The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 12

The two women had been discussing state affairs when someone intruded, forcing them to hide. The more Zhang Mingqian thought about it, the angrier she became.

She glanced at Ming Yi, but before she could speak, the hall doors were pushed open. It was the Third Princess.

Zhang Mingqian met Ming Yi’s eyes and saw a flash of astonishment. Ming Yi, however, had a faint smile on her lips. She signaled for Zhang Mingqian to remain silent. Her expression remained cold and detached, as if she were a being far removed from the mortal world.

“Scholar Gu,” the Third Princess spoke softly, her gaze glued to Gu Jinse’s face. She was very young, only sixteen this year, looking like a blooming peony, breathtakingly beautiful.

Gu Jinse took two steps back, feeling an instinctive resistance toward the princess. She bowed and greeted her, “Gu Jinhuan, Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, greets Her Highness the Princess.”

“You will not be a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy much longer.” The Third Princess spoke arrogantly. Her dark hair was lustrous, and the rubies on her hairpins shimmered with a proud light as she moved. She continued, “Imperial Father has transferred you to the Eastern Palace to serve as the Assistant Minister of the Household. It is a sixth rank position.”

Zhang Mingqian was surprised. This was equivalent to labeling Gu Jinhuan as a member of the Crown Prince’s faction. Ming Yi sneered inwardly. The Emperor’s calculations were quite clever. She shook her head toward Zhang Mingqian in a silent pity.

Gu Jinse was stunned. This was a promotion in rank but a demotion in influence. An Assistant Minister might be sixth rank, higher than a seventh rank Hanlin official, but a Hanlin official was close to the Emperor. An Assistant Minister served the Crown Prince. The gap in actual power was vast.

Did the Third Princess have no brains? Could she not see this was a demotion? What an idiot.

“Scholar Gu,” the Third Princess smiled, her eyes reflecting Gu Jinse’s exquisite features.

Gu Jinse could not take it anymore and retorted, “Is the Princess happy for me?” For some reason, she thought of Ming Yi.

She and the Princess were peers in age, and logically, they should have more in common. However, this young girl was simple and reckless. Ming Yi, with her vast experience and cautious nature, was like a deep, unpredictable ocean that made one want to explore.

Unaware of the scholar’s thoughts, the Third Princess said smugly, “Are you not happy?”

Gu Jinse wanted to swear. Happy, my foot!

This princess was too stupid. No wonder she used such low tactics against the Chancellor. Gu Jinse was so angry her head felt dizzy. She actually liked her current job; it was very leisurely.

She suppressed her temper and said, “Only a fool would be happy about a demotion disguised as a promotion. Your Highness, please leave. It is inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone. Others would be displeased if they found out. I already have a fiancée, so I ask Your Highness to conduct yourself with dignity.”

“You have a fiancée? From which family?” The Third Princess was shocked, her star like eyes wide with surprise.

Gu Jinse had a bit of a temper and immediately replied, “It has nothing to do with Your Highness.”

“You,” the princess turned pale with rage and roared, “How dare you!”

Gu Jinse was angry too. Going to the Eastern Palace meant joining that faction. In history, how many Crown Princes actually managed to inherit the throne? Half of them failed midway.

Fuming, she said coldly, “It is Your Highness who is being daring by entering this hall uninvited.”

The Third Princess began to cry from frustration. Zhang Mingqian laughed silently in the shadows and gave Ming Yi a thumbs up. This Scholar Gu had incredible courage.

Gu Jinse did not have incredible courage; she was simply so angry that she felt her life was already forfeit, so she no longer cared about the princess’s feelings.

The Third Princess glared at her fiercely and asked, “Gu Jinhuan, are you trying to get my attention on purpose?”

Gu Jinse suddenly laughed. It was like ice and snow melting. Even from a few steps away, the sight was enough to steal one’s soul. When the princess saw her smile, her own mood suddenly improved. She asked shyly, “Is that right?”

“Replying to the Princess, I have already said I am engaged.” Gu Jinse bowed, slowly retreated three steps away from the princess, and strode out of the hall.

The Third Princess stamped her foot and turned to leave the palace.

The two women inside stepped out from the shadows. Zhang Mingqian straightened her robes and whispered, “What kind of move is the Emperor making?”

Ming Yi spoke directly, “The fiancée mentioned by Scholar Gu is me. Do you understand the Emperor’s game now?”

Zhang Mingqian was shocked once more. Ming Yi’s expression was complex as she added, “He wants me to assist the Crown Prince.”

“Do you think I will agree?” Ming Yi sneered. If she did not want to do something, not even a sword to her throat could force her.

Zhang Mingqian stared at the Chancellor’s profile, and her heart sank. The Empress was out of favor, and everyone thought the Emperor intended to replace the Crown Prince. It turned out the Emperor had never considered changing the heir. He was even supporting him in secret and had repeatedly hinted for Ming Yi to join the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince was an incompetent weakling, but he was the child of the woman the Emperor deeply loved. After that woman died, the boy was taken into the central palace by the Empress and became the legitimate heir.

Ming Yi walked out. Not far away, the Third Princess stood in her vibrant palace dress, looking bright and beautiful. Gu Jinse stood in her official robes, her back straight and her presence striking.

Though they were the same age and both women, the impression they gave was entirely different.

As Ming Yi approached, the Third Princess caught sight of her and said immediately, “Chancellor Ming, Scholar Gu bullied me.”

Gu Jinse’s face turned red. “I did not.”

“Indeed. Princess, do not be angry. My husband has a weak temperament. Do not use your status as a princess to bully her.” Ming Yi smiled faintly. She looked up and met the princess’s astonished gaze, her lips curling slightly. “Third Princess, I heard everything you just said.”

The princess was stunned. “He has a fiancée?”

Ming Yi said with a smile, “I am his fiancée!”

“You, the two of you,” the princess’s face lost all color. She looked at Ming Yi and then at Gu Jinse, hoping Gu Jinse would deny it.

Gu Jinse hung her head and said nothing. After staring at them for a long while, the princess pointed at Ming Yi. “You, you are taking advantage of your power! You are forcing him, aren’t you? Ming Yi, I am going to find Imperial Father and have him punish you severely!”

With that, she ran off crying toward the main hall.

The remaining two pretended not to see. Gu Jinse breathed a sigh of relief and turned to ask Ming Yi, “How did I become your husband?”

Ming Yi looked at the sky. The sky was blue and the clouds were drifting. She remained silent for a long time. In response to Gu Jinse’s urgent look, she finally said, “I am pregnant.”

“You are pregnant?” Gu Jinse felt as if she had been struck by lightning. After a long moment of stunned silence, she managed to ask, “How?”

Ming Yi nodded and poked Gu Jinse’s chest with her finger, a playful smile on her lips. “It is yours.”

“Mine?” Gu Jinse felt a literal pain in her chest from the poke. She brushed Ming Yi’s hand away and paced around her in disbelief. Ming Yi was not wearing official robes today. Her dress was elegant and noble, her posture serene and peerless. Having been in the political world for years, she had a natural dignity like a flower on a high mountain.

Gu Jinse kept studying her, feeling a burst of frustration. Since Ming Yi was so refined, she could only suppress her temper and ask, “Are you looking for me to be a scapegoat?”

The young woman looked bright yet aggrieved. Seeing her at a loss for words, Ming Yi’s mood suddenly improved. She smiled slightly. “What is a scapegoat?”

“You are pregnant with someone else’s child and you want me to take the blame! Also, do you have the wrong person? I am a girl. How could I get you pregnant?” Gu Jinse refused to believe it. Ming Yi was full of schemes. No wonder she was being so nice; she was treating Gu Jinse like a fool.

Ming Yi looked at her with pity and said simply, “I have only ever been with you.”

Gu Jinse was completely bewildered. She touched her face, then her chest, and finally looked at her hands. She suddenly panicked. “I, I do not have the ability to make you pregnant either!”

Ming Yi walked away with a smile. The sky was blue, the weather was fine, and her mood was much better.

The Third Princess returned to the central palace to cry to the Empress, claiming Ming Yi had disrespected her.

The Empress was used to this. She said, “Even the Crown Prince treats her with great courtesy. Why do you bother with her?”

“Why should we defer to her? She is just a wild girl raised by Imperial Father. She is Imperial Father’s dog. When a dog barks, do we have to give it a kind face?” The princess was furious. “You do not know, she is purposely trying to take Gu Jinhuan from me. She knows I care for the Scholar, so she lied and is forcing him to marry her.”

“She is shameless, truly shameless. She is old, and the Scholar is only seventeen. Mother, you must save him.”

The Empress rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing from the noise. “Is the Scholar really that good?”

“It is not about whether he is good or not. It is that Ming Yi is crossing me on purpose. The dog raised by Imperial Father is starting to bite us. How can we endure such a great insult?”

The Empress remained silent. Her daughter’s words held some truth. Since becoming Chancellor, Ming Yi had slowly stopped showing respect to the Empress and the house of Marquis Yongping. The once humble little girl had grown up, her wings had hardened, and she was starting to oppose her.

Indeed, it should not be endured.

The Empress comforted her daughter, saying, “He is just a scholar. He is not worthy of you.”

“No, I want him as my Prince Consort,” the princess insisted.

“I do not like the Gu family.” The Empress spoke frankly. When Gu Jinhuan’s grandfather resigned, he had spoken about treacherous officials being in power, clearly referring to the Empress Dowager and the house of Marquis Yongping.

Naturally, she disliked the Gu family.

After comforting her daughter, she thought of a compromise. She called her confidant. “Find a time to act and get rid of the Scholar.”

If the Gu family had such pride, they should not have come to the capital seeking office. Would it not have been better to stay hidden in Yuhang?

Gu Jinse’s mother, Madam Gu, arrived in the capital.

She had traveled by horse through the night. Once she arrived, Gu Jinse, who was not on duty, sneaked out to take her mother shopping.

The Gu family had originally lived in the capital, but when her father in law resigned and returned home, she had naturally gone to Yuhang. Now back in the capital, she dragged her daughter to visit various places.

She shopped, and Gu Jinse followed, carrying the bags.

After walking for a long time, Gu Jinse asked, “Mother, are you not in a hurry?”

“Hurry for what? Gu Jinhuan offended people he should not have, and his life is over. Your grandfather said he would be removed from the clan registry and that he would no longer acknowledge such an unfilial descendant. But I think he is just talking out of anger; he will still spoil him. He is just an old man who prefers boys over girls.” Madam Gu sighed and checked the time. “Let us go to Yongan Tower for dinner. Call your wife. I want to see her. If I do not like her, I will not agree.”

Gu Jinse said nothing. Her own carefree nature clearly came from her mother.

Upon entering Yongan Tower, Yinghui came to greet them. Seeing the Scholar, she was full of smiles. Before she could speak, Madam Gu spoke first. “Oh, this young lady is truly beautiful.”

Gu Jinse rubbed her forehead and explained, “This is the head manager of Yongan Tower.”

“I see, a person of great wit and beauty.” Madam Gu praised her, adding, “There are many beauties in the capital.”

Yinghui blushed at the praise. “Madam is too kind.”

“I am speaking the truth. Why would I flatter you? Anyway, bring out all your specialties. My son is paying.” Madam Gu walked inside, clearly there to enjoy herself.

Gu Jinse was confused. Did she travel through the night just to have fun?

Yinghui laughed behind her hand and teased Gu Jinse, “Madam Gu is so interesting. Is she in the capital to arrange your wedding?”

“Yes.” Gu Jinse followed her mother into a private room.

Once the door was closed, Madam Gu took a sip of tea. Her expression became serious and calm as she said, “Your grandfather does not plan to acknowledge him anymore. Your father refused to give up, since the Gu family only has this one son. The family back home does not know the situation in the capital. If I had known you had taken his place, I would not have made this trip.”

She and Gu Jinse’s messenger had missed each other on the road.

“Since you have taken his place, you can play along if you want. What exactly is going on with this marriage?”

Gu Jinse explained everything in detail. Finally, she said, “She is blackmailing me.”

“In that case, marry her first and then get a divorce later. You cannot offend Ming Yi. That woman is very powerful. Her pregnancy is most likely fake. Do not worry about it. Even if she makes you a scapegoat, you have no way to refuse. After your grandfather heard about Ming Yi, he said she is someone to befriend, not someone to make an enemy of. Moreover, with female officials being so common, a female Emperor might even emerge.”

“Ashi, do not provoke her. The Emperor’s health is failing, and he might pass away soon. If Chancellor Ming holds power, it might not be a bad thing for you.”

“The main thing is that the Gu family is weak and cannot compete with her right now. Just marry her; you will not lose out.” Madam Gu resigned herself to the situation. After all, her daughter had slept with the woman, so she had to take responsibility.