The Double-Chapter 569 - 168: Good News_2

Li Xian and Li Zhongnan were both startled, and Princess Yongning frowned, "What is there to be happy about?"

The imperial physician smiled, "Your Highness, you are with child!"

"With child?" Li Xian’s expression was strange, and Li Zhongnan was also stunned.

"Yes, according to Your Highness’s pulse, you should be about one month pregnant." The imperial physician turned to Li Zhongnan with a smile, "Congratulations to Lord Li, on the joy of a golden grandchild!"

Princess Yongning was both shocked and delighted, exclaiming, "I am pregnant?"

The imperial physician confirmed, "Indeed!"

All the maidservants in the room knelt, congratulating her; just by their reaction, it seemed indeed like a momentous occasion. Princess Yongning looked at Li Xian, but saw an odd look on his face, devoid of any joy. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering if Li Xian doubted the child was his. But upon reflection, to make Li Xian believe that the child was truly of Li Family’s blood, since she had married into the family over a month ago, she had not once stepped out, naturally there could be no affair with another man. And the imperial physician she had bribed earlier had said one month, meaning the child was conceived on the wedding night; there shouldn’t be any mistake, right?

Li Xian couldn’t tell, could he?

"Husband?" Princess Yongning called him, her heart filled with uneasy probing.

As if snapped back to reality by her call, Li Xian replied "Good," and quickly came to Princess Yongning’s side, holding her shoulders and smiling, "I did not expect the Princess to be blessed with such good news just after joining our household. This is a blessing for the Li family, and for me as well." He rewarded the imperial physician, who left brimming with happiness, clutching silver. Only then did Princess Yongning breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Li Lian asked, "Elder sister-in-law, do you still feel unwell?"

"Not anymore." Yongning smiled and shook her head, "I was feeling uncomfortable before and couldn’t find the reason, never expecting it was because I was with child. Some days ago, I caught a cold, thankfully it didn’t harm the baby. The imperial physician said my child is very healthy, that’s reassuring."

"Now the Princess should focus on keeping herself healthy, so that the child will also be healthy and safe; that’s the most important thing." Li Xian said with a smile, "Later, I’ll have someone go get fetus-preserving medicine, and the Princess should also pay attention to her diet and daily needs from now on."

Although he spoke tenderly, Yongning couldn’t help but feel there was no real affection in Li Xian’s words, as if he was talking to a stranger. His words also lacked anticipation for the child’s birth, instead sounding hollow.

Princess Yongning didn’t like this feeling; she also couldn’t detect any excitement on the faces of Li Zhongnan and Li Lian. Apart from the moment the imperial physician announced the pregnancy, when they showed brief surprise, they had shown little else since. Could it be the way of the Li family? Or did the Li family not wish for their own descendants at all? Weren’t large families eager to spread their branches and leaves early?

Princess Yongning found herself somewhat puzzled by the Li family.

She excused herself needing to rest due to her weakness and asked the rest of the Li family to leave, keeping only Mei Xiang with her. After confirming that the Li family members had left the courtyard, Princess Yongning asked Mei Xiang, "Why do I feel that they are not looking forward to this child? They say blood relatives can sense these things; could it be that Li Xian, sensing that this child is not of his own flesh and blood, behaves this way? Going forward, will they discover that I was pregnant before marrying into the Li family?"

Princess Yongning was somewhat afraid; after becoming pregnant, her courage seemed smaller than before, perhaps because she now had a vulnerability. And she didn’t want anything to go wrong with this child.

Mei Xiang consoled her, "No, Your Highness is overthinking. Everything has been seamlessly arranged regarding your pregnancy, the imperial physician won’t leak a whisper. Even if the Li family wishes to grasp at anything, they are destined to find nothing. In my opinion, it may simply be that since Your Highness got pregnant so soon after marrying into the Li family, they are not yet adjusted to it. It will all be fine after some more time passes."

"Furthermore, Eldest Young Master Li was right, Your Highness," Mei Xiang said, "the most important thing now is to keep yourself and the little descendant inside you healthy."

Princess Yongning slowly reached down to her abdomen, "But what can I do? Now I am in the Li family alone, with little power, and I have to protect such a small one; I always need to be careful."

She felt a trace of melancholy.

...

After leaving Princess Yongning’s bedroom, Li Zhongnan and his sons went directly to Li Zhongnan’s study. He dismissed everyone, with only trusted attendants guarding the door. As soon as the door closed, he immediately confronted Li Xian, "What’s going on? How could she be pregnant?!"