Page 334

Xiao Yan replied, "Our son shall be named Xiao Lie, with the pet name Zhaozhao."

Qi Zhen smiled gently. "And our daughter?"

Xiao Yan gazed into Qi Zhen's crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes. "She will be Xiao Yu. Her pet name is Zhaozhao."

Once, that child had said her name was Shen Shu. 'Shu' meant 'to give up,' and 'to give.' She needed to understand both aspects: letting go and giving.

Back then, she had resolutely renounced her family name.

In this life, he would never allow anyone to force her to give up anything again.

She would be the cherished pearl in his and Qi Zhen's palms, free to give but no longer required to let go.

"Zhaozhao, Zhaozhao..." Qi Zhen murmured the names, for some reason feeling that these pet names suited her heart perfectly. She found herself longing to call them again and again.

These two little names ignited her anticipation for their children.

That night, when Xiao Yan returned to An Wang Manor, he heard that the princess had summoned a physician. Without even stopping to drink water, he hastened to their chambers.

Actually, he knew the reason Qi Zhen had called for a physician and was aware that Xiao Lie had come to them again as their child.

In his previous life, after learning of Qi Zhen's pregnancy, Xiao Yan had calculated the dates and guessed when and where he had conceived this child with her.

In this lifetime, he hoped that the child they had been unable to meet in the past would come into this world smoothly.

That was why he spent an entire hour with Qi Zhen in his study that day.

The moment Xiao Yan entered the room, Qi Zhen dismissed everyone else and smiled at him, saying, "Don't worry. I summoned the physician because my monthly cycle is delayed. Your Highness—"

Fixing her gaze on Xiao Yan, Qi Zhen lowered her eyebrows and said, "Our Zhaozhao or Zhuozhuo has already come looking for us as their parents."

Chapter 130 - Third Lifetime (Focusing on Emperor Jia You and Empress Qi, proceed with caution)

"Our Zhaozhao should be here by now."

Carrying Xiao Lie hadn't been a difficult task for Qi Zhen.

She ate well and slept soundly, leaving even Old Lady Gui amazed. She said she had never seen a child who cherished their mother so much.

It was precisely because she wasn't feeling unwell that Qi Zhen, as usual, joined Xiao Yan in managing the various aspects of life in Taiyuan Prefecture. Seeing her energetic demeanor, no one knew that this bright and graceful Princess An was now carrying the young prince.

Qi Zhen's slender waist remained so until she was five months pregnant.

On New Year's Eve that year, Qi Zhen and Xiao Yan spent it together at the An Wang Manor. Xiao Yan stroked her still flat abdomen, saying confidently, "This is Zhaozhao."

Qi Zhen couldn't help but wonder if even the calmest and most composed men would become somewhat childish when about to become fathers. Whenever she heard Xiao Yan address her belly as "Zhaozhao," she found it both amusing and exasperating.

Oddly enough, after Xiao Yan called their child "Zhaozhao" frequently, she too began to believe that they were having a son and started calling the baby by the same name.

"If this child turns out to be a girl named Zhaozhao, you'll have to endure being ridiculed by your daughter for the rest of your life."

Xiao Yan chuckled. "Even if this child isn't Zhaozhao, when Zhaozhao is born, she will still find ways to tease me, her father, for a lifetime."

Hugging Qi Zhen into his embrace, he continued, "When I returned home just now, Pinggu mentioned that there was a letter from the capital for you?"

Qi Zhen's body tensed, and she lifted her gaze to look at Xiao Yan.

"It's a letter from my brother. In a little over a month, it will be Mother's memorial day. He wants me to return to the capital to pay respects to Mother together."

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll be leaving Taiyuan Prefecture for some time next month. I can only feel at ease if you're guarding An Wang Manor."

Qi Zhen was startled upon hearing this.

As a feudal king, he wasn't supposed to leave his fief unless summoned by the imperial court. Doing so would be considered rebellion!

"Where are you going?" Qi Zhen managed to steady herself and asked, "Xiao Qiyuan is even more arbitrary than the Emperor. If he finds out that you've left Taiyuan Prefecture, he might immediately send troops to surround An Wang Manor."

Based on her understanding of Crown Prince Qiyuan, he was probably eager to make a move against Xiao Yan.

Due to this reason, she had refrained from revealing her pregnancy, not even to Qi Heng.

Fortunately, An Wang Manor was filled with Xiao Yan's people, and under his governance, Taiyuan Prefecture was as secure as a fortress.

As long as Xiao Yan stayed in Taiyuan Prefecture, Crown Prince Qiyuan would need a legitimate reason to kill him. But once Xiao Yan left the prefecture, it would be like handing him a pillow while he was sleeping.

Xiao Yan knew what Qi Zhen was worried about and reassured her softly, "I'll be fine."

He gazed into her eyes and said gently, "I'm planning a future free of worries for our little family of four. Qi Zhen, watch over Taiyuan Prefecture for me. In the future, I'll accompany you to apologize to your mother."

His gaze was filled with trust, as if he could only rest assured as long as Qi Zhen remained in the An Wang Mansion.

No one could resist such a look or such a Xiao Yan.

Qi Zhen replied, "Alright, I'll guard both the An Wang Mansion and Taiyuan Prefecture for you. Don't worry, Mother won't blame you, nor will she blame me."

Xiao Yan gazed at Qi Zhen's fair and rosy lotus-like face and smiled gently.

In her previous life, after she returned from the capital, their child was already gone. Back then, she was covered in bruises, wearing a pure white dress. She told him, "Xiao Yan, there was an accident with the child. It's no longer with us."

Her complexion and lips were even paler than her dress. Her frail body trembled lightly in the cold wind, yet she earnestly explained to him how the carriage had encountered danger, how she had fallen out of it, and how the child had been lost.

She spoke with such meticulousness and sincerity that it seemed as if she was trying to convince herself, not him.

Xiao Yan carried her up and walked step by step back to their chamber. He placed her on the bed and whispered, "Qi Zhen, don't say anymore."

Don't say anymore.

He wouldn't believe her, and she couldn't deceive herself either.

Back then, Xiao Yan had wanted to say, "It's alright, we can still have more children." But those words lingered on his tongue, never making it past his lips.

Even if they were to have another child in the future, it wouldn't be this one, wouldn't be their Xiao Lie. He hadn't even had the chance to tell her that he had already chosen a name for their child.