The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 8

On a chilly spring night, the wind carried a biting cold, and the darkness was so profound that one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face. If anyone were to appear now, they might easily be mistaken for ghosts, sending people fleeing in terror.

After being bitten, Ming Yi decisively dropped the person, her face flushed with embarrassment. “You should fend for yourself. I meant to save you from peril, yet you… you have no shame…”

Gu Jinse, dizzy from the fall, simply sat on the ground, seething with anger. Pointing at Ming Yi, she scolded, “That day, you bit me too, drawing blood, and I never held it against you. And you, a court official, no, a high-ranking minister from a distinguished family actually drank that potion…”

Ming Yi’s eyes darkened, her sleeves clenched tightly in her hands, as if she wished she could devour the person before her.

Under the cover of night, the two stood in silent confrontation. After what felt like an eternity, the chief eunuch from the emperor’s side arrived with lanterns, illuminating the scene: one standing, one sitting.

The tipsy Tanhua (the third-ranked scholar), and Minister Ming, her face full of rage, asked the chief eunuch, “Has the palace gate been closed yet?”

“It will likely close in a moment,” the chief eunuch replied, unaware of the details. He glanced at Minister Ming, then at the disoriented Tanhua, wondering what had transpired between them.

In the darkness, a man and a woman alone, with the man intoxicated, it was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild.

“Chief Eunuch, please personally escort Tanhua Gu out of the palace. I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty,” Ming Yi said, her expression unyielding, frost and fury etched in her brows, as if her anger had nowhere to vent.

The chief eunuch, having watched Ming Yi grow up, knew her temperament well and dared not question her. He immediately called for two eunuchs to assist.

“Fetch a palace carriage and have two palace maids support her. Tanhua Gu is quite delicate,” Ming Yi interjected, stopping the two young eunuchs from approaching. “Your hands might injure her.”

Her last words seemed spoken in anger. The chief eunuch smiled and assured her, “Rest assured, not a single eunuch will lay a finger on her.”

Only then did Ming Yi feel at ease and leave. By then, Gu Jinse on the ground had already fallen into a deep sleep.

The chief eunuch wasted no time, quickly arranging for a carriage. As Gu Jinse was being helped onto it, she strangely woke again, staring at the elderly eunuch and wondering why he had no beard.

The chief eunuch, maintaining a stern expression, urged the attendants to hurry. They rushed to escort her out of the palace just in time.

Ming Yi, however, could not leave the palace. She was now kneeling before the emperor, with the crown prince kneeling beside her.

The crown prince looked disheveled and slightly drunk, exuding a careless charm. Upon closer inspection, he wasn’t kneeling straight. The emperor, enraged, kicked him in the shoulder. “You’ve grown bold, scheming against the newly appointed Tanhua.”

The emperor, frail and weak, didn’t exert much force, but the crown prince grunted and knelt lower, begging for mercy.

After reprimanding the crown prince, the emperor caught his breath even hitting someone was exhausting. After a moment’s rest, he turned to Ming Yi. “The palace gates are closed. You may rest here tonight.”

Ming Yi remained kneeling rigidly, unmoving.

The emperor paused as he accepted a cup of tea. “What do you want?” he asked.

“If Tanhua Gu were to lose her virtue, would Your Majesty execute her?” Ming Yi asked bluntly, leaving no room for the emperor to save face.

After the night’s events, everyone would assume that the drunken Tanhua had trespassed into the princess’s chambers and defiled her. In that case, not only would Tanhua Gu face death, but the entire Gu clan of Yuhang would also be implicated.

The emperor was left utterly humiliated. The empress dowager, too stunned to speak, remained silent.

Ming Yi straightened her back, her figure resolute, and spoke bluntly, “Your Majesty, you may think today is merely a matter of an elder brother helping his younger sister secure a man, a trivial affair. But tomorrow, the entire Gu family could face calamity. Hundreds of the Gu clan live in peace, yet they may bear the consequences of the princess’s reckless actions.”

“Prime Minister Ming, you are using your public office for private revenge,” the Crown Prince retorted, lifting his head to glare at her with a dark expression.

Ming Yi smiled faintly. “Where does this private grudge between me and the Third Princess come from?”

“You…” The Crown Prince faltered, momentarily speechless.

The Emperor glared at both of them, and everyone in the hall lowered their heads. After a long, tense silence, he finally spoke slowly, “A Yi, do not exaggerate the situation. The princess acted foolishly, and the Crown Prince was merely showing compassion for his younger sister.”

Ming Yi countered, “If a scandal were to erupt tomorrow, how would Your Majesty decide?”

“It hasn’t happened yet,” the Emperor replied in a lowered voice, casting a glance at the Crown Prince. He raised his foot as if to kick him, but the Crown Prince swiftly dodged behind Ming Yi.

Disgusted, Ming Yi looked at him and said, “Your Highness, kneel farther away. I have just bathed and cleansed myself, I am still clean.”

The Crown Prince flushed with anger, but with the Emperor’s threatening presence, he had no choice but to endure it. Ming Yi, standing beside him, pressed the Emperor again, “I only seek Your Majesty’s answer. You taught me to plan ahead and discern the subtle signs. Today, I have done just that. May I ask, what are Your Majesty’s thoughts?”

The Crown Prince’s lips twitched, and the Emperor, too, was stunned into silence for a long moment. Ming Yi remained unmoving.

After a prolonged standoff among the three, the Emperor finally had to speak. “Punish the Third Princess with one month of confinement.”

Ming Yi said with difficulty, “So, in Your Majesty’s eyes, this truly is nothing more than a trivial matter. When the Third Princess shattered Your Majesty’s beloved treasure, she was also punished with one month of confinement.”

The Emperor, exasperated, demanded, “Ming Yi, what do you want?”

“Your Majesty once spoke of justice. You said it yourself, and I took it to heart,” Ming Yi replied lightly, tucking her hands into her sleeves and kneeling gracefully. She assumed a fragile posture and continued slowly, “Today, I have learned my lesson.”

The Emperor, cornered and helpless, sat on his couch in silence for a long while before turning to scold the Crown Prince. “Do you have a brain? You are the Crown Prince, not a brothel keeper. If I sent you to a pleasure house, you’d fit right in.”

The Crown Prince cried out in protest, kneeling to explain that the Third Princess had thrown a tantrum, claiming she had taken a liking to Gu Tanhua and merely wanted to meet him nothing more.

Ming Yi closed her eyes, listening to the father and son’s exchange, and let out a series of cold laughs.

After the Emperor finished his tirade, his gaze fell upon Ming Yi again. He cleared his throat softly and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

“Dare I ask Your Majesty, do you intend to betroth the Third Princess to a son of the Gu family?” Ming Yi opened her eyes, straightened her posture, and met the Emperor’s gaze frankly.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Emperor declared, “The Gu family is unworthy.”

“In that case, I beg Your Majesty to instruct the Third Princess to refrain from involving herself with the Gu family’s son.” Ming Yi bowed deeply, her waist bending like a green bamboo stalk weighed down by a storm graceful yet devoid of flattery.

The Emperor, fuming, pointed at her and scolded, “You’ve been arguing with me all this time just for a single sentence? What benefit have you received from the Gu family?”

Enduring the Emperor’s spittle, Ming Yi replied calmly, “Old Master Gu is renowned throughout the land. I hold him in great esteem.”

The Emperor did not believe her empty words and waved for the chief eunuch. “Go and tell the Third Princess to stop coveting men from outside. If she dares to act recklessly again, I will break her legs.”

The chief eunuch hurriedly acknowledged the order, glanced at the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Ming, and rushed off to deliver the message.

Ming Yi rose slowly. “The hour is late. I shall take my leave to rest.”

“I am as well, Your Majesty.” The Crown Prince also hurriedly rose. Seizing the moment before the Emperor could issue further reprimands, he shamelessly followed Minister Ming out.

Once outside the main hall, the two headed toward the rear palace.

The Crown Prince quickened his pace to catch up with Ming Yi. “Elder Sister, must you be so unyielding toward me?”

“Your Highness, choose your words carefully. I am not your elder sister,” Ming Yi firmly rejected him and walked alone toward her former residence.

The Crown Prince stood in place, watching her retreating figure, his expression gradually shifting.

Gu Jinse, still suffering from the effects of heavy drinking, did not wake until dusk the following day. Her head throbbed with pain, and she could barely get out of bed. The steward summoned a physician to examine her pulse. After taking a dose of medicine, she finally began to recover.

The events of the previous night were hazy in her memory. She only recalled the Crown Prince forcing her to drink, but everything after that was a blank. However, the encounters with ‘Du Yan’ during the day remained vividly clear, haunting her so much that she couldn’t sleep well at night.

Steward Liu Mi, on the other hand, was quite pleased. He even suggested purchasing the neighboring residence, breaking through the wall between the two properties, and merging them into one estate.

The renovations would be completed this year. Once the young master returned to take over, they could find him a suitable bride, hold the wedding next year, and celebrate with joy and festivity.

Gu Jinse, weakened by her hangover, remained bedridden for two days, refusing to leave the estate. Steward Liu went ahead and bought the neighboring property, demolished the wall, and after several days of noisy construction, the estate expanded by half.

Even Gu Jinse couldn’t help but sigh in frustration. Gu Jinhuan had fallen into a life of luxury, only to throw it all away by his own foolish actions.

When the steward asked Gu Jinse for instructions on how to arrange the expanded estate, she sneered, “Don’t ask me. Go ask your master and mistress.”

The steward was left speechless, unsure of the underlying situation. After a moment’s thought, he suggested, “How about we wait for the young master to arrive and decide then?”

The young master? Were they still counting on Gu Jinhuan? Gu Jinse felt a bitterness she couldn’t express, her anger simmering. “The young master? Will he even come? Does he dare to show his face? If he does, I’ll chop him into pieces first!”

If he hadn’t run off with that courtesan, she wouldn’t have been forced into such a predicament.

Furious.

After calming down and thinking it over, Gu Jinse changed her tone and said, “Bring me the blueprints. I’ll take a look.”

She had resigned herself to her fate. ‘Du Yan’ was handsome, held a high position, and wielded significant power. It wasn’t as if she was getting the short end of the stick.

Liu Mi had someone fetch the blueprints. Gu Jinse changed into clean clothes and set out with two or three attendants in tow.

The capital was a place where all sorts of people mingled. Venturing out alone was unwise, so she brought her attendants along for support if anything happened.

Her attendants inquired about the location of the Du residence. As Gu Jinse contemplated the situation, she decided to buy some gifts. For a first visit, it was important to make a proper impression.

Returning to the estate, she asked the accountant for some silver. The accountant hesitated and said, “Young Master, we don’t have much left.”

“I know. Send someone to Yuhang to fetch more,” Gu Jinse replied indifferently. The money in Yuhang was reserved for Gu Jinhuan. As a daughter, she would, at most, receive a dowry. She had heard that Gu Jinhuan had spent lavishly on that courtesan without batting an eye.

Since they were both part of the Gu family, it was only right for her to use some of that money.

With the silver in hand, she purchased a cartload of generous gifts. Her attendants, using the Gu family of Yuhang’s name card, knocked on the door of the Du residence.

The Du family’s gatekeeper found it strange. During the Flower-Adorned Parade, Tanhua Gu had been the center of attention. For him to visit in person was highly unusual. Nevertheless, he did not refuse entry. He had Gu Jinse welcomed inside and went to inform the master.

It was not a rest day, so none of the men of the Du family who held official positions were home.

Madam Du came out to receive the guest. When she saw Tanhua Gu, she was delighted and promptly asked, “Tanhua Gu, what brings you here today?”

“To be frank with you, Madam, I am here to see Lord Du,” Gu Jinse replied, presenting the gift list.

All of these were purchased today, from jade ornaments to the pastries and fruits that women love to eat, all of the finest quality.

Lady Du glanced at the gift list and pursed her lips. The Gu family of Yuhang was indeed wealthy; even a casual visit was accompanied by such lavish gifts.

She smiled and declined, “I cannot accept such generosity without merit. Please keep these gifts, Tanhua Gu.”

“I once had the chance to meet Lord Du, and today I came to seek his advice. My mother always says that when going out to handle matters, gifts should come first, it’s the rule. Please do not refuse. These are just some trivial items I hastily prepared today.” Gu Jinse spoke humbly, adopting the demeanor of a junior.

Lady Du was delighted. Tanhua Gu was not only handsome but also modest, gentle, and polite. How could elders not be fond of such a young man? She smiled and said, “One never blames too much courtesy. May I ask how you and my daughter became acquainted?”

That was something she couldn’t reveal. Gu Jinse lied, “We met at the examination hall.”

“Ah, I remember now. She was dragged to the examination hall by Minister Ming.” Lady Du recalled the incident and naturally assumed it was love at first sight in the examination hall. Overjoyed, she said, “She’s not home today and won’t be back until after her duties. Why don’t you stay? My son also took the exam this year, but unfortunately, he didn’t make the list. Perhaps you could offer him some guidance?”

It would be best to keep him here.

Gu Jinse chuckled inwardly. This was trouble. She directly refused and stood up to leave. Lady Du tried to persuade her to stay, her gaze fixed on the young woman. Her skin was as fair as freshly fallen snow, and she stood tall and graceful like an orchid or a jade tree every aspect exuding the perfection of a young scholar.

She was too young, too flawless. A seventeen-year-old Tanhua was a rarity indeed.

Gu Jinse insisted on leaving but left the gift list behind. Lady Du personally escorted her out.

After the carriage had gone far, Lady Du was so overjoyed she didn’t know what to do. She immediately sent someone to fetch her husband back from the government office.

The renowned Tanhua Gu of the capital had taken an interest in her unmarriageable daughter!