Chapter 616

“You silly child, why go back to the prince’s residence? Stay here and rest!” The Old Princess stopped her without a moment’s hesitation.

She had once been a daughter-in-law herself, so she naturally knew that Li Zhiwei would feel more at ease staying with her own family.

Besides, she trusted Lady Yao to take excellent care of her daughter-in-law. Her own son was hardly ever home, and with an old woman like herself there as well, Li Zhiwei might not receive care as attentive as she would at the Li residence.

“Huh?” Li Zhiwei was stunned. She had assumed that The Old Princess had come to the Li residence to take her back to the An Prince’s residence.

After all, she was Princess Consort of An. How could she remain at her parents’ home all the time?

“But if I keep staying at my parents’ home, people may gossip,” Li Zhiwei said cautiously after thinking it over.

“Other people’s mouths are their own business. Let them say whatever they want. The most important thing is for you to take care of yourself and the baby in your belly,” The Old Princess replied without hesitation.

“Weiwei, don’t worry about it so much. I know what you’re concerned about, but none of that matters. Your pregnancy is unstable right now, so staying at your parents’ home to rest will actually be better than returning to the An Prince’s residence. You’re surrounded by your own family here, so you’ll be more comfortable. You also know that things will be rather busy on Ming’er’s side recently. I’m getting old, and there are bound to be things I don’t think through as carefully as your mother does.”

The Old Princess held Li Zhiwei’s hand and comforted her patiently.

“Thank you, Mother.” Hearing this, Li Zhiwei finally relaxed.

To be honest, she had not wanted to return to the An Prince’s residence either. She had only planned to go back soon because she was afraid her mother-in-law would object and that outsiders would gossip.

“Dear in-law, you’ve come.” When Lady Yao heard that The Old Princess had arrived, she hurried over.

“Dear in-law—oh my, what happened to you…?” The Old Princess looked at Lady Yao’s plain, unadorned appearance in confusion.

“Please forgive me for looking so disheveled. Weiwei is pregnant and hasn’t had much of an appetite, so I thought I’d personally make her some snacks from Li County.” When Lady Yao heard that The Old Princess had arrived, she had rushed straight to Banyue Pavilion without even taking the time to return to her room and change.

Now that she saw The Old Princess, she realized how discourteous she must look.

“Please forgive me for my lack of manners,” Lady Yao said somewhat nervously. Deep down, she was worried that this might cause Weiwei to be looked down upon in her husband’s family in the future.

“Your thoughtfulness is truly admirable. Weiwei and I were just discussing how her pregnancy is unstable and that there’s no need for her to hurry back to the An Prince’s residence. I’ll have to trouble you and your husband to take care of her,” The Old Princess said.

She did not think Lady Yao was being provincial because she had gone into the kitchen herself. Instead, she was rather pleased. After all, very few women from the great aristocratic families in the capital personally cooked.

And she had experienced firsthand how delicate pregnant women could be—and how particular their appetites were.

“Please forgive me for troubling you, dear in-law. Weiwei said she would return to the prince’s residence tomorrow, but I’m not sure what to do now,” Lady Yao said. She could not tell whether The Old Princess genuinely wanted her daughter to remain at the Li residence or was merely being polite.

“We’re family, so there’s no need for all that empty courtesy. Weiwei’s pregnancy is a joyous occasion for both our families. For now, we should simply focus on taking good care of her. I’m sure she’ll be more comfortable staying here with you. If she wants to return to the An Prince’s residence, this old woman will welcome her with open arms. But if she wishes to remain here, I won’t hold it against her in the slightest.

“Besides, this is Weiwei’s first pregnancy. She’ll probably feel safer staying here with her own family. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to send someone to the prince’s residence to fetch it.”

The Old Princess spoke in a hearty, straightforward manner.

Seeing Lady Yao’s unease, The Old Princess deliberately asked what kind of food she had made and said that she would like to learn how to prepare it as well. The two women then headed toward the kitchen, one following the other.

Watching them leave, Li Zhiwei could not help but laugh helplessly. She had originally thought that her mother-in-law had come to demand an explanation, but instead, she had come to reassure her.

She had never expected the old lady to be so warm and friendly with Lady Yao that she would even ask to learn how to cook from her.

“Miss, The Old Princess seems quite easygoing,” Cuiguo whispered from the side.

A small head peeked through the doorway. Xu Qingshi wanted to come in, but seemed afraid that Li Zhiwei would not welcome him.

“Qingshi, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍what are you doing over there?” Li Zhiwei turned around and noticed the little boy.

She guessed that Xu Qingshi had come with The Old Princess.

However, his timid, hesitant manner seemed completely unlike his usual self.

“Mother.” Xu Qingshi pursed his little lips and walked over to stand beside Li Zhiwei’s bed.

“What’s the matter?” Seeing his pitiful expression, Li Zhiwei reached out and lightly scratched the tip of his nose.

“Mother, everyone’s saying that you have a little brother or sister in your belly. Is it true?” Xu Qingshi looked at Li Zhiwei’s flat stomach. He felt certain that those people had to be lying.

Li Zhiwei smiled gently and answered, “Of course it’s true. Our Qingshi is going to be a big brother. Aren’t you happy?”

As she spoke, Li Zhiwei reached over and straightened Xu Qingshi’s collar.

Xu Qingshi froze for a moment.

A big brother?

He did not know what it felt like to be one, but Mother seemed so gentle right now—gentler than she had ever been before. Since that was the case, he decided that having a little brother or sister might be rather nice after all.

With that thought, Xu Qingshi nodded and answered softly, “I’m happy!”

“Then will it be a little brother or a little sister?” Xu Qingshi asked curiously.

“I don’t know whether it’s a little brother or a little sister yet. Which would you like, Qingshi?” Li Zhiwei asked patiently.

She thought to herself that this little boy certainly had plenty of ideas.

“Mother, can I have both a little brother and a little sister?” Xu Qingshi thought about it. He wanted both a little brother and a little sister, so why couldn’t he have both?

“That might not be possible. Mother’s belly is very small. It can only hold one baby,” Li Zhiwei said with a laugh.

This child was rather greedy. He wanted both a little brother and a little sister.

Even so, she gently explained to Xu Qingshi that there could only be one baby in her belly.

“All right.” Xu Qingshi sounded a little disappointed.

He continued wondering why he could not have two at the same time.

“But what do you think is in Mother’s belly—a little brother or a little sister?” Li Zhiwei teased him.

Xu Qingshi thought about it.

A little brother or a little sister?

“Mother, can I want a little brother today and then want a little sister tomorrow?” Xu Qingshi was still pondering the question of having a little brother and a little sister when he looked at Li Zhiwei and voiced the thought he had been keeping inside.

Everyone in the room burst out laughing.

“Young Heir, the baby in your mother’s belly isn’t coming out today. It has to stay in your mother’s belly for ten full months before it can be born,” Cuiguo explained with a laugh as she crouched down beside him.

“How many days are ten months?” Xu Qingshi asked, his brows furrowing tightly. He could not understand why it had to take so long.