After Marrying the Villainous Prime Minister in My Brother’s Stead - Chapter 9

9: Onset of Illness, The Prime Minister Falls Ill.

“Huh?” Gu Que was momentarily stunned by the reminder. Her slender fingers fidgeted with her sleeves for a brief moment before she quickly reached out to support Yan Luo.

Gu Que was flustered.

Her wrist was delicate and fair, emerging from the red sleeve, catching the eye.

Yan Luo stared for a moment before slowly placing her hand in Gu Que’s palm, smiling gently. “Thank you.”

Gu Que held her breath, her entire body tingling as she clasped the soft, boneless wrist. She didn’t dare look at the Prime Minister and withdrew her hand as soon as the other steadied herself.

The two stood side by side, their appearances perfectly matched. Passersby couldn’t help but glance their way, praising them as a “perfectly matched couple.”

The Marquis’s steward stood by the gate, his nerves taut at the sight of Prime Minister Yan. He cautiously invited them in, saying, “The Marquis, the Lady, and the young misses are all waiting inside.”

Prime Minister Yan was no gentle soul—she was someone to be feared, especially when she smiled. It was her habit to smile tenderly before striking.

For others, a smile came from the heart. But when Prime Minister Yan smiled, it could cost lives.

Gu Que was oblivious to all this. Since transmigrating, she had spent her days buried in books, studying day and night for the imperial exams. Yet even after a year of effort, she still found herself utterly lost in the examination hall. While she was diligently studying, Yan Luo had already established her dominance over the court.

Once inside, the steward followed behind the two, occasionally stealing glances at Prime Minister Yan. Gu Que walked while introducing the layout of the estate. “My mother only has my sister and me. The concubines bore four younger sisters. My uncle from the second branch has three sons and three daughters. They’ll all be here today.”

The second branch was flourishing. Gu Que had met the three brothers and heard their literary talents were commendable. Her uncle had high hopes for them to pass the exams. After all, there was only one title of nobility. When the Marquis was crippled years ago, the second branch had fiercely contested the title. But with Gu Yan around, they hadn’t succeeded.

If Gu Yan were gone, and the main branch had no heir, the title would naturally pass to the second branch.

Gu Que didn’t like the second branch’s people. The Marquis’s household was relatively harmonious, and the Marquis was clear-headed, unlike others who indulged in sensual pleasures.

“I know. But I’d like to meet your sister. They say twins look alike—I wonder if you two are identical?” Yan Luo smiled, her tone earnest.

Gu Que’s ears burned. This was her greatest fear—being exposed as an imposter. Where would she find another Gu Que?

“Of course, once her illness improves a bit.” Gu Que hedged.

Yan Luo didn’t press further. As they walked along the pebbled path, the hairpin in her bun swayed gently. Gu Que glanced at it—the sway was slight, as if stirred by the wind.

Hairpins weren’t just decorative; they also served to restrict movement, embodying the grace and poise of a noblewoman.

After that glance, Gu Que didn’t dare look again. She walked properly, even mimicking Yan Luo’s posture, keeping her steps steady. She knew the ancients had many rules, especially for women. Yan Luo carried an elegance that was pleasing to the eye, not at all rigid.

When they reached the main hall, Yan Luo suddenly reached out and grasped Gu Que’s wrist. The icy touch sent a chill straight to her heart. Gu Que halted, tense, afraid to miss any words Yan Luo might say.

Yan Luo asked, “Did we consummate the marriage last night?”

Gu Que blinked, suddenly catching on, and nodded. “We did.”

Yan Luo released her hand, nodding slightly with a smile. “Say the same when we return to the Yan family.”

Gu Que was puzzled. She stole a glance at the Prime Minister beside her—what exactly did Yan Luo mean? She pursed her lips. She wasn’t prudish, but in this era, she had to think carefully about reputation. What might be trivial in modern times was crucial here. After a year of immersion, she had no choice but to adapt.

She didn’t understand Yan Luo’s intentions, but the door was right before them. Suppressing her confusion, she entered with the Prime Minister.

The room was packed. Everyone stood as they entered—except for the Marquis—their nervousness palpable.

In contrast, Yan Luo’s expression was serene, devoid of any aloofness.

A maid presented tea. Yan Luo took the cup and handed it to the Marquis of Yongle, saying calmly, “Marquis.”

She didn’t smile, her expression solemn, her eyes calm. Yet this demeanor put the Marquis at ease, and he didn’t mind that she hadn’t addressed him as “Father.”

The room was silent. Even Gu Que’s uncle, Gu Yuanwei, held his breath, not daring to exhale.

After the Marquis drank the tea, it was the Lady’s turn. She accepted the cup with a smile, saying to Yan Luo, “Come visit often in the future.”

Yan Luo nodded indifferently. The Marchioness of Yongle smiled and presented gifts, which Leng Mian accepted. Then came the introductions of the younger generation. Since no tea had been prepared for Gu Yuanwei, Yan Luo didn’t need to serve him.

Gu Yuanwei seethed silently but didn’t dare make a scene as he usually would. With Yan Luo present, he could only swallow his anger.

Yan Luo had prepared small gifts for the younger generation, tailored to each branch’s preferences. Gu Que had also prepared some—higher-quality soap infused with milk, richer in fragrance.

Yan Luo eyed the pale soaps, her eyes narrowing slightly. Gu Que seemed to have many intriguing little things.

The young ladies also received tiny bottles of perfume in transparent vials, each with a scent suited to their tastes. Gu Que credited Prime Minister Yan, and the girls’ fear of her turned to admiration—especially Third Miss Gu Ling, who looked at Yan Luo with worship. “Sister-in-law is so thoughtful, truly wonderful.”

Gu Que glanced at her. As a high-ranking official and head of the civil service, Yan Luo wouldn’t care about relationships with sisters-in-law. Gu Que had done this to make Yan Luo feel more at home in the family.

In a marriage of equals, this wouldn’t matter. But here, the Gu family was the one climbing socially.

The marriage had been arranged years ago. Yan Luo could have chosen someone better now—someone like Ling Zhao, an outstanding figure of their generation, from the more prestigious Ling family.

Gu Que mused vaguely. Yan Luo sat quietly, not even smiling as she usually did. Fortunately, everyone was too preoccupied with their gifts to notice.

The Marchioness’s gaze lingered on the two, her eyes deep. A maid served tea. Gu Que took it first, then handed it to Yan Luo, adding, “Be careful, it’s hot.”

To others, this spoke of a loving, harmonious marriage.

The Marchioness sighed in relief, grateful for her daughter’s thoughtfulness. The stone in her heart settled, though soon another thought troubled her—if Gu Yan had been healthy, he would have done even better than Gu Que.

Nothing in life went perfectly. She had been blessed with twins, but her son had been sickly since birth, unable even to leave his bed.

The younger generation chattered in groups, holding strings of glass beads that shimmered in the sunlight, refracting rainbow hues.

Yan Luo sipped her tea, her demeanor relaxed yet poised. Her gaze lingered on the glass beads, drifting back several times.

Gu Que followed her line of sight and suddenly realized something. She whispered to Yan Luo, “Those things aren’t valuable—just pretty.”

“Oh?” Yan Luo stared at the beads, sighing softly. “The things you have are always so novel.”

Gu Que sensed her suspicion and hurried to explain. “They’re from foreign merchants. If you like them, I have prettier ones—strings of eighteen beads, each a different color.”

Yan Luo glanced at her, took another sip of tea, and said nothing. But the corners of her lips curled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

The girls chattered excitedly. The three young masters’ gifts were more mundane—inkstones and writing materials, though Yan Luo had chosen high-quality items.

The Marquis’s household had four daughters. Third Miss Gu Ling, Fourth and Fifth Misses—twin sisters nearly identical, named Gu Jia and Gu Min. The youngest, Sixth Miss Gu Qing, was eight or nine, clutching her glass beads, her eyes crinkled with joy.

All were lovely young girls. In contrast, the three sons of the second branch sat stiffly, the eldest a few months older than Gu Que, unsmiling and solemn. The three daughters were also reserved, standing with perfect posture, their manners impeccable.

Gu Que didn’t like them. Every conversation felt stifling, weighed down by feudal propriety.

Thankfully, the Marquis, being a military man, cared little for such formalities. The household was harmonious, without undue stiffness.

After the introductions, the couple went to the ancestral hall at the back to pay respects.

Gu Que led Yan Luo out. As they crossed the threshold, she took Yan Luo’s hand and slipped something into it—the eighteen-bead strand she’d mentioned earlier.

“Hold it up to the light, and you’ll see eighteen colors. It’s not valuable, but I hope you like it.”

Gu Que wasn’t eloquent, but she was thoughtful. Yan Luo had only glanced twice, yet here she was, eagerly presenting the gift.

The Yan family was a generations-old scholarly clan, more esteemed than the Gu family. As a woman, Yan Luo’s literary talent surpassed even the men’s. She had received countless gifts since childhood, yet none compared to what Gu Que had given her recently.

The sunlight was bright. Yan Luo held the strand up skeptically, tilting it toward the light. Each bead shimmered with a different hue, dazzling under the sun.

Such trinkets seemed simple but were hard to craft, especially with eighteen distinct colors.

Yan Luo twirled the strand. The glass was clear, much like Gu Que’s heart. She smiled. “I like it very much.”

Gu Que exhaled in relief. Pleasing a woman was no easy task. Thankfully, Yan Luo wasn’t the unreasonable type.

Both were in good spirits, especially Yan Luo, who tried on the bracelet. Her wrist was already fair—now, adorned with the translucent beads, it glowed with a radiant luster.

Gu Que stared, dumbstruck. “You’re so beautiful.”

The ancients’ grace paired with modern accessories created an indescribable beauty. Gu Que struggled to find the words, lamenting her lack of literary flair.

Yan Luo flushed at the praise, her ears turning pink. She ducked her head, hastily covering the bracelet with her sleeve. “We should go.”

“Alright.” Gu Que turned, smiling. Her gaze brushed Yan Luo’s reddened ears, pausing.

Was the Prime Minister… blushing?

Gu Que was thick-skinned, but around her sister-in-law, she felt restrained, guilty of her deception.

The Marquis’s estate was vast. Gu Que pointed out the pavilions and courtyards as they walked. The ancestral hall was in the far west, off-limits to most. When they arrived, Yan Luo stopped.

Gu Que halted too. “What’s wrong?”

Yan Luo feared the cold. The hall was gloomy, icy air seeping out. She hadn’t even entered but already felt chilled. Gu Que, alert, said, “Let’s not go in. We can offer incense outside.”

She was considerate. Yan Luo rubbed her arms but shook her head. “It’s fine. We’ll be quick.”

Gu Que grew anxious, fearing Yan Luo might suddenly fall ill. Rules were rigid but could be bent. She tugged Yan Luo back. “Don’t force yourself.”

Yan Luo’s face was pale. Gu Que panicked. “Are you alright? Don’t push yourself.”

What illness did Yan Luo have? Did cold trigger it? Gu Que had never heard of such a strange condition in the modern world.

The maids froze, watching nervously.

Gu Que leaned closer, staring at Yan Luo’s pallor. She really didn’t look well.