The Prime Minister is Pregnant with Dragon's Seed - Chapter 10

On Meng Fushan’s birthday, the Meng residence was thrown into scandal—right under everyone’s watchful eyes.

The Meng family’s back garden was widely recognized in the capital for its elegance and unique charm, designed personally by Meng Fushan himself. A stroll through it was said to soak one in the essence of heaven and earth, more beneficial than ten years of study.

Of course, who knew how much of that was flattery from others.

While strolling in the garden, two young ladies of the household lost the group and, somehow, got lost—wandering all the way to the back gate.

They happened upon a scene and screamed, drawing attention from everyone.

By the time Zhou shi arrived, Meng Huaihan had completely lost her senses and was still clinging to the man. The man had realized the seriousness of the situation—he had already gone soft, yet Meng Huaihan refused to let go. The servants, seeing the young lady’s disheveled state, didn’t dare pull her away.

Zhou shi’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. It took all her strength to wrench Meng Huaihan off the man, delivering a fierce slap that knocked the golden hairpin from her head. Pearls scattered everywhere. Meng Huaihan fainted on the spot.

She was trembling all over, the elegant dignity she wore at the banquet completely shattered. “Where are the guards at the back gate? What does the Meng family feed you for? Just any stray cat or dog can get in and ruin our young ladies?”

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Meng Huaihan seemed to be the one taking the initiative.

But with Madam Zhou framing it otherwise, everyone could only direct their condemning stares toward the cold-sweating guards, using indignation to mask their inner amusement.

“Miss—Miss said there were too many noble guests at the front and ordered us to guard there instead. She said that Master would assign others to the back!” One hot-blooded young guard couldn’t help explain.

Someone in the crowd couldn’t hold back a whistle. Zhou shi’s face darkened to an iron hue as she shot the guard a murderous glare.

Meng Fushan arrived late and felt very embarrassed upon seeing the scene.

His first concern was his own reputation. He looked gently toward the man involved with Meng Huaihan. “What is your name? Where do you live? Are your parents still alive? What is your profession?”

“Now that things have come to this, Madam, you should prepare for Han’er’s marriage.”

The man hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. Trembling, he replied, “I—I’m Wang Dafu, from the outskirts of the capital. My parents are alive. I work as a bouncer at Qianhong Brothel.”

Meng Fushan’s calm façade cracked at once when he heard “Qianhong Brothel.” “Nonsense!”

Everyone knew Qianhong Brothel was a notorious den of debauchery.

This man was the very bouncer who had delivered a “maid” to Meng Huaihan from the brothel. Upon hearing that the Left Prime Minister was celebrating his birthday and that half the noble court would be attending, he grew curious and lingered after making his delivery—only to bump into the delirious Meng Huaihan.

Reaping what she sowed.

Following the scandal of the former Right Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law eloping, the capital now had fresh gossip!

The Left Prime Minister’s daughter, caught red handed with a brothel bouncer at home on her father’s birthday—She must get married on a chosen day!

Some folks were starting to worry about the feng shui of Great Wei’s Prime Minister.

Let’s hope the newly appointed Right Prime Minister Yan can hold steady.

Although… word has it his son eloped too?

*****

Everyone in the Meng household was busy dealing with Meng Huaihan. As the invisible person of the house, Meng Zhou went largely unnoticed. So long as Meng Huaihan didn’t come looking for trouble, his little courtyard remained peaceful.

The bed in Meng Zhou’s room was far from sturdy. From midday till sunset, it wobbled so much during the affair that Chu Huaiyin nearly bundled the person up in a blanket and carried him back to Prince Huai’s manor.

The ruckus was so loud that even Ji Yang, ten meters away, felt his heart tremble. He even went out and bought two bed boards, just in case.

Very thoughtful and prepared.

Meng Kitten was sleeping peacefully. His lashes were like spring water brushed on with a fine brush—long, black, damp. Having almost clawed up his back, Chu Huaiyin’s first thought upon waking was to blunt this wild kitten’s claws.

He had never clipped anyone’s nails before. Not very practiced, but fortunately, the kitten didn’t even turn over—so obedient he nearly lost control again.

When Meng Zhou awoke, his whole body ached. Recalling the tearing pain from earlier and Chu Huaiyin’s poor technique, he murmured, pale-faced, “There must be no women in the army.”

He regretted it so much.

“What did you say?” Chu Huaiyin was holding his hand, gently blowing away the fingernails.

“Prince Huai is really strict in managing the army.”

Chu Huaiyin: “…”

“Nothing.”” Meng Zhou figured it was best to preserve Prince Huai’s dignity. As he retracted his hand, he noticed the crisscrossing scratches on Chu Huaiyin’s neck—and instantly felt weak.

Alright, he wasn’t much better off.

Both sides suffered.

Meng Zhou looked at Chu Huaiyin with a blank expression, trying to convey with his eyes: let’s go back to our own homes and look for our own mothers.

Well, since there’s no mothers—then our own fathers.

Chu Huaiyin caught his look and felt something stir inside him. “We…”

“Each getting what we need.” Fearing Chu Huaiyin might be entertaining some wild ideas, Meng Zhou cut in quickly. “Your Highness Prince Huai, please rest assured. I will not harbor any improper thoughts about you because of this.” He was so anxious that he even turned his address into a polite one.

What a fine ‘mutual exchange’ this was!

Chu Huaiyin almost choked on his breath.

“Did I say something wrong?” Meng Zhou observed his reaction.

On this point, he had always been clear-headed. Chu Huaiyin was ambitious. He wanted to ascend to the throne in the future, have many descendants, and inherit the country. No matter how you think about it, it is impossible for him to have to have that kind of relationship with him.

Chu Huaiyin took a deep breath.

This kitten, wiping his mouth after the meal, wasn’t at all fun to tease.

The topic ended too quickly. Chu Huaiyin paced around the room, increasingly agitated. No, it shouldn’t be like this. But seeing Meng Zhou’s demeanor, it seemed like this was the only logical outcome.

He wasn’t the type to force someone. But he couldn’t just let Meng Zhou lead him by the nose either. Just as he was about to speak again, Meng Zhou had already wrapped himself up like a rice roll, closing his eyes to rest, clearly not wanting to talk.

His sleeve accidentally brushed against a neatly stacked pile of papers on the table. The wind from it was strong, and the rice paper flew like autumn leaves. Chu Huaiyin instinctively reached out and caught one covered in writing.

Two types of handwriting.

One of them was very familiar.

Hearing the rustle, Meng Zhou immediately sensed trouble. He bolted upright—but wrapped up so tightly, he bounced back onto the bed.

He saw Chu Huaiyin’s eyes move from the page to him, full of complicated emotion—and a hint of restrained anger.

“You went to the gambling house?” That place was full of knives and danger. Chu Huaiyin had checked it himself. Just the thought of Meng Zhou pretending to obey but secretly going against his will, going to the danger alone, and rolling around in the swords and shadows, he felt… Why is this kitten so disobedient!

“I did.”

“You’re investigating Jiang Xin? You suspect someone behind the scenes?”

Meng Zhou nodded. “The weapons were just an incidental discovery. I couldn’t handle it alone, so I’m handing it over to Your Highness. I’m sure Prince Huai will gain something.”

Chu Huaiyin’s gaze deepened. “What do you mean?”

Meng Zhou had finally wriggled free from the blanket. “Will Your Highness take me in?”

That “take me in” clearly had no romantic overtones. Chu Huaiyin pondered for a moment and asked, “Why?”

“To serve a wise lord, to rise in both civil and military rank.” Meng Zhou sat up straight, completely unabashed.

Chu Huaiyin folded the paper and tucked it into his sleeve. “Why this prince?”

He sat beside Meng Zhou. Many court officials supported the Second Prince, most of them civil officials. Meng Zhou was also a civil official.

He leaned in slightly, smiling, hoping Meng Zhou might say something like “because we’re special.”

Meng Zhou composed himself and replied solemnly: “East of the Yangbo River lies ruin and hardship; west of it, decadence and indulgence. The young men of the capital live in comfort, unaware of the people’s suffering. The common lives are difficult, and Your Highness cares for them. It is Great Wei’s fortune—and it’s also what Meng Zhou wants.”

“Quite the noble heart.” Despite the strong praise, Chu Huaiyin didn’t feel as pleased as he thought he would.

Since returning to the capital, he had often reflected on the contrast between regions. Meng Zhou was the first to speak his heart aloud.

But Chu Huaiyin frowned faintly. He had an unsettling premonition that Meng Zhou’s lofty ideals were exactly what he didn’t want.

Yet he couldn’t fault him—this was what every wise ruler asked of their ministers.

But what did he really want from Meng Zhou?

Chu Huaiyin couldn’t figure out his entanglement for the time being, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Meng Zhou’s words sought to gloss over what had happened last night and establish a new dynamic between them.

After going through so much trouble to change the subject, that was what he wanted.

He raised a brow and took another look at Meng Zhou. A little kitten for teasing and a trusted aide in his plan—two very different expectations.

Meng Zhou had some cunning, but the rest… Chu Huaiyin shelved his romantic notions and grew serious.

He never gave his trust lightly. Those he kept by his side needed both loyalty and ability.

Meng Zhou noticed his hesitation but didn’t rush. A man who could remain rational and focused even after a night like that—this was a prince with the mindset of a true ruler.

Touching his own face, Meng Zhou mused that it probably still counted as a passable beauty. Calmly, he leaned forward and said with conviction, “I’ll prove my ability.”

“No reckless risks. Otherwise, it doesn’t count.” Chu Huaiyin, uncertain of how Meng Zhou intended to prove himself, give a warning.

Meng Zhou nodded.

Chu Huaiyin stared at him for a while, and he felt that Meng Zhou’s assurance was not convincing at all. Eventually, he gave in and ruffled Meng Zhou’s hair. “Rest. No one will disturb you today.”

“Master.” Ji Yang perked up the moment Chu Huaiyin emerged, his face full of joy, one step short ofhanding out red eggs in celebration¹.

“If you don’t fix your expression, you’re heading to Mount Liang for training tomorrow,” Chu Huaiyin said coldly.

Ji Yang continued to sneak him gossip-filled looks. Chu Huaiyin returned them with a cold gaze.

“Ahem, in the future…” Ji Yang quickly straightened his face. So… are we a family now?

“Who was the shadow guard assigned to Meng Zhou?”

“Ying Jiu².”

“Tell him to keep a closer eye. Don’t let Meng Zhou take any risks.” Just hearing Meng Zhou say “prove my ability” made Chu Huaiyin felt uneasy.

That little thing really made him change the subject, which made him feel a little unwilling.

Author’s Note:

Bystanders (worried): The feng shui at the Prime Minister’s residence in Great Wei really isn’t great.

Meng Kitten: It’ll all be fine once I take charge.

Crowd: Ah! (makes the sound of eatingmelons³).