Chapter 257: Chapter 257 : Restitution (7)

Once the news spread, a lot of congratulatory messages arrived at Fuxi Palace from all directions.

Xie Jianshen came personally to extend his congratulations, but he quickly entered into an argument with Lady Song.

"Pregnant omegas should not eat too many lotus seeds. It is not good for the development of the fetus," Lady Song snapped. She pushed away the lotus seed balls that Xie Jianshen brought with one finger.

Xie Jianshen raised an eyebrow in disapproval.

"Male omegas don’t adhere to such superstitious belief," he said harshly.

His words set Lady Song aflame.

"Shuiran Palace Mistress, you have never been pregnant with a tiger baby. You don’t know anything."

"Longjing Palace Mistress, you are not a dragon omega. You don’t know anything."

Lady Song snapped after air dramatically.

"You!!!"

Although their positions were equal, Lady Song considered herself Xie Jianshen’s elder.

Xie Jianshen sneered at his defeated opponent. Before he said another unpleasant sentence, Xie Jianyu quickly intervened.

"Big Brother, thank you. I love lotus seed balls. Unfortunately, my throat has been uncomfortable lately. Please let me share them with everyone."

Xie Jianshen pursed his lips.

For his brother’s sake, he decided to not rip Lady Song in pieces.

"Up to you," he said in a haughty tone.

But Lady Song was not one who easily admitted defeat.

"Little Xie, now that you are pregnant, why don’t you move to Longjing Palace for now? After you safely give birth, you can come back to visit Fuxi Palace from time to time."

A cold glint flashed across Xie Jianshen’s eyes.

"Little Yu," he said in a menacing tone. "I took care of our late mother when she was pregnant with you. I am fully capable of taking care of you as well. Why don’t you move to Shuiran Palace for the time being?"

Lady Song looked like she was close to exploding.

"Shuiran Palace Mistress!" She glared at her opponent. "Little Xie is pregnant with a baby tiger! He cannot spend the entire duration of his pregnancy at a lion’s lair!"

Lady Song hailed from the phoenix clan. She usually ridiculed the unreasonable competition between the lions and the tigers. But when she had to assert herself, she considered herself one of the tigers!

The same thing could be said about Xie Jianshen. He, after all, married into the lions’ clan.

"I am concerned about my brother, the dragon. If the mother is healthy, the baby will also be healthy. Longjing Palace Mistress, do not embarrass yourself."

"I disagree with both of you," Zhang Fengxi, who until then was completely silent, suddenly spoke up. He draped an arm around Xie Jianyu’s waist, his large hand resting protectively against his wife’s stomach.

"It is Jianyu’s first pregnancy, and it is very early. He should stay in Fuxi Palace. The trip to either Longjing or Shuiran Palace is too exhausting for him."

When Zhang Fengxi said those words, his eyes met with Xie Jianshen’s briefly.

Xie Jianshen gave him a subtle nod.

Feeding Xie Jianyu the abortifacient was a lot easier within Fuxi Palace’s walls.

Unaware of the wicked conspiracy at play, Xie Jianyu beamed at his husband. Zhang Fengxi’s chest tightened when he saw Xie Jianyu’s bright smile.

He did not deserve it.

In order to mask his uneasiness, he gave his wife a loving peck on the lips.

I love you, he said in his heart. I love you, so I have to do it. I only hope that you will forgive me one day.

Just then, the head servant came by and announced the arrival of another guest.

"The orphanage head, Xie Jianzhi is here to pay his respect to Your Majesty."

The atmosphere in the room immediately became tense.

"Oh, my. Well. Since Fengxi already said that... Why don’t I go and check whether the lunch is ready."

Lady Song left the room in a hurry.

This was an internal matter within the dragon clan, so Zhang Fengxi also chose to leave. He kissed Xie Jianyu’s lips lovingly and whispered, "Don’t work too hard, Jianbao."

Xie Jianyu patted his husband’s cheek affectionately.

"I know. You should go now."

Xie Jianshen remained seated. He lifted his teacup from the table and drank slowly.

"Brother, don’t be mean to him," Xie Jianyu pleaded.

Xie Jianshen lowered his teacup and scoffed.

"Do you take me for a beast, Little Yu? Let him in, already."

Xie Jianzhi came a day early because he heard the good news about Xie Jianyu’s pregnancy.

"Your Majesty, I wish to extend my most sincere congratulations on Your Majesty’s pregnancy. The entire orphanage is praying for the safe delivery of a healthy baby."

He then grabbed a three-tiered box next to him and presented it to Xie Jianyu.

"These are nothing but small gifts that the orphanage children wanted to give to the baby upon birth. Your Majesty, the gifts are not valuable. Please accept them nonetheless."

Xie Jianyu took the box with a smile.

"Of course. Do thank the children on my behalf. Next year, they can come to greet the baby themselves during the Dragon Awakening Festival."

"Y-yes, thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xie Jianzhi gave the other person in the room surreptitious glances.

This was Xie Jianshen, the eldest of the half-siblings.

"Do not peek at me like that. Act like an alpha and look into my eyes," Xie Jianshen said harshly despite Xie Jianyu’s plea.

Xie Jianzhi immediately sat up straight.

"I am sorry," he said.

"Hmph."

Xie Jianshen narrowed his eyes at Xie Jianzhi.

"Forgive me if I do not welcome you to the family. I do welcome you to Fuxi Palace, though."

With those words, Xie Jianshen rose to his feet. He slid the door open, stepped out, and slammed the door close behind him.

Xie Jianyu and Xie Jianzhi sat there in utter silence for a while before Xie Jianyu said something in Xie Jianshen’s defense.

"Big Brother is not a bad person," he emphasized. "He needs time to warm up to a new person."

"I understand," Xie Jianzhi forced himself to smile.

It must be difficult to accept him, the illegitimate son of the Heavenly Emperor.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay