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

When the Empress Dowager saw Wenrou's attitude, she felt sorry for the child. It seemed that she wouldn't get up unless she gave in to her wishes.

"Get up. No matter how bad my Wen family daughter is, she will never be someone's concubine. Although the Ningguo Duke's mansion holds a very important position, she is not a proper daughter of the Ning family. She is just a granddaughter. It is not a humiliation for her to be a concubine. I... will definitely grant your wish."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Aunt." Wenrou immediately kowtowed again to express her gratitude.

"You're going to cry too. Go and tidy yourself up. We'll go over and see you in a bit."

After comforting Wenrou, the Empress Dowager had someone help her get ready, and she also had Granny Chang help her up to redo her makeup. It seemed that she was going out for her daughter.

Chang, the old woman serving the Empress Dowager, frowned. She hesitated for a moment, looked around to make sure there were no outsiders, and then spoke while combing the Empress Dowager's hair.

"Empress Dowager, do you really want to go there in person?"

"how?"

"Actually, it would be the same if the Emperor, the Prince, and Miss Gu came to pay their respects to you after the banquet."

"But then, wouldn't Rou'er have no chance?"

"Empress Dowager, you have also experienced many ups and downs. You have never forgotten how difficult it was for you back then, how hard it was for the Emperor, and how much the Prince sacrificed for us."

"Yes, how could I forget? I will never forget it in this lifetime. That is why I feel ashamed towards Chen'er."

"So, Your Majesty, you should ask the Prince for his opinion in private. What if you force him into a marriage and he gets angry and returns to the frontier again?"

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, turned her head and looked at Granny Chang. Granny Chang had followed her through difficult times and was her confidante, so naturally she would not have any bad intentions.

"But... given Chen'er's personality, does he really value Gu Qingwan that much? If he likes her, he can just bring her into the household. What difference does it make whether she's a principal wife or a concubine? Besides, what I said isn't wrong. Although Gu Qingwan is affiliated with the Duke of Ning's mansion, she doesn't actually have the surname Ning, does she? Her biological father, Gu Ziming, is no longer the prime minister. In terms of status, even being a concubine would be a stretch."

"Your Majesty, you must not say such things."

"Why?"

“You know perfectly well how much the old Duke and Madam care about this young girl, so you didn’t react much when you first heard the news. Besides, the Prince has always been a cold and aloof person. This old servant has heard that such people are often the most devoted and reckless in love…”

Granny Chang stopped there and didn't continue. After a long while, all that could be heard was the Empress Dowager sighing in front of the mirror. She took off all the hairpins she had prepared and didn't wear any earrings.

"He's just like his father, both affectionate and cold-hearted. How could I not understand? Never mind, don't bother with my makeup and dressing up. Just wear casual clothes. Go there yourself in a little while and tell him that I have something to discuss and ask Prince Chu and Gu Qingwan to come over."

"Ah, this old servant knows what to do, but what about Miss..."

"I'm tired, I need to rest and let that child calm down too."

Inside the main hall, there was singing and dancing, a scene of joy and happiness. The emperor was clearly delighted and drank a few more cups.

"The King of Chu has found his sweetheart, what a joyous occasion! This is a great blessing! I will personally issue an imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon him!"

"Your Majesty, seeing how happy you are, I am also overjoyed. When the time comes, I must add a lot of dowry for Miss Gu, so that I can share in this great joy," Consort Yu said ingratiatingly.

"Yes, you're so sensible. Qingwan, don't be shy. If you need anything, just ask Consort Yu. She has all kinds of treasures, hahaha."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Qingwan naturally knew that the Emperor was just being polite; how could she dare to go into the palace to ask for something?

However, the King of Chu was the King of Chu after all, and you couldn't expect him to be sensible. Sure enough, he immediately said, "Whatever my queen wants, I don't have. I don't need anyone else!"

Gu Qingwan stood there motionless, her face unchanged, wishing she could be invisible. This guy was getting bolder and bolder. Even with the Emperor's favor, he shouldn't be so arrogant.

"Look at our prince, he really is..."

"I'm genuinely happy. If there's anything you need my sister-in-law to arrange, just send someone to let me know." The Empress retorted, not to be outdone, "Your Majesty, our palace hasn't had any joyous occasions in a long time. Now, not only is the disaster over, but the Prince is getting married, and the Third Prince is also getting married. It's truly a series of good things."

"Now that the Empress has said that, I also think so. Ministry of Rites, listen up, the Prince of Chu's wedding must be a grand affair."

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I will draft the regulations as soon as possible for Your Majesty and the Prince to review."

"Yes, and the Imperial Observatory should also quickly select an auspicious day for the Prince to choose from."

Seeing the Emperor so happy, the Empress, for some reason, said, "Your Majesty, wouldn't it be more appropriate to discuss this matter with the Empress Dowager before issuing the decree?"

The crown prince was about to drink with a smile when he heard his mother, for some inexplicable reason, say such a thing. He couldn't swallow or spit out the wine; it burned his throat like a fishbone stuck in it.

The Emperor looked at the Empress with some disbelief. What was wrong with her today? Where had her usual intelligence gone?

In front of so many people, the Emperor had already announced the marriage decree and instructed the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory to begin preparations. Although no official imperial edict had been issued, this was practically the case. Discuss it with the Empress Dowager? Discuss what? Even if the Empress Dowager disagreed, would she ask the Emperor to retract his decree?

The King of Chu had already taken Gu Qingwan back to her seat, and casually mentioned it on his way back.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will discuss the specific procedures with Mother. After all, this is my first marriage and I have no experience. I will have to rely on Mother to take care of everything."

The Emperor nodded in agreement, "Yes, the Empress Dowager is a very sociable person. After living a secluded life for so many years, it's time to find something to make her happy."

The main hall was bustling with activity. Granny Chang, who had come to deliver the message, naturally knew what was happening inside. She didn't go inside to deliver the message, but instead told the young eunuch to go and deliver it quietly, while she herself returned home under the cover of night.

After returning, she saw Miss Wen sitting neatly dressed in the pavilion waiting from afar. She did not go up to disturb her, and walked back to the Empress Dowager's side in the shadows.

The Empress Dowager was leaning back on the soft couch, rubbing her temples, when she asked, "How is it?"

"Your Majesty, this old servant has already conveyed the message, but..."

"Just what?"

"Although the Emperor hasn't issued an official decree, he has said in front of all the civil and military officials that he will issue an edict to bestow the marriage, and he has also instructed the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory to begin preparations. The Prince has also personally promised Miss Gu the position of principal wife, so what do you think of Miss Wen's situation..."

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes. "Really?"

"Absolutely true."

"It seems that I cannot grant Rou'er's wish. Am I really going to wrong her by making her a concubine?"

"Although she's a concubine, she's still officially registered in the imperial register. If Miss Wen gives birth to a son, her position will be secure. It's just that..."

"His Majesty has been wary of the Wen family for a long time. Ever since he ascended the throne, he has disliked the Wen family for their overreaching influence. Although I have repeatedly warned him, my brother still does not know how to restrain himself. The Wen family's reduction by His Majesty is inevitable. The fact that they are not taking any action now is entirely out of respect for me."

Granny Chang had been by the Empress Dowager's side for a long time, so she naturally knew what the Empress Dowager was thinking. She stepped forward and personally massaged the Empress Dowager's head.

"Empress Dowager, please don't worry. You are already the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor's position is secure. Besides, the Prince has a tough and ruthless approach to assist you, so nothing serious is likely to happen. You should just enjoy your retirement and not worry about things outside."

"Alas, I understand what you're saying, but that is my maternal family, and my only brother."

"His Majesty will surely treat the Wen family well out of respect for the Empress Dowager. However, Empress Dowager, I'm afraid neither His Majesty nor the Prince can easily let bygones be bygones regarding those past events..."

At this point, both of them fell silent. After a long while, the Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Never mind, we'll ask what happened later. As for the rest... if these two children are destined to be together, then so be it; if not..."

At that moment, some commotion arose outside.

"what happened?"

When Granny Chang went outside and saw it was a young palace maid, she asked softly, "What happened?"

"Reporting to Granny, it is the Duchess of Wen who has come to say goodbye to the Empress Dowager as she is leaving."

Upon hearing this, Granny Chang naturally knew what was going on and asked, "Where is he now?"

"I'm with Miss Wen in the pavilion over there."

Granny Chang looked closely and indeed it was in that place. "Wait here for a while, I'll go and report to the Empress Dowager."

"Yes."

After Granny Chang went in, the Empress Dowager asked, "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, it is the Duchess of Wen who has come to say goodbye. It seems she is worried about Miss Wen."

"Hmph, she really thinks she's someone important."

The Empress Dowager disliked gentle mothers intensely. This woman was very calculating, always looking out for people when she needed them and backing them up when she didn't. Back when the three of them were out of favor, she gave them a hard time and even whispered in her brother's ear. Otherwise, her brother wouldn't be the way he is now.

Back then, with her father above her, she wasn't so arrogant. Now that there are no elders above her, she's become even more arrogant, sometimes not even putting the Empress Dowager in her eyes.

"That……"

"Send someone to tell her that I have other matters to attend to and there's no need for her to come and say goodbye. Let her go back directly."

After a while, a commotion broke out outside again.

The Empress Dowager asked with displeasure, "What's going on now?"

Granny Chang frowned and said, "It was the Duchess who started crying while holding Miss Wen, saying..."

"say what!"

"To say the Empress Dowager is unkind is an understatement. Miss Wen has taken care of you for so long, even delaying your marriage, and now she's abandoning you..."

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous! How dare you speak ill of me! Go and make her kneel outside and await my summons!"

Granny Chang knew that the Empress Dowager was really angry this time. Usually, she would give way to her younger brother and sister-in-law from her own family, wanting to show outsiders that she was supporting her family and also to remind the Emperor not to go too far with the Wen family. But Madam Wen was just a person who couldn't stand up to reason, and she wanted to be arrogant and conceited.

Inside the pavilion outside, Madam Wen held Wenrou in her arms, crying and saying without restraint, "My poor daughter, how could you waste your best years here? Waaah!"

Wenrou secretly wished she could gag her mother. She had finally managed to calm herself down and wait for the Empress Dowager to take her to the palace, but the Empress Dowager was slow to come out, which made her a little uneasy.

Before she could figure out what was going on, her mother suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hugged her, and burst into tears, catching her completely off guard.

"Mother, please stop crying. This is the palace. You should at least try to maintain a proper image."

"My daughter's bright future is about to be ruined, what's the point of me caring about my image as a mother!"

"Oh, Mother, this is the Empress Dowager's palace. Please... I beg you, today is a very important day in the palace, if this..."

“That’s your own aunt. What are you worried about? If it weren’t for the Wen family, you wouldn’t have your father…”

Before she could finish speaking, Wenrou quickly interrupted her mother.

"If Mother keeps talking nonsense, isn't she afraid Father will be unhappy if he finds out?"

Thinking of her husband's appearance, Madam Wen couldn't help but tremble. However, she didn't want to lose face in front of her daughter, so she could only pretend to be calm.

At this moment, Granny Chang came out from inside. Wenrou thought that the Empress Dowager was preparing to take her to the main hall to support her, so she quickly got up to greet her. However, what happened next was not what she expected.