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

Who is the biggest beneficiary of this whole drama? Like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, what roles are they all playing?

Gu Qingwan was helped to lie down by several maids. Since she was at home, no one was arranged to keep watch by her side. Gu Qingwan couldn't sleep and was still thinking about what had happened that day. Of course, she was also wondering about the displeased look Xiao Jingchen gave her when he saw her in the palace.

"Is the royal uncle unhappy to see me involved in such trouble? Does he think I'm too much of a troublemaker? Perhaps he needs a gentle and quiet princess."

"You do know how to think of me."

"Who!" Startled, Gu Qingwan immediately sat up. After she looked closely, she saw that someone had been sitting at the table and was drinking tea. Gu Qingwan was a little annoyed. She didn't know how long this person had been sitting there, but she hadn't noticed at all. After seeing who it was, Gu Qingwan felt relieved. She couldn't recognize other people, but that person's image was already etched into her bones.

"When did you arrive? Why didn't you say anything?" Gu Qingwan asked sullenly.

"You've been here for a while now, and I've been drinking tea here. You're just too engrossed in your thoughts, so don't blame me."

When Gu Qingwan finally saw that Xiao Jingchen was sitting next to the dimly lit coffee table, she realized that Xiao Jingchen was also very thoughtful. He did not walk to a place with obvious candlelight to avoid his shadow being seen from outside the window. If someone with ulterior motives caught him, it would indeed be troublesome for Gu Qingwan.

Gu Qingwan was still very grateful for Xiao Jingchen's thoughtfulness.

"You trespassed into someone's private quarters and now you're blaming me?" Gu Qingwan angrily lay back on the bed, pulled the blanket over her face, and sullenly retorted.

"Don't keep yourself cooped up. I came here to remind you, but for your age, it's really impressive that you can stay this calm."

Hearing this, Gu Qingwan pulled the blanket off her head. The moonlight shone through the window onto Gu Qingwan's small face, which had become fairer and more delicate from the care she had received from Madam Ning during her time in the capital. Gu Qingwan had large eyes, and even up close, one could see that her eyelashes were very long. Because she had just been covered by the blanket, there was still a slight blush on Gu Qingwan's cheeks.

"Why...why are you staring at me like that?" Gu Qingwan broke the silence, somewhat embarrassed.

"Let's talk about what happened today." Xiao Jingchen didn't answer Gu Qingwan's question, but instead fiddled with the ring on his finger in front of the table. "You could have just sent your maid in to rescue them, why did you go in yourself, and even dare to plot against the two princes?"

"How did you know all this? Was I not discreet enough and someone found out?" Gu Qingwan was somewhat surprised. She had thought these things through carefully in her mind before daring to carry them out. How could Prince Chu, who wasn't even there, know about them?

Even the most meticulous plans can have flaws. What you did wasn't bad, but you were too soft-hearted.

"where?"

"That little maid."

“It’s you…” Gu Qingwan sat down on the edge of the bed. How could Gu Qingwan, who was so smart, not guess? Xiao Jingchen did not attend the banquet this time, but he was able to clean up the mess for her. This could only mean that he had people in the prince’s mansion.

"Does the Prince have spies in the Prince's residence?" Gu Qingwan asked, squinting her eyes. Seeing Xiao Jingchen's silence, she knew she had guessed correctly.

"Isn't Your Highness afraid that the Emperor will find out?"

"Don't worry, His Majesty knows about this."

Gu Qingwan frowned and thought for a moment. Someone had planted spies in her son's courtyard, and the emperor had turned a blind eye and even tacitly approved of it. That meant that the emperor also distrusted his son. But from another perspective, the emperor's trust in Prince Chu could be described as the kind of trust that was kept secret from him.

Gu Qingwan didn't ask any more questions. These kinds of things are best left unsaid; they can only be understood intuitively. Now that things have come to this, what is there to be unclear about? She had seen through the princes in her previous life. The second prince was definitely not as harmless as he appeared, only knowing how to dig and plant vegetables while also displaying a cowardly and henpecked attitude.

But isn't the Second Prince afraid that his haste this time will make the Third Prince realize that his previous behavior was all an act?

"Your sister thought she had done everything perfectly, but someone with ulterior motives already knew about it."

"Someone with ulterior motives?" Gu Qingwan pondered for a moment before asking, "Is it the Second Prince or the Third Prince?"

"The Second Prince may seem harmless, but if he wants to do something on his territory, especially using people from his own household, how could they not know?"

"You mean, the Second Prince already knew all along, and was just going with the flow? If I knocked him out... wouldn't I have been exposed?" Gu Qingwan was a little alarmed. Being exposed so early wouldn't be very helpful for what she was going to do later.

"Now you're scared?" Xiao Jingchen chuckled softly, stood up, and walked to the door to leave. "He didn't know it was you."

Gu Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief and stood up by the bed: "Your Highness, please wait. Regardless, thank you for your help today."

Xiao Jingchen stopped and turned to look at the young woman in front of him. She was intelligent but also unpredictable, giving off a sense of danger yet making people unable to resist getting closer.

Gu Hanjiao's status as the "most talented woman in the capital" has been shaken at this flower appreciation banquet. Even though the subsequent scandalous incident covered it up, it still doesn't change the fact that she is the leading lady. Now, no one should be willing to marry such a daughter-in-law as Gu Hanjiao, so her only choice is to marry Xiao Yuheng.

Marry Xiao Yuheng? A hint of sarcasm crept onto Gu Qingwan's lips. In her past life, she couldn't give Gu Hanjiao a grand wedding, so of course she wouldn't give her that chance in this life either. Her disgrace was just the beginning. Next, her prime minister father should remember that he even had a daughter like her.

However, if Gu Hanjiao hadn't been so dark and despicable, her talent would have been exceptional. Every line of her poems could be considered a classic, surpassing the works of countless scholars and intellectuals.

"Tell me, how is my sister doing now?" Gu Qingwan asked softly to the person next to her.

"Tomorrow, you can send your maid out to inquire and you'll find out." Xiao Jingchen stood up and straightened his sleeves.

"Forget it, this is nothing, I need to stay calm," Gu Qingwan muttered to herself.

"In any case, you should still be careful. I won't be in the capital recently."

"Where are you going?" Gu Qingwan blurted out, but then felt it was inappropriate. Did her royal uncle need to report to her, a mere woman, where he wanted to go?

"Western Mountain."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jingchen still told Gu Qingwan. This was originally an extremely confidential matter, but Xiao Jingchen trusted her unconditionally.

"If you need anything, go to the steward at the Chu Prince's residence or send someone to the brothel." After giving these instructions, the Chu Prince turned to leave.