Prime Minister Gu closed his eyes and said, “I’ve always thought you were sensible. These matters—you should be able to understand them.”
She couldn’t understand! This involved human life. They were both his sons—why was Prime Minister Gu so biased? Shen Guiyan was about to say more when Gu Chaobei had already grasped her hand.
“Yan’er will come to understand.” Gu Chaobei forcibly pulled her back behind him. “Father needn’t worry too much.”
Prime Minister Gu’s expression softened somewhat as he looked at Gu Chaobei. “It’s good that you can think it through.”
Gu Chaobei smiled lightly. Seeing that Shen Guiyan still looked like she wanted to say more, he pulled her behind him.
“That you can sit securely in the position of Vice Minister of Justice is naturally a good thing.” Prime Minister Gu said, “But naturally that position also has many demands of you. Have you considered switching to another post?”
Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow. “What does Father have in mind?”
“You’re not very suitable to be a civil official.” Prime Minister Gu turned his face away. “There happens to be an idle position under General Yuwen. This father was thinking it would be more suited to your unrestrained nature. If you’re willing, this father can memorialize His Majesty to transfer you there.”
Shen Guiyan’s eyes widened as she drew in a sharp breath.
The position of Vice Minister of Justice was something Gu Chaobei had obtained through countless fears and schemes. Now with one sentence, the Prime Minister wanted him to switch?
Switch for what? To give the position to Gu Chaodong?
Her hand suddenly tightened. Shen Guiyan frowned as she looked toward Gu Chaobei. He winced from her grip and looked at her with amusement, then said to Prime Minister Gu, “Since Father feels it’s appropriate, then it must certainly be appropriate. Your son also doesn’t enjoy the flattery of officialdom. Being able to go under General Yuwen would be good as well.”
He just agreed like that?!
Prime Minister Gu smiled. “Good child. After marrying a wife, you’ve matured quite a bit.”
Gu Chaobei only smiled without speaking.
Shen Guiyan was half-dragged, half-carried all the way back to the north courtyard. For the first time in her life, she was so unable to remain composed. She had a thousand words to demand justice for Gu Chaobei, but Gu Chaobei insisted on covering her mouth, not letting her say anything.
The door closed. Shen Guiyan shook off his hand, but used too much force and pulled at her back wound, grimacing in pain.
“I already told you not to contradict him. Why couldn’t you hold back today?” Gu Chaobei sighed, coming over to press her shoulders and helping her lie face-down on the bed. “You’re so clever—surely you can see that Father wants to cover this up?”
“I can see it.” Shen Guiyan said stubbornly. “But why should he cover it up?”
Even if Gu Chaodong was more outstanding, even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs—didn’t he care about Gu Chaobei’s life or death at all?
“If this becomes a big matter and people learn that Young Master Gu tried to kill me, wouldn’t that be troublesome?” Gu Chaobei took out the medicinal ointment and pointed at her clothing. “Take it off.”
These past days, Gu Chaobei had been personally applying her medicine. Shen Guiyan was in the midst of her anger and didn’t feel awkward. She directly pulled off her outer robe and long skirt, wearing only a bellyband as she lay back down.
Gu Chaobei rubbed ointment on his hands and gently massaged Shen Guiyan’s back, stroking like he was smoothing a cat’s fur, one stroke after another.
Shen Guiyan’s anger diminished considerably. She said sullenly, “I’m unhappy.”
“I know you’re unhappy. I’m unhappy too.” Gu Chaobei chuckled softly. “But what can be done? One must bow under another’s roof.”
Slightly startled, Shen Guiyan turned to look at him. “Bow under another’s roof?”
This was his own home—why would he say such words suggesting he was living under someone else’s care?
“It’s nothing.” Gu Chaobei looked at the redness and swelling on her back. It had improved quite a bit, though some purple-blue marks still remained, looking rather shocking.
“The position of Vice Minister of Justice—I plan to follow Father’s words, relinquish it, and then go work under General Yuwen.”
Shen Guiyan slapped her palm on the pillow. “Why should you give it up? It’s not like you stole it, nor did anyone fight for it on your behalf. It was your own ability.”
Rarely seeing her so indignant, Gu Chaobei found it quite novel. He couldn’t help but pause to look at her for a while longer. “Don’t you think Big Brother is more suited to officialdom than I am?”
“…Suited, he is suited…” Shen Guiyan deflated somewhat. “But it can’t be like this—as if in the Prime Minister’s eyes, Gu Chaodong is a treasure while you’re nothing but grass. You’re clearly more capable than him.”
Gu Chaobei froze, setting down the ointment in his hand, his eyes somewhat bright. “You think I’m better than Big Brother?”
“Naturally.” Shen Guiyan nodded.
Gu Chaodong was talented, but he was overly rigid and quite selfish and arrogant. In her eyes, this rogue actually seemed much better.
Unable to suppress a smile, Gu Chaobei leaned closer to her, his eyes like a vast ocean. “So right now, are you angry because I’m losing the Vice Minister position, or because of something else?”
Shen Guiyan hadn’t seen what was in his eyes. She frowned and thought seriously for a while before saying, “Today this wife lost her composure somewhat. It’s probably because they used arsenic to harm people again. I’m angry because of the Prime Minister’s attitude toward you—it makes this wife feel like she’s seeing herself back in the Shen residence.”
Like when she would go to report Shen Guiya with evidence countless times in the past, only for Mother to show favoritism. Each time, Shen Guiya would be fine and would come back to retaliate against her.
The tutor said there was justice in the human world, that it existed for public reason and dwelt in people’s hearts. But after all these years, she had never seen where justice resided.
If others wouldn’t give her justice, she could only seek it herself.
Gu Chaobei’s breathing paused slightly. He chuckled softly and slowly leaned over, kissing Shen Guiyan’s lips.
“They don’t value me—so what?” He said softly, “Now don’t I have my wife?”
Shen Guiyan’s eyes widened slightly as she was embraced. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She was wearing only a bellyband. As he held her, the heat from their skin seemed able to pass through clothing to him.
Only then did Shen Guiyan remember that they had been married for so long yet hadn’t had time to consummate their marriage.
The first time was because people from the residence were eavesdropping, which he disliked. Later, they were interrupted by one thing after another. Even when sharing a bed with her, Gu Chaobei still hadn’t had time to perform the marital rites with her.
If she was careful about the wound on her back, it shouldn’t hurt too much, right? Shen Guiyan momentarily forgot her anger, her cheeks flushing slightly in a rather useless manner.
Gu Chaobei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He reached out to hold her and laid her in the soft brocade quilt, then lowered the bed curtains. Warm breath filled the space around her neck. Shen Guiyan couldn’t help trembling slightly.
“Originally this husband was somewhat hesitant.” Gu Chaobei said softly, “Fortunately, it seems I’m still somewhat more charming than Big Brother.”
“Mm?” Shen Guiyan nervously gripped the quilt, still unable to suppress her curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Wife, just pretend you didn’t hear that.” Gu Chaobei smiled with a roguish expression, lifting her chin. “Little wife, you look quite delectable.”
So improper! Shen Guiyan had been feeling shy, but this street-hooligan-like remark made her laugh. She reached out and pinched his waist.
“Hey, hey.” Gu Chaobei laughed and begged for mercy, lowering his head to kiss her lips again.
Shen Guiyan couldn’t help swallowing. She was somewhat embarrassed, thinking that since Gu Chaobei had vast experience with women, surely this first night wouldn’t be too painful for her, would it?
So she relaxed, embracing Gu Chaobei’s neck quite passionately.
It was rare to find someone in this world who would keep you in their eyes and place you in their heart, caring more than anyone else about whether you had been wronged.
When Gu Chaobei married Shen Guiyan, he had been hesitant all along. He also disliked women who had someone else in their hearts, so rather than reluctantly consummate the marriage, he’d rather keep things clean and separate.
But today, he truly… couldn’t hold back.
She had him in her heart, didn’t she? That’s why she treated him so well, protected him like this, and made him feel this warmth.
No one had ever unconditionally stood on his side. No one had made him feel they could be trusted like she did. Even Zhuiyun—he had never confided everything to him.
But today, he actually felt an impulse to tell her everything—to tell her why the Prime Minister acted this way, why he had to relinquish his position. To let her worry less, to have fewer furrows between her brows.
No wonder Ye Wendao said that people caught up in romantic love were all fools.
With her eyes closed, Shen Guiyan thought that when she had time tomorrow, she absolutely must go to Zuihuayin and ask—a whole group of courtesans had accompanied Gu Chaobei for so long, so why was he still so lacking in tender consideration?
The candle flame was nearly extinguished. Within the bed curtains, hibiscus fragrance filled the air. Shen Guiyan bit her teeth to keep from crying out. Gu Chaobei lowered his head, about to tease her, when suddenly a commotion arose outside.
“Fire—fire in the north courtyard—” A servant shouted at the top of his lungs, loud enough for the entire north courtyard to hear clearly.
Then for some reason, Gu Chaodong came this way, calling out for Fourth Brother while walking inside.
Baoshan was guarding the door. Hearing this commotion, her brows furrowed tightly. She stepped forward to block Gu Chaodong. “What is First Young Master doing?”
“There’s a fire at the north courtyard gate! Quickly let Fourth Brother come out with me!” Gu Chaodong said.
Baoshan looked toward the courtyard gate. There were indeed many people, but she couldn’t see a wisp of smoke.
“A fire? Looking at the situation, it doesn’t seem serious. There’s no need to have Fourth Young Master come out, is there?” Baoshan stood before him, not yielding an inch, looking up at him. “Fourth Young Master is busy with important matters with Young Madam.”
“What important matter is more important than life?” Gu Chaodong looked anxiously at that tightly closed door, clearly having already thought of something, his face turning pale with a greenish tinge.