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

Gu Qingwan sat down on the armchair under the eaves and looked at the people in the courtyard. They were all rubbing their hands together and had different expressions. Some were worried, while others were ready to watch the show.

Although Gu Qingwan's gaze was indifferent, it made them feel a sense of pressure. Several people who were just watching the show and didn't care quietly shrank their necks, not daring to be the troublemaker.

Before long, no one in the courtyard dared to whisper to each other, and they waited quietly for Gu Qingwan's instructions.

Feeling that it was about time, Gu Qingwan slowly spoke: "I am new here and have inevitably acted rashly. Please forgive me. The Liu family father and son have been deceiving their superiors and doing shady things under the guise of my Gu family. My Gu family will never tolerate this. Last night, the Liu family father and son also tried to harm me."

"My God, has Liu Yuan lost his mind? How dare he plot against the master!" The people below exclaimed in shock.

"Don't panic, everyone. It was just a false alarm. I've already sent someone to the government office. From now on, you can live your lives as usual. The rent will still be collected at 30% as usual."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

Although the Liu family father and son were doing bad things under the name of the Ning family, Gu Qingwan wanted to clarify that the Liu family father and son had no connection with the Ning family. Although it was Xiao Yuheng who brought up this matter back then, it was uncertain whether the current emperor also had any doubts. Since they were working for the Gu family, it would be better to say it all so that everyone would understand.

"Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!"

"Don't thank me yet. I looked at the accounts on the estate yesterday, and it seems you've accumulated quite a bit of debt over the years." Gu Qingwan then had Shishu bring over the account books.

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak. Their mouths moved, but they didn't know how to explain to Gu Qingwan. Just then, Wang Dazhu stepped forward.

“Replying to Miss, our harvest has been poor these past two years. Liu Yuan and his son have been collecting far too much rent, increasing year by year. We don’t have the money to pay them, so they take our things. Sometimes when we’re sick and can’t afford medical treatment, we borrow money from them, but the exorbitant interest rates are higher than the principal. However, some people need medical care and have no choice but to borrow.” Wang Dazhu seemed to have touched on a painful topic, and his eyes suddenly reddened. “Of course, there are also those who can’t afford to borrow. For example, me… The year before last, my mother fell ill and we couldn’t afford medical treatment. Liu Jin said he wanted me to give him my younger sister as a concubine, but I refused. So he wouldn’t lend me any money, and my mother died of illness that winter.”

As she spoke, Wang Xiaohua wiped away her tears, moving everyone present who knew the inside story.

Are other people experiencing the same thing?

The people below nodded silently. Every one of them had been exploited and had cursed the Liu family father and son countless times behind their backs.

"Okay, I understand." Gu Qingwan took the account book from Shishu's hand, stood up, and at this moment Ning Er brought over a brazier and placed it in the courtyard.

“My mother used to manage this estate. After she left, I was too young and neglected to manage it. Now that I’m back, let bygones be bygones and start afresh. Since this messy account is already in the past, let’s not recalculate it.”

Ning Er took the account book and threw it into the brazier. Everyone watched as the flames in the brazier burned the account book that had kept them up at night. Soon it turned to ashes, and everyone felt that there was hope for the future.

"Today, I burned it in front of everyone. I hope you can start over without any psychological burden. Just farm and make a living. I will certainly not treat you unfairly. But if the Liu family father and son betray us again, don't blame me for not showing any mercy."

The crowd applauded and cheered, some even crying with emotion.

"Young Miss, who will manage the estate from now on?" someone asked from below.

"We do need a manager, and after thinking it over last night, I decided to choose Wang Dazhu's family."

"I?"

"Wang Dazhu, are you willing? But I have to tell you in advance that you need to sign a contract of servitude to manage this estate." Gu Qingwan looked at Wang Dazhu in the crowd.

Everyone was looking at Wang Dazhu. His sister, Wang Xiaohua, nudged her dazed brother. "Brother, brother, the young lady is asking you a question. Don't just stand there!"

"I...I'm willing, thank you for your kindness, Miss. I'm willing to sign this contract." Wang Dazhu knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Gu Qingwan.

"A death pact? Do you understand the meaning of a death pact?" Gu Qingwan asked.

"Young Miss has shown us siblings a life-saving grace, and we are willing to serve her for the rest of our lives!"

Gu Qingwan nodded. She would feel more at ease using a death contract if it were a contract of death.

"Does anyone else have something to say? Let's all say it here while I'm here."

The group looked at each other, having nothing more to say. They didn't care who was in charge; they would be more at ease if it were Wang Dazhu, since he was generally well-liked. The farmers didn't have any complaints, as long as no one bullied them.

"In that case, Shishu, go and arrange for Wang Dazhu to sign a death contract and report it to the government. Baoqin and Ningyi, you two also go and make preparations. We'll set off back to the capital soon."

"Thank you, Miss!"

From then on, everyone said that Miss Gu was courageous and resourceful, beautiful and kind-hearted. Whoever could marry Miss Gu would have no worries about managing the household. Of course, that's a story for later.

While waiting for everyone to pack their bags, Gu Qingwan led Ning Yi and Ning Er to a cellar at the back of the manor. The area was overgrown with weeds, and most people wouldn't know there was a cellar there.

"Ning Yi, go open it."

Several guards worked together to clear away the surrounding weeds, revealing the entrance to the cellar. Ning Yi opened the cellar door, and a musty smell wafted out. Ning Er held up a torch and shone it inside, peering out for a while.

"Miss, there seems to be something inside."

"Go down and have a look."

Ning Er nodded, picked up the torch, turned around and jumped down. Not long after, Ning Er's voice could be heard from below.

"Miss, there are several chests here, all filled with weapons, and two of them are full of silver."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingwan frowned. So early? She hadn't expected these things to be hidden here so early. Had this scheme begun so soon? Who was behind it all?

Was it the work of the Third Prince Xiao Yuheng or her father, the Prime Minister? These wolves have their eyes on the Ning family, this piece of fat meat, so early on.

"Ning Er, do you think there's a lot of stuff?"

Ning Er shone the torch around and saw that the boxes were all neatly arranged, and there were even empty spaces that had been cleared out, seemingly waiting for other boxes to be moved in and placed there.

"Replying to Miss, there aren't many things, but there aren't few either. It seems there are still some things that haven't been put in, because there's clean and empty space."

"What should we do, Miss? If the authorities find out that weapons are being secretly stored in the estate, the Duke will be in trouble." Ning Yi asked Gu Qingwan quietly, while carefully looking around to see if any suspicious people were nearby.

At this moment, Ning Er also came up from below.

"Ning Yi, this matter is of utmost importance. You will handle it personally in a moment. Ning Er, come here..."

Because of dealing with matters here, their departure was delayed. They had originally planned to return at dawn, but their journey was still delayed. When Gu Qingwan left, the tenants of the estate spontaneously came out to see her off, stuffing all the valuables they could find onto Gu Qingwan's carriage.

After entering the city that evening, Gu Qingwan leaned out of the carriage and took out a letter and a jade pendant that Xiao Jingchen had left for her the night before. "Ning Er, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip yourself. Find the Prince of Chu and give this to him. This is the token."

"Don't worry, miss."

"Go early and come back early. I'll be waiting for you at the Duke's mansion. Don't cause any trouble."

Having received Gu Qingwan's instructions, Ning Er deliberately slowed down and fell to the back of the group. Gu Qingwan's caravan deliberately took a detour around the city, as if they had forgotten the way home because they hadn't been back for a long time. Coincidentally, they passed by the Chu Prince's Mansion, and Ning Er gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Ning Er entered the Chu Prince's mansion through the side gate. The young lady had instructed him that the Chu Prince's mansion was full of traps and that he should not wander too far. She told him to enter through the side gate and not to resist anyone he encountered, but simply to take out the jade pendant.

Sure enough, upon entering, they encountered the butler. The butler's gaze upon the jade pendant was complex, shifting between dimming and joy, yet also showing some disappointment upon seeing Ning Er, a grown man.

Ning Er said somewhat embarrassedly, "Our young lady said she has something important to discuss."

When the steward heard that a young lady had come to see the Prince of Chu, he was overjoyed and quickly led Ning Er to the study to find Xiao Jingchen.