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

"Your Majesty, please try this. This is the lotus seed and lotus flower soup that the Crown Princess served to the ladies a few days ago, along with a pot of lotus leaf tea. I heard it received unanimous praise from all the ladies. Today, I asked the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen to teach me how to make it. I heard it's the best for clearing heat and relieving summer heat. Your Majesty, please do me the honor."

"My dear consort, you're too kind. Do you really need to do such a small thing yourself?"

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience."

"Why have you come at this hour, my dear minister? Is there something important?"

Consort Yu glanced at Gu Ziming as he entered and quickly said, "Since Your Majesty has matters to attend to, then I should not linger any longer..."

"It's alright. It's so hot outside and you've come all this way. Just sit here." The Emperor said casually, and Consort Yu didn't insist anymore. She obediently found a place to sit down and kept quiet.

Having made up his mind, Gu Ziming said, "I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty's meal."

"It's alright, it's alright. It's the Imperial Concubine who's so kind. Would the Prime Minister like to try some with me?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I have come to see you because I have something to report."

"What is it? Tell me."

"His Majesty knows that the first batch of disaster victims has already arrived in the capital, and those who set off earlier will surely follow soon."

"Yes, this matter was already discussed during the morning court session. The King of Chu has arranged tents to settle the disaster victims and prevent them from entering the capital. Marquis Wen and others have also contributed their own money to purchase some daily necessities for these disaster victims. My idea is to send them back together in two days."

"Your Majesty is benevolent, but I am also worried about the food for the disaster victims. Land in the capital is extremely valuable, and they are unwilling to leave because they do not have enough money. When they can no longer afford to buy things, it will definitely cause unrest. Moreover, I am also worried that unscrupulous merchants will take advantage of the disaster in the south to raise prices."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Emperor began to think about this matter. He immediately glanced at Consort Yu, since the Yu family was the largest imperial merchant family. As long as the Yu family did not raise prices, other merchants generally would not dare to make any big moves.

Consort Yu felt the Emperor's gaze and immediately reacted, standing up and saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Although I did not mean to, I did overhear a few words. I don't know about others, but the Yu family would never do such a heinous thing. Moreover, I will go back and advise my father."

"Your Highness is nervous. Just sit there quietly. It's not a big deal." The Emperor was very satisfied with Consort Yu's reaction. She seemed to have become much more obedient after being frightened by what had happened before.

"What good plan does Your Excellency have?"

"Your Majesty, I suggest that you open the canopy and distribute porridge for three days to show your concern for the disaster victims. After three days, Your Majesty can arrange for these disaster victims to be sent back to their original places one by one. In order to prevent any accidents, you can send soldiers to escort them along the way. If you encounter disaster victims going to the capital along the way, you can tell them that the disaster in their hometown has been brought under control and persuade them to go back with you. You can also publicize Your Majesty's heart of loving the people like your own children along the way."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor waved his hand repeatedly: "The first part is true, but the latter part, which claims to promote my deeds, is unnecessary. I did all this for the sake of the people."

"It is I who am narrow-minded."

"Since the porridge distribution will last for three days, it should not be limited to disaster victims. All people in need can go. However, the amount is not small. We have already allocated funds and grain to the disaster area a while ago, so I need to call over Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue to ask if the Ministry of Revenue has any money or grain left."

"I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should," Consort Yu said cautiously.

"Oh? Does the Imperial Concubine have any good ideas?"

"Your Majesty, I am but a woman in the inner palace. How could I possibly have any good ideas? I just heard the Emperor and the Prime Minister worrying about the grain. Since the Prime Minister is concerned that some merchants might take the opportunity to raise prices, why not let the Yu family provide the grain?"

“The Yu family owns several large granaries. If the Yu family agrees, that would be perfect,” Gu Ziming agreed.

“Agreed, agreed. The Yu family would naturally agree with anything that can help the Emperor share his burdens.”

The Emperor thought for a while and decided that he might as well take advantage of this opportunity. However, the reason why Consort Yu was so generous was simply for the sake of her son.

The Emperor felt a lump in his throat when he thought about the foolish things the Third Prince had done before, and he didn't even want to look at Consort Yu in front of him anymore.

Consort Yu noticed that the Emperor's expression had turned sour and felt uneasy, wondering if she had said something wrong.

"Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?" Consort Yu was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Consort Yu was truly frightened by herself. Her former arrogant and domineering demeanor seemed to have vanished, replaced by a cautious and timid air.

"My beloved concubine, what are you doing? Get up quickly. Since that's the case, let the Yu family get involved."

"Your Majesty, if the Yu family is involved, should we send out the Third Prince to coordinate? After all, it's best to have a prince present to ensure stability. If that's not possible, other princes would also be fine. If all else fails, and His Highness Prince Chu is available, that would also be acceptable..."

"The King of Chu? He probably wouldn't be happy to get involved in such a matter."

The Emperor thought for a moment. He had already scolded and imprisoned the Third Prince, so he needed to find a way to back down. However, the Crown Prince had not yet returned, so he could not release him so easily, otherwise it would be difficult to explain to the Empress.

"Alright then, since your daughter has already been betrothed to the Third Prince as his principal wife, let her represent him. As for the Third Prince..."

The Emperor paused deliberately, glanced at Consort Yu whose eyes were full of hope, and said, "I'm still angry about the matter of buying exam questions for your son that came up again recently. So stay at home until the Crown Prince returns."

Consort Yu glared at Gu Ziming, blaming it all on that good-for-nothing son of his.

Gu Ziming immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, I am terrified. It is my fault for failing to properly educate my son, which has implicated Your Highness. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The Emperor wasn't stupid; he could more or less sense that Prime Minister Gu and Consort Yu's encounter this time wasn't just a coincidence, and that their families had become in-laws through marriage. So, it seemed that his Prime Minister had already chosen his side.

For an emperor still in his prime, this was tantamount to a challenge to his authority. No one in power likes to have his ministers start plotting after his death while he is still in power.

So the Emperor brought this up on purpose. He didn't want the Gu family and Consort Yu to be so harmonious, at least not on the surface.

Consort Yu also knelt on the ground without daring to say anything. Last time, she pleaded for the Third Prince and lost her own rank. It was only by spending a lot of money that the Yu family managed to keep her rank.

Even if Consort Yu wanted to plead for mercy, she didn't know how to start. She was afraid that the Emperor would demote her again. You know, in the palace, a place where people can eat each other, without a rank, even a lowly eunuch would dare to torment you.

"Alright, I have already punished those who deserved it, so let's not bring up the past again."

Gu Ziming and Consort Yu couldn't help but feel annoyed. Who was it that brought up the old story? They both wished that such an old story would never be mentioned again.

In the end, the Emperor made the decision: the Gu family would take the lead, and the royal family would send the Third Prince. However, since the Third Prince was unwell, his fiancée, the Second Miss of the Gu family, would be in charge of coordinating the distribution. With the full cooperation of the Yu family, they would conduct porridge distribution in the suburbs for three days, and anyone in need could go.

Gu Hanjiao was overjoyed to receive such a job, seeing it as a perfect opportunity to earn a good reputation for herself.

Although Consort Yu disliked Gu Hanjiao, she wouldn't go too far. The Emperor had already said that Gu Hanjiao was handling matters this time as the future consort of the Third Prince, so she still had to act in the name of the Third Prince and couldn't afford to make any more mistakes.

Consort Yu then sent her chief eunuch to the Gu family to summon Gu Hanjiao to the palace for a meeting.

Upon receiving the news, Gu Hanjiao immediately dressed up in her finest attire. She remembered that Consort Yu had previously disliked her wearing white dresses, so this time she specially chose a pink lotus-patterned dress for the occasion.

"By the way, Qiushuang, have you prepared the things I asked you to prepare before?"

"Don't worry, Miss. You personally inspected it last night, and I will bring the box with me in a little while."

Gu Hanjiao thought for a moment and said, "Give me that box. It will be more convenient for me to carry it myself."

Wang Ruyan came to see Gu Hanjiao early in the morning to check if there was anything amiss and to avoid any taboos in the palace.

"My darling, what are you dawdling for? The maids from the palace have already come to fetch you."

"An aunt from the palace? Is it Aunt Amber?"

Wang Ruyan was taken aback and said, "Amber is the most capable head maid by Consort Yu's side. How could she leave the Consort's side? Why worry about this? Let's hurry up and set off. There are many rules in the palace. We don't want to give anyone a handle to use against us."

"Alright, Mother, you already told me these things repeatedly last night. I'm leaving now."

Gu Hanjiao didn't want to listen to Wang Ruyan's nagging anymore. She really didn't know why her mother was even more long-winded than before. Wouldn't it be better to just stay silent for a while?

When Gu Hanjiao went out, she saw Gu Qingwan strolling in the garden. Gu Hanjiao thought she still had some time, so she went over to her.

"Your sister seems so relaxed."

"Where is my sister going, all dressed up like this?"

"Since the Imperial Concubine has summoned me, I dare not disobey. I have quickly dressed up and am going to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine."

Seeing Gu Hanjiao's proud expression, Gu Qingwan couldn't help but find it a little funny. "Not just anyone can go into the palace. Sister is so lucky. It's clear how much the Imperial Concubine likes her as her future daughter-in-law."

"Yes, the palace is magnificent and incredibly rich, something that most people can only dream of seeing. But I'm not in a hurry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. It's just a pity that I can't take you to see it this time."

"It's getting late, sister, you should hurry up and set off. When I passed by the gate just now, I saw that the people coming from the palace seemed a little impatient."

Gu Hanjiao assumed that Gu Qingwan was angry and didn't care.

"Then my sister will go ahead first."

Watching Gu Hanjiao's departing figure, Gu Qingwan seemed lost in thought.

Baoqin asked from the side, "Why did Miss make a special trip to be mocked like this by the Second Miss?"

"Because we need to fill her with confidence and pride when she enters the palace, otherwise, if she goes there cautiously, how can we have a good show to watch..."