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

Gu Qingwan walked slowly along the palace corridor, which was the most familiar to her. She had once happily led four maids through every corner of the palace, full of anticipation for their peaceful lives in the future.

"Your Highness, isn't today's ordeal a bit too coincidental? It feels like you've handled things too lightly," Siqi asked, puzzled.

"Siqi, this is the palace. Don't speak carelessly, lest you bring trouble upon the Princess." Baoqin carefully reminded Siqi beside her.

Among the four, Baoqin was the oldest and also the most cautious and steady. Back in the palace, in order to avoid causing trouble for Gu Qingwan, Baoqin always endured as much as possible, and the other three followed her.

Thinking back to the old days, Gu Qingwan couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

“Baoqin, I know what you’re worried about, but things are different now. I’m not the Gu Qingwan I used to be. I can protect you.”

Baoqin and Siqi were stunned. They had only exchanged a few words, so how could the princess have said such a thing?

“Your Highness, I was worried about causing trouble, since the Prince is not in the capital,” Baoqin explained.

Siqi was a very easygoing girl. She was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered.

"The princess said not to worry, so what are we worried about? Since the princess said she can protect us, we can put our minds at ease."

Baoqin glanced at Siqi with some displeasure. This girl not only didn't know how to advise her master, but she also joined in the foolishness.

“Siqi is right, Baoqin, just relax. Your princess is very capable and can protect the four of you.”

"I am the most timid of all. Your Highness, it would be better if you left me at home to guard the house."

Gu Qingwan thought for a moment and said seriously, "Baoqin's point is very reasonable. In the future, if I go out, I will still take Siqi and Shishu with me. The Prince's mansion is a very important place. Now that the Prince is not here, I am afraid that many people will make some small moves, especially in the main courtyard and the study. We must not let anyone take advantage of the situation."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will remember this and make sure to check carefully when we get back. I will not allow outsiders to enter or leave at will."

The palace path that Gu Qingwan took was relatively narrow, and most people wouldn't choose to walk here. It was relatively quiet, and it was the shortest route to the outside of the palace, because walking just a few more steps through a small palace gate would significantly reduce the distance.

“Baoqin is right. This place is indeed a dangerous place, and I don’t want to stay here any longer. Let’s go back and discuss it further when we get back to the manor.”

The wind was so strong in this passage that Gu Qingwan felt her fox-fur cloak was no longer effective. She had chosen the convenience for a moment, but forgot that in this season, all she could do here was endure the cold wind.

"Your Highness, let's hurry up. There's a charcoal stove in the carriage; it should be warmer once we get there."

Soon, led by Gu Qingwan, they found the palace gate. Baoqin and Siqi pushed open the half-closed wooden door and found that it seemed no one had cleaned the place. Fallen leaves were piled up all over the ground, and some dirty snow was also piled up to the side.

"What kind of place is this? It's so dirty and messy, and no one even bothers to clean it up?" Siqi couldn't help but complain. Even Baoqin, who was always cautious in her speech, couldn't help but agree with Siqi's words.

"Your Highness, are you sure we're on the right path? This doesn't look like the way out of the palace."

Gu Qingwan frowned. She looked around at the surrounding buildings and the willow tree in front of her was still there.

"There's no mistake, this is the road. Maybe the place is too remote and the people down below are getting lazy because of the cold weather. Let's hurry up and not linger here."

As they passed the back wall of a palace, the three of them, mistress and servants, heard low sobbing coming from inside, followed by the sound of a bowl breaking.

Following the principle of not causing herself any trouble, Gu Qingwan wanted to pass through quietly and quickly, but when she reached the door, she heard an old woman cursing from inside.

"Princess, I advise you to eat properly. If you continue to be so willful, I guarantee this may be your only meal today."

Faced with the arrogant tone, the princess the man mentioned didn't show any sign of resistance. Gu Qingwan was puzzled. What kind of princess could be treated so disrespectfully? She couldn't help but take a step forward.

"Granny Cheng, I didn't refuse to eat, it's just that you didn't hold the bowl properly and it fell..." The princess's voice was soft, and if Gu Qingwan hadn't been a martial artist, she probably wouldn't have been able to hear her clearly.

But that's enough. The voice is clearly that of the Third Princess Chang Le, whom I've met a few times before.

"Princess, you're making excuses again! It's clearly you who's throwing a tantrum, but you're blaming it on me. Do you need a spanking to calm your temper down, Princess?"

The old woman's tone was very harsh, which angered Gu Qingwan. Although she hadn't had much contact with Princess Chang Le, she knew from the few times she had met her that Princess Chang Le was a very cute little girl.

Although her birth mother was just a palace maid, she was still a member of the imperial family. How could she be humiliated by a servant?

Gu Qingwan gave Siqi a look, and Siqi immediately stepped forward and kicked the door open.

"what!"

Chang Le was so frightened that she immediately crawled under the table. Granny Cheng was also clearly startled. When she saw who it was, she carefully examined Gu Qingwan and couldn't figure out which concubine in the palace she was.

Judging from her clothes and appearance, she didn't seem to be out of favor, but if she were, how could she not recognize her?

"Who are you people, daring to break into the princess's bedchamber? Don't you have a death wish?!"

Siqi stepped forward and slapped her, then kicked her in the back of the knee. Granny Cheng immediately knelt on the ground with a cracking sound. Granny Cheng was in so much pain that she wondered if her knee was broken.

"Ah! I am someone close to the Empress! How dare you treat me like this? The Empress will not let you get away with this!"

Gu Qingwan looked at the overturned bowl on the ground, with rice scattered all over the floor. However, the rice was somewhat grayish, clearly leftovers.

Several dishes were placed on the table. One dish contained small green vegetables, without a trace of meat or oil. Another small dish contained a dark, unidentifiable substance, and a bowl of soup with a yellowish vegetable leaf floating on top. The rest was just clear water.

Seeing this, Gu Qingwan was furious.

"Your Majesty the Empress? Very well, that's perfect. I also wanted to ask Your Majesty if she authorized you to do this. A servant woman is eating so well, while a princess is treated worse than a mere servant. What kind of logic is that!"

A small head peeked out from under the table, and the moment its big, watery eyes met Gu Qingwan's, it burst into tears.

"Royal Aunt!"