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

The Prime Minister's Ancestral Hall.

Since her last return, Gu Hanjiao has been punished by being made to copy scriptures in the ancestral hall to apologize to the ancestors. The old lady also said that she had to copy them a hundred times for each ancestor, and she was not allowed to leave until she finished.

Gu Hanjiao sat there copying, glancing at the memorial tablet behind her and unable to suppress a sarcastic smile.

"Hmph, copy it a hundred times for each ancestor? I wonder if any of the ancestors could afford it."

The Gu family only rose to prominence with Gu's father's generation. There were only a few ancestors that could be remembered. If it weren't for the fact that all the prominent families in the capital had ancestral halls, her father wouldn't have built one in the mansion for the sake of face.

"Miss, please say less, lest someone overhear," Qiu Shuang said anxiously as she took the food out of the food box for Gu Hanjiao.

"Hmph, who's going to listen? Who dares to listen!" Gu Hanjiao frowned as she looked at the food that had been brought over: "Is this fit for human consumption?"

Seeing the cold look in Gu Hanjiao's eyes, Qiu Shuang couldn't help but tremble and said in a stammering voice, "Yes, it was Madam who told Miss to eat like this first."

"My mother?" Gu Hanjiao looked at Qiu Shuang suspiciously.

"Yes, Madam said that Miss hasn't been eating or drinking well these past few days. The ancestral hall is gloomy and cold, so it's understandable that she might not be able to stand it..."

Gu Hanjiao understood immediately. She picked up a bowl of porridge, stirred it with a spoon, and asked, "Thank you for your hard work. By the way, how is Chunlu?"

“Chunlu…” Qiushuang choked up a little: “Chunlu failed to protect her mistress and was almost crippled by the beating, but thankfully she survived and is out of danger. It’s just that she can’t serve by your side for the time being.”

Gu Hanjiao paused, realizing that her father had finally vented his anger on that little girl; what a pity.

"Go and tell Chunlu that she did a poor job. Even if Father doesn't punish her, I will. But let her take good care of herself. Once she's fully recovered, she can come back to my side."

"On behalf of Chunlu, Qiushuang thanks Miss for her great kindness. Chunlu will be extremely grateful." However, a hint of resentment flickered in Qiushuang's meek eyes.

She and Chunlu grew up together, and they knew what kind of person the young lady was. If Chunlu hadn't been lucky this time, she probably... even if she recovered, with the scars on her body, how could she ever marry into a good family?

When Qiu Shuang relayed the message, Gu Hanjiao still didn't eat anything. Having grown accustomed to fine food, how could she stomach such bland and watery soup?

Gu Ziming was in his study listening to his servants report the rumors circulating outside, and he was so angry that he smashed two teacups.

The last one landed directly at the feet of the lady who had just entered, startling her so much that she quickly withdrew her foot.

Seeing Gu Ziming's furious face, Wang Ruyan knew things were going badly, but since everyone had already arrived, she had no choice but to continue.

When Gu Ziming saw his wife arrive, he knew she had come about their daughter, so he waved for the servant to leave.

"Master, why are you so angry?" Wang Ruyan knew that she needed to lower herself and ask Gu Ziming for his forgiveness at this time, so she bent down and picked up the broken teacup.

Seeing that she was as gentle and understanding as before, Gu Ziming felt a little better: "Why are you doing these things? Let the servants do them."

Seeing Gu Ziming sitting on the stool, Wang Ruyan went behind him and massaged his shoulders. Xue Niang and the others understood and quickly tidied up, closing the door behind them as they left.

"My lord, I know you've been angry with our daughter lately. It's my fault for not disciplining her properly and causing you trouble."

As Wang Ruyan spoke, tears streamed down her face: "I devoted myself entirely to you, my lord, never imagining that our children would grow up and have their own thoughts. How time flies..."

Hearing this, Gu Ziming was also somewhat emotional. Yes, time waits for no one. In the blink of an eye, his children had grown up and had their own thoughts, and he himself was getting older. The Gu family had only just begun to prosper, and such wealth could not end in his generation.

Gu Ziming patted his wife's hand: "How could I not understand what you mean? I watched Jiao'er grow up. Although she is a bit spoiled, she is a good child. This time, I was angry at the Third Prince."

"The Third Prince? What happened to him?"

"Don't tire yourself out, have a seat." Gu Ziming took a sip of the tea that his wife had poured before slowly speaking: "The servant just told me that everyone in the teahouses and restaurants is talking about Jiao'er's work as the first female genius and what happened that day, but there's been no movement from the Third Prince. Could it be that ruining Jiao'er's reputation would benefit him?"

"The rumors of Jiao'er's plagiarism haven't died down yet? That shouldn't be the case..."

"Not only is it not over, but some people are saying that Qingwan was jealous of her sister and smeared her! That's utter nonsense. That wretched girl... let's not even talk about her. I don't know who's trying to take advantage of this situation to suppress me. The censors in the court are all impeaching me for misconduct within the inner palace!"

She had someone spread the rumor to divert everyone's attention, but it had no effect whatsoever. Thinking of this, Wang Ruyan's eyes flickered.

"And Jiao'er! What's wrong with her! I tested her before, and she was quite talented, so how come all her poems are copied?"

Gu Ziming felt a pang of pain at the mention of this. Now, not only were people questioning Gu Hanjiao, but even he, the former top scholar and now the prime minister, was being questioned about his talent. Yet, he couldn't say anything. Was he supposed to stand up and let everyone test him? Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock?

"Don't be angry, sir." Wang Ruyan quickly stepped forward to help him soothe his chest.

Wang Ruyan came prepared today, and her attire was very particular. As soon as they got close, Gu Ziming smelled a refreshing scent that was indescribably pleasant and made him want to take another sniff.

He squinted and saw that the lady who was bending down to soothe him was wearing a large expanse of white skin showing through her clothes from his angle. She was dressed so elegantly on the outside, but so alluring on the inside. This contrast instantly aroused Gu Ziming's body.

He immediately pulled Wang Ruyan into his arms.

"Oh, my lord!" Wang Ruyan nestled close to him, "You startled me."

"What are you afraid of with me here?" Gu Ziming's hands were restlessly kneading the body in his arms.

It's strange, though. Although Wang Ruyan has had two children, she is still young and has maintained her appearance well. Most importantly, she is resourceful and humble, which makes Gu Ziming unable to resist her charm.

This is the behavior of a concubine; a lady of a respectable family would never stoop to such shamelessness.

But according to Wang Ruyan, as long as it works, it doesn't matter what method it takes.

While controlling her breathing, Wang Ruyan comforted her, "Perhaps it is really that the master's political enemies are jealous of the master's current career. The master personally guided my daughter's studies. How could there be plagiarism? It was copied from Yunjing. The master was full of vigor back then and is even more talented now. How could his children be bad? There are also quite a few who want to become the master's students. Those words are really ridiculous."

"Yes, that's what I think too."

After being flattered by Wang Ruyan, Gu Ziming was completely disoriented. Without thinking twice, he dragged his wife into the study and did *that* thing.

It was as if the person who had just been so angry and heartbroken was no longer him.

After a night of passion, Gu Ziming was in high spirits. Seeing the woman whose lips were slightly swollen, eyes were watery, and body was limp on the bed, unable to get up, he felt virile and proud.

He stepped forward and embraced his wife, saying, "Don't worry, my dear wife, I will take care of our children."

"With you here, sir, I am not afraid. It's just that my darling has been pampered since childhood and now she is copying Buddhist scriptures in the ancestral hall without daring to rest for even a moment. I have seen her and she has lost weight."

"But letting her out now..."

"My lord, I have no intention of releasing Jiao'er. I just think that since it's almost the fifteenth, I'd like to take Jiao'er and the Buddhist scriptures she copied to the Qingquan Temple to make offerings to the True Man and Bodhisattva, and then burn them for our ancestors to bless our family with good fortune."

Seeing the woman in his arms pleading so pitifully, Gu Ziming's heart softened immediately.

"That's good. At least it can slowly salvage Jiao'er's reputation. After all, a bad reputation for the Crown Princess is not good for Jiao'er either."

Wang Ruyan was pleasantly surprised: "Master! You!"

"Yes, just as Jiao'er said, I have no way out. Although this path is risky, it seems that the chances of winning are relatively high."

As the two were talking, Xue Niang suddenly came to deliver a message from outside.

"Master and Madam, something terrible has happened! Miss has fainted in the ancestral hall!"

"What! Quickly, get a doctor!"