The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 48

Gu Jinse had grown up in a jar of honey after the age of eight, while Ming Yi had fallen from heaven into hell at that same age. These differing environments nurtured distinct temperaments. From a young age, Ming Yi understood that justice did not belong to her; if she wanted something, she had to fight for it herself.

It was only after arriving in the capital that Gu Jinse realized how harsh the world could be toward women. Gradually, their perspectives began to align. In Gu Jinse’s eyes, Ming Yi was incomparably beautiful.

While Gu Jinse was lost in her admiration, Ming Yi’s wrist gave a slight twist. Somehow, she broke free from Gu Jinse’s grasp. Surprised, Gu Jinse felt a sudden pinch at her waist.

“See, I pinched you,” Ming Yi said with a faint smile. “There is an art to fighting. I figured it out slowly on my own.”

“How can you be so happy when talking about fighting?” Gu Jinse asked, her irritation rising.

Ming Yi released her and touched her own face. “Is it that obvious? I am merely passing my skills on to you. However, they say that once the apprentice learns the trade, the master starves.”

As she spoke, Ming Yi sat up and rubbed her shoulder. She gave Gu Jinse’s flushed cheek a lingering, affectionate touch, noting its softness. Then, she suddenly grabbed Gu Jinse’s right arm, pinned it against her shoulder, and pressed her down onto the bed.

“Look, this is the Honey Trap,” Ming Yi said, looking down at the girl who was frowning in pain. “You are simply too trusting.”

“You called it a Honey Trap. If it were any other tactic, I certainly would not have fallen for it,” Gu Jinse replied. Her face turned pale from the pain as she glared at Ming Yi.

Ming Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. “There is also the strategy of provocation. I have noticed you are most susceptible to that, which is why Gu Jinhuan is always able to manipulate you.”

Gu Jinse was momentarily silenced by the truth of it. “Let me go!”

“Should you not say a few soft words first?” Ming Yi calmly applied a bit more pressure to her arm.

Gu Jinse cried out in pain. “What soft words? I respond to kindness, not force. Do you not think fighting is childish?”

“It is very childish. You are seventeen, so I will pretend I am seventeen as well. Thinking of it that way makes it less so.” Ming Yi spoke righteously. Seeing Gu Jinse’s aggrieved expression, she suddenly laughed. “Why do you look so wronged?”

With that, she finally released her.

Gu Jinse turned to look at this seemingly frail woman, struggling to find the words to describe her. Ming Yi’s features were near perfection. She lacked a soldier’s toughness but possessed an immense elegance. Usually, everything she did resembled a masterpiece from an ancient painting of noble ladies. It was hard to imagine such a woman suddenly resorting to physical force.

Gu Jinse lay down, and Ming Yi followed suit. The space within the bed curtains fell silent. Ming Yi glanced at her and asked, “What are you thinking?”

“Thinking about you,” Gu Jinse blurted out.

Ming Yi asked no more and closed her eyes. Both women lay there, occupied by their own thoughts. Neither spoke, and the silence stretched on. Gu Jinse rolled over toward the inner side of the bed. After shifting for a while, she managed to roll herself up in Ming Yi’s quilt. Remembering that Gu Jinse had entered wrapped in her own quilt, Ming Yi sat up to look for it. She found it tucked away in the far corner of the bed.

That night, Gu Jinse slept in Ming Yi’s quilt, while Ming Yi covered herself with the quilt Gu Jinse had brought from the study. They passed the night in peace.

The next day, before dawn, a messenger arrived from the palace ordering Ming Yi to an imperial audience. Gu Jinse jumped up in alarm, but Ming Yi held her down and called out to the messenger, “I am rising now.”

She lowered her voice and spoke to Gu Jinse. “Act as if nothing happened today. Whatever you did in the past, do the same today. Do you understand?”

“And what about you?” Gu Jinse grabbed Ming Yi’s slender arm and said seriously, “Ming Yi, you are not alone anymore. You have me.”

“I know I have you. Nothing will happen to me. Remember, even if the Emperor knows I did this, he will not do anything to me. I was merely following the Crown Prince’s example. If a scene breaks out, the focus will be on the Crown Prince. The other princes are not incompetent; they will seize the chance.” Ming Yi spoke calmly.

Even though Ming Yi was composed, Gu Jinse could not help but worry. However, there was nothing she could do. She watched as Ming Yi dressed and boarded the carriage. All she could do was wave and say, “I will wait for you to come back.”

Once the palace carriage left, Gu Jinse went to her office, maintaining her usual light smile when greeting colleagues. At noon, word came from the palace summoning her as well. Ming Yi had still not emerged.

The Emperor’s mind was unpredictable, and the weight of imperial power was oppressive. Feeling the immense pressure, Gu Jinse took a deep breath and followed the eunuch into the palace. The carriage sped along and stopped before the Great Hall. As she stepped out, she met the gaze of the Third Princess. Gu Jinse paused, then quickly bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Ah, it is Supervisor Gu,” the Third Princess said with feigned surprise. She walked up to Gu Jinse and studied her coldly. “Do you know what is being discussed inside?”

Gu Jinse’s heart skipped a beat. She did not dare look up and instead stared at the Princess’s embroidered shoes adorned with gold thread and pearls. She replied, “I do not know.”

“Deposing the Crown Prince!” the Princess said in a frigid tone. “My cousin’s wife is dead.”

The wife of the Heir of Yongping Marquis was dead. Gu Jinse looked up abruptly. Though they had never met, it was still a life lost.

The Third Princess gritted her her teeth. “Ming Yi drove her to her death. Gu Jinhuan, your wife is sinister and malicious. Do you not fear a vengeful ghost coming for your life when you share a bed with her? My brother is trapped in the Eastern Palace and my cousin’s wife hanged herself. Ming Yi forced all of this.”

Gu Jinse felt a sharp pain in her head as the shock hit her. A scene from years ago seemed to be repeating. However, Madam Zhao had been coerced, whereas the Crown Prince and the Marchioness had been willing participants in their affair.

Meeting the Princess’s venomous gaze, Gu Jinse said, “Is the Crown Prince innocent? Is the Marchioness innocent? As for how she died, perhaps you should ask the Empress if she forced her to die to preserve the honor of the Marquis’s manor.”

“What does that matter? The root of everything is Ming Yi’s revenge against my brother. She is the culprit.” The Princess’s voice turned harsh. “She has achieved her goal, but let me tell you this: my father is very fond of my brother. Ming Yi has walked right into a trap this time. Even if my brother is deposed, Ming Yi will not come out of this well.”

“Is that so? If Ming Yi is the one in trouble, why are you so agitated?” Gu Jinse asked sternly. She thought to herself that this Princess was a fool. In a few sentences, the Princess had revealed top-secret information that would otherwise be impossible to find out.

“I am not agitated! I am worried about my brother. I also want you to understand that Ming Yi is facing disaster. You would be wise to divorce her immediately.” The Third Princess laughed maliciously.

Gu Jinse was stunned. It turned out the Princess was still interested in her. She mused that her own luck with romance was truly something else.

“Master Gu!” the eunuch urged quietly.

As soon as he spoke, the Princess glared at him. “What is the rush? Do you not have eyes? Can you not see I am speaking?” The eunuch immediately lowered his head and did not dare urge her again.

Gu Jinse sighed inwardly. Ming Yi claimed she was arrogant, but she was nothing compared to this Princess. Unwilling to continue speaking with a fool, she began to walk away. The Princess blocked her path. “I am giving you a chance. Do not let Ming Yi drag your entire family down with her.”

“Your Highness, you are like a cloud in the sky, while I am merely an ordinary son from Yuhang. I am not worthy of you. Furthermore, I believe that what is ‘best’ is not always what is ‘suitable.’ I only choose what is right for me. Ming Yi may not be as noble as you, nor does she have doting parents, but she is the most suitable for me.” Gu Jinse declined her gracefully.

The Third Princess turned red with shame and anger. “Gu Jinhuan, you insult me so. My father will not forgive you.”

Seeing her lose her temper, Gu Jinse felt a bit of malicious joy. “You are welcome to complain to him, Princess. But if His Majesty learns you are coveting another woman’s husband, I wonder if he will ground you again. Also, I am aware of your personal grudge against the Chancellor. There is no need for your provocations.”

Gu Jinse walked past her. She suddenly thought of the real Gu Jinhuan; if he were here, he would likely have already fallen for the Princess. She found the thought inexplicably funny and let out a laugh. The eunuch leading the way turned back in surprise, seeing the handsome young man with a gentle expression.

Inside the hall, many people were seated together. Ming Yi sat at the very front. The Emperor looked unwell, his features clouded by illness. He pressed a hand to his lips and coughed frequently. Below him, Ming Yi was slowly sipping tea. The hall was noisy as everyone argued their own points.

Gu Jinse was placed at the very end. Ming Yi spotted her immediately, and in that instant, anger flared in Ming Yi’s heart.

The Emperor took a sip of hot tea to soothe his throat and asked Ming Yi, “Chancellor Ming, are you unhappy?”

“Your Majesty, are you planning to reuse the tactic from years ago?” Ming Yi asked. She was so angry she could barely stay seated. Her face was deathly pale. Facing the Emperor’s threat, she felt a wave of despair. At this moment, she truly understood the agonizing choice her mother had once faced—the heartache, the hesitation, and the pain—while the instigator sat in the hall with perfect composure.

A threat had always been the most effective tactic.

“A good tactic should naturally be used again and again,” the Emperor said dismissively.

Ming Yi pursed her lips, her heart in turmoil. Soon, she regained her composure and said, “I am willing to be at Your Majesty’s service.”

The Emperor smiled and looked toward the young man at the back. He noted the boy’s skin was as fair as fresh snow and his eyes as black as ink. He sighed, “Such a young man is indeed rare. He is handsome and devoted to you. Such a husband is truly perfect.”

A handsome husband who followed her every wish—thinking of it that way, he was indeed perfect.

A moment later, Gu Jinse was led out. Her trip to the palace had been a heart-stopping experience. She touched her chest and thought that if this happened again, she would surely die.

By the time she returned to her office, the sun was setting. It was finally time to head home. She packed her bags and left. The day had passed like a blur.

Ming Yi did not return home. A message from the palace stated she had been drinking and would stay there for the night. During dinner, Gu Jinse felt lonely and called for Tuntun. She ate while asking about the events of the previous day.

“It was ruled a suicide. They say she couldn’t see a way out,” Tuntun said. “The coroner said there were no injuries on her body, not even traces of drugs. Aside from the mark on her neck, there were no wounds. Many coroners examined her and reached the same conclusion.”

“Do you believe that?” Gu Jinse scoffed.

Tuntun gave a forced smile. “I believe it.”

Gu Jinse dropped a piece of meat into Tuntun’s bowl and said, “I want to know how you did it.” Killing someone on a busy street was practically a perfect crime.

Tuntun chewed the meat and shook her head repeatedly. “It wasn’t me. I don’t know.”

Gu Jinse snatched the bowl back. “Get out. It is one thing for Yueyue to take my money and work for others, but you are trying to lie to me too. You are fired. Go, leave now.”

Tuntun’s expression soured, but she did not argue and quietly withdrew. Gu Jinse, full of frustration, ate two large bowls of rice.

Ming Yi truly did not return. The next morning, Gu Jinse went to work. In the afternoon, just after lunch, the Emperor summoned her.

The matters concerning the Eastern Palace had not yet concluded, and a sense of unrest permeated every corner. As Gu Jinse departed, her colleagues cast sympathetic glances her way.

Clearly unconcerned, Gu Jinse boarded her carriage to head to the palace, but she was intercepted halfway by the Second Prince. The Second Prince was exceptionally flamboyant, adorned in gold and silver, and flanked by beautiful women. He enthusiastically invited Gu Jinse onto his carriage.

The moment she stepped inside, she was hit by a wave of cheap, suffocating incense that brought on an immediate headache. Holding her breath, Gu Jinse sat near the door and glanced at the three women inside. The Second Prince laughed heartily. “Do not worry, they are all unmarried. I have no interest in women who already have husbands. So, Brother-in-law, where are you headed?”

Gu Jinse was struggling to breathe in the heavy air. Suddenly, the Second Prince pushed the woman in his arms toward her. Startled, she jumped up so quickly that she knocked her head against the roof, looking utterly disheveled.

The Second Prince continued to laugh. “Brother-in-law, do not be afraid. Women are not floods or savage beasts.”

Gu Jinse cursed him silently as a scoundrel. She maintained her distance from the women and said, “I must enter the palace to see His Majesty.” Without looking back, she hopped off the carriage and fled.

Back in her own carriage, she let out a sigh of relief. Even those of royal blood could be nothing more than profligate sons. After grumbling all the way, she arrived at the palace gates. Upon exiting the carriage, the sunlight was so piercing she could barely open her eyes. She closed them for a moment to calm herself before taking her first step forward.

Ming Yi was not in the hall. Gu Jinse entered cautiously. The Emperor sat behind his desk and looked up as she approached to pay her respects. Noticing a red mark on her neck, he frowned and asked, “Supervisor Gu, where have you come from?”

“In response to Your Majesty, I have come from my office,” Gu Jinse replied, not understanding the weight of the question.

The Emperor looked puzzled and turned to his eunuch. The eunuch replied, “Your Majesty, I found Supervisor Gu at the office. On the way here, she encountered the Second Prince and boarded his carriage to speak for a moment.”

In an instant, the Emperor understood. He didn’t bother asking further and simply said, “Ming Yi is speaking with the Noble Consort. Go and take her home.”

Gu Jinse nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As the young official withdrew, the Emperor gave a cold laugh. He said to the Chief Eunuch, “I thought their bond was as solid as gold, but it seems I overestimated Gu Jinhuan. A man, after all, rarely stays faithful to just one woman. It is a pity Ming Yi has invested such deep affection. Tell me, if she knew her husband’s true nature, would she seek a divorce?”

The Chief Eunuch gave a slight, awkward smile. “Perhaps the Chancellor is open-minded about such things.”

The Emperor scoffed.

Gu Jinse was led to the Noble Consort’s quarters. The Consort and Ming Yi were playing chess in a silent hall. When a maid announced the arrival, Ming Yi dropped her chess piece and said, “I have lost.”

The Noble Consort was stunned. Ming Yi had been winning by a significant margin; why would she surrender now? Feeling unsatisfied by the interrupted game, she looked up at the approaching young man with irritation. “Supervisor Gu, could you not have come a moment later? Wait, Scholar Gu, what is that on your neck?”

Ming Yi turned around. On that normally fair neck was a red smudge that looked suspiciously like a woman’s lip rouge. It was clear Gu Jinse had been in close contact with a woman.

The Noble Consort added, “What a strong scent! Scholar Gu, are you wearing perfume? It is so potent. Why are you wearing a woman’s fragrance?” She covered her nose in distaste. As she spoke, she glanced at Ming Yi, whose expression had changed drastically.

“It is getting late; you two should head home. Oh, my back is aching.” The Noble Consort feigned holding her stomach, then realized that was the wrong gesture and quickly clutched her waist instead. Her attendants rushed to support her. She looked at Ming Yi apologetically. “I am getting older; I cannot sit for long.”

Ming Yi took the opportunity to say her goodbyes. Gu Jinse followed silently, but by the time she crossed the threshold, Ming Yi was already nowhere to be seen. She had moved fast.

Gu Jinse immediately gave chase. Ming Yi had long legs, and each of her steps covered twice the distance of others. Gu Jinse had to alternate between walking and running to catch up at the palace gate, only to watch Ming Yi board a flamboyant carriage and drive away.

Gu Jinse stood there, speechless. It was a total disaster.

She returned to her office as dusk fell. After sitting at her desk for half an hour, it was time to leave. However, just as she was about to go, Du Yan arrived at the Ministry of Revenue to deliver an imperial decree, forcing everyone into overtime. When Du Yan saw Gu Jinse, his expression shifted. “Where have you been fooling around?”

Her colleagues began to laugh. Gu Jinse was too embarrassed to lift her head. Du Yan used a brush to poke at her neck. “Supervisor Gu, fooling around while on duty earns you a lashing.”

Gu Jinse touched her neck, still confused. A colleague finally spoke up to remind her, “There is lip rouge on your neck.”

Horrified, Gu Jinse tried to rub it off with her hand, explaining, “I met the Second Prince, and he, he…”

She stammered for a while but could not finish. Du Yan mocked her, “Does Supervisor Gu think the Chancellor won’t care about such trifles?”

While the others stifled their laughter, Gu Jinse turned bright red and hurried to find water to wash it off. Du Yan stopped the group. “Get back to work, or none of you are going home tonight.”

The group complied. Du Yan then went to find Gu Jinse.

The office was not like home. Gu Jinse preferred not to use servants, and having fired Tuntun, she had to draw water from the well herself. She dropped the bucket in, rolled up her sleeves to reveal her snowy-white, slender arms, and peeked at the water’s surface before slowly pulling the rope.

Du Yan paused, his gaze fixed on those arms. In the setting sun, they appeared exceptionally fair, even more so than those of an average woman. He stayed to observe. The young man’s frame was small; at seventeen, he might still grow, but his physique was far too feminine.

As he was lost in thought, Gu Jinse pulled up the bucket, checked her reflection in the water, and began to scrub the mark away. When she finished and turned to leave, she bumped into Du Yan’s searching gaze. It felt as though her secret had been discovered, and for a moment, she was at a loss.

“Supervisor Gu, where is my handkerchief? If the Chancellor finds it, we won’t even be able to remain friends.” Du Yan’s lips curled into an ambiguous smile.

Gu Jinse slapped her forehead. “I forgot. I will have someone send it to you tomorrow.”

“No need. Burn it to avoid idle gossip.” Du Yan turned and walked away.

Gu Jinse was baffled. This person was so strange; one moment he wanted it back, the next he wanted it burned. His words were entirely inconsistent.

Since her colleagues were working overtime and she had no assigned tasks, she decided to head home. She wanted to eat and sleep.

Back at the courtyard, Ming Yi was standing under the veranda painting, dressed in a vibrant red robe. Her icy eyes fixed on Gu Jinse. Her brush faltered, leaving a stray mark on the paper. Regretting the mistake, Ming Yi set the brush down and handed the paper to a maid. “Take this and burn it.”

Gu Jinse stepped onto the porch and caught a glimpse of the painting; it was a depiction of the small courtyard under the sunset. As the maid withdrew, Gu Jinse stepped closer to explain the day’s events.

Suddenly, Ming Yi spoke. “Let us divorce, shall we?”

Gu Jinse was stunned, thinking she had misheard. She stared at Ming Yi blankly for a long time. The brief silence caused Ming Yi to look away, her heart softening involuntarily. She struggled to suppress her emotions, though a sense of bitterness rose within her. “You may refuse, but I will persist.”

“I believe the Second Prince framed me,” Gu Jinse said, lowering her gaze to steady her emotions. She then began to slowly explain everything that had happened inside the carriage.

Ming Yi turned her back so Gu Jinse could not see her face. A smile touched her lips as she thought, Gu Jinse, this is a perfect opportunity.