After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 31

31: V-Neck Red Dress, What’s the Past For? A Kiss?

Probably only Gu Que dared to push Yan Luo like this. Others wouldn’t even dare to glance at her.

After waiting a moment, Gu Que returned, and Yan Luo’s expression softened again. Leng Mian teased her, “Where’s your dignity?”

Yan Luo glared at her, “Gone.”

Leng Mian pressed, “Where’s your backbone?”

Yan Luo continued glaring, “Turned into bone china.”

Leng Mian fell silent. How utterly shameless. Was a popsicle really worth sacrificing all pride?

As usual, Gu Que carried an icebox and placed it on the table, letting Yan Luo choose. Yan Luo naturally went for the cat-shaped one. Just as her hand emerged from the icebox, Gu Que shoved the entire box into Leng Mian’s arms. “It’s yours.”

Leng Mian froze, then couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Young Master.”

Gu Que waved magnanimously. “Go on, hurry up before someone starts eyeing it.”

The “someone” eyeing the popsicle was Yan Luo, who took a bite, her teeth chilled. She glanced at Leng Mian, signaling her to leave the box behind.

But Leng Mian left with a smile, taking all five popsicles with her—not leaving a single one.

Yan Luo sighed mournfully. This bodyguard was useless—tomorrow, she’d either give her away or dismiss her.

She asked Gu Que, “Do you like her?”

“No, I gave them to her so you wouldn’t steal any.” Gu Que explained plainly, “If your health were better, I wouldn’t stop you.”

Yan Luo nibbled pitifully on her popsicle, chewing slowly. After swallowing, she blinked and asked, “Will eating this make me worse?”

Gu Que nodded. “Of course.”

Yan Luo mimicked her nod. “Will it affect having children?”

“Stop copying me.” Gu Que frowned, not quite understanding Yan Luo’s meaning. “You don’t want children?”

“No, popsicles are better.” Yan Luo sighed faintly, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Gu Que was speechless. “Giving up children for popsicles? You…”

What could she even say to that?

Yan Luo finally finished her popsicle and handed the stick to Gu Que. “If you want kids, find someone else to have them. I won’t give you any.”

Gu Que laughed. Yan Luo then asked, “How do you make these? Teach me.”

“No.” Gu Que refused.

Yan Luo was taken aback. “Why?”

“If I teach you, you’ll eat them every day.” Gu Que answered honestly.

Yan Luo got angry, shooting her a fierce glare before storming off.

Strangely, Gu Que wasn’t scared by her anger, nor did she feel the same panic as before. Instead, she found it amusing. People said Prime Minister Yan was terrifying, but Gu Que didn’t see it—she seemed so down-to-earth. Where was the fear factor?

After leaving Gu Que, Yan Luo couldn’t find Leng Mian. She’d come out quickly, hoping to intercept her and snag another popsicle, but after searching everywhere, there was no sign of her.

Following Gu Que’s lead, Leng Mian had turned rebellious too. She wouldn’t listen anymore.

Tomorrow, she’d send her away and bring Wu Qing back.

But then she reconsidered—Wu Qing was a man and couldn’t freely enter the inner courtyard. She’d have to find someone else.

Back in her study, Yan Luo rested her chin on her hand. Soon after, an advisor arrived to discuss the latest developments among the noble families.

The matter of Princess Qing’an was settled—the two families had set a date for the wedding. The Huo family was humiliated, and after the scandal, the entire capital was laughing at them. The Huaizhang Prince’s residence was bustling with wedding preparations, though it was just a marriage to a spirit tablet.

Imagine how miserable the Huo family’s young master must feel.

But this incident would soon be overshadowed by the imperial examinations. Many of the top candidates from the previous round had been disqualified, most of them connected to the Duke of Jin. The first and second-place winners had even been beheaded—only Gu Que remained unscathed.

This time, Gu Que wouldn’t fail, but whether she’d make the top tier depended on her own talent.

There was also the major matter of selecting the emperor’s consort.

Compared to the previous two issues, this was a matter of national importance. Noble families were scrambling for the opportunity, and young men from every household were mustering their courage to catch the emperor’s eye.

But Yan Luo knew the truth—the empress preferred young women, especially those with eyes like Gu Que’s.

She asked her advisor, “Has the emperor sent anyone to the Yongle Marquis’s residence?”

The advisor raised an eyebrow. “The Prime Minister guessed correctly. The emperor sent people to inquire about the second young lady’s whereabouts.”

Yan Luo smirked. The lustful empress had quite the appetite—always coveting what she couldn’t have. After a moment of silence, she formulated a plan.

“Leak this to the empress dowager quietly. No need for details—just a hint will do.”

The advisor hesitated. “If the empress dowager finds out, she’ll target the Yongle Marquis’s residence.”

“So what? The empress dowager has her hands full right now and won’t have time to bother with the marquis’s household. But if the emperor is lusting after another’s wife, that’s not the marquis’s fault.” Yan Luo’s tone was icy.

The advisor ventured, “The second young lady is frail. If the emperor takes a liking to her…”

She trailed off, but Yan Luo understood. “Are you suggesting we deliver Gu Que to the emperor’s bed?”

The advisor fell silent. Such things happened often. If the emperor desired it, other noble families would eagerly comply—let alone a sickly girl.

Yan Luo dismissed the idea. “She can’t have her, so she’s obsessing. Once she gets her hands on her and plays around for a few days, she’ll lose interest. Do you think she’s loyal or deeply affectionate?”

The empress was competitive by nature, stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat—but utterly incompetent.

Her conflict with the empress dowager was already out in the open. What could she do? She spent her days fooling around as usual.

The advisor dared not speak further.

As dusk fell, the advisor left the study. Leng Mian strolled back leisurely, but Yan Luo ignored her.

Not just for the night—but for several days.

Two days later, Yan Luo replaced her with a new bodyguard—a girl of fifteen or sixteen, even younger than Gu Que, named Zhi Zhi.

True to her name, Zhi Zhi chattered endlessly. The moment she met Ting Lan, she latched onto her, and the two quickly became inseparable.

Ting Lan asked her, “Where’s Leng Mian?”

Zhi Zhi replied, “She disobeyed orders, so the Prime Minister dismissed her.”

Ting Lan was curious. “How did she disobey?”

Zhi Zhi hemmed and hawed before finally admitting, “The Prime Minister didn’t tell me. But she warned me to always obey her and never listen to the young master.”

Ting Lan wasn’t stupid—she immediately understood the problem lay with the young master.

Though she didn’t know the details, she reported it to him.

Gu Que knew exactly what had happened but wasn’t worried. Instead, she told Ting Lan, “Don’t worry about it. She’s just throwing a tantrum.”

A Prime Minister acting so capriciously—wasn’t she exhausted?

Ting Lan didn’t dare respond, only saying, “Master, you’ve become much bolder. Before, you’d have been terrified, but now you’re calling the Prime Minister unreasonable.”

“That’s because… that’s because…” Gu Que trailed off, lost in thought. Isn’t she unreasonable?

The exams were just days away, and Gu Que finally returned to her studies—though not to read, but to practice calligraphy. After a year of practice, her writing was finally presentable.

But she knew she was still far from the original owner’s skill. The young lady had been talented, her calligraphy and paintings exceptional.

Prime Minister Yan didn’t return for several days. On the day of the exam, Gu Que went alone, though Zhi Zhi accompanied her.

Zhi Zhi chattered nonstop along the way—about food from all over the world. Turns out, she was another foodie.

The two of them escorted Gu Que to the exam hall, then left. Ting Lan didn’t treat Zhi Zhi poorly, offering her sweet milk.

Zhi Zhi, still a child, gulped it down in one go, then blinked. “Delicious.”

Yan Luo still hadn’t returned—as the chief examiner, she had to remain at the exam site. Meanwhile, the empress paid a visit to the Yongle Marquis’s residence.

The Yongle Marquis had retired from court life, spending his days drinking tea and fishing. He didn’t even know what the empress looked like.

When they met, he was stunned. The empress stepped forward and smiled. “The marquis has lost his former charm.”

Her opening remark was an insult—how vicious. Fortunately, the Yongle Marquis was used to it and responded calmly, inquiring about her purpose.

The empress didn’t beat around the bush. “I wish to meet your second young lady. I’ve heard she’s the twin sister of the young master—identical in appearance.”

Gu Yan belonged to Yan Luo—she didn’t dare interfere. But Gu Que was still unattached.

The Yongle Marquis was utterly baffled. The empress had come to his home demanding to see the “never-seen” Gu Que. Was the empress out of her mind, or had his ears deceived him?

He took two deep breaths. “My daughter is in Jiangnan, in poor health. I’m afraid she cannot receive you.”

“No matter. The palace has imperial physicians—far better than Jiangnan’s doctors.” The empress left no room for refusal. In terms of medical skill, how could local doctors compare to the palace’s?

The Yongle Marquis was stumped. He didn’t know what was happening, but the empress clearly had her eye on Gu Que.

He didn’t understand what the empress hoped to achieve with such a bold move.

“Your Majesty, my daughter is too frail to endure the journey.” He refused again. This was his daughter, not some object to be handed over at will. As the head of the household, he was his children’s protector—not their executioner.

The empress laughed coldly at his refusal. “What is the marquis afraid of? I merely wish to meet her.”

The empress dowager opposed it, so she’d do the opposite. She was the ruler of the nation—if she couldn’t even have a woman, how could she command the world?

The Yongle Marquis panicked inwardly. Facing the empress, he couldn’t outright refuse—after all, the ruler’s dignity had to be preserved.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that I fear anything. My daughter is gravely ill—she cannot even leave her bed. She is my only legitimate daughter…”

“No matter. I’ll wait for her to recover. I’ll grant her the title of noble consort—does that satisfy you?” The empress smiled at her subject.

“Your Majesty, she is a woman, and so are you. How can two women marry? You are the Son of Heaven—how can you force a subject’s daughter into your harem?” The Yongle Marquis was furious.

The empress stared at him. “Are you defying my decree?”

“Marquis—the Prime Minister has arrived!” A steward announced abruptly.

Before the words faded, Prime Minister Yan strode in. Instantly, the Yongle Marquis relaxed, casting a grateful glance her way. “Prime Minister, you’ve come.”

“The empress dowager sent me to retrieve Your Majesty. Why have you come here?” Yan Luo’s gaze settled on the empress’s dark expression as she stepped forward. “Your Majesty, have you come to speak with the Yongle Marquis?”

The empress didn’t answer. The Yongle Marquis quickly said, “Indeed. His Majesty wished to hear of military affairs, so I obliged. Since the Prime Minister is here, Your Majesty should return to the palace.”

Yan Luo approached the empress, her gaze steady. “Your Majesty.”

The empress shot the Yongle Marquis a glare, flicked her sleeve, and stormed off in a rage.

Yan Luo didn’t follow immediately. Instead, she turned to the Yongle Marquis. “Marquis, you’d best find another ‘second young lady.’”

The Yongle Marquis paled. Finding a replacement was easy, but doing so would mean Gu Que could never return. For her, it would be too cruel.

He held firm. “Finding someone is simple, but what if she recovers and returns? How would she live then?”

Yan Luo studied him. “If you don’t find someone, your household will face disaster. If the emperor is enraged, do you think the marquis’s residence can withstand her wrath?”

“I won’t sell my daughter for glory.” The Yongle Marquis was livid.

Yan Luo sneered. “Then the marquis can await the emperor’s fury.”

With that, she turned and left, catching up to the empress. They boarded the carriage together.

“Your Majesty, why lose your composure?”

The empress’s face was stormy. Even to Yan Luo, her tone was sharp. “I am the Son of Heaven. What’s wrong with wanting a woman? I’ll defy heaven itself—what does it matter if she’s a woman? I’ll make her my noble consort.”

“The empress dowager is baiting you. Why take the bait? If you act improperly, she’ll have grounds to depose you.” Yan Luo tried to reason with her.

The empress retorted, “She wouldn’t dare. I’m her only daughter. If she deposes me, who will she crown?”

Yan Luo warned, “The late emperor had many daughters. The twelfth princess is only five—a child is easiest to control.”

The late emperor had many daughters and sons, though most princes had died young. The empress knew how they’d died—the realization made her panic.

“I’ll send them all to meet the late emperor.”

Yan Luo said nothing. The carriage rumbled along, soon leaving the Yongle Marquis’s residence behind.

The empress returned to the palace, and Yan Luo sighed in relief. “The empress dowager is provoking you into making mistakes. Endure for now. Once you hold real power, you can have any woman you desire.”

She paused, then added, “Who knows? By then, the Yongle Marquis’s second daughter might have recovered.”

The empress halted on the palace steps, then smiled. “True. Tell the Yongle Marquis he’s forbidden to arrange a marriage for Gu Que.”

Yan Luo replied, “That’s inappropriate. You can’t ruin her prospects.”

“Prime Minister Yan, after the exams, bring her to the palace. I’ll have her treated.” The empress smiled at her. “I trust you to handle this.”

Yan Luo agreed.

The metropolitan exam lasted six days, meaning Yan Luo wouldn’t see Gu Que for nearly a week. The days grew lonelier.

That evening, she visited the Yan residence to see the third madam, who remained mentally unstable, calling her “Xiao Qi” and dragging her to dinner.

The Yan matriarch paid no mind to such things, but this time, some Yan family members were also taking the exam. When she returned, the matriarch couldn’t help but ask. Though the Yan family had Yan Luo at the helm, most of its younger generation were mediocre scholars—only a few had passed the provincial exams, and even fewer the metropolitan ones.

Not everyone could enter officialdom as young as Yan Luo. Though history recorded thirteen-year-old Prime Ministers, none could overshadow Yan Luo’s brilliance.

The matriarch asked a few questions, and Yan Luo answered truthfully—it all depended on their own abilities. She couldn’t intervene, as too many eyes were watching this exam. Without genuine talent, they’d fade into obscurity.

The matriarch sighed, wanting to say more but remembering the last exam’s corruption scandal. Swallowing her words, she changed the subject to the third madam’s condition.

The third madam’s mental state fluctuated. When she saw Yan Luo, she behaved normally, chatting and laughing. But the moment Yan Luo left, she’d wail and throw fits. Several doctors had examined her, diagnosing a psychological issue—medicine was ineffective.

As Prime Minister, Yan Luo couldn’t stay by her side constantly. Moreover, the root of her illness traced back to the third lord’s death.

When Yan Luo was five, she fell gravely ill. The third lord took her to seek treatment, and they were gone for three years. Upon their return, the girl was utterly changed—her spirit was livelier, but her health had deteriorated. The third madam blamed her husband for neglecting their child and quarreled with him.

Around that time, the third lord and his mother-in-law, coveting prestige, sent their daughter to the palace as the crown princess’s study companion. The third madam grew even more resentful.

Within two years, the third lord fell ill and died, leaving the third madam without a pillar of support. She became withdrawn. Yan Luo stayed with her for months, but when she returned to the palace, the third madam’s hair turned white overnight, and her mind became unstable.

For Yan Luo’s future and the Yan family’s reputation, they kept it secret.

Now that Yan Luo was married, her husband—Young Master Gu—was discreet and cooperated in maintaining the secret.

Yan Luo stayed at the Yan residence for six days. On the final day of the exam, she didn’t fetch Gu Que. Instead, the Yongle Marchioness sent servants to retrieve her.

Emerging from the exam hall, others looked exhausted, but Gu Que was refreshed—she’d slept for nearly a week, though the hard beds left her sore. Nothing beat a Simmons mattress.

The marquis’s household found her, and seeing her rosy complexion, assumed she’d done well—especially the marchioness, who bombarded her with questions.

Back at the marquis’s residence, Gu Que transcribed her exam answers for the marquis to review. As a military man, the marquis dabbled in literature but found essays headache-inducing. Setting it aside, she recounted the empress’s visit.

Gu Que: Is this woman out of her mind?

The marquis, concerned for her exhaustion, said, “Rest first.”

Gu Que waved him off. She understood the Prime Minister’s implication—find a random girl to impersonate her and send her to the palace. From then on, the Yongle Marquis’s legitimate daughter, Gu Que, would be someone else.

And what of her?

If Gu Yan never returned, she’d remain Young Master Gu Yan.

If Gu Yan returned, she’d become a nameless nobody.

But there was one advantage—she’d be free of the marquis’s household. But who could they send to the palace?

She couldn’t doom an innocent girl. Especially given the empress’s temperament, Gu Que was at a loss. She asked the marquis, “What are you thinking?”

The marquis didn’t answer directly. “Return in a few days.”

Gu Que was exasperated. The empress was watching—was he still planning matchmaking?

She refused. The marquis said, “If you find someone suitable, I’ll arrange the marriage. You’ve suffered all these years—I’ll provide a generous dowry so you won’t be looked down upon.”

“This isn’t about the dowry. What about the empress?” Gu Que was speechless.

The Yongle Marquis glared. “I haven’t asked you—did you wear women’s clothing outside and catch the empress’s eye?”

The empress wouldn’t randomly demand someone. Though she acted tyrannically, there had to be a reason.

Gu Que’s conscience pricked her. She glanced at the sky and admitted, “That time I went out, I visited the soap shop. I wore a veil—the empress only saw my eyes.”

“Just your eyes?” The Yongle Marquis was skeptical. Could a pair of eyes drive someone to such madness?

Gu Que nodded emphatically. “Just my eyes.”

“Enough. Rest now. I’ll handle this.” The marquis was drained. Even if it cost him everything, he wouldn’t send Gu Que to the palace.

Using beauty to curry imperial favor—that wasn’t the Gu family’s way!

Gu Que returned home and bathed. Not feeling sleepy, she changed into fresh clothes and felt revitalized.

Yan Luo wouldn’t be back tonight. Once grading ended, they’d reunite.

In her absence, Gu Que left for the greenhouse.

The greenhouse staff were servants she’d purchased—their contracts in her hands. Inside, she tried on a set of clothes first—a vibrant red dress.

She loved bold red—a color full of life. She had a maid style her hair simply, with a single hairpin and a few red floral ornaments. The effect was striking.

The maid was only twelve, bought from a slave trader. When purchased, she’d just turned ten. The girl had thrown herself at Gu Que’s feet, pleading.

Out of pity, Gu Que bought her. The girl was from a wealthy family—her father had committed a crime, her mother died, and she’d been orphaned and sold.

Compared to Gu Que’s rudimentary literacy, the girl was well-educated and had an eye for aesthetics.

She managed the greenhouse. Gu Que named her Xi Yu—Fine Rain, inspired by the phrase “fine rain moistens silently.”

At least she’d gotten to be poetic once.

Once dressed, Xi Yu praised her and asked if she’d leave tonight.

Gu Que never stayed overnight, but tonight was different. She’d told Ting Lan she’d remain at the marquis’s residence. Since the two households didn’t communicate, no one would know.

Dinner was barbecue, cola, and beer. Early summer approached, and the evening breeze in the courtyard was delightful.

Xi Yu ate slowly, sipping cola and wrinkling her nose. “Why does it taste spicy…?”

“That’s not spice.” Gu Que laughed, tilting her head to gaze at the moon. Stroking her dress, she suddenly felt utterly at peace.

They dined for a long time. Xi Yu reminisced about her past—memories of her family’s downfall. Seeing the hairpin in Gu Que’s hair, she murmured, “I used to have one like that.”

Gu Que smiled. She understood poverty but not servitude—she knew it must be harsh.

She told Xi Yu, “When I’m free, I’ll free you too. Do you want to marry?”

At the mention of marriage, Xi Yu’s eyes lit up—then dimmed. “No, I’ll stay with you.”

Gu Que was kind, treating her well. Life here was tranquil—after suffering, she’d grown fond of simplicity.

After dinner, they retired. Gu Que dreamed—not of her past or the modern world, but of Yan Luo.

Yan Luo wore a V-neck red dress, her hair slightly curled, stunningly alluring. Most striking were her long, pale legs, slender waist, and fair back.

Every exposed inch of skin was porcelain-white.

Ancient poetry spoke of skin “fairer than frost or snow”—it wasn’t lying.

Gu Que stared. Yan Luo sat on a high stool, legs dangling, the red dress cascading like moonlight, swaying in the breeze.

For a moment, Gu Que was transfixed. Caution and restraint flew out the window.

She stepped forward. Yan Luo held a transparent wine glass, swirling the crimson liquid inside, her lips curving into a smile.

Not gentle or tender—but bewitching.

Gu Que’s breath hitched. Yan Luo sipped the wine, elegant and poised, then smiled at her. “Come here.”

Come here for what? A kiss?

Gu Que’s heart itched. She had no choice but to approach. The moment she drew near, Yan Luo offered the glass. “Gu Que, how are you so beautiful?”

Gu Que took a sip from Yan Luo’s hand. Then Yan Luo tipped her head back and drained the glass.

Leaning in, Yan Luo captured Gu Que’s lips.

In an instant, the wine passed into Gu Que’s mouth.