The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 2

Candidates coming to the capital for the imperial examinations were all on a registered list, it wasn’t a matter of simply showing up if one wished. They had to overcome numerous hurdles along the way.

Gu Jinhuan had only two final stages left: the provincial and palace examinations.

Gu Jinse was stunned. “How did you know that?”

Was the label “Gu Family of Yuhang” pasted on her forehead?

Their eyes met, each staring intently at the other as the evening sunlight fell upon their faces. Gu Jinse’s heart pounded nervously this woman was not someone to be trifled with.

She began to regret her actions. The woman was staring straight at her, her narrow eyes filled with confusion almond-shaped with slightly upturned corners, like peach blossoms.

Her lips were pressed tightly together, the lower one bitten until a red mark appeared. Gu Jinse regretted it even more, feeling helpless as she pursed her own lips. The woman closed her eyes, resigned to her fate.

Gu Jinse said, “Don’t act like this. It’s just changing clothes, I haven’t done anything to you.”

The woman remained silent, clearly troubled.

Gu Jinse felt at a loss. “I’ve never worn a skirt before. How do you undo this? And why is it so tight?”

Somehow, the more she tried to loosen it, the tighter it became. Clothing styles varied from place to place, and it was giving her a headache.

She felt like cursing.

Ming Yi opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Gu Jinse’s delicate face. She really was flustered. Could it be that she had never worn a skirt before?

Ming Yi recalled the list sent from Yuhang: Gu Jinhuan, the eldest son of the Gu family, had passed the preliminary exams at fourteen and was now seventeen. But judging by the young woman before her, could she really have passed the exams at fourteen?

Absurd.

Gu Jinse was genuinely anxious. The woman finally spoke, “Take off your clothes first.”

“Alright.” Sweating profusely, Gu Jinse removed her outer robe, a much simpler task.

She glanced at the woman, whose slender fingers moved deftly around her waist, seemingly uninjured.

Gu Jinse obediently covered her eyes and tossed her robe to the woman. “Hurry up and put it on. Later, you can help me with mine, I don’t know how.”

What a mess.

She was quite sensible. Ming Yi glanced at her, mustered her strength to put on the robe, and asked, “Do you know how to tie your hair?”

“Yes, but not women’s hairstyles,” Gu Jinse replied frankly.

After putting on the robe, Ming Yi’s eyes fell on Gu Jinse’s hair ribbon. “The hair ribbon.”

Gu Jinse loosened her hair, removed the ribbon, and handed it to her. “Can I open my eyes now?”

“As you wish.” Ming Yi took a deep breath. The young woman before her had her hair cascading down, her eyes covered pure and untainted. For a moment, she reminded Ming Yi of a white lotus, something to be admired from afar but not touched.

She was so pure, so pure that Ming Yi felt ashamed in comparison.

Who else, in such a situation, could be as straightforward and considerate as Gu Jinse?

Ming Yi had no strength left. The young woman slowly lowered her hands, avoiding eye contact and instead staring at the skirt on the ground. Ming Yi closed her eyes and said, “I’ll teach you.”

Step by step, she showed her how to wear the clothes and style her hair.

Finally, Gu Jinse carried her on her back and remarked, “Shouldn’t it be you carrying me?”

Ming Yi replied, “There are many consorts and male attendants serving princesses and noblewomen in the capital. You understand.”

Gu Jinse nodded. “Then tell me where I can find an inn.”

“Go straight ahead for about half a kilometer after leaving the alley. There’s an inn there.” Ming Yi rested on her back, her throat dry, her gaze inadvertently falling on the side of Gu Jinse’s neck.

The young woman’s skin was pale, so much so that the blue veins were visible. Ming Yi closed her eyes, pressing her tongue firmly against her teeth.

The alley was eerily quiet, every household’s door shut tight, seemingly unaware of the events unfolding outside.

Exiting the alley, the crowd thinned slightly but remained denser than usual. Though not exactly shoulder-to-shoulder, the stream of people seemed endless at a glance. The setting sun cast a golden glow on the faces of the common folk.

Gu Jinse carefully navigated her way, avoiding the pedestrians while constantly looking around, wary of the assailants returning.

The audacity to commit murder right under the capital’s nose was utterly terrifying.

Their peculiar behavior drew the attention of many passersby, and despite considering herself thin-skinned, Gu Jinse felt her blood heating up under their gazes.

The one-li journey felt interminable. The woman on her back was light, likely weighing less than ninety jin, making the trek less strenuous. Fortunately, her slender frame made it manageable, any heavier would have been impossible.

What a predicament.

Gu Jinse trudged on, her heart pounding as she remained vigilant against the killers’ possible return. Having grown up in Yuhang, she had never encountered such brazen assassins.

New to the capital, Gu Jinse was cautious in every step, especially now that she had lost her attendants. The lingering fear gripped her tightly.

She was afraid, and Ming Yi, caught in her own turmoil, was equally on guard against the assassins.

Upon reaching the inn, Gu Jinse carried the woman inside. The sharp-eyed attendant, noticing their fine clothing, promptly approached and asked, “Sir and madam, will you be staying?”

“Yes, the best room available. Prepare hot water and ensure everything is clean,” Gu Jinse replied breathlessly, struggling slightly. She added, “Do we have to climb stairs?”

What a hassle, she couldn’t carry her much longer.

The attendant explained, “The finest room is in the rear courtyard, on the ground floor. Please follow me a bit further.”

Ming Yi clung tightly to Gu Jinse’s neck, her lips brushing softly against Gu Jinse’s ear. Gu Jinse swallowed repeatedly and whispered, “I’ll fetch a physician for you, alright? I have money.”

Ming Yi responded with silence.

Gu Jinse grunted inwardly picking up an injured woman seemed like a burden she couldn’t shake off.

Leaving the front hall for the rear courtyard, the attendant pointed out the kitchen, guest rooms, and mentioned that meals could be delivered to the room upon request.

The best room, the finest service, available at a moment’s notice the capital’s prosperity left Gu Jinse quite satisfied.

Eagerly, Gu Jinse laid the woman on the bed and turned to leave, but a slender, pale, and feverishly hot wrist pulled her back.

The woman was stunning, her beauty etched into her very bones. Gu Jinse was reminded of celebrities on television every gesture and movement exuded an evolving grace. She was an intellectual beauty who, even in modern times, would be a household name.

Gu Jinse dared not turn around, struggling to break free, but the woman, with unexpected strength, dragged her back.

“Um, well… I’ll find a physician for you,” Gu Jinse stammered, terrified that the woman might suddenly lose her life. What a dire situation.

She took a deep breath. The woman looked up at her, silent yet speaking volumes.

Gu Jinse turned back, her eyes clear and bright, locking onto Ming Yi’s gaze. She swallowed hard, trying to reason with her, “I’m a woman. It’s best to call a physician, don’t you think?”

Ming Yi bit her lower lip, staring intently at her. The young girl was radiant, her cheeks pure, exuding an untarnished innocence. She hadn’t taken advantage of the situation, which eased Ming Yi’s mind.

Yet, at this moment, she felt conflicted, strongly tempted to act in an unprincipled manner.

She didn’t release her grip, her palm pressed against the girl’s wrist, and she warned, “If you call a physician, what will we do if the assassins return?”

Gu Jinse was dumbfounded. “Is this even allowed? So brazen, did you commit murder and arson?”

“No, no murder, and no arson either.” Ming Yi tightly closed her eyes. She was clean, and that was enough.

“Clean” didn’t refer to physical cleanliness, but to her nature. Using the word “clean” to describe one’s temperament might not be quite fitting. Yet, for Ming Yi, “clean” was the only word that came to mind.

“You say you didn’t, but how can I believe you?” Gu Jinse wasn’t foolish; words spoken in such moments couldn’t be trusted.

She refused. Ming Yi bit her lip until it bled, her eyes turning crimson as she stared at Gu Jinse.

Oh dear, Gu Jinse felt as if she had committed a grave sin. Glancing at the other woman, she thought it best to write a guarantee first and said, “Say this: ‘It wasn’t me who harmed you,’ and write it down as a guarantee.”

In modern times, there were too many scams like this. Here, without television, surveillance, or witnesses, what if she was falsely accused with nothing but empty words? In the present day, people hesitated to help the elderly for fear of being framed. In ancient times, encountering such a situation, it was wise to keep evidence.

In truth, this wasn’t the woman’s fault, just like how an elderly person falling wasn’t intentional.

Ming Yi opened her eyes, looked at the guarantee in Gu Jinse’s hand, and opened her mouth as if to ask something, but swallowed her words and repeated what Gu Jinse had said.

Gu Jinse pressed her hand to leave a fingerprint. Before she could speak, the woman grabbed her sleeve and said, “The Gu family of Yuhang actually produced a girl like you.”

The Gu family of Yuhang was once the Gu family of the capital. Years ago, when treacherous officials blocked the path, Gu Jinse’s grandfather, unwilling to serve alongside them and powerless to stop them, resigned in anger and returned to his hometown. For a time, it became a celebrated story.

To this day, whenever Old Master Gu was mentioned, everyone would praise him. During this examination, Old Master Gu’s former colleagues repeatedly mentioned Gu Jinhuan of the Gu family to Ming Yi, praising his literary talent. As the top scholar of Yuhang and a provincial graduate from Zhejiang, he was bound to pass the imperial exams. Gu Jinhuan was only seventeen, not yet of age, yet he had already achieved such honors his future was limitless.

Many even hoped to select him as a son-in-law if he excelled in the palace examination. Ming Yi, however, was different. She had just been appointed as chancellor and had no time to concern herself with such matters. Over time, her ears grew tired of hearing about it, and even the emperor wanted to witness Gu Jinhuan’s brilliance not for any other reason but out of respect for Old Master Gu’s unwavering integrity.

Old Master Gu’s moral character was truly admirable, and the grandson he personally raised was surely no less exceptional.

Gu Jinse had no idea her grandfather was so capable and didn’t understand the woman’s meaning. Before she could think further, the woman clung to her arm.

Panicked, she stammered, “You, you, stop…”

Before she could finish, the woman tugged at her hand.

Jia Baoyu said women were made of water, how true that was?!

It seemed that reading more books and observing more people made one realize that books don’t lie.

Gu Jinse snapped back to reality and went to find the waiter, pleading with him to quietly fetch a doctor and make up some excuse.

After she finished speaking, the waiter left. The woman pressed close to her, and Gu Jinse didn’t dare move. Her eyes reflected the woman’s delicate, beautiful face, and she couldn’t help but sigh, “You’re really beautiful.”

The woman didn’t respond.