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

Gu Hanjiao wasn't really tired, she just didn't want to stay with Wang Ruyan anymore. When she returned to the entrance of Youlan Courtyard, she saw Aunt Rou and Gu Qingwan chatting in the pavilion, embroidering headbands and handkerchiefs.

"Oh my, when did you two become so close, sister? What are you discussing together? What could possibly require a legitimate daughter and a concubine to discuss together?"

Aunt Rou couldn't stand anyone making sarcastic remarks about Gu Qingwan, so she quickly stood up and explained with a smile.

"Second Miss is too kind. I am of lowly status and do not know anything. It was just that I was bored after the Old Madam fell asleep, so I shamelessly came to ask the Eldest Miss how to embroider the pattern on this headband. I hope you will forgive my rudeness."

This Aunt Rou was indeed favored by the old lady, who was very willing to have her niece serve her. Right now, besides her, there was only that wretched girl Qing'er.

Gu Hanjiao picked up the headband from Aunt Rou's hand, glanced at it, and threw it back into the basket.

"Auntie really knows how to find people. My sister has been at the border for so long, how could the people there have time to come up with any tricks?"

Gu Qingwan noticed Rou's embarrassment and said, "I just came to try my luck. It seems Rou is really lucky to have met you, my sister. Rou, my sister has been personally taught by the palace matrons, so she must have excellent taste. Why don't you show her your eyes?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Rou once again ingratiatedly picked up the headband from the basket and handed it to Gu Hanjiao.

"Oh, I don't have the time to discuss embroidery with my aunt. I have to go back and embroider my dowry. Later, I have to go to my mother's courtyard to have a family reunion dinner with my father and brother. I can't be as carefree as my sister and Aunt Rou."

"What the Second Miss says is true," Aunt Rou said awkwardly, clutching her belly.

Gu Hanjiao glanced at Aunt Rou's protruding belly and gently patted it, startling Aunt Rou into backing away. It was only thanks to Gu Qingwan supporting her waist from behind that she regained her balance.

"Auntie, you must take good care of yourself and not run around, so as not to worry your grandmother and father."

Gu Hanjiao left with her maid in a very good mood.

Aunt Rou bit her lip, her eyes still misty, but she couldn't say anything.

"Don't take it to heart. Take good care of yourself. They don't have many good days left. You don't need to stand in front of me in everything anymore. I can handle it."

Aunt Rou sat back down on the stone bench and said, "I know how capable you are, Miss, but I just don't want someone like that to catch your eye."

"I haven't wronged you yet, so why should you be wronged? What if you give birth to a crybaby later?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Rou smiled shyly, clutching her stomach.

Before evening, Wang Ruyan was already waiting at the courtyard gate, her anxious anticipation causing her to pace back and forth.

"Oh my madam, please slow down. This young master is just going to take the academy exam, not the imperial examination. If you're already like this, what will you be like when the imperial examination comes tomorrow? You'll be so anxious that you'll be climbing onto the roof."

"Go away, you're just teasing me."

What are you joking about?

Instead of Gu Changfeng, Gu Ziming appeared.

"Oh, Master is here! Come in and rest your feet. I was just talking to Xue Niang about Feng'er. Why are you back so early, Master?"

Wang Ruyan wanted to wait for her son at the gate, but she also wanted to go in and cultivate her relationship with her husband. After all, Gu Ziming hadn't been to the main courtyard for a long time. He spent his days either in the study or hanging out with the group of beauties in the backyard. The number of days he could come was very limited.

Xue Niang noticed Wang Ruyan's hesitation and stepped forward, saying, "Madam, please go in and serve the master. I will go to the second gate to wait for the young master to return. Please rest assured, Madam."

"Then go ahead, and when Feng'er comes back, have him come directly to the main courtyard," Wang Ruyan instructed.

“That brat is so big now, can’t he find his way home or what? Why are you all waiting for him to come back! I think you’ve spoiled Feng’er too much. A doting mother spoils her child.”

Gu Ziming flicked his sleeves and went inside.

"Oh, oh, oh, sir, that's not how it's said. You... Oh dear, Xue Niang, you go ahead. I'm going in to serve you. When you see Feng'er, don't forget to tell him to be careful about his father's questions."

"Yes, madam, please go in quickly. What should I say if I wake up?"

Wang Ruyan then hurriedly ran inside. Gu Ziming, being a big man, naturally took large strides and soon entered the main house.

"Why is the master so angry?"

Wang Ruyan gently stepped forward to help Gu Ziming take off his outer clothes and change into home clothes and shoes. When Gu Ziming sat down, she quickly stepped forward to give him a massage.

Seeing his wife still serving him gently as before, Gu Ziming was quite pleased.

“I’m not really angry, but the wind is so strong, and you still treat him like a child. Look at his outrageous behavior in the past, it’s not proper.”

"My lord, I know I have no special skills. All I can do is keep the backyard tidy so that you can be at ease. No matter how old Feng'er and Jiao'er are, they are still my and your children. Seeing them reminds me of your kindness to me. How can I not love them?"

Gu Ziming patted his wife's hand and held it in his own.

Wang Ruyan sat down next to Gu Ziming, leaned on his shoulder, and massaged his right hand, which he often used for writing.

"Moreover, I've heard that Feng'er has changed a lot these days, especially in her studies and writing, which have improved significantly. Even Master himself has praised her, hasn't he?"

At this point, Gu Ziming felt a little better and said, "Indeed, in terms of her studies, Feng'er's writing has improved significantly. Her rapid progress shows that the teacher has been teaching her with great care."

"It's not just the teacher's dedication; our Feng'er must have put in a lot of effort as well. As the saying goes, 'Like father, like son,' Feng'er will surely inherit the master's talent."

“I only have one son. I’m strict with him because I want the best for him. I hope he can pass the exam smoothly this time.”

"Don't worry, sir, you'll definitely pass the exam."

Gu Ziming pulled Wang Ruyan into his arms and gently rubbed her shoulders, saying, "I didn't have high hopes for him, but if even the son of the Prime Minister's family can't pass the exam, and I have students all over the place but can't teach my own son, it would be a laughing stock. So I've already prepared a way out for him."

"A way out? What way out?" Wang Ruyan asked, somewhat surprised.

“I have already asked Qingwan to ask the Ning family for a recommendation spot. Back then, the headmaster of Shanlu Academy owed the Ning family a life. Later, the Ning family also contributed a lot of money and manpower to the construction of Shanlu Academy. In recent years, no one from the Ning family has gone to study there, so the academy has given preferential treatment to the Ning family. It’s just that my father-in-law is unwilling to ask.”

Wang Ruyan was initially pleased to hear that Gu Ziming had paved the way for her son, but she became unhappy when she heard that Gu Ziming still referred to the Ning family as the Yue family.

In fact, in Gu Ziming's heart, Wang Ruyan's family was not worth mentioning at all. If he were to talk about his in-laws, Gu Ziming would first mention the Ning family. Up until now, he only referred to the old Duke Ning and his wife as his father-in-law and mother-in-law. As for Wang Ruyan's parents, Gu Ziming was too lazy to mention them.

"What? Are you unhappy?"

"Not at all, I'm overjoyed! I never expected Miss to be willing to help. I thought she would make things difficult for her younger siblings because of me, but I never expected..."

"Qingwan is not like that. She was raised by the Ning family and is still very sensible at heart."

"Yes, yes, yes, what you say is true, Master. The eldest daughter is naturally sensible. As the eldest daughter of our family, she will definitely help her younger brothers and sisters. I was wrong before."

"It's best if you think of it that way. Qingwan is just a bit aloof. There are some things you can do if you just ask her..." Gu Ziming originally wanted to say that Gu Qingwan could help him, but when he thought of her attitude towards him that day, he felt he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Alright, it's almost time. Tell the kitchen to prepare dinner. Also, why hasn't Jiao'er arrived yet?"

"Should we call Miss over too?" Wang Ruyan asked.

"No need, she...she's a quiet child, so let's not call her today."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ruyan beamed with joy. After all, she was a child who hadn't grown up in his presence, and the master's attitude towards that girl was at most out of consideration for the Ning family.

Gu Ziming was sitting cross-legged in the inner room, engrossed in reading a book, while Wang Ruyan was outside arranging dinner. Before long, Gu Hanjiao arrived with her maid.

"Greetings to Mother. Wow, dinner smells delicious tonight."

"You greedy girl, hurry up and go in to pay your respects to your father, then wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

"Father, you're here so early?" Gu Hanjiao feigned surprise as she walked into the inner room. "Father has been so busy lately, it's been a long time since we've had a meal together. I need to see if you've lost weight."

"Why have I lost weight, Father?"

"Didn't Father say that without his daughter by his side to eat, even fine wine doesn't taste good? So Father must be eating less to lose weight."

"Haha, you child, you're about to get married, why do you still talk like a child? Come on, let's go to the outer room and quietly tell your mother what delicious food she has prepared for us."

When he got outside, he saw a table full of delicious dishes, all of which were his and his children's favorite flavors.

"Thanks a lot."

"My lord, you are too kind. This is all my duty."

"Where's Feng'er? Why hasn't she come back yet?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Changfeng returned from outside, looking travel-worn. Gu Ziming frowned, wanting to reprimand him, as he saw his disheveled appearance.

"You just went to the academy to take an exam, how did you end up like this?"

“Father…” Gu Changfeng had been afraid of his father since he was a child, and now that he saw his father was angry, he was also a little timid.

Wang Ruyan quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Feng'er must be tired from the exam, right? Although the academy is in the capital, it's in the suburbs, and it's quite a distance by carriage. Feng'er must be hungry right now. Master, please don't scold him. Sit down quickly. Feng'er, look, your father is waiting here especially for you to have a meal together."

Gu Ziming was unwilling to go against his wife's good intentions.

"Go, go to the side room and tidy up before coming over for dinner!"