"You've been married to the Prince for several months now, any news of a child?" Old Madam Wang asked with a kind smile.
After asking, she even gave a few examples, mentioning who got pregnant within a month of marriage, and who conceived during the wedding night...
Wang Qingyao rolled her eyes internally, thinking: What business is it of yours?
But on her face, she put on a shy expression and shook her head bashfully.
Old Madam Wang's kindly expression turned to worry.
"You know about the Xiao family's curse. After the New Year, the Prince will be twenty-two. You must hurry! The Prince is not like others. You are the legitimate Princess Consort of the Ding'an Prince's manor. Your most important task is to continue the Xiao family's bloodline. The Xiao family cannot end with you."
Wang Qingyao continued to roll her eyes: "Mm."
"What about those four concubines in your manor? I heard they are all beautiful. Do they have any good news?"
Wang Qingyao shook her head again.
Old Madam Wang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: "You can't let them get ahead of you. These four are not on your side. You can't think of letting them have children first just because you can't. Even if you bring their child to raise as your own later, it won't work. Other people's children are not easily raised, and raising them is in vain. Later, if they turn against you, you won't be able to explain yourself even with a hundred mouths."
Wang Qingyao: "Mm."
"Even if you really want another woman to bear children, you must choose someone you trust. It would be even better if it were someone from your own family."
As Old Madam Wang said this, her gaze inadvertently swept over Han Suqin.
Besides Han Suqin, there were two unmarried girls in the room, Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu. Although they couldn't join the conversation, their presence needed to be considered for their psychological well-being, didn't it?
Bai Junya could no longer stand listening. She stood up and said, "Grandmother, I suddenly remembered I have something to do, and I need Zhen-jie and Zhu-jie's help. Why don't I take them down first?"
Old Madam Wang was naturally willing.
Bai Junya led Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu out. The irrelevant maids and servants in the room were also dismissed by Granny Qun, Old Madam Wang's personal attendant. Only Wang Qingyao, Zhenzhu, Old Madam Wang, Granny Qun, and that cousin Suqin remained in the room.
"Although you are the Princess Consort, in your grandmother's heart, you will always be your grandmother's good granddaughter. As long as you cannot bear a child, your grandmother will worry and fret for you every day." The old madam tried her best to appear sincere.
Wang Qingyao felt like exploding. Just last night, she and Xiao Yun were intimately discussing having children.
And Old Madam Wang kept bringing up "can't bear children."
Hmph, she couldn't bear children? Her whole family couldn't bear children.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother," Wang Qingyao said coolly, her gaze sweeping over Han Suqin, meeting her eyes.
Han Suqin looked at Wang Qingyao with a face full of misery, her eyes filled with refusal and helplessness.
Oh, Wang Qingyao's eyelids twitched. Another woman who was different from those seductive and cheap ones?
Old Madam Wang sighed, "I am your grandmother, and it is my duty to think of solutions for you. What do you think of Suqin? She is your cousin, gentle and well-behaved. If she serves by your side and the Prince's, I can rest assured."
Old Madam Wang's words were too abrupt, perhaps she had lost her patience and wanted to get to the point quickly.
Wang Qingyao pretended not to understand: "Is Suqin's family in great difficulty? Why would she need to be a servant in our Ding'an Prince's manor? If she is truly in trouble, I can offer some assistance."
Han Suqin's face turned red, and she gently tugged at Old Madam Wang's sleeve. Old Madam Wang ignored her and continued:
"Grandmother doesn't mean that. I mean for the Prince to take Suqin as his concubine. Don't you know? Suqin's mother was very fertile. Out of the twelve children in the Han family, five were born to her. Suqin takes after her mother and is also fertile. She will surely give the Prince an heir soon."
With things said this plainly, it would be an insult to herself if Wang Qingyao didn't play along.
Her face lost its smile, and her expression became longer than a donkey's.
Old Madam Wang quickly added, "Cousins are naturally different from outsiders. She will always be on your side. Any children she bears will be registered under your name and raised by you, no different from your own."
Wang Qingyao sneered repeatedly, no longer interested in playing nice. She shifted into a more comfortable position and said, "Grandmother, are you getting old and forgetful? I remember I told you last time, stop meddling in my affairs and stop meddling in the affairs of our Ding'an Prince's manor."
Old Madam Wang: "I'm not meddling in your affairs, I'm concerned about you."
Wang Qingyao stood up unceremoniously: "It's getting late. If Grandmother has nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
With that, without waiting for Old Madam Wang's reply, she stood up and turned to leave.
"You stop right there!" Old Madam Wang roared in anger, her voice full of vigor, not at all like a woman in her sixties.
Wang Qingyao didn't yield to her. Apart from being startled by the sudden roar, her pace didn't slow down.
Old Madam Wang's venomous voice echoed from behind: "If you dare to step out of this room today, I will ruin your reputation, and you will never be able to hold your head up again!"