The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 34

The night was lonely and cold as water.

Inside the Chancellor’s Manor, all was silent. Ming Yi sat beneath the window, gazing at the starlit sky while her maids chattered nearby about the wedding in two days.

 

Since Ming Yi was an orphan with no living kin, the traditional ritual of elders bestowing blessings was skipped. There was also the matter of the “Lady of Full Fortune” combing the bride’s hair; Ming Yi didn’t care for it, but Madam Gu had insisted on inviting an old friend to perform the task.

 

The maids were to remain at the manor, and amidst their laughter and talk, the hour of the Pig (11:00 PM) slipped by unnoticed.

 

Wang Liang had not yet returned.

 

Ming Yi continued to wait. She waited until the maids began to yawn and ask if she wished to retire for the night.

 

“Has Wang Liang returned?” Ming Yi looked at them as if waking from a dream.

 

“Not yet. Surely the groom has invited her for a drink.”

 

“Exactly. The groom is gentle; he likely wanted to share a cup with Official Wang.”

 

“Is that so?” Ming Yi answered absently, turning back to the moon.

 

When the maids asked again if she wished to rest, Ming Yi finally nodded. “Tell the gatekeeper that if Wang Liang returns, she should go straight to rest. Have her report to me tomorrow.”

 

The maids complied. Ming Yi felt exhausted as she lay in bed, yet sleep eluded her.

 

Similarly, Gu Jinse could not sleep. Lying on her cooling chair and watching the stars, her heart felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

 

She asked herself: Do I like the Chancellor?

 

Yes, she did. Ming Yi was the “flower on the high ridge,” distant and ethereal. Who wouldn’t like her?

 

There was nothing wrong with liking her, but to suppress one’s conscience for that affection—that would be a mistake. She also believed that Ming Yi possessed a proper moral compass.

 

At the first light of dawn, she headed to the Ministry of Justice to pull the case files. The Ministry Official, surprised by her arrival, scurried after her to discuss the case.

 

He first offered his congratulations on her upcoming marriage, then leisurely recounted the details of the investigation. Huo Ji had bribed a minor clerk to obtain the addresses of women born on the eighth day of the sixth lunar month. He had then abducted them one by one, murdered them, and cast them into the basement. All were killed according to specific auspicious hours, purely to resurrect his daughter.

 

She stopped in her tracks and asked, “What about my sister?”

 

“You mean the lady who posed as the eldest Gu daughter?” the official said. “She was killed inside the manor. The Huo family sent a double to impersonate her and faked the carriage fire to deceive everyone.”

 

In other words, she was dead.

 

Gu Jinse took a deep breath. “Then do you know whom Huo Ji bribed?”

 

“This case was personally managed by the Chancellor. While you were unconscious, she closed the case. We are merely handling the final paperwork.”

 

“Are the files with the Chancellor?”

 

“They are here at the Ministry. I’ll go find them.” The official hurried off.

 

Gu Jinse followed. Since the files hadn’t been archived yet, they managed to find them quickly. The official noted, “The Chancellor headed this. Huo Ji bribed Zhang Quan, and later Zhao Lou worked for him as well. They were both blinded by greed.”

 

After reading their testimonies, Gu Jinse asked, “Where are they?”

 

“In the dungeons.”

 

“May I see them?” Gu Jinse turned to look at him, her eyes deep and searching. “I only want to ask a few questions. You may stay and watch.”

 

“No need, no need. I’ll take you there quietly.” The official felt a chill under her gaze.

 

Gu Jinse thanked him softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you.”

 

Zhang Quan and Zhao Lou were bought. Was Wang Liang truly innocent? The arrogant attitude Wang Liang displayed the previous night suggested otherwise.

 

Entering the dungeons, she first saw Zhang Quan, the clerk in charge of household registrations. He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, looking desolate and haggard with a stubbled chin.

 

Gu Jinse watched him for a long time before speaking. “You have a wife and children, don’t you?”

 

Zhang Quan hung his head, silent.

 

“I ask, you answer. I will give your family a sum of silver,” Gu Jinse dangled the bait.

 

Zhang Quan snapped his head up, his cheeks twitching. He swallowed hard. “Please, speak.”

 

“Was the person who bribed you from the Huo Manor?” she asked.

 

“I don’t know. At first, I refused; I have a family to feed. But after a few days, a woman came. She said she would take responsibility if anything went wrong. Only then did I agree.” Zhang Quan looked terrified. “That woman said she was from the government and that she had someone powerful backing her.”

 

Gu Jinse found this strange. “After the incident, did anyone try to kill you?”

 

“Twice. Both times they were stopped,” Zhang Quan recalled. “Once, a masked man attacked me on my way home, but strangely, someone rushed forward and saved me.”

 

Gu Jinse nodded. “What did that woman look like?”

 

“She wore a veiled hat. I don’t know.”

 

“Did you tell all this to the Chancellor?”

 

“I did.”

 

“Good. You couldn’t see her face, but did you recognize her voice?”

 

Zhang Quan looked hesitant. Gu Jinse comforted him: “Just listen. If it isn’t her, I won’t force you.”

 

She then went to Zhao Lou and asked the same questions, arranging for him to identify the person as well.

 

Half an hour later, Wang Liang was brought to the Ministry of Justice, blindfolded and gagged. The Minister of Justice was still at the morning court session. The officials present were shocked; everyone knew Wang Liang was one of the Chancellor’s inner circle, yet the Chancellor’s fiancé had just hauled her in.

 

Does the Chancellor know?

 

The officials were at a loss. Gu Jinse reassured them, “If I am wrong, I will confess my guilt before His Majesty. It has nothing to do with you.”

 

With that guarantee, they placed Wang Liang in a cell and brought Zhao Lou and Zhang Quan in for identification. Gu Jinse had someone buy a veiled hat from the street, placed it on Wang Liang, kept her blindfolded, and removed the gag.

 

Wang Liang immediately began to scream, “Gu Jinhuan! You have no evidence! How dare you arrest a court official? I grew up with the Chancellor; you cannot touch me!”

 

“Official Wang, you are not of royal blood. Why can’t I touch you? Zhang Quan and Zhao Lou have identified you. You were the one who bribed them, weren’t you? You leaked the addresses of those three girls. No, you didn’t just leak them; you handed them over. Let me guess why.”

 

“Do you like Huo Ji? He’s average-looking and a profligate. Are you blind?”

 

“Bah! Who would like Huo Ji? Gu Jinhuan, stop your slander!”

 

Gu Jinse pressed further: “You’re jealous of the favor the Chancellor receives from the Emperor, aren’t you? You started out together. In terms of intelligence, you aren’t inferior. Why does His Majesty dote on her so much while he doesn’t even look at you?”

 

Wang Liang bit her lip hard.

 

“It seems I guessed correctly. Wang Liang, you are simply jealous of her…”

 

“No! I wanted to kill you, Gu Jinhuan! The Chancellor said she would never marry, so why did she choose you? You must have used unscrupulous means to defile her! You deserve to die!” Wang Liang grew hysterical. “I finally convinced Huo Ji to use you as the sacrifice. It’s a pity he was incompetent. Gu Jinhuan, you don’t deserve her!”

 

Gu Jinse was stunned. No wonder Ming Yi had intentionally let her go.

 

She turned to the Ministry Official. “She confessed.” Then she asked the witnesses, “Is it her?”

 

They hesitated. “The stature is very similar, and the voice sounds the same.”

 

Only then did Wang Liang realize they were listening. Enraged, she cried, “You trapped me!”

 

Before she could finish, Gu Jinse stuffed the cloth back into her mouth. She told the official, “I am going to see the Chancellor. Do not let anyone see her until I return.”

 

Realizing this involved the Chancellor’s secrets, the official wished he had never been involved and nodded frantically.

 

Gu Jinse went to the palace gate to wait for Ming Yi, but she was a step too late. Wang Liang’s subordinates had already reported her. Guards were already looking for her.

 

After being steady for years, one moment of impulsiveness might cost me my head, she sighed as she followed the guards to see the Emperor.

 

Inside the hall, the Emperor didn’t appear overly angry. He simply asked, “Why did you detain that Wang Liang?”

 

With a pounding heart, Gu Jinse knelt and replied, “Your Majesty, in the case of Huo Ji, Wang Liang was an accomplice.”

 

The Emperor frowned and looked at Ming Yi. “Do you want to call off the wedding?”

 

Gu Jinse’s heart sank. Is this Emperor sick in the head?

 

Ming Yi replied, “I will not call off the wedding.”

 

The Emperor pondered those words, then looked at Gu Jinse. “You have quite the nerve, moving against your own wife’s person. She was busy preparing for your wedding last night; you should at least give the Chancellor some face.”

 

Gu Jinse froze. Hearing those words, she felt the Emperor was trying to drive a wedge between them—the ultimate “Green Tea” move.

 

Heaven help me, even the Emperor is trying to break up this CP.

 

“Your Majesty, if a prince breaks the law, he is punished like a commoner. Wang Liang is but a court official; if she broke the law, she must face the consequences,” Gu Jinse answered cautiously.

 

Ming Yi looked up at the pale youth. She noted the panic in his eyes and his fragile appearance.

 

The Emperor remarked, “Detaining a court official is also a mistake.”

 

Gu Jinse trembled, nearly on the verge of tears. She began to regret her impulsiveness and immediately started to repent.

 

Hearing the official’s tearful pleading, the Emperor grew inexplicably annoyed. “Chancellor Ming hasn’t even cried. Why are you, a grown man, crying?”

 

Gu Jinse flinched, but Ming Yi interjected, “Your Majesty knows I am cold by nature; I do not cry.”

 

The Emperor’s expression turned cold. “Silence. I am teaching your husband a lesson. If he dares to touch your people before you’re even married, what will happen later?”

 

Ming Yi replied, “The Empress also killed the woman you loved, yet she remains the most noble woman in the world. Your affection for her remains undiminished. It is clear that small matters do not affect the bond between husband and wife. Likewise, my feelings for my husband will not change because of Wang Liang.”

 

Gu Jinse wanted to clap in applause. The Emperor’s face turned ashen. “You defend him that much?”

 

“Your Majesty, I am cold-natured and do not defend anyone. I am simply stating the truth.” Ming Yi didn’t even lift her eyelids, her tone indifferent.

 

As expected, the Chancellor is fearless, Gu Jinse thought, bowing her head to hide a smile.

 

The Emperor’s beard twitched with rage. “He made a mistake. He should be beaten.”

 

“Your Majesty is right. If you wish to beat him, then do so. At most, the wedding will be delayed. I have never cared for such things. On the other hand, I heard the Third Princess has recently hunted a few more beautiful.”

 

“Get out! Out! All of you get out!” The Emperor swung his sleeves, pointing at Gu Jinse. “You look pure and harmless, but your heart is truly devious!”

If anyone else had heard those words, they would have been terrified and at a loss, but Gu Jinse remained remarkably calm. It was a clear case of “the city gate catching fire and the fish in the moat suffering the consequences.”

She was perfectly innocent.

Ming Yi took her hand, and they took their leave together. From behind them came the Emperor’s voice: “When Ming Yi cries in the future, don’t come back looking for me.”

Gu Jinse found this strange, so Ming Yi explained to her: “The matter of Gu Jinhuan keeping a mistress reached the Emperor’s ears.”

“Wang Liang told him?”

“Yes. Where is she now?”

Gu Jinse fell silent. She even let go of Ming Yi’s hand, cautiously maintaining her distance. Liking her was one thing, but Gu Jinse had principles.

Ming Yi seemed oblivious to her disapproval. “Wang Liang acted wrongly. I will have her expelled from the capital.”

“Expelled for twenty lives? What about the law?” Gu Jinse was indignant, her small face tightening.

Ming Yi glanced at her. “As you said, she was an accomplice.”

“Chancellor Ming, she came to kill me. Do you really think I will let her go?” Gu Jinse stood her ground. “In her eyes, twenty lives were just tools to harm me. Why does such a person deserve to live?”

Ming Yi raised a delicate eyebrow. “She did not kill anyone.”

Gu Jinse was momentarily speechless. “She instigated the killings!”

Ming Yi repeated calmly, “She did not kill anyone.”

Gu Jinse could not match her detached composure, nor could she maintain her own. A breath of frustration was trapped in her chest, swirling around and leaving her agitated. She muttered sullenly, “In any case, I won’t let her off.”

“Then do so by your own means,” Ming Yi said indifferently.

Gu Jinse was fuming, her eyes wide with irritation. “You promised me you would handle things impartially.”

“I promised you I wouldn’t be heartbroken, but I never promised you I would kill her.” Ming Yi gazed at the azure sky.

Gu Jinse was so angry she wanted to turn back and find the Emperor, but Ming Yi kindly reminded her: “You’ve broken the law as well. If you go in now, you won’t escape at least thirty strokes of the board.”

Gu Jinse froze in her tracks. That surge of anger rose up, blocking her throat and making her feel as though she might faint from rage.

To this day, she finally understood the feeling the Emperor had when being rebutted; it truly was enough to kill someone from pure frustration.

Ming Yi strolled over to her, her gaze lingering for a moment on Gu Jinse’s backside, and asked leisurely, “Are you still going?”

Gu Jinse met her gaze—she was as beautiful as jade and snow, intellectual and elegant. Gu Jinse said, “I want to bite you.”

Ming Yi raised her arm and rolled up her sleeve, offering her snowy-white wrist to the woman who was currently gnashing her teeth. “I’ll give you a chance.”

“Chancellor, you are showing favoritism.” Gu Jinse no longer had the energy to stay angry. It was like punching a bale of cotton; she exerted all her strength, yet the other party remained completely unscathed.

Ming Yi shook her wrist slightly and simply said, “Her crime does not warrant death. I can guarantee she will no longer threaten your life.”

Gu Jinse turned and walked away. Since logic wouldn’t work, she would go find the Minister of Justice to argue the points of the law.

“Official Gu, the Minister of Justice will not see you. He is very busy. You are getting married tomorrow; you should go back and behave yourself. The toxins in your body haven’t been fully cleared yet. If you have an outbreak due to anger…”

Gu Jinse was so incensed she grabbed Ming Yi’s wrist and dragged her behind a tree in front of the palace hall.

The Head Eunuch was shocked and hurried to report to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, Official Gu is bullying the Chancellor!”

The Emperor’s chest ached with annoyance. Upon hearing this, he looked up and asked, “How is he bullying her?”

“This servant doesn’t know. He just dragged her behind a tree in a fit of rage.” The Head Eunuch gestured with his hands. “Dragging her like this, like this…”

“Is that bullying? That… that is them resolving the issue in their own way,” the Emperor said, slapping the table.

The Head Eunuch retreated silently. The Emperor felt a sense of disappointment in his subordinates’ lack of perception. “I know you’ve never had a partner, but surely you’ve seen the Empress and me like that.”

The Head Eunuch thought for a moment and said, “I haven’t seen you with the Empress, but I have seen you and that one pulling and pushing under a tree.”

The Emperor knew exactly who “that one” was. He took a deep breath and pointed at the door. “Get out! Roll out of here! I don’t want to see you for a month.”

The Head Eunuch, having mysteriously gained a month of vacation, felt quite gloomy. When he stepped outside, the two people behind the tree were already gone.

Ming Yi had a sore neck. On her way out of the palace, she kept her hand over it, and colleagues she encountered offered friendly and concerned inquiries.

“Chancellor, what happened?” “Chancellor Ming, what’s wrong with your neck?” “Did you sleep on it wrong?”

Gu Jinse gave a cold snort from the side.

Once they passed the palace gates, they each went back to their respective homes. Ming Yi returned to wait for the wedding, while Gu Jinse went to the Ministry of Justice to argue the law with the Minister.

When she arrived, she found the Minister was out. She found the official from that morning, who told her plainly, “The crime does not warrant death. Exile for a thousand miles, never to return to the capital.”

Gu Jinse pressed, “Why was the Huo family punished with collective responsibility then?”

“Huo Ji was the only one left. His wife and concubines were already dead, so there was no one left to share the punishment. In this case, Wang Liang was a fish that slipped through the net. Since you’ve brought her back, the case is considered closed,” the official said.

Gu Jinse couldn’t get the result she wanted and returned to the Gu residence dejectedly.

Her maternal uncle, Uncle Yu, was busy tending to the arrangements. Because of Ming Yi’s status, all the major noble families had sent gifts. Nearly everyone had come, from Princes down to minor clerks.

When Gu Jinse returned, the manor was bustling with activity. Her uncle pulled her aside and asked, “Where did you go so early this morning?”

“I was handling some small matters. They’re all resolved. Uncle, thank you for your hard work,” Gu Jinse bowed in thanks.

Uncle Yu waved his hand. “It’s nothing. I’ve met many high-ranking officials; it’s good to become a familiar face. However, one thing was strange. The General Weiyuan’s Manor sent a peculiar gift.”

Gu Jinse’s heart skipped a beat. Her uncle didn’t know the old scandals of the capital and likely didn’t know the history between the Chancellor and the General’s Manor.

“I’ll go take a look. You go attend to other things; don’t tell Mother.”

“Alright, I only caught a quick glimpse,” Uncle Yu said cheerfully as he went back to his work.

General Weiyuan had sent a plain, clean white handkerchief.

Gu Jinse stared at the handkerchief in a daze. What was so special about this piece of cloth? She didn’t quite understand, so she called for the “Know-It-All” Tun Tun to ask.

To her surprise, Tun Tun’s face changed drastically upon seeing the handkerchief. “It came from the General Weiyuan’s Manor?”

“Is something wrong?” Gu Jinse was displeased. This handkerchief was too clean. Linking it to Ming Yi’s background, the General’s Manor was clearly mocking her for marrying an “unclean” woman.

Tun Tun’s face flushed bright red. She grabbed the handkerchief and was about to leave, but Gu Jinse held her back. “Does the Emperor not care about such things?”

The fact that they dared to do this meant they knew Ming Yi wouldn’t resist and the Emperor wouldn’t blame them.

Tun Tun nodded. “You don’t know the events of those years. Everyone was laughing at General Weiyuan. His father was literally fumed to death.”

“In other words, no matter what happens, the Emperor won’t intervene. Since the General’s Manor can do this, so can I.” Gu Jinse pondered for a while, then used the handkerchief to wipe some dirt off the table. She sneered, “Are you coming?”

“Yes, of course I’m coming!” Tun Tun practically jumped up. “After suffering so many losses over the years, we have to get something back.”

Gu Jinse nodded. “It’s still early. Go prepare some things. We’ll go after nightfall. Tomorrow, the General’s Manor will surely attend the wedding and cause trouble; let’s make it so they can’t even leave their house tomorrow.”

After the two conspired for a while, Tun Tun went to get things ready.

As darkness fell, the two left. They returned two hours later, reeking of a foul stench. Madam Gu grabbed Gu Jinse by the ear to take her for a bath, while the relatives burst into laughter.

The next day, the wedding proceeded as planned. Gu Jinse, dressed in red robes, mounted a red horse and set off in high spirits to fetch her bride.