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

"Since Consort Chun said that Princess Chu was present at the time and saw it clearly, why don't we just ask Princess Chu?" the Empress suggested good-naturedly. She was happier than anything else to see Consort Yu suffer.

The Crown Prince glanced at the Empress subtly, and the Empress, having received a signal from the Crown Prince, refrained from saying anything that might be considered malicious, and continued to sit upright beside the Emperor.

Now that Gu Qingwan has been singled out by the Empress, she can no longer remain silent by any means.

"Your Majesty, I was indeed outside at the time, but I was some distance away and didn't hear very clearly. Perhaps Consort Chun is right, or perhaps the Noble Consort wasn't lying either."

"Princess Consort Chu, just say what you heard openly. Your status in the palace is the most noble, and no one will question what you say, so there's no need for any worries. At the very least, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor will support you and make decisions for you."

After the Empress finished speaking, the Empress Dowager became somewhat displeased. Gu Qingwan also sighed inwardly. It seemed that the Crown Prince and the eldest princess were selectively inherited. If the Emperor hadn't cherished his first wife, the Empress probably wouldn't have been able to survive in the harem.

"Your Majesty, I was indeed present at the time, but what I said was all true." She wasn't the only one present; the Empress Dowager was also there. Empress, have you considered whether the Empress Dowager would be displeased by your questioning?

Sure enough, Gu Qingwan glanced at the Empress Dowager discreetly, and the Empress Dowager's expression was indeed not good.

"Mother! Your son truly did not have any involvement with Consort Chun, just as you said. At the time, I was genuinely worried about the safety of the ladies in the harem and the Emperor. Grandmother, please understand. You know what kind of person I am. I grew up under your very nose. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I wouldn't dare to..."

The Empress Dowager was, after all, an elderly woman, and her heart softened upon hearing Xiao Yuheng's words.

"You are a good child, I know that. Before, when my legs hurt, you even gave me a wheelchair. Sitting in that little thing, I didn't feel bored at all. Even now, sometimes when I don't want to walk, I have them push me around in the garden. It's wonderful. And the snacks you offered last time were very appetizing and delicious."

"I'm glad that Grandmother is pleased. These were all ideas from my concubine, Gu Hanjiao. They were just some of my little thoughts. It's rare that they could make Grandmother happy and appreciate them."

"Your concubine is quite thoughtful. I heard she's about to give birth. How is the baby? Is it alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Consort Gu is doing well. When the imperial physician went to check on her last pulse, he said the child was very healthy."

Following up on this, Consort Yu got up from her chair and walked to the Empress Dowager's side, cleverly massaging her shoulders and back.

"Empress Dowager, it won't be long before you become a great-grandmother. When that time comes, let Jiao'er bring the children to the palace to keep you company often, so you won't find life boring."

"Consort Yu, what time is it? You're still thinking about that unborn grandson. You should be figuring out your son's situation first. The Third Prince is so disobedient and unfilial, how dare he do such a thing!" The Empress couldn't stand Consort Yu's pleasing manner and couldn't help but say a few sarcastic words.

The Empress Dowager's previously relaxed expression stiffened again. This daughter-in-law was good in every way except that she lacked tact. If it weren't for the fact that the eldest princess and the crown prince were so likable, the Empress Dowager would not have allowed the empress to remain in this position for so many years, making such foolish mistakes.

Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince said, "Father, Mother, I believe that the explanations given by the Imperial Concubine and my third brother are also plausible."

"Oh? So that's what the Crown Prince thinks."

"Yes, Father Emperor. I thought that if the Noble Consort asked me to go and check on Consort Chun to see if she was in any danger, I would go without hesitation."

Xiao Yuheng did not expect the Crown Prince to speak well of him. Wasn't this all a scheme by the Empress and the Crown Prince?

"Your Highness, you should think carefully before you speak. There are palace maids and eunuchs in the palace. Why would a prince need to personally go and see how a concubine is doing? The Empress Dowager and Princess Consort of Chu were both witnesses at the time."

Gu Qingwan couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Huanghuagou had inadvertently brought up the Empress Dowager again.

The Emperor has already heard most of the details of the matter. Furthermore, before the Third Prince and his entourage entered, the Empress Dowager had already told the Emperor everything she had heard and seen. With so many people present, there was really no need to explain the matter so clearly. Therefore, the key now lies in understanding the Emperor's thoughts.

"I already know about this matter. Now I only ask one question: Yuheng, do you know your mistake?"

"Your Majesty! Whatever Your Majesty has done wrong, it is all my fault, it is all my fault..." Consort Yu knelt on the ground and cried bitterly, trying to take all the blame upon herself, believing that as long as the Third Prince was with her, there would be a day when he could make a comeback.

"Shut up!" The Emperor interrupted the Consort, looking directly at Xiao Yuheng and asking again, "I'm asking you, do you know you're wrong?"

Xiao Yuheng was clearly stunned, but since he was one of the best candidates for the crown prince, he was quite intelligent. He immediately realized that the emperor was going to protect him, so Xiao Yuheng kowtowed.

"Your subject knows he was wrong and begs for punishment from Your Majesty."

During this process, it was never explained exactly what went wrong or why the punishment was given; in short, the attitude of admitting the mistake was very good.

"No! No, we did nothing wrong! Someone is framing me! Third Prince, you can't just accept this so easily! We are innocent!" Driven by human instinct to avoid harm and seek safety, she sensed danger approaching. Was the Emperor planning to abandon her?

"Your Majesty, Deputy Commander Chen of the Imperial Guards has come to report that a suspicious person has been captured in the inner palace," said Eunuch Fu.

"Bring it up."

The situation took an unexpected turn. Even Consort Yu hadn't anticipated that someone had actually broken into the inner palace. Now, wouldn't she and the Third Prince be able to escape safely? It would be even better if that person was Prince Buffy.

As if on cue, the person who arrived was Prince Buffett.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Daqing, is this how you treat your guests?" Prince Buffy had been tied up in a big knot. Although he was skilled in martial arts, he was still far inferior to the Imperial Guards.

"Prince Buffy? What are you doing here?" the prince asked in surprise.

"I...I just got lost..."

"Your Majesty, we captured Prince Buffy at Wanxiu Palace," said Chen Guoliang, deputy commander of the Imperial Guards.

The emperor's expression immediately turned sour. "Have you brought everyone along?"

"They are all waiting outside the hall."

The Empress Dowager looked around and knew that the Emperor's bad expression meant that something bad had really happened.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, since Consort Chun wishes to pray for my well-being, let's not linger here any longer. Guards, escort Consort Chun back to the Cold Palace."

"Empress Dowager, spare me! Empress Dowager, spare me! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please save me! I can still dance for you! Didn't you say you loved my dancing the most?" At this point, Consort Chun knew that the only people she could beg for mercy from were the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. As for the Third Prince, she absolutely could not involve him at this moment. If she did, they would do everything they could to kill her. If she didn't involve him, she might be able to get back on her feet in the future by relying on the Third Prince.

Gu Qingwan sat there coldly, watching everything that was happening around her, without making any statement.

Xiao Yuheng kept staring at her. Gu Qingwan, you didn't expect this, did you? In the end, the Emperor still chose to protect her. She's just a lowly concubine. Even if the Empress Dowager and you are present, so what? They just have a language problem. But you're not standing that close. How much they can hear is still an unknown.

"The Third Prince has behaved improperly. He is to be punished by copying the Book of Rites a thousand times. He is not allowed to leave the palace until he finishes copying it. The Consort will supervise and check it. No mistakes or omissions are allowed. It will be submitted to the Empress for review. He may leave when he finishes copying it."

The Emperor's words were a veiled way of confining Consort Yu to her quarters, forcing her to behave herself.

As the investigation progressed, the Emperor, following the Empress Dowager's instructions, decided to deal with the issues that needed to be addressed first, otherwise dealing with them all at once would be too troublesome.

"Consort Yu, you should take the Third Prince and Anning back with you."

Seeing this, Gu Qingwan also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I will go and check on the stew pots in the small kitchen."

"How can such a trivial matter be handled by the Princess Consort of Chu? The Crown Prince should go instead."

It's a small matter... Why would the Crown Prince have to go over such a small matter? Gu Qingwan knew that the Emperor didn't want her to leave, so she obediently sat down below and started drinking tea again.

"Emperor Daqing is truly magnanimous," Prince Buffy couldn't help but retort. "But this is your family matter. I was just lost, so why did you kidnap me?"

"I ask you, what were you doing at Wanxiu Palace?"

"What Wanxiu Palace, what do you mean by 'doing something'? I don't know anything about it. I just wanted to leave the palace and got lost."

"Bring the person up to me." The emperor glanced at him.

The person who came was none other than Consort Wang, a minor noblewoman from Wanxiu Palace.

Consort Wang was very timid. Given her status, she had never even seen what the Emperor looked like, let alone figures like the Empress Dowager, the Empress, or the Princess Consort of Chu. When she entered and knelt on the ground, she saw Prince Buffy bound hand and foot and immediately understood everything.

"Your Majesty..." Consort Wang burst into tears. She didn't know what to do. Had their affair been discovered? But... but they really hadn't done anything.