The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 37

Gu Jinse was a modern soul to her core; she lacked the restrictive mindset of ancient women who were taught to smile without showing teeth or to never raise their voices in laughter.

Knowing she was an outlier, she didn’t bother to argue. She took a large, defiant bite of her food before bringing up the matter of Wang Liang.

“Let the law take its course,” Ming Yi said, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.

Gu Jinse was dissatisfied with this “high-handed yet light-footed” interpretation of justice. However, knowing she lacked the power to challenge it, she finished two bowls of rice and set her chopsticks down. “I’m going out to play.”

“Where are you going?” Ming Yi looked up. “Your mother is getting a divorce, and you still have the heart to go out and play?”

“When the heavens want to rain, or a mother wants to remarry, there is no stopping it. Since the Chancellor is so concerned, why don’t you go and persuade her yourself?” Gu Jinse was no longer playing the gentle role; she shot back with a retort of her own. Then, flashing her most radiant smile, she added, “According to the agreement, Party B is allowed to have female friends.”

“Then go,” Ming Yi waved her off, her expression unruffled. She even instructed Tun Tun to follow the “groom” closely and serve her well.

The two were of different minds and couldn’t find common ground. Gu Jinse didn’t want Tun Tun; instead, she took several skilled guards from her uncle’s house and headed for the Ministry of Justice.

After lunch, Ming Yi returned to embroidering her mandarin ducks.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Gu Jinse sought out the familiar official from before. She pressed some silver into his hand and asked about Wang Liang.

Since the grand wedding of the Gu and Ming families had shaken the capital only yesterday, the minor official didn’t dare accept the money. While pushing it back, he whispered, “According to the law, she will be sent into exile in two days. Wang Liang’s status is unique; we don’t dare pry too much.”

There was hidden meaning in his words. Gu Jinse forced the silver into his hand anyway and asked quietly, “Has anyone come to pull strings for her?”

“Wang Liang has people backing her. We are lowly; to be honest, matters of the higher-ups are handled by the higher-ups. I only know she leaves the capital in two days. You’ll have to figure out the rest yourself.” He pushed the money bag away again. “The Chancellor knows best. You should just ask her; why make things difficult for us?”

“You’ve worked hard. Take it for some wine, and just act like I was never here.” Gu Jinse left the money behind and led her men away quietly.

Leaving the Ministry, she left one person behind to watch Wang Liang, with orders to report immediately if she were actually moved out of the city.

By the time she returned home, it was already dusk. Her uncle was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, clearly sobered up. Madam Gu and the Chancellor were sitting together doing embroidery, creating an atmosphere of domestic harmony.

From a distance, she heard Madam Gu say, “Let her embroider it herself. Whoever she embroiders it for will wear it; why waste your own energy?”

Ming Yi replied gently, “Madam is right. I’ll finish this one, but there won’t be a next time.”

Gu Jinse rolled her eyes and stepped forward to ask her mother when she was leaving.

“In two days. Your uncle is taking me back to Yuhang. You stay well in the capital; be diligent, don’t sleep until noon every day, and if you run into trouble, go to Jinling to find your uncles.”

“Our family is poor now, so don’t send letters home asking for nothing. Also, if anyone from Yuhang asks you for money, tell them you have none. If you give them anything, it’s like throwing a meat bun at a dog, it’ll never come back.”

“Most importantly, if Yuhang writes to tell you to come back, remember: you must not go.”

Madam Gu said a few more things, then looked up at her daughter, raising a brow. “I’m divorcing your father.”

“Divorce is fine. Come to the capital, and I’ll take care of you,” Gu Jinse teased.

“I have my own family to support me; I don’t need you. Just remember to bring your sister A-Shang over; it’s enough if you take care of her.” Madam Gu sighed. “I’m doing great. I’m already planning to find my next husband.”

Gu Jinse’s body stiffened. “Mother… saying that might actually kill Father from rage.”

“Good riddance if he dies,” Madam Gu snorted. She stood up, grabbed her brother, and prepared to head out. “I’m taking you out for some good food. I heard the donkey meat at the Zhang family shop is excellent…”

As the sun set, a trace of softness appeared on Ming Yi’s pale face. She set down her needlework, her eyes like clear water.

Gu Jinse shamelessly leaned in, looked at the “chickens” on the embroidery, and lied through her teeth: “The mandarin ducks you embroidered are truly beautiful.”

Ming Yi looked up, her gaze falling into Gu Jinse’s lying yet beautiful eyes. She let out a small sigh, beauty was truly distracting, and she found she could no longer maintain her cold demeanor. “Which ‘female friend’ did you go to play with?”

“You don’t know her.” Gu Jinse sat down naturally, feeling a bit weary. She propped her chin on her hand and looked at the other woman. “Chancellor, are you tired?”

“You’re the one who went out to play and got tired; I’ve been at home, I’m not tired at all.” Ming Yi smiled faintly. She reached out to stroke Gu Jinse’s soft cheek, then her lips. “Your mouth is tired.”

Gu Jinse snorted. “Why don’t you just come out and say you think I went out to kiss other women?”

Ming Yi arched an eyebrow. “Didn’t you?”

“I can’t be bothered with you. Let’s go to the study.” Gu Jinse didn’t want to bicker; she grabbed Ming Yi’s hand and led her away.

Caught off guard, Ming Yi’s heart skipped a beat. After a few steps, she regained her composure, but looking at the youth’s back, she felt an uncontrollable surge of irritation in her heart.

Facing the sunset, Gu Jinse stole a glance at Ming Yi. That cold, beautiful face was glowing in the twilight. Gu Jinse’s lips quirked up slightly. Ming Yi was stunning; every move, every smile, seemed to pluck at her heartstrings. Age wasn’t the problem; temperament was the real challenge.

They entered the study, and Gu Jinse let go of her hand. With a bang, she shut the door. Ming Yi flinched, instinctively looking at the closed door.

The study was large, divided into front and back sections. The front was the office, while the back was a bedroom, fully furnished. Madam Gu had arranged it well; after all, there are always a few days a month when one is too irritable to see their partner, making a study incredibly important. Everyone needs their privacy; a bit of distance keeps things beautiful.

It was Ming Yi’s first time in the study. She looked around, her eyes landing on the bedroom in the back. Her lips quirked. “Madam Gu has arranged things very… thoroughly.”

“Mother is the most unique person I’ve ever met—truly clear-headed.” Gu Jinse pulled two boxes from beneath the bookshelf, panting slightly. “I think it’s necessary for me to go over my properties with you.”

“You are quite honest,” Ming Yi sighed. This girl was thick-skinned, yet remarkably sincere. “It seems I should also organize my things and show you my properties in return.”

The boxes were filled with land deeds and business contracts—so many that one couldn’t see them all at a glance. It was clear the Gu family’s foundations were deep.

Ming Yi didn’t touch them; she stood two paces away. Gu Jinse turned to look at her. “Can you see from that far away?” She looked satisfied, her gaze bold and teasing. “Are you afraid I’ll kiss you?”

Last night, Gu Jinse had kissed her whenever she felt like it, until her lips were sore. Ming Yi wasn’t used to it, but since the other party had challenged her, staying away would seem cowardly.

The sunset was blocked by the windows, and the light in the room was dim. The two boxes sat quietly on the desk—Gu Jinse’s entire fortune. Ming Yi felt a bit lightheaded as she looked at the deeds. Her lips pressed together, and a warmth grew in her heart. For some reason, she felt the person in front of her was… good.

Simply good. Good for a life together.

A man like the Emperor would hide and stay silent when things went wrong, but Gu Jinse was suited for the daily grind family matters, going out at sunrise, returning at sunset, a harmonious home. Love was important, but if one bickered over every trivial thing, life would be exhausting.

She didn’t touch the boxes. Instead, she spoke softly, “I thought you would bring up the matter of Wang Liang.”

“You’re willing to talk about it?” Gu Jinse was surprised. She actually hadn’t intended to bring it up, knowing this wasn’t the modern world and the laws were different.

Seeing her sincere eyes, Ming Yi’s tone softened. “Wang Liang is clever, but her heart is in the wrong place. We grew up together; I know exactly what she wants. She wants to use the stars as chess pieces and command the world. In terms of intelligence, she is not inferior to me.”

“I had patrons to help me, while she had to figure everything out on her own. People like Zhang Mingqian or Du Yan are smarter than I am; they know how to endure, but I don’t. I am arrogant and domineering, constantly testing the Emperor’s limits. If it weren’t for his guilt over my mother, I wouldn’t have lived in peace until today.”

“I digress. As for Wang Liang, she is proud. Exile will torture her more than a death sentence. A-Gui was also her subordinate; a superior like that cannot stay in the capital.” She paused, then continued, “If you want to do something, do it. I was once her ‘sister,’ so I had to show some leniency. But once she leaves the capital, her life is no longer in my control.”

She had fulfilled her duty of past affection.

“Just tell me to go kill her; why beat around the bush?” Gu Jinse felt truly depressed.

“I wasn’t close to A-Gui,” Ming Yi smiled. “This place is a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair; there will be more incidents like this in the future. Justice is something you win for yourself, not something that falls into your lap.”

Gu Jinse learned something then. What was justice? It wasn’t an abstract ideal; it depended on one’s own efforts. In this world, power was supreme. One lives for their pride, but you can’t always fight for it, it depends on the power you hold.

Take Wang Liang: the law had already passed judgment. What could you do? Accuse the Chancellor of favoritism? The Ministry’s verdict was based on the law; there was no room for dispute. You could only swallow it, unless you used your own power to interfere along the way.

Gu Jinse was excitedly looking for loopholes, but after hearing Ming Yi, she felt that doing so was unnecessary. Study the law, obey the law that was what her teachers had taught her.

After a silence, Ming Yi spoke first. “Do you still want to do it?”

Gu Jinse gritted her teeth and said nothing.

Seeing her at a loss for words, Ming Yi leisurely looked through the deeds in the box. “I heard Uncle Yu added quite a bit to your estate. The Yu family is generous; you needn’t worry about your mother’s future. I believe she will live much better without you as a ‘burden.'”

Madam Gu was sharp; once free of the Gu family, she would only find more peace.

Gu Jinse snorted and muttered, “I’m just worried about her.”

“She’s going to Jinling; the Yu family will take proper care of her. On the other hand, Gu Jinshang’s life at the Gu residence will likely be difficult.” Ming Yi shifted the topic smoothly. “A normal person knows how to live well, but Gu Jinshang is likely to suffer.”

At the mention of Gu Jinshang, Gu Jinse looked troubled. “Chancellor, I’m afraid my grandfather won’t hand her over to me. Since I don’t listen to him in the capital, they might use my sister… no, my ‘aunt’… to control me.”

The classic hostage situation.

“So, we need a long-term plan. What do your grandfather and father care about most?” Ming Yi asked.

Gu Jinse answered instantly, “Reputation.”

“Exactly.” Ming Yi smiled. “Think about it. A-Gui’s body has been found and I’ve had her buried. She was just an ordinary subordinate; you’ve done right by her by catching Wang Liang. Go pay your respects, and you will owe her nothing more.”

With those words, the confusion in Gu Jinse’s mind cleared, like mist vanishing to reveal the path. “You left Wang Liang to me on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Did I?” Ming Yi laughed. “It was you who went to the Ministry to report her because you were unhappy with my ‘favoritism.’ It had nothing to do with me. I was only ‘forced’ to punish her.”

Gu Jinse didn’t believe her. She stared intently at Ming Yi’s expression. “Look, your eyes are curved that means you’re happy. If you were truly forced by me, you wouldn’t be happy.”

Ming Yi reached out and covered her eyes. “Gu Jinse, I’m getting angry.”

“Ming Yi, did I guess right?” Gu Jinse blinked. Her eyelashes brushed against Ming Yi’s palm like feathers. Ming Yi withdrew her hand and turned to leave.

Gu Jinse rushed to give chase, but then, remembering her precious boxes of deeds, she had no choice but to pack them up and lock them away before she could leave the study.

By then, the person was gone. She had run off incredibly fast.

With the two elders of the Gu family out dining at a restaurant, Gu Jinse didn’t want to stay cooped up at home either. She led Ming Yi to the Yong’an Tower to watch the singing and dancing performances.

On the way there, Gu Jinse explained incessantly: “We’re watching this together, so don’t you dare call me unfaithful. You have to believe me; if you didn’t exist, I’d have married someone else; I certainly wouldn’t be with any other woman. I was originally straight, but you bent me.”

Ming Yi closed her eyes, letting those words drift past her ears like a breeze. For some reason, she believed that Gu Jinse would not mess around.

Why such trust? Thinking deeply, she felt it must be linked to that first impression. Those eyes, like glazed glass, or rather, like stars, were clean and flawless. A person with eyes like that must possess a kind heart.

As the two entered hand-in-hand, Ying Hui immediately came to greet them, her smile charming and bright. “My congratulations to the two officials on your grand wedding! Married only yesterday, yet out to play today? Officials Zhang and Du are also here; what a coincidence.”

Three high-ranking, powerful female officials of the imperial court appearing at Yong’an Tower at once was indeed a rare sight. Zhang and Du had not attended the wedding the previous night. Gu Jinse found it strange but didn’t press for details; after all, that was Ming Yi’s private business. Whom she chose to be close with was her own affair.

As the words fell, Du Yan walked over, pointing first at Ming Yi and then at Gu Jinse. “Shouldn’t you two be spending your wedding night, or rather, your first day, at home?”

Ming Yi’s face reddened. Gu Jinse, being thick-skinned, laughed and said, “It was dull at home. The Chancellor rarely comes out, so I thought I’d bring her out for some fun. Official Du, you’re here too?”

“Official Zhang and I were planning to drop by your manor tomorrow to beg for a cup of wedding wine; we only just rushed back today. Perfect timing, come join our table.” Du Yan pointed to a table in front of the stage where Zhang Mingqian sat, dressed in a simple, faded green dress with two silver hairpins; plain yet elegant.

The three walked over together. Zhang Mingqian rose and paid her respects: “Chancellor Ming, Official Gu.”

“What a coincidence. Surely Official Gu should play the host today, right?” Zhang Mingqian spoke first, her gaze flickering between the two of them with a knowing smile.

Gu Jinse was about to nod when Ming Yi asked first, “What are you two doing here?”

“Watching beauties. Yong’an Tower has a performance today, so we came; Ying Hui is dancing herself, which is rare.” Du Yan smiled, her eyes crinkling until they were almost closed.

Ming Yi was surprised. “You two are women; you came here to watch a woman dance?”

Du Yan laughed. “What’s so strange about that?” She pointed at Zhang Mingqian. “If her lover hadn’t run off with someone else, she would have brought a woman home long ago. It’s just the hobby of rubbing mirrors; nothing unusual. The female officials who served the late Empress Dowager were all beauties; Chancellor, surely you know that best of all?”

Ming Yi’s face turned even redder. Gu Jinse, curious, whispered, “Did the Empress Dowager like women?”

“She had a few close friends. After she passed away, they left the capital and their whereabouts are unknown,” Ming Yi lowered her voice.

Gu Jinse’s eyes widened, her gossipy heart fluttering. She leaned close to Ming Yi. “Such a big secret! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Speculating about the Empress Dowager is a great irreverence,” Ming Yi said solemnly, but the sharp-eyed Gu Jinse still saw a shade of cherry-pink creeping up her jade-like ear.

The Empress Dowager liked women, so why are your ears turning red?

Gu Jinse pursed her lips and shifted her leg, her knee gently brushing against Ming Yi’s. In an instant, Ming Yi gave a slight start, even her long eyelashes trembling before she glared at her in annoyance. Gu Jinse returned the look with a grin.

Zhang Mingqian and Du Yan were both shrewd; they saw immediately that the two were flirting, but they pretended not to notice, raising their wine cups for a toast.

After a cup, Zhang Mingqian asked about Huo Ji. The news was spreading like wildfire outside; so many girls had died that even the Emperor was enraged. Huo Ji had been sentenced to dismemberment by chariots. Ming Yi had personally supervised the execution. Some of the young clerks from the Ministry of Justice had vomited on the spot, yet Ming Yi had walked out of the Ministry completely unfazed.

Speaking of this, Du Yan clicked her tongue, took a sip of wine, and asked Ming Yi, “Were you afraid?”

“No. They were just strangers,” Ming Yi smiled faintly. She reached for her wine cup, but a hand was faster, snatching the cup away and draining it in one gulp. Sensing the fruity aroma after swallowing, Du Yan let out a cold laugh. “It’s just fruit wine! What are you afraid of?”

Gu Jinse felt a bit embarrassed. She was afraid the Chancellor would pounce on her again if she got drunk.

Zhang Mingqian continued discussing the execution. “I heard about the Chancellor supervising the execution the moment I returned today. Even I felt a bit fearful hearing about it.”

“What is there to fear? My own mother died in my arms.” Ming Yi picked up Gu Jinse’s cup and took a tentative sip. It was sweet. She took another sip, her eyes narrowing slightly.

When her mother’s poison had taken effect years ago, she had collapsed into Ming Yi’s arms, bleeding from her eyes, nose, and mouth. That year, she was only eight. The Crown Prince was only six. What was there to fear?

Gu Jinse stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, a wave of pity surging in her eyes. She instinctively took Ming Yi’s hand and said, “It’s all in the past. People must look forward. Things will be better from now on.”

For some reason, she felt that the eldest Zhao daughter had not committed suicide. A fleeting, absurd thought crossed her mind and quickly vanished.

The gongs and drums sounded, and the lights on the stage flared to life while the lamps around them were extinguished. All eyes were forced toward the stage. Du Yan was delighted. “Ying Hui has practiced dancing for over twenty years. I hear her waist is as soft as dough.”

“Official Du, have you touched it?” Ming Yi unceremoniously threw a bucket of cold water on the conversation.

In the dim light, Du Yan’s disgruntled expression was hidden, but Gu Jinse’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. The zither music rose, gentle and slow. Amidst the hazy tipsiness, hearts skipped a beat. Gu Jinse held Ming Yi’s hand, stroking it gently, but Ming Yi pulled her hand back, looking distant.

“Chancellor, your two female friends are much more interesting than you. They even know how slender Ying Hui’s waist is. What do you know?”

Ming Yi thought for a moment. Zhang Mingqian and Du Yan were not without suitors; they simply chose not to marry, which meant their thoughts differed from ordinary women, and naturally, they knew more.

On stage, Ying Hui wore a brilliant dress, leaping into the air with an incredibly light body. Ming Yi thought of something and replied, “I know that your waist is even softer than Ying Hui’s.”