The moment the topic came up, Hua Manman couldn’t resist playing the contrarian and shot back without thinking.

"Why does it have to be a problem with me? Couldn’t it be a problem with Prince Zhao?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she cursed inwardly.

’I’ve said the wrong thing!’

Madam He and Hua Dingzong’s eyes widened in unison as they stared at Hua Manman in disbelief.

’To think that the majestic and fearsome Prince Zhao actually suffered from a secret fertility problem!’

’But then again, there had long been rumors about this in the capital. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’

Hua Manman held out her hands pleadingly. "Listen to me, it’s not what you think!"

Hua Dingzong said hurriedly, "Lower your voice. Don’t let any outsiders hear."

Madam He gripped her daughter’s hand and reminded her in a hushed tone.

"Your father’s right. It’s one thing for us family to know about this, but it absolutely must not spread."

Hua Manman tried desperately to explain, "I was just talking nonsense! The Prince is in excellent health; there’s nothing wrong with him at all."

Madam He and Hua Dingzong glanced at each other, then said to their daughter in unison.

"You don’t have to say anything. We understand."

Hua Manman was on the verge of tears. "What do you understand? You don’t understand anything! I really just had a slip of the tongue!"

Madam He gently patted the back of her hand and comforted her in a heartfelt tone.

"You don’t have to be afraid to face it. We’re your parents. You can tell us about any difficulties you’re facing.

Even... even if it’s something like finding a doctor for Prince Zhao, we can help."

Hua Dingzong chimed in.

"That’s right. Although our Zhong’an Bo Mansion can’t compare to the Prince Zhao Mansion in status, we have our own connections. Who knows, maybe we can actually help?"

Hua Manman said, "What will it take for you to believe that there’s nothing wrong with Prince Zhao?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Madam He and Hua Dingzong said in unison.

"Have a child."

Hua Manman: "..."

She silently closed her mouth, her face a mask of agony.

’Being pressured to have a baby is just terrifying.’

Hua Manman let out a long sigh, looking completely dejected.

"I’m telling the truth. There’s really nothing wrong with Prince Zhao.

I’m the one with the problem. I’m the one who doesn’t want to have a baby.

I feel like after having a baby, my entire life would have to revolve around it.

All my hobbies and interests would have to take a backseat.

I’d have to be focused on the child’s every need, all the time. Even my own happiness and sadness would be dictated by them.

I would become less and less like myself. At that point, I wouldn’t even be me anymore.

What’s the point of living for someone who has lost their sense of self?

I might as well be dead."

Madam He and Hua Dingzong were startled by her words.

Madam He gripped her daughter’s hand tightly and pleaded.

"You can’t do anything foolish! If you died, what would I do?!"

Hua Dingzong’s brow furrowed. "How can you think like that? As a woman, bearing children is your duty—"

Before he could finish, Madam He cut him off.

Madam He yelled.

"Manman is already like this, and instead of comforting her, you lecture her? What kind of father are you?

Will you not be satisfied until you’ve driven Manman to her death?!"

Hua Dingzong was furious. "I’m only doing this for her own good! If she were some other family’s daughter, I wouldn’t bother scolding her!"

Madam He retorted, "Lecture, lecture, lecture! All you know how to do all day is lecture everyone else. Why don’t you try lecturing yourself for a change?

You’re an old man and you still haven’t managed to land a single official position. All you do is coast on the title your ancestors left you, and you’ll have to depend on your children to support you in the future.

You’re not embarrassed, but I’m embarrassed for you!"

Hua Dingzong pointed at her. "You... you... you... you..."

Madam He shot back, "What about me? If you think anything I said was wrong, feel free to argue back!"

Hua Dingzong’s chest heaved violently with anger, his old face flushing crimson.

If he were a balloon, he would have exploded on the spot from pure rage.

’AAAHHH! How did I end up marrying such a shrew?!’

"A disgrace to the family! A disgrace!"

After spitting out these words, Hua Dingzong stormed out and headed home in a fury.

A moment later, Gao Shan hurried in.

"Why did Mr. Bo just leave?"

In front of an outsider, Madam He dropped her previous shrewish demeanor and said calmly.

"Let him go. Pay him no mind."

’An old man, always throwing tantrums like a little child.’

’She used to indulge him, but not anymore. Her daughter was now the Princess Consort, and her two sons were successful, filial adults. She had plenty of backing now and wasn’t about to spoil him any longer!’

Gao Shan asked cautiously, "Should I go prepare a carriage in advance?"

Hua Manman asked, "Prepare a carriage for what?"

Gao Shan replied, "When Mr. Bo left, he took the Uncle’s Mansion’s carriage with him."

Madam He snorted. "Childish!"

Gao Shan lowered her head, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.

Hua Manman said with a grin.

"Mother, you don’t have much going on lately anyway. Why don’t you stay here for a couple of days?

You’re always working so hard at home. This is the perfect chance to take a vacation and get some proper rest."

At first, Madam He was reluctant.

’She didn’t want to be a bother to her daughter.’

But on second thought, her daughter was injured and needed someone to look after her.

Although that girl, Si Yun, was clever enough, she couldn’t possibly be as attentive as her own mother.

Madam He asked hesitantly, "The Prince won’t be displeased, will he?"

Gao Shan replied tactfully.

"Please don’t worry. The Prince will certainly be delighted to hear you’re staying."

And so, Madam He accepted her daughter’s suggestion and decided to stay at the Prince Mansion for a couple of days.

After Hua Manman’s little scare, Madam He was too frightened to bring up the topic of having children again.

Hua Manman breathed a secret sigh of relief.

’Phew, I finally got past the great baby-pressure hurdle!’

When Li Ji returned to the Prince Mansion, he found there was an extra person at home.

Facing her notoriously fearsome son-in-law, Madam He was rather anxious. "I’ll only stay for two days. As soon as Manman’s injury has improved, I’ll leave right away. I won’t cause you any trouble."

Li Ji, for his part, dropped his usual "smiling fox" facade and said with great sincerity.

"You can stay as long as you like. Please, think of this as your own home."

Madam He was stunned.

’He was so easy to talk to?’

’Completely different from the Evil God of the rumors!’

In truth, Li Ji wasn’t very good at interacting with elders.

He waited a moment, and seeing that Madam He had nothing else to say, he spoke.

"I’m going to see Manman."

Madam He said quickly, "Of course, of course. Manman is in her room. Please, go ahead. I’ll go to the kitchen to see if her medicinal soup is ready."

In the bedroom.

Hua Manman had already heard that Prince Zhao was back.

She heard footsteps approaching the door.

’From the rhythm and weight of the steps, the person outside had to be Prince Zhao!’