smiled and gently stroked her belly, saying softly: “Your Highness needn’t trouble yourself. Even if you send someone to invite her in a few days, she still won’t come.”

“What do you mean?”

Li Jiǎo lowered her eyes without speaking, her eyes gradually reddening.

“Alright, alright, don’t be upset—be careful not to harm the child in your belly.” Seeing Li Jiǎo like this, Prince Rui became somewhat anxious and grew more dissatisfied with the Li Residence.

The Prince’s Residence hadn’t had such joyful news for a long time. This child was concerned not only with whether he could become a father again, but also who between him and his sixth brother was the most suitable heir in their father’s heart.

A prince who couldn’t produce children didn’t even have the qualification to compete for that position.

“Later, I’ll invite the most famous opera troupe in the capital to the residence. When you’re bored, you can listen to opera, alright?” Prince Rui’s tone was full of indulgence.

Li Jiǎo nestled into Prince Rui’s embrace and said softly, “Your Highness, I don’t want to listen to opera. I just want you to come see me and the child in my belly more often.”

“That’s natural. I’ll come to see you every day from now on.”

Li Jiǎo revealed a gentle smile.

Prince Rui patted her: “Then don’t worry about your natal family’s affairs.”

“Does Your Highness think I’m the type of person to compete with my younger sister? I wanted to invite Third Sister over because… because she can tell whether the fetus is male or female!”