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

"Sister Yanran, what's with that expression?" Gu Qingwan patted Meng Yanran: "I've been staying at home every day. Even though I'm not under house arrest, I've only just returned to the capital. I haven't had a chance to go out and see the city yet."

"That's true. You just got back. It's okay. Once Qingwan is able to go out again, I'll take you around. Don't be sad."

"Alright, then I'll wait for Sister Yanran. Baoqin, bring in the pastries Ruhua made." Gu Qingwan refilled her teacup. "Sister, you mentioned Gu Hanjiao earlier, what happened to her?"

"Oh yes, yes, it's so lively." Meng Yanran saw that the pastries Baoqin brought were very exquisite and she didn't seem to have seen them before, so she picked them up and ate them.

"You have no idea how lively it is outside. Recently, the teahouses have been talking about how Gu Hanjiao, the most talented woman, plagiarized someone else's poems..."

Inside the teahouse.

Gu Hanjiao is known as the most talented woman, and her incident at the flower-viewing banquet has long been the subject of gossip and teasing among the young men.

"If you ask me, Miss Gu could never be that kind of person. She's so beautiful and her talent is something we've both witnessed over the years."

"Not necessarily. You can know a person's face but not their heart. Someone who is good-looking may just be a pretty face. After all, the poems at the flower-viewing banquet came from brothels."

"Oh dear, I just don't know what a young lady from a respectable family would do in a place like that."

"Hehehe, what else can I do? I'm thinking of learning something to win over the Third Prince."

Immediately, the men flashed lewd smiles that were nauseating to hear.

"This is an insult to civility! How could Miss Gu be the kind of person you're talking about!" Gu Hanjiao still has many die-hard fans, and they immediately objected when they heard them insulting their goddess.

"Exactly! Maybe it's just jealousy. Wasn't there a rumor a while ago that Miss Gu was jealous of her sister's talent and had her maid spread rumors everywhere?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingwan immediately understood. Even if they were covered in filth, the mother and daughter would still try to get close to her.

"That's utter nonsense! My young lady is not that kind of person!" Baoqin said angrily.

"Yes, these people must have heard these rumors from who-knows-where. Qingwan, don't be sad," Meng Yanran comforted Gu Qingwan while eating.

Gu Qingwan shook her head and said, "I'm not sad. What happened next?"

"What happened next was even more interesting!"

They overheard these die-hard fans of Gu Hanjiao still defending her, and even dragged in Miss Gu, who had just returned to Beijing.

"We don't know what kind of person Miss Gu is now that she's just returned to the capital, but since she's just returned, we can't let everyone in the capital believe such rumors."

"Wake up, my aunt's brother's brother and his family were helping out at the Prince's residence during the flower viewing banquet. They said it themselves, and it's exactly what we said."

"Everyone knows Miss Gu's poems by heart, and her famous work was written on the spot based on a given topic. If it were fake, how could it be done so quickly?"

"If you slander Miss Gu again, I'll beat you to death!"

"Who's afraid of who! How can you do something without people talking about it? You even dare to hit me! I'm not someone to be trifled with!" With that, the man rolled up his sleeves and raised his fist at the other man.

At this moment, the old fortune teller sitting in the inconspicuous corner spoke up and asked, "Young friends, young friends, there's no need for such formalities when it comes to making money through harmony."

Hearing the sound, the crowd parted to make way, and an elderly gentleman with an air of otherworldly grace walked over.

"I'm quite curious to hear that you young friends are making such a fuss over a young lady's poem. I've traveled all over the country for most of my life and I've never heard of any poem that would cause such a stir. I wonder if any of you young friends could enlighten me?"

"Please have a seat, sir." The young man, who had just rolled up his sleeves, politely invited the old man to sit at his table. "Sir, you must be from out of town and not familiar with our affairs here."

After that, the people present took turns reciting Gu Hanjiao's amazing poems over the years.

The old man's expression first showed surprise, then he stroked his beard and shook his head with a smile.

"Why are you shaking your head, sir?" someone couldn't resist asking out of curiosity.

"This..." The old man hesitated, glancing at everyone.

"Just tell me what's on your mind."

"This poem was indeed copied."

The old man's words immediately caused an uproar.

"You old white-bearded Taoist priest, watch out if you dare to spout nonsense!"

"What! When did it become your place to call the shots in the capital?!" The man who had just rolled up his sleeves immediately stood next to the old gentleman.

"My friends, please don't argue. I'm not talking nonsense. Let me finish speaking before you make a decision."

"That's right, there might be a reason why the old man said that."

"I've been traveling all over the world these past years. I'm sure you've all heard of the Cloud Realm in the west, haven't you?"

Cloud Realm is a place that all scholars yearn for. It is a very special place, far away in the mountains. It is not a country but a family called the Yun family.

The Yun family has produced several imperial tutors in the past, but no Yun family disciples have entered officialdom in recent years. However, the Yun family's private school is indeed a place that all students in the world yearn for. Those who come from there, even if they don't become the top scholar, can at least achieve some degree of academic success.

Unfortunately, the Cloud Realm, like its name, is very mysterious and difficult for ordinary people to find.

Seeing everyone's expressions, the old Taoist priest stroked his beard with great pride and said, "I was fortunate enough to stay in the Cloud Realm for a few days. The people there are simple and honest, and the academic atmosphere is evident everywhere. Even the youngest children can recite two or three poems."

"What does that have to do with Miss Gu's poetry?"

"Young friend, don't be impatient. We were just about to get to this point. Miss Gu's poems are exactly the nursery rhymes that children learn in their early years."

"what!"

"You're not making this up, are you?"

"Was the poetry the Yun family taught them to recite in their early years really this excellent?"

"That's the Yun family!"

This immediately caused a commotion, and everyone started discussing it amongst themselves.

"I know you all don't believe me. Just before I came here, I asked a friend for a copy of the poetry collection that they used to enlighten their children. Since you are all here, why don't you all see if this old Taoist priest is lying?"

After saying this, the old Taoist priest took out a small booklet from his bag and placed it on the table. He did not hand it to anyone but carefully turned the pages one by one.

Those in the front circle could see clearly, but those in the back couldn't. When they tried to ask the Taoist priest to let them see, he repeatedly refused.

"I only have this one copy. If you all pass it around and read it once, won't you ruin it?"

"No, no, we admire the Cloud Realm. Now that you have such a wonderful opportunity and such a fine item, please allow us to feast our eyes on it."

As Gu Qingwan watched Meng Yanran's vivid and engaging storytelling, as if she were actually there, she found it increasingly interesting to listen to herself.

"and after?"

"Later, the old Taoist still refused to circulate it to everyone, so he compromised by choosing two people to read it to everyone. What they heard was quite remarkable: Gu Hanjiao's works from previous years had all come from here."

Gu Qingwan smiled and held up her water glass: "Sister Yanran, have some water."

"It's not over yet!"

Baoqin came in carrying another pastry. "Miss Yanran, please try this hibiscus pastry. It's fresh out of the oven."

"Yes, Sister Yanran, have some water and tell me slowly. Let's eat and talk at the same time."

"Qingwan, your pastries are really good. Where did you buy them? I'll have my maid buy some to take back to the manor later."

"It wasn't bought, it was made in my little kitchen. Sister Yanran liked it, so I had someone wrap it up for you to take back with you before you left."

"Hmm, oh? Where was I?" Meng Yanran suddenly froze, then slapped her forehead. "Right, I was talking about that old Taoist priest."

Gu Qingwan and Baoqin smiled.

"Just like that, Gu Hanjiao's reputation as the number one talented woman in the capital was completely shattered. It turns out that it was all copied from Yunjing. They just thought we were too far away from Yunjing to know."

After a moment's thought, Gu Qingwan asked, "Is the poem that Gu Hanjiao wrote at the flower-viewing banquet also in that booklet?"