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

On this day, Gu Qingwan decided to pack some tonics and go to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager. She also sent out invitations. However, just as she was about to leave, someone came to say that Princess Zirui had arrived at the Chu Prince's residence with gifts.

Gu Qingwan was taken aback. Shouldn't she have gone to the Marquis of Yi'an's residence to visit Zhu Xiaoyan first? Why did she come here first?

"Go ahead and say hello, tell them that I have something to do here and will be a little late."

"It's the princess."

Gu Qingwan went to the front wearing her princess uniform, and just then the servants welcomed Princess Zirui in.

"Greetings to Her Highness the Princess."

"Oh my, Princess, you flatter me. I should be calling you Aunt, not you, a junior like me."

Princess Zirui didn't really want to pay her respects to Gu Qingwan; she just needed a favor. Fortunately, the Princess Consort of Chu was very understanding and didn't embarrass herself because of her status.

She looked up and thought to herself that she had seen many women, but it was rare to see a woman as beautiful and dignified as the Princess Consort of Chu. Even the Empress Dowager in the palace did not have such charm.

Now that she's wearing the princess's uniform, no one dares to underestimate her. This Princess Chu must be about to enter the palace. It seems I should keep this brief; I can't have made a wasted trip.

So she pretended not to know that Gu Qingwan was going out to the palace, and instead exchanged pleasantries with a calm expression.

"It's rare that the Prince and Princess still acknowledge me as their aunt. I feel embarrassed to say it out loud. Logically speaking, it's only right that I pay my respects. Although you are young, you are the Princess and the wife of the patriarch of our Xiao clan, so it's only right from any perspective."

"Your Highness is exaggerating. Didn't I have your maidservant reply to you a couple of days ago? After everything was settled, I came to visit you. So today... have you seen the Crown Princess?"

When Princess Zirui spoke of her daughter Zhu Xiaoyan, a hint of helplessness appeared in her eyes.

"I've already sent Mama Xu to check on the Crown Princess. Her condition isn't very good. I heard that there's a renowned physician named Xue in the Prince's residence, so..."

It turned out it was for Zhu Xiaoyan's health. "Originally, even if the princess hadn't come, I should have sent Doctor Xue to check on the Crown Princess. But you may not know that the Prince went south and took Doctor Xue with him when he left."

"That's unfortunate..."

Gu Qingwan knew that there was something fishy going on with Zhu Xiaoyan, so she subtly reminded Princess Zirui, "I went to see the Crown Princess a while ago. The imperial physician said that the Crown Princess had something on her mind. If you have time, Princess, you should go and keep her company. It would be best to invite her to stay at your home for a couple of days. Maybe that will cheer her up."

"To be honest, Your Highness, I do have this plan. I've been tidying up the manor these past two days. In order to better take care of Xiaoyan, I've also had someone find a matchmaker to buy some more capable servants. I've also arranged for Xiaoyan's younger sister to stay with her. I think that should make the child feel a little better."

"Sister?" Gu Qingwan was a little surprised. Wasn't Zhu Xiaoyan an only child? How come she has a sister now?

"Yes, she is my illegitimate daughter, named Zhu Qian'er. This child has always been with me since Xiaoyan was not by my side."

Gu Qingwan nodded, not thinking anything of it. Seeing that it was almost time, she said apologetically, "This is the first time the Princess has visited the Prince's residence. I should have you stay for lunch, but unfortunately, I have to go to the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, so..."

Princess Zirui pretended to be slow to realize and said with an embarrassed expression, "Your Highness is going to the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. This is a very important matter. It was my fault for not arranging a time with Your Highness in advance. Your Highness should go quickly and not delay the time."

Gu Qingwan nodded and said, "I'm glad you don't blame me."

The two walked and talked together. Gu Qingwan felt a little strange. Did this Princess Zirui suddenly come just to meet and talk to her?

Obviously, that's not how it is. When they arrived at the main gate, Princess Zirui spoke up.

"Your Highness, I have a request, and I hope you will grant it."

"Oh? Please speak, Princess." Gu Qingwan didn't even bother to get into the carriage anymore and stopped to listen to her.

"I hope... I hope the Princess can find the time to go with me to see Xiaoyan, and then bring Xiaoyan home for a couple of days..."

So that's where the problem lies. It's obvious that Princess Zirui sent Xu Mama to pick up Zhu Xiaoyan, but she failed. Now that Princess Zirui is going herself, she's worried that even as a princess, she won't be able to get her daughter out, and the Yi'an Marquis's mansion will look down on her even more.

She wanted to use her status? Gu Qingwan understood. She had been thinking about how to get in touch with this princess, but now that the princess needed her help, things would be much easier.

Gu Qingwan held Princess Zirui's hand and said with a relaxed expression, "I thought it was something important. Since the princess has asked, I naturally can't refuse. It's just that today is not convenient. The princess can choose a day to send someone to the manor to let us know. Then I will go with you to the Marquis's manor to visit the Crown Prince's wife."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Highness."

"Princess, you're being too polite. It's getting late, so I must take my leave now. I'll ask a royal physician to accompany you later."

Princess Zirui, having achieved her goal, stopped pressing the matter. "Alright, alright, it's getting late, Your Highness, please go quickly. I already feel bad for disturbing you today."

Gu Qingwan closed her eyes to conserve her energy in the carriage.

Princess Zirui didn't come for no reason. As a typical mother, the first thing she would do after not seeing her daughter for many years is to personally check on how her daughter is doing.

But it was clear that she wasn't; she had only sent her trusted confidants. This served two purposes: first, to inform the Marquis's mansion that she had gone to the capital, and second, to observe whether the Marquis's mansion truly valued her daughter.

"I suppose the princess knows something about the Marquis's mansion, otherwise she wouldn't go to such lengths," Gu Qingwan said.

"Huh? That princess just came to see the princess, what is she scheming in such a short time?" Siqi asked, somewhat puzzled.

Gu Qingwan glanced at Siqi and couldn't help but smile.

“This Princess Zirui is quite shrewd. The fact that she didn’t go directly to the Marquis’s residence means that she knows more or less about the Marquis’s affairs. Since she knows, it means that although she is far away, she has still placed her own people in the Marquis’s residence. It’s just that she doesn’t know much and there are some things she doesn’t understand yet.”

"If you don't understand, just ask the Crown Princess."

“If the old prince were still alive, she might have gone there directly. But now that the prince’s mansion is gone, she wants to maintain her dignity as a princess. If she goes there rashly and the other party doesn’t respect her, then things will be difficult later. Besides, no one can truly protect Princess Zirui. Although she is a royal princess, if she is bullied, the royal family will definitely not ignore her. She came here today to test how much protection the Chu Prince’s mansion can provide.”

Baoqin, who was accompanying them, was a composed woman. She knew part of Gu Qingwan's plan. She frowned and asked, "Your Highness, should we really introduce such a person to the Master? If this princess is really that capable, wouldn't that be helping the Gu family?"

“Sometimes I also hesitate about whether this decision is right or wrong, but one thing is certain: as long as Princess Zirui needs the protection of the royal family, she will not dare to offend the Chu Prince’s Mansion.”

“Your Highness, you can actually ignore the Gu family completely and just let them fend for themselves.”

Gu Qingwan did not respond. She thought to herself that she did not want to care about the fate of the Gu family, but if she did not care, what would happen to those who had been drawn into the situation because of her?