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

Li Qianyu lay on top of Xiao Yuheng, feeling the burning heat beneath her. This real touch made Li Qianyu feel that she finally possessed the Third Prince. Seeing her beloved so closely was something she had longed for day and night but could never achieve. Now that her wish had come true, it would be worth anything she did.

Thinking about it, perhaps today really was God's arrangement.

Master Huang's words spread like wildfire that very day, and many people in the capital knew about them. On that day, Li Qianyu went to the cosmetics store to look at rouge and face powder, and she happened to run into Gu Qingwan as soon as she entered.

"Miss Gu has also arrived."

"Hello, Miss Li."

After exchanging greetings, Li Qianyu looked Gu Qingwan up and down. Her skin looked even better than before. It has to be said that Gu Qingwan was really tall. Standing with these young ladies, her tall stature was the most eye-catching.

"Miss Gu's skin is getting better and better. Is it because she's been using the snow cream from the cosmetics store?"

Gu Qingwan touched her face and said with a smile, "The snow cream from the makeup store is so hard to come by, I haven't even gotten a chance yet. My good skin is probably because I eat and sleep well every day."

Li Qianyu smiled and said, "What a coincidence! If Miss Gu doesn't mind, how about we go together and take a look?"

"I can't ask for it."

The two walked into the store side by side. Soon, Li Qianyu sat down and had her maid, Xiaomei, try on her makeup, while Gu Qingwan looked around at the counter.

With nothing much to do today, Gu Qingwan decided to take a stroll and see what the Makeup Pavilion that Shi Shu had mentioned was all about. The store's merchandise was different from the traditional kind; there were rows of shelves, floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with a dazzling array of goods, each with its price clearly marked.

At the entrance, there are also exquisite little baskets, so that each customer can pick out their favorite items by carrying a basket.

The counter clearly states that prices are non-negotiable. This is a good approach; customers see the prices and act accordingly, avoiding the embarrassment of not being able to afford something because it's too expensive. This simple method also helps retain customers, and it's something worth learning from.

At that moment, people around me started talking about what Master Huang had said that day.

"Have you heard? What Master Huang said in front of Prime Minister Gu's residence that day?"

"Does this mean the Third Prince is in trouble?"

"Pretty much, but Master Huang probably means that the Third Prince lied, which is why there was a disaster."

"Master Huang has always been very accurate. Last time, we went to the tofu seller's family in the east end of the city to pray for a child. They hadn't been able to conceive for many years, but they just found out recently that they are pregnant!"

"Wow, that's amazing! I'll go with my sister-in-law tomorrow to see if we can pray for a boy..."

Upon hearing the words "the Third Prince is in trouble," Li Qianyu immediately became uneasy. She stood up abruptly, spilling the tea that was being served to her and soiling her clothes.

"Miss!" Xiao Mei quickly took a handkerchief to wipe Li Qianyu's dress.

Seeing this, Gu Qingwan went over and asked, "Miss Li, what's wrong?"

"Huh? I...it's nothing." Li Qianyu looked down at her clothes and said, "Xiaomei, go to the car and get that rose-red dress."

"But Miss is here all by herself?"

"Go ahead, I'll stay with your young lady. There's a changing room in the back; we'll wait for you there. Hurry up," Gu Qingwan said to Xiaomei.

Xiao Mei glanced at her young mistress, and seeing that she nodded in agreement, she quickly put down her skirt and headed towards her carriage.

Gu Qingwan patted Li Qianyu's arm and asked, "What are you thinking about? Why are you so lost in thought?"

Li Qianyu glanced at Gu Qingwan, her heart filled with worry for the Third Prince's safety. She knew it was inappropriate to ask Gu Qingwan, but she couldn't help but ask, "Miss Gu, I heard that the Taoist priest Huang was in front of your house that day..."

Gu Qingwan thought for a moment, "I've heard about it too, it's true."

"Could you tell me the specifics?" Li Qianyu asked, holding Gu Qingwan's hand.

"Specifically?" Gu Qingwan seemed troubled. "Although I was there, what Taoist Huang said was similar to what was being said outside. He said that the Third Prince would have some disaster on his way back, that it was a warning from heaven or something... Sigh, just the words of a wandering sorcerer."

"But...but Master Huang has always been very accurate. Do you think the Third Prince might really be in trouble?"

"I don't know about that. If Miss Li really wants to know, why don't you just ask Master Huang of Qingquan Temple?" Gu Qingwan said jokingly. "Don't worry about these things. My sister didn't take the words of the quacks to heart. Miss Li, hurry up and go to the dressing room. I think your maid is coming back."

Li Qianyu looked down and saw that her clothes were stained with tea. She said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm so sorry to have made Miss Gu laugh. I just found it hard to believe when I heard Master Huang say that royal offspring could still suffer disasters."

“It’s alright. My father said it’s just a way to get some attention.”

"Miss's clothes are here," Xiaomei said breathlessly.

"Then, Qianyu, please excuse me."

Gu Qingwan smiled indifferently. She watched Li Qianyu's retreating figure as she went to the dressing room. In her heart, Gu Qingwan felt that compared to seeing Gu Hanjiao's shop decoration, this trip was truly worthwhile.

After returning home, Li Qianyu was restless. She was worried that something might happen to the Third Prince, so she went to Qingquan Temple to find Master Huang early the next morning.

"What does the young lady want to know?"

Li Qianyu looked around to make sure no one else was there, and said softly, "Taoist Master, I'd like to have my fortune told about the Third Prince's misfortune."

Master Huang's eyes widened immediately. "This cannot be spoken of, it is a secret of heaven!"

"Please, Master Huang, I'm willing to pay any price. Please help me, please help the Third Prince." As soon as Li Qianyu heard Master Huang say "it cannot be said" instead of "I don't know," she knew that Master Huang had a way.

Master Huang squinted as he touched the whisk, seemingly reluctant. Seeing this, Li Qianyu gestured to Xiaomei to hand over a box. "This is the incense money for the True Man. Please, Master Huang, consider my sincerity and tell my fortune."

Master Huang opened his eyes and looked at the open box. Inside were several large gold ingots. Master Huang reached out and closed the box.

"Taoist priest?"

"I can see the young lady's sincerity. Wealth is just an external thing. The reason I won't tell your fortune is because..." Master Huang hesitated for a moment and then said, "I can cast a divination, but the young lady and the Third Prince are not related. This cannot be calculated. There must be some connection. Only with a medium can the divination be accurate."

"Media? What media?"

"For example, if it were Miss Gu Er who came today, she would be the Third Prince's fiancée. They have feelings for each other and are destined to be together. That would be the matchmaker. And the young lady and the Third Prince..."

Li Qianyu lowered her head and thought for a moment. She said, "I have admired the Third Prince since I was a child, and I will definitely ask my family to give me to the Third Prince in the future. Can my admiration be used as a medium?"

"Miss! How could you..." Xiaomei exclaimed in surprise in a low voice. This was a matter concerning a young lady's reputation. If others heard about it, how could the young lady find a good marriage in the future?

"Xiaomei, shut up!"

Master Huang glanced at Xiaomei and then at Li Qianyu, made a divination with his fingers, smiled and said, "It seems you are also a young lady from a prominent family. Your affection has become an obsession. Since it is an obsession, it is the kind that is difficult to sever. There are too many entanglements. We can cast a divination."

Li Qianyu felt a mix of emotions. Her admiration for the Third Prince began from the first moment she saw him, and she had kept it to herself for so many years, striving to become more outstanding and be worthy of him. But in the end, it was Gu Hanjiao who got engaged to the Third Prince, which made her feel even more resentful. The Taoist priest was right; her love for the Third Prince had become an obsession.

From then on, Li Qianyu believed in Master Huang even more.

Master Huang performed a divination for Li Qianyu, and Li Qianyu spent a lot of money on incense for this divination. In the end, Master Huang lived up to expectations and told Li Qianyu that the approximate location of the Third Prince's accident was between the capital and the nearest post station.

"Master, could you be more specific?"

"I'm afraid I can't help you with this. There's no mutual understanding between the young lady and the third prince, so even if it's a matter of obsession, it can only go this far. Besides, since it's a warning from heaven, it's a heavenly secret. How could I possibly see through it? That would be a divine punishment."

Despite Li Qianyu's persistent pleading and the addition of a considerable amount of money, Master Huang was in a difficult position because Gu Qingwan had not told him the exact location. Finally, Master Huang impatiently said, "It's a rainy day."

After Li Qianyu left, a person walked out from behind the screen. That person was Gu Qingwan. Gu Qingwan heard everything from behind. Seeing Li Qianyu's hurried departure, she thought to herself: This is all I can do to help. The rest is up to fate. I didn't expect that even if we go through it all again, Xiao Yuheng still can't forget you.

Li Qianyu returned home overjoyed, and stayed indoors, refusing to leave even when her younger sister, Li Jingge, came to visit. She was preoccupied with how to help the Third Prince overcome his difficulties. Finally, before dawn, a light drizzle began to fall. Unable to sit still by the window any longer, Li Qianyu secretly took Xiaomei and boarded a carriage to leave.

Li Qianyu's purpose was very clear. After thinking about it for some time, she felt that instead of waiting at home for news of the Third Prince's death, she should go out now. The Taoist priest said that there would be problems at the nearest post station in the capital, so she would rush to the nearest post station to wait for the Third Prince. This was also the reason why she chose to take the shortcut, simply because she wanted to get there as quickly as possible.

"We've arrived! Someone come quick! Someone come quick!"

The tense shouts outside the carriage interrupted Li Qianyu's recollection. Li Qianyu felt a little dizzy. She looked at Xiaomei, but could only see Xiaomei opening her mouth without being able to hear what she was saying.

"Xiaomei, what did you say?"

"Miss! We've arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qianyu fainted with relief.