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He feared that once he held the child, he wouldn’t be able to resist snatching it away.

Once a woman has given birth, she has no right to raise the child; the child must remain with the Jie Family. But such an act would be excessively cruel to her.

She has no family left, this child is her only kin, whereas he at least has a son and a daughter.

Alas, it’s all a tragic fate.

Exhausted, Official Jie stood up, paid his respects to Gu Youyou and Jin Zijin, and staggered out, each step exceptionally heavy.

Gu Youyou sighed and said to Cuiya, "Don’t rush to leave. Wait for your young lady to finish her confinement period before you go."

"Okay, thank you for the hospitality of the Grand Prince and his Consort," Cuiya replied gratefully, as she helped Miss Du back.

Seeing Miss Du’s condition, Gu Youyou held back from saying anything.

This matter required some time to be processed; pressing too hard would be useless.

Gu Youyou, having had a tiring day, yawned.

"I’m going to see if the little one is awake yet."

Newborns always sleep a lot; he had just fed and was now asleep again.

Jin Zijin sighed, "You always think of others first, neglecting yourself. Do I need to remind you of the state of your own health? Why do you wear yourself out like this?"

Gu Youyou was taken aback.

Then Jin Zijin, without waiting for her to say anything, lifted her into his arms.

He said, "I’m taking you back to rest first. I’ll check on him later."

"He’ll be hungry when he wakes up," Gu Youyou said.

"Don’t worry, he won’t starve; there’s a wet nurse," he reassured her.

...

At dawn, the Imperial Physicians were ordered to form a group to visit the Prince Jin Residence to treat patients, but before they set off, the Empress headed there in a hurry with her retinue.

Such a disgraceful matter could not be concealed; she could hardly predict what would happen next.

King Jin was infertile; once this news broke out, all those who supported King Jin would turn away from them, and the Emperor would never entrust the realm to a King Jin without offspring.

After years of her efforts, and the unwavering backing of the Ducal Residence behind her, how could she face them, having invested all their hopes in her and King Jin?

Sitting pale-faced in the carriage, the Empress was overwhelmed with anxiety.

Mammy Li sighed softly, "Your Highness, please calm down. We need to think of a good solution."

"Ha, as if it’s easy," the Empress scoffed. "What solution can there be? If one can’t have children, they can’t. What solution can possibly be found?"

Mammy Li was in the same boat as the Empress; the Empress’s urgency was equally felt by her.

Considering this, she clenched her teeth and said, "Even if King Jin indeed has a problem, we cannot let the Imperial Physicians think he is infertile."

The Empress raised her brows, "What do you mean?"

Mammy Li spoke in a low voice, with gritted teeth, "We’ll arrange things in the Prince Jin Residence first, let the Imperial Physicians diagnose. If infertility is diagnosed, we’ll force them to acknowledge that King Jin is only temporarily ill and can be cured."

Lifelessly, the Empress said, "That’s merely a short-term deception, not a lifetime solution."

Mammy Li continued, "If nothing else works, we can have the women of the Prince Jin Residence bear children."

"How so?" The Empress sat up abruptly.

"As long as there’s blood of the Ducal Residence, does it matter who gives birth? As long as the old master doesn’t mind, why should we..."

The Empress hurriedly covered Mammy Li’s mouth, "This is a serious matter, I need to consider it."

Mammy Li, anxious, said: "Your Highness, this is our last resort. If King Jin really can’t do it, this is the only way to protect King Jin, your highness, and the glory and riches of the Ducal Residence."