The Eldest Daughter Reborn: She Provoked the Obsessive Crown Prince and Couldn't Escape

It was the first day of the fourth month, and Yuan Li was resting in Changqiu Palace; but as soon as night fell, news came from the Prince of Yan's residence that Anagui was about to give birth.

Originally, Yuan Li didn't intend to pay attention. He had been spending little time with Fu Luan lately and cherished every opportunity to be alone with her.

But Fu Luan gently advised from the side, "This is the Emperor's first grandchild, and Ana Gui is a marriage alliance from the Western Regions."

"If Your Majesty doesn't go and see for yourself, wouldn't that discourage the other princes and the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions? Would it be alright if I went with Your Majesty?"

Yuan Li sighed, "I'm only worried that if you go to the Prince of Yan's residence, you'll be reminded of him by the sights and things there..."

As Fu Luan helped him change his clothes, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty underestimates me too much..."

"Issue the order: regardless of whether Anagui's baby is a boy or a girl, as long as she is born safely, I will restore her to the position of Queen of Yan."

"All past grievances are wiped clean!" Before even leaving the palace, Yuan Li sent someone ahead with the imperial edict.

To their surprise, when they arrived at the Prince of Yan's residence, they found a completely foreign baby!

"Tell me... what happened?" Yuan Li didn't seem angry; instead, he sat at the head of the table, sipping his tea with great interest.

"This, this... Your son is from the Western Regions, so your child may resemble you more..." When Anagui saw her son's appearance, she was filled with anxiety. Ignoring her postpartum weakness, she held her child and knelt before the emperor and empress with a group of Hu women.

The head maid, Sangzhuo, also kowtowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty! It is not uncommon for sons to resemble their mothers; moreover... children born to both Hu and Han people do not always look alike..."

"How dare you, a mere servant, interrupt in front of the Emperor and Empress?" Hua Luo rebuked.

“You are no different from me, just a servant!” Sang Zhuo said, raising her eyes.

"The Grand Chamberlain receives an annual salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and oversees all officials in the Changqiu Palace. He is better than many high-ranking officials of the previous dynasty! He is not like us slaves!" A maidservant from the Prince of Yan's residence said coldly.

Fu Luan glanced at her and recognized her as the maid who had been asked to reorganize the Prince of Yan's residence that day.

She said coldly, "Anagui, you were found to be three months pregnant last winter, which means you got pregnant in August when you first got together with Xiaojiu."

"A woman is supposed to carry a child for nine and a half months before giving birth, but your due date was more than a month early. Now the child you gave birth to has no Han Chinese blood whatsoever. How do you explain this?!"

"This, this, I... It is possible for a woman to give birth prematurely due to illness or fright; as for the child's appearance..."

"Your Majesty, this is indeed your eldest grandson! Please, Your Majesty, see clearly and do not be fooled by a villain... Ah!" Before Anagui could finish speaking, Yuan Li slapped her hard across the face, and the child in her arms cried out!

"'A villain'? Who in this house is a villain? You barbarian woman, who are you referring to by making veiled insults?" Yuan Li said angrily.

Taking advantage of the situation, Fu Ling took the child and examined him, then reported, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, this baby shows no signs of premature birth; he was born at full term!"

The chief and deputy physicians of the Prince of Yan's residence also said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Prince of Yan's concubine's pregnancy has been personally cared for by us. The concubine is not ill, nor has she been frightened."

"As Physician Fu said, this delivery is normal. If Your Majesty and the Empress are still concerned, they can consult the imperial physicians for a further diagnosis."

As they talked, they presented the records of Anaque's pregnancy care.

Yuan Li was flipping through the files when Fu Luan noticed that the midwife looked uneasy and seemed to have something to say, so she let her speak.

To everyone's horror, the midwife's words were even more chilling: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this concubine from the Western Regions gave birth very quickly;

"It doesn't look like...it doesn't look like her first child! She looks like she's given birth before..."

The midwife's voice grew softer and softer, and Anagui pointed at her and shouted, "You're talking nonsense!"

Fu Luan sneered, "Whether she's talking nonsense or not, you know perfectly well. The Emperor and I changed our clothes and got up as soon as we heard you move in the womb, ready to come and see you."

"Before the carriage even reached the Prince of Yan's residence, you had already given birth! Some of the concubines in the palace who have given birth to two or three children may not have had such a 'happy' experience as you!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the envoy from the Western Regions has arrived. He says he wants to see the princess first..." Just then, a servant announced.

"Hmph, why did you come so early or late? You've come at just the right time... Summon them!" Yuan Li ordered coldly.

"Yarqan pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor and Empress of the Great Wei!" Dressed in Hanfu, Yarkand performed the Han Chinese salute to the Emperor and Empress.

Fu Luan laughed and said, "You're really good at keeping secrets! You didn't tell us when the Khan was in charge, and you didn't let anyone know you were an envoy!"

Yarkand replied, "Your Majesty, the matter is urgent, I..."

"Alright! I was just joking, Khan, please don't take it seriously... It's just that your newborn nephew..." Fu Luan looked at the child with blue eyes.

Yarkand glanced at the child only once before kneeling and saying, "All the faults, the faults of the Western Regions, are to blame..."

"On my trip to Chang'an, in addition to one hundred and twenty Wusun horses, I will also present twenty beauties..."

Fu Luan looked up and interrupted, "Yerqiang, you now acknowledge that your sister's child was not born to the Prince of Yan, is that right?"

Yarkand sighed and finally answered, "Yes...this child looks exactly like someone from the Western Regions..."

These words caused an uproar throughout the room. No matter how many witnesses and physical evidence there were before, they were no match for a single sentence from Anagui's own brother, the newly appointed Khan of the Western Regions!

Anagui was stunned for a moment, then spat out: "Other people's brothers serve their sisters wholeheartedly, doing this and that for them, wishing they could die in their sisters' place!"

"My brother, on the other hand, sold out his sister with just a few words! Yarkand, don't think you're superior to Princess Ben just because you're the Khan of the Western Regions!"

"I, the princess, will always be the Khan and Khatun's beloved daughter, the camellia of the desert; and you... you are not even as good as me, a mere child!"

"You are nothing but a worthless bastard born from Father Khan's drunkenness and his stable boy!"

As soon as Anagui finished speaking, she threw the child in her arms heavily to the ground; before anyone could react, she was about to stomp hard on her own son, just like she had trampled on the oranges offered by Fuluan in front of Xiaojiu's grave!

Fu Luan reacted quickly, snatching the child from Ana Gui's feet, causing Ana Gui to stumble and fall.

Fu Ling and the two doctors examined the child. Fortunately, the baby was wrapped in thick swaddling clothes, and although frightened, was unharmed. Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Even though the child was an illegitimate child, at least it was alive…

"Anagui disregards human life, tie her up!" At Fuluan's command, Anagui was bound tightly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Khan... the princess had affairs with several of her attendants on her way to Chang'an, and that's when she conceived this child. She had already given birth to a child back in the Western Regions..."

"This is all her own indulgence and debauchery, and has nothing to do with us servants. We hope that Your Majesty and Your Highness will investigate this matter thoroughly!" One of the Hu women, seeing that her princess's power was waning, boldly revealed Anagui's private affair.

With this person taking the lead, the other Hu women followed suit, except for Sang Zhuo... who pulled out a dagger and stabbed at Fu Luan!