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

Gu Qingwan smiled and said, "Mother is just angry. You should be more careful in the future. Although the imperial physicians in our Imperial Hospital are very skilled, it is still better to be more careful yourself. All medicines have some toxicity. Mother should not always rely on medicine."

"How could I not understand what you're saying? It's just that those good-for-nothings have done such outrageous things that it's impossible for me not to be angry."

"Mother, please calm down. When the Emperor arrives, we'll have to hear what the Third Prince has to say. After all, he's a child who grew up under your watchful eye, so he can't be too bad."

Although Gu Qingwan was very dissatisfied with Xiao Yuheng's behavior, she couldn't belittle him in front of his grandmother. Besides, Gu Hanjiao was behind him. Recently, Gu Hanjiao seemed to be unusually calm, and she hadn't heard anything from her. Could it be that she was starting to behave herself for the sake of the baby in her belly?

"Mother, are you alright?"

As the head of the harem and the mother of the nation, the Empress would certainly be the first to know that the Empress Dowager was unwell, so she rushed over and happened to meet the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

"The Emperor and Empress are here! Quickly, come and sit down! I'm so angry at those scoundrels! I need to find out what happened. If word gets out, what will become of our royal family's reputation?"

The Emperor had obviously just learned the news. He wasn't as angry as the Empress Dowager when he received the news, but he was amused and annoyed by Xiao Yuheng's actions.

What was he thinking, running around in his father's backyard as a grown prince? Could it be that he really had his eye on that foreign princess? The reason he took this princess as a concubine was to completely bury his feelings, but he didn't expect that this kid would become more and more determined after being thwarted.

"Mother, don't let those scoundrels upset you and ruin your health. It's not worth it." Seeing that the Empress Dowager looked well, the Emperor was relieved.

Although his mother was a very good person to her family, and because of this she had taken advantage of the two brothers many times, she was still his mother. If something happened to her, he would not be able to explain it to his younger brother who was still away. The three of them had finally made it through, so they naturally wanted to enjoy the joy of victory.

"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. I have neglected to manage the inner palace, which has led to this incident. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." The Empress pleaded for forgiveness with a sincere expression.

Strictly speaking, if a scandal occurs in the harem, the Empress is also to blame. However, both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, out of consideration for the Crown Prince and for the Empress's contributions to the harem over the years, are reluctant to punish her.

"What does this have to do with you? It was those few scoundrels down there who caused this trouble. Granny Chang, go and help the Empress up and sit down."

"Princess Consort of Chu has also arrived." The Emperor had seen Gu Qingwan from the beginning, but he was worried about the Empress Dowager, so he only took the time to speak to Gu Qingwan at this moment.

"Greetings to the Emperor and Empress, may the Emperor and Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"We're all family, so there's no need for formalities. Princess Consort of Chu should come to the inner palace more often to chat and have meals with the Empress Dowager. That way, the Empress Dowager will be in a better mood."

"It's a good thing we have Qingwan, otherwise I would have been furious today. In a couple of days, I'll move to the Chu Prince's residence. Out of sight, out of mind. Your brother's backyard isn't so filthy. The air is much better. In my opinion, the Chu Prince's residence is more suitable for retirement."

Although the Empress Dowager said this, naturally no one took her words seriously. The Emperor just smiled obsequiously, while Gu Qingwan nodded repeatedly, showing an attitude of "Why don't you come with me now?"

"Your Highness, go and bring those scoundrels at the door in for me."

The atmosphere inside the hall was alright, but it was rather deserted outside. It was winter, and the northwest wind was howling. What had been a bright and sunny day in the morning had turned into a day of dark clouds, giving people a sense of oppression.

Xiao Yuheng knelt in the middle with his hands clenched into fists. Consort Yu and Consort Chun knelt on either side. Princess Anning didn't actually have to kneel, but since her mother and brother were kneeling while she was still standing, it didn't seem quite right. So Anning could only obediently follow suit and kneel there.

"Mother, what exactly is going on?" Xiao Yuheng asked quietly.

"You're asking me the same thing? Why are you with that bitch?"

"Mother, what time is it? Now is not the time for questioning. I will explain to you naturally after this matter has passed!"

Consort Yu took a deep breath, the cold air almost choking her. She glanced at Consort Chun and said softly.

"My people say that Consort Chun was having a secret rendezvous with Prince Buffy in her palace today. You know your sister doesn't want to go on the marriage alliance, and I originally wanted to seize this opportunity to expose their relationship and ruin the marriage alliance..."

"Foolish!" Xiao Yuheng exclaimed when he heard that the two of them had such a plan. "Mother, are you confused? Do you know how many benefits Anning can bring by going to marry a foreign ruler? Anning's marriage is entirely beneficial."

"That's your sister!"

"It's precisely because she's my sister that she's eligible for such a good marriage. Prince Buffy has already agreed to establish a private connection with us, and then..."

"In short, could you please discuss everything with me before doing anything? What if I have some plans? Wouldn't things get chaotic if you did this?"

"What, you're blaming your mother now? If it weren't for my planning all these years, would you have gotten to where you are today? Now you think your sister and I are meddling?"

"Mother, what are you saying? I didn't mean that at all!" Xiao Yuheng felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Her mother had indeed been very capable in the past, able to win over her father, but now that her mother was getting older, her mind...

"This is not the time to argue about this. I'm just telling you that you can't admit to anything that happened today. The Empress Dowager and Princess Consort of Chu only overheard snippets of conversation. Just say that I told you to go to the harem to find a man outside the palace. The harem is full of your concubines, and you know nothing else. Do you understand?"

"I heard you." There was nothing more that could be done now. Xiao Yuheng and Consort Yu were standing very close together, and no one could hear what they were saying clearly.

This time, they had been ambushed by someone, but who could it be? He went through all the possible people until he saw the Crown Prince emerge from the Empress Dowager's palace. The smile on his face suddenly made Xiao Yuheng feel a little ironic.

It must be the Empress and the Crown Prince!

The Empress Dowager's Longevity Palace is the warmest place in the entire palace. It is very comfortable to wear clothes for all four seasons here. However, only the Empress Dowager can wear whatever she wants. Gu Qingwan naturally does not have this blessing and can only dress dignifiedly and appropriately.

Xiao Yuheng knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead, but the Emperor did not speak.

"Father! Your son…"

"Don't rush to speak now, think it through before you speak." The Emperor directly refused to listen to Xiao Yuheng's explanation.

Gu Qingwan looked thoughtfully at Consort Chun, who was kneeling silently on the ground, as if Consort Chun was being a little too quiet.

Although she didn't take Chunpin's pulse herself, she felt something was off about Chunpin's appearance.

"Guards, demote Consort Chun to the rank of Noble Lady and move her from Chunlu Palace to the small Buddhist hall in the Cold Palace to pray for the Empress Dowager."

Consort Chun never expected that the Emperor would not even bother to ask her any questions before directly sentencing her.

Is the Emperor trying to protect the Third Prince, his son?

"Your Majesty! You can't do this!" Consort Chun shouted loudly. Being demoted was one thing, at most it was a loss of face, but if she was thrown into the Cold Palace, she knew very well what the Cold Palace was like. Once she went in, all the concubines who had disliked her before would do everything they could to crush her, and she would never be able to turn her life around.

"I am the ruler of a country. Is there anything I cannot do?"

Consort Chun then felt frightened. "My maternal clan has always been loyal to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, I beg you to spare me this time for the sake of my maternal clan. Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"I never expected that Consort Chun would also learn the word 'think thrice' now."

Consort Yu was naturally not going to sit idly by and wait for her fate; she had her own cleverness to have climbed to the position of consort.

"Consort Chun, don't try to threaten the Emperor with your maternal clan every time something happens. Do you think our Great Qing is afraid of you? Today, you were caught by my son having an affair. Are you trying to fool the Emperor and the Empress Dowager with your sweet talk again?"

Consort Chun was now so anxious that she didn't know what to do, and seeing Consort Yu adding fuel to the fire made her even more furious.

"Consort Yu! Don't try to pin this label on me with your every word. I didn't do it, that's all! Besides, Princess Chu was here today. She saw everything clearly. I was just talking to the Third Prince. There was no one else there. How could you, as the Third Prince's mother, slander me and the Third Prince as having a relationship?"

Gu Qingwan remained silent; this Consort Chun really dared to drag her into this mess.

"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I say that you had a relationship with my son!" Consort Yu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, a palace maid came to report today that an outsider had entered the harem. For the safety of the sisters in the harem, I thought of sending someone to check. The Third Prince is filial and thinks that if it is the Imperial Guard, it will cause unnecessary panic."

Consort Yu wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and said, "It's also my fault. I thought that everyone in the harem was his concubine, so how could such disgusting words be said about him?"

If the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort of Chu hadn't been present today, Consort Yu would have insisted on protecting her son and removing Consort Chun from the list, pretending nothing had happened.

However, the Empress Dowager and Princess Chu heard everything clearly. The only way to prove that the Third Prince was trying to catch the outsider who had broken into the inner palace is to make it clear that the Empress Dowager and Princess Chu only heard some conversations and did not see anyone. Maybe they can get away with it?

Even if they can't fool him, they have to get the Third Prince to find a way to let the Emperor know that Consort Chun is unfaithful and trying to seduce an adult prince. At worst, she'll be neglected by the Emperor for a while, but that's much better than being abandoned by him.