The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 7

All the unmarried young ladies were crowded together, making it impossible to distinguish who was who.

Ming Yi, as always, paid no mind. Instead, she patted Du Yan affectionately and said, “Don’t worry about it.” The Emperor would never choose Gu Jinse as the consort!

After the Flower-Adorned Procession, the evening featured the Qionglin Banquet. While the other scholars were brimming with pride and joy, Gu Jinse walked with her head hung low, utterly dispirited.

The banquet hosted by the Emperor was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, an extremely rare honor.

Gu Jinse felt constrained and sat alone, while others were seated in pairs she was the only exception.

Puzzled, Gu Jinse looked around until the Second Rank Scholar teased, “Look, she’s so pretty that she has no friends.”

Everyone laughed.

The Emperor, whose health was poor, drank three cups of wine before leaning on a eunuch’s arm and departing, leaving the princes behind.

Gu Jinse, already drunk, wanted to leave early to escape the crowd. But as soon as she stood up, several princes approached and pulled her back to continue drinking. The current Emperor had five sons. The Crown Prince was the eldest, though his birth mother was unknown. He had been adopted by the Empress, making him the legitimate heir.

Cup after cup, Gu Jinse grew increasingly dizzy. She pushed the wine cup away, refusing to drink any more, and rested her cheek on one hand. The Top Scholar, thoroughly drunk, clung to the Second Prince, calling him “my lady.” The Second Rank Scholar recited to the Crown Prince, “Green is the collar, long is my longing for you.”

Du Yan and the others watched these scholars’ drunken antics with amusement. Gu Jinse’s face was flushed red, the alcohol beginning to take its toll. Yet the Crown Prince still held out a cup, insisting she drink.

In the dim lamplight, Gu Jinse gazed at the Crown Prince, her eyes sparkling, and said in a soft, languid voice, “You’re so ugly!”

Ignoring the drunkard’s words, the Crown Prince forced the wine into Gu Jinse’s mouth. Du Yan, standing nearby, immediately stood up and started forward, but Zhang Mingqian stopped her. “In situations like this, men don’t suffer any losses.”

Du Yan flared up in anger. “But she’s already been chosen by Minister Ming.”

“Minister Ming is a subject; the Crown Prince is the ruler,” Zhang Mingqian retorted, her gaze falling on the Third Rank Scholar. The young scholar lay slumped over the dining table, her profile soft and her skin fair clearly, she was new to the court and unaware of its darker schemes.

Just then, the Crown Prince announced the end of the banquet and left first. The others slowly rose to their feet. Gu Jinse staggered as she stood, and a eunuch immediately stepped forward to guide her out of the palace.

Du Yan tried to follow, but Zhang Mingqian stopped her again, even pulling her ahead to leave quickly.

The night was pitch black. A eunuch led the way with a lantern, moving at a leisurely pace.

After leaving the Qionglin Banquet, the eastern gate of the palace was just a hundred steps away. Yet the eunuch guided her westward.

Her head throbbed with pain, and she could barely walk. Half-crouching on the path, she clutched her head, feeling nauseous. A gust of wind blew past, making her even dizzier, and she longed to sleep.

The eunuch stopped as well, glanced around, and urged in a low voice, “Third Rank Scholar Gu, if we don’t hurry, the palace gates will close.”

The alcohol clouded her mind, and Gu Jinse’s limbs felt weak and stiff. She looked up at the eunuch, her gaze calm, and he shrank back nervously.

Gu Jinse stood up, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Where are you taking me?”

Instead of moving, she sat back down. The wind swept coldly over her forehead. She looked into the distance, her expression suddenly reverent. “Minister Ming.”

The eunuch trembled all over and hurriedly glanced into the darkness. In that moment, the figure on the ground sprang up and sprinted back the way they had come, as if running a hundred-meter dash.

The distance was shrouded in darkness, without even a ghostly shadow in sight. Realizing he had been tricked, the eunuch cried out in frustration and immediately gave chase. “Third Rank Scholar Gu, why are you running?”

Gu Jinse ran for her life, not stopping until she reached the outside of the Qionglin Hall. A faint, cool fragrance drifted through the air.

“Scholar Gu, are there wolves chasing you?” Ming Yi held a lantern, not looking at Gu Jinse but at the eunuch who had been pursuing her all the way.

Gu Jinse felt weak all over, her head heavy and her feet unsteady. Without a word, she collapsed toward Ming Yi. “Lord Du, it’s your turn to save me.”

Ming Yi instinctively reached out to catch Gu Jinse, her hands wrapping around the other’s waist. Her fingers suddenly stiffened.

Her waist was so soft.

Ming Yi’s face flushed red. The eunuch had already caught up, and seeing no one else around, she chose to wrap her arms around Gu Jinse and turned to the eunuch. “Are you pursuing Scholar Gu?”

Startled by her presence, the eunuch panicked and hastily bowed, his hands trembling. “It’s not that I’m pursuing her, but Scholar Gu went the wrong way.”

“No matter. I’ll escort her out of the palace. You may return.” Ming Yi nodded to him.

The eunuch dared not move, his eyes fixed intently on Scholar Gu in Minister Ming’s embrace. He closed his eyes briefly and said, “Please, do not interfere.”

“Do not interfere? How can I stand by and watch you assault an official of the court?” Ming Yi grew angry, her expression turning frosty.

“No, no, you misunderstand. The Third Princess wishes to see Scholar Gu. Could you please accommodate this?” The eunuch bit his tongue, realizing he had bungled the matter. He had no idea what to do now and could only hope that Minister Ming would turn a blind eye and return the scholar to him.

Ming Yi’s hands remained glued to the girl’s soft waist, burning like hot coals. She trembled slightly but maintained her authoritative demeanor, speaking coldly, “Step back!”

“Minister Ming,” the eunuch persisted, “I cannot answer to the Third Princess.”

“Fine, come with me to see His Majesty. If His Majesty agrees, I will return her to you.” Ming Yi lowered her eyelids, skillfully deflecting the issue.

The eunuch dared not insist further and immediately turned to flee, glancing back repeatedly as he ran.

Gu Jinse, drowsy and enveloped in soft fragrance, slept soundly.

Ming Yi sighed. If Du Yan hadn’t come to deliver the message, Gu Jinse would now be lying on the Third Princess’s bed.

Pressed closely together, Ming Yi’s brow twitched, her composure clearly beginning to crack. “Gu Jinse, can you walk?”

The wind blew, but no answer came.

Ming Yi’s lowered lashes concealed her helplessness. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke again, “Gu Jinse, how many handkerchiefs were thrown to you today?”

Even Du Yan had tossed Gu Jinse a handkerchief. By now, Gu Jinse must have received dozens. Ming Yi was about to ask more when she caught a faint, pleasant sweetness in the air, a mix of wine and Gu Jinse’s natural scent. Gazing at the delicate, soft girl, Ming Yi suddenly recalled that night, the memory of those fair hands roaming freely over her body.

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she wanted to push the drunkard away.

As her arm moved slightly, the drunkard suddenly awoke, her eyes wide open, the surroundings deathly silent.

“Lord Du, your skin is so lovely milky smooth, so fragrant.” Gu Jinse straightened up, squinting with a smile, and without hesitation reached out to touch “Du Yan’s” face, murmuring, “Let me carry you on my back. You’re light; I can manage.”

Without thinking, Ming Yi covered her mouth and threatened, “If you say another word, I’ll send you to the Third Princess’s bed.”

“Who is the Third Princess?” Gu Jinse mumbled, confused, her head heavy and feet unsteady. She instinctively leaned against Ming Yi’s shoulder, muttering, “Let me tell you, the Crown Prince is not a good person.”

She nuzzled against Ming Yi like a little pig, stirring Ming Yi’s heart into disarray. Impatiently, Ming Yi asked, “What is it?”

“He forced me to drink. I refused, so he poured it down my throat.” Gu Jinse was utterly disoriented, wrapping her arms around Ming Yi’s neck, her breath hot against Ming Yi’s skin.

Ming Yi felt her entire body burn, her blood boiling. The thoughts lurking deep within her heart were on the verge of surfacing, but reason prevailed. She pushed Gu Jinse away. “Go back.”

Gu Jinse didn’t budge, clinging to Ming Yi like an octopus, breathing in and out, refusing to let go.

The nobles had all departed, leaving only the palace servants cleaning up outside the hall. Witnessing the scene before them, they froze in panic.

Ming Yi had grown up in the palace and was familiar with the protocols of every hall, well-versed in the ways of the court. Without hesitation, she commanded, “If anyone dares utter a word about what happened tonight, everyone present will be executed.”

Nothing in the palace was more terrifying than stumbling upon something one shouldn’t have seen.

Instantly, everyone bowed their heads in agreement.

Ming Yi looked at the person clinging to her. “Let go.”

“Carry me on your back pay me back.” Gu Jinse refused to release her, tightening her arms instead, nearly suffocating Ming Yi.

The two stood beneath the lantern light, their figures slender and graceful. Ming Yi spoke, “Today, I’ll save you once, repaying the favor I owe you.”

Only then did Gu Jinse lift her head, her eyes hazy. From a distance of three inches, she could clearly see Ming Yi’s eyes narrow and sharp, exuding authority even without a smile, deep and piercing. Under the lantern light, they seemed veiled in a hazy glow, reminiscent of the clear, cold wine they had drunk that evening.

Ming Yi was momentarily stunned as well, gazing into those dazed eyes. In an instant, her memories were pulled back to that day.

A moment later, Gu Jinse snapped out of it first. She slid off Ming Yi’s back, stood behind her, then leaped onto her back, wrapping her arms around Ming Yi’s neck. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Ming Yi: “…”

They were both adults, and reason always allowed them to regain composure quickly.

Ming Yi carried the drunkard on her back, moving slowly. The sense of shame in her heart gradually dissipated, no longer feeling so awkward. The palace corridors stretched endlessly; by the time she made her way out, the palace gates would likely have long been closed.

Within the palace, she had her own quarters. But she couldn’t take Gu Tanhua there to stay.

Unable to leave the palace and unable to bring her to her quarters, what was she to do?

Ming Yi was troubled. Every corner of the palace had eyes; with every step she took, countless people were watching. Moreover, the scheme she had concocted with the Crown Prince and the Third Princess tonight was disgraceful.

Fortunately, Gu Jinse wasn’t heavy, and Ming Yi didn’t struggle too much. After walking about a hundred steps, however, she grew tired, her legs feeling as if they were filled with lead.

Gu Jinse rested her head on Ming Yi’s shoulder, licking her lips. She felt light and airy, as if treading on clouds.

Ming Yi stopped and looked in the direction of the Emperor’s hall. Perhaps this was a good opportunity.

As she paused, Gu Jinse lifted her head. The surroundings were pitch black, so dark she couldn’t see her own hand. Curious, she asked, “Can you see?”

“I can see. I grew up here.”

The voice in the darkness was cold. Gu Jinse’s eyes were muddled, her mouth dry. Her lips twitched slightly before she finally pressed them against the back of Ming Yi’s ear.

The restlessness was instantly soothed.