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

"Then it's better to be respectful than to obey."

"Hongxiu, please take the two young ladies to the guest rooms," the Third Prince said.

Hongxiu glanced at the Third Prince's expression, her eyes flickered, and she obediently agreed.

Nothing much happened along the way. Yu Xinqiu was a charming and eloquent person, but she kept asking about Gu Hanjiao. Gu Qingwan didn't tell her much, only occasionally revealing a little bit.

Seeing that it was almost time, the Gu sisters bid farewell and left the Third Prince's residence, while the eldest daughter of the Yu family also said goodbye to the Third Prince at the same time to return to the palace to serve the Imperial Concubine.

Perhaps because Gu Hanjiao had a chance to be alone with the Third Prince that afternoon, she was in an exceptionally good mood and treated Gu Qingwan with a kind and gentle demeanor. It's possible that Gu Qingwan knew she would become a prince's consort in the future, and was trying to curry favor with her at this time.

Inside the carriage, Gu Qingwan touched the clothes given to her by Yu Xinqiu. The fabric and feel were of the highest quality. Indeed, the Yu family had nothing but money, which was why they desperately craved power.

"Miss, what are we doing following the Second Miss here? We might as well just stay in the courtyard and eat some melon."

"If we hadn't come, some unlucky guy would have been in big trouble," Gu Qingwan joked, gently waving the round fan in her hand.

"Unlucky fellow?" Even with Siqi's exceptional fighting skills, she couldn't quite figure out what her young mistress was trying to say for the time being.

After returning home, Gu Hanjiao ignored Gu Qingwan and went straight to her mother's courtyard to discuss countermeasures. This Yu Xinqiu was indeed a difficult person to deal with; she was already so close to the Third Prince before even getting married.

Gu Qingwan was told at the door that the master wanted her to go to the study.

When Gu Qingwan arrived at the study, she saw Gu Ziming reading official documents.

"You've arrived. Please sit down. I'll wait a moment," Gu Ziming instructed Gu Qingwan without looking up.

Gu Qingwan sat down and looked around the study. There were indeed many books. Although the Prime Minister had risen to power with the help of her maternal family, he was still the top scholar in the imperial examination that year and had considerable ability.

The servants served tea and replenished the ice basin before leaving.

Gu Ziming had just finished what he was doing and looked up at Gu Qingwan, who was enjoying her tea alone. This daughter was very calm and composed, not at all like a wild girl who had just returned from outside. Instead, she had the temperament of her mother.

He knew it was all thanks to the Ning family's upbringing. Back then, the Ning family could raise a woman like Ning Jingxian, so Qingwan wouldn't be much different. Plus, her aunt was a renowned lady in the capital.

Although the Ning family had been engaged in martial arts for generations, Ning Jingxian was the only outstanding young lady in the capital, one in a million. She was even qualified to enter the palace as an empress. If the old Duke hadn't declared that he would never let his only daughter become a concubine, the emperor would surely have taken such a gentle and beautiful woman into the harem.

If that were the case, I wouldn't have had any involvement, and none of what happened later would have occurred.

Gu Ziming couldn't help but sigh. He and Jingxian had indeed been deeply in love back then. What man could resist such a beautiful woman?

As for what happened later, too many complicated factors were involved, so let's just leave it at that.

"What's wrong, Father? Is there something wrong with Qingwan? Why is Father staring at his daughter like that?"

"It's nothing. I went to the Third Prince's residence today. Is the Third Prince feeling any better?"

"Father, I think the Third Prince looks quite well, but he is still in a wheelchair and hasn't gotten out to walk. I heard from the Third Prince that he can walk a little every day, so I think he will recover soon."

Seeing that Gu Qingwan was still looking so meek and submissive, Gu Ziming suddenly felt a little awkward and didn't know what to say to this daughter he wasn't close to.

But I can't keep quiet.

"I called you to the study today because there is something I need you to do."

"My daughter just came back and I don't know if there's anything she can do to help her father."

"Cough cough cough." Gu Ziming coughed a few times, took a sip of the tea that had gone cold on the table, and said, "It's like this, your younger brother Feng'er is about to go to the Mountain Foothills Academy for the exam, which is very important for your brother and for the entire Gu family."

Gu Qingwan understood the meaning behind Gu Ziming's words, but she simply didn't intend to respond.

“Then Feng Di will need to work even harder. I believe that with Father’s guidance, Feng Di will definitely be able to successfully enroll.”

Gu Ziming glanced at his eldest daughter and thought she was really clueless, so he simply stated bluntly, "Feng'er is naturally no problem, but there are many outstanding students in the world, so just in case... I was thinking that your maternal grandfather could recommend her..."

"Why doesn't Father talk to Grandfather himself?"

This is quite awkward. Ever since the incident with the birthday gift, Gu Ziming has been even more ashamed to go to his former father-in-law's house. He's afraid that if he dares to visit, the Ning family will send him packing.

"Ahem, I'm quite busy as a father. You often visit the Ning family, so this is just something that happens on the side."

Gu Qingwan paused for a moment with the fan in her hand, then continued waving it as she said, "My maternal grandfather's family can indeed recommend the Shanlu Academy, but I heard from my aunt that it's meant to be left to their descendants."

"Hmph, the whole family is skilled in martial arts, it's no waste to leave it to their descendants."

Gu Qingwan smiled and said, "Indeed, the Ning family all started from the battlefield. However, my aunt has a little dumpling who is very cute and intelligent. My maternal grandparents think that the Ning family should also produce a promising student, so they are preparing to cultivate that little dumpling."

Gu Ziming naturally knew who the child was, but he still didn't want to give up so easily.

“You can’t make the decision yourself. I just thought you could go to the Ning family and put in a good word for us. Maybe your maternal grandfather will agree. After all, the child is still very young. If Feng’er achieves great things in the future, he will not forget the Ning family’s kindness in helping him.”

"The Ning family's kindness in helping you?" Gu Qingwan was taken aback, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled. She covered her mouth with a fan and asked, "Just like the Ning family's kindness in helping Father, Father had no way to repay them but offered himself in marriage?"

Such blatant mockery made Gu Ziming lose face immediately. "How dare you speak to your father like that!"

"I'm sorry, Father. Qingwan is just being straightforward. I will ask about what you said, but whether it will work out or not is not up to me."

Seeing that Gu Qingwan was softening, Gu Ziming was unwilling to pursue the matter further. However, he noticed that the goodwill Gu Qingwan had finally gained had vanished in an instant.

"It's good that you know what's going on. Feng'er is the only male heir in our family. Only if he gets better will your sisters get married in the future. Think about it carefully."

"Father, don't be so self-deprecating. Whether you are the only one or not is still uncertain. You are young and strong, and you will have many children in the future. However, if you have any hidden illnesses, you should go and see a doctor as soon as possible. Logically speaking, you should not only have Fengdi as your only son at your age. I hope you will not avoid seeking medical treatment."

"Gu Qingwan, is this your upbringing? How can a young lady like you discuss matters of offspring with her father?"

"Qingwan is just worried about Father's health. Such things are common at the border. Daughter also wants the family to prosper and flourish, so that daughter can have a strong backing and enjoy the shade in the future. Father is busy with official duties, and I sincerely hope that Father can take care of his health until the end."

For Gu Ziming, a man, to have his fertility questioned by his own daughter was an utter disgrace. He wondered if the wisest choice would be to never see this rebellious daughter at all.

Look at this person who has been blocking him ever since he came in, making him extremely irritable.

"Your father is in good health, so you don't need to worry about me."

"Father should also see different doctors. It's never right to rely on just one doctor. They might become complacent over time."

"Alright, you can go now. Go and visit your maternal grandmother and grandfather in the next couple of days."

The words had already been spoken. Gu Qingwan understood that Gu Ziming was a very arrogant and suspicious person. He seemed a little angry now, but once his anger subsided, he would definitely have some doubts in his heart.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will take root and sprout, eventually growing into a towering tree over time.

"Father, please take care. Your daughter takes her leave."

Just as Gu Qingwan had predicted, Gu Ziming sulked for a while after she left. However, as the saying goes, a prime minister's belly can hold a boat, and our Prime Minister is certainly no exception.

After calming down for a while, he began to think about the issue of his offspring. Indeed, although he was not young, he was not too old compared to his comrades.

Even the old Marquis's hair turned white recently and he had a newborn son, so Gu Ziming shouldn't be without offspring at this age.

But is it really true, as her daughter said, that there is something wrong with her body? The doctor in the manor comes to check on her on time, and she takes nourishing pills regularly, but none of the women in the backyard are pregnant. Could it all be a coincidence?

No, I still have to go and see for myself.

Although he had a legitimate son, Gu Changfeng, he knew very well what kind of person the child was. In the end, Gu Changfeng was not even as good as his disciples.

He didn't know how someone as talented as himself could have produced such an unambitious child. Because of his studies, Gu Ziming felt so melancholy that his hair turned much whiter.

If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have asked Gu Qingwan to go to the Ning family to ask for a recommendation.

However, based on his tests of Feng'er over the past two days, the child's studies have improved significantly, especially his writing, which seems to have suddenly become clear and logical, making him take notice.

Gu Ziming felt that with Feng'er's level of ability, getting into the academy would be a piece of cake, and given time, the imperial examinations in the future would not be a problem either.

Gu Ziming was also worried. Gu Changfeng's foundation wasn't very strong before. If he didn't perform well or the exam questions weren't his forte, it would be troublesome. So it was safer to get the Ning family's recommendation letter. He could return it if he didn't need it. It wasn't a big deal.

Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows; he cannot place all his hopes on just one son.

Gu Ziming had considered whether there was a problem with the issue of having children. He was also somewhat aware of the private affairs within the household, so he had his suspicions about his wife.

Why is there no news from his own backyard, while Rou Niang, whom he had previously kept outside, became pregnant not long after he got together with him?

However, he had also consulted the physician, who said that everything was normal and there was nothing wrong with him. He himself was just overworked and only needed to take some mild tonics every day.

Even his own mother, a woman of such robust health, suddenly collapsed, making him wonder. He knew his mother's character best; though she was old, she used to be able to chase five pigs with a rolling pin without a problem. How could this happen...?

"Somebody come!"

Ba Quan had been serving outside, and when he heard Gu Ziming calling for someone, he quickly came over.

"What are your instructions, Master?"

"Go and call Doctor Zheng, the physician of the prefecture, over."

"Is the master feeling unwell?" Ba Quan asked with concern.

Gu Ziming shook his head and said, "Forget it, don't call the physician. Go find a clinic further away and ask a doctor with a good reputation to come into the mansion quietly. While you're at it, secretly investigate Doctor Zheng for me."

"Master, this is..."

“Ba Quan, I have some doubts but I’m not sure yet. Just do as I tell you, and be sure to do it quietly without alerting anyone, especially Madam.”