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

Chapter 274 Gentleness Makes Her Presence Again

"What? Isn't Caizhuangge Gu Hanjiao's dowry shop? What does it have to do with Mother Consort? Did Gu Hanjiao know about this? Did she do it?"

Xiao Yuheng's barrage of questions left Consort Yu's head spinning.

"Oh, don't rush me. How can I answer so many questions?"

"What time is it? How can I not be anxious!"

Consort Yu frowned and said, "It wasn't her. This shop originally belonged to her, but later she gave my mother a portion of the shares."

"I know that. Jiao'er discussed it with me beforehand, saying that since Mother likes the products in the cosmetics store, she might as well give Mother a portion of the shares. But this only means that you can receive some dividends and use the products for free."

"That was the first time. The second time, Gu Hanjiao gave Mother some shares."

Xiao Yuheng thought for a moment, but couldn't remember, so he simply stopped thinking about it: "When was that?"

"It's because Gu Hanjiao's father was dismissed from his official post, and Gu Hanjiao went from being the principal wife to a secondary wife. She was worried that we would look down on her status in the end, so at my suggestion, she gave me some more of the shares she held..."

Consort Yu's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, and she felt a little guilty. It was indeed a bit like taking advantage of someone's misfortune, but at the time she really didn't want her outstanding son to marry a woman of such status. Gu Hanjiao saw through her intentions and readily gave him half of the shares she held.

In this way, Consort Yu became the biggest boss, while Gu Hanjiao became a small boss who reaped the benefits but had virtually no say.

Xiao Yuheng clenched his fists tightly. "Isn't the money the Yu family gives you enough? Isn't the money I give you enough? There's also the monthly allowance from the palace, and the tributes from below. Isn't that enough for Mother Consort?"

"Enough? How could it be enough? If it were enough, why would I need Gu Hanjiao's shop!" Consort Yu's temper flared up, and her voice rose.

Xiao Yuheng sneered: "Heh, Mother Consort, you're all alone in this palace. Besides, you have your younger sister. You two women don't need that much money."

Xiao Yuheng really couldn't understand it. Now that he had come of age and moved out, his mother no longer needed to pave the way for him with money like before. He didn't need his mother to take care of the fine clothes and delicacies in the palace. Even if he occasionally liked something, he would get it for his mother and sister as long as they asked.

He couldn't understand why his mother spent money so lavishly.

"You heartless little ingrate! Who have I been scheming for all these years! You say I spend money like water, and it's true I spend money like water, but isn't it all for your sake, you and your siblings? You need money outside, but don't you need it inside the palace?"

Consort Yu was so angry that she paced around in a frenzy.

"From the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress to the eunuchs and palace maids, which one doesn't need money to bribe? And those court officials you've cultivated outside, they have connections in the palace. If you can make them even more subservient to you, shouldn't you take care of their connections in the palace and keep an eye on them? And the noblewomen who come to the palace to pay their respects, every time they leave, I make sure they leave with their hands full, never empty-handed. Tell me, does all this money fall from the sky?!"

Xiao Yuheng fell silent, and the hall suddenly became quiet for a long time.

However, the news spread throughout the palace that the Third Prince, accompanied by his new bride, went to pay his respects to the Imperial Concubine and got into a heated argument with her.

Soon, the King of Chu's informant also relayed the message to him, and the two of them had roughly guessed the whole story.

"It seems that Gu Hanjiao set this up," Gu Qingwan said with certainty.

"It should be that Gu Hanjiao resented Consort Yu for taking her things but not doing anything for her, so she resorted to this trick. Doesn't Consort Yu think that Gu Hanjiao is a good person? The reason she was willing to give up such great benefits was because Consort Yu promised Gu Hanjiao the position of the principal wife."

Gu Qingwan was speechless. Could a mere concubine really control the position of the principal wife? Even the empress might not have such confidence.

"Gu Hanjiao's brain can be quite useful at times, but it can also be quite perplexing when it's not."

Xiao Yuheng helped her tighten her cloak. "Forget about those two idiots. It's almost the end of the year. Let's watch fireworks together then. What kind do you like?"

"Any kind is fine, but this is the first time Your Highness and I have ever seen fireworks, so we're really looking forward to it. Speaking of fireworks..."

Gu Qingwan seemed to suddenly remember something, and a flash of inspiration struck her. She was somewhat annoyed that she had forgotten such an important thing!

"Your Majesty!"

Startled by Gu Qingwan's anxiety, he had never seen her so nervous before. He quickly asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? If you are, we can go back to the manor. We don't necessarily have to have dinner with Mother."

Gu Qingwan realized what was happening and shook her head, saying, "I was too nervous. It's alright. Let's go have dinner with Mother first. I'll tell you after we finish eating and go back. This isn't the place to talk."

Xiao Jingchen nodded in agreement and, holding Gu Qingwan's hand, led her step by step into the Empress Dowager's Longevity Palace.

The palace servants saw the two walking side by side. King Chu didn't seem to care that the woman was walking beside him. Sometimes, if they encountered an injustice, King Chu would help the queen across first, and then he would protect her closely from behind.

Seeing how good the relationship between the prince and princess is, everyone can't help but feel a little envious.

Such a scene naturally reached Wenrou's ears, and Wenrou immediately broke the hairpin in her hand.

She received word that the King of Chu would be having dinner with the Empress Dowager today, which meant she would see him again—a rare opportunity indeed! So she had already begun preparations.

She personally went to the kitchen to oversee the preparation of the dishes for the prince, and personally arranged the tea that the prince liked to drink. After arranging everything, she quickly returned to change into new clothes and dress up again.

Wenrou stared blankly at the broken plum blossom hairpin in her hand for a while. Xiaoxin, seeing this, naturally knew what was wrong with her young mistress. She scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat! Can't you see that the young mistress is getting ready?"

"Please forgive me, Miss! Please forgive me!" The little palace maid knelt on the ground and begged for forgiveness. She had thought that Miss Wen would reward her for delivering the news of the King of Chu to her, but she hadn't expected to upset Miss Wen. How unlucky she was!

Wenrou snapped out of her daze, her eyes flickered as she looked at the palace maid, and said with a smile, "Get up. Thank you for coming to tell me. Xiaoxin, you personally escort this palace maid away and give her a box of loose silver. Take it and buy a pearl hairpin."

Just when the little palace maid thought that everything she had done last time had gone down the drain, she was surprised to find that Miss Wen was so generous. She thanked her profusely and followed Xiao Xin out to receive her reward.

Wenrou regained her previous calm and continued to dress with anticipation and joy on her face. After she finished dressing, she put on her signature smile and went to the main hall to arrange the dishes.

The Empress Dowager was very pleased and her attitude towards Gu Qingwan improved even more. Ever since Gu Qingwan married the Prince of Chu, the Prince and his wife would come to her place to have lunch whenever they entered the palace, which made her very happy.

This meal seemed very strange to others, but the person involved didn't think so.

Throughout the entire process, Miss Wen acted like a maid, or rather, not quite a maid. Judging from her clothes and appearance, she seemed like the Empress Dowager's own daughter-in-law, serving dishes to the Empress Dowager.

"Good child, I have said long ago that you don't need to do such things. Let the palace maids do it. You should sit down and eat properly."

Granny Chang stepped forward to take the serving chopsticks from Wenrou's hands. "Yes, Miss Wen, it's fine for me to do it. You've been busy all morning, please eat quickly."

"Aunt, you're being too polite. Rou'er knows what you like to eat, so naturally I want to do everything myself. Your Highness, please try this soup that Rou'er made this morning. It's a medicinal soup. In previous years, Your Highness was always fighting on the battlefield and suffered countless injuries, big and small. Your Highness should take good care of your health and not let the Ancient Tomb worry."

As she spoke gently, she served soup to the King of Chu, acting like a wife caring for her husband. She treated the Empress Dowager more like a mother-in-law, overshadowing the proper Queen Consort of Chu, who seemed to be the guest visiting the palace.

Having been immersed in the harem for so many years, the Empress Dowager naturally saw that Wenrou had not given up. However, now that Gu Qingwan was the Princess Consort of Chu, the matter was settled and there was no room for change.

Moreover, the King of Chu had already blocked all avenues to the inner court in the late emperor's edict. Even if she shamelessly pressed her way in, at most she could only send in a few palace maids, just like last time, without daring to give them any official titles.

However, Wenrou is the legitimate daughter of the Wen family, and she absolutely cannot become a concubine; that would be a slap in the face to the Wen family and to her.

The King of Chu stared at the bowl of soup in Wenrou's hand, frowned, and did not take it. He simply said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Wen, but I do not like it."

After she finished speaking, the air fell silent, except for Gu Qingwan, who was still leisurely eating.

Xiao Xin couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, please give it a try. Our young lady knew Your Highness was coming, so she prepared the ingredients last night and got up before dawn this morning to make the soup. Look at our young lady's hands, they've been scalded and blistered."

"Shin-chan! Why did you have to be so talkative!" Wenrou scolded angrily.

Shin-chan was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and dared not say another word.

With gentle hands, she held a bowl of soup and offered it to Xiao Jingchen. If he didn't accept it at this moment, the Empress Dowager might become somewhat displeased.

At this moment, a pair of fair hands reached out from the side and took the soup from Wenrou's hands. Everyone looked over the soup bowl and saw that it was none other than Gu Qingwan. She picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and drank it by herself.

After finishing her drink, she took a sip and said, "Miss Wen, this soup is indeed cooked perfectly, but the color is still a little lacking. However, as a lady from a prominent family, it is already quite good that you have done this well. Granny Chang, please serve Mother a bowl to try. It is just right now, neither too hot nor too cold."

"Yes, yes, yes, I've been wanting soup lately, and luckily we have some now. Granny Chang, quickly bring me a bowl."

“Miss Wen, please sit down quickly. This is not customary in the Empress Dowager’s household. In families like ours, it is not customary for young ladies to serve food. I heard that last time, Madam Wen went to the Empress Dowager’s palace to cry and complain that the Empress Dowager does not care about you and makes you do chores. Madam Wen is reluctant to do so even at home. Please sit down quickly.”

Gu Qingwan's words reminded the Empress Dowager that her brother had indeed questioned her like a shrew, as if she had mistreated Wenrou, which made her angry just thinking about it.

"Your Highness is too kind. Rou'er has served Mother at home before." Wenrou withdrew her hand and clenched it tightly inside her sleeve.

"Oh my, you're the eldest daughter of the main wife, and you still have to do such things at home? That really broadens my horizons. Before you got married, when we played together, we never heard of Miss Wen being so filial. If we had known, she would definitely be a role model for us all." Gu Qingwan said this casually while drinking her soup.

Wenrou was already angry that Gu Qingwan had ruined things. She had been waiting for the Prince of Chu to take the bowl from her hands. That way, Gu Qingwan would feel a little uncomfortable. When she felt uncomfortable, she would act up. Once or twice, the Prince of Chu would find it novel, but after a while, he would get annoyed. Wenrou, on the other hand, would subtly and quietly convey her feelings to the Prince.

But the prince didn't respond. If she continued, she would only embarrass herself. Just as she was about to pretend to stumble and fall into the prince's arms, Gu Qingwan reached out her hand.