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

The Princess Consort of Chu, though pale-faced, still stood tall and said coldly, "Lu Yan, if your father knew of your utter rebelliousness, he would surely have killed you with his own hands!"

"My father?" Lu Yan scoffed, his eyes filled with contempt. "That old bastard is far away on the border; what can he do to me? Besides—"

He suddenly lowered his voice, his laughter turning lewd: "He can't even control his own second wife, how could he possibly control me?"

The Queen Consort of Chu was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Lu Yan licked his lips, his eyes full of smugness: "The Lady of the Marquis... oh no, my stepmother, is carrying my child! The old hag has fought for years, yet she has no children, and still thinks she's as good as ever, hahaha—"

"You beast!" the Queen Consort of Chu shouted angrily.

Lu Yan didn't take it to heart, instead taking a step closer: "Why must Your Highness be angry? Perhaps..."

He reached out to touch the face of the Princess of Chu, but in the next instant—

"Whoosh!"

A sharp arrow pierced through the air and stabbed him hard in the palm!

"Ah—!" Lu Yan screamed and staggered backward.

"Lu Yan!"

A thunderous roar erupted as Lu Chen rode up on his horse, his longbow still in hand, his eyes blazing with murderous intent!

Lu Yan looked up, his expression changing drastically: "Father...Father?!"

Gu Qingwan smiled. This was the moment she had been staring at. When she heard that her second cousin had returned, she knew that Marquis Yi'an should also be back. Since it was all a matter for Marquis Yi'an's family, she would let them handle it themselves, and she would also go and deal with her own family.

What I just said was only for Marquis Yi'an's ears. After all, he was his only son. Marquis Yi'an might have doubts if he heard it from others, but if he heard his own son admit it, Marquis Yi'an would give up now.

Lu Chen dismounted, his black cloak fluttering in the wind. He walked step by step toward Lu Yan, his killing intent growing stronger with each step.

"I, Lu Chen, have spent my life on the battlefield, countless lives lost beneath my blade, yet I never imagined—" His voice was low, each word like a knife, "that the greatest shame would be inflicted upon me by my own son!"

Lu Yan's face was deathly pale, but he forced a cold smile: "Father, why are you angry? You're away so often, your stepmother must be lonely. I'm just doing this on your behalf..."

"Shut up!" Lu Chen roared, drawing his sword from his waist. With a flash of cold light, he slashed straight at Lu Yan's face!

Lu Yan hurriedly raised his sword to block, but the blow caused his tiger's mouth to split open, and the sword slipped from his hand!

"Father! Are you really going to kill me?!" He retreated in terror.

Lu Chen sneered: "You defiled your stepmother, colluded with rebels, and besieged the Chu Prince's mansion. Which of these isn't a capital offense?"

Before he finished speaking, he swung his knife again. Lu Yan rolled around in a sorry state, but was still cut on the shoulder by the blade, and blood instantly soaked through his brocade robe!

"My lord! The heir is, after all, your bloodline!" one of the assassins couldn't help but shout.

Lu Chen's eyes were icy: "Bloodline?"

He kicked Lu Yan to the ground with a sudden thud, pressing the tip of his knife against his throat: "Does such a wicked child deserve to be my son, Lu Chen's son?"

Lu Yan's face turned deathly pale, then he suddenly grinned maliciously: "Father, do you think... you alone can kill me?"

He suddenly whistled, and dozens of black-clad assassins instantly surged out from all around, surrounding Lu Chen!

Ning Chengze shouted sharply, "Protect the Marquis!"

The guards charged forward instantly, and amidst the flashing blades and splattering blood!

Lu Chen sneered, sweeping his long sword across the ground, instantly killing three assassins! He was like a tiger among sheep, leaving corpses strewn everywhere he went!

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lu Yan scrambled to his feet, mounted his horse, and laughed wildly, "Father! You can't kill me! When I return, I will make you—"

"Whoosh!"

Another arrow pierced the air, this time striking Lu Yan directly in the right shoulder! He screamed in agony, nearly falling off his horse, but he still gritted his teeth and whipped the horse fiercely, galloping wildly out of the city!

"You unfilial brat!" Lu Chen roared, mounting his horse. "Second Young Master Ning, the Chu Prince's mansion is yours! I will personally go after them!"

The night is dark and the wind is bitingly cold.

Lu Chen pursued alone, his horse's hooves thundering, relentlessly chasing after Lu Yan's back.

"Father! Why must you be so ruthless?!" Lu Yan roared as he turned around.

Lu Chen remained silent, his gaze icy, and raised his longbow once more—

"Whoosh!"

The third arrow was aimed straight at Lu Yan's back!

Lu Yan suddenly turned to the side, and the arrow grazed his neck, leaving a bloody mark! He broke out in a cold sweat and dared not look back. He frantically whipped his horse and fled into the depths of the mountains.

Lu Chen pursued relentlessly, his killing intent undiminished.

—To defile one's stepmother is incest!

Colluding with traitors is disloyalty!

—To besiege the Chu King's residence and utter such arrogant words is unjust!

Such a wicked creature doesn't deserve to live!

As dawn broke, Lu Yan's horse finally gave out, its front hooves buckled, and it threw him off hard!

He scrambled to his feet, only to see Lu Chen already reining in his horse and stopping not far away, slowly drawing his long sword.

"Father..." Lu Yan knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, "Your son knows he was wrong! Please spare my life!"

Lu Chen sneered: "It's too late to beg for mercy now."

He approached step by step, the blade reflecting the morning light, cold and piercing.

Lu Yan suddenly grinned maliciously: "Then you'll die with me!"

He suddenly pulled a gunpowder bomb from his pocket and slammed it hard into the ground!

"boom--!"

Flames shot into the sky, and smoke and dust billowed everywhere!

Lu Chen leaped backward, but was still thrown over by the shockwave and crashed heavily to the ground! When the dust settled, Lu Yan was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a patch of scorched earth.

"Cough cough..." Lu Chen propped himself up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold and sharp as knives.

"Escape?!" he sneered. "I will take your life, no matter where you are!"

The night was as dark as ink, and the eaves of the palace were silhouetted sharply against the moonlight. Just after the third watch gong sounded, a dark figure silently slipped into a side hall of Xiyan Palace.

"Your Highness, His Highness has arrived," the personal maid whispered before quickly retreating.

Consort Xi put down her embroidery frame and tidied her temples. She was only twenty-five years old this year. In the candlelight, her beautiful face showed some fatigue, but her eyes sparkled with an unusual light.

"Your subject pays respects to Consort Xi." The Third Prince, Xiao Yuheng, bowed deeply, his voice extremely low.

Consort Xi gestured for him to stand up. Xiao Yuheng was tall and handsome, with seven-tenths resemblance to the emperor in his features, but at this moment his face was full of gloom.

"Is everything arranged?" Consort Xi went straight to the point, her slender fingers unconsciously toying with a jade pendant.

A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Yuheng's eyes: "The imperial physician said Father Emperor won't last three days. The commander of the Imperial Guards has already been bribed, and the guards at the Vermilion Bird Gate and Black Tortoise Gate have been replaced with our men."

He stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Tonight at midnight, summon the ministers to the palace under the pretext that Father is critically ill. Then, seal the palace gates and force Father to write an edict of abdication."

Consort Xi's fingertips trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement. She had waited for this day for far too long. She knew that in this cannibalistic palace, one would either become the butcher or the fish on the chopping block. But in order to be with the prince, she chose to compromise. She had to survive, she absolutely had to survive.

"What about those old fogies? The Left Chancellor, the Grand Tutor, and the others..." Consort Xi asked, frowning.

"The Grand Tutor has returned to his hometown to visit his family, and the Left Chancellor..." Xiao Yuheng sneered, "His son is in my hands."

Consort Xi nodded, then suddenly reached out and touched Xiao Yuheng's cheek: "Have you thought this through? Once you take this step, there's no turning back."

Xiao Yuheng grasped her hand, his eyes burning with ambition: "Your subject has endured for twenty-seven years, waiting for this moment. Are you willing to remain subservient forever? Once we succeed, I will certainly fulfill the promise I made to you before. You can rest assured."

These words struck a nerve with Consort Xi.

"Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yuheng grabbed Consort Xi's chin directly. "Don't think I don't know your plans. Your maid Xiao Nan should be the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang, right? When the Imperial Uncle went to Southern Xinjiang, didn't your maid go with him? With her there, do you think the Imperial Uncle will have any problems? You and the Imperial Uncle can hide your identities in Southern Xinjiang, enjoying the company of wives and concubines. How lively!"

“Alright.” Consort Xi withdrew her hand, the last trace of hesitation in her eyes disappearing. “But I need your promise that after it’s done…”

"Consort Xi will enjoy unparalleled glory." Xiao Yuheng knelt on one knee, his tone as devout as if making a vow.

Consort Xi smiled with satisfaction and took out an exquisite key from her sleeve: "This is the key to the secret passage to the Qianqing Palace. Your father, fearing noise during his illness, moved to a side hall to recuperate, where there are fewer guards."

Xiao Yuheng took the key, and the two exchanged a knowing glance the moment their fingertips touched.

As midnight approaches, the palace appears calm on the surface, but undercurrents are already surging.

Xiao Yuheng changed into military attire, the sword at his waist gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Behind him stood thirty assassins, each with sharp eyes; they were all his trusted confidants, secretly trained over many years.

"Your Highness, all palace gates are under control, and the Imperial Guards have not made any unusual movements," a general reported quickly.

Xiao Yuheng nodded and turned to another person: "Have the ministers been notified?"

"As Your Highness instructed, we only said that the Emperor urgently summoned him, and more than a dozen officials have already come to the palace."

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Xiao Yuheng took a deep breath and looked towards Xiyan Palace—there, Consort Xi should have already begun her operation.

Outside the side hall of Qianqing Palace, there were far fewer guards than usual. Consort Xi arrived gracefully with two palace maids, carrying a bowl of medicine.

"I've come to deliver medicine to His Majesty." Her voice was soft, yet brooked no refusal.

The guard hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not stop the favored concubine and made way for her.

The hall was filled with the strong scent of medicine, and the candlelight was dim. On the dragon bed, the emperor lay with his eyes closed, his face ashen, and his breathing weak. Only an old eunuch and two imperial physicians were by his side.

"Your Majesty, I have come to bring you medicine." Consort Xi knelt before the bed, her voice choked with emotion, as if she were deeply in love.

The emperor slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clouded: "My beloved concubine... so late at night..."

"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance." Consort Xi scooped a spoonful of medicine and brought it to the Emperor's lips, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "This is a newly prescribed medicine from the Imperial Hospital; please drink it while it's hot."

The emperor forced down two sips, then suddenly coughed violently, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the brocade quilt. The old eunuch cried out in alarm, and the imperial physicians rushed forward.

Just then, the palace door was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Yuheng led his assassins in.

"Father! Your son has arrived too late to save you!" Xiao Yuheng shouted, ignoring the chaos in the hall, and instead signaled the assassins to control the imperial physician and eunuch.

The emperor struggled to sit up, a glimmer of clarity suddenly flashing in his cloudy eyes: "Heng'er... what's wrong with you..."

"Father is seriously ill, and the court is in turmoil. Your son has no choice but to ask Father to immediately write an edict of succession to appease the people." Xiao Yuheng knelt on one knee, his tone respectful, but his words were piercing.

Consort Xi had already stood up and stepped back to Xiao Yuheng's side, her feigned concern completely gone.

The emperor looked at his son, then at his favorite concubine, and suddenly laughed, his laughter hoarse like an owl's: "Good...very good...my good son, my good concubine..."

Okay, I will create a tense scene for you where the Empress Dowager leads the Dragon Guard to escort the harem to the Qianqing Palace. This is a court intrigue scene filled with a sense of crisis and maternal protectiveness. I will focus on depicting the Empress Dowager's majesty and decisiveness in times of crisis, as well as the mysterious and powerful escort operation of the Dragon Guard.

As the water clock in Cining Palace dripped to three-quarters past dusk, the string of the Buddhist prayer beads in the Empress Dowager's hand suddenly broke, and the sandalwood beads clattered and rolled to the ground. The Empress Dowager's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up to see the twilight deepening outside the window, where a flock of crows swept over the palace wall.

“Something’s not right…” the Empress Dowager muttered to herself, her wrinkled hands gripping the armrests of the phoenix chair tightly.

The personal maidservant rushed in, her face deathly pale: "Your Majesty, news just arrived that... the Imperial Guards at Qianqing Palace have suddenly changed their garrison, and all the eunuchs and palace maids have been expelled..."

A glint of light flashed in the Empress Dowager's cloudy eyes, and she straightened her hunched back: "Go, fetch my sandalwood box."

The old woman dared not ask any further questions and brought out a sandalwood box gleaming with a faint light from a hidden compartment in the bedchamber. The Empress Dowager opened it with trembling fingers and took out a bronze token—on which was coiled a five-clawed golden dragon, with two blood-red gemstones inlaid in the dragon's eyes.

"Sound the alarm and summon the Dragon Guards," the Empress Dowager's voice was low and rumbling like thunder. "Also, send someone to fetch the Empress and all the noble ladies; tell them I invite them... to admire the moon."

The old woman gasped. The Dragon Guards were secret guards left behind by the late emperor, and they could not be used except in matters of national crisis. The last time they appeared was twenty years ago during the "Gengyin Incident".

Within half an hour, more than a dozen concubines and families of high-ranking officials had gathered outside the Cining Palace. The Empress, supporting the Empress Dowager's arm, asked softly, "Mother, what has happened?"

The Empress Dowager patted her hand, her gaze sweeping over the panicked faces of the crowd: "The palace is not peaceful tonight. Follow me closely, and don't fall behind."

As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of orderly footsteps suddenly echoed outside the hall. Twelve men dressed in dark, close-fitting outfits appeared silently in the courtyard, their faces covered by bronze masks, revealing only their hawk-like eyes. The leader knelt on one knee: "The Dragon Shadow Guard awaits the Empress Dowager's orders."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly: "Escort me to the Qianqing Palace."

The Empress's expression changed drastically: "Mother, His Majesty did not order anyone not to..."

“Foolish child,” the Empress Dowager interrupted her, a sharp glint in her eyes, “Do you really think this order came from the Emperor?”

A gust of cold wind swept by, causing the palace lanterns to flicker. The concubines supported each other, some of the more timid ones already sobbing. The Empress Dowager, leaning on her phoenix-headed cane, rose to her feet. Though over sixty, she now possessed the majesty of a deity: "Break yourselves! You are the most honored women of Daqing. Even with a knife to your throats, you must stand tall before me!"