After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 48

48: Urgent, Eager to Consummate the Marriage.

Gu Que was completely awake now, no longer needing Yan Luo to scare her with those bizarre images.

She sat up, and the maids came to change the bedding. The sheets were replaced every two days to avoid the lingering smell of medicine.

As for what Yan Luo was doing…

Gu Que shouldn’t have looked. One glance nearly made her fall off the bed.

Yan Luo was pacing around the room with that bag in hand, swaying left and right as she walked. The maids who came in to tidy up didn’t dare to look around carelessly. They didn’t see it, but Gu Que saw it clearly. She couldn’t take it anymore. “Turn it off.”

“Don’t talk, I’m thinking about something,” Yan Luo refused, her expression grave.

Gu Que got out of bed, dressed, and left.

Summer had truly arrived. The early morning was still cool, the trees lush, and the air fresh.

After stepping outside, Gu Que instructed the maids not to enter unless summoned by the Prime Minister.

Unexpectedly, Granny Sun came to check Yan Luo’s pulse. Gu Que stopped her and coughed loudly. Granny Sun was puzzled, “Why are you coughing?”

“N-Nothing. Granny, you can go in. The Prime Minister is alone inside.” Gu Que’s face flushed red with embarrassment as she hurried away.

Yesterday, she had gone to the rice paddies, so today she decided not to go. Instead, she planned to check on the shops and take care of installing the glass for Yan Luo.

As soon as she left the mansion gate, the coachman raised his whip, but before the carriage could move, she saw Ling Zhao riding toward her.

The teahouse was bustling, packed with people in the main hall. For a few coins, one could sit there all day listening to storytellers.

Ling Zhao invited Gu Que for tea—coarse tea served in large bowls. Fortunately, Gu Que didn’t know much about tea, but the waiter’s odd look when serving made her glance at the few green tea leaves floating in her bowl. She took a sip. It was bitter, with little tea flavor.

She set the bowl down. Only then did Ling Zhao speak: “Cousin, how is the Prime Minister’s health?”

Gu Que didn’t look at him, grabbing a handful of melon seeds to nibble on. “Cousin, speak plainly. I won’t gossip behind others’ backs.”

Gu Que’s demeanor was different from before, more casual. Ling Zhao stared at her familiar face, his heart pounding. After a long pause, he had no choice but to say, “Do you know about the Prince Huaizhang’s mansion…”

“Just say it directly, I’m listening,” Gu Que said lightly.

Ling Zhao took a deep breath. “The Prime Minister was assassinated, and the evidence points to the Prince Huaizhang’s heir. But at the Ministry of Justice, the evidence I’ve uncovered seems inconsistent—it looks more like the Prime Minister’s own scheme.”

Gu Que’s eyelashes fluttered. “Do you have feelings for the Prime Minister?”

“You…” Ling Zhao was speechless. After a long silence, he said, “How can personal feelings be compared to official matters?”

“Cousin, why are you targeting her?” Gu Que didn’t understand. If he had feelings for her, why think this way?

She continued, “Do you know how poor her health is? The physician said she needs to rest and recover. Why would she do such a thing?”

Ling Zhao had no rebuttal. “You haven’t entered the court, so you don’t know how treacherous factional struggles can be. This time, the Yan family’s attack on Prince Huaizhang’s mansion is unprecedentedly vicious. To be frank, the heir and I were classmates. I know his character—he’s nothing like his father and would never do something so ruthless.”

Gu Que shelled melon seeds lazily. “I have no interest in court affairs, and I don’t know the heir. All I know is that she was unconscious for four or five days and nearly died. Cousin, the world is prejudiced against her. If you still have feelings for her, it proves your affection is genuine. But why follow the crowd?”

“I’ve lived with her as husband and wife for months. I know her character—she would never resort to such schemes. Besides, even if she did, do you have proof?” Gu Que countered. “All I know is that the winner takes all, and the loser bears the blame. Should the victor step aside for the loser? Cousin, I admire your integrity, but this attitude will only harm you.”

Ling Zhao pondered briefly. “I treat you as a younger brother.”

Gu Que: “I respect you as an elder brother. Yet you come to your younger brother’s home to badmouth his wife. Is this how an elder brother should behave?”

“This involves court affairs. You’re unfamiliar with politics, and I’m afraid you’ll take the wrong path. Before, you often said the Prime Minister was terrifying and wanted to break off the engagement, even asking me to inform you of any news.” Ling Zhao was helpless. Once Gu Yicheng married, his personality changed completely—now he defended the Prime Minister at every turn.

He sighed. “I won’t bring it up again.”

Gu Que suddenly realized it was the original host who disliked the Prime Minister. “Cousin, I was wrong before. Now I’ve figured it out. Husband and wife are one. I trust her.”

“Husband and wife are one…” Ling Zhao was dazed, thinking of that charming figure. His heart sank, and he couldn’t help but say, “Before, you said it was parental pressure—that if it were up to you, you’d never marry such a ruthless woman.”

He had always held onto the hope that if his cousin didn’t like her, he might have a chance.

Now, that dream was shattered.

Ling Zhao stood up, his spirit wavering. He bowed to Gu Que. “Cousin, I was presumptuous. May you and the Prime Minister be happy together, growing old in harmony.”

Gu Que suddenly softened. The mistake wasn’t Ling Zhao’s—it was the original host who gave him hope, and now she had crushed it.

She stood as Ling Zhao turned to leave, his back radiating dejection.

Gu Que didn’t chase after him. This was how it should end. Fortunately, Ling Zhao was tight-lipped and wouldn’t spread gossip.

Another blame to bear.

Gu Que sighed, her mood dampened.

She picked up the large bowl of tea and gulped it down, then set the bowl aside and strode out.

At the door, a waiter chased after her. “Young master, you haven’t paid yet.”

Damn Ling Zhao—he ran off without paying…

Gu Que hurriedly reached for money, rummaging through her sleeves and waist pouch. Oh no, she hadn’t brought any.

Every time she went out, she carried money—except today, when she’d left in a rush.

What to do?

The waiter watched her fumble for a long time without producing a coin, his expression turning ugly. “A few coins, and you’re trying to skip out?”

Gu Que’s face burned red. “I’m not skipping out. I forgot to bring money. Come with me to my home to collect it, alright?”

“Oh, go home with you? What if you run off halfway?” The waiter sneered. “Dressed so finely, looking all proper, yet you can’t even scrape together a few coins.”

“Y-You… don’t be like this. I’ll go get my coachman—he’s outside.” Gu Que remembered she hadn’t come alone. There was a coachman waiting.

Thank goodness someone was with her.

The waiter went out suspiciously and saw the elegant carriage. Relieved, he asked the coachman for the money.

The coachman paid, and Gu Que was finally let go. She told him, “I’ll pay you back when we return.”

Gu Que’s face was pale with humiliation. She no longer wanted to visit the shops and ordered the coachman to turn back.

What awful luck!

Back home, she had Tinglan repay the coachman and returned to her room in low spirits.

Yan Luo was sitting under a tree in the courtyard, playing chess with Granny Sun.

Gu Que’s expression was off, like a frostbitten eggplant. Granny Sun abandoned her chess piece. “You two play.”

“Granny, keep playing. I’ll just watch.” Gu Que hung her head.

Yan Luo held a black piece, glancing at her. When she left, she was a dashing young master; now she returned like a wronged wife, her emotions completely unconcealed.

She placed a piece and said, “Did you get beaten for harassing some girl?”

Granny Sun was shocked. “You have such tastes?”

“No!” Gu Que hurriedly explained. “Cousin invited me for tea but ran off without paying. I didn’t bring money, and they accused me of skipping out. So embarrassing.”

Granny Sun burst out laughing. “They said the young master was dressed so finely—how could he not pay?”

Gu Que was too ashamed to lift her head. Yan Luo watched her with amusement, even forgetting to place her next piece. “Young Master, are you blushing?”

“No. Prime Minister, how are you feeling today?” Gu Que didn’t want to answer the humiliating question, but Ling Zhao was now blacklisted.

Never seeing him again would be fine.

Yan Luo propped her chin up, staring at the silly Young Master. “Did Ling Zhao say I framed someone with a self-inflicted injury scheme?”

Gu Que stayed silent.

“He’s at the Ministry of Justice, but the case was decided by the Ministry of Punishments. The Ministry of Justice tried to interfere, but Lu Song didn’t share the spoils…”

“Prime Minister, he admires you,” Gu Que suddenly interjected. “Cousin is just a bit too upright, but his heart isn’t bad.”

Compared to the sickly, troublesome Gu Yan, Ling Zhao was far more outstanding.

Gu Que’s words made Yan Luo’s heart skip. Was this little girl considering her feelings now?

Tsk, tsk. Such a naive do-gooder.

Yan Luo clicked her tongue. “Do you know Ling Zhao has a concubine?”

“H-He has a woman?” Gu Que was stunned. Her cousin seemed so upright and kind. On the wedding day, he stood outside the courtyard, desolate and lovesick—the very image of a devoted lover.

She didn’t believe it. “Was it arranged by his family?”

The Gu family had also prepared one for her, intending to bring her this time, but Gu Que refused. It was a common practice, though not everyone accepted it.

“Arranged by the family? They’ve already slept together. It takes two to tango. Do you think his feelings for me are pure? Young Master, I’ve never met anyone as foolish as you.” Yan Luo sighed, seeing how genuinely silly she was and kindly explained: “Men never have just one woman. Even if you were a princess, you’d have to accept your husband having other women. Ling Zhao committed the same mistake all men do. You can’t say he’s a bad man because his actions are permitted by law.”

“I was wrong.” Gu Que didn’t argue. Seen this way, Ling Zhao wasn’t a good match either.

“Young Master, what kind of man do you consider ideal in your heart?” Yan Luo asked. Gu Que was different from ordinary girls. The Great Wei had been established for a long time, and the capital’s culture was decadent. Girls were raised knowing only romance and poetry—there were many like Princess Qing’an.

Gu Que was raised as a boy, indifferent to fame and officialdom, yet unlike other men.

Her thoughts were strange, as if she sought “one life, one spouse”?

Yan Luo was curious. Where did she get the courage?

Gu Que said, “A man without other women.”

Exactly as expected. Yan Luo laughed, about to mock her, but suddenly remembered her mother. Her mother also thought she could have her father all to herself. Later, the dream shattered, and her life ended.

She stared intently at the girl. “What if your ideal man cheated on you behind your back? What would you do?”

Gu Que frowned. “Would you cheat on me?”

“Not me…” Yan Luo froze, then chuckled. “Besides me?”

Gu Que answered smoothly: “Besides you, no one else is my ideal man.”

Such a perfect answer. Satisfied?

It was like the saying:

“Honey, my lipstick stained your shirt.”

The other party replies:

“Should I buy you more lipstick?”

It was the same logic as Yan Luo’s question.

Yan Luo deflated. She’d trained her too well—now even the truth couldn’t be pried out. She’d dug her own grave.

Gu Que was delighted but suddenly remembered someone else. She looked around—Granny Sun was long gone.

“Eh? Where’s Granny?”

“She left a while ago. She knows what’s appropriate.” Yan Luo sighed, bracing herself on the table to stand. The sun warmed her body, but sitting too long made her waist ache.

Gu Que stepped forward to support her. “Going back inside?”

“Going to lie down for a bit.” Yan Luo steadied herself. Gu Que eagerly leaned in, and she didn’t push her away, resting on her shoulder instead. “Young Master, someone sued you.”

Not long after Gu Que left, the manager of the rice paddies arrived. After tea at the gatehouse, he asked to see the Prime Minister.

Yan Luo had free time recently and agreed to meet him.

The manager trembled as he entered, kneeling before he even got close, begging for mercy. Granny Sun happened to be there and told him to speak plainly.

The manager recounted yesterday’s events. Yan Luo laughed, while Granny Sun, thinking she was displeased, spoke up for him: “Prime Minister, farmers rely on their crops to eat. If they lose a season’s harvest, they’ll starve.”

“The Young Master is kind. Tell him the truth.” Yan Luo was nearly dying of laughter. Finally, someone questioned Gu Que’s shady methods!

The manager bowed. “If the Young Master insists, this humble one doesn’t know what to say.”

“Alright, how much grain does one acre of your land yield?” Yan Luo asked.

The manager said, “Over a hundred catties.”

“Let’s calculate based on two hundred catties. You have two hundred acres of paddies, so that’s forty thousand catties of grain. If the Young Master doesn’t get that much, I’ll compensate for the shortfall. How’s that?” Yan Luo wanted to laugh but covered her mouth with her sleeve.

Granny Sun seized the key point: “Did the Young Master say how much her seeds would yield?” The Young Master wasn’t unreasonable—she must have had a plan.

The manager trembled. “The Young Master said eight hundred to a thousand catties.”

Granny Sun also laughed. “Oh my, that much?”

She looked at Yan Luo. “What’s gotten into the Young Master?” Wasn’t this pure fantasy? Four to five times the usual yield—had she been scammed by a charlatan?

“Granny, what she said might be true.” Yan Luo believed her because she’d seen too many of Gu Que’s little gadgets. She had the ability.

Yan Luo instructed the manager: “Go back for now.”

The manager left, relieved.

After hearing this, Gu Que smiled. “I said eight hundred to a thousand is the minimum. The highest can reach sixteen hundred catties.”

The two returned to the room. Yan Luo reclined on the couch, and Gu Que carefully placed a soft pillow behind her waist. Yan Luo leaned against it, studying the girl’s fair face. “Gu Que, what if you fail?”

“If I fail, I’ll try again next year. The strawberries you ate—did they succeed on the first try? Failure is the mother of success. One failure isn’t shameful, and I won’t let them suffer losses.” Gu Que pulled up a stool, excitedly telling her about Yuan Longping, the father of hybrid rice.

Yan Luo listened intently. The Great Wei was divided into north and south, with vastly different diets. Rice was currently grown on a large scale only south of the Yangtze, while the north relied on millet.

Gu Que spoke passionately, and Yan Luo was captivated—it really did sound plausible.

“Then go ahead.” Yan Luo agreed. At any rate, she was idle at home—it was good for Gu Que to have something to do.

Gu Que cheered. “I want to move to the estate tomorrow.”

Yan Luo stopped smiling. “Then forget it.” Trying to scheme against her? How wicked.

Yan Luo rested for two months before she could move freely. Granny Sun was worn out with worry, fearing the summer heat would worsen her condition. Fortunately, the wound healed well, though it left a scar. Granny Sun dutifully worked on a scar-removing ointment.

Gu Que’s rice seedlings sprouted, growing vigorously. She selected a team to transplant them. Yan Luo clamored to go, but Gu Que refused, afraid: “What if we meet assassins again?”

Yan Luo was displeased and moved to the study to sleep that night. The study now had glass windows, which Yan Luo loved—she could see the scenery outside at a glance. But the bedroom wasn’t changed. Gu Que refused.

Half a month later, Yan Luo returned to court, and the two saw each other less often.

The summer heat was unbearable, and ice was essential for cooling off. Gu Que placed a refrigerator in the warm house, with the generator running day and night to power it. Xi Yu felt summer wasn’t so hard to endure after all.

Four yellow-watermelons ripened. Gu Que had them picked and brought back to the Gu mansion to chill in water.

Yan Luo returned to find yellow-watermelon—very sweet. She was puzzled: “Why is it yellow?”

“I changed the variety. Red isn’t special. There are a few more—I’ll send some to Third Madam later. This time, you won’t think of using it to kill someone, right?” Gu Que shuddered. The idea of using a syringe to kill was terrifying enough—she couldn’t eat this watermelon in peace.

The watermelon was cut into chunks. Yan Luo ate it with a silver fork, pondering briefly. “The watermelon is too big. Not suitable.”

The case against Prince Huaizhang remained unresolved. Now, the entire Prince Huaizhang’s mansion was gone, and no one cared.

Gu Que snorted. “Just eat the watermelon properly.”

Yan Luo also snorted. “I want ice cream. Zhi Zhi had some once and said it was delicious. There’s also this ‘Cutie’ thing.”

Gu Que pretended not to hear, continuing to eat watermelon.

Granny Sun arrived upon hearing the news, sitting down and helping herself to watermelon without waiting for an invitation. She asked, “Have you two been up to mischief lately?”

What counted as mischief was clear to both. Gu Que stated her stance first: “She’s been sleeping in the study.”

Granny Sun nodded. Yan Luo suddenly said, “I’m moving back today.”

Gu Que’s watermelon lost its flavor. She sighed. Granny Sun burst out laughing.

The young couple looked up at her in unison. Granny Sun choked, nearly suffocating. “I have things to do.”

She left, taking the watermelon with her.

Yan Luo and Gu Que stared at each other. Gu Que asked, “Yan Family’s Xiao Qi.”

Yan Luo replied, “Here.”

Gu Que said, “Why do the people around you all love to eat?”

“Who doesn’t like to eat new things?” Yan Luo explained. “Liking to eat isn’t wrong. Life is short—fill your stomach, savor the flavors, and don’t waste your time in this world.”

Gu Que thought there was some truth to that.

She asked, “Do you think I’m a monster?”

Yan Luo gazed into her eyes. “I think you’re a deity.”

Gu Que laughed, genuinely happy. She didn’t know why being praised by Yan Luo made her so elated—like bubbles of joy were bursting in her heart.

Perhaps it was because she’d been too mediocre in her past life, never receiving praise from others. A little sweetness made her giddy.

She asked Yan Luo, “Do you often praise people?”

Yan Luo smiled. “No. Do I look that idle to you?”

Gu Que pressed, “Then who have you praised the most?”

Yan Luo answered seriously: “My husband.”

Gu Que was so delighted she nearly floated away. Yan Luo teased her: “People outside hail you as a great poet now. Are you happy?”

Gu Que shook her head. “No.”

Yan Luo was surprised. Many literati, including esteemed scholars, held Gu Que in high regard. Wasn’t that better than her empty praise?

Gu Que explained: “It’s just deceiving the world. If you don’t believe me, I can write many more for you. That poem was just the first of the Qing Ping Diao series—there’s a second one.”

Yan Luo didn’t believe her. “Write it, then.”

Gu Que had Tinglan prepare brush and ink, chattering as she worked. “I’ll show you Three Hundred Tang Poems when I have time. They’re brilliant—all timeless masterpieces.”

Once the ink was ready, Gu Que didn’t hesitate. Under Yan Luo’s gaze, she picked up the brush and wrote:

A branch of enchanting dew congeals fragrance,
Clouds and rain over Witch’s Mountain are but heartbreak.
Ask, in the Han palace, who could compare?
Poor Flying Swallow, relying on new makeup.

Yan Luo shook her head. “Not as good as the first one.”

Gu Que grinned. “There’s a third one.”

Famed flowers and a beauty, each delights the other,
Often earning the sovereign’s smiling glances.
They dispel spring’s infinite resentment,
By the north of the Aloes Pavilion, leaning on the railings.

Yan Luo frowned. “This is about a consort, not an empress.” An empress was the mother of the nation, not someone who served the emperor with her looks.

Gu Que set down the brush. “Do you still believe I wrote these?”

“I believe you wrote them. The person you mentioned is unknown—was she your dream lover?” Yan Luo smiled faintly. The poems carried a unique charm. If such a person existed, it was natural for a young girl to develop feelings.

Gu Que laughed. “He was the nightmare of students, an object of worship for scholars—but not my lover.”

Yan Luo found it strange. What was inside Gu Que’s head? It was fascinating. “There’s a poetry gathering tomorrow. I’ll take you to have fun. Recite all the poems from your dreams and let me show off properly.”

“What are you showing off? Deceiving the world?” Gu Que was speechless.

Yan Luo ignored her and moved back to the bedroom that night.

Gu Que watched her, reminded of the saying: Long divided, must unite; long united, must divide.

The two lay down. Yan Luo’s body was still cool, so Gu Que scooted away. Yan Luo followed, moving closer.

You move, she moves…

You move again, she moves again…

You stop, she leans against you.

Gu Que was now on the edge of the bed, her arm dangling. “I’m going to fall off.”

“Then fall off,” Yan Luo said, closing her eyes.

Gu Que sat up and saw a large empty space on the inner side. She quickly crawled over, letting Yan Luo sleep on the outer side.

Gu Que lay inside, but Yan Luo rolled over and pressed against her, asking: “Young Master, is your sister’s illness better?”

“I don’t know. Father and Mother haven’t mentioned it.” Gu Que subtly shifted inward.

Yan Luo followed. “Aren’t you going to ask?”

Gu Que moved again, thinking of the mistress’s sharp, unkind face. She didn’t want to go home to face her, so it had been a long time since she’d heard news of Gu Yan. Notably, the marquis hadn’t summoned her home for matchmaking.

“I didn’t ask. Is the Huo family anxious?”

Yan Luo hummed, playing with Gu Que’s ear. “The Huo family isn’t anxious, but I am.”

Gu Que froze. “Why are you anxious?”

She didn’t notice Yan Luo moving closer until she was backed against the wall with nowhere left to go.

“I’m anxious to consummate the marriage.” Yan Luo said lightly, her fingers toying with Gu Que’s earlobe. Huh? She didn’t have pierced ears…

A young girl without pierced ears—how would she wear earrings in the future?

Gu Que, squeezed tightly, felt her whole body heat up and covered her ears. “Move back a little.”

Yan Luo pretended not to hear. Instead, she asked, “Why don’t you have pierced ears?”