The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 22.2

Madam Gu smiled. “The late Empress Dowager was even more impressive. Without her twenty years of rule, where would all these female officials come from? Your grandfather calls it ‘the hen crowing at dawn,’ but he’s just jealous. Think about it—one woman suppressing so many men and training more women to keep suppressing them… who would feel good about that?”

“Your grandfather…” She suddenly paused. Gu Jinse’s eyes widened. “Mother, keep talking! I’ve always felt Grandfather was a bit strange.”

Younger generations shouldn’t gossip about their elders—it’s a violation of filial piety that could get one beaten to death if caught. Madam Gu laughed softly and shook her head. “Eat. Go to bed early. You have to go to the office tomorrow.”

Gu Jinse wanted to ask more, but Madam Gu covered her mouth. “Shush. Eat, sleep—or I’ll have to ‘eat, sleep, and beat Se-er’.”

Gu Jinse: “…”

Madam Gu once asked her what her biggest dream was. She had said: Eat, sleep, and beat my younger brother. Gu Jinhuan always bullied the Gu family’s foster daughter, and Gu Jinse, protective of her elder sister, often clashed with him. Their personalities grew further apart.

Thinking of her sister, Gu Jinse tried one more time. “Mother, is Elder Sister really Father’s daughter? I think they look alike around the eyes… or is she Grandfather’s daughter? I feel…”

Before she could finish, Madam Gu tweaked her daughter’s ear. “The thing I want to do most tonight is eat, sleep, and beat Se-er.”

Gu Jinse shrank back, holding her breath and rubbing her ear as she told Chun Yue to hurry with dinner.

By the end of the fifth month, after the Six Rites were completed, another letter arrived from Yuhang. It was a handwritten letter from the Gu family patriarch. He refused to recognize the marriage.

At the same time, the Prime Minister received a similar letter. The wording was harsh: if the Prime Minister persisted, the Gu family would opt for “mutual destruction.”

Ming Yi held the letter for a long time, silent. She remembered when the late Empress Dowager pushed for new reforms, which undoubtedly shook the interests of the powerful. Neither side would back down until the Empress Dowager asked: “Do you wish for mutual destruction?”

The Empress Dowager was dominant. She employed female officials and chose the brightest women from the great families. Once she spoke, people listened. She held the power, and though the ministers were dissatisfied, they kept it buried deep.

For years, Ming Yi had wondered: How can I become a woman like the Empress Dowager?

Looking at the letter, she felt the strength drain from her body. Since entering the palace, she had faced countless setbacks. After each one, she grew. She had walked the path of adversity for too long.

She burned the letter and stood up, instructing her confidant: “Go and invite Vice Minister Gu to the manor.”

The main branch of the Gu family was in Yuhang. Elder Gu was highly respected, largely because he had resigned in protest against the Empress Dowager, choosing the countryside over power. His integrity was unmatched, but his path was destined to clash with Ming Yi’s.

Because Ming Yi was a woman.

The next day after the court session, Vice Minister Gu requested leave. The Emperor asked about it, and Zhang Mingqian answered: “Your Majesty, Vice Minister Gu fell from his horse yesterday after returning home and hit his head.”

The Emperor nodded and kept Ming Yi back to ask about the wedding. Ming Yi candidly told him about Elder Gu’s stance.

The Emperor’s lips quirked—he was oddly pleased. Ming Yi was a detached woman who disliked men; he had tried to pick excellent suitors for her before, but she had always refused. Even the Marquis of Yongping had designs, which she rejected flatly. It seemed fate was finally circling back to deal with Ming Yi.

He was delighted. There weren’t many things in this world that could make Ming Yi suffer—except perhaps matters of the heart. Still, he didn’t want to get involved, offering a few words of comfort before letting her go.

Zhang Mingqian walked out of the hall with Ming Yi. Seeing her expression, she sighed. “Why linger? Elder Gu’s resignation years ago showed his hatred for women in office. Now, you insist on becoming a daughter-in-law of the Gu family. Prime Minister, you are a brilliant person—how could you be so foolish?”

Ming Yi’s expression remained unchanged. “The more people tell me not to do something, the more I want to do it. So what if it’s Elder Gu? He already has one foot in the grave. And as for Gu Minghan…”

She paused. Zhang Mingqian gave a playful smile. “In politics, no one is clean. He took leave just to avoid you. This drama is getting interesting.” Faking illness to avoid guests was a common trick in court.

“Minister Zhang is right. Since the Vice Minister is ‘unwell,’ he is clearly unfit for his position. Perhaps he should be transferred back to Yuhang to be with his family?” Ming Yi smiled.

Zhang Mingqian looked at her. “Is it worth it?” They had been colleagues for years; she knew Ming Yi’s character. When had she ever used her power for personal gain like this? Now, for a young man, she was throwing away her own dignity.

“Prime Minister, have you ever been to Jiuchun Hall?” Zhang Mingqian stopped.

Ming Yi smiled. “I know it. I’ve been there once.”

Zhang Mingqian, who was about to lecture her, froze. “You’ve been?”

Jiuchun Hall was a brothel—a place of wine and neon lights. Zhang Mingqian had been a few times and had a lover there she wanted to redeem, but the girl had left with a wealthy merchant, leaving her gloomy for days.

“I went once, chose a woman, and sent her to Jiangnan to destroy a family,” Ming Yi said flatly. “Men are unreliable.”

Zhang Mingqian was puzzled but didn’t ask further. Ming Yi’s methods were cold and ruthless. She changed the subject: “Jiuchun Hall also has many handsome young men. You could go and enjoy yourself.”

“Minister Zhang, if one’s conduct is not upright, how can one govern?” Ming Yi disagreed.

Zhang Mingqian choked. “You think your conduct is upright? They say a wife three years older is like a gold brick. You’ve picked up three and a half gold bricks—aren’t you tired?”

“I am not,” Ming Yi smiled and walked away, a spirited look in her eyes.

Vice Minister Gu had indeed “hit his head,” and the Emperor sent someone to temporarily replace him. After a few days, the Vice Minister began to panic and hurriedly sent for his nephew.

Compared to his uncle’s anxiety, Gu Jinse was perfectly calm. She had changed into a soft red robe with a fine jade pendant at her waist and a jade crown. She greeted her uncle with a smile. The youth was peerlessly beautiful, standing there like an elegant tree; people couldn’t look away. Vice Minister Gu sighed inwardly, already regretting faking his illness.

What kind of person is Ming Yi?

He had been holding his breath, but seeing his nephew, he remained silent. Gu Jinse asked, “Uncle, did you send for me just to listen to you sigh?”

The whole court knew about his “illness,” and they also knew the Gu family wanted to cancel the wedding. Vice Minister Gu was trapped in a dead end of his own making, mostly because he hated that his nephew was too good-looking.

He stammered. His career was important, so he cast aside the family pride for a moment and asked seriously, “Are you and the Prime Minister truly in love?”

“We are not. It is the command of parents and the words of matchmakers,” Gu Jinse didn’t take the bait. If she said they were in love, her uncle would push all the responsibility onto her, telling the Grandfather that it was just the young couple’s own feelings and had nothing to do with him.

He was quick to pick the fruit but quick to hide when it was time to water the tree. Gu Jinse wasn’t stupid; she had learned a lot since entering politics. One must never reveal their true thoughts in public. She wasn’t her uncle’s “biological son”—why would he truly care for her? The little support he gave was already more than enough. One must learn to be self-sufficient.

Vice Minister Gu sighed again. The situation was too thorny.

Gu Jinse comforted him: “Uncle, don’t think of this as a burden. Recover quickly. You’ve been resting for days; any longer and the Emperor might forget who you are.”

“I know. By the way, has the Prime Minister spoken to you lately?” he pried. “To tell you the truth, it’s your grandfather’s wish. He said if I allow this marriage, he’ll expel me from the Gu family.”

Gu Jinse was surprised. “Grandfather isn’t the Clan Head, is he?”

“Elder Gu is highly respected,” he snapped.

“I understand. You should get well soon. I heard the person temporarily filling your post is a confidant of the Prime Minister,” Gu Jinse intentionally looked troubled. A higher rank can crush a soul, and men like her uncle—timid and hesitant—were the easiest to crush.

Vice Minister Gu had one good quality: unlike his father, he didn’t care about his reputation as much as his career.

Gu Jinse took two steps forward. “Uncle, I have a question.”

“Go on.”

“If you allowed this marriage, would Grandfather really expel you? On what grounds could he blame you?” Gu Jinse asked softly, her voice filled with the confusion of a junior.

Vice Minister Gu froze. He began to reflect. He was a Vice Minister in the court, holding the highest rank in the family. Where did his uncle get the power to blame him? Over the years, he had been the one arranging for family members coming to the capital for exams. The Clan Head was grateful to him. How could one old man stand against the whole clan?

His thoughts cleared. He realized his own stupidity and looked at his nephew’s clear face and relaxed brow. Truly brilliant. He sighed, “If only you were my son.”

“Uncle, if you say that, my father will come and fight you,” Gu Jinse joked, bowing as she left the manor.

As the carriage pulled away, Gu Jinse relaxed. Today was her day off; court would resume tomorrow. If Gu Minghan couldn’t figure it out, that was his own bad luck.

After living here for years, she quite liked the Gu family. Her grandfather was strict and favored boys, but at most, he just ignored her. If she got into trouble, he would surely move heaven and earth to fix it to preserve the family’s face. Because her face was the Gu family’s dignity.

She was satisfied with that. Regardless of the process, the outcome suited her. But looking past that, her grandfather was exactly what Ming Yi called “obsessed with hollow fame.”

Is a reputation really that important?

She couldn’t understand it. She leaned back in the carriage, which suddenly jolted to a stop. “Supervisor, a carriage ahead has been hit. we can’t get through.”

A traffic accident. The road should have been wide, but curious onlookers occupied half the space. Not only was the Gu carriage blocked, but several others were waiting behind them.

Gu Jinse waited a moment but eventually got out to look. Two luxurious, flashy carriages had collided. They were badly damaged; specifically, the gems on the roofs had been knocked off, leaving ugly black holes.

She actually liked the look of the carriages—very flashy. In the sunlight, they sparkled brilliantly. Very much the aesthetic of young ladies. Gu Jinse stared at the carriage, wondering if she should get one for Ming Yi. The news of the Gu family wanting to cancel the wedding had damaged Ming Yi’s reputation.

As she stood there, a young girl walked over from the opposite carriage. She was dressed in red just like Gu Jinse, looking frail and elegant. Gu Jinse took five steps back and turned to get back in her carriage, but the girl spoke: “Supervisor Gu.”

“Is something wrong?” Gu Jinse asked, forced to turn back. The approach was too direct and a bit cliché. She didn’t like it.

“Supervisor Gu, I am the daughter of the Li family from the Marquis of Yongping’s manor. Our carriage is broken; may I ask for a ride?” The girl lowered her head, not even daring to look at Gu Jinse.

Gu Jinse looked at her carriage. She was a “man” here; if she refused a girl’s request, people would talk. “Very well. I’ll have someone take you back.” She agreed politely but kept her distance.

She didn’t want to agree, especially since the girl was a relative of the Empress. It was annoying. She gave up her carriage and decided to walk.

“Supervisor, aren’t you getting in?” The girl looked up, revealing a lovely face.

Gu Jinse anticipated her next move. “No. I’m going to buy some small gifts for my fiancé.”

The girl: “…”

Gu Jinse perfectly ditched the pretty girl. Though she loved beauty, she was betrothed and intended to stay faithful, not accepting random advances.

After leaving the scene, she wandered through the streets, buying and eating snacks as she went. Dressed in bright red, she stood out in the crowd.

Ming Yi had been watching her for a long time. Sitting in her carriage, she gazed at the figure. Zhang Mingqian said coldly, “See? Even the Marquis of Yongping is targeting your fiancé. I really don’t see what’s so good about him.”

“She is just a simple little person,” Ming Yi said, her thoughts following a different track. “She is reliable. That day, she thought of a way out for me. A one-night encounter, yet she left her travel permits and all her money for me.”

Zhang Mingqian thought: He isn’t simple; he’s just inexperienced and soft. If a crisis comes, he won’t be able to handle it. But she didn’t say this to the Prime Minister, who was clearly smitten.

Gu Jinse stopped at a pastry shop, looking at all the options. The driver tactfully brought the carriage forward.

Zhang Mingqian remarked dryly, “Eating such sweet food at that age, isn’t it sickening?”

Ming Yi looked at Gu Jinse’s back and said firmly, “I like eating them, too.”

She had been seventeen or eighteen once, the age for loving sweets. But she had been too busy then to even eat. Seeing Gu Jinse, she felt like she was seeing her own youth.

Gu Jinse bought several types of pastries. Standing at the intersection, she picked up a rose-shaped sweet with her long fingers and popped it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out.

After eating one piece, she turned right back into the shop.

“Is she buying more?” Zhang Mingqian asked in surprise, momentarily stunned.

Ming Yi knew she was essentially just a young girl at heart; it was only natural for her to love sweets, so she didn’t think much of it.

When Gu Jinse emerged again, she was laden with packages—so many that her hands could barely hold them all.

“Can she finish all that by herself?” Zhang Mingqian asked curiously. She glanced at the Prime Minister and added mischievously, “Is he planning to give them to some other young lady?”

Just as the words left her mouth, Ming Yi’s eyelashes fluttered. “The Li girl is back.”

She was like a ghost that refused to be exorcised.

Zhang Mingqian pursed her lips, her expression turning obscure. She wanted to say something but didn’t quite dare. Rumors were flying through the city that the Gu family wanted to cancel the engagement, and many unmarried girls were practically cheering. It seemed the Li girl was moving fast.

“Supervisor Gu, you’ve certainly bought a lot of food.” The girl’s smile was bright and charming as she gazed at the pastries in Gu Jinse’s hands.

Zhang Mingqian smirked. “Let’s make a bet. If he gives those treats to the Li girl, you cancel the engagement. How about it?”

“And if she doesn’t?” Ming Yi replied with a light smile.

“If he doesn’t…” Zhang Mingqian hesitated, unsure of what to propose.

Ming Yi took over. “If she doesn’t give them away, you, Minister Zhang, shall kneel down and call me ‘Elder Sister.’ Deal?”

Zhang Mingqian raised an eyebrow. “You’re just using this as an excuse to take advantage of me.”

“I’m facing a cancelled engagement, and you can’t even kneel and call me ‘Sister’? Is my lifelong happiness worth less than your dignity?” Ming Yi blinked, a hint of cunning in her eyes.

“I feel like this is a trap, but I have no proof,” Zhang Mingqian sighed, keeping her eyes glued on the two figures and their ambiguous interaction.

On the street, Gu Jinse was trying her hardest to ditch the stranger, but the girl kept prying. Finally, the girl said, “Do you like sweets too? I love the pastries from this shop; I often have my family come buy them.”

“That’s nice. You should go buy some then.” Gu Jinse subtly hid her bags of sweets behind her back, clearly unwilling to share.

Zhang Mingqian cursed under her breath. “How can he be so stingy? It’s just a bag of pastries!”

“Minister Zhang, she won’t give them to her, but she will give them to you. Do you believe me?” Ming Yi curved her lips and exhaled softly, offering Zhang Mingqian a final warning: “In her eyes, there is only her fiancé.”