The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 25

The dog had been sent by Madam Gu’s eldest brother in Jinling. It was a rare breed, snow-white and elegant perfectly suited to Madam Gu’s obsession with beauty. She took it everywhere and cherished it dearly.

Over time, the dog seemed to have inherited her mistress’s tastes. It would immediately cozy up to anyone good-looking.

Gu Jinse stared at the dog, and the dog glared back. Ming Yi let out a soft laugh, turned her back, and teased, “Supervisor Gu, find your own place to finish your nap.”

Gu Jinse huffed, grabbed her quilt, and retreated to the side room in a fit of mock resentment.

Two hours later, after she had fallen asleep, a visitor from the Zhao family arrived. Gu Jinse rose quickly to wash up and changed into a blue scholar’s robe. Her long hair was tied up with a matching ribbon, giving her an air of vibrant, youthful energy.

The Zhao family of the capital was the natal home of Consort De. Since their daughter entered the palace twenty years ago, their fortune had soared. As a century-old noble house, they were steeped in rigid etiquette. The current head was Zhao Hui, brother to Consort De. The family was prolific, with nearly thirty grandsons, most of whom held official positions and were highly regarded by the Emperor.

The visitor was Zhao Xuantang, the eldest son of the main branch, twenty-five years old, dressed in a dark robe, with sharp, upright features.

As Gu Jinse strode into the guest hall, Zhao Xuantang immediately stood. He held a wooden lacquer box and stepped forward with a bow. “Supervisor Gu, my father sent me to deliver this box to you.”

“I cannot accept a reward for work I haven’t done,” Gu Jinse replied with immediate distaste.

“This is an item bestowed upon the Zhao family by His Majesty many years ago,” Zhao Xuantang explained. He opened the box to reveal two night-luminescent pearls the size of fists. Gu Jinse was startled, but Zhao Xuantang continued, “I beg the Supervisor to show mercy and stay your hand.”

An imperial gift was a mark of supreme honor. For the Zhaos to offer it was a sign of extreme humility.

However, Gu Jinse was a modern soul. Such “honor” meant little to her. She refused flatly: “Has the Zhao family done something that requires me to stay my hand?”

“Supervisor, let us not mince words. The Zhao family has committed a wrong this time, and we submit to whatever punishment follows. But no man is an island. If you show mercy now, the Zhao family will be at your beck and call in the future.”

Mercy in exchange for a powerful favor, it was a tempting offer. Especially since the Gu family had little foundation in the capital; despite Elder Gu’s reputation, they were small compared to the great houses.

As Gu Jinse hesitated, Zhao Xuantang pressed on: “The Zhao family feels deep remorse. This was the doing of my youngest uncle. Rest assured, my father has already expelled him from the clan; he is no longer a Zhao. If that is not enough to appease your anger, my uncle will… end his own life. Please, Supervisor, stay your hand.”

With that, Zhao Xuantang knelt directly on the floor. “And please, speak a few kind words for us to the Prime Minister.”

Gu Jinse practically jumped back to avoid the gesture. He was older than her; having him kneel was like asking to shorten her lifespan.

“Master Zhao, I cannot make this decision. My words carry little weight, and the Prime Minister may not listen to me. Please, get up. Forcing me like this is useless. You should go to the Prime Minister’s manor to plead.”

“You do not know the Prime Minister’s temperament. If I go, it will only increase her disgust,” Zhao Xuantang replied, kneeling as straight as a spear.

“Is that so? Since you knew I would be displeased, why did you come to the Gu residence?” Ming Yi’s voice rang out from the doorway. She stood silhouetted against the sunlight, yet the bright spring day couldn’t disperse the chill radiating from her.

Zhao Xuantang turned pale with shock. Gu Jinse tactfully retreated three steps. Ming Yi entered the room and said coldly, “Your uncle committed arson and attempted murder; his guilt is inescapable. Expelling him from the family is merely a ploy to save his life. Supervisor Gu is new to the court and doesn’t understand these games, but I do. If you want to apologize, you will do it on my terms.”

Facing Ming Yi, Zhao Xuantang felt like he was sitting on needles. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. “Please, Prime Minister, enlighten me.”

“A life for a life,” Ming Yi stated.

“Prime Minister! He is your biological uncle!” Zhao Xuantang cried out, his composure finally shattering.

“Is he? I wasn’t aware I had such an ‘auspicious’ connection to the Zhao family,” Ming Yi sneered.

Zhao Xuantang trembled on the floor, his jaw tight with humiliation. Ming Yi asked, “Zhao Xuantang, do you know how your eldest aunt died?”

“It was because she committed adultery…” Before he could finish, Gu Jinse stepped forward and kicked him over, barking, “Watch your words!”

Zhao Xuantang realized his blunder and scrambled back up. He shot the “young man” a look of gratitude, though he looked like he had just been fished out of a river. “I will relay the Prime Minister’s meaning to my father.” He scrambled to his feet and turned to leave.

As he crossed the threshold, Gu Jinse called him back and handed him the lacquer box he’d left on the floor. “You forgot this.”

Zhao Xuantang thanked her repeatedly, touched by her clear-eyed kindness. Gu Jinse simply said, “Don’t thank me. I just didn’t want to hear anything filthy.”

Back inside, Gu Jinse smiled. “I have a ‘flashy’ gift for you. I think every girl would like it.”

Ming Yi thought for a moment, a smile touching her lips. “What does ‘flashy’ mean?”

“It means… well, it’s quite an eye-catcher,” Gu Jinse chuckled, reaching out. “Prime Minister, give me a chance to make amends, okay? The rumors in the city have caused you so much trouble, and I’m powerless to clear them.”

The youth looked incredibly guilty, her face flushing and her lips pressing into a vivid red. Ming Yi gazed at those lips, her skin prickling. For a moment, she recalled the sensation of those soft lips on her body. She took a deep breath, suppressed the thought, and nodded slightly.

Gu Jinse comforted her: “Don’t be unhappy over people who don’t matter. Honestly, I get annoyed just seeing my own brother; I don’t know why.”

Ming Yi laughed. “Do you two fight often?”

“Yes! You have no idea how infuriating he is. My elder sister has some mental health struggles, and he’s always bullying her. I can’t stand it, so I’ve fought him many times.”

“And… do you usually get beaten?”

“No! It depends on who is home. My mother is the judge; if she’s there, she punishes him. If my grandfather is there, he blames me. But I was raised by my mother. Sometimes she even stands up to her parents for me. My brother might be a jerk, but my father treats my mother very well.”

Ming Yi nodded. She believed her. One could tell Madam Gu had been pampered all her life.

Gu Jinse unconsciously took Ming Yi’s hand. Ming Yi’s brow twitched, but Gu Jinse continued, “Mother said she’s going to divorce my father and take her dowry with her.”

Ming Yi’s smile deepened. “Madam Gu has a wonderful personality.” Only parents so clear-headed could raise a daughter as spirited as Gu Jinse. She asked, “Was Gu Jinhuan raised by your grandfather then?”

“Yes! That’s why we rarely saw each other. I spent my days taking my sister through the streets to play. When we go to Yuhang, I’ll show you around. I have many boats—all kinds! Do you like boats?”

Gu Jinse chattered on, and Ming Yi stole a glance at her. Under the bright sky, the girl’s pale face looked radiant, her features relaxed like the most beautiful flower in a garden.

They reached the backyard, where a red-lacquered, opulent carriage stood. Its roof was adorned with pearls, and it was several times larger than a standard carriage.

Gu Jinse pulled back the curtain. “There’s a bed inside for resting, and a table for eating. I know carriages can be bumpy, so I made some modifications to the suspension. It’s very comfortable.”

The youth had turned a travel carriage into a second home, even preparing quilts.

Ming Yi let out a laugh—it was one of the funniest things she’d seen in years—but she didn’t mock her. She nodded seriously. “You’ve put a lot of heart into this. I like it very much.”

“Do you really?” Gu Jinse didn’t believe her, pointing at her eyes. “When you like something, your eyes brighten and your brow curves. But right now, they don’t. Your micro-expressions show you are quite calm. You… don’t like it.”

“Gu Jinse…”

“You can call me Se-er,” Gu Jinse interrupted.

Ming Yi felt a bit awkward. “We are not that close.”

“I’ve kissed you and touched you; how are we not close?” Gu Jinse countered. “You’re intentionally ignoring what happened that day. I can pretend it didn’t happen, but pretending we aren’t familiar is just self-deception.”

They sat together on the soft bedding inside the carriage. Gu Jinse patted the mattress and quilts. Ming Yi watched those fair hands move freely over the bed. She wasn’t familiar with Gu Jinse, but she was very familiar with those hands.

She took a breath and said, “I think I am very lenient with you.”

Leniency often leads to people losing their sense of boundaries. Gu Jinse didn’t quite catch the underlying meaning, so she just accepted it as a compliment. “Leniency is good. Very good.”

Ming Yi caught her eye, guessing the girl hadn’t understood.

Gu Jinse’s hands continued to play with the quilt, eventually “hopping” onto the back of Ming Yi’s hand, her index and middle fingers tapping it twice. Ming Yi’s heart jumped. “What are you doing?” she asked, half-protesting.

“Our wedding is back on track, so we should talk about the agreement again, don’t you think?” Gu Jinse said openly. “First of all, I don’t accept your one-sided terms. We are equals, right?”

Her gaze was as intense as the summer sun. Ming Yi refused: “I said I would give you half my assets. We are not equals.”

“Prime Minister, if your property is ever confiscated by the Emperor, will I still have money?” Gu Jinse blinked her clear eyes.

In the next second, Ming Yi reached out and gave her a sharp flick on the forehead. “You’re jinxing me!”

“Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger,” Gu Jinse insisted.

Ming Yi sneered, “And if my home is raided, what will you do?”

“I’ll take my assets and give half to you. See? We are equals. Now, let’s discuss how to write the agreement.” Gu Jinse felt a bit smug. It was just money, she had plenty in her own name too.

Ming Yi: “…” She stood up to head home.

Gu Jinse chased after her. “I’ll draft the agreement first, and then you can take a look, okay?”

The corners of Ming Yi’s mouth curved upward, though she didn’t stop walking.

The time for the Emperor’s “half-day” promise was up. Ming Yi entered the palace in the flashy carriage Gu Jinse had given her. At the gates, the guards peeked in, seeing the Prime Minister’s face as the curtains swayed.

Ming Yi was usually the picture of low-key elegance, so the guards at the palace gates stared in wide-eyed wonder, curiously sizing up this flamboyant, pearl-encrusted carriage.

Inside the Great Hall, the Third Prince and the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Hui, had already arrived. Ming Yi entered with a steady gaze, walking straight toward the Emperor to offer her bow. “Subject Ming Yi greets Your Majesty.”

The Third Prince, kneeling in the center of the hall, kept his back rigid. His voice was cold and biting: “Prime Minister Ming, is your fiancé dead yet?”

Ming Yi’s eyes narrowed. She turned to face him, her voice dropping to a dangerous chill. “If she dies, I will have the entire Zhao family buried with her.”

The Third Prince stood up in a fury. “Ming Yi! Do you still have eyes for His Majesty? Do you even understand the relationship between ruler and subject? To be so arrogant… one day, you will reap the bitter fruit of your own actions.”

“If that day comes, I shall end my own life. It is not for the Third Prince to worry about,” Ming Yi said coldly.

The Prince’s face turned crimson with suppressed rage. Ming Yi’s behavior wasn’t just “arrogant”—she was treating the Imperial family as if they didn’t exist. He roared, “Ming Yi! Father showed mercy in allowing you into the court, yet what have you done? You throw the administration into chaos for your own private interests. Your heart is treasonous!”

Ming Yi gave a faint, detached smile. “And if it is? The Third Prince is welcome to punish me.”

“You are clearly targeting me! You blame my mother for not saving your mother back then? Your mother’s conduct was disgraceful.”

“Shut your mouth!” Ming Yi barked.

“YOU shut up!” the Emperor roared, rushing down from his dragon throne. He raised a hand and delivered a sharp slap to his third son’s face, his entire body trembling with rage.

Ming Yi’s eyes were rimmed with red, her gaze toward the Emperor utterly cold. Her hands balled into fists inside her sleeves, but she took a deep breath, and in an instant, her emotions smoothed over.

Zhao Hui, Ming Yi’s eldest uncle, hurriedly spoke up: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Third Prince is still young. I beg Your Majesty for mercy.”

“The Third Prince is twenty years old,” Ming Yi said, her voice cutting through the air. “When Elder Zhao ordered his own daughter to die, she was also only in her twenties. Why did you not show her mercy then? In your heart, the difference between arson-murder and a loss of ‘chastity’ is truly vast, isn’t it?”

Zhao Hui’s expression hardened. He studied Ming Yi’s eyes, his face shifting slightly. “The Prime Minister is setting a hook, waiting for me to take the bait.”

“Master Zhao, do you think you are worthy?” Ming Yi’s lips curled into a look of absolute disdain. She repeated, “You are not worthy.”

The Emperor: “…” He had a massive headache. He retreated to his throne and stayed silent; as long as the fire didn’t touch him, he was content to let them burn.

The “not worthy” comment finally broke Zhao Hui’s composure. The Zhao family was a century-old house; reputation was everything. Years ago, when the General’s manor came to demand justice, it had threatened their legacy. “A daughter like that was not fit to be a Zhao. Her death was a cleansing.”

Ming Yi smiled, but there was no warmth in it. She turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, you once gifted the Zhao family a box of night-luminescent pearls, correct?”

The Emperor’s eyelid jumped. He nearly leaped out of his seat. “Did I? I… I don’t remember.”

“I dare ask Your Majesty: Why did you give them those pearls?” Ming Yi stepped forward, her eyes burning with an icy intensity.

“I don’t recall! It was too long ago. Ming Yi, the youngest son of the Zhao family has already confessed. The fire was his doing,” the Emperor stammered, desperately trying to change the subject.

Ming Yi knew his nature perfectly. “Tang Sui is in my hands. If Your Majesty wishes to lie, shouldn’t you have disposed of Tang Sui first? The Zhao’s youngest son is a mere concubine-born child, and I hear he is mentally unstable. How exactly did he manage it?”

The Emperor didn’t seem to mind the loss of “Imperial face.” He smiled weakly. “A-Yi, don’t be so rigid.”

“I am not a fool. If Your Majesty treats me as one, perhaps you should consider if I am fit to hold the title of Prime Minister at all.”

“What is it you want?”

“I want the Third Prince to step into the fire and try it for himself,” Ming Yi said.

The Emperor’s face fell. “Ming Yi, do not cross the line.”

Ming Yi gave a faint smile. “This is the ledger. The witness is with Zhang Mingqian. How Your Majesty handles it is no longer my concern.” She drew the ledger from her sleeve and presented it to the Chief Eunuch. “A-Weng.”

“Prime Minister…” the Eunuch whispered, worried she was pushing the Emperor too far.

He took the ledger. Ming Yi then unfastened the jade pendant from her waist—the symbol of her office—and placed it on top of the book. She took three steps back and performed a deep bow. “Your Majesty, I resign. I hope Your Majesty will grant it.”

The Emperor’s face turned from green to white. He saw through her move, but couldn’t show it. “Ming Yi, think carefully.”

“Your Majesty, I am but a woman. My talents are limited; I can no longer share Your Majesty’s burdens.” Ming Yi kowtowed, stood up with a straight back, and walked out of the hall.

As she crossed the threshold, the Emperor threw a scroll in a fit of rage, shouting, “Ming Yi! Without you, I still have plenty of talented men!”

Ming Yi smiled and kept walking.

The sunset was magnificent as she walked out of the palace. Just past the gate, she saw a splash of flashy red—Gu Jinse, wearing her jade crown.

Gu Jinse beamed at her and ran over. “I’m here to pick you up! Let’s go out for dinner.”

“Gu Jinse… if justice did not belong to you, what would you do?” Ming Yi stayed where she was, looking up at the youth.

Gu Jinse’s gaze was bright. She knew this person took promises seriously; even without love, she wouldn’t abandon her. “Justice isn’t something everyone gets. There is no absolute justice here. As long as you tried and were true to me, that’s enough. Prime Minister, you are a person—not the Emperor, not a god. How can things be absolute?”

Gu Jinse reached out and hooked Ming Yi’s pinky finger. “My mother says she has many regrets and things she’s helpless to change. I do too. So do you.”

Ming Yi looked at the linked fingers and felt a sudden wave of exhaustion. Even the most powerful woman had a fragile side—one so weak she felt she might vanish.

“Prime Minister, let’s stop fighting, okay?”

The world was quiet. As they walked toward the carriage, Ming Yi heard her mother’s voice in her head: Don’t fight… don’t fight… I won’t fight anymore…

They boarded the carriage and the door shut. Gu Jinse handed her a bowl of water. “Try this; it’s very refreshing.”

Ming Yi didn’t take it. Her skin felt hot, and her eyes burned. “Gu Jinse… let’s break the engagement.”

Gu Jinse’s hand trembled, her fingers gripping the bowl. “Mother said… we can still marry. We have the command of parents and the words of matchmakers.”

“I have no parents. Only schemes,” Ming Yi whispered, and a single, hot tear escaped her cold eyes. She didn’t understand why the world treated her mother so cruelly. It wasn’t her mother’s fault.

Gu Jinse’s breath hitched. She set the bowl down, leaned in, and kissed Ming Yi’s neck. The soft, lingering kisses were like ripples on a pond. In the cramped space, the atmosphere turned thick and intimate.

Ming Yi shuddered. Gu Jinse moved her kisses to the back of Ming Yi’s ear, her tongue brushing the lobe. “Ming Yi,” she whispered.

The tear fell, and the restlessness in Ming Yi’s heart smoothed over. It felt… good.

Just as their lips were about to meet, Tu-Tu’s voice came from outside: “Prime Minister, the Chief Eunuch has arrived.”

They sprang apart. Ming Yi quickly wiped her eyes, and Gu Jinse helped smooth the wrinkles in her robes. The Eunuch boarded the carriage, smiling at the two of them. “Supervisor Gu, you’re here too.”

Gu Jinse bowed. “I’ll step out for a moment.”

Once the door was shut, the Eunuch lowered his voice. “That was a dangerous move you made.”

“A-Weng, I’ve seen how the Emperor treats the Crown Prince. I am simply using his guilt,” Ming Yi said, her cold mask returning.

The Eunuch handed the jade pendant back to her. “The Emperor has punished the Zhao family, stripped them of their noble titles, and ordered fifty strokes for the Third Prince. Go and pay your respects tomorrow, and this will all be over.”

“Thank you for the trip, A-Weng.”

Gu Jinse re-boarded the carriage. Ming Yi was sitting on the bed-seat, her face still holding a lingering flush. Gu Jinse pretended not to notice. “To the Yongan Restaurant?”

Ming Yi gave an awkward smile. “No. To the Gu residence. A small drink together… if that’s alright?”

Gu Jinse understood. The Prime Minister’s manor had too many eyes. “Then to my house.”

Inside the carriage, Gu Jinse lounged on the soft bedding and asked, “Want to lie down with me?”

Ming Yi turned and saw the invitation in Gu Jinse’s eyes. Suddenly, the blush that had started to fade came rushing back. “Is this part of your long-term scheme?”

“Scheme? I just want you to be comfortable. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to,” Gu Jinse said, blinking innocently. “Don’t think of me as some shameless scoundrel.”

“You are a scoundrel with at least a shred of shame,” Ming Yi replied, lowering her eyelids.

At the Gu residence, Gu Jinse was full of joy. She called out to her maid, “Chun Yue! Prepare the best food! Everything!”

“Are you hosting a banquet? Should I bring the performers?” the maid asked. Madam Gu had bought some entertainers for such occasions.

Gu Jinse waved her off. “No performers! Just food. And bring out the wine I brewed.”

Ming Yi watched her with a quiet smile. Madam Gu appeared as well, seeing her daughter had brought the Prime Minister home again. She raised an eyebrow. Quite the bold girl.

Gu Jinse pulled her mother aside. “Mother, tonight… we’re having a candlelit dinner.”

Madam Gu smirked. “You could just tell me to get lost, you know.”