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

After seeing the two shopkeepers off, the gatekeeper greeted them politely. Xue Niang wiped her temples with a handkerchief, thinking to herself, "These two shops are really unscrupulous. They've collected so much money. Judging from their tactics, I thought they were all in cahoots." Of course, Xue Niang also asked Shopkeeper Wang, but Shopkeeper Wang said that he was just getting to know Shopkeeper Wu, and that the two of them had different owners.

Whether it's the same company or not, these two probably made a lot of money this time. Fortunately, they are both long-time customers and have some discounts or special offers, otherwise, it would be really unpleasant to spend this money.

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she heard the lady inside shouting loudly. Xue Niang's eyes lit up, and she decided to go in later. She turned around and went to the small kitchen.

"Jiao'er, what's wrong with you? That shopkeeper is obviously trying to raise the price, and you keep asking for this and that. Normally, this price would be enough for you to buy a lot of jewelry." Wang Ruyan paced back and forth in the room, furious.

"Mother, you've changed too, become so stingy." Gu Hanjiao felt very indignant. She had only bought these few items, so why was her mother so unhappy? If anyone was unhappy, it was her.

"I'm stingy! How dare you call me stingy! Even if I am stingy, who am I doing it for!"

Wang Ruyan was so angry at Gu Hanjiao's words that she felt a lump in her throat and almost couldn't catch her breath.

“Your brother is always out gallivanting, spending money like water, and he doesn’t have a proper business. We’re not a noble family, and asking him to pass the imperial examinations is like killing him. If I don’t save up more money, he’ll still have to get married in the future.”

"That's my brother. Go talk to him, why are you talking about me here?" Gu Hanjiao was talking back, but she didn't dare to raise her voice. After all, she was facing her angry mother, and she still had some reservations.

“I’m talking about your brother. What? It has nothing to do with you now? Do you want to get married? Do you want a dowry?” Wang Ruyan pointed at her daughter’s forehead. “You’re still thinking about marrying up, aren’t you? If I don’t save some money for you, how will you get married up?”

When Gu Hanjiao heard that the fire had been turned on her again, she felt that her mother's words made sense: "Mother, don't be angry. Look, there is still Father. My brother is the eldest son of the family and the only heir. You don't need to worry. As for your daughter, our Prime Minister's Mansion is a large and wealthy family. What are you worried about?"

When Wang Ruyan heard her daughter innocently tugging at her arm and comforting her, she was initially furious, but a sense of exhaustion welled up inside her.

Even if her son is the only legitimate son and the only heir, what does it matter? He's just not good enough. If he could be more capable for her sake, she wouldn't have to worry about this pregnant woman and that pregnant woman in the backyard. It seems that the only way to ensure her son's future is to keep him as the only heir, since she and her daughter will still have to rely on him in the future.

As for her daughter, she is beautiful and talented. As the saying goes, no one knows a daughter better than her mother. She knows Gu Hanjiao very well. She doesn't understand anything and only cares about dressing up. She wonders if she can shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the head of the household after she marries into a high-ranking family.

"Sigh, alright, debts to children are fate, let's leave it at that this time."

"But Mother, you only have two sets of clothes..."

"Two outfits are enough. If you say one more, I won't get you even one."

"How can I go to the flower viewing banquet if you don't organize something?"

"You can still wear the clothes you're wearing!"

Seeing that her mother was about to get angry again, Gu Hanjiao quickly stood up, bowed, and went back with Chunlu and Qiushuang who were waiting for her at the door.

Wang Ruyan was also uncomfortable. It's normal for girls to love beauty, but... ever since those shops with high income in the public accounts were taken away, the income of the Prime Minister's mansion has obviously not been as good as before. She told her husband, but he is the kind of person who only cares about power and official career. He doesn't care about the family's food, clothing and daily necessities. It seems that they need to cut back on the family's expenses.

But where to cut costs? She only has these trusted confidantes on her side, she has no authority over the master, and the old lady… well, she'll start with the old lady and those vixens in the back courtyard. She can't let them all comfortably lie in bed while she has to worry about them. And then there's Gu Qingwan; she has to find a way to bring her back, and with a dowry list—all the things on that list belong to her daughter.

Having made up her mind, Wang Ruyan stopped worrying and turned to look at the room. Just then, Xue Niang walked in with a cup of calming tea.

"Madam, please take care of your health. Drink some of this to calm your nerves and make yourself more stable."

“Yes, I was too hasty,” Wang Ruyan said, echoing Xue Niang’s words. “Now that Feng’er and Jiao’er are getting older, we need to spend money everywhere.”

"This servant understands, but there is something Madam wants to say, but I'm not sure if I should?"

"Speak freely." Wang Ruyan put down her cup as soon as she heard that Xue Niang had something to say. Xue Niang's advice had always been quite effective.

Xue Niang glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then whispered in Wang Ru's ear, "Madam, don't make things difficult for yourself. This flower-viewing banquet is a big event for the Prime Minister's residence. The old lady must have to contribute some money. Besides, she has lived a life of luxury all these years and must have saved up quite a bit of money."

Wang Ruyan's eyes lit up immediately: "You're right, but... that old hag is so stingy and miserly, how can we get her to willingly take the money?"

"I heard that a very efficacious Taoist priest recently came to Qingsong Temple. His fortune-telling is very accurate."

"Really? I've never heard you mention any fortune teller or Taoist priest before." Wang Ruyan was a little surprised. There were quite a few fortune tellers in the capital, but she had never heard of any specific person being truly accurate. Where did this fortune teller come from?

"It's true, it's true. I heard it from Yang Mama, the purchasing agent in the kitchen. She said that her daughter-in-law consulted a fortune teller to see if the baby was a boy or a girl. The Taoist priest said it was a boy, and she just gave birth to it recently. It really is a boy."

"It's incredibly effective!"

"That's right, this is nothing new. The day before yesterday, the old lady even sent two maids, Jixiang and Ruyi, to the Taoist temple to offer incense."

"What did she send people to do?"

"I guess it's still for the old man to pray for a child."

Wang Ruyan gritted her teeth with hatred at the thought of all the concubines and mistresses in the harem who were obsessed with having offspring. That old woman was still thinking about grandsons! Hmph, with Wang Ruyan around, the Prime Minister's son could only be born from his womb! But this womb…

Wang Ruyan looked at her belly, thinking about how she was getting on in years. "Sigh, there's been no sign of pregnancy since I gave birth to my baby. If I could have another one, it would give me more hope."

"Madam, don't worry. Let's pick a day and go to Qingsong Temple. First, let the Taoist priest read our young lady's fortune. As long as we can find out that she has the destiny of a phoenix, and then refine it a little, how can the old lady ignore such immense wealth? Second, let him see if there is any way to have another young master."

Xue Niang's last suggestion tempted Wang Ruyan. It would be even better if she could have another child, which would further solidify her position. If her daughter could also be blessed with a more noble destiny, then her precious child would surely be able to marry into a high-ranking family in the future.

"But this 'Feng Luan's destiny' was something I said to comfort Jiao'er back then, in case the Taoist priest couldn't predict it here?"

"My lady, how can you be so clever one moment and so foolish the next? Words are just words, and we'll have to control how they're approved in the end. Just use the master's official position to pressure him and give him some money. Why worry about these unnecessary things?"

"Yes, that's settled then. Have someone prepare some incense and oil money, and you pick a good day for us to go."

"Oh, Madam, please leave it to me." Xue Niang assured Wang Ruyan with a solemn vow that if her mistress was well, she would be well too. Over the years in the Prime Minister's mansion, her status had risen along with that of the mistress. Everyone below had to address her respectfully. Therefore, she understood that only if the mistress was well could she be more secure.