"Prince Chen and Princess have had a difficult journey..." Ye Zhengde was speaking.
A palace maid approached Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing’s eyes flickered slightly.
Ye Qichi recognized her at a glance; it was Wen Jingtang’s palace maid, Liu Li.
After paying respects to them, Liu Li respectfully said to Xiao Jinxing, "The Empress Dowager heard about Prince Chen’s audience with the Emperor today and sent me to wait for Prince Chen."
Xiao Jinxing nodded slightly.
He had anticipated that the Empress Dowager would seek him out.
Even if she hadn’t, he would have taken the initiative to visit her.
He said to Ye Qichi, "I shall visit Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Ye Qichi, wait for me in the carriage later."
After his departure, only she and Ye Zhengde remained.
"Father, let’s take a walk," Ye Qichi said.
The two of them walked towards the exit of the Imperial Palace.
Intentionally slowing their pace.
Ye Zhengde said, "Prince Chen and you must have had a difficult journey."
"It’s been tiring, but it all turned out well in the end," Ye Qichi said. "Now that Xiao Jinxing is valued by the Emperor, we too can enjoy the benefits."
Ye Zhengde nodded heavily, and couldn’t help but express, "Your change has truly surprised your father."
Of course, she wouldn’t tell Ye Zhengde that, in a fundamental sense, she was no longer his daughter.
She quickly changed the subject, "How is mother?"
"Your mother is doing well."
"Is the concubine behaving?"
"After the incident with your half-sister last time, she’s confined herself at home for months and hasn’t stirred up any trouble."
"Is my half-sister living well after her marriage?"
"Yes, quite well," Ye Zhengde answered perfunctorily, clearly having not bothered with her wellbeing anymore.
It seems that the last incident has deeply disappointed him with Ye Zhilan.
"That’s good," Ye Qichi didn’t reveal anything.
It was just a casual inquiry after all.
She then said, "Father, on the way to Yuzhou City, I found a baby girl. I felt a strong connection with her and have been taking her with me. I was planning to bring her up in Prince Chen’s Mansion, but since the Prince doesn’t like children, I will have to send her to the Minister Mansion. Father, would you be willing to help me raise her?"
"Naturally," Ye Zhengde agreed without hesitation.
In the vast Minister Mansion, raising one more person was a simple matter.
He was concerned, "Prince Chen doesn’t like children?"
"Yes," and his personality is quite peculiar.
"But between you and Prince Chen... you still need to, carry on the family lineage," Ye Zhengde sounded worried.
Ye Qichi hadn’t thought about this issue at all.
She said, "There’s no rush on this matter."
"Qi’er, your father has heard that Prince Chen is fond of General Bai’s legitimate daughter," Ye Zhengde felt obliged to remind her.
In front of the powerful, there’s often some selfishness involved.
"I know," Ye Qichi replied nonchalantly, "Isn’t she fighting at the border?!"
"She will return eventually."
"When she does, she’s promised to Prince Chu; it’s not Prince Chen’s turn."
"That was in the past. When Prince Chen had nothing, the Bai Family naturally preferred Prince Chu, but now that Prince Chen holds power, combined with their childhood affection, it’s hard to say."
"Father, don’t worry about this," Ye Qichi said, "Whether Prince Chen ends up with Miss Bai or not, it’s something we cannot control. For now, you need only recognize that we and Prince Chen are of one mind. Even if Prince Chen betrays me in the future, he will at least not fail the Minister Mansion."
"Father, is mother pregnant?" Ye Qichi suddenly asked.
She did not want to linger on the previous topic.
If she had said that she would eventually divorce Xiao Jinxing, it might have alarmed Ye Zhengde to death.
"This..." Ye Zhengde’s face showed some discomfort.
Ye Qichi could see right through it, "Is she pregnant?"
"The doctor was called a few days ago; it’s not long, so no one else has been notified yet. And considering your mother is not very well and her age, she does not wish to be disturbed, hence it hasn’t been announced publicly," Ye Zhengde didn’t hide this from his daughter.
"Then you must take good care of mother. After some time, I will come to visit you and mother."
"It’s getting late; father should hurry back. I hope you spend more time with mother during her pregnancy."
At this moment, thinking of his wife, Ye Zhengde also felt some joy in his heart.
He no longer declined.
After expressing a few more words of concern to Ye Qichi, he hurriedly left.
Ye Qichi watched Ye Zhengde leave and proceeded towards the carriage parked by the palace entrance.
She had only taken a few steps.
When from afar, she saw a man standing there.
Ye Qichi’s steps hesitated.
Encountering Xiao Jinsen inside the vast Imperial Palace was definitely not a good thing.
Yet she still approached him with composure.
Xiao Jinsen was there waiting for Ye Qichi.
The wait had been a bit long.
He was somewhat impatient, but seeing Ye Qichi coming towards him with a smile, he seemed to lose the irritability he had felt.
"This consort pays respects to Prince," Ye Qichi greeted him with a bow.
"Princess Chen, please rise," Xiao Jinsen said distantly. "Today in the great hall, the Emperor highly praised you. Congratulations are in order."
Ye Qichi smiled faintly, "Prince Chu is too kind."
"Unexpectedly, you happen to be skilled in medical arts."
"I only know a little."
"Lately, I’ve been feeling slightly unwell, and despite consulting with the Imperial Physician and a Jianghu Doctor, it has not improved. I wonder if Princess Chen could give me a medical consultation?"