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

Now only the brother and sister are in the study.

“Cousin, didn’t you go north with Uncle and the others to help me look after the shop? Why are you back now? Where are Grandfather and Uncle? And why didn’t you go home? Why are you here at Jufeng Restaurant?”

With a doting smile, Ning Chengze found a seat and said, "Don't rush, I have to answer you one by one. You asked so many questions at once, I don't know which one to answer first."

Gu Qingwan also realized that she had worried too much. After calming down, she found a place to sit down and talk to Ning Chengze.

“I was too anxious. Don’t blame me for being anxious. If it weren’t for what happened with Madam Song, I wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss. Now that you’re back, you should have told your family. If it’s inconvenient for you, you should have told me.”

“I’ve been looking for opportunities, but I didn’t expect you to be one step ahead of me.”

"What exactly happened?"

"About your father..." Ning Chengze hesitated for a moment, then realized he was overthinking things when he saw that his cousin didn't react.

“I already knew he died outside, but how could it be so sudden? Wasn’t she with Marquis Yongyi escorting grain supplies?”

“If he had gone to escort the grain properly, this wouldn’t have happened. As per our previous plan, I parted ways with my grandfather and father halfway through the journey and went to inspect the shops you mentioned. They seemed to be operating quite well. The managers and employees you hired were all honest. We happened to come across a business deal when we reached Xingcheng.”

"Business? What kind of business requires your involvement? Can't the shopkeeper handle it?"

"The other party claimed to be in the medicinal herb business as well, but they wanted to cooperate with us long-term because they needed hemostatic herbs. I felt there were some issues, so I stayed to see who they really were."

"But after waiting for a long time, no one came."

Gu Qingwan was somewhat puzzled. Who would need hemostatic medicine? The only ones who would need hemostatic medicine the most should be the army. Could it be that the local overseas Chinese affairs office had disguised itself as a businessman and came to Daqing to purchase medicine?

"The waiter said it was a woman, but she was covered by a black cloak, so he couldn't see her face at all. Her voice was very beautiful, and it was because of that voice that the waiter couldn't help but take a second look at the woman in front of him."

For some reason, Gu Qingwan suddenly thought of someone, but it was only subconscious, and she didn't say the person in her heart.

"It was in Xingcheng that I met Marquis Yongyi and Gu Ziming. They had a brief stay in Xingcheng at the time, but Gu Ziming had captured a Northerner somewhere and found a letter on him."

"What letter!"

Ning Chengze's face was also very grim. He said, "It's a letter treasonous, and it was even sent from my Ning family."

Gu Qingwan's expression immediately turned sour.

"Sure enough, I knew that person wasn't so kind as to go to the northern border to deliver grain to my grandfather. He must be trying to frame the Ning family."

"The Marquis of Yongyi was also there. He was also very puzzled, but he still trusted our Ning family. However, the person that Gu Ziming caught actually said that I came to Xingcheng to make contact for him, and that the letter was given to him by me."

"How can this be!"

"Gu Ziming originally wanted to capture me, but Marquis Yongyi secretly told me to seize the opportunity to leave and go back to report that there must be a traitor among the Ning family."

"A traitor? How could there be a traitor? The Ning family is small, just a few people. No one would betray our family to do such a thing."

"This is also what I don't understand. Not long after I left, Gu Ziming was assassinated, and the Northerner I had captured earlier also disappeared. I don't know who said that I killed Gu Ziming to silence him and cover up the Ning family's treason."

"Did you kill him?"

"How could that be! Why would I kill him? No matter how wicked he is, he is still your father. Besides, I didn't really leave at the time. I hid at Marquis Yongyi's residence. I stayed with Marquis Yongyi for those two days until the incident happened and he kicked me out."

Gu Qingwan then understood the cause and effect of Gu Ziming's death. She remained silent, thinking about everything Ning Chengze had just said.

This is a grand conspiracy, a grand conspiracy targeting the Ning family.

"Cousin, don't you think all of this is too much of a coincidence?"

"How to say?"

"First, you went to Xingcheng to help me check the accounts. Then suddenly someone wanted to buy hemostatic medicine, and it had to be the boss who came forward. You waited for a long time but the seller didn't come. Instead, a team of people escorting grain arrived."

"Yes."

Gu Qingwan walked to the desk, opened the map that Xiao Jingchen often looked at, and pointed to the location of Xingcheng and Yunhun Pass.

“Cousin, think about it carefully. Why would this grain transport team go to Xingcheng? The grain transport team didn’t just pass through Xingcheng; they deliberately went there. Usually, grain transport teams go directly from Xuecheng. Coming to Xingcheng is a huge detour.”

"I also had this question, and I even asked Marquis Yongyi. At that time, Marquis Yongyi said that Gu Ziming was not feeling well and needed to see a doctor. Xuecheng was too small and too poor to have any doctors with good medical skills, so they took a detour here to replenish their supplies."

"No, all of this is an excuse. Gu Ziming came here and captured a northerner, who happened to be carrying a so-called letter of treason, and you happened to be here too. You left and Gu Ziming died. What does this mean?"

Ning Chengze slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying, "If it's true, the Ning family killed him! After all, the Ning family and Gu Ziming have a blood feud."

"Cousin, that's not the point. Uncle Meng is right, there must be a traitor on our side. Otherwise, why would the Ning family's seal be on that letter?"

Gu Qingwan felt that something was not right. She paced back and forth in the study, as if she was about to grab something, but it always escaped the moment she was about to grasp it.

Just then, there was a knock on the study door. Gu Qingwan looked outside and saw that the door was half-open, and Baoqin was standing at the door holding a kettle of hot water.

"Your Highness, it's me. I'll be waiting outside the study. Please feel free to call me if you need anything."

It turned out to be Baoqin. Baoqin was as cautious as ever. This time, she probably saw that Siqi had sent her something and asked her if there was anyone to serve her, and that she and her cousin were alone in a room together. She was afraid that some rumors would spread.

"It's so cold outside, you can put the kettle in the outer room."

"Yes, I understand. I just need a few stitches left to embroider the headband for the Princess. I'll stay outside and work on it. Please call me if you need anything."

Ning Chengze was already thirsty, so he got up and went to Baoqin's side to pour her some water, gulping down several teacups.

"Cousin, you're still the best maid I know. You're as attentive as ever. I've been here for so long, and you haven't even thought to give me a sip of hot water."

“Yes, just like before…” Gu Qingwan suddenly thought of something.

"Oh no! Cousin!"

Ning Chengze was so frightened that he spat out the water in his mouth.

"what happened?"

"Cousin, go back quickly and only see your grandmother once without making a sound. Have your grandmother secretly go to your grandfather's and uncle's study. You should be most familiar with that place. See if there is anything that shouldn't be there."

"Okay, I'll go back now." Ning Chengze also realized that the seriousness of the matter was far greater than he had imagined.

"No, no, you can't go. There might already be someone watching you. And I can't go either. I still have Princess Qinghe and Princess Changle in my household. I can't leave them behind and go now. That would arouse suspicion."

“Cousin, you can’t go. What if something really happens to the Ning family? If you go now, you’ll definitely get into trouble.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of trouble, but I’m worried about being taken advantage of by someone with ulterior motives. Right now, my maternal grandfather, uncle, and prince are all out of the capital. If someone takes advantage of this, there will be no one to save us.”

"You're right, how about I sneak back quietly after nightfall?"

"We can't take any risks. Cousin, you should stay in the Prince's Mansion and not go out or see anyone, especially Qinghe and Changle. Don't let them run into you. I will arrange for you to stay in a relatively secluded place. As for the Ning family, I will have Siqi go there later."

"Siqi?"

“Siqi bought some new pastries from Jufenglou and said she thought they tasted pretty good, so she sent them to Grandmother to try. Cousin, you should write a letter now, the simpler the better, and I’ll have Siqi take it over. Grandmother is quite familiar with Grandfather and Uncle’s study, so she can tell if there’s anything wrong.”

Although Baoqin didn't hear the whole thing, she realized the seriousness of the situation. She quickly went out and sent someone to call Siqi over. This time coincided with Ning Chengze's opportunity to write a letter.

"Good girl, tell your grandmother what I told you in a little while. Remember to tell her alone and don't let anyone find out."

Siqi nodded, hid Ning Chengzexin well, and patted her chest to assure him, "Your Highness, Second Young Master, you can rest assured, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"