After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 3

3: Disappearance, You Little Husband Aren’t Honest.

The Prime Minister’s residence was elegant and serene. Yan Luo led Gu Que into a guest room, where the two sat facing each other. Gu Que maintained a dignified posture, while Yan Luo thought about the origin of the happy cat.

Gu Que, guessing that she liked it, smiled and casually lied, “A foreign merchant sold it to me. Does the Prime Minister like it?”

The young man narrowed his beautiful, clear eyes and looked at Yan Luo with a generous gaze.

“I do.” Yan Luo quietly observed the frail-looking youth. His appearance took after his mother—exceptionally handsome, with a tall nose bridge and slightly upturned lips tinged with red. His smiling expression was very pleasing, especially those bright eyes.

The empress had recently ascended the throne, and dissenters inside and outside the court were numerous. This year’s imperial examination aimed to bring in new talent. The Little Tanhua Gu’s exam papers had particularly pleased the empress. After the palace examination, the empress personally ranked him as Tanhua (the third-place scholar). Originally, he should have been the Zhuangyuan (top scholar), but historically, the Tanhua not only needed outstanding literary talent but also good looks.

A maid served tea. Gu Que remained silent, but in reality, she was chatting with a Taobao seller in her mind, having just placed an order for tips on how to make a girlfriend happy.

The seller advised her to say sweet, romantic words. Since they were already in a relationship, the girlfriend would naturally enjoy intimate, ambiguous phrases.

“Little Tanhua Gu, your exam papers were excellent, especially the section on reform,” Yan Luo said with a smile.

Her demeanor was as pure as snow, as radiant as the moon.

Gu Que snapped back to reality. She had long forgotten the content of the exam papers. Ancient imperial exams were different from modern ones—candidates had to stay in the examination hall for extended periods. Thus, she had placed an order on Taobao and simply slept through the exam.

Of course, she couldn’t reveal this.

She smiled and asked, “What does the Prime Minister mean?” Yan Luo’s words carried hidden implications. Gu Que understood that reform wasn’t easy, so when the original author wrote it, she had made slight adjustments. One shouldn’t make overly ambitious promises.

Yan Luo didn’t answer. Instead, she picked up a cup of steaming tea and took a sip. Her fair face wore a gentle smile. “Do you know why I was assassinated yesterday?”

Gu Que froze, then shook her head.

“Exam fraud.” Yan Luo said lightly, her delicate fingers stroking the happy cat, her expression tender.

Gu Que’s expression changed. Her already tense heart tightened further. Throughout history, exam fraud cases had implicated many people, even leading to the annulment of exam results. She took a deep breath. “Will today’s Qionglin Banquet still proceed?”

“Of course, I’ll attend. By the way, has Little Tanhua Gu prepared the bed?” Yan Luo’s eyes held a faint smile. Her tone was calm, her emotions as gentle as water. Even her voice was soothing.

Only the two of them were in the room, separated by a table, the aroma of tea lingering in the air, the atmosphere warm.

Gu Que pondered Yan Luo’s words. If the emperor suspected fraud in this year’s exams, the Qionglin Banquet wouldn’t proceed. Why hadn’t there been any news yet?

She had been in this world for over a year and had a general understanding of the situation. The emperor was a woman, looked down upon by many, and court officials lacked respect for her.

Gu Que lowered her head in thought while Yan Luo quietly sipped her tea. The warm liquid flowed down her throat, warming her body. She smiled slightly, her eyes like a spring breeze scattering petals across the mountains.

After a while, Gu Que seemed to understand something. She smiled and said, “I ordered a bed yesterday. I’ll deliver it personally this afternoon.”

Yan Luo nodded, set down her teacup, and picked up the happy cat. Her gaze was clear, her expression calm and gentle. “It’s getting late.”

“I’ve troubled the Prime Minister enough.” Gu Que relaxed, no longer as tense or awkward. “The Prime Minister has beautiful skin, and your lips are lovely. I brought something for you.”

The young man’s dark eyes sparkled with peach-blossom tenderness, no longer as timid as yesterday. “I forgot to bring it earlier—it’s in the carriage. Please wait a moment.”

Her cheerful tone reminded Yan Luo of a white lotus after a summer rain, fresh and pure.

Yan Luo, usually indifferent, glanced at her and smiled. “I’ll wait.”

Gu Que bowed and slowly left the room, then hurried out of the courtyard.

After a moment of silence, Yan Luo set down her teacup and tapped the table lightly. A woman entered, and Yan Luo instructed softly, “Follow her after she leaves the residence. Find a chance to knock her out and take her to the new house.”

Gu Que was gone for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. The Prime Minister’s residence was vast, and running back and forth left her drenched in sweat.

When she returned, she held a box. Sneaking a glance at Yan Luo, she placed it on the table between them. “I heard women like lipstick. I wasn’t sure what color the Prime Minister prefers, so I prepared a set.”

Yan Luo wasn’t bare-faced. On the contrary, her lips were tinted with rouge, their curve exquisite.

Yan Luo was surprised. Seeing the transparent sincerity in the young man’s eyes, she smiled too. She glanced at the box—square, with a purple lid and strange characters, unlike any script from Great Wei.

When she opened it, she found nine identical tubes inside. Despite her vast knowledge, she had never seen anything like this.

But she didn’t mention her unfamiliarity. Instead, she thanked him. “I’ve had two pieces of jade carved as tokens of unity.”

With that, she untied a jade pendant from her waist. The round jade was split into two crescent moons. She handed one to Little Tanhua Gu.

Gu Que was stunned. In all her years, this was the first time a girl had given her a gift. Touched, she accepted it with a smile. “Thank you, Prime Minister.”

This was a gift from Yan Luo. Should she give it to Gu Yan?

“It’s getting late. Little Tanhua Gu should return and prepare.” Yan Luo smiled, subtly hinting it was time to leave. Even when dismissing a guest, her tone remained gentle.

Gu Que nodded and bid farewell. The wedding was half a month away, and the coming days would be busy.

Gu Que was escorted out by a maid. Standing at the gate, she thought Yan Luo might see her off, but after waiting a while, the maid urged her to leave.

Yan Luo hadn’t come to see her off.

Gu Que felt a pang of disappointment but quickly steadied herself. She was here to observe her sister-in-law on behalf of her brother, not to find a wife for herself.

After Gu Que left the courtyard, someone entered the guest room. Yan Luo stood and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

“Did the Prime Minister receive a treasure?” The empress immediately noticed the box on the table and opened it, her eyes lighting up. “What is this?”

Yan Luo replied, “Lipstick.”

The empress didn’t believe her. She picked up one tube, feeling the top and bottom. “How do you open it?”

Yan Luo shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The empress had come to discuss important matters but was distracted by the novelty. After fiddling with it unsuccessfully, she glanced at the composed woman. “Your little husband isn’t honest. These gifts are just tricks.”

“Her gifts are all wonderful.” Yan Luo glanced at the happy cat on the table, her lips curling slightly. “They’re all very interesting, unlike anything I’ve seen before—novel and amusing.”

The empress noticed the happy cat too and snatched it up, squeezing and kneading it. “A soft cat? It’s so exquisitely made. Where did you buy it?”

She looked at Yan Luo, her desire to claim it obvious.

Yan Luo lowered her eyes, avoiding the empress’s gaze. The empress handed the cat back, and Yan Luo took it, holding it in her palms—clearly unwilling to part with it.

The empress, feeling slighted, sat down and began discussing the exam fraud case.

Once back in her carriage, Gu Que broke into a cold sweat. Yan Luo’s meaning was clear—tonight’s Qionglin Banquet was a trap, likely with no return.

As the wheels rolled over the ground, she steadied her emotions. She couldn’t attend the banquet tonight. How could she avoid entering the palace?

The coachman cracked his whip, urging the horses faster.

By the time she returned home, Gu Que had already bought many items on Taobao. Back in her bedroom, everything was neatly arranged: potted plants, crystal rabbits, a mattress, and a bouquet of fresh roses—ninety-nine in total. She handed the flowers to Tinglan. “Remember, deliver these to the Prime Minister.”

Tinglan’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Such beautiful flowers! Where did you get them? Let me count how many…”

“Hurry and deliver them.” Gu Que was delighted. Flowers were step two—who could resist them?

Tinglan struggled to carry them and called two servants to help.

Once they left, Gu Que rushed to see her father and recounted the day’s events. Marquis Yongle’s expression darkened. “Don’t enter the palace tonight. The Prime Minister cares for you, which is why she gave you these hints.”

“Cares for me?” Gu Que couldn’t believe it. “We’ve only met twice. She must be considering the engagement between our families.”

Marquis Yongle, seated in his wheelchair, said, “Your uncle visited today, wanting to send you two obedient maids. I accepted.”

“Father, the Prime Minister will be angry if you do this.” Gu Que frowned, upset. She knew the customs of Great Wei, but the other party was the Prime Minister—noble and dignified. How could concubines be acceptable?

“I only accepted them. They won’t be sent to your room. If your uncle asks, say they made mistakes and were reassigned.” The marquis looked at his daughter and warned, “Keep your distance from the Prime Minister. With your appearance, it’s easy to see through the disguise.”

People said girls should be pampered, but even raised as a boy, Gu Que lacked masculinity.

Gu Que fell silent, her head drooping.

Marquis Yongle lectured her at length before letting her go, instructing her to buy gifts for the new residence. If she pretended to disappear, she could avoid the impending disaster.

Gu Que complied. After packing the items into a wooden chest and loading them onto the carriage, she made sure others knew she was leaving by riding a horse instead of taking the carriage.

Under the warm spring sun, Gu Que rode elegantly, her face flushed from the heat, her jade crown gleaming. She looked dashing and refined.

As she rode leisurely, she encountered a carriage and reined in her horse, politely yielding the right of way.

Someone inside lifted the curtain and glanced at the young man, a flash of admiration crossing their eyes. “What a pity she’s Yan Luo’s. Otherwise, she’d make a fine consort.”

The speaker was the empress of Great Wei, thirty years old and without an imperial consort.

Unaware she’d caught someone’s eye, Gu Que continued riding, the jade pendant at her waist swaying. She fiddled with it, her mood light.

Happy, she slowed her horse to a leisurely pace when suddenly, several black-clad figures emerged from both sides.

Gu Que froze. Were these her father’s men?

Why were they here so soon?