In the middle of the night, perhaps because the dry winter air had made everything more flammable, the attic where Eighth Concubine lived caught fire.
She had recently given birth to the Marshal’s youngest son.
The three-year-old little young master lived with her and cried loudly in terror, waking nearly everyone in the inner residence.
The commotion from putting out the fire also woke Liu Xiyin.
Still half-asleep, she opened her eyes and realized the extra quilt on the bed had disappeared.
Yan Changye was gone too.
Ha.
The great villain actually didn’t want to sleep in the same bed as her.
Was he saving himself for his little adjutant?
[Looks like before Ninth Concubine appeared, he was already into men. Only Ninth Concubine could straighten him out.]
[Hahahaha! Heaven is helping me!]
Yan Changye had awakened the moment the disturbance began.
After making a quick inspection outside and returning, he heard the little bride arranging all sorts of nonsense about him in her mind.
Into men? Straighten him out?
He couldn’t understand those expressions.
But he was certain they weren’t compliments.
“A building caught fire. It’s already been extinguished. Go back to sleep.”
Liu Xiyin, however, was no longer sleepy.
Blinking her large eyes, she looked at him.
“If the Young Marshal doesn’t want to sleep with me, then after we return to the residence, I’ll move into one of the side buildings.”
A warlord’s residence consisted of one main building and two side buildings.
The west wing could serve as offices.
The east wing could house the women of the family.
A large garden separated them so completely that they could practically live without hearing one another.
Liu Xiyin had visited similar residences in modern times.
Although she had not yet toured Yan Residence, she could roughly imagine its layout.
If she moved into the east wing, she and Yan Changye could avoid each other until old age.
She could do whatever she pleased.
The anticipation nearly overflowed from her eyes.
Yan Changye looked at her coldly.
“The way you fell yesterday was suspicious. Until I confirm you’re not a spy, I won’t sleep beside you. And don’t even think about staying away from me. Otherwise, I’ll suspect you have ulterior motives.”
“…”
The light in Liu Xiyin’s eyes instantly died.
“Oh.”
[What’s wrong with the great villain? Can’t someone simply slip on snow? Even that makes him suspicious? Good thing I never directly warned him about the explosives on Heping South Street.]
[Go to hell. Neither you nor the male lead is any good.]
After venting her anger, she suddenly corrected herself.
[No. The great villain supports democracy. If anyone dies, he should take the restorationists with him.]
Just as Yan Changye was about to close the door and leave, he paused.
The little bride hated the restorationists.
Which meant…
The Emperor had never returned to power in the future?
Then what about the Empress and Imperial Consorts she kept mentioning?
Returning to the adjoining room, Yan Changye took out a notebook and wrote down every key phrase he had heard from the little bride’s thoughts.
He then tore out the page and tucked it into his clothing.
During the meeting earlier that day, Father had not ordered anyone to arrest the so-called male lead at Huateng Residence.
He had merely ordered the arrest of all merchants along the three affected streets.
It really did appear as though Father had heard nothing.
But Yan Changye was not completely reassured.
The little bride’s inner voice was unusual.
If Father truly could hear it yet chose not to react, then he must have another purpose.
He had to remain extremely cautious.
After being awakened, Liu Xiyin never managed to fall asleep again.
At dawn, she got up, washed, and selected a fresh outfit from the wardrobe.
Although Yan Changye had moved most of her belongings to Yan Residence, he had apparently anticipated occasional visits back to the family estate and had left several outfits behind.
Today was the day she would return to her maiden home.
In the original novel, the return visit had been an exciting plot point.
She wondered whether things would still unfold the same way now that she had replaced the original Liu Xiyin.
She was looking forward to it.
During breakfast, someone mentioned the fire.
Eighth Concubine and the three-year-old young master had been moved overnight to Tingxue Pavilion.
The frightened child had developed a fever by morning.
Eighth Concubine remained at his bedside and did not come to the dining hall.
Qin Wan ordered breakfast to be delivered to her.
Song Meier sighed worriedly.
“These past few days should have been full of celebration, yet misfortune keeps happening. I wonder if someone has brought bad luck upon the household. Madam, before the New Year, perhaps you should take all of us to the temple to offer prayers.”
Liu Xiyin lowered her gaze and quietly sipped her porridge.
[No way… Is she implying someone in this household brings bad luck? Me? Or the great villain?]
[Either way, neither of us can escape it. I’m the newcomer, and Yan Changye just returned. She even emphasized “celebration.” Isn’t she clearly talking about us?]
[Hmph. Does she think someone who’s read countless novels wouldn’t recognize this? Every mansion-intrigue story has this exact trick of pinning blame on someone.]
[She’d better just say it’s me. It’d be even better if they kicked me out.]
Liu Xiyin’s eyes curved into crescents as though she were thoroughly enjoying her porridge.
[A warrior of scientific materialism fears nothing!]
Song Meier never stated it outright.
Even though everyone else understood her implication, no one exposed it.
Qin Wan simply replied,
“If you’re so sincere, then accompany me in observing vegetarian meals here in the residence for a few days. So much has happened outside recently. Let’s not go out and add to the chaos.”
Pfft.
With a single sentence, she completely blocked Song Meier.
As expected of someone who had served as the Marshal’s wife for so many years.
Song Meier remained smiling despite being shut down.
“As long as Madam allows me to accompany you, I’ll be delighted.”
She then looked toward Liu Xiyin.
“Young Madam, when you return to your family today, be sure to bring more guards. And especially inspect the underside of the car carefully. If the Young Marshal hadn’t discovered those explosives beneath the vehicle yesterday, none of us would be sitting here peacefully having breakfast.”
[Aha~ So she’s implying Yan Changye staged the whole thing himself, shifting the blame for the incompetence of the military government and Security Bureau onto him.]
While eating her porridge, Liu Xiyin quietly enjoyed the gossip in her head, mentally adding commentary subtitles to Song Meier’s words.
After finishing her analysis, she raised her clear eyes toward Second Concubine with an expression full of alarm.
“Second Aunt, today’s car has been kept in the Marshal’s Mansion garage. Since you said there might still be explosives underneath it… does that mean there’s a spy inside the mansion? Do you know who it is?”
Song Meier’s expression froze.
“I… how would I know?”
This wretched village girl!
What did she mean by saying Song Meier implied there was a spy in the mansion—and even knew who it was?
If she admitted knowing, wouldn’t that be the same as admitting she’d planted spies inside the Marshal’s Mansion?
This country girl was trying to get her killed!
Song Meier stiffly turned toward Yan Ting.
Liu Xiyin shrank back slightly and edged closer to Yan Changye.
Looking up at him with watery eyes, she asked,
“Young Marshal… if there aren’t any spies… could it be ghosts? Second Aunt said the mansion isn’t clean.”
Song Meier: “…”
Was that what she’d meant?
How had everything somehow become something she had said?
Was this village girl doing it deliberately…
…or did she genuinely fail to understand indirect speech?
Yan Changye placed a slice of cured ham into Liu Xiyin’s bowl.
“Father is here. No ghost would dare cause trouble.”
Liu Xiyin seemed reassured.
Looking at Yan Ting with admiration, she nodded.
“Mmm. Second Aunt must simply be too worried about Cousin. She forgot that Father is even more powerful than gods and Buddhas.”
Song Meier: “…”
Wasn’t that basically accusing her of having a guilty conscience?