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

Along the way, whenever Xiao Yuheng saw a pretty flower, he would have someone pick one for him and personally put it in Gu Hanjiao's hair. Gu Hanjiao was delighted and looked at Xiao Yuheng with affection in her eyes.

The servants in the manor all sighed at the sight of this perfect couple, and how good the Third Prince was to the young lady. They said that the Second Miss would surely be blessed with happiness after marrying into the family.

At the entrance of Youlan Courtyard, Siqi blocked their way.

Gu Hanjiao's expression was somewhat unpleasant. She held her head high in front of Siqi, as if that would make her superior to Siqi. "The Third Prince has come to our residence to enjoy the scenery. Why aren't you welcoming him? What are you doing stopping him?"

Siqi glanced at Chunlu for a while, then at the Second Miss and the Third Prince. Just as she was thinking about what to say, Baoqin happened to pass by and overheard her. She stepped forward and said with a smile, "Greetings to the Third Prince and the Second Miss."

Seeing that Baoqin was well-mannered, Gu Hanjiao's expression softened a bit. She said, "The Third Prince has come all this way to our residence and wants to see the scenery. Please prepare some tea and refreshments and bring them to the waterside pavilion later for the Third Prince to enjoy while he rests."

Hearing that Gu Hanjiao acted like the mistress of Youlan Courtyard, Baoqin pursed her lips and nodded, "The Third Prince's arrival was sudden. The Eldest Miss is still inside. Please allow me to go in and inform the Eldest Miss before inviting the Third Prince in."

"Is the young lady inside?" Xiao Yuheng asked in surprise.

"Yes, this is the young lady's courtyard. It's hot, so there may be some shortcomings. Please wait a moment, Third Prince."

Gu Hanjiao stared at Baoqin with a pale face. That damned girl, why didn't she just let them go in and take a look? Why did she have to make such a fuss?

Gu Hanjiao squatted down in front of the Third Prince and covered his legs with a thin blanket. "I forgot to tell you earlier, Third Prince, that my sister just returned not long ago. I let her stay in the courtyard. After all, my sister has been in the border region for a long time. The customs there are more open. My sister is very unrestrained at home. Sometimes even I, as a woman, feel a little embarrassed. Why don't we wait here for a while?"

Hearing Gu Hanjiao speak of her young mistress in this way, Baoqin thought to herself that it was fortunate that Siqi was sent in to report. If Siqi had been left here, she would have been unable to resist slapping the second young lady twice.

But Xiao Yuheng, sitting in his wheelchair, thought differently. When he heard Gu Hanjiao's description, images immediately flashed through his mind. He suddenly remembered Gu Qingwan's alluring appearance in his dream and couldn't help but move his throat.

In fact, Xiao Yuheng knew that Gu Qingwan was currently living in Youlan Courtyard. He did not come to thank Gu Ziming as he had told him, but rather to see Gu Qingwan. He had no reason to let Gu Qingwan come to his residence. Of course, he could have sent someone to invite her, but that would have had a negative impact. So he could only come under a different pretext.

These days, he keeps thinking about those dreams, which feel just like reality. Every time he thinks about them, he feels resentful and wants to possess Gu Qingwan. This crazy idea is getting stronger and stronger until Gu Qingwan actually stands in front of him. That idea is like a seed buried deep in the soil, and Gu Qingwan is like the spring rain, which makes the seed sprout and swell all at once.

Gu Qingwan, dressed in a pale yellow dress, gracefully approached. Standing in front of the archway, her face remained expressionless as always, exuding a cool and aloof aura despite the summer weather.

"I was unaware of the Third Prince's arrival; I have failed to greet you properly."

"I'm sorry to bother you, Miss."

"It is indeed an inconvenience, but since the Third Prince has come, I cannot refuse my sister. Your room is almost ready, so please take the Third Prince there to entertain him."

Gu Hanjiao blushed. Although they were engaged, they couldn't bring him into the boudoir before they were even married. "Sister, what are you saying? The Third Prince just wants to come and see our courtyard."

"Oh, feel free to look around, but you should know where you shouldn't go." Before Gu Hanjiao and the Third Prince could speak, Gu Qingwan left with her maids and servants.

Although Gu Hanjiao was angry inside, she couldn't show it. She could only say aggrievedly, "Third Prince, please don't mind. My sister is just like this. Everyone has to give in to her at home, even in my courtyard..."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Xiao Yuheng comforted Gu Hanjiao, holding her hand in his, but his eyes were fixed on Gu Qingwan's departing figure, as if he could see through her clothes to the plum blossom mark.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yuheng secretly resolved to find out if Gu Qingwan really had that mark on her waist. If it was real, then it was a message from heaven to him, and he couldn't miss such a wonderful woman.

Xiao Yuheng only looked away after Gu Qingwan's figure disappeared.

Gu Hanjiao led Xiao Yuheng to the waterside pavilion they had mentioned earlier. The scenery there was indeed pleasant, with plenty of shade and being right next to the water, making it much cooler than outside, unlike the coolness of using ice.

"Third Prince, you must be tired. Shall we cool off here for a bit, have some tea and something to eat?" Gu Hanjiao squatted down in front of Xiao Yuheng's knees, looking up at the Third Prince with admiring eyes.

It's no exaggeration to say that Gu Hanjiao is the most beautiful woman in the capital. Gu Hanjiao is indeed very beautiful, like a delicate flower that makes people want to protect her. Xiao Yuheng placed his large hand on Gu Hanjiao's face, and the people around him turned around and went to a distance to wait for instructions.

"Thank you for your hard work. The scenery here is indeed as beautiful as you said. Is your sister in a bad mood? Why is she treating you like this..."

"My sister has always been like this. She never gives anyone a kind look. Sigh, maybe it's because she left home at a young age that she has a somewhat eccentric personality."

"Then what about your sister's..." Xiao Yuheng almost asked about the plum blossom mark on her waist, but his rationality told him that if he asked, it would definitely arouse Gu Hanjiao's suspicion.

"What?" Gu Hanjiao didn't quite hear her.

"Oh, I mean I want to eat the iced porridge you made for me last time. It was so sweet and refreshing. You only made it for me once. I wonder if you'd be interested in making me a bowl today?"

Gu Hanjiao smiled and sat down on the stone bench next to her. "What's so difficult about that? I'll have Qiushuang do it right away."

"No, I want to eat what you made yourself. Last time you weren't at the manor, I had the cook make a bowl according to your recipe, but it didn't taste the same. I guess it's because it lacks your flavor."

Gu Hanjiao blushed. She hadn't expected the Third Prince to flirt like that, which made her feel embarrassed. Of course, Gu Hanjiao couldn't refuse Xiao Yuheng's request.

"Then Brother Heng, please sit here and wait a moment. I'll go and do it right away." Gu Hanjiao wiped her cheeks with a handkerchief, instructed Qiushuang to serve her here, and then took Chunlu with her as she walked slowly out of the waterside pavilion.

Xiao Yuheng was all smiles, but as soon as he heard "Brother Heng," he thought of Gu Hanjiao from his dream, and his face immediately darkened. After watching Gu Hanjiao walk away, Xiao Yuheng called Laiwang and Qiushuang in.

Laiwang, having been by the Third Prince's side for so long, naturally knew what the Third Prince was thinking. He said to Qiushuang, "It's a bit damp and shady here. I'd like to trouble this sister to get the Third Prince a woolen blanket to cover his legs so that they don't get cold."

Qiu Shuang hesitated for a moment, but then she thought that the Third Prince had people serving him, and it wouldn't take long to go and get a blanket, so she could only nod and hurry off.

After everyone had left, Xiao Yuheng led Laiwang around the courtyard with satisfaction, seemingly aimlessly, but with a very clear goal in mind.

Sure enough, thanks to the Third Prince's tireless efforts, he found Gu Qingwan in the direction where she disappeared. She was sitting in a shady spot embroidering something. Her head was down, and her long, white neck was visible through her collar, making her look like a beautiful white swan. However, it was unclear what had happened to the beauty, as she was slightly frowning.

"Cough cough cough..." Xiao Yuheng couldn't help but move his throat and choked on his saliva.

Gu Qingwan had already heard the footsteps of strangers, especially Xiao Yuheng's wheelchair. It wouldn't be appropriate to pretend she didn't hear them. She originally thought that Xiao Yuheng was just wandering around and would leave when he saw her there. She didn't expect him to dare to stare at her there.

Xiao Yuheng noticed that the beauty had discovered his presence and gestured for Laiwang to push him over: "Miss Gu is here. Sorry to bother you."

Gu Qingwan didn't speak, and continued to stare at the embroidery in her hands.

Xiao Yuheng felt inexplicably nervous. He licked his lips, thinking that the woman before him was as captivating as in his dreams. Seeing that no one was around, a surge of courage suddenly welled up within him, and he said, "Qingwan, lately I keep dreaming about you, dreaming that you married me..."

Gu Qingwan's eyes turned cold. She couldn't bear to hear Xiao Yuheng mention his marriage to her again; it was the beginning of her and the Ning family's descent into hell.

Gu Qingwan said, "Third Prince, I heard you broke your leg. What? Has your brain gone mad too?"

"No, Qingwan, listen to me. We must have been destined to meet in our past lives, which is why I always dream about you."

How can a dream be considered valid?

As Gu Qingwan was about to leave, Xiao Yuheng said nervously, "Why doesn't it count? In my dream, you married me and I saw a plum blossom mark on your waist."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingwan stopped in her tracks. Just as Xiao Yuheng thought he had made the right statement, Gu Qingwan asked, "Third Prince, who told you that I have a plum blossom mark on my waist?"

“No one was there; I saw it with my own eyes in my dream.” Seeing Gu Qingwan’s reaction, Xiao Yuheng became even more certain that the dream was real. “If you are willing, this prince is willing to marry you as my principal wife.”

"What? What about my sister?"

Xiao Yuheng pushed the wheelchair to Gu Qingwan's side and said, "Jiao'er... Jiao'er can be a concubine."

Xiao Yuheng felt he had already shown enough tenderness; an ordinary woman would have been deeply moved by now. But Gu Qingwan was no ordinary person. She smiled and reached out to take Xiao Yuheng's outstretched hand.

Just as Xiao Yuheng was overjoyed, thinking that Gu Qingwan also had feelings for him and agreed to his idea, he suddenly felt a pain in his arm. Gu Qingwan had dislocated his arm. With a swift movement, Gu Qingwan clenched Xiao Yuheng's hand, which was flailing open in pain, into a fist and punched him. The bones cracked and popped. Before Xiao Yuheng could even cry out in pain, Gu Qingwan flicked a pill into his mouth.

"Ah! What did you feed me?! Ah! My arm! Gu Qingwan, are you trying to kill me?!" The pain in his arm made Xiao Yuheng clench his fist tightly, but the foreign object in his throat also made him wary.

"The Third Prince was able to reattach his leg after it was broken, so a dislocated arm should be no problem for him too."

Xiao Yuheng, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, glared fiercely at Gu Qingwan: "Aren't you afraid I'll report this to the Emperor? Murdering a prince is a heinous crime! I advise you to be sensible; otherwise, I might consider sparing your life!"

"Go ahead and try, see if you have the ability! And you want to marry me?" Gu Qingwan glanced at him and said disdainfully, "Then you should become a man first."

Gu Qingwan wiped her hands with the embroidery in her hand and said to the dirty embroidery, "What is this!"