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

In the few days since her wedding, Gu Qingwan felt that she had never been so tired from practicing martial arts before. When she opened her eyes, she was in bed, and when she closed her eyes, she was still in bed. Except for eating and going to the toilet, she would spend most of her time in bed.

Gu Qingwan did try to resist.

At first, she felt sorry for Xiao Jingchen and indulged him, but this guy didn't know what restraint was, which led Gu Qingwan to fight with him.

When the King of Chu saw that his queen could even spar with him, he became very interested, and the two of them started fighting. The fight went from inside the house to the courtyard, where many servants came to watch the spectacle. Many of them did not know that their queen knew martial arts.

Seeing that the princess could still hold her own against the prince, everyone thought that this was just the fun between husband and wife, and that the prince must be letting the princess win.

Indeed, the King of Chu was giving way to Gu Qingwan. Although Gu Qingwan was also very capable, she couldn't withstand the continuous torment she had endured these past two days, and even the dark circles under her eyes were starting to show.

"Alright, alright, Wanwan, you can't hit her anymore. If you keep hitting her, you'll only get more tired." Xiao Jingchen took the time to persuade his princess to take care of her health.

Gu Qingwan was even more furious. "This is all your fault! Let me tell you, we're going back to our parents' home tomorrow. If you don't behave yourself today, the prince will be going to his study!"

Seeing that his queen was really angry, the King of Chu quickly stopped his stance and let her strike his chest with a palm.

Gu Qingwan had genuinely intended to spar with Xiao Jingchen, but she never expected him to stop. With a sudden release of her strength, Gu Qingwan twisted her waist and flipped over Xiao Jingchen's head.

When her feet touched the ground, she couldn't help but grimace. She held her waist with both hands and cursed Xiao Jingchen in her heart.

The King of Chu noticed that his queen was having back pain, so he quickly stepped forward to stop her and massaged her back while channeling his inner energy into her.

"Alright, alright, Wanwan, don't be angry anymore. I promise I'll behave tonight."

Seeing the King of Chu's sincere attitude, Gu Qingwan reluctantly believed him, so she suppressed her temper and followed him back to his room.

The onlookers in the courtyard were stunned. They never expected the princess to be so skilled in martial arts, nor did they expect that their cold-blooded prince would show such tenderness.

I can't help but want to gouge my own eyes out. Was the prince just being coquettish or begging for mercy?

"Xiao Yi, Your Highness..."

Xiao Yi looked on in astonishment, saying, "What do you know? This is the charm of our Princess. From now on, you must treat the Princess with even more respect than the Prince."

Everyone believed that Xiao Yi was the prince's personal bodyguard, and that Xiao Yi must be right.

Gu Qingwan went back to tidy up and let Baoqin and the others come in to serve her. Baoqin's cheeks were flushed. These past few days, the prince had never allowed them to come in, and he didn't even allow them to get close to the main house.

Gu Qingwan was also a little embarrassed. "Open the windows and tidy up a bit. Shishu, you're going back to your parents' home tomorrow. Go find the steward and pack up the things you're taking back with you."

"Your Highness, the steward presented the list yesterday." As she spoke, Shishu took a booklet out of her pocket and handed it over.

"Then why didn't you show it to me?"

Shi Shu dared not say why, because the reason was that the prince was too domineering and wouldn't let them in.

The four of them also had objections to this. They had been serving the young lady themselves before, but now the prince had not only taken their jobs away from them, but also wouldn't let them get close to the young lady. It was really too much.

The King of Chu also had his own selfish motives. He couldn't stand the way the four maids fluttered around the Queen like butterflies, making him have to be careful when he wanted to get closer to her.

Fortunately, his wife was not difficult to please; she was just as easygoing as him, so he simply started taking care of her himself.

Gu Qingwan was also a little embarrassed. She glared fiercely at the King of Chu, who touched his nose and said nothing.

"Alright, the housekeeper has made excellent preparations. Let's leave it at that."

"Wait a moment," Xiao Jingchen said. "Have someone add some more medicinal herbs, and prepare more for treating external injuries."

Gu Qingwan was stunned. She didn't understand at the time, but when she came to her senses, she realized what it meant.

"So fast……"

Xiao Jingchen nodded and said, "We should have left long ago. The Duke of Ningguo and his son submitted their memorials early on. It was the Emperor who took pity on us and allowed the Duke of Ningguo and his son to set off after your return visit."

"So you mean the day after tomorrow?"

"No, it's tomorrow night."

Why are you in such a hurry?

Baoqin and the others, being very perceptive, went outside to serve them.

Xiao Jingchen then said, "The envoys from the Northern Border have already come this way. If the Duke of Ningguo cannot return in time, they may take the opportunity to cause trouble. At that time, we will be attacked from both sides. In addition... this time, the old Duke will probably go with us."

"What!" Gu Qingwan stood up. "Didn't the Emperor allow my maternal grandfather to retire from the military and live out his days in the capital?"

"Wanwan, don't worry. It's true that the Emperor has allowed it. This time, he didn't plan to let Grandfather go back to the Northern Territory with him."

"Then what?"

"According to reports from scouts, this time the northern border has deployed troops at the border between the two countries under the pretext of escorting envoys, and the commander of the troops is none other than himself."

"That guy, Hu Yuankui?"

"You guessed it."

Gu Qingwan couldn't help but guess that Hu Yuankui was her maternal grandfather's old rival. The two had been entangled in the Northern Border for many years, and each time Hu Yuankui was slightly inferior and was suppressed by her maternal grandfather.

"Didn't they say that Hu Yuankui retreated to recuperate after being shot by his maternal grandfather last time? How come he's back leading troops now?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that either. Let's ask Grandfather when we get back tomorrow. Maybe things aren't as bad as we think. Whether Grandfather goes or not is entirely up to him. My brother hasn't made any demands."

Gu Qingwan nodded. In fact, Hu Yuankui was a rare opponent. When she was with her maternal grandfather, her grandfather had said that heroes cherish each other. It was just that Hu Yuankui was too young and inexperienced. When Hu Yuankui reached her age, he would also be a good commander.

Therefore, my maternal grandfather often urged my uncle not to be careless, since it was my uncle who would be facing Hu Yuankui in the future. Of course, my maternal grandfather's idea was to cut this thing down while he was still able to lift a knife, and if possible, push it directly into the northern territory's lair to eliminate future troubles.

Baoqin came in and said, "Your Highness and Your Highness, the guard Xiaojia at the door requests an audience."

"What is he doing here?" Xiao Jingchen asked, frowning.

Xiao Jia was, after all, the prince's guard, and she didn't know what he was there for, but she figured he probably had something to ask the prince.

"Go and let Xiao Jia in; perhaps he has something to discuss with the Prince."

After carrying the zither out, he brought Xiao Jia in a short while later.

"Speak, what is it?" King Chu asked, sitting there drinking the tea his queen had prepared for him.

Xiao Jia stood there hesitantly, seemingly unsure of what to do. Gu Qingwan found this amusing. She had interacted with Xiao Jia and the others before, specifically during their mission to rescue the prince in Xishan. At that time, she felt that Xiao Jia wasn't very bright.

It still doesn't seem very useful now, but it doesn't matter whether it's useful or not. As long as the martial arts skills are high and the person is loyal, that's enough.

Gu Qingwan felt that Xiao Jia might not be looking for the prince, but perhaps for her. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but curse Xiao Jingchen inwardly.

If it weren't for him, according to the plan, she should have met the servants of the mansion and learned the rules today, but now everything has fallen through, and she can only wait until after her return to her parents' home to make plans.

"Xiao Jia, if you have something to ask the Prince, you may speak frankly."

Upon hearing the princess speak, Xiao Jia lifted his robe and knelt directly before her.

"Your Highness, I have something I would like to ask of you."

Upon hearing this, the King of Chu's expression clearly darkened. He seemed to have guessed what Xiao Jia was planning to do, but he remained calm and wanted to see just how far Xiao Jia could go.

"Looking for me?" Gu Qingwan felt that she had nothing to help Xiaojia with, but since the other party had asked, as a princess, she should inquire about it.

"Tell me, what is it?"

Xiao Jia hesitated for a moment. He didn't dare to look up at the prince. He was thinking that since things had come to this point, there would be no other way if he didn't speak up. Xiao Yi had told him that the prince listened to the princess the most, and that there was nothing the princess couldn't do as long as she asked.

Thinking of that pitiful face, Xiao Jia clenched his fists and made a firm decision. He then banged his head on the ground and shouted loudly.

"Please, Your Highness, grant me the marriage of A-Ning!"

Gu Qingwan was taken aback. She thought it was something important, but it turned out that a guard from the Prince's mansion had someone he liked come to propose to her.

and many more!

"Aning?"

"It is Your Highness. I have admired Miss Aning for many years and have long wanted to marry her. I beg Your Highness and the Prince to grant my request."

The King of Chu remained silent, but glanced at Xiao Jia with interest. Xiao Jia immediately felt as if he were being pricked by thorns, and could not bear the king's scrutiny.

Gu Qingwan had not forgotten what A Ning had done, so she could not answer immediately. She nodded and said, "Marriage is a major event that has always been decided by parents. Although Miss A Ning has lost her parents, her brother did save the Prince's life, so we should still ask Miss A Ning's opinion."

Xiao Jia nodded with difficulty. He didn't expect the princess to agree immediately. As long as the princess was willing to intervene, then A Ning would have a chance to survive.

"Go down."

Xiao Jia glanced nervously at the prince. He had expected the prince to be angry or reprimand him, and he was prepared to accept any punishment for A Ning's sake. However, the prince did not say anything. In fact, from the time Xiao Jia entered until he left, the prince only uttered these three words.

Xiao Jia dared not say anything more and could only retreat.

Xiao Yi, who was squatting at the gate of the courtyard, saw Xiao Jia walk out unharmed. He went up to ask him something, but Xiao Jia shook his head and left without saying anything.

Gu Qingwan asked, "What exactly is going on with that A Ning? Don't tell me you haven't figured out what happened last time."

“It’s all been found out. When you went back last time, my men followed you. The man was very clever; he circled around the capital several times before going to a house in the suburbs.”

"A house in the suburbs of Beijing? Whose is it?"

"The estate that came with Li Xinhan's wife as part of her dowry."

"Lord Li Xinhan? That can't be right." Gu Qingwan couldn't believe it had anything to do with Li Xinhan.

"Indeed, that person only did it to cover his tracks. He climbed over the back wall and eventually returned to the capital."

Gu Qingwan was speechless. The person hiding in the shadows had clearly been hit by her silver needles and was injured, yet he still managed to run around so many times. This showed how careful and cautious his master was, and also how much that person valued his life and feared death.

"The Wen family."

When Xiao Jingchen mentioned the Wen family, Gu Qingwan raised her eyebrows without any surprise.

"It's all your fault, how did you manage to pin it on me?"

"Your Highness is right to reprimand me. However, husband and wife are one, and my affairs are Your Highness's affairs."

Gu Qingwan pursed her lips and said, "Was it really someone sent out by that Miss Wen? What a coincidence!"

Gu Qingwan felt that the people who tried to assassinate her that day were no ordinary people, and that it was really too much of an honor for her.

Xiao Jingchen went around behind Gu Qingwan and massaged her shoulders to relax them, while continuing to explain.

"Of course it's not a coincidence; someone is betraying us."

"Treasonous?" Gu Qingwan thought of how Xiao Jia had come to find her earlier because of A Ning, and how she hadn't seen A Ning in the two days since her marriage to Xiao Jingchen.

"Is that A-Ning?"

"Yes, that's her."

"No wonder she tried to stop me when I was leaving that day. It turns out she went to tip me off. But even if she wanted to teach me a lesson, there was no need to send assassins. Does Miss Wen really have that much power? Even the Duke of Wen doesn't care?"

"Could it be that the Duke of Wen wants to kill you?"

Xiao Jingchen was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "I don't think Duke Wen has the guts to assassinate me yet. I guess his target is still you. He just thought I would be by his side, so he sent someone with high martial arts skills to create the impression that someone wanted to assassinate me, but you were just unlucky."

Gu Qingwan pouted, "I really don't know what good it would do them to kill me. Why won't the Wen family give up until they marry a daughter into their family? Even if they want wealth and status, their target should be the Emperor."

Xiao Jingchen ruffled her hair. “It’s not that Duke Wen hasn’t considered this idea, but Wenrou is uncooperative and insists on waiting for me. As for the other concubine’s daughters… Your Majesty would never allow a Wen family girl to enter the palace, and even if she did, you would never allow a Wen family girl to give birth to an imperial heir.”

Gu Qingwan was unwilling to say much about royal matters and did not continue to discuss the matter with Xiao Jingchen, instead turning the topic back to A Ning.

"So what did you do to Aning?"

Upon hearing A Ning's name, Xiao Jingchen's eyes immediately turned cold: "I locked her in the dark dungeon. Since she dared to scheme against you, she must pay the price."

"But Xiao Jia has feelings for Aning, right?"

Xiao Jingchen remained silent.

Gu Qingwan knew why Xiao Jingchen tolerated A Ning time and time again; it was simply because he was a man who valued his promises very much. Gu Qingwan held his hand.

"Let it go. After all, it's her brother... Let's just consider this the last time. Don't always think about what her brother did back then. If you ask me, even if her brother hadn't done anything, you would still be safe and sound. Putting aside her brother, you can't let the people below feel too cold-hearted after all these years of risking their lives for you."

"Wanwan understands me."

"Then I will grant their wish, but Xiao Jia cannot stay in the Prince's mansion."

"King Xiaojiaben will send someone out."

Xiao Jia is such a rare person. Xiao Jingchen has put in a lot of effort to cultivate such a person. It's a pity that with someone like Aning by their side, for the safety of her and the prince, neither of them would agree to let Xiao Jia stay in the core position.