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

Chapter 54 The mantis stalks the cicada

Gu Qingwan watched as the Prince of Chu walked out of the door with an air of nonchalance, and suddenly felt a little helpless. This was the Duke's mansion, and there should have been guards there, yet he ignored it like this.

Although she disliked having someone keep watch over her at night, feeling it was inhumane, and her martial arts skills were sufficient to protect herself, even with Siqi, the most skilled of the four maids, and Ning Yi at the door, they couldn't do anything to him.

As expected, Siqi was sleeping. Although the others didn't keep watch for their young lady, they took turns arranging for someone to sleep in the side room next to her. If the young lady needed anything, she could pull the rope at the head of the bed, and the bell in the side room would ring, although the bell rarely rang.

Tonight, Siqi was half asleep when she heard voices coming from her mistress's room. Thinking it was her mistress calling her, she got up to go in and see what was going on. But as soon as she got to the door, she saw a guard come down from the roof beam and block her way, which immediately dispelled all of Siqi's drowsiness.

Just as they were about to engage in a fierce battle, they saw their young mistress's door open, and the King of Chu walked out from inside with an air of nonchalance.

"Your martial arts skills are alright, but they're still not enough to keep up with your young lady." After giving his brief comments, the King of Chu led Xiao Yi and disappeared into the night.

Siqi was stunned and forgot to greet him. By the time she came to her senses, the King of Chu was nowhere to be seen.

Siqi rushed in: "Miss, are you alright?"

"nothing."

Seeing that her young mistress was unharmed, Siqi felt a pang of remorse and quickly knelt down: "Miss, it was my negligence that allowed an outsider into your boudoir."

"It's alright." Gu Qingwan stepped forward to help Siqi up. "You did a very good job. In fact, even I didn't notice."

"Ah? Your Highness's kung fu... is truly unfathomable."

"So there's no need to stop him from coming in the future. King Chu... will not harm me after all."

“But he is a man after all, and Miss said she can’t beat him… what if…” Siqi was still worried and squatted down in front of Gu Qingwan’s knees, saying, “Miss, can you let me sleep next to your footstool from now on?”

"I know you're worried about me, but it's alright. Although your young lady can't beat him in theory, maybe in a real fight she won't let him gain the upper hand," Gu Qingwan comforted Siqi, stroking her head. "Besides, we're allies of the Prince now. He won't harm me, never..."

As Gu Qingwan's voice grew softer and softer, Siqi could barely hear or understand what she was saying, but she always believed everything her mistress said.

Come to think of it, the young lady may seem like a refined lady who can't lift a finger, but the other girls know exactly what her fighting skills are like, it's practically... a bit abnormal.

After this incident, Siqi secretly resolved to practice her martial arts diligently and to keep watch for Gu Qingwan. Gu Qingwan didn't say much; she knew Siqi was somewhat saddened by her dereliction of duty. Although she comforted her, Siqi still couldn't get over it, so she let it go.

Gu Qingwan lay on the bed, pondering. Xiao Jingchen was right. Xiao Yuheng did like Gu Hanjiao very much, but Gu Hanjiao had no one else behind her except the Prime Minister's Mansion. Even the Imperial Concubine might not be willing to swallow this unripe date. Back then, Xiao Yuheng had gone to great lengths to get close to her because he was interested in her background. In this life, there was no guarantee that Xiao Yuheng wouldn't be so despicable. It was best to be careful.

Thinking of Xiao Yuheng, Gu Qingwan secretly regretted not using a strong drug to render him impotent, and then seeing how despicable he could be.

While Gu Qingwan was secretly plotting how to deal with Xiao Yuheng next, the Third Prince, lying on the bed, sneezed. His body was already covered in wounds, and the sneeze made the pain even worse.

"Third Prince, should we summon the imperial physician?" The servant beside him hurried forward, but dared not touch the Third Prince.

"It's nothing, the physician has examined me, it's just a superficial wound." Xiao Yuheng's gentle and refined demeanor was long gone, replaced by ruthlessness.

Xiao Yuheng also felt wronged. He was inexplicably tricked at today's flower viewing banquet. He originally thought that Gu Hanjiao was the woman he liked, so he could accept being tricked.

But now, Gu Hanjiao's reputation is ruined. Marrying him as his principal wife would only bring him shame and no glory. But fortunately, the Prime Minister's mansion is still there. By marrying the Prime Minister's daughter, he can say that he has won over half of the civil officials in the court.

But Mother Consort is right. Since meeting Gu Qingwan, she is no less beautiful than Gu Hanjiao. Moreover, she is not only the Prime Minister's first wife and legitimate daughter, but also the only granddaughter of the Duke of Ningguo's family. Marrying her is more advantageous than marrying Gu Hanjiao, as she is accomplished in both literature and martial arts.

Even now, Gu Qingwan's elegant and vibrant figure still lingers in my mind. Such a bright and beautiful woman is rare in the capital. Compared to Gu Hanjiao, Gu Hanjiao is like a flower grown in a pot. Although she is beautiful, she is delicate and somewhat petty. Gu Qingwan is different. She is like a flower blooming on the grassland, full of vitality.

Xiao Yuheng seemed to regret it a little. He should have listened to his mother's arrangement. However, it was not too late. As long as his father had not decided that Gu Hanjiao would be the principal wife, there was still a glimmer of hope. Although it would be difficult to marry both of the Prime Minister's daughters at the same time, Gu Hanjiao had ruined her reputation this time. Being a concubine would be just as good.

Before he could even finish his calculations on the palace road, he was suddenly covered in a sack and beaten as soon as he stepped out of the palace gate. The man was incredibly strong, and every blow hit his sore spot. After being beaten unconscious, he was thrown near his residence, and even his personal guards were sent away. It was definitely not the work of an ordinary person. Once he recovers and we find out, I'll definitely skin him alive!

"Laiwang! Get in here! This prince is in so much pain!" Xiao Yuheng yelled.

Xiao Jingchen climbed over Gu Qingwan's courtyard wall, and there was a black carriage waiting by the roadside outside the wall, blending into the night.

"master."

"How are things going?"

"He's already been knocked unconscious by his subordinates and thrown back. He won't dare to leave the house for at least ten days or half a month."

"Hmph, daring to make a fuss here, you've really grown up. You should also investigate the Second Prince; I don't think he's as simple and cowardly as he seems."

"Don't worry, Master. Shall we go back now?"

"go back."

The only sounds in the quiet night were the wheels and hooves, which seemed somewhat abrupt, but no one noticed them in the dead of night.