The Favored Heiress-Chapter 817: Too Doomed

"Grandpa?" Li Qiao looked up, her eyes and brows showing no emotion.

Duan Shuyuan nodded, her gaze lingering on Li Qiao’s face, and said softly, "After we brought you home that year, to prevent relatives and friends from visiting and arousing suspicion, I went to your grandfather’s house to ’sit the month.’

At that time, your grandmother was still alive, and she would take care of you during the day. Besides the two of them, no one knew your real origin. With many servants in the house, gossip was likely, and once people found out I wasn’t really pregnant, even reason couldn’t make things clear in that era, and you would have been in danger."

The social morals of more than two decades ago were relatively feudal and conservative.

She and Li Guangming received the news when Jing Yilan was already six months pregnant.

Duan Shuyuan had to prepare in advance, which caused many people to find her suddenly protruding six-month pregnant belly strange.

The more it was like that, the more it attracted attention.

That’s why Duan Shuyuan went to Duan Jingming’s house to sit the month and indeed avoided all those who came to probe into the truth.

Li Qiao came back to her senses and looked at Duan Shuyuan intently, then stepped forward and hugged her, "Mom, you’ve worked hard."

She had never asked in detail about the past, firstly because it wasn’t necessary, and secondly because she was worried it might make Duan Shuyuan overthink.

Even though Duan Shuyuan mentioned it lightly, she could still imagine how much effort and preparation they had made to protect her back then.

Duan Shuyuan smiled and patted Li Qiao, "What hard work? You’re my daughter; taking care of you is my natural duty."

Li Qiao swallowed, and without hesitation, with an arm looped around hers, said, "Mom, you’re going to be a grandma."

Duan Shuyuan didn’t react at first and smiled warmly nodding, "Hmm, I’m going to be a grandma."

The next second—

"Ah?" Duan Shuyuan exclaimed, instinctively looking at Li Qiao’s belly, her voice rising, "I’m going to be a grandma? A grandma... Baby, are you pregnant?"

Li Qiao smiled and nodded, "Yes."

Duan Shuyuan felt the room spin, and she carefully touched her, "How... How long has it been?"

"About a month."

Duan Shuyuan’s eyes reddened and, stroking Li Qiao’s abdomen, she exclaimed, "I never thought I’d become a grandma before becoming a mother-in-law. Those three brats, they’re done for."

Li Qiao: "..."

...

Just before lunch, Duan Shuyuan personally cooked a nutritious soup for Li Qiao and called Li Guangming back with a phone call.

In the living room, Li Guangming asked after Li Qiao warmly as soon as he entered, and then chatted with Shang Yu about household matters.

Just as Duan Shuyuan walked out to invite them to eat, she saw Li Guangming take out two cigars and offer one to Shang Yu.

She quickly stepped forward, slapped Li Guangming’s arm, and one of the cigars fell straight into the teacup.

Li Guangming frowned helplessly, "Wife, what are you doing?"

Duan Shuyuan scooped up the cigars from the table and threw them into the trash can, "From now on, no smoking in the house."

"Hmm?" Li Guangming looked at her, confused, "Why can’t we smoke all of a sudden?"

Duan Shuyuan glared at him with a fierce face and warned in a low voice, "If you want to smoke, go outside—don’t affect the development of my grandchild."

"What grandchild? Who’s devel..."

Li Guangming, following Duan Shuyuan’s line of sight, let the other cigar drop as well.

He was stunned for several seconds, his eyes going from confusion to joy. He smacked his thigh and couldn’t contain his excitement, "Girl, am I going to be a grandpa?"

Duan Shuyuan punched his shoulder, "Keep your voice down."

Li Guangming leaned forward, his voice tinged with excitement as he asked, "My girl, are you really pregnant?"

Li Qiao turned her head and made eye contact with Shang Yu before slightly smiling and responding.

Li Guangming sharply inhaled, unable to contain his joy, and repeatedly slapped his thigh, "Good, good, good, this is just too wonderful, I’m going to have a grandchild!"

Then, Shang Yu, who was leaning against the armrest of the sofa, lifted his head with a profound look, his thin lips slightly parted, "It’s going to be a granddaughter."

Li Guangming and Duan Shuyuan looked at each other, both speaking in unison, "You’ve already found out?"

The man raised his thick eyebrows, his lips parting with deep meaning, "Hmm, it’s going to be a girl."

This word ’going to’ was very cleverly put.

Li Qiao propped her forehead silently and sighed. If it were a boy...

Then she would just have to give him a daughter next time.

...

At three in the afternoon, Li Qiao and Shang Yu set off to leave.

Mr. and Mrs. Li escorted them all the way to the door, watching the business car drive off into the distance before turning back, shoulder to shoulder.

Li Guangming, appearing contemplative, slowed his pace, "Our girl has a weak constitution, and now she’s gotten sick just as she’s gotten pregnant. She needs some nourishing food, otherwise it might affect her ability to keep up."

Duan Shuyuan chimed in agreement, "I’ll go buy some this afternoon."

"I’ll go with you," Li Guangming said as he reached for his phone, ready to call his secretary. After thinking for a moment, he then suggested, "While we’re at it, let’s find a design team to redecorate one of the guest rooms on the third floor, turn it into a nursery for our granddaughter..."

Duan Shuyuan pondered for two seconds, then shook her head, "No, no, the guest room faces north and doesn’t get good light. A nursery needs sunlight."

Li Guangming walked a few steps forward with his hands behind his back, "Then..."

"Li San’s room is well positioned, has good sunlight, and is quiet. It would be perfect for our granddaughter."

Li Guangming nodded seriously, "Hmm, not a bad idea, let’s use Li San’s room then."

Their conversation faded into the distance as they walked away, with Duan Shuyuan’s reminder still audible, "Don’t talk recklessly about Qiaoqiao’s pregnancy, we need to keep it a secret..."

Meanwhile, Li San, who was far off at the border, had no idea that by the time he returned home, his bedroom would have become a pink nursery for a baby girl.

...

The next day, Li Qiao’s cold symptoms had mostly subsided, and Shang Yu was also getting ready to go to the office.

After three days back in the South Sea, he had stayed home to take care of her, likely leaving many matters at Yan Emperor Group unattended.

After Shang Yu left, Li Qiao went to the study at a leisurely pace, turned on the computer, logged into the external internet, and checked the social networking sites in the British Imperial territory. Then, she picked up her phone and dialed Cheng Mo’s number.

"Ma’am," came the voice over the phone.

Li Qiao leaned back in her chair with a lazy posture, "What’s the situation over at British Imperial?"

Keyboard clicking sounds came through the headset; after a moment, Cheng Mo responded, "The Charlman family has yet to make a public statement, but there’s been a lot of astroturfing in an attempt to control the narrative. The trending topics are still there, although Paul Taylor’s prominence has diminished considerably. From what the netizens are posting, he’s not very well-known to the public."

A hint of derision appeared in Li Qiao’s eyes, "Send out the second package of documents."

Cheng Mo paused, "Now?"

Li Qiao glanced at the time and squinted her eyes as she instructed, "Local time at eight, send it out on schedule. Also, send a copy of that document to the Lower House, applying to reopen the investigation in the name of the public. If there’s no response from the Lower House within three days, let me know right away."

"Understood, ma’am," came the reply.

Hanging up the phone, Li Qiao caressed her mobile phone, her expression cold.

The information Yun Lih brought couldn’t be wasted.

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