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

Chapter 35 Flower Viewing Banquet (2)

The Second Prince's wife has this one bad habit: she wants to say something sarcastic to everyone she sees. If she encounters someone who flatters her, that's fine, but if she encounters someone who doesn't buy into her act, she can't help but show off with her words.

Seeing that she was not getting the approval of Madam Ning, the Second Prince's wife remained silent. Instead, she noticed a serene and beautiful young woman standing beside Madam Ning.

The girl smiled and clasped her hands in front of her; both her attire and posture were just right.

Not only did the Second Prince's wife see her, but everyone sitting in the hall also noticed her, because Gu Qingwan was a completely unfamiliar face.

"This must be Prime Minister Gu's eldest daughter, Qingwan, right?" An elderly lady, well past sixty, stepped down from the head seat, leaning on her cane and squinting as she sized up Gu Qingwan.

When Madam Ning saw that this old lady was none other than the mother of Marquis Yongyi, whose ancestors had also made military achievements, Madam Ning politely replied, "Madam, you've come too. This is indeed Prime Minister Gu's eldest daughter, Gu Qingwan. It's rare that you still remember her."

"Hehehe, it's not that I remember, it's just that this child looks somewhat like your mother-in-law when she was young, so I recognized her at a glance. How is my old sister doing? I'll visit her at your residence another day."

"Mother is doing well. If you have nothing to do, please come and visit us. Mother will be overjoyed."

Seeing that the other side had started chatting about everyday things, the Second Prince's Consort felt a little embarrassed and coughed twice. At this moment, Gu Qingwan stepped forward to greet her.

"This humble woman, Gu Qingwan, greets Your Highness the Crown Princess. I am new here and my manners are inadequate. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Seeing that Gu Qingwan was bowing and the Second Prince's Consort was acting coy again, she walked back to her seat before speaking.

"Get up. You're a stranger here, but don't be shy. Just learn from the ladies and have some fun with them, and you'll get to know them."

Just then, the Prime Minister's wife, Wang Ruyan, returned from the restroom. Everyone stared at her as soon as she entered, making her very uncomfortable. She couldn't help but glance at her clothes and touch her hair ornaments. She then gave Xue Niang a look. Xue Niang looked at the lady and, not noticing anything amiss, gently shook her head.

"What's going on? Why is everyone looking at me?" Wang Ruyan asked with a forced smile.

"Look at how frightened we've made the Prime Minister's wife, hehehe." The Second Prince's wife covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Like attracts like. Prime Minister's wife, come and see who's here."

Following a suggestion from her aunt in the palace, the Second Prince's wife decided to explore the Prime Minister's residence and the Duke's residence, and jokingly lured them in.

Wang Ruyan followed in with a blank expression. She saw a tall woman standing in the hall. The woman turned around to look at her and looked somewhat familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, she really didn't recognize her.

"Whose daughter is this? She is so beautiful. No wonder the Princess Consort recommended her to me. I was overjoyed when I saw her."

"Pfft!" Several ladies around couldn't help but laugh. When Wang Ruyan heard someone laughing at her, her face turned red, and she looked at the Second Prince's wife with some helplessness.

The Second Prince's wife hadn't expected that the Prime Minister's wife, as the head of the household, even though she was supposedly helped to rise to power, wouldn't even recognize the former emperor's legitimate daughter. How was she going to handle this situation?

It's no wonder Wang Ruyan didn't recognize Gu Qingwan. Ever since Gu Qingwan left the Prime Minister's residence, she has never returned. At first, her father would come to see her, but later he stopped coming altogether. He would send people with some gifts during festivals to send her away. So even if the Prime Minister stood in front of Gu Qingwan, he might not be able to recognize that she was his own daughter.

Secondly, Gu Qingwan looks more like Old Madam Ning. Her mother is the kind of gentle and graceful woman, while she appears rather aloof and quiet, the kind of person who would be easily overlooked if she remained silent.

"It's been a long time, Madam. Qingwan was very young when she left, so it's normal that you don't recognize her," Gu Qingwan explained gently as she stepped forward.

Gu Qingwan did not need to bow to Wang Ruyan, because she was the daughter of the principal wife, while Wang Ruyan, even if she was promoted to the principal wife, could not change the fact that she was a concubine, so there was no need for her to bow to a concubine.

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister's wife was struck dumb. Could it be Gu Qingwan standing in front of her? How could she be here? And in front of so many noble ladies, she, as the legal wife, hadn't even recognized the only daughter left by her ex-husband. This showed how much she disliked Gu Qingwan. They already looked down on her, and now this was even more disgraceful. What should she do?

"Qingqingwan..."

"Sister, you're here too!" Just as the Prime Minister's wife was at a loss and hadn't reacted yet, Gu Hanjiao's voice came from outside.

Gu Hanjiao originally wanted to bump into the Third Prince outside, but her mother came to her and told her that she should be more reserved. With so many people here today, she didn't want to give anyone a handle to gossip about. If she wanted to be a royal wife, her reputation was the most important thing.

But as soon as she reached the door, she heard Gu Qingwan speaking. Gu Hanjiao thought to herself, "Oh no!" Although her mother had often heard her mention Gu Qingwan, she had never actually met her. She quickly went in to help her mother out of the predicament.

"Sister, you've been back in the capital for so many days. I've wanted to come to you several times to discuss coming together, but I didn't expect you to come first. Mother has been so worried about you while you've been away. She even prepared your clothes and put them in your bedroom in the main courtyard," Gu Hanjiao said happily, hugging Gu Qingwan's arm.

Upon hearing this, everyone began to speculate. They had heard that Gu Qingwan had been taken away by Old Madam Ning long ago, and later taken to the border by the Duke. She had not returned to the capital for a long time, and they had indeed never seen this Miss Gu attend any banquets or events before. If that was the case, it was understandable that they would not recognize her after so many years.

Furthermore, judging from Miss Gu's words, Miss Gu has been back in the capital for many days, but she has not yet gone home to pay her respects to her father, which is truly wrong. Even if she is being raised by Old Madam Ning, she should not forget her own father.

Although this Prime Minister's wife was promoted from a concubine to the principal wife, she seems to treat her former daughter very well. She even gave up the main courtyard and thought of her in everything. That's quite commendable.

"Yes, Qingwan, you've grown so much and become even more beautiful. Come home with me later. Your father misses you very much and often talks about you."

When Madam Ning heard that this mother and daughter were trying to smear her own Wanwan, how could she tolerate it? Of course not, she immediately grasped Gu Qingwan's hand and responded.

"Madam Prime Minister, what are you saying? My mother hasn't been feeling well lately. She really misses her only granddaughter. Everyone knows that when our Wanwan first came to the Duke's mansion, she was as thin as a kitten. She fell into the water and lost her mother. She almost didn't make it."

Madam Ning wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and continued.

"Fortunately, my father met some wandering immortals outside and took them away to recuperate for many years before his health improved. I don't ask for anything else, I just hope that my child can be safe and sound."

"Madam Ning, don't be sad. This child will be blessed. Now that you're finally back, take the child out for walks more often, just to help him relax," Madam Ningyuan said, stepping forward to comfort him.