The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 35

When Liu Qingyue returned from gathering mushrooms, she was met by Gu Qingjia, who was reeking of alcohol.

“It’s only been a short while; who have you been drinking with now?” Liu Qingyue raised an eyebrow at him, still cradling the mushrooms she had gathered.

“My lady, you truly resemble a nagging housekeeper in this state,” Gu Qingjia replied dizzily. He stood up unsteadily, walked over to her, and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Rest assured, I was drinking with the Eldest Brother. I would never do anything to bring shame upon you.”

Even though there was no love between them, Gu Qingjia gave Liu Qingyue the dignity and respect she deserved. After all, they were partners.

“How rare,” Liu Qingyue remarked with a click of her tongue. She knew exactly how much Gu Qingjia disliked his eldest brother.

Gu Qingjia let out a chuckle, his magnetic voice vibrating near her ear. “The Eldest now has a weakness, so he fears me.” His breath was hot, brushing against the skin of her neck.

Liu Qingyue shrugged her shoulder to nudge him off. “I get it. You smell like a brewery—it’s foul. Don’t lean on me.” Disgusted by the smell, she stepped away quickly.

“How heartless of you, my lady! You wound your husband’s heart!” Gu Qingjia stood swaying, a hint of intoxication still on his face, though his eyes had already cleared with sobriety.

Liu Qingyue didn’t bother looking back; she was long accustomed to his antics. “Save it. Get inside and have some tea to sober up. You told me to come back early for dinner, yet here you are, dead drunk.” She couldn’t help but grumble; she never held her tongue when dealing with him.

Hearing this, Gu Qingjia stared at her with a deep, heavy gaze that made her feel remarkably uneasy. “Fine, I shall listen to my wife. I’ll have some tea and sober up.”

After a long pause, Gu Qingjia finally swayed his way into the house, acting as if he were only doing so because of her command.

Liu Qingyue ignored him and carried the mushrooms into the kitchen. She and Shuanghua had gathered a fair amount—plenty for today’s meal. Eventually, Gu Qingjia emerged from the house again and leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching Liu Qingyue’s clumsy efforts.

“My lady, you should probably come out and stop ‘helping.’ Otherwise, we won’t be eating lunch on time,” he said, his eyes full of mirth. It was clearly a joke.

Liu Qingyue, knowing when to quit while she was ahead, used his comment as an excuse to exit the kitchen. “Fine. For the sake of a timely meal, I’ll cease my performance.”

The kitchen staff had actually nearly finished the preparations, but because the mistress of the house was there, they hadn’t dared to ask her to leave. They were Gu Qingjia’s people, and they could see that he treated Liu Qingyue with a unique degree of importance.

“What did you actually say to the Eldest today?” Liu Qingyue asked. “To drink this much… I can’t tell if you’re speaking sense or just rambling in a stupor.”

“Nothing much,” Gu Qingjia replied. “Just reminiscing about the past. He told me he truly doesn’t plan on going back because his heart’s desire is right here.” He let out a cold sneer. “I never knew our family could produce such a sentimental fool. For a so-called lover, he’s willing to abandon the reputation and power he spent years meticulously building.”

Liu Qingyue was surprised. In the original book, the First Prince had always planned to return to the imperial court. Even if he toyed with the idea of staying in the countryside, his ultimate choice was always the throne. Furthermore, he was never one to make such definitive statements; in the text, he never gave a straight answer about his intentions.

“Do you believe him?” she asked. It was a redundant question; she knew Gu Qingjia doubted him, given his comment about “sentimental fools.”

“The Eldest Brother I know is not that kind of man. I cannot fully trust him.” Gu Qingjia didn’t mind sharing his thoughts with her; they were on the same side, after all. “However, his attitude makes me uncertain. That is why I must attend his wedding.”

Gu Qingjia was searching for an answer—to see if “Jian Fan” truly intended to remain just “Jian Fan.”

“He came to see you because he didn’t want you to go, right?” Liu Qingyue guessed. “I think he’s genuinely concerned. Perhaps he’s afraid you’ll ruin the ceremony, or perhaps he really does care for his bride.”

“Of course he doesn’t want me there. Regardless of his reasons, my presence is a threat to him. But does he really think I’ll just stay away because he told me to?” Gu Qingjia was not one to play the role of the obedient younger brother.

Watching him, Liu Qingyue realized how rebellious he truly was, especially concerning his brother. “Fine then, let’s go. We’re bringing plenty of guards anyway.”

The following days passed quietly as Gu Qingjia stayed indoors, waiting for the wedding. Soon, the eighth day arrived.

Gu Qingjia and Liu Qingyue arrived at the ceremony with a gift in hand. The banquet was held at Jian Fan’s new home, and nearly the entire village had turned out. The couple stood out starkly in the crowd; their attire and bearing were clearly not that of country folk. Consequently, the villagers instinctively gave them a wide berth.

Liu Qingyue didn’t mind; she was happy not to be jostled. It was clear Li Qingge had put her heart into this wedding, spending a significant amount of silver despite the rural setting. The villagers whispered among themselves, wondering how anyone living a “proper” life could afford such extravagance, but ultimately, it was their money to spend.

Jian Fan was in high spirits. Even when he spotted Gu Qingjia in the crowd, his expression did not sour.

Gu Qingjia leaned down and whispered into Liu Qingyue’s ear, “Look at the Eldest, acting all smug and successful. I can hardly stand it.” Despite his words, he did nothing to interfere.

“It’s his wedding day; it’s only natural to be happy. Don’t you dare try anything,” Liu Qingyue warned him with a sharp look.

“I know, I know. I just dislike him, that’s all.” Gu Qingjia couldn’t resist his daily habit of mocking his brother. “Thankfully, the feast is starting soon. I can stuff my mouth with food so I don’t say something I shouldn’t.”

The wedding feast was magnificent. While most local weddings served four meat and four vegetable dishes, Jian Fan had arranged for eight meat dishes, four vegetables, and two types of desserts. To Gu Qingjia, it was modest, but for the village, it was an unprecedented luxury.

The gossip among the guests shifted instantly. “It seems Qingge married well. I bet the Li family received quite a bit of ‘benefit’ for a spread like this.”

Gu Qingjia and Liu Qingyue listened to the chatter and shared a knowing smile, remaining silent. Midway through the meal, Jian Fan approached them with a raised cup.

“Since you’ve come all this way, I should at least offer you a toast,” Jian Fan said. As the elder brother, he technically didn’t need to toast the younger, but he was willing to lower his guard for the occasion.

“No need for words; it’s all in the wine.” Gu Qingjia raised his cup, choosing not to cause trouble on this specific day. After finishing his drink, Jian Fan gave him a brief look and departed. They had reached a silent consensus. For as long as they remained in the countryside, there would be peace.

The couple left shortly after the toast.

“What are your thoughts?” Liu Qingyue asked as they walked. She was feeling conflicted; the story was deviating further and further from the book she knew. Was the First Prince not the protagonist after all? If not him, then was it the Second Prince?

But the Second Prince was currently stationed at the border, rarely returning to the capital except for the New Year.

“I have no thoughts,” Gu Qingjia said, his eyes downcast. “I trust no one—unless I am the one sitting on that throne.”

“Do you actually want it?” Liu Qingyue asked suddenly. She felt that if Gu Qingjia truly desired it, it wasn’t impossible. Reality was proving to be different from the pages of the book.

“Perhaps,” Gu Qingjia sighed after a long silence. “When you are born into the Imperial family, you grow up watching your Father play with power. But you know I have no faction, no backing. Reaching that seat is too difficult. Look at the Eldest, the Second, and your cousin—how many years have they been fighting for it?”

None of them knew why the Emperor refused to name an Heir Apparent. Even in the book, the Emperor was merely a plot device to drive the brothers’ conflict.

“Maybe we’ll just be lucky,” Liu Qingyue said softly, though “luck” was a vague and fragile thing to rely on.