In ancient times, elders always liked to urge marriage, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was no exception.
It had been quite some time since Prince Rong and Wei Qing got married, and there was still no news, so Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was naturally anxious.
In such days and such an atmosphere, a few questions were normal, and most of them would pass with a smile and some witty remarks.
However, Wei Qing's expression made it worth pondering.
Could she not bear children?
But in ancient times, it wasn't just about not being able to have children; even the gender of the child was attributed to the woman.
Even if it wasn't Wei Qing's problem, everyone would still think it was hers.
Indeed, a thoughtful expression appeared on the Empress Dowager's face, but she didn't say anything in front of everyone. She just smiled and said, "I know you two are in love, but don't just focus on your private world. Have a great-grandchild for this old woman to play with soon."
Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was quite fashionable, knowing the term "private world."
Wei Qing forced a smile and nodded, softly saying, "Mm."
Prince Rong held her hand and smiled, "Imperial Grandmother wants to hold a great-grandchild, but perhaps she can't count on us. I don't know if it was the fall from the horse that injured her, but neither Qing'er nor the concubines in the manor have ever been found to be pregnant. I suspect it will be difficult in the future."
The grand hall fell into a sudden silence.
Everyone looked at Prince Rong in surprise.
Wei Qing was both shocked and moved, her eyes turning red.
In fact, it had been more than half a year since they got married, a period that was neither long nor short.
Some couples took two or three years to conceive.
However, Wei Qing was anxious. Although there were concubines in the manor, Prince Rong rarely visited them. Except when she was indisposed, they were almost together every day.
Logically, she should have conceived by now.
Although Prince Rong hadn't said anything, she had been secretly worried and had quietly gone back to her mother's home to get some herbs to regulate her body.
Unexpectedly, Prince Rong took all the blame in front of everyone.
He didn't care about his male dignity at all.
Wei Qing was so moved that she was about to cry.
Consort Wei and the Empress Dowager, one her mother and the other her grandmother, had not expected this outcome.
That fall from the horse had not only ruined Prince Rong's future but also his ability to have offspring!
Consort Wei's heart ached, and she comforted him, "It's alright. We can adopt one from the Crown Prince's side later..."
The Crown Prince immediately stepped forward and said, "Yes, I will definitely have more sons. Then Imperial Brother can choose whichever one he likes for adoption."
Prince Rong smiled indifferently, "Thank you, Crown Prince, for your kindness."
The Empress Dowager leaned forward and asked with concern, "Have you seen the imperial physician?"
"Not yet."
"Find Imperial Physician Lu to examine you. Perhaps there is still hope."
Prince Rong nodded, not appearing to take it too seriously.
Since the person involved wasn't overly distressed, others didn't need to worry excessively.
The atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed, and the topic shifted to Wang Qingyao.
After all, twins were quite rare.
"This old woman heard that the Princess of Ding'an can tell the gender of other people's babies. Does she know the gender of her own child?"
Not only the Empress Dowager was interested, but everyone else was too. As soon as this question was asked, they all pricked up their ears.
Wang Qingyao smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but the Fifth Princess, who had been almost unnoticed, suddenly spoke.
"Imperial Grandmother, this is all rumor and not accurate. Last time, the Princess of Ding'an said that the wife of the Duke of Zhongyong's heir was carrying a girl, but she gave birth to a son."
What the Fifth Princess said was true, but her sudden interruption surprised many people.
Wang Qingyao looked up and observed the Fifth Princess.
She had an oval face, and her features were not outstanding, but her skin was snow-white, making her whole person glow. She possessed a fresh and elegant temperament that seemed detached from worldly affairs.
Seeing Wang Qingyao looking at her, she smiled friendly at Wang Qingyao, revealing a row of neat, white little teeth.
For some reason, Wang Qingyao felt a strange sensation.
The Fifth Princess's appearance was already quite abrupt.
On such an important occasion, why would an unfavored princess appear so rashly?
Even if she came, interrupting so abruptly seemed even more out of place.
In any case, everything felt peculiar.
Wang Qingyao became alert almost subconsciously. She scanned the Fifth Princess with her clairvoyant eyes, but found no suspicious items on her.
She smiled at Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and said, "The Fifth Princess is right. It's all rumor. How can anyone tell the gender of other people's babies? If someone insists on asking me, I just say whatever comes to mind."
The Empress Dowager showed a look of disappointment. At her age, she was quite willing to believe in legends of extraordinary people and reincarnated deities.
Wei Yu "Tsked" and said, "If the Princess of Ding'an just says whatever comes to mind, it's fine if she says it's a son. But if she says it's a daughter, aren't you afraid that those who want a son will harm the fetus..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood her meaning.
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. Talking about such bloody and wicked things on a birthday was truly inauspicious.
However, she didn't think Wei Yu did it intentionally. She just thought she was young and ignorant. To be the future Crown Princess, she was still so loose-lipped and not at all steady.
Others probably thought the same.
Wang Qingyao said calmly, "Second Miss Wei worries too much. Usually, the families I pretend to discern for are happy with either a son or a daughter, and they wouldn't do such wicked things."