Such a major incident had completely wiped away the festive atmosphere in the Marshal’s Mansion.
Lunch was prepared by the kitchen.
Liu Xiyin sat beside Qin Wan and silently ate with everyone else.
The more she ate, the more she felt sorry for the people of this era.
Not only were they ruled by powerful men who preyed on others, but even when they had enough to eat, the food was still bitter.
There was simply no escaping bitterness.
After lunch, Qin Wan sent the young masters and young ladies back to their studies, then took Liu Xiyin on a walk through the inner gardens to enjoy the snow.
“We originally prepared a bridal suite for the two of you here in the Marshal’s Mansion, but Ah Ye insisted on living outside. That’s probably for the best. He has never liked being confined here since childhood. The household is also far too complicated. Living outside with him will be much more peaceful.”
Supporting Qin Wan by the arm, Liu Xiyin felt like crying.
She didn’t want to live outside with Yan Changye.
Her perfect plan had been to stay in the Marshal’s Mansion with Qin Wan, chanting scriptures and living quietly.
There were many people in the mansion, and she could also keep Qin Wan alive.
After all, Qin Wan had been a truly good mother in the novel.
The original Liu Xiyin would have been unhappy about being neglected.
But she wouldn’t.
Her favorite things were spending time in the laboratory and gossiping during breaks.
If she could build a small laboratory inside a quiet bridal chamber where no one disturbed her, she could secretly accomplish many things.
However, Qin Wan’s words clearly had something to do with whatever Yan Changye had whispered to her before leaving.
Liu Xiyin dared not answer carelessly.
Lowering her head shyly, she said,
“I don’t know much. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass the Young Marshal and make people laugh at him.”
Qin Wan smiled.
“Ah Ye went to war when he was twelve. He doesn’t understand the sophisticated ways of the city either. He doesn’t care about such things.”
“…”
Liu Xiyin struggled.
“I heard the Young Marshal will stay in the military government from now on. He’ll need someone capable to help manage things for him.”
The situation in the Marshal’s Mansion was a struggle for power and survival.
An ignorant village girl like her would only drag him down.
She sincerely hoped Qin Wan would realize that.
If her mother-in-law became dissatisfied first, then the great villain would eventually become dissatisfied too.
Given enough time, this marriage would surely fall apart.
Unexpectedly, Qin Wan, devoted to Buddhism, simply replied,
“What is destined will come. What is not destined cannot be forced. You are blessed by fate. With you beside him, Ah Ye will share in that blessing.”
Please don’t.
Liu Xiyin wanted to cry.
Qin Wan led her into the garden.
Ahead lay a jade-colored lake whose surface had frozen over.
Snowflakes landed on the ice and disappeared instantly.
Pointing toward the steepest edge, Qin Wan said,
“One year, one of the Marshal’s new favorites pushed me into the lake from there. It was a snowy day just like this.”
Liu Xiyin was shocked.
Qin Wan’s voice remained calm, calmer even than the snowflakes disappearing into the ice.
“The Marshal only punished her with three days of confinement. I nearly died that day.”
Without thinking, Liu Xiyin pulled Qin Wan two steps farther away from the lake.
Falling into the water was practically a mandatory plot device in mansion intrigue.
When she had returned to the Liu family to prepare for marriage, Liu Mingyue had somehow fallen into the water.
Later, everyone claimed Liu Xiyin had pushed her.
She even wondered whether the plot was forcing itself forward even if she refused to follow it.
It was terrifying.
She feared Qin Wan’s words might also be a test.
After all, for the previous sixteen years, the Marshal’s Mansion’s future daughter-in-law had always been Liu Mingyue.
Seeing how frightened she looked, Qin Wan laughed softly.
“Don’t be afraid. No one in this mansion dares touch the two of us anymore.”
Really?
Qin Wan continued,
“That time, Ah Ye personally dealt with that favorite, making the Marshal furious. That was why he was sent to the front lines.”
So they had practically sent him away to fend for himself.
The novel had only said Yan Ting favored Second Madam and her children and feared Yan Changye would compete with Yan Changzhuo for the family inheritance, so he drove Yan Changye away.
Liu Xiyin had never known there was such a story behind it.
Even so, Liu Mingyue had always looked forward to marrying Yan Changye.
Every victory he won on the battlefield made the newspapers.
Heroes always stirred the hearts of sheltered young ladies.
Especially because Yan Changye was handsome.
Although he had grown up amid the hardships of war, he still found time to read.
Compared to the pampered young masters in the city, he possessed several more measures of courage without lacking any learning.
Unfortunately, everything had been shattered by Liu Xiyin, the real daughter who suddenly appeared.
She truly sympathized with Liu Mingyue.
“Is that why you began eating vegetarian meals and worshipping Buddha?” Liu Xiyin asked.
Qin Wan looked at her kindly.
“See? You’re very intelligent. You’re no worse than anyone else.”
“…”
Qin Wan continued,
“After nearly dying once and then having my son sent away, my heart also died. I only hoped he would survive. But who goes to war without the risk of death? All I could do was pray that Buddha would protect him a little more.”
That was a mother’s heart.
Yet later, Qin Wan would still be murdered by Song Meier.
How much pain must Yan Changye have endured before becoming determined to destroy Song Meier and Yan Changzhuo at all costs, even after Yan Changzhuo sided with the male lead?
Liu Xiyin said nothing.
She merely tightened her grip on Qin Wan’s hand.
Leading her away from the lakeside, Qin Wan sighed softly.
“So Ah Ye hates men who surround themselves with many women. Since he accepted you last night, it means he truly intends to be husband and wife with you.”
Ah.
So this was where the conversation had been leading all along.
Liu Xiyin could reluctantly believe Yan Changye disliked having many women around him.
After all, before Ninth Concubine appeared in the novel, every honey trap sent to him had failed.
But…
He might not like many women.
He could like men instead.
The novel had clearly stated that Yan Changye had a pair of handsome twin adjutants who were close enough to sleep in the same bed with him.
The younger twin especially.
Later, when Yan Changye began pursuing Ninth Concubine, the younger adjutant felt abandoned.
His possessiveness flared up, and he even drugged Yan Changye to keep him by his side.
Yan Changye became furious and punished him with military caning.
Yet that same night, he personally brought medicine to treat him.
The younger adjutant cried all night.
Tsk.
While reading about the great villain’s affair with Ninth Concubine, Liu Xiyin had thought the mature beauty truly deserved admiration.
She could actually handle all of that.
Liu Xiyin had died while simultaneously criticizing the great villain for not being worthy of Ninth Concubine and calculating the probability that Ninth Concubine would contract a disease.
The laboratory girl had even wanted to climb out of bed, obtain a sample herself, and conduct an experiment.
Instead, the moment she stood up, her head went blank and she reincarnated.
Was fate telling her to come personally to this world and use living people as experimental subjects?
She felt that was entirely unnecessary.
It only made her fate seem even more miserable.
Qin Wan continued,
“So don’t think another woman marrying him would be better. Don’t even consider arranging concubines for him. Just be a proper Young Madam.”
That completely blocked Liu Xiyin’s path of moving back into the Marshal’s Mansion or stuffing other women into the great villain’s household.
She felt her life becoming even more miserable.
“Thank you, Mother. I’ll get along well with the Young Marshal.”
Since that was the case…
She would simply drug him until he became impotent.
She had failed last night because she lacked the strength.
As long as she had enough time to prepare, she would eventually succeed.
Sorry, little Adjutant.
Better start getting over him early.
The discovery of the explosives was a major matter.
Yan Changye spent the entire day in meetings at the military government.
Liu Xiyin remained in the Marshal’s Mansion and took the opportunity to examine Qin Wan’s pulse.
She was still only in the early stages of gout.
Combined with the existence of an effective medicine, her condition was not serious.
However, with the country torn apart by war and competing factions, Liu Xiyin feared becoming too conspicuous and being swallowed whole.
Even with her overseas Chinese identity as a cover, she dared not expand her pharmaceutical business too aggressively.
Even if the Marshal’s Mansion wanted to purchase the medicine, it would not be easy.
She still needed to find opportunities to expand, establish several more identities, and place more pieces on the chessboard.
After dinner, however, Qin Wan brought Liu Xiyin back to her courtyard…
…and placed an illustrated manual of marital intimacy into her hands.
Liu Xiyin:?!
Qin Wan remained as calm as ever.
“I heard Madam Liu has been busy treating Mingyue’s illness. She likely hasn’t had time to care for you properly. You’re still young, and there are things you may not understand or feel too embarrassed to ask. So I’ve taken the liberty of preparing this for you.”
“…………”