The Prime Minister is Pregnant with Dragon's Seed - Chapter 12

“Ji Yang, aren’t there a few snow-spotted fish being kept in the Yulan Lake?”

“Yes, Your Highness. You were very fond of them at the time and praised them as having the grace of winter plum blossoms floating on water. You instructed us to raise them well for ornamental purposes.” Yulan Lake was a lotus pond in the Prince Huai manor. It had flowing water, making it suitable for raising the delicate snow-spotted fish. His Highness had come upon a few before going to war. They had only multiplied to about fifty or sixty over the years, growing extremely slowly. Most of the time, they lazily hid beneath lotus leaves, like hermits.

“I recall that the Taoist who gave them to me said their meat was exceptionally fine, unmatched in the world, and highly beneficial to those who consumed them.”

“Yes.” Ji Yang silently recalled that the man had also said the snow-striped fish were extremely rare and primarily for ornamental use. However, if the future Princess Huai were to become pregnant, the fish could be used as a supplement—only then would it not be considered a waste.

“Tell Chef Lin to catch one every other day and send it to Meng Zhou once it’s cooked.” Chef Lin was a renowned cook recruited by Chu Huaiyin, especially skilled at preparing river delicacies.

“This…” if it’s like that the fish in single lotus pond wouldn’t even last half a year. That fish was said to be reserved to nourish the princess—wasn’t this basically stealing from the mouth of the imperial grandson-to-be?

“Is there a problem?”

“Understood,” Ji Yang replied, though his gaze toward Meng Zhou turned subtly complex, and his eyes kept slipping downward, lingering on the man’s flat belly.

Could it be… it’s already  there?

In this world, a very small number of men were capable of bearing children. Within an hour of birth, a red mole would appear on the sole of their foot, then disappear without a trace. For the rest of their lives, they were indistinguishable from ordinary men.

It was said that children born of such men were unusually intelligent, so nobles and high-ranking officials often took them into their inner courtyards. Yet they were never granted an official title or status.

This was to prevent them from rising in status through childbirth—a widely accepted unspoken rule. Society both coveted this trait and suppressed the status of those who possessed it: they wanted the benefits, but refused to pay any price.

As a result, in most families—unless the parents were blinded by greed—those who truly loved their children would never want their son to be like that. If they were, they would be hidden away, never spoken of.

But one hurdle could not be avoided:

The midwife.

No one could predict whether their child would be such a person. Skipping the services of a midwife for that one-in-a-million chance was simply absurd.

Midwives held accurate records and had their own networks, leaking the information to those who paid for it.

In short, these individuals, under the crushing weight of majority interest, were consigned to the inner courtyards, living in quiet misery. Fortunately, their fertility was limited—both in terms of odds and frequency.

Ji Yang pondered deeply. He did know of a few such men in the capital, but Meng Zhou was not among them. Otherwise, with Zhou shi’s ruthless nature, she would’ve long since gifted him to the court to curry favor.

He watched Meng Zhou eat happily, eyes fixed on the plate of fish and nothing else. His fair cheeks puffed slightly, and after finishing, he wiped his oily lips and patted his stomach.

The other dishes on the table remained mostly untouched—only that plate of fish had been eaten clean.

Chu Huaiyin looked on with a gentle smile as Meng Zhou stuffed himself. Several times, he wanted to reach out with his chopsticks to help pick out the fish bones, but managed to restrain himself.

Watching his master’s eager look to feed the other, Ji Yang finally understood: there was no pregnancy.

Meng Zhou just really liked fish.

Ji Yang had suspected something ever since he saw that stack of papers in the study.

The battle-hardened, brilliant and wise Prince Huai—his image was beginning to crack in Ji Yang’s mind.

“What are you two talking about?” Meng Zhou finally wiped his mouth and had the energy to notice the meaningful glances exchanged between Chu Huaiyin and Ji Yang.

“There’s a chef in my residence who is particularly skilled in cooking fish. Compared to his work, this fish from Shixiang Pavilion is merely average.”

Meng Zhou discreetly gulped.

“A few years ago, I happened to obtain some special fish. The meat is very delicious. I dislike fish bones. If you enjoy it, I’ll have the chef prepare a dish for you next day and send it to your residence. How about that?”

Ji Yang looked at Chu Huaiyin with contempt. A few days ago, the Second Prince asked to try one, and His Highness lectured him like he was about to destroy a priceless treasure—now it’s just ‘delicious meat’ for Meng Zhou?

Of course, he didn’t dare say that aloud.

Meng Zhou pursed his lips, trying hard to maintain a calm expression, but his round eyes sparkled as they fixed on Chu Huaiyin—completely betraying his true feelings.

If even Prince Huai said so himself—it must be the finest in the world.

He reservedly licked a bit of sauce from his lips, curving them into a tiny smile. “Okay.”

Chu Huaiyin’s eyes also curved into a smile. The two reached an agreement in perfect harmony.

Only Ji Yang stared at Meng Zhou numb face, his thoughts full of grief and indignation: What a waste! What a waste of nature’s treasures!

Meng Zhou walked home in a particularly good mood. After several contacts, he felt that Prince Huai was really good to him. It was worth holding on to this thigh. Besides, he had never once mentioned asking Meng Zhou to repay him.

Rich and powerful.

Still, he should try his best to pay back the debt.

And the lingering question in his mind finally had an answer.

Meng Zhou was now convinced that the black-clad man who had saved him either had already left—or was someone under Chu Huaiyin’s command.

With the number of hidden guards around Chu Huaiyin, not to mention Prince Huai’s own martial skills, anyone lurking near Meng Zhou would’ve been discovered by now.

If he had found someone, Chu Huaiyin would surely have told him.

And yet, Chu Huaiyin had said nothing.

So Meng Zhou drew his conclusion.

A new question followed: The first time they met, Chu Huaiyin didn’t even recognize him—what prompted him to assign someone to protect him?

He had a vague sense that it was somehow related to the Jiang family, but he couldn’t quite figure out how.

Meng Zhou always entered the Meng residence through the side gate—not out of self-deprecation, but because passing the main gate meant running into that bunch, which would ruin his mood.

But today, the side gate was locked from the inside. He had to take a detour past the main gate and, while passing the main hall, overheard Zhou shi speaking with Meng Fushan.

“My father will arrive in the capital the day after tomorrow. I’d like to prepare a courtyard for him to stay in so I can fulfill my filial duties.”

“Madam, Handle it as you see fit.”

Zhou shi named a location—far superior to where Meng Zhou was staying.

Meng Zhou sneered and had barely taken two steps when something clicked. Wasn’t Zhou shi’s father named Zhou Hancai? That matches the name on the burnt seal perfectly!

Meng Zhou pulled out the scorched scrap of paper and examined the burned portion—half of the character “Cai.”

In the capital, the Liu and Jiang families were both military, and not on good terms. Because of Jiang Yao, the Meng family had no dealings with the Liu family. Who would’ve thought that Zhou shi’s maternal family had such a close relationship to Liu De? Truly a case of birds of a feather flocking together.

The Zhou family had gone from a common merchant family to suddenly flourishing in business. The turning point was… Meng Zhou closed his eyes and sorted through the information he had gathered.

It had to be five years ago!

Five years ago, Prince Huai went to war, military funds were embezzled, and his whereabouts became unknown. Around the same time, Liu De returned to the capital and resumed his post, the Zhou family prospered, and illegal weapons flooded the market…

Could there be a connection?

His gut told him: yes.

Those letters had to be key evidence.

Liu De had died at the worst possible time. If Meng Zhou didn’t act soon, Liu Hongbao would destroy everything after the seventh-day rites.

The main Liu estate was tightly guarded—not even a fly could sneak in. With his pathetic martial skills, unless he really turned into a cat, he had no chance of breaking in.

He scratched his head in frustration. Would he have to go to Chu Huaiyin and embarrass himself by over-promising??

He was worried until he went bald¹.

Bald… Huh?

His eyes lit up. The Liu family will surely invite monks to perform the ritual—he could sneak in disguised as a young monk and use the opportunity to slip into the study or bedroom!

This plan passed.

Even with a shaved head, I’d be a handsome little monk.

He had played every hairstyle in his past life as an actor—Meng Zhou has no burden on his image.

Author’s Note: 

A few months later.

Author: “I’ll give you one more chance to explain yourself clearly.”

Ji Yang: “What? I said nothing—His Highness is wise and brilliant!”

Next chapter:
Meng kitten wanti goes undercover as a monk and gets caught.
Prince Huai began questions his life.