After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 54

54: Stimulation, Buying Storybooks.

Oh right, kissing is the most ordinary thing—why isn’t it in the books?

Yan Luo couldn’t help but ask herself—was it really that excessive?

Her mind was a bit muddled.

Gu Que, on the other hand, was laughing so hard she could barely contain herself. Sure enough, ancient people were easy to fool.

Yan Luo had been tricked away, and Gu Que laughed until she collapsed onto the table, tears streaming down her face.

Hearing the commotion, Tinglan rushed in anxiously, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“It’s nothing, just something funny. The Prime Minister went to the study. Go make her a cup of milk and take it to her.” Gu Que straightened up, wiping away her tears, her face stiff from laughter.

Tinglan hurried off to take care of it.

Taking advantage of the Prime Minister’s absence, Gu Que flipped through her novels. They were all from the same website—could it really be that there were no French kisses?

She didn’t believe it. Maybe the Prime Minister had skimmed over them too quickly and missed them.

After flipping through most of the book, she confirmed—there really were no French kisses.

Gu Que burst into laughter again. She called Tinglan over, “Go to the bookstore and find a few storybooks for me.”

Tinglan hesitated, “You want to read storybooks? Isn’t that… improper?”

“Just casually browsing. Ask if they have any… racier ones. The Prime Minister wants to read them—it’s not for me.” Gu Que pinned the blame squarely on the Prime Minister.

Tinglan was half-convinced, half-doubting. Since it involved the Prime Minister, she didn’t dare ask too many questions and quietly ventured, “How… racy?”

“Like… the kind with kissing…”

Tinglan: “……”

Gu Que urged her, “Go quietly.”

Tinglan found it hard to believe, but the young master was adamant, so she didn’t dare say anything more.

After receiving her orders, Tinglan slipped out of the mansion early the next morning. Perhaps because she felt guilty, she went too early—the bookstore wasn’t even open yet.

Staring at the closed door, Tinglan froze, not reacting for a long while.

So bookstores didn’t open this early?

The morning wasn’t cold. Tinglan bought a few steamed buns to eat and waited until the sun rose before the bookstore finally opened.

She was a young girl, inexperienced in worldly matters. She rarely left the mansion and never interacted with men outside. Even when she did go out, it was always with the young master.

Standing at the bookstore entrance, she glanced left and right, making sure no one was paying attention to her before slipping inside.

The bookstore owner was a scholarly-looking man with a beard. At first glance, he seemed dignified and proper. Tinglan took one look and thought, This is bad, this is bad. Such a respectable shopkeeper definitely won’t have that kind of book.

She hesitated at the door for a long time. As the sun climbed higher, she had no choice but to approach. Tentatively, she poked her head in, “Shopkeeper.”

“Come in, come in. What kind of book are you looking for, young lady?” The elder smiled kindly.

Tinglan’s legs went weak. She swallowed hard and asked, “Do you have… storybooks here?”

“We do. What kind are you looking for?” The elder stepped out from behind the counter, guiding Tinglan further inside. He asked considerately, “What type do you want?”

“Can I choose for myself?” Tinglan was bewildered.

The elder chuckled, “Of course you can choose.”

“Then… do you have any with… kissing?” Tinglan’s face burned as she asked, lowering her head in embarrassment.

The elder paused for a moment, then said, “Yes, of course we do.”

He picked out a few books for her, carefully wrapping them in cloth before handing them to Tinglan. “That’ll be one qian of silver.”

“Oh, oh, alright.” Tinglan took the package, fumbled to pay, then clutched it to her chest and bolted.

Back at home, she didn’t dare linger. She hastily handed the package to the young master, muttered “one qian of silver,” and fled without looking back.

Gu Que laughed. Both were from ancient times, yet Tinglan was so embarrassed she couldn’t face anyone, while the Prime Minister could watch videos without batting an eye.

Compared to the Prime Minister, Gu Que felt like she was the reserved ancient one.

Still amused, Gu Que unwrapped the package. Inside were four or five storybooks, vastly different from modern novels—and all written in classical Chinese.

After flipping through a page, her head started to ache.

Gu Que had wanted to broaden her horizons, but she simply couldn’t get into it. Giving up, she set the books aside.

Wait—what would happen when the Prime Minister returned?

She found a brazier, tossed the books into the fire, and watched them turn to ashes.

When Tinglan came back in, she saw the pile of ashes and froze. “You burned them?”

“Couldn’t understand them, so I burned them.”

Tinglan nearly collapsed. “Then what about the Prime Minister?”

Only then did Gu Que remember she’d used the Prime Minister’s name to get Tinglan to buy the books. Burning them would expose the lie.

“They weren’t good. I’ll just tell her.”

Tinglan was still half-doubting but didn’t dare press further.

Gu Que picked up her own novels again. Modern vernacular was so much more comfortable—easy to understand and didn’t require much brainpower. A modern person transmigrating to ancient times without the skills would struggle even to read storybooks.

Gu Que sighed. She needed to improve her abilities.

Time to hit the books!

After some internal debate, Gu Que headed to the study to read.

Bad deeds couldn’t be hidden from Yan Luo.

Tinglan’s early morning outing was far too conspicuous.

Even if Yan Luo hadn’t wanted to know, she would’ve found out. Learning that Gu Que had bought storybooks, she found it strange. Gu Que had plenty of novels—easy to understand, readable as long as you were literate.

The storybooks from the bookstore required actual brainpower!

Returning to the bedroom, Yan Luo searched for the storybooks, curious about Gu Que’s tastes.

After rummaging through the cabinets and secret compartments, she found nothing.

Oh ho, she’s gotten clever.

After searching in vain, Yan Luo grew tired and sat down on the daybed, not dwelling on it further. She summoned Tinglan to question her.

Assuming it was the Prime Minister’s own request, Tinglan answered truthfully, “The young master said they weren’t good and burned them.”

Yan Luo: “……”

“Dismissed.” Yan Luo waved her off wearily.

Tinglan fled as if released from a heavy burden. Yan Luo leaned against the pillow, lost in thought. Had Gu Que had an epiphany?

No—Gu Que had read so many novels without any awakening. She’d even watched videos without developing any… inclinations.

Yan Luo thought of Granny Sun and went to seek her out.

Granny Sun was planting medicinal herbs, digging in the dirt, and frowned when she saw her. “What’s wrong with you now?”

“Granny, how do I make her have an epiphany?” Yan Luo cut straight to the chase.

“An epiphany? What kind of epiphany? Haven’t you two consummated yet?” Granny Sun stood up, tossed her small hoe aside, rubbed her legs, and sighed heavily at the sky.

Yan Luo also looked up at the sky and sighed. “No.”

Granny Sun: “……”

“If you haven’t consummated, then don’t. No need to ruin someone else’s life. Gu Que is wonderful—a beautiful girl with a kind heart. She’d be a perfect match for that Huo boy.”

Yan Luo scowled. “I can break Huo Chengru’s legs.”

Granny Sun choked.

“She might actually like Huo Chengru…” Granny Sun suddenly paused. “Has she ever worn women’s clothing and met men?”

Yan Luo sneered. “I’ve never even seen it.”

“Then let her meet Huo Chengru. She might realize how good you are by comparison. I think she already knows you’re good and cares for you—she just sees you as her sister-in-law. Want to bet she still calls you ‘sister-in-law’ in private?” Granny Sun suggested.

Yan Luo wasn’t pleased. “What if she runs away?”

Granny Sun rolled her eyes. “Since when are you so lacking in confidence? If she runs, catch her, break her legs, and lock her up.”

“I’m being serious here.”

“Then just talk it out.”

“Asking you was a waste of time. I’ll go ask Uncle.” Yan Luo snorted. “If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask Aunt.”

“Wait, let me think.” Granny Sun stomped her foot in frustration. “What epiphany? Just throw a book at her.”

Yan Luo glanced at her pouch, opened it, and pulled out an object. She tapped the screen, opened a video, and handed it to Granny Sun. “She gave me this.”

The content was… highly inappropriate.

Granny Sun’s vision swam, and she nearly toppled over. “What is this? How… how is it moving?”

Yan Luo teased her. “So provincial. There’s plenty more where that came from. Don’t you think this is better than illustrations?”

“Take it away, take it away! My eyes hurt.” Granny Sun covered her eyes. It was far more… instructive than illustrations. But then she asked, “Has she watched it?”

Yan Luo reflected. “Hasn’t she? I’ve never seen her watch it. Granny, I understand what you mean.”

She turned to leave. Granny Sun didn’t stop her, muttering to herself, I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see anything.

Yan Luo, hearing this, turned back. “Granny, you did see it. Should I get you one to pass the time?”

Granny Sun planted her hands on her hips and roared, “Get lost!”

When Yan Luo returned to the bedroom, Gu Que wasn’t there—she’d been called out.

There was trouble at the shop. The soap was Gu Que’s exclusive formula, her pride and joy—something others couldn’t replicate.

But now, identical products had appeared on the market.

Gu Que’s shop had limited stock, while the other store had unlimited supply.

Sales had plummeted in recent days. Upon learning this, Gu Que immediately took a carriage to investigate the rival store.

Gu Que’s shop was on the main street, in a prime location. The other store was in a remote area, but business on that entire street had boomed recently.

Because people went there for the soap, they ended up buying other things too, naturally boosting sales.

The store was called “Spring Blossoms.” By the time Gu Que arrived, it was dusk, but the shop was still crowded. A servant went in and bought a few bars—one of each scent.

Gu Que sniffed them. They were identical to hers—the formula must have been leaked.

Instantly, she knew someone from her factory had divulged the recipe. Fortunately, it was just the ordinary soap.

The other party had already made money—probably a fortune. Even if she caught the leak, it wouldn’t matter. The store had bought the formula fair and square—nothing illegal about it.

Gu Que didn’t pick a fight or go to the factory. Instead, she went home first.

By the time she returned, it was dark. Yan Luo had made dumplings for her, but Gu Que had no appetite. She sat in silence.

“That store has been open for half a month, doing great business. I thought you’d opened a branch, but when I saw their limited variety, I realized it was a copy. I looked into it—Spring Blossoms bought the formula. Even if you sued, it’d just be a case of being swindled. But say the word, and I’ll handle it. However, this problem will keep happening. Your formula is out there now—others will have it too.” Yan Luo propped her chin on her hand, watching the pitiful girl. Finally, she’d been dealt a blow.

Tsk tsk tsk. About time.

Gu Que was silent for a long while, her nerves taut, her mind racing.

The room was quiet for so long that Yan Luo tapped her forehead. “Giving up already?”

“Prime Minister, I want to make the formula public.” Gu Que blinked, her eyes clear.

Yan Luo was stunned. “Have you lost your mind? That’s your treasure. Why would you make it public?”

“I saw it—that kind of soap only costs a few fen. I haven’t made much money this past year, but they’re supplying it freely and will profit even more. Why not make it public? Let more people produce it—they won’t have a monopoly either.” Gu Que’s gloom vanished, her expression brightening.

Yan Luo couldn’t believe it. She reached out to feel Gu Que’s forehead. “Has my little husband lost her mind? I’ll get Granny to take a look.”

Had the shock been too much?