Liu Xiyin still had to accompany Yan Changye to the Marshal’s Mansion for the tea ceremony.
She had emerged victorious the previous night.
Unfortunately, Yan Changye had also suspected her of being a spy.
Who knew whether Marshal Yan now suspected her as well?
Liu Xiyin shivered.
She had barely escaped being blamed for one disaster…
Only to have another one land on her shoulders.
Why did the Liu family’s real daughter have so many ways to die?
Fortunately, the Security Bureau was already searching Heping South Street for explosives.
She no longer had to find an excuse to warn anyone.
Liu Xiyin climbed into the new automobile and sighed wearily.
[Die, then. However I die, it’s still dying. If I survive everything else only to end up as fish food in the end, that would be an even worse bargain.]
[The sooner I die, the sooner I can reincarnate.]
Having completely given up, her thoughts wandered aimlessly.
[Cars from this era really are terrible. They’re so uncomfortable.]
[The roads are awful too. Everything shakes so much. If we drive much farther, I’m going to throw up.]
[If I can’t return to my own world, I’ll never enjoy the comfortable life I used to have. I’d rather be reincarnated.]
[Surely I wouldn’t end up as cannon fodder again in my next life… right?]
Her mind drifted blankly.
As the car rounded a corner, it suddenly swerved.
She was nearly thrown from her seat.
[What’s happening?! Is Heping South Street exploding already?]
She hurriedly steadied herself.
Turning her head, she saw Yan Changye sitting perfectly upright beside her.
The car hadn’t exploded.
Another vehicle had simply cut in front of them, forcing the driver to swerve.
The chauffeur apologized immediately.
“My apologies, Young Marshal… Young Madam.”
Yan Changye replied calmly,
“Memorize that vehicle’s license plate.”
“Find out whose car it is.”
“Yes, sir.”
The journey continued.
Liu Xiyin remained on guard for quite a while.
After confirming the explosives along the road had likely already been dealt with, she finally leaned back into her seat.
[The great villain really is handsome… but he swings both ways, and eventually he’ll have the Ninth Concubine.]
[I wonder if, after successfully getting together with the Ninth Concubine, he’ll finally settle down with just one person.]
Yan Changye’s ears were once again filled with her nonstop chatter.
He ignored the comments themselves.
The question occupying his mind was much simpler.
What exactly did that novel say?
Who told her I swing both ways?
And what exactly is this Ninth Concubine?
Noticing Liu Xiyin secretly looking at him, Yan Changye didn’t avoid her gaze.
Instead, he met her eyes directly.
His naturally narrow phoenix eyes carried an innate chill.
Liu Xiyin immediately jumped in fright and quickly looked away.
Her thoughts instantly shifted.
[No. If I can’t die soon, then I absolutely have to make the great villain divorce me as early as possible.]
[Only after we’re divorced can I finally spread my wings and fly wherever I want.]
Yan Changye narrowed his eyes.
His little bride even quotes poetry.
If the emperor truly returned in the future…
And considering she knew so many royal secrets while also understanding poetry and salt refinement…
Then perhaps…
She had once lived inside the imperial palace.
Could she have been an imperial consort?
His expression turned colder.
Meanwhile, Liu Xiyin continued mentally planning all the ways she could persuade Yan Changye to divorce her without offending him.
Hmph.
She didn’t even know that under a republican government there was only divorce.
There was no such thing as “casting aside a wife.”
And yet she wanted to spread her wings and fly.
When the automobile finally stopped before the Marshal’s Mansion, Liu Xiyin reached her conclusion.
[I’ll stick with my original strategy—pretend to be timid, ignorant, and terrified of everything.]
[With a wife like me, the great villain will become the laughingstock of high society.]
[Once the Ninth Concubine appears, I’ll simply be the weak, useless country wife. Then the Young Marshal will have every reason to divorce me openly.]
[I’m a genius.]
Aside from refusing to let Yan Changye touch her the previous night…
Liu Xiyin felt she’d been performing perfectly.
Timid.
Hesitant.
Nothing like the graceful confidence expected of a noble young lady.
If she continued acting this way…
Victory would surely be hers.
[I also have to be careful that the great villain doesn’t fool around outside and come home acting like a hooligan again, just like last night. If he really catches syphilis, I’ll be finished.]
Yan Changye silently thought:
She really can’t stop worrying about me infecting her, can she?
The automobile came to a stop.
The chauffeur opened the door.
Yan Changye stepped out first.
Having finished organizing her thoughts, Liu Xiyin was just about to open her own door—
When someone outside opened it for her.
Yan Changye stood there.
“Come down.”
“…”
Liu Xiyin took a deep breath.
Today’s divorce campaign continues.
Stay calm.
Her pale gold horse-face skirt resembled a small patch of sunshine emerging from the snowy landscape.
Carefully lifting her skirt, she watched every step, determined not to let snowmelt stain her embroidered shoes.
Marshal Yan ruled an entire region.
His residence resembled a military fortress.
The front section housed the military government.
The rear served as the family residence.
Separate gates stood at both ends.
Yan Changye and Liu Xiyin entered through the gate leading directly into the residential compound.
Passing through an enormous landscape garden, they finally reached the main hall.
The same people from the previous evening were still gathered there.
Only one additional person had appeared.
The Second Young Master.
Marshal Yan sat in the center of a German-style sofa.
To his left sat Madam Qin, Yan Changye’s birth mother, quietly fingering a string of tourmaline Buddhist prayer beads.
To his right lounged the alluring Second Concubine in a rose-red qipao.
She was Song Shiyun’s aunt.
Remarkably, the previous night’s scandal hadn’t affected her in the slightest.
The remaining concubines either stood or sat around the edges of the room, each displaying her own distinctive elegance.
Their children played with wooden rocking horses nearby.
The youngest was only three years old.
The Second Young Master, Yan Changzhuo, stood smoking by the window in a crisp white suit.
When he heard footsteps, he turned around.
His appearance carried an effortless, roguish charm.
With one hand lightly linked through Yan Changye’s arm, Liu Xiyin entered the room.
It felt as though she had stepped into a vintage oil painting…
Becoming part of its scenery forever.
…Sigh.
What a waste.
She quietly released Yan Changye’s arm.
Following him forward, she greeted,
“Father… Mother.”
Marshal Yan’s gaze first settled on Liu Xiyin before shifting to Yan Changye.
“So…”
“Are you satisfied with the bride I chose for you?”
Yan Changye casually adjusted the collar of his military uniform.
“Father has admired countless beauties.”
“Anyone you selected naturally wouldn’t be ordinary.”
[Of course. Otherwise, how could you have chosen someone who’d eventually catch the eye of your future Ninth Concubine?]
Liu Xiyin instantly became excited again.
Yan Changye shot her a sideways glance.
She certainly remembered that mysterious Ninth Concubine well.
Madam Qin smiled gently.
“Since you’re satisfied…”
“Then live together properly.”
“And don’t keep angering your father.”
The servants approached carrying two cups of tea.
They also placed kneeling cushions before Marshal Yan and Madam Qin.
Liu Xiyin sighed inwardly.
[This is already a republic, yet people still have to kneel while serving tea. When will everyone finally be allowed to stand proudly?]
Marshal Yan’s hand holding his cigar trembled almost imperceptibly.
No one noticed.
Yan Changye also paused while lifting his teacup.
His little bride never kneels inside the imperial palace?
Or… does no one kneel at all where she comes from?
Liu Xiyin picked up her teacup and prepared to kneel.
A hand suddenly stopped her.
Turning around, she saw Yan Changye holding her arm.
He said calmly,
“This is already a republic.”
“Who still kneels while serving tea?”
Casually extending his own teacup toward Marshal Yan, he asked,
“Father…”
“Do you really need me to kneel?”
Marshal Yan slammed his cane against the floor.
“You unfilial brat!”
“Do you still recognize me as your father?”
The Second Concubine, Song Meier, hurriedly soothed him.
“Marshal, don’t be angry.”
“The Young Marshal has spent so many years away from home.”
“He simply isn’t familiar with the household customs.”
“Why become upset over something so small?”
Without even looking at her directly, Yan Changye replied,
“Second Aunt certainly understands household customs.”
“So naturally she managed to raise a niece bold enough to openly seduce a man…”
“And falsely accuse her own sister-in-law.”
Song Meier’s hand slowly stopped moving.
Grasping Marshal Yan’s arm, she spoke pitifully,
“Marshal… look at the Young Marshal.”
“Yun’er has already been punished for yesterday’s mistake.”
“He still refuses to let it go.”
“Is he trying to force my niece and me to our deaths?”