Chapter 622

Only after watching Xu Heming leave did Imperial Physician Zhou finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At the same time, however, he could not help worrying. With Prince An taking such an extreme stance, who knew whether something might happen?

Still, there was nothing an outsider like him could do about it.

Xu Heming’s mind was filled with images of Li Zhiwei coming to harm because she was carrying twins.

Pavilion of the Companion Moon

Xu Qingshi clung tightly to Li Zhiwei’s hand, refusing to leave no matter what.

“Qingshi, we should be going back now.” Seeing that Xu Qingshi refused to let go, The Old Princess felt both worried and a little jealous.

After all, she had raised him for so many years, yet he had never been this dependent on her.

“No, Grandmother. I want to stay here with Mother.” Xu Qingshi shook his head as he held on to Li Zhiwei’s hand.

“Your mother is pregnant. It isn’t convenient for you to stay here.” The Old Princess was worried that Xu Qingshi might disturb Li Zhiwei’s rest, so she wanted to take him home as soon as possible.

“I won’t bother Mother.” Xu Qingshi looked aggrieved. He was afraid that if he left, his father would truly have the babies in Mother’s belly killed.

Although he did not understand how such tiny babies could be killed, they were still his younger brother and sister. He had to guard against his father.

“Why not let the child stay here? There are plenty of servants in the residence to keep an eye on him.” Seeing this, Lady Yao carefully suggested it to The Old Princess.

“If this were any other time, I wouldn’t object. But Weiwei hasn’t recovered yet, and this child is full of energy. I’m afraid he’ll disturb her while she rests.” The Old Princess frowned.

She could not understand why Xu Qingshi, who was usually so well-behaved, was being so stubborn today.

Could it be because his parents had been away for too long this time, and he was afraid they would abandon him again?

Thinking of this, The Old Princess sighed inwardly. Perhaps she should let the child stay at the Li residence for a few more days.

“Dear in-law, I’m terribly sorry for making a spectacle of myself in front of you. This child…” The Old Princess looked at Lady Yao guiltily.

“I’ll let him stay here for two days.” The Old Princess sighed before adding apologetically.

“Qingshi, you may stay here for no more than two days. Remember, you absolutely must not disturb your mother, understood?” The Old Princess looked at Xu Qingshi and instructed him solemnly.

“Grandmother, your grandson understands.” Hearing this, Xu Qingshi finally relaxed.

In any case, he would agree to stay for only two days for now. When the time came, he could find another excuse to remain.

“Dear in-law, please don’t worry. Qingshi is a well-behaved child. He certainly won’t bother Wei’er.” Lady Yao hurriedly reassured her.

Xu Qingshi finally got his wish and was allowed to stay at the Li residence.

When Xu Heming returned once more, he saw Xu Qingshi holding Li Zhiwei’s hand and standing obediently beside her.

“Why haven’t you gone home yet?” Xu Heming asked, looking displeased as he stared at Xu Qingshi.

“I don’t want to go back. I want to stay with Mother.” Xu Qingshi looked at Xu Heming warily, his eyes filled with resentment.

“Nonsense. Xu Song, take the heir back.” Xu Heming’s face turned cold as he ordered Xu Song, who stood behind him.

“Yes, Your Highness. Heir, let’s go.” Xu Song hurriedly addressed Xu Qingshi.

“No! I don’t want to go back!” Xu Qingshi cried out in alarm.

He was afraid that once he left, his father would have his younger brother and sister killed.

“Xu Qingshi, don’t make me say it a second time!” Xu Heming frowned, unable to understand why Xu Qingshi was resisting him so fiercely today.

“I refuse to leave! If I leave, you’ll kill my younger brother and sister! You’re a bad man!” Xu Qingshi spread his arms and stood in front of Li Zhiwei, glaring at Xu Heming. His eyes held not only anger, but wariness as well.

Li Zhiwei was utterly bewildered when she heard this. She could not understand how a child like Xu Qingshi could say such a thing.

“Qingshi, don’t talk nonsense.” Li Zhiwei assumed that he was merely speaking foolishly because he was young.

“I’m not talking nonsense!” Xu Qingshi insisted, standing firmly in front of Li Zhiwei.

He seemed determined to protect Li Zhiwei and the children in her womb to the death.

“I heard you say it to Imperial Physician Zhou with my own ears! You said you were going to get rid of the babies in Mother’s belly! I asked Nanny Luo about it. ‘Getting rid of them’ means killing them!” Xu Qingshi angrily pointed at Xu Heming.

Xu Heming swept him with a cold glance. He had never expected Xu Qingshi to overhear his conversation with Imperial Physician Zhou.

And now, the child had exposed everything in front of Li Zhiwei.

“Xu Song, what are you waiting for? Take the heir away!” Xu Heming did not give Xu Qingshi another chance to speak.

“Your Highness?” Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Heming in confusion.

He wanted to get rid of the babies?

Why?

“Weiwei, listen to me.” Xu Heming sat down beside Li Zhiwei and gently took her hand.

“What Qingshi said—is it true?” Li Zhiwei looked at the silent Xu Heming. She already understood everything.

Xu Qingshi had been telling the truth.

Xu Heming did not want the children in her womb.

Why?

“Yes.” Meeting Li Zhiwei’s direct gaze, Xu Heming ultimately nodded.

“Why?” Li Zhiwei pulled her hand free from his grasp and asked softly. At that moment, it felt as though a massive stone were pressing down on her heart.

She had thought that becoming pregnant was something to celebrate. She had never imagined that Xu Heming would not want the children in her womb.

At the thought, tears began streaming down Li Zhiwei’s cheeks.

“Weiwei, listen to me. I’m only thinking this way because I’m afraid something might happen to you. That’s why I thought… perhaps we shouldn’t keep these children.” Xu Heming hurriedly took her hand again and explained softly.

“Your Highness, how do you know something will definitely happen?” Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Heming with reddened eyes. She could not understand why he was so certain that she and the children would meet with disaster.

“Weiwei, I can’t accept even the possibility of losing you,” Xu Heming explained quietly.

“Your Highness, how will we know whether the children and I will be safe if we don’t even try?” Li Zhiwei asked unwillingly.

“Weiwei…” Xu Heming tried to persuade her again.

“Your Highness, since the children are in my womb, then I have the right to decide their fate. If you don’t want them, I do.” Li Zhiwei pulled her hand free once more and looked up at Xu Heming, her expression resolute.

“Weiwei?” For some reason, a trace of panic rose in Xu Heming’s heart as he looked at her.

He had a bad feeling about this.

“Your Highness, please leave.” Li Zhiwei turned around and refused to look at him again.

Even though Xu Heming could not see her face, he could still sense the resolve in her rejection.

Seeing her turn her back on him, Xu Heming found it difficult to accept. He and Li Zhiwei had always treated each other with mutual respect and courtesy. This was the first time she had ever been so cold toward him.

The feeling displeased Xu Heming immensely.

“Your Highness, our young mistress needs to rest.” Seeing Li Zhiwei’s expression, Cuiguo stepped forward nervously and addressed Xu Heming.

She did not understand how her young mistress had suddenly come to be at odds with her husband.

However, Cuiguo did not dare ask.

Xu Heming still had matters to attend to. Thinking that Li Zhiwei might come to understand things by tomorrow, he left first.