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

Xiao Yuheng was suffering in silence. He had hoped to gain his father's praise and erase the bad impression he had made before, but now he had lost everything.

"Tell me, what exactly can you do? You've been asked to distract me, but what have you done?!"

"Father, I have failed in my duties. Please punish me!"

Xiao Yuheng knew that it would be futile for him to say anything at this point. Only by honestly admitting his mistake could he appease his father's anger.

"Calm down? How can I calm down? If it weren't for the report from Linqing, I would still be in the dark. How long are you planning to keep this from me? Until the floodwaters reach the palace and refugees flood my study?"

The Emperor launched into a tirade against Xiao Yuheng without regard for anything else, making Xiao Yuheng so careful that he could barely breathe.

The Crown Prince stood to the side and saw that the Emperor had vented his anger to the point where the palace maid serving him had brought him a cup of tea.

"Father, please calm down. Perhaps my third brother is unaware of this matter."

"He doesn't know anything. He doesn't know what I sent him to do. Did I send him on a sightseeing trip?"

“Father, it’s not uncommon for some officials to deceive their superiors and cover up their wrongdoings. My third brother is inexperienced and a young prince; who knows if they’re the ones who have the audacity to do so.”

These words lessened the emperor's anger somewhat. Having risen through the ranks from a prince himself, he naturally knew how hypocritical and shameless the officials below were, and how many of them deceived their superiors and concealed their true intentions.

He once thought that when he ascended the throne, he would definitely rectify the corruption in the officialdom, but later he found that it was all in vain. These people were despicable, but they had to exist.

As the saying goes, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." Without them, the entire court would be paralyzed.

The Emperor glanced at Xiao Yuheng, who was about to be scolded and fall off his wheelchair. His leg was broken and in a thick cast. He looked much thinner than before. His third son was the apple of Consort Yu's eye. The Yu family was the top imperial merchant in Daqing. Consort Yu would send him all sorts of good things. His son had never suffered like this before.

"Don't blame yourself. I was just worried. The Crown Prince is right. In the end, this matter can't be entirely blamed on you. How is your leg?" the Emperor asked with concern.

"Father, I'm alright. Your scolding is right. It was my failure to discern the truth from falsehood in their words that caused the people to suffer." Xiao Yuheng gazed at his father with deep affection, just like a child.

"Father, what should we do next? According to Lord Xu from Linqing, the previous dikes seem to have problems, and the disaster victims are gradually coming in. If measures are not taken in time, it may arouse public anger."

The Crown Prince timely interrupted the Third Prince's idea of ​​continuing the father-son relationship with the Emperor. If Xiao Yuheng was just an ordinary younger brother, like the other imperial brothers, following him, then the Crown Prince would not mind the existence of father-son affection in the royal family.

But not now. Xiao Yuheng's ambition is no longer concealed, and Consort Yu is also gradually encroaching on the Empress's position in the palace.

"The Crown Prince's concerns are not wrong. What is the Crown Prince's opinion?"

"Father, I believe that we need to send another person of high moral standing south. Firstly, to investigate the extent of the floods in the south, and secondly, to determine how much grain and silver our court should allocate. We cannot allow these life-saving resources to fall into the pockets of corrupt officials."

The Emperor nodded in agreement after hearing this, and the Crown Prince continued.

"Secondly, it can also appease the disaster victims, find out where those who fled have gone, and if appropriate, set up relief points along the way, so that the disaster victims do not all flood into the capital."

"Who does the Crown Prince think is more suitable to go?" the Emperor asked.

At this moment, Xiao Yuheng suddenly spoke up: "Father, please give me this opportunity to redeem myself, otherwise I will not be able to eat or sleep in peace."

The Emperor glanced at Xiao Yuheng, thinking to himself, "Has my son's brain been smashed too? He has already messed things up and lost the people's hearts. If I send him now, won't the world say that I, the emperor, am muddle-headed, incompetent, and tyrannical?"

The Emperor ignored Xiao Yuheng and gestured for the Crown Prince to continue.

“It’s probably not appropriate for my third brother to go again. He needs to rest and can’t withstand the discomfort of traveling back and forth.”

"Since he is a highly respected person, then I think Prime Minister Gu might be suitable." Xiao Yuheng still couldn't give up. If it weren't for his own people going, they would definitely have uncovered a lot of things, and half of his cronies might have been eliminated.

“Prime Minister Gu is very busy with state affairs, and Father Emperor still needs him to handle matters in court. If he goes there, Father Emperor will probably face some trouble for a while,” the Crown Prince said disapprovingly.

"What does Your Majesty mean? Surely Father can't go in person? Or should the Crown Prince go in person?" Xiao Yuheng said somewhat angrily, "Your Majesty, I was just worried about you. I had a smooth journey back, but something happened near the capital. Everyone says it's a natural disaster, but it's not certain whether it's a natural disaster or a man-made one!"

“Third brother, what you said is interesting. The natural disaster was something that Taoist priest mentioned in front of Prime Minister Gu’s door. Whether it’s true or not, you can ask your future father-in-law. As for man-made disasters… you can have the Ministry of Justice send people to investigate thoroughly, so that you don’t see everyone as a bad person.”

"Enough! What time is it for you to still be arguing!" The Emperor slammed his hand on the table.

"Father, please forgive me!"

The Emperor's expression softened slightly, and he said to the two of them, "I have already made up my mind who will go. By the time you remember, it will be too late."

The Crown Prince's eyes flickered, and he suddenly realized that he hadn't seen his uncle for quite some time. A while ago, his uncle had asked him to take some time to go to the Chu Prince's residence to deliver the two wolf cubs to Miss Gu's residence in the Ningguo Duke's mansion. Since his uncle hadn't come for such an important matter today, it could only mean that it was his uncle who had gone this time.

"Was it the Imperial Uncle who was sent?"

The Emperor nodded in agreement. “Your uncle is going to inspect military affairs in various places. I have already sent a message by carrier pigeon, asking the Prince of Chu to go to the south to see how the floods are going. I don’t trust anyone else to go. Your uncle is an upright and incorruptible man, and also a man of high position and power. Anyone who dares to play tricks on him will have to think twice.”

Upon hearing that it was the Prince of Chu who had gone, Xiao Yuheng had nothing more to say. His father was right; in terms of rank and power, besides his father, only his uncle and the Crown Prince were available. However, the Emperor was the ruler of the country, and the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, so neither of them could easily leave the capital. That left only the Prince of Chu.

"However, you cannot remain idle while the Prince of Chu is away. Your Highness, you and Minister of Revenue Li should have a good discussion and come up with a plan for me to see how to resolve the current disaster and appease the people."

"Father, I have a concern, but I don't know if I should speak of it," the Crown Prince said.

"You said."

"Your Majesty, I have read in a book that a prolonged drought will inevitably lead to disaster, and floods will be followed by plagues. We must take precautions."

The Emperor's expression was serious, and it seemed he had taken the words to heart. Xiao Yuheng also took them to heart. He would go back to his advisors to inquire whether there really was a plague. If so, and he could offer medicine, then his previous actions would be considered equal.

"Father, please entrust this matter to your son," Xiao Yuheng pleaded earnestly. "Because my mistake has brought disaster to the people, your son..."

"Alright, don't be sad. I didn't really blame you. Go and talk to Prime Minister Gu to see what the Imperial Hospital thinks, and come up with a prevention plan as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not disappoint you."

Xiao Yuheng thought smugly that he had managed to snatch the Crown Prince's proposal. It seemed that his father still liked him very much. The Crown Prince was just lucky to be born into the rightful heir. If he hadn't been born into the rightful heir, it was uncertain who would have been the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince didn't seem to care much. He even affectionately pushed Xiao Yuheng out of the Imperial Study and escorted him all the way to his carriage before stopping. Everyone in the palace said that the Crown Prince loved his brothers and cherished their brotherly affection.

Gu Qingwan has been back at the manor for several days now. The Crown Prince came to visit the old Duke, saying that he brought the imperial physician to examine the old Duke's leg. Hearing that Miss Gu had returned, he also helped Prince Chu send the two little wolves back.

The old Duke once asked Gu Qingwan what she planned to do with the two wolves. According to Gu Qingwan, although the two wolves were destined to be with her, this was the capital city after all. They were wild animals and should roam the grasslands, not be kept in cages in the capital. Otherwise, what difference would there be between them and a dog when they grew up?

When the old Duke learned of Gu Qingwan's meaning, he told her not to worry, as he would have someone handle it. With her maternal grandfather personally taking charge, Gu Qingwan had nothing to be concerned about.

The time had come for Gu Ziming and Gu Qingwan to return the dowry, but before Madam Ning could even bring anyone to their door, Gu Ziming took the initiative to deliver the dowry himself.

"What? You mean Father delivered the things to the Ning residence on his own initiative?" Gu Qingwan was somewhat incredulous, knowing that the Gu family had taken a lot of her mother's dowry.

"That's right, Miss. It was this maid who helped Madam check and verify. Some of the things that were missing last time have been returned intact, and the things that were missing could not be returned with money. Not only that, the Prime Minister said that he had mistreated Miss in the past, so this time he will give you more as compensation."