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

"What are you thinking about?"

Hearing the question behind her, Gu Qingwan snapped out of her reverie, closed the window, and looked in the direction of the voice. There stood the King of Chu, dining at a round table.

Ever since she told a few of her trusted confidants about the King of Chu, the King of Chu has become even more brazen in coming to her for free meals. The King of Chu’s mansion has no shortage of good food, yet he insists on dining at her place.

"Did Your Highness enjoy the food?" Gu Qingwan asked softly.

"Your little maid is quite skilled; to my taste, she's even better than the chef in my household. If I don't have anything else to do, I'll come and have meals with you often."

Gu Qingwan was speechless. She hadn't expected that Ruhua's cooking skills would catch the prince's eye. Speaking of which, Ruhua's dishes were truly delicious and beautifully presented, comparable to the imperial chefs in the palace. Over the years, Ruhua had spoiled her palate, and it seemed that the prince would also become spoiled in the future.

"I'm glad Your Highness likes it, but this is the Prime Minister's residence after all, so it's not convenient for Your Highness to come here often."

"It's alright, I have my own way." The King of Chu put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and then picked up a piece of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root and put it in his mouth.

Gu Qingwan chuckled to herself. So the prince really does have a sweet tooth.

After the King of Chu finished his meal, Gu Qingwan handed him a handkerchief at the opportune moment. He wiped his mouth and then casually stuffed it into his lapel. "By the way, what were you thinking about just now?"

"Why are you stuffing a used handkerchief into your clothes?" Gu Qingwan took the handkerchief out of Xiao Jingchen's clothes, then took another one out of her sleeve and stuffed it back in. "Here, this is a new one I embroidered. Take this one."

Xiao Jingchen lowered his head, touched his chest, and chuckled foolishly, just as Gu Qingwan spoke.

"I'm wondering whether the Third Prince's broken leg was a natural disaster or a man-made one."

"Is there a difference?"

"That's right, there's no difference. But Your Highness should make preparations, as it won't be long before you try to head south."

Xiao Jingchen pulled Gu Qingwan close, forcing her to bend over and look into his eyes. Xiao Jingchen said, "Sometimes I find you very mysterious, like you know everything. Who exactly are you?"

When Gu Qingwan heard the King of Chu ask this, she couldn't help but chuckle softly: "I am Gu Qingwan, who else could I be?"

Xiao Jingchen stared at her intently for a while, and unconsciously smiled. Yes, who else could this be but Gu Qingwan? So what if she's a little mysterious? She'll be on the same boat with him from now on.

"I probably won't be coming very often lately. As you said, I do need to prepare in advance and finalize the details with my brother. Take care of yourself. If anything happens, have Siqi go to Xiaoyi."

Gu Qingwan nodded, then grasped Xiao Jingchen's large hand in return, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful on your journey. Also, I know Your Highness is very skilled in martial arts, but wouldn't it be more efficient to use some medicine to subdue the opponent?"

Xiao Jingchen frowned and said disapprovingly, "I despise such despicable methods."

"It's alright, then let Xiao Yi do it."

"Xiao Yi will stay in the capital for you..."

Gu Qingwan pointed her finger at Xiao Jingchen's lips. "This trip will definitely be extremely risky. You should take Xiao Yi with you. If anything happens, just send me a message by carrier pigeon. That way I can feel at ease. I have Ning Yi and Ning Er by my side. You can rest assured in the capital."

Xiao Jingchen grasped her hand in return. He knew that Wanwan was very capable, perhaps so capable that she didn't need his protection, but he wanted to cherish the woman in front of him at all times.

With Gu Qingwan's help, Gu Hanjiao quickly learned about the Third Prince's injury. Without caring about anything else, Gu Hanjiao hurriedly led her maid to the Third Prince's residence.

However, when they arrived at the Third Prince's residence, Laiwang came out and blocked Gu Hanjiao's way.

"You servant, what are you doing blocking my way?"

"Second Miss, it's not that I'm stopping you, it's just that the Third Prince has just taken his medicine and fallen asleep, so it's very inconvenient for you to go in now." Lai Wang dutifully stopped Gu Hanjiao at the second gate, refusing to let her in.

Gu Hanjiao was extremely anxious, craning her neck to look inside, but she couldn't shout loudly. If she woke up the Third Prince who had just fallen asleep, he would think she was being inconsiderate. But she was worried because she couldn't see the Third Prince's condition with her own eyes.

"Just let me in. I'll just take a quick look at the Third Prince."

"Second Miss, please don't make things difficult for me."

"What? You dare touch me, you servant? Believe me, I'll hold you accountable later!"

"Second Miss, I cannot concern myself with what will happen in the future. However, the Third Prince needs to rest well right now. The Imperial Concubine has also instructed that no one else should go in and disturb the Third Prince's rest. Second Miss, you should go back first. You will definitely be able to see the Third Prince again in a couple of days."

"Unauthorized persons? Am I considered an unauthorized person? I am the Third Prince's fiancée!"

Laiwang just smiled without giving a direct answer. In his heart, he would only care about the people that the Third Prince cared about. He thought that the Third Prince calling out the name of his future princess in his sleep meant that he cared, but he didn't expect that the first person the Third Prince didn't want to see when he woke up was Miss Gu. Laiwang didn't know why, but the Third Prince told him to stop Miss Gu, and he was determined to do so.

Gu Hanjiao was furious at Laiwang's stubbornness, but she had no other choice but to suppress her temper. Just then, the imperial physician came out, and Gu Hanjiao quickly stepped forward to stop him and asked, "Imperial Physician, how is the Third Prince now?"

"Replying to Miss, the Third Prince's condition is stable now, but his broken leg needs rest. Miss, you might as well go back first. The Third Prince is drowsy after taking the medicine, and more sleep will help his recovery."

Hearing the imperial physician's explanation, Gu Hanjiao didn't dare to argue any further. She could only leave reluctantly with her maid. Before leaving, she instructed him in the manner of a mistress of the house: "Laiwang, you are the Third Prince's personal attendant. You must take good care of the Third Prince. Only when the Third Prince recovers will you be well."

"Don't worry, Miss, this servant will keep it in mind."

On her way back, Gu Hanjiao kept wondering why Laiwang was blocking her from entering. Was it because the Third Prince was too badly injured and he was worried that she would be upset if she saw him, so he had Laiwang block the door to prevent her from going in?

After thinking it over, this was the only reason. With the imperial physician who came out later, Gu Hanjiao became even more convinced that the Third Prince felt sorry for her and didn't want her to be even more heartbroken after seeing him.

Gu Hanjiao felt a little better. The Third Prince had broken his leg. Medical technology in this era was not advanced, and she didn't know if there would be any sequelae. If there were sequelae, the Third Prince would be out of the running for the throne, because no dynasty in history would allow a disabled person to sit on the throne.

Gu Hanjiao still hoped to become empress in the future, or even rise higher, so she would not allow such a thing to happen. The first thing she did when she got back was to have a carpenter make a wheelchair overnight, so that she could take it with her when she went there the day after tomorrow. She also ordered someone to ask her father for some ice basins to give to the third prince, so that he could get through the hot summer.

Li Qianyu's situation was not very optimistic either. On the day she returned, Lord Li did not come to visit her. Her mother found a doctor to examine her again. She drank a large bowl of bitter medicine and fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, she was fine except for a slight cough.

At this moment, Lord Li summoned Li Qianyu to the ancestral hall in his home.

"Kneel down."

Li Qianyu bit her lip. She knew what her father meant, so she didn't dare to object.

"You certainly have a good idea. Do you know what this will bring to the family?" Lord Li looked at the memorial tablet in front of him, unwilling to turn around and look at his proudest eldest daughter.

“Daughter…” Li Qianyu pursed her dry lips and said firmly, “I beg Father to grant my request.”

"Fulfill my wish? How do you expect me to fulfill your wish? That you become a concubine for the Third Prince? A concubine is still a concubine, after all. Your mother and I have pampered you and raised you with utmost care, only to have you sent to another family as a concubine when you grow up?" Lord Li asked, pointing at Li Qianyu with a pained expression. He raised his hand as if he wanted to slap his eldest daughter awake, but his hand remained suspended in mid-air.

Seeing that her father still couldn't bear to hit her, and that her mother was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, Li Qianyu couldn't help but cry too.

"Father, Mother, I have been in love with the Third Prince since I was a child. I always thought that as long as I was good enough, I could stay by his side. But as I grew up, I learned about the difficulties of being an official, so I kept telling myself to restrain myself. But, but I can't do it. I can't bear to see the Third Prince's life in danger without trying to save him."

"That's a royal heir. Even if his life is in danger, it's not your place to sacrifice your reputation as a young woman to save him. You could have informed your father or someone from the Third Prince's residence to rescue him. Why did you act on your own without telling the family? I think you clearly have ulterior motives!"

With a bang, Li Qianyu's defenses were completely destroyed by her father's words. Yes, her excuses were so high-sounding, but in the end, they were just a cover for her own selfish desires. Ever since the Third Prince bestowed the marriage upon her, the jealousy in her heart had grown like a seed that had sprouted, growing wildly and uncontrollably.

She wanted to stay by the Third Prince's side and not let her years of unrequited love go to waste. Even someone like Gu Hanjiao could become the Third Prince's princess, so why couldn't a lady of high birth like herself?

"Father...I just want to marry the person I love. Is that wrong?"

"Marry someone you love?" Madam Li cried and knelt down in front of her daughter, holding her shoulders and asking, "Don't you understand what your father is saying? How can you marry as someone's concubine? Without the proper betrothal and marriage ceremony, you can't even wear red. How can you talk about marrying?"

"But Mother, even a concubine is listed on the royal register and can enter through the main gate of the prince's residence. Mother, you have always loved me the most since I was little. Please, Father, grant my request. I have always been obedient. I will do whatever you ask. This is my only request!" Li Qianyu pleaded, her voice hoarse, as she tightly gripped her mother's hand.

Lord Li looked at Li Qianyu with a hint of disappointment. Even his proudest daughter couldn't overcome the hurdle of love. They were both experienced people and naturally knew just how difficult it was to deal with the word "love".

Lord Li lowered his voice and asked, "Even if it means you don't have to be a daughter of the Li family, are you still going to insist on doing it your way?"