The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 29

During her time at the Ministry of Revenue, Gu Jinse had studied the laws thoroughly and understood most of them. In this era, there were no surveillance cameras in the streets or alleys; if she beat someone up, no one would ever find out.

Gu Jinse set out with a grand entourage, a sudden surge of bravado rising in her chest. She felt bold and high-spirited.

Today’s banquet was attended by not only the Third Prince but also Chancellor Ming. Word was that a retired senior official was celebrating a landmark birthday, and the Emperor had even bestowed some gifts. In this age, longevity was rare, making it a cause truly worth celebrating.

Tuntun had already scouted the route. She knew that a profligate like the Third Prince would certainly be drinking.

When speaking of the Third Prince, Tuntun was a fountain of information. She revealed much: the Zhao family had built their prosperity on the “blood bread” of their eldest daughter, yet they secretly looked down on Chancellor Ming, considering her a child born of an illicit affair. When the Chancellor was young, the Zhao family had nearly driven her to her death; their spiteful words alone were enough to drown a child.

Last year, when Ming Yi was appointed Chancellor, Consort De’s attitude had done a complete 360-degree turn, treating her almost like a Bodhisattva to be worshipped.

It was loathsome.

Gu Jinse shared that loathing. As a modern person, she didn’t carry much traditional baggage, but she knew well enough to stay far away from such toxic relatives.

She asked Tuntun, “Are you not afraid?”

“What is there to fear? It isn’t the first time,” Tuntun replied, sounding quite used to it.

Gu Jinse’s jaw dropped. “The Chancellor has done this before?”

“She did it several times when she was young in the palace. The Chancellor would lead me, Chi Mei, and Tutu to crouch near the place where the Third Prince finished his lessons. Once we caught him, we gave him a good thrashing. The Emperor knew it was the Chancellor’s doing, but he never cared,” Tuntun answered fluently. Fighting was nothing special; everyone knew how to do it.

While one person thought they were doing something earth-shattering, they didn’t realize they were just playing with the Chancellor’s old tricks.

The two crouched in an alley, sharing a pancake bite for bite. When the hour of the Pig arrived, their target finally emerged.

First, they used a tripwire to bring down the horse. With a loud crash, the person inside the carriage tumbled out. The group quickly retracted the wire, and then, bucket after bucket of night soil was splashed over them.

The guards shouted, drawing their blades in alarm, while the Third Prince shriveled in fear inside the carriage.

By the time Gu Jinse counted to fifty, the guards had begun cursing, their bodies reeking. The Third Prince joined in the swearing.

Guards hidden in the shadows used slingshots to accurately snipe the Third Prince. Under the dark, windy sky, the opposition was in a state of frantic panic. Hit by stones, the Prince let out several pained cries. The guards were at a loss, standing helplessly on the ground for a moment until the Third Prince roared, “Capture the assassins, quickly!”

The people in hiding laughed until their stomachs ached. Tuntun said in surprise, “This move of yours is quite good!”

They didn’t even have to use their fists to deal with him.

Gu Jinse waved it off. “Just a small trick. Let’s head back. If there is a next time, we’ll thrash him like this again.”

Before the other side could react, the two slipped away quietly. The Third Prince, pained and humiliated, nearly collapsed. Once it was confirmed there was no more danger, he was carried back to his manor.

Ming Yi arrived at the Third Prince’s manor upon hearing the news. The moment she entered, she was met with a foul stench. Her footsteps faltered slightly. As she covered her mouth, her lips curved; she wanted to laugh but forced herself to endure.

The Third Prince was bathing; he had washed himself seven or eight times, yet that stench simply wouldn’t wash away.

The smell permeated the house inside and out. The serving maids looked ashen, desperate to escape. Ming Yi stood outside the room in silence while the steward recounted the attack.

Ming Yi asked, “Was His Highness injured anywhere?”

“Only superficial wounds, but…” The steward hesitated, his expression extremely grim.

“Since it is nothing serious, I shall take my leave.” Ming Yi had no desire to go inside. Covering her nose, she turned and left hurriedly.

The Third Prince’s furious roars echoed from within the house. She suddenly broke into a smile. Under a sky full of stars, she boarded her carriage and instructed the driver, “To the Gu estate.”

There was no breeze on this summer night. Sitting inside the carriage felt a bit stifling, so she lifted the curtain. The stars were brilliant. A summer night felt warm, lacking the bone-chilling cold of winter.

The carriage stopped before the Gu estate. Gu Jinse was having dinner in the courtyard, sitting with Tuntun regardless of their status as master and servant.

Tuntun, like a devoted little follower, was full of bottomless admiration for Gu Jinse’s actions tonight. Gu Jinse arched an eyebrow and said, “I don’t fight, but I can still teach him a lesson.”

Ming Yi stood at the gate, staring blankly at the girl under the lamplight. The high temperature of the summer night felt comfortable. A warmth rose in her heart; under the dim light, the girl’s skin was snow-white, bursting with youthful vitality.

Ming Yi did not enter; she turned and left.

She was a bit unaccustomed to it—finally, someone was doing something for her. Even if it was a small matter, it warmed her heart.

After all these years, besides her mother, someone had finally stood up for her.

The news of the Third Prince being splashed with night soil and pelted with stones upon his return from the banquet spread like wildfire. Even Madam Gu, who never left the house, heard the rumors and pulled the family “gossip ambassador” aside to get the full story.

Tuntun omitted her own heroic deeds and credited the victory to “some unknown good Samaritans.” Madam Gu enjoyed the story so much she ate an extra bowl of rice that day.

Gu Jinse continued tinkering with her desserts, sending them to the government office daily.

After a few days, Tuntun returned and said, “The last girl has also disappeared. The culprit seems to know the government’s movements. This time, the plan to ‘lead the tiger into the pit’ failed.”

All nineteen girls were gone.

Even Gu Jinse, who usually felt these things were none of her business, felt a bit afraid. “Will the Chancellor be reprimanded?”

Tuntun held up two fingers. “The Chancellor has been scolded twice already. A third time, and her position as Chancellor might not be safe.”

Gu Jinse felt more and more that this was targeted at Ming Yi. She untied her apron. “I am going to find the Chancellor.”

“It won’t be of much use even if you go,” Tuntun said, not having much faith in her.

But Gu Jinse explained, “Your Chancellor has suffered three setbacks, which means the opponent knows her very well. Either that, or there is an insider. If I do it, there will be no insider. The opponent doesn’t know me. Don’t you think the chances of success would be higher?”

Tuntun thought it over. Combined with her deep admiration for the “young master” over the past few days, she felt moved.

“The Chancellor and I are already betrothed. It is only natural for me to go help her,” Gu Jinse decided. It wouldn’t be right to not help the Chancellor at a time like this.

She had watched so many television dramas; surely they would be of some use.

With her heart fluttering, Gu Jinse changed her clothes and slipped out through the back door, racing all the way to the government office.

Upon arriving, she entered and ran into a colleague who joked, “I heard your younger sister has come to the capital. Let us meet her some day; the rest of us aren’t married yet! You lucky brat, we can’t even hope to catch up.”

Gu Jinse was baffled. “Where did you all hear that from?”

“Eh? Everyone is talking about it. Why, is the rumor wrong?” The colleague was also scratching his head in confusion.

Gu Jinse chuckled a couple of times, gave an evasive answer, and hurried to find Ming Yi.

Ming Yi was speaking with her subordinates, her expression as cold as frost. The subordinates stood frozen, not daring to speak a word. Seeing the Chancellor’s fiancé arrive, they all took the chance to slip away.

When Ming Yi saw her, she gave a thin smile. “Why have you come?”

Gu Jinse asked about the rumor she heard at the door. The smile on Ming Yi’s lips vanished instantly. “It was Vice Minister Gu who said it, claiming a letter came from Yuhang. I have no time to deal with that right now; let’s put that matter aside.”

Ming Yi was overwhelmed, with dark circles under her eyes; it was clear she hadn’t slept for days. Gu Jinse breathed a sigh of relief. “Since the rumor is out, the culprit is surely waiting for this ‘Gu Jinse’ to enter the city. Why not find a girl who knows martial arts to take her place and wait for them to come? Don’t worry, I won’t be the one going; Mother would break my legs if she found out.”

Ming Yi weighed the option, her mind in a mess. Gu Jinse’s eyes were clear and full of confidence. She nodded and said, “Very well, I will have someone arrange it.”

“No, Chancellor. You have an insider around you. I will handle it. Do not interfere; do not ask anything. I will do it,” Gu Jinse refused.

Ming Yi frowned. Gu Jinse walked around the desk to stand before her. “What were you doing when you were seventeen?”

“I followed the Empress Dowager into the court, often staying awake all night facing thorny problems. The Empress Dowager said I was too upright and didn’t know how to take shortcuts. Later, for a month, I did nothing but follow her, observing how she handled affairs.” Ming Yi recalled the past, a sense of frustration rising in her heart. That feeling had been too difficult to bear.

She had tasted the bitterness of isolation, but the struggle of pushing against the current was even more grueling.

“To tell you the truth, besides the year I accidentally fell into the water, I have lived a very good life. My path has been smooth, and I have never experienced real hardship. This means my luck is very good. First I had my mother’s protection, and now I have yours. Why not trust in my luck?” Gu Jinse spread her fair, soft hands. “Trust me, Chancellor.”

Looking at her, Ming Yi couldn’t help but give a sweet smile. She envied Gu Jinse’s luck and her optimistic mindset. “Very well, you go try. I will arrange a suitable candidate for you. Remember, you must not go out alone; take Tuntun with you.”

“Alright. Give me the case files; I’ll go home and look them over tonight,” Gu Jinse nodded.

The girl’s clear eyes were incredibly pure. Ming Yi felt a pang in her heart; compared to her, she felt she was far too “dirty.”

“No, read them here. Ask me if there is anything you don’t understand.” Ming Yi smiled at her. As the words left her mouth, she saw the girl breathe a sigh of relief. Her skin was white and translucent, without a trace of makeup, and her lips were a natural faint pink. Her dark, distinct eyes seemed even larger, making her features exceptionally exquisite and striking.

Suddenly, she felt that an ambitious girl was truly beautiful. Using her own fragile strength to build a solid wall for her; even when she herself was in danger, she still planned for her.

Gu Jinse possessed a captivating beauty.

After Ming Yi stole a glance, Gu Jinse lowered her head shyly. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”

Ming Yi instructed her subordinates to bring in a desk and chair, placing them right beside her. Their seats were like those in a school, side-by-side. Gu Jinse sat down and began flipping through the case files with great focus.

The subordinates who came in to report were surprised. Seeing the “young master,” they were somewhat distracted, even stealing glances while they spoke.

Ming Yi found their gazes inexplicably annoying. After they retreated, she had a screen brought in to completely shield Gu Jinse from view.

Immersed in the files, the person behind the screen didn’t notice this. Lamps were lit in the room, making the light bright instantly.

Ming Yi put down her brush and rested her chin on her hand, gazing toward her. She seemed even more beautiful when she was focused; her gentle and lovely nature seemed to have breached Ming Yi’s own defenses.

A wave of heat surged in her heart, but she suppressed it in time, taking a deep breath. Looking at a beauty was also a form of enjoyment; it was a rare moment of relaxation.

She was thinking about how to thank Gu Jinse tonight.

Gu Jinse was entirely unaware of Ming Yi’s thoughts. Her mind held only two words: Ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

The mystery of the case actually lay in the fact that the three girls had vanished strangely, leaving everyone at a loss. Ming Yi had squeezed in time to solve it but didn’t have much energy to spare on it. Outsiders felt that if even the Chancellor couldn’t solve the case, it was a supernatural mystery, and it was quickly sensationalized into a major “ghostly” case.

By the time Gu Jinse finished reading, it was already the hour of the Pig, and Ming Yi hadn’t moved either. Gu Jinse looked up just as Ming Yi did. Their gazes met. Ming Yi spoke first, “What do you wish to say?”

“Who knows the residences of those three girls?” Gu Jinse asked first.

Ming Yi pondered, spreading out paper and dipping her brush in ink. She wrote down three names: one was Zhang Quan, a minor official in charge of household registration; another was Zhao Lou, a minor official in the Ministry of Justice; and the last was her confidante, Wang Liang, who had left the summer palace with her to manage clerical work.

Gu Jinse blinked. Did the name Wang Liang correspond to “Wang Liang” (a type of demon)? There was a “Chi Mei” (mountain demon) at home; “Chi Mei” and “Wang Liang” were a pair.

“Wang Liang would not betray me. I already have men watching Zhang Quan and Zhao Lou,” Ming Yi spoke first.

Hearing her explanation, Gu Jinse was full of worry. “There are no supernatural events in this world, only people playing tricks.”

Ming Yi fell silent. Gu Jinse bypassed Wang Liang and asked, “Have the other two shown any movement?”

“There is nothing yet. I just had someone spread the word that the Gu family’s eldest daughter, Gu Jinse, was born during a Yin hour. However, those other two are likely of no use now; that only leaves Wang Liang.”

By the end of her sentence, Ming Yi’s voice had grown soft. Indeed, having reached this stage, the other two were useless. What point was there in continuing to watch them?

Gu Jinse said, “Avoid her. I will arrange everything else. I have my own way of handling things, and I hope the Chancellor can understand.”

“Very well. I will assign additional men for your use,” Ming Yi agreed.

Gu Jinse refused. “No need. I have Tuntun, and that is enough. She is a walking gossip machine.”

Ming Yi did not insist further. After giving Gu Jinse the case files, she assigned several soldiers that could be mobilized at any time. Tuntun was familiar with every corner of the capital, which provided Gu Jinse with a great deal of help.

It was getting late, and it was time to head home. Ming Yi escorted the young girl back.

As they passed through the streets, a hundred guards had cordoned off a block. Holding torches, they were interrogating passing civilians and stopping carriages. They were shouting orders with such menacing expressions that the common folk were forced to take detours in fear.

When the Chancellor’s carriage passed by, Ming Yi lifted the curtain and recognized them immediately as guards from the Third Prince’s manor. Seeing the Chancellor, the guards quickly released the pedestrians to salute her.

Gu Jinse was surprised. The captain of the guards explained first, “The Third Prince was attacked here. We are searching for the assassin.”

Gu Jinse rolled her eyes in annoyance. They weren’t looking for an assassin; they were simply harassing the public. Sitting inside the carriage, she quietly tugged at Ming Yi’s sleeve. Ming Yi glanced at her and spoke to the captain, “You are already disturbing the people here. Return at once.”

The captain was reluctant. Ming Yi sneered and reprimanded him, “What? Does your Third Prince think the city isn’t chaotic enough? Do not break the city’s patrol regulations. You are the Prince’s personal guards; you have no right to block the roads and stop the people.”

The streets were managed by the various patrol camps. If the Third Prince usurped their authority and word reached the Emperor, the Prince would be committing a major blunder.

The captain grew wary. Knowing the Chancellor was cold and heartless, they had no choice but to withdraw their troops and return to the manor.

Inside the carriage, Gu Jinse was all smiles, praising her repeatedly, “The Chancellor is the gentlest and most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

Ming Yi could not help but laugh. She instinctively reached out to pinch that plump cheek, but as her hand reached mid-air, Gu Jinse covered her face. “You are breaking the agreement.”

Ming Yi looked dejected. She gave her a brief glance and fell silent.

Her behavior seemed to say: “Since you won’t let me touch you, I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Gu Jinse was bewildered for a moment and watched her quietly. Her gaze fell upon Ming Yi’s hands resting in front of her lap, and she wanted to reach out and touch them. Ming Yi turned her body slightly and tucked her hands into her sleeves. Forget touching them; she wouldn’t even let Gu Jinse look at them.

This woman truly settled every score.

The two bid each other farewell. Only after watching Gu Jinse enter the estate did Ming Yi leave.

As soon as Gu Jinse stepped through the door, her mother grabbed her by the ear. “Running out again? How did you promise me? You’ll only settle down once your legs are broken.”

“Mother, something happened! Uncle told the Vice Minister that the Gu family’s eldest daughter, Gu Jinse, is coming to the capital,” Gu Jinse cried out while hopping in pain.

Madam Gu immediately let go, equally startled. Then, Gu Jinse spoke unhurriedly, “I’ve discussed it with the Chancellor. We’ll find someone to pose as me and stay in the Gu estate. The culprit will definitely come looking for me. We’ll just play along with their scheme; I won’t even need to show my face.”

These few sentences were like a roller coaster, causing Madam Gu’s emotions to fluctuate wildly. Once she recovered, she immediately grabbed her daughter’s ear again. “Go. Kneel in the ancestral hall.”

“Mother, we don’t have an ancestral hall here.”

“Then kneel on an abacus.”

“We don’t have an abacus.”

“Kneel on the floor!”

“Mother, you’ve changed. You used to say I was the only daughter in your heart, and now you want to punish me.”

“Once you’ve finished kneeling, you’ll still be my good daughter.”

Gu Jinse: “…”

Two days later, the eldest daughter of the Gu family entered the city. Gu Jinse and the Chancellor went to the city gate in person to meet her. Many people saw the three of them chatting and laughing as they entered the carriage. “Gu Jinse” did not wear a veil. In that brief glimpse, she seemed less stunning and a bit more heroic than her younger brother, Gu Jinhuan.

It seemed the siblings’ looks had been swapped.

When the carriage reached the Gu estate, Madam Gu came out to meet them. She hugged her daughter, calling her “darling,” and asked if the journey had been exhausting. The mother and daughter shared such deep affection that even the watching maidservants were moved to tears.

Only Gu Jinse grumbled internally: Mother’s acting is quite good. To cry so sorrowfully in front of everyone, she really knows how to put on a show.

After the mother and daughter finished their tearful reunion, the four of them entered the estate. Once they passed the front courtyard and went inside, the maidservants were dismissed. Madam Gu took a breath and said, “My eyes hurt. I shouldn’t cry; they hurt whenever I do.”

Gu Jinse said innocently, “No one asked you to cry.”

Madam Gu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and looked at Ming Yi with a smile. “The tears I cried just now were only the water that leaked into my brain when I was young and impulsive.”

“Was your brain also full of water when you gave birth to me?” Gu Jinse found it hard to understand. She was well-behaved and obedient, thousands of times better than that rebellious son, Gu Jinhuan. Was there something wrong with that?

“When I was giving birth to you, it was a difficult labor. The midwife asked me whether to save the mother or the child. I said save the child, but your father said save the mother. I got so angry that you just popped right out,” Madam Gu sighed.

Gu Jinse was seeing stars, while Ming Yi pursed her lips to hide a smile.

The girl posing as “Gu Jinse” was named A-Gui. She was a “ghost-born child”; rumor had it she was born after her mother had already passed away. Someone had cut open the mother’s womb to retrieve her. Because she was frail, she was named A-Gui (Ghost). The meaning was that she was already a ghost and wouldn’t need to die a second time.

A-Gui was seventeen, the same age as Gu Jinse, and settled into the Gu estate for the time being. Over the next few days, to show her affection, Madam Gu took her along whenever she went out.

Gu Jinse returned to her usual routine, ending her leave to go back to work at the Ministry of Revenue. However, she began eating lunch at the government office. The Gu family would send lunch over to avoid her having to travel back and forth in the summer heat.

Madam Gu had always doted on her daughter, so the food was always of the best quality. Because the lunches were so lavish, many colleagues began coming over to hitch a meal.

Gu Jinse found it difficult to drive them away. After two days, even more people were coming to scrounge for food, and her room had essentially become a large cafeteria.

On the third day, before she left, she instructed her mother not to send the lunch to her own room. Instead, it was to be sent to the Chancellor’s quarters. She would go to Ming Yi’s room to eat; those people would certainly not dare go there.

Madam Gu agreed wholeheartedly. “You just want to be alone with the Chancellor. I understand and will cooperate with you.”

Gu Jinse: “That is not what I meant.”

Madam Gu gave her a look that said, “I know exactly what you mean, no need to explain.”