The Eldest Daughter Returns: Imperial Uncle, I'm Pregnant!

Xiao Yi, who was guarding the door, wished he had better hearing. He had overheard the prince shamelessly tricking the Duke of Ningguo into sending his precious daughter over. If he hadn't always remembered that he was the prince's guard, he would have rushed up to uphold justice. How come he had never noticed before that his prince had so many tricks up his sleeve?

However, the Duke of Ningguo took the King of Chu's suggestion to heart. He thought it was a good idea; Qingwan was highly skilled in martial arts, and the guards around her were all weaklings. If Qingwan took Miss Wen back, the journey would be foolproof. But something did seem strange to him. Why was his niece suddenly being asked to make this trip?

After a few days of peaceful coexistence between Gu Qingwan and her family, Gu Qingwan was eating a sweet soup brought to her by Ru Hua when Si Qi came in and told her, "Miss, Rou Niang has come to see us."

Gu Qingwan put down her spoon and asked with some doubt, "Did Rou Niang come in person or send someone from her side?"

“Rou Niang wouldn’t dare come here. She went to the Duke’s mansion to look for Miss, but when she inquired, she found out that Miss had returned to the Prime Minister’s mansion. She didn’t dare come herself, so she sent someone to deliver a message.” Si Qi said softly, “She’s still waiting for news outside.”

"Go tell her that I will go there in person tonight, so that Rou Niang can rest assured." Gu Qingwan finished the sweet soup in her hand and looked at Si Qi's departing figure thoughtfully.

Rou Niang had never come to her on her own initiative before, but this time she took such a risk to come to her and even went from the Duke's mansion to the Prime Minister's mansion. It seems that Rou Niang has discovered that Wang Ruyan has discovered her existence. Last time, Shi Shu said that Rou Niang was pregnant. Now that things have come to this point, it is time to bring Rou Niang back. But how to bring her back is another story.

Rou Niang had been suspicious ever since her personal maid, Xiao Cui, saw two suspicious figures lurking around when she was giving money to a vegetable vendor at the door.

“My lady, there are always two men sneaking around our door looking this way. I’ve seen them several times. Today, Zhuangzi, who delivers vegetables, even reminded me that one of them asked him about us. Zhuangzi is kind-hearted and reminded me to be careful.”

Xiao Cui's words made Rou Niang's heart tighten. She quickly grabbed Xiao Cui's hand and asked, "Are you sure those two people have been loitering around our house?"

“I’m sure, I’ve seen them several times,” Xiao Cui said. “When Master comes, let’s tell him and ask him to send them away.”

Rou Niang thought that they must not have seen the master enter the courtyard, so they were not sure. The master had been busy lately and did not come to her place often, but this was not the usual way, and they would definitely be discovered.

Rou Niang paced anxiously at the thought, touching her belly. What if the mistress came and poisoned her while the master was not around?

"My lady, what's wrong? You're pregnant, don't worry," Xiao Cui quickly reassured her.

Rou Niang thought she couldn't just sit and wait for death. She realized she had to go find the young lady, so she ordered, "Xiao Cui, find me a set of old woman's clothes. I'm going out."

Xiao Cui was somewhat surprised: "Madam, where are you going? If something happens, Master will blame me."

"No, I have to go out."

“My lady, you can’t go. Why don’t you let Xiao Cui go in your place?”

Rou Niang naturally understood Xiao Cui's concerns, but if Wang Ruyan found out, they would be in an even more passive position. However, what Xiao Cui said made sense. Rou Niang looked at Xiao Cui and said, "Xiao Cui, we have only known each other for a short time, but I have already regarded you as my sister. What are your plans for the future?"

"My lady, it was you who saved Xiao Cui. Otherwise, I don't know where I would have been sold. I am living a better life with you than before. From now on, I will follow you wherever you go and take good care of the young master." Xiao Cui quickly knelt down and said.

"Good Xiao Cui." Rou Niang quickly helped Xiao Cui up. "Since you've come with me, I'll naturally treat you sincerely. Right now, I do have something to do that concerns both of our lives. Can you make the trip for me?"

Seeing Rou Niang's serious expression, Xiao Cui knew this must be a major event, a matter of life and death, so there was absolutely no room for negligence: "My lady, just say the word, and I'll brave any danger for you!"

“It’s not that serious. Xiao Cui, come closer and I’ll tell you something…” Rou Niang explained to Xiao Cui in detail.

Xiao Cui changed into a tattered set of clothes and went out when no one was around. She went to the Duke's mansion and inquired about the eldest young lady, who had gone to the Prime Minister's mansion. After returning, she reported to Rou Niang. Xiao Cui spent another night and went to wander around the Prime Minister's mansion the next day. When she was wandering around and didn't know what to do, she met Si Qi. Si Qi recognized Xiao Cui and quickly pulled her aside to ask her questions.

Rou Niang felt a little better after receiving the reply. The young lady must have thought of a solution for her, telling her not to worry. With the young lady's words, Rou Niang could finally get a good night's sleep. Just as she was thinking of resting, she saw Xiao Cui next to her with a face full of doubt.

Rou Niang took Xiao Cui's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry too much. Miss once saved my life. No matter what, it's always right to trust Miss."

“But my lady…” Xiao Cui still felt a little strange. The young lady said she would come tonight, so how could a young lady from a noble family come in the middle of the night? However, Xiao Cui was also a perceptive maid. Seeing that Rou Niang did not want to explain things too clearly, she did not ask any more questions.

As evening fell, Xiao Cui served Rou Niang hot tea in the courtyard, wondering to herself why she hadn't come yet. She had looked towards the door many times, thinking that if she came, she should open the door quickly to avoid waking her up by knocking in the middle of the night.

But after circling around several times without seeing her, Xiao Cui decided to bring in the hot tea first, lest her wife get thirsty again. However, as soon as she entered, she saw a woman dressed in a ruqun sitting in front of her wife, with a simply dressed maid following behind her.

Xiao Cui was so startled that she almost knocked over the hot teapot in her hand.

"Xiao Cui, don't be afraid, this is Miss Gu." Rou Niang stepped forward and took the hot water from Xiao Cui's hand, then personally poured Gu Qingwan a bowl of piping hot tea. "Miss Gu, please have some water. I have nothing here. Please don't mind."

"It's alright, hot water is fine. How's your stomach?"

Hearing Gu Qingwan's concern, Rou Niang's eyes softened. Touching her still-flat belly, she said joyfully to Gu Qingwan, "Miss, this child is a gift from you to me. He's very well-behaved."

Gu Qingwan nodded and asked, "After all, you were in a bit of a hurry. That medicine is quite potent, so you should be careful."

Rou Niang nodded repeatedly, and said with some difficulty, "Miss, recently Xiao Cui has noticed that people outside keep asking about this courtyard. Fortunately, the master hasn't come recently, but he will eventually come, and when he is discovered... I'm worried..."

"Are you worried that they were sent by Wang Ruyan?" Gu Qingwan asked.

Rou Niang nodded, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have risked sending Xiao Cui to find you."

Gu Qingwan looked at Xiao Cui beside her and said, "She's a good girl. Siqi, take her out and give her some loose silver to buy some tea and snacks."

"Yes."

Xiao Cui hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Rou Niang nod in agreement, she thanked her and left with Si Qi.

"Miss, is there something wrong with Xiao Cui?" Rou Niang asked cautiously.

"Not at the moment. In the future, it will depend on how you make her one of your own."

Rou Niang nodded, thinking it was best to be cautious.

“The people outside were sent by Wang Ruyan to find you. There’s no way to hide now. You’ve already secured your pregnancy, so you’ll have to go back eventually.”

Rou Niang's eyes lit up, and she said, "What does Miss mean..."

Gu Qingwan nodded and said, "Are you ready?"

Rou Niang seemed a little worried. She stood up and paced around the room, undecided. If she went into the manor, her peaceful life would be over. But if she didn't go back, her child would always be the son of a concubine. When she grew old and her beauty faded, her cousin would definitely forget about her. Then she would have no way to get an explanation for herself and her child.

After thinking it through, Rou Niang gripped her handkerchief tightly and said, "I'm ready!"

Gu Qingwan nodded appreciatively and said, "Then I will arrange for you to enter the manor. I will be passing by your place in a few days, and then you will..."

Rou Niang nodded repeatedly after listening, keeping it in mind.

"You must be careful in everything you do, after all, you have to take care of the baby in your belly," Gu Qingwan said.

"Don't worry, Miss, I know what I'm doing!"

Under the cover of darkness, Gu Qingwan and Siqi disappeared into the boundless night. Xiao Cui was filled with astonishment; this young lady seemed to have descended from the heavens like a fairy under the moon.

Rou Niang slept soundly that night, but to be on the safe side, she had Xiao Cui sleep in the same room with her, pondering what to prepare and how to win over Gu Ziming's heart.

A few days later, Gu Qingwan went to pay her respects to Old Madam Gu. The old lady was plump and suffering from the summer heat, and a maidservant beside her was constantly fanning an ice basin. Gu Qingwan noticed the two large basins of ice and frowned slightly.

“Grandma, it’s so cool here. You are so blessed. Your granddaughter’s visit is so timely,” Gu Qingwan said.

"Qingwan, please sit down. These were all sent by your father. In previous years, I was most afraid of the heat, but this year it's good that your father got these ices early. It's a blessing for this old woman."

"Grandma's good fortune is yet to come."

The tonics and food that Gu Qingwan gave me a while ago made the old lady feel refreshed and energetic. They were indeed good things. She thought she wanted some more: "You are a good child. I feel much better after taking those tonics you gave me a while ago."

"Really? That's good. Grandmother, eat with peace of mind. I'll bring you some more after you finish eating," Gu Qingwan said, waving her fan.

"I don't need that much. It's just that my medicine has been causing me some pain lately. You said you've become quite knowledgeable about medicine after being sick for so long, do you have any remedies?"

Gu Qingwan naturally understood the old lady's meaning: "Well... it seems that it would be good to fumigate with a Ganoderma lucidum and some mugwort."

"Lingzhi?" The old lady didn't care about mugwort at all; her eyes lit up when she heard about lingzhi.

“But…” Gu Qingwan hesitated.

"What? You're reluctant to be filial to your grandmother?"

"No, that's not it. Whatever Grandmother wants, I will definitely give it to her as a filial gift. It's just that I left this Ganoderma at the Duke's mansion, so I may have to go back there."

Upon hearing that Gu Qingwan was going to the Duke's mansion to retrieve some items, the old lady was overjoyed. In the past, Ning Jingxian would always bring back many fine things whenever she returned to her parents' home, and she hoped that Gu Qingwan would do the same. So she readily agreed.

"What's so difficult about that? Go to your maternal grandmother's house, go if you want."

"Then granddaughter, go and inform Madam."

The old lady frowned: "What do you want to talk to her about? You are the legitimate daughter, and who is she? Qingwan, although you haven't been teaching me in person all these years, your grandmother still has to say a few words to you. Show some respect as the legitimate daughter and don't embarrass the Gu family!"

Gu Qingwan stood up to show that she had learned something: "Thank you for your teachings, Grandmother. I will keep them in mind."