Xiao Yun didn't know if he was more surprised or delighted. He looked at Wang Qingyao in disbelief, "You're pregnant?!"
Seeing Xiao Yun so happy, Wang Qingyao felt a pang of guilt.
To deal with Old Madam Wang, she had bribed Doctor Luo and falsely claimed to be pregnant. She had originally intended to discuss it with Xiao Yun first and give him a heads-up, but to maintain the effectiveness of her act, she decided against telling him.
She would apologize to him later, Wang Qingyao thought.
She said weakly, "I don't know either. I just have a feeling. I was afraid I was mistaken, so I didn't say anything, planning to have Imperial Physician Lu examine me tomorrow." Her expression shifted, and she looked as if she were about to cry, "Who knew Grandmother... Grandmother... I know Grandmother has never liked me, but I never imagined she could be so heartless! To say such things! I was so enraged that I've disturbed my pregnancy... It's fine. Since I'm with child and unable to serve Your Highness properly, Your Highness should grant Grandmother's wish and take Cousin Suiqin as a concubine!"
Xiao Yun was furious. His gaze towards Old Madam Wang was no longer cold, but chilling.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you interfere in the affairs of this Prince's inner chambers?!" Xiao Yun said without politeness, showing no regard for Old Madam Wang.
Wang Da and Wang Zijing hadn't expected Wang Qingyao to be so enraged that her pregnancy was disturbed!
Who was Xiao Yun? His offspring were even more precious than those of ordinary families! If anything were to go wrong, let alone the Xiao family, even the Emperor would not let them off!
Wang Da broke out in a cold sweat and knelt down with Wang Zijing.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. Your Highness, the old madam is old and confused, which is why she acted this way. Please do not hold it against her!"
Old Madam Wang's old face turned bright red. "I, I, I... I was just concerned about the Princess Consort, wanting... wanting her to give birth to an heir for Your Highness sooner... Now that the Princess Consort is already pregnant, concubines are naturally unnecessary. Hehehe..."
It was undignified for Old Madam Wang, at her age, to be kneeling on the ground and forcing a smile. However, Xiao Yun was in a rage, and this was a matter of great importance concerning an heir. Old Madam Wang dared not get up, and Wang Da dared not plead for her.
Xiao Yun let out a cold laugh. "Concerned about the Princess Consort? I think you wanted to control her! To say such things and enrage the Princess Consort to the point of disturbing her pregnancy! Fortunately, the child is fine. If anything had happened to the Princess Consort's belly, I would never have forgiven you!"
Xiao Yun's killing intent was palpable. Old Madam Wang shivered several times, repeatedly bowing her head and kowtowing on the ground, looking truly pathetic.
Wang Qingyao then stood up, leaning on Pearl's arm. Xiao Yun quickly went to support her, chiding, "Sit down, why are you standing? Does your stomach still hurt?"
Wang Qingyao shook her head and looked down at Old Madam Wang, a mocking smile on her lips. She pleaded for her, "Grandmother is old. Please let her get up first."
She looked at Xiao Yun, her gaze seemingly sincere, but her small hand, holding his, secretly tickled his palm.
Xiao Yun had now regained his composure.
Wang Qingyao was not the type to be easily angered to the point of disturbing her pregnancy, especially by Old Madam Wang. Didn't she know Old Madam Wang's character?
He understood. Old Madam Wang must have forced her hand, leading to this counterattack.
Thinking carefully about what Pearl had said earlier, he understood Old Madam Wang's scheme.
Heh, unfilial?
He would first make her bear the crime of attempting to harm the royal heir!
"On the Princess Consort's account, this Prince will spare you this once. If there is a next time, I will definitely report it to the Emperor and charge you with disrespecting royal authority and attempting to harm the royal heir!"
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Wang Da profusely thanked Xiao Yun on behalf of Old Madam Wang. The surrounding wet nurses and Suiqin helped Old Madam Wang up from either side. Old Madam Wang, after all, was old. Having knelt for so long, her legs were weak. She struggled to stand up, her legs trembling. But she still dared not sit down, only daring to stand.
Seeing her pathetic state, Xiao Yun said nothing and just watched her coldly.
Wang Qingyao said calmly, "Grandmother, please sit down first. Otherwise, if this spreads outside, people will say I am arrogant and overbearing, and that Grandmother dares not sit in my presence."
Old Madam Wang, having heard the first half of her sentence, was about to relax and sit down. However, upon hearing the latter half, her buttocks, which were about to land on the chair, hovered in mid-air again, leaving her with an embarrassed expression.
Wang Qingyao looked at her, her right hand gently resting on her abdomen. "I wonder if there will be any after-effects."
Others didn't understand the term "after-effects" and waited for her to continue.
Wang Qingyao said slowly, "If I recall Grandmother's words today in the future and get angry again, disturbing my pregnancy, what then?"
As she spoke, she looked at Doctor Luo with concern.
At this point, Old Madam Wang was completely intimidated. She stared at Wang Qingyao with her cloudy eyes, incredulous.
What? If she misspoke once, any future disturbance to Wang Qingyao's pregnancy would be blamed on her?
She felt immense anger in her heart, but she dared not say a word. Her lips trembled, as if she might faint at any moment.
Doctor Luo stammered for a long time, "...Then the Princess Consort should try her best not to recall what Old Madam Wang said today."
"That's a good idea," Wang Qingyao said with a light laugh.
Old Madam Wang: "..."