"Aren’t I fine right now?" Ye Qichi turned her body around.
"What would your mother do if anything happened to you?!" Qin Mengxi said, her eyes welling with tears.
"Don’t you still have one in your belly?" Ye Qichi teased on purpose.
Qin Mengxi’s face flushed red.
She looked at Ye Qichi with some surprise.
"Your father and his big mouth," Qin Mengxi said shyly, scolding him.
"Father is just happy," Ye Qichi smiled and said.
"Of course he’s happy. He doesn’t have to give birth or suffer," Qin Mengxi complained.
But within the tone of her complaint, it was evident that the relationship between Qin Mengxi and Ye Zhengde had made great strides.
Ye Qichi did not expose it.
She changed the subject, "Mother, I really entrust the child to you."
As she spoke, she placed Anqi in front of Qin Mengxi for her to see.
"Don’t worry. Just yesterday, when your father came back and mentioned it, I agreed right away. Both you and the Prince have no children yet; having a child in the Prince Mansion is really not convenient," Qin Mengxi said, "Qi’er, rest assured, I will treat her as my own daughter."
"What do you mean ’as your own daughter’." Ye Qichi smiled, "I’m her mother."
"You say you’re the child’s mother... you haven’t even had a child yet, how can you call yourself ’mother’."
"I don’t care," Ye Qichi acted spoilt, "she can only call you grandmother."
"..." Qin Mengxi could not argue with Ye Qichi.
She agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly.
Ye Qichi handed the child over to the nanny beside Qin Mengxi and explained the basics about Anqi.
"Mother, Aunt Zhou has been behaving lately, right?!" Ye Qichi asked.
"Ever since that scandal with Ye Zhilan occurred and she was married off, Zhou Ruotang has calmed down. These days, after hearing that I’m pregnant, she showed no significant reactions and even sent some gifts over," Qin Mengxi replied.
"No matter what, it is essential to guard against others."
"Of course," Qin Mengxi nodded, "Aunt Zhou is malicious, and mother knows how to protect herself."
"Then I won’t worry too much," Ye Qichi smiled, "Besides, father is being very kind to you now."
Qin Mengxi’s face flushed red again.
Eagerly changing the subject, she asked, "Qi’er, have you felt any movement in your belly yet?"
It had been several months since their last meeting at the Minister Mansion.
She was already pregnant.
Yet her daughter’s belly still showed no sign.
Ye Qichi answered perfunctorily, "The Prince and I are not in a hurry."
"Not in a hurry, you’re already 17 years old. Next year you’ll be 18—practically an old maid," Qin Mengxi was incredibly anxious.
Such a blooming and beautiful age.
And yet to be called an old maid.
Where is the justice in that?!
Ye Qichi held back her irritation, "Okay, I get it. Anyway, take good care of yourself, mother, and also take good care of Anqi."
Qin Mengxi saw Ye Qichi getting somewhat impatient.
After a few more words of concern, she did not press further.
Yet she was slightly surprised by one thing, "Qi’er, has Prince Chen’s leg always been crippled, or..."
"It’s been healed," Ye Qichi replied.
"Oh, mother thought that..."
"Many people thought so. But Xiao Jinxing’s leg really was crippled, not faked. It was healed later on," Ye Qichi said. Of course, she didn’t mention she was the one who healed it, but she added, "Mother, I won’t hide it from you, Xiao Jinxing does have ambition, and he has a large chance of succeeding. Now that he’s risen to power, our Minister Mansion has naturally become the target of many forces. You must remind father to be cautious and wary of treachery."
"Alright," although Qin Mengxi had never been involved in politics, she was aware of the cutthroat intrigues.
"Furthermore, father must remain absolutely loyal to Xiao Jinxing," Ye Qichi urged, "Only Xiao Jinxing can be our Minister Mansion’s shield."
If they ever betrayed Xiao Jinxing.
The outcome would be just as it was in the original story.
The Ye Family would meet a devastating end, with everyone executed.
"Don’t worry, your father highly praises Prince Chen right now; he will be loyal to the Prince," Qin Mengxi assured her.
Ye Qichi reiterated her warnings because, in the original story, Ye Zhengde followed Xiao Jinsen.
She feared history would repeat itself.
"Mother, the Prince is in a hurry to return, so I won’t delay any longer," Ye Qichi said.
"Leaving so soon, I really can’t bear to let you go..." Qin Mengxi’s eyes reddened again.
"Don’t cry while you’re pregnant; it’s easy to upset the fetus," Ye Qichi reminded her.
Qin Mengxi gently dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.
"I will take my leave now."
"Travel safely," Qin Mengxi advised.