Chapter 638

Fortunately, just as everyone had taken their seats, Liu Ming rushed into Benevolence Hall and cried excitedly, “The Old Princess, wonderful news! The Princess Consort has returned!”

Only after seeing everyone in the room—and especially the Emperor and Empress—did Liu Ming realize that he had been so excited he had forgotten they were still in Benevolence Hall.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, please forgive me!” Liu Ming hurriedly fell to his knees and begged for mercy.

“It’s all right. Xu Heming and Princess Consort An have returned?” Zhu Jingchen was actually rather curious about how Xu Heming had managed to coax his wife back. However, with Li Tianyou present, it was clearly inappropriate to ask too directly.

“Your Majesty, they have returned. This old servant will have the Prince and Princess Consort come to pay their respects at once,” Liu Ming quickly replied.

“Your Majesty, Princess Consort An has only just given birth. Why don’t Madam Li and I go see her instead? You and Prince An can discuss whatever matters you have,” the Empress suggested with a smile, considerate of the fact that Li Zhiwei had given birth to three children and should not be made to travel about.

“That is an excellent suggestion,” Zhu Jingchen said, having no objection. “Steward Liu, take me to your Prince’s study.”

After all, he had no particular interest in meeting Li Zhiwei. Besides, it was only natural for a woman who had given birth to observe a period of confinement. He was not the sort of unreasonable emperor who would ignore such things.

He only needed to see Xu Heming.

Now it was Li Tianyou’s turn to feel awkward. For a moment, he did not know where he should go.

“Beloved Minister Li, come with me,” Zhu Jingchen said to Li Tianyou.

After everyone had left, only the two children remained in the room. They surrounded the three tiny babies.

“They just said that Princess Consort An has returned. Aren’t you going to see your new mother?” the Third Prince asked curiously.

“No,” Xu Qingshi replied.

The thought that his father had gone behind his back and found him a new stepmother made him deeply unhappy.

Yet Xu Heming had never asked his opinion. Now, he had even brought the woman back.

Songmo Courtyard

“The Emperor and Empress have both come. Is it really all right if I don’t go see them?” Although Li Zhiwei knew that she was still in confinement, the Emperor and Empress had come to the residence. Would it be inappropriate for her not to pay her respects?

“You’re still in confinement, so you don’t need to go. Whatever needs to be handled, I’ll take care of it for you,” Xu Heming said. He was unwilling to let Li Zhiwei suffer even the slightest inconvenience.

He was also displeased. He could not understand why Zhu Jingchen had come to his residence for no apparent reason.

Was there really something that could not wait until tomorrow morning?

Had the man forgotten that he had driven his wife away by drowning her in official business?

Could he not give him a little time to coax his wife back?

The more Xu Heming thought about it, the more he felt that Zhu Jingchen was a heartless exploiter who did nothing but squeeze him dry.

“Prince, Princess Consort, the Old Princess has sent someone to pass on a message. The Empress is coming over. Prince, the Emperor is waiting for you in the study,” Xu Song called softly from outside the door.

“You should go,” Li Zhiwei said. Since the Empress had said she would come over, there was no need for her to go there herself.

“Lie down and rest properly. They came here secretly, so you don’t need to be too nervous,” Xu Heming reminded her, still somewhat worried.

Although the Emperor and Empress had come to the residence, they had not made a public spectacle of it. Xu Heming knew that the two of them did not like making a grand display, so there was naturally no need for an overly formal reception.

“I understand.” Li Zhiwei nodded. Fortunately, Nanny Luo had already taken the wet nurse to find the children.

Otherwise, she was worried the babies might not be able to bear going hungry for too long.

Still, the thought that she had not yet had a proper look at her three little ones made Li Zhiwei feel rather sad.

The Empress arrived soon after.

“Your subject greets Your Majesty, Empress.” Li Zhiwei stood by the bed and curtsied to the Empress.

“Why have you gotten up? Lie down at once.” The Empress personally helped her lie back down, only relaxing once she was settled.

“How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?” the Empress asked with concern.

“Please rest assured, Empress. I feel fine.” Li Zhiwei quickly shook her head.

“You’ve just returned from the gates of death. You must take good care of yourself.” Seeing that Li Zhiwei was still energetic, though her complexion was a little pale, the Empress felt somewhat reassured.

“You’re too kind, Empress. I’m sorry to have made you worry.” Li Zhiwei looked a little embarrassed.

“I’m not here to see a spectacle. I’m simply delighted. Three babies in one birth—I’ve never seen anything like it before.” The Empress smiled.

“Mother, how are the babies—” The moment Li Zhiwei thought of her children, she could not help asking the Old Princess beside her.

She missed them terribly.

“They’re in the Pine and Crane Hall. I’ll have them brought over right away,” the Old Princess hurriedly said.

“Thank you, Mother.” Li Zhiwei truly missed her children, so she did not refuse.

“The Princess Consort of An went through such suffering giving birth this time. The Prince of An’s household must treat her well. If you mistreat her, I will not stand for it.” The Empress smiled as she spoke to the Old Princess.

“Your Majesty is absolutely right. Zhiwei, don’t worry. If Heming ever bullies you, come to me and I’ll stand up for you. This Prince of An’s household can do without him, but it cannot do without you,” the Old Princess quickly assured her.

“Thank you, Mother. Could I trouble you to persuade the Prince to let my parents return home? My sister-in-law is pregnant as well. If my parents remain here in the Prince’s residence, she may worry and suffer harm to the baby.” Li Zhiwei spoke without the slightest hesitation.

“Your parents have been staying here all this time?” The Old Princess was stunned. She truly had not known about this.

“Please forgive us for making you laugh, Your Grace,” Lady Yao said, looking a little uncomfortable.

“Old Princess, the Li family is quite large. Now that Madam Wen is pregnant, she has no elder by her side. It really is not ideal,” the Empress said, her eyes shifting as a thought struck her. She had never expected there to be this complication as well.

She would have to tell the Emperor all about it later.

“Dear family, don’t worry. I’ll make the arrangements and have someone escort you home,” the Old Princess promised. Inwardly, she cursed her son. What he had done was truly inconsiderate.

**Study**

“Prince An, congratulations! You’ve gained two more sons and a daughter.” Seeing Xu Heming, Zhu Jingchen immediately teased him with a smile.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Xu Heming’s face lit up at the words. Naturally, he was delighted that Li Zhiwei had given him two sons.

“Old Xu, tell me—does your family have some secret recipe for producing sons? If it’s something good, you ought to share it with us.” Zhu Jingchen leaned toward Xu Heming, asking curiously.

“Your Majesty, there is no secret recipe.” Xu Heming answered, but he could not hide the smile at the corners of his lips.

Throughout the capital—or rather, throughout the entire Kingdom of Lannuo—there had never been a case of triplets being born at once.

How could he not feel proud?

“Ah, I want to have triplets too,” Zhu Jingchen said enviously.

“Your Majesty is still young. If you wish to have children, you can father many more princes,” Xu Heming said, looking at Zhu Jingchen.

After all, with so many consorts in the imperial harem, he was bound to have plenty of heirs.

“But there aren’t any triplets in the imperial palace,” Zhu Jingchen said regretfully.

“Your Majesty can take more consorts and bestow your favor evenly. Let alone three—even if you wanted ten, it wouldn’t be impossible,” Xu Heming said with a smile.