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

"How can that be the same? I'm afraid I may have accidentally disturbed Your Highness's enjoyment." Gu Qingwan was unaware that her words were a bit sarcastic. As she spoke, she walked into the room. "Siqi, you and Ningyi can find a place outside where you can see the door. Order some tea and snacks. I have something to say to Your Highness."

Xiao Yi, who was on the roof, felt tears welling up in his eyes. They were both masters, so why was there such a big difference? Others were inside enjoying the scenery, drinking tea, and eating snacks, while he had to be outside on the roof, alone, braving the wind and watching the stars.

The two sat there for a long time without either of them speaking first. Gu Qingwan saw that tea and snacks had been laid out on the table, and since she was hungry, she started eating.

"Why are you angry?" Xiao Jingchen finally broke the silence.

"I am not angry."

"You have."

"I do not have."

"..." Xiao Jingchen didn't say anything this time. Seeing the person sitting at the table, angrily stuffing food into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up from the food, he casually poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her.

"Cough cough cough cough cough!" Gu Qingwan was startled by this action and choked. She quickly took the teacup and drank it down. She never expected that she, who was so wise all her life, would be choked by this little snack.

"Don't come here again," Xiao Jingchen said.

"If you can come, why can't I?"

Xiao Jingchen raised an eyebrow and poured himself a cup of water from the teacup Gu Qingwan had used. "I'm a man, you're not."

"Hmph, men are all the same, animals that think with their lower bodies. I never realized you, King Chu, were like that before."

"Oh, you've misunderstood."

"What did I misunderstand? Did I interrupt your good time? Fine, I'll leave then."

As she spoke, Gu Qingwan stood up in a huff and was about to leave when Xiao Jingchen suddenly grabbed her hand. The two of them froze as if struck by lightning. From the outside, it looked like two grown men holding hands. Just then, the proprietress came in from outside and witnessed the scene.

"Oh, I've come at the wrong time," the proprietress teased, looking at the two holding hands.

"Cough cough cough." Gu Qingwan's cheeks instantly turned red.

"I'm here to serve tea. This was just brewed; I'll take it away once it gets cold."

"Wait a minute." Xiao Jingchen called out to the landlady who was about to leave, "Yin Ping, tell me, is she a man or a woman?"

Upon hearing this, the proprietress glanced at Gu Qingwan and her eyes darted around mischievously. Gu Qingwan was also quite interested at this moment, since, logically speaking, her male disguise should have been quite successful.

"Your Highness, aren't you just asking a question you already know the answer to?" the proprietress teased.

"I knew it, but she didn't."

Hearing this, Gu Qingwan understood everything. The proprietress had realized she was a woman. "When did you figure that out?"

"Hey, what's the big deal? Actually, Miss's attire already looks very much like a man's. It's just that I've seen too many different kinds of people, and I've been hanging out in places like this for years. Whether someone is a man or a woman, or someone who's short of a penis or has those kinds of fetishes, I can tell the moment they pass in front of me. So it's not surprising that I can tell." The proprietress, holding a tray, quickly comforted Gu Qingwan as she looked at her annoyed expression.

"Okay, you go down."

After the proprietress left, Gu Qingwan was somewhat devastated. It turned out that her true identity was known on her very first visit. However, since they were in business, they had never exposed her. If she could tell that Gu Qingwan was a woman, it was no wonder that others could not.

"Don't come here again."

"But I have things to do. What can I do if I don't come?"

"Through the back door."

"They won't let me in either."

"Where's the jade pendant I gave you? That's the one you can use to get in."

"You gave it to me... um?" Gu Qingwan suddenly realized, "You mean your jade pendant can come in here?" Gu Qingwan took out a colorful rope from her collar, with the jade pendant given to her by Xiao Jingchen still tied to it.

Seeing Gu Qingwan so carefully accepting the gift he gave her, Xiao Jingchen's mood inexplicably improved. Watching her small hands rubbing the jade pendant, Xiao Jingchen secretly rubbed his fingertips, as if he could also feel the residual warmth on the jade pendant.

"Hmm. Or I can tell Yinping later."

"You mean, this is your property?"

Gu Qingwan was extremely surprised. She had been thinking for a long time about who the brothel's backer was, but she never expected it to be the property of the cold and aloof Prince Chu. Looking at Prince Chu's expressionless face, she felt that this prince was really good at pretending.

No wonder Xiao Yuheng couldn't find out who was behind this business in his previous life; he always thought it was the work of this business genius, Boss Yin.

"Knock, knock, knock." A knocking sound came from the door. "Young master, your servant has arrived."

Upon hearing Li Niangzi's voice, Gu Qingwan glanced at Xiao Jingchen. Xiao Jingchen wisely went behind the screen. Gu Qingwan's decision not to chase him away indicated that she wasn't avoiding him, but his presence was inconvenient, so it was better for him to hide.

"Please come in."

The woman who entered was as delicate as a willow branch, with her hair styled in a traditional Chinese updo. This was Lady Li, who neither sold her art nor her body. She was an excellent zither player and composed music to accompany the girls who danced here.

It was by chance that Gu Qingwan saw her dressed uniquely one day and talked to her, only to find out that she had design talent. So she often bought the patterns from her. Because Li Niangzi had been in the brothel for a long time, she understood what women liked and what men appreciated.

"Madam Li, I wanted to come and see you last time, but something came up and I was delayed. Thank you so much for providing so many creative ideas this time. I will give you your reward in full after this period."

"Young master, you're too kind. These are all my duties. I don't deserve your thanks at all," Madam Li curtsied in response to Gu Qingwan's thanks.

"Please sit down, Madam Li." Gu Qingwan said after watching her sit down, "I have something to ask of you this time."

"what?"

"I'm planning to open a cosmetics shop around here. I'll be selling both high-end and low-end products. I've already chosen the location, which is at the corner of Yan Hua Lane and Ning Rong Street. However, I'm still looking for a manager. I wonder if you would be interested?"

Upon hearing this, the upright Prince Chu raised an eyebrow. This young woman really doesn't sit still. If she continues like this, she might even be richer than him.

"This……"

"The compensation is easy to discuss: a base salary plus commission. The more you earn, the more commission you will receive."

Hearing Gu Qingwan offer such generous terms, Li Niangzi was definitely tempted. She had a son and a daughter to raise, and with the children being young, she had no choice but to enter the brothel to make a living. Taking care of the children required money, and she also had occasional health problems that required money as well. Meeting Gu Qingwan made her much more financially secure.

Now there's an opportunity to leave the red-light district, at least so that her children won't be looked down upon because she works there, and she can earn just as much as before. It seems like a good place to go.

"But...I didn't do it, I don't know..."

“You can do it. The homemade rouge and face powder you asked someone to bring me a while ago worked very well. And you know how to do makeup, so you can let the customers who come to the shop try on the makeup and promote our products. Of course, I won’t let you fight alone.”

"Logically speaking, the conditions you have offered are already very generous, and I should not refuse. However, precisely because they are so generous, this is no small matter. Please allow me to think about it."

Gu Qingwan felt that some things couldn't be rushed. She had been thinking about opening this cosmetics shop for a long time, but she couldn't find a suitable person to do it. Some things can't be rushed. Besides, after the shop location was chosen, there was still the need for decoration and other things, all of which required time to consider.

"No rush, just let me know when you've decided what you want to get next time."

"Yes, thank you for your great kindness, Miss."