Yan Ting’s brows knitted together as he looked ready to lose his temper.
Beside him, Song Meier’s eldest daughter quickly spoke up.
“Don’t be afraid, Sister-in-law. Mother didn’t mean it that way. There have simply been too many incidents these past two days. She only wanted to remind you to be careful on your return visit.”
Liu Xiyin recognized her.
This was Yan Changrou, Second Concubine’s daughter.
[Yan Changrou is the second female lead. In the novel, she traveled to Hong Kong with classmates last year and happened to meet the male lead aboard a cruise ship. After discovering he was a prince, she became desperate to attach herself to him. She flaunted her wealth to attract him to Ancheng.]
[The male lead manipulated her into helping him accumulate wealth in Ancheng. He played her like a fiddle, while she bent over backward to hide his identity, using the Marshal’s daughter’s status to open every possible door for him. He thrived by feeding off her, and she’s still trying to play little tricks on me.]
Liu Xiyin smiled gently at Yan Changrou.
[People say lovesick fools never end well. Yan Changrou poured her heart into helping him—she opened military connections for him, emptied the dowry Second Concubine had prepared for her, even introduced her own mother to the prince’s uncle. Later she stole the Marshal’s secrets for him. When everything was exposed, the male lead simply sold her to a brothel in Southeast Asia.]
[This latest bombing was carried out using her name. Little sister-in-law! If you’re discovered, you’re dead!]
Liu Xiyin quietly ate the slice of cured ham Yan Changye had placed in her bowl.
[I only save those who deserve saving. Since you’re trying to make things difficult for me, I won’t help you anymore.]
[Buddha doesn’t save saintly martyrs… and certainly not lovesick idiots. Amitabha.]
Yan Changye lowered his eyes, listening to every word.
So that’s how it was.
Yesterday’s five hundred and forty pounds of explosives had all been hidden beneath the stone paving of three newly repaired streets.
The Roads Department reported that those sections had recently been repaved after nearby merchants donated funds.
The work had been completed only three days ago.
The paving stones had all been purchased through legitimate channels with proper paperwork.
If the so-called “male lead” had used Yan Changrou’s name…
Of course the documents would be legitimate.
Yan Changrou was Yan Ting’s favorite daughter and also the niece of the influential Song family.
In Ancheng, she could practically command the wind and rain.
With her introduction, neither the Security Bureau nor the Military Government would ever question the transactions.
They would simply look the other way.
If the male lead had succeeded…
Even dying ten thousand times wouldn’t be enough to atone for Yan Changrou’s role.
Judging from the little bride’s thoughts…
He had succeeded in the original story.
Yan Changrou reached for a slice of cured ham with her chopsticks.
Just as she was about to pick one up, the entire plate disappeared.
Yan Changye calmly placed it in front of Liu Xiyin as though he hadn’t noticed Yan Changrou’s movement.
“This is premium Xuanwei ham,” he said softly.
“If Madam likes it, we’ll bring some back to the residence.”
Liu Xiyin blinked.
She looked at the ham…
Then at Yan Changrou, whose smile was beginning to crack.
Finally, she nodded obediently.
“All right.”
The curing process for this ham was excellent.
Very little bitterness from the salt remained.
The fermentation had been done perfectly, making the flavor remarkably similar to modern ham.
Liu Xiyin genuinely liked it.
Everyone called her an uncultured country girl.
Fine.
If she found something delicious, she was absolutely taking it home.
Since she was the one benefiting, she didn’t care whether Yan Changye was merely provoking Yan Changrou.
Yan Changrou withdrew her chopsticks and forced another smile.
“Before this, everyone believed Eldest Brother’s fiancée would be Miss Liu Mingyue. We were worried he wouldn’t be happy about suddenly changing brides. But seeing how well Eldest Brother treats Sister-in-law now, no one will dare gossip anymore.”
The moment she mentioned it, Song Meier immediately seized the opportunity.
“Exactly. Although the Young Marshal has been away all these years, every birthday he still sent gifts to Miss Liu through someone from the military. When the bride was suddenly changed, we were all so worried about Young Madam.”
[Huh? What’s wrong with that? The Marshal can marry a whole collection of concubines, but his son isn’t allowed to have more than one woman in mind? You’re a concubine yourself, yet you’re trying to sow discord between me and the great villain.]
[Hmph. The great villain would rather throw me into prison than fall in love with me. Do they really think they need to stir things up?]
For some reason…
Yan Changye detected a trace of smug satisfaction in that final thought.
“…”
His phoenix eyes turned icy as he looked at Song Meier.
“Second Aunt certainly has a generous heart. Your niece was shot in the leg and still hasn’t been allowed to eat, yet you have the leisure to concern yourself with all sorts of unrelated matters.”
“To someone who didn’t know better… it might even seem as though you’re the mistress of the Marshal’s Mansion.”
Having finished eating, Liu Xiyin put down her chopsticks and looked sincerely at Yan Changrou.
“I heard Little Sister is still studying and hasn’t discussed marriage yet. Then why are you so interested in how Eldest Brother and I get along?”
She tilted her head.
“Could it be… that Little Sister has someone she likes and is eager to get married?”
Her round eyes shifted between the Marshal and Qin Wan.
“Mother, are you the one who oversees Little Sister’s marriage?”
“The way Second Aunt and Little Sister keep bringing this up today… are they trying to test your opinion?”
Looking slightly embarrassed, Liu Xiyin continued,
“I’ve heard that free love is fashionable nowadays. Perhaps Little Sister is simply too shy to say it directly.”
“…”
Yan Changrou’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Sister-in-law…”
Liu Xiyin pointed at her excitedly.
“Mother, look! Little Sister is blushing! I must have guessed correctly!”
Song Meier immediately whipped her head toward Yan Changrou.
Yan Changye watched leisurely.
“Mother, you’ve been so occupied with chanting scriptures that you’ve forgotten your younger children are all grown up now.”
“Second Aunt and Little Sister must be blaming you for not arranging their marriages.”
Qin Wan had long since put down her chopsticks, her appetite small from years of vegetarian meals.
Hearing this, she answered calmly,
“This is the era of the Republic now. Your Second Aunt said long ago that the children should choose their own marriages, so I needn’t concern myself with them.”
“The Marshal approved of that.”
Instantly…
Everyone at the table turned to look at Song Meier and Yan Changrou…
…and then at Yan Ting.
The Marshal’s household was so large that one table wasn’t enough for everyone.
Three tables had been arranged throughout the dining hall.
As the eldest legitimate son, Yan Changye naturally sat at the main table, with Liu Xiyin beside him.
Song Meier, being the Marshal’s favorite, also sat there with her four children.
Only Yan Changzhuo was absent.
Rumor had it that because of the bombing incident, Yan Ting had scolded him severely the previous day and forbidden him from returning home until he had cleaned up the Security Bureau.
Thus…
At the main table sat only Yan Ting, Qin Wan, Yan Changye, Liu Xiyin, Song Meier, and her three children.
Now…
Everyone at the other two tables was staring directly at Song Meier and Yan Changrou, their gazes piercing through them.
Yan Changrou panicked.
“I… Father… Mother…”
[She’s panicking! She’s panicking!]
[Hahaha! Little sister-in-law, your sister-in-law is actually saving you! If you break things off with the male lead now, you won’t end up sold to Southeast Asia! You should be thanking me! Buddha is compassionate!]
Yan Ting slammed his palm onto the table.
His tiger-like eyes blazed with anger.
He pointed first at Song Meier…
…then at Yan Changrou.
“So this is the wonderful daughter you’ve raised!”
“She’s already daydreaming about men in broad daylight!”
“You’ve disgraced me completely!”