After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 1

1: Mattress, Mattress—Simmons

“Mother, when will Elder Brother return?” Gu Que’s head felt dizzy. She had already been in this ancient world of Great Wei for over a year, replacing her sickly twin brother as the heir apparent, studying and taking the imperial examinations.

Three days ago, she had—quite absurdly—passed the exams as the Tanhua (the third-ranked scholar), thanks to Taobao.

Tomorrow, the palace would host the Qionglin Banquet, a celebratory feast for the newly minted scholars, held in the Qionglin Gardens.

It was spring, and the greenery was lush. Sunlight slanted through the window lattice, casting its glow on Gu Que’s jet-black hair.

Gu Que’s features were delicate, leaning toward soft beauty. Her skin was fair and radiant, her brows and eyes like a painting. Beneath her thin blue robe, a section of her white neck peeked out, as pristine as fine porcelain.

The Marchioness of Yongle picked up a comb and gently ran it through her daughter’s loose, cascading hair, sighing helplessly, “Wait a little longer. Let him recover a bit more.”

Gu Que was dazed. She had heard these words almost every month. Passing the exams as the Tanhua wasn’t the real issue—the real problem was her brother Gu Yan’s arranged marriage.

The other party had recently been promoted to the position of Prime Minister. The emperor of Great Wei was a woman who advocated for female officials, and Yan Luo was the first to rise to such prominence. Rumor had it she had a gentle demeanor but a cunning mind.

People called her the “Smiling Tiger.” In the capital, there was a saying: Better to face a ruthless interrogator than to see Prime Minister Yan’s gentle smile.

Gu Que had never met this sister-in-law, but just hearing that phrase sent chills down her spine.

After a simple wash, her hair was tied into a bun and secured with a jade hairpin. Gu Que stared at the girl in the bronze mirror—her lashes fluttered slightly with each breath, her fair face tinged with the pink of peach blossoms. She had never met her brother Gu Yan, but according to her mother, the twins looked very much alike. Gu Yan, perpetually bedridden, had a sallow complexion. If he recovered, he would resemble her closely.

At first, Gu Que had resisted such an absurd arrangement, but after struggling for a year, she gradually gave up. Here, the idea of equality was unthinkable. Hierarchical notions were deeply ingrained, and she was far too weak to resist.

The Marquis of Yongle had lost the use of his legs on the battlefield. Though he had many concubine-born daughters, Gu Yan was his only son. If it became known that Gu Yan was too sickly to uphold the marquisate, the Yongle household would decline, and the Gu family would lose its footing in the imperial court.

After freshening up, the Yan family arrived. The two families had agreed to hold the wedding after the imperial examinations. Now that Gu Que was the new Tanhua—having answered questions with clarity and sharp wit during the palace exams—many had already witnessed her talent and beauty.

The marriage had been arranged years ago. With Yan Luo now the Prime Minister, the Gu family couldn’t back out even if they wanted to. The Yan family brought a deed and a layout of the residence, asking for the Tanhua’s opinion.

Yan Luo’s stance was clear: they would live separately from the Yongle household. For ordinary people, this would be unacceptable, but as a high-ranking official, the marquisate dared not refuse. Today, they had come to take the Tanhua to see the new residence.

The Yan family’s invitation made Gu Que reluctant to go. As she stepped out the door, she tripped and nearly fell.

The new residence was a gift from the empress. The vermilion plaque at the entrance bore the words “Gu Residence,” yet the Yan residence was also labeled as “Gu Residence.” Clearly, Yan Luo had put thought into this—she wanted the world to know that Gu Yan was neither a freeloader nor a live-in son-in-law.

Gu Que paused at the gate, took a deep breath, and stepped over the threshold. The moment her feet touched the ground, it felt like stepping onto clouds.

Spring was in full bloom. Flowers blazed red, and willow trees shimmered under the clear sky. As she rounded the front courtyard, the maid leading the way stopped and said, “The Prime Minister is inside.”

Gu Que’s legs turned to jelly. Strong women were intimidating, but the thought of a sister-in-law even more fearsome than ruthless interrogators made her want to cry.

She walked cautiously into the courtyard. The air was thick with floral fragrance, and birds chirped from the branches. She looked up at the birds perched on the trees—under the azure sky, the courtyard felt warm and inviting.

“Little Tanhua Gu.”

Gu Que shuddered. Following the cool, clear voice, she mustered her courage to look at the speaker. A figure in a flowing apricot-colored gown sat on the steps, her skin like congealed cream, resembling a white lotus atop a mountain. Her expression was calm, her eyes deep as icy pools, betraying no emotion.

Her face was unadorned, her hair swept up simply, yet she was as stunning as a hibiscus—or perhaps a red plum blossom, cold and solitary.

Gu Que stared, forgetting to breathe, forgetting where she was. Yan Luo lifted her skirt and walked toward her. Her moist eyes glistened like spring water, brimming with gentleness. “Little Tanhua Gu.”

“Sister-in-law—no, Prime Minister Yan…” Gu Que’s heart raced. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled brightly.

Yan Luo smiled. “You’re quite handsome—more delicate-looking than most girls.”

“R-Really?” Gu Que’s face flushed. Her conscience pricked her, and her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. She gulped and took half a step back, forcing a smile. “Prime Minister Yan, you’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Little Tanhua Gu, let’s take a look at the bedroom.” Yan Luo chuckled lightly, turning gracefully and gesturing for Gu Que to follow.

Yan Luo was gentle, her movements carrying a feminine softness, nothing like the terrifying figure from the rumors. The tension in Gu Que’s mind eased slightly, and she exhaled softly before following Yan Luo.

The sunlight was brilliant today. Birds sang amid the fragrant flowers. In front of the bedroom door were three steps made of lake stone. Gu Que stepped onto the hard stone, catching a whiff of pleasant ink—Yan Luo was a woman of letters, her talent renowned throughout the capital.

Entering the bedroom, she found the windows and doors wide open. Yan Luo stood by an ornate shelf, fiddling with a pair of jade rabbits. Her profile was tinged with pink, her figure slender and graceful.

The rabbits were a pair, carved from white jade. For some reason, their mouths were tinged red—a striking detail.

“I wasn’t sure of your preferences, but I heard you’re easygoing, so I arranged things casually. Our marriage was arranged years ago, and we’ve never met until now. But don’t worry—if you wish to take a concubine, I won’t object.” Yan Luo spoke softly, her slender fingers poking at the rabbits’ mouths before turning to Gu Que with a smile.

The room was filled with a subtle fragrance, carrying a unique charm.

The two stood five steps apart. Yan Luo handed the bedroom layout to the young Tanhua. “If you have a girl you like, you can bring her in advance. But no concubines within the first year of marriage.”

Gu Que’s heart pounded wildly. Staring at those pale hands, she felt a chill down her spine. Trembling, she took the blueprint, her face flushed as she forced a smile. “I don’t have anyone I like.”

Yan Luo studied her too. The boy’s face was as fair as jade, his features exquisite. Beneath the jade crown, his hair was jet-black and glossy. His waist… She glanced down. The high-collared robe hid his neck, but it looked slender. Pity—the clothes covered everything, so she couldn’t see his waist.

The little Tanhua was too soft, unlike a man. She lifted her gaze, her beautiful, inscrutable eyes flickering with doubt—but only for a moment before clearing again.

Gu Que’s mind wasn’t on the rabbits. Noticing the bathroom next to the bedroom, her heart skipped a beat. If they were this close, Yan Luo could barge in anytime she bathed.

Summoning her courage, she met the Prime Minister’s gaze openly. “Should we move the bathroom?”

“It’s convenient for washing up.” Yan Luo’s eyes lingered on the boy’s straight, slender back. After a pause, she obligingly amended, “Where would you like to move it?”

Gu Que paled, uneasy. After a moment’s thought, she replied, “Is the lock sturdy?”

Yan Luo froze, immediately understanding. A faint blush spread across her cheeks. “Don’t worry. When you bathe, I won’t enter without your permission.”

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its glow behind them. The room was adorned with green vines cascading from a tall wooden frame.

“Then I’ll defer to the Prime Minister.” Gu Que steeled herself to answer. Scanning the room, she remembered the differences between ancient and modern times. The mirror before her was somewhat blurry—a result of the era’s inferior technology, requiring frequent polishing.

“I have a seven-colored, gold-inlaid glass mirror made of warm jade. It’s quite beautiful and would suit you well. I’ll have it sent over tomorrow.”

“Good. As you wish.” Yan Luo agreed absentmindedly, lowering her gaze to the boy’s fair hands. His skin was so pale the veins were visible—even fairer than a girl’s. Not just his hands, but his face too. At a glance, one might mistake him for a sweet, delicate girl.

Gu Que made a few more suggestions before stopping by the bed. Without thinking, she asked Yan Luo, “What kind of bed do you prefer? Firm or soft?”

She could buy a Simmons mattress from Taobao—soft and comfortable, perfect for rolling around on.

Yan Luo pondered. “What do you like?”

But she quickly stopped herself. Only girls cared about beds; men rarely brought it up. Yet the little Tanhua had asked—proof of his thoughtfulness.

Gu Que’s face pinkened. She dared another glance at her sister-in-law, her eyes crinkling. “I’ll defer to you. But we could measure the dimensions and buy a soft mattress pad. It’d be good for the body.”

“Alright. As you wish.” Yan Luo agreed naturally.

Gu Que smiled, her brows lowering sweetly, her demeanor utterly docile. The rumors outside were clearly false—Prime Minister Yan was gentle as water. How could she be more terrifying than ruthless interrogators?

After the discussion, Yan Luo led her to the bathroom. It had two doors—one leading outside, the other to the bedroom—making it convenient to access.

A screen inside could block outside views. Gu Que glanced at it, still feeling uneasy. She wondered if she could install a coded lock.

Then again, such a thing might scare her sister-in-law. A lock more in line with Great Wei’s customs would suffice.

Exiting the bathroom, they toured the study and gardens until afternoon, when the Prime Minister’s residence sent someone to hurry them along.

Yan Luo was the Prime Minister. Her household consisted only of her mother—her father had passed away long ago, and the marriage had been arranged by him.

Yan Luo boarded the carriage and lifted the curtain. The boy’s face was slightly flushed, his nose dotted with glistening sweat. He looked sweet and pitiable.

Studying that face—prettier than any girl’s—she parted her red lips. “Little Tanhua Gu, you’ve worked hard today.”

Gu Que sighed in relief, bowing slightly with her hands clasped. The cuffs of her blue sleeves shimmered faintly as she smiled. “It’s my duty.”

Seeing those slender, jade-like hands, Yan Luo’s gaze fixed. Slowly, she lowered the curtain, the warmth in her eyes fading into cool detachment.

The Prime Minister’s carriage departed first. Gu Que’s stiff back ached slightly. She patted her chest—time to go home and calm her nerves with some milk tea.

Today was their first meeting, and she’d forgotten to bring a gift.

Gu Que smacked her forehead, annoyed at her own mistake. Staring at the retreating carriage, she thought of the Taobao store in her mind. What kind of gift would her sister-in-law like?

Lipstick? Perfume?

Or a designer handbag?