Meeting Old Madam Deng’s calm gaze, Qiao Zhao hesitated slightly before saying: “A girl.”

Old Madam Deng let out a long sigh of relief and showed a hint of a smile: “A girl is good, a girl is wonderful.”

In such a dangerous place like a dragon’s den, there were already so many complications before birth. If born as Prince Rui’s eldest son, there would surely be crises at every step, and whether he could survive to adulthood would be a big question.

A girl was perfect. Prince Rui currently had no sons or daughters, so as the eldest daughter of Prince Rui’s residence, she wouldn’t be mistreated, and her eldest granddaughter would have something to rely on for the rest of her life.

“Third girl, you’ve worked hard too. Go back and rest.”

“Granddaughter takes her leave.” Qiao Zhao left Qingsong Hall, returned to her quarters to bathe and change clothes, then went to He Shi’s place.

He Shi’s son was named Fu Ge’er. Now over four months old, being premature, he appeared smaller than babies of the same age, but he wasn’t light in weight. He looked chubby, spent most of the day sleeping, and the other half nursing. He was quiet and well-behaved, rarely crying or fussing.

“Zhaozhao is here.” Seeing her daughter arrive, He Shi beamed with joy and beckoned Qiao Zhao forward. “Come quickly and look at your little brother. He learned to roll over today.”

Before Qiao Zhao could speak, a voice interrupted: “Fu Ge’er can roll over?”

Li Guangwen rushed over in quick strides, reaching out to pick up Fu Ge’er.

He Shi gently patted the back of his hand: “Go wash your hands!”

Seeing Li Guangwen hurrying to wash his hands, He Shi shook her head and complained to Qiao Zhao: “Your father, such a refined and steady person, has become so hasty now.”

Qiao Zhao: “Hehe.”

Had Father ever been refined and steady? Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Qiao Zhao reached out to touch Fu Ge’er’s hand.

The baby’s hand was plump and soft, with little dimples on the back of his hand that made one want to take a bite.

Feeling Qiao Zhao’s touch, Fu Ge’er opened his eyes, and his little hand moved to grasp Qiao Zhao’s finger.

He Shi was overjoyed: “Zhaozhao, your little brother adores you.”

Qiao Zhao gently shook Fu Ge’er’s little hand.

The baby’s hand was so small, yet he gripped hers with force. Those grape-like black eyes looked at her curiously, focused and serious.

A warm current suddenly flowed through Qiao Zhao’s heart.

The one holding her hand was her blood-related little brother.

This baby would soon learn to call her “sister,” and when he grew up, if she were bullied at her in-laws’ house, he could stand up for her and beat up her husband.

Oh, that might be a bit difficult.

At this thought, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but smile.

Fu Ge’er seemed to sense Qiao Zhao’s pleasant mood and smiled along with her.

“Fu Ge’er really can roll over?” Li Guangwen, who had washed his hands and changed into casual clothes, walked over with excitement on his face.

“Yes, this morning Fu Ge’er was lying down and suddenly rolled over.”

Li Guangwen became even more excited, reaching out to pinch Fu Ge’er’s cheek: “Fu Ge’er, roll over for Daddy to see.”

Fu Ge’er’s mouth turned down, and he began crying loudly.

He Shi soothed the child while glaring at Li Guangwen: “How can a master be so rough? Baby skin is tender—how can you pinch it?”

Li Guangwen gave an embarrassed laugh.

When Li Hui was born, he was still young and felt helpless looking at such a small bundle, never daring to pinch him. How could he know that babies would cry when pinched?

After Fu Ge’er stopped crying, he pouted and stared at Li Guangwen. Li Guangwen forced a smile: “Fu Ge’er is amazing. Roll over.”

Fu Ge’er pouted and was about to cry again.

He Shi’s temple vein twitched: “Master, you should go out.”

Li Guangwen became stubborn, sitting down by the bed: “I don’t believe it. I’m his father—would this little guy dare not listen to me?”

He said this while patting Fu Ge’er’s little bottom: “Fu Ge’er, roll over!”

“Such a small child can’t understand yet.” He Shi pursed her lips.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Fu Ge’er twisted his bottom and rolled over, ending up with his little bottom facing up.

Li Guangwen laughed triumphantly: “See that? I’m his father, and no matter how small he is, he has to listen to me—”

Before he finished speaking, Li Guangwen’s laughter stopped, and he looked confused: “Eh, why is it warm and wet?”

“Oh my, Fu Ge’er peed.” He Shi quickly picked up Fu Ge’er.

Fu Ge’er, who had peed on Li Guangwen’s hand, sucked his finger and calmly glanced at his father.

Li Guangwen looked down at the puddle of urine on his hand, then at his son sucking his finger. His face immediately darkened: “You little rascal, today I need to teach you a lesson—”

“Master should wash the urine off his hands first.” He Shi said coolly.

Li Guangwen went to wash his hands with a heavy heart.

Fu Ge’er giggled.

“By the way, Zhaozhao, you went to Prince Rui’s residence today?” He Shi signaled the wet nurse to take Fu Ge’er down to change clothes, then pulled Qiao Zhao to ask.

Qiao Zhao briefly explained the situation.

He Shi pursed her lips: “Li Jiǎo got lucky. The child is innocent, but that girl has bad intentions—she’s not good.”

Although she was a stepmother, she had never mistreated that girl since marrying into the family. Even when the Li family was struggling financially, when she used her dowry money to buy food and clothes, she never left out the stepdaughter’s share. But some people were naturally ungrateful wolves that could never be tamed.

Her Zhaozhao had been simple-minded in childhood and was made distant from her by that girl’s few sour words, causing her to shed countless tears. Fortunately, Zhaozhao had come to her senses now, or they might have been estranged for life.

“Is that child male or female?” He Shi asked.

“A girl.” Qiao Zhao found it amusing.

Both mother and grandmother had asked the same question. People truly maintained a vigorous curiosity about the gender of unborn children.

“What good fortune.” He Shi sighed and moved on to other topics.

Qiao Zhao sighed inwardly.

If only Li Jiǎo could think like grandmother and mother and stop causing her trouble.

Honestly, Qiao Zhao didn’t want to fight with Li Jiǎo. What did it matter who won or lost between sisters in the same household? She’d rather spend that time playing a few games of chess with A’Zhu.

While Prince Rui’s residence was filled with joy and the Li residence had peace of mind, Prince Mu’s residence experienced great ups and downs.

Prince Mu hadn’t yet calmed down from the joy of Prince Rui’s concubine losing her child when a planted spy from Prince Rui’s residence came to report: “My lord, Prince Rui’s concubine’s child has been saved.”

“How could it be saved? Didn’t they say both the court physician and imperial physician declared it hopeless?”

“Prince Rui personally went to request Third Miss Li.”

“She saved the child?” Prince Mu found it incredible, slamming his fist on the desk. “Could it be that even Heaven is on Fifth Brother’s side? A young girl appearing out of nowhere with such medical skills!”

The spy lowered his head: “My lord, this subordinate has more to report.”

“Speak!”

Could there be worse news than Prince Rui’s child being saved?

The spy looked at Prince Mu sympathetically and steeled himself to report: “Third Miss Li also took the pulses of Prince Rui’s other concubines and discovered three more concubines are pregnant…”

Prince Mu’s body swayed, nearly collapsing.

He had indeed been too naive. Bad news only got worse—there was no worse!

He didn’t want to live anymore.