Father was dead.
These words struck the unease in Yan Changfeng’s heart like a massive rock plunging into the sea, instantly stirring up overwhelming panic.
She couldn’t help but think of the long-overdue safety letter from Father.
Whenever Father went out to escort goods, he would write a safety letter back each time he passed a Yan Family secret outpost. These letters weren’t merely to report his safety; they also served as a means to verify the status of each outpost. Written in code, the letters were relayed station by station by carrier pigeons raised by the Yan Family. Only if all the secret outposts were operating normally could the letters reach her intact and on time.
Today’s letter was already more than half a day late—likely indicating trouble at one of the outposts.
Thinking of this, Yan Changfeng gripped Eldest Sister’s shoulders and raised her voice, asking, “You said Father is dead? Where did it happen?”
“Father…” Yan Changying wept bitterly, tears streaming down her face. “Where… in the mountains… he was killed by bandits! He died so tragically… wuwu… he died so tragically…”
Yan Changfeng’s pupils contracted sharply, and a sense of foreboding nearly overwhelmed her.
Bandits… Father’s journey would pass through Qingzhou Fu, where banditry was rampant. If he had encountered bandits, it was most likely there. Calculating the travel time, they should have reached Qingzhou Fu in another day or two!
But that didn’t make sense. Today’s safety letter should have been sent from Rongzhou Fu, which was separated from Qingzhou Fu by a prefecture. The troubled outpost must have been somewhere between Rongzhou Fu and Yangzhou Fu—how could it involve Qingzhou Fu?
Her thoughts were tangled, but she suppressed her panic and helped Eldest Sister to the bed. She wrung out a clean cloth to wipe her sister’s face, coaxing her gently, “Sister, I’ll go save Father. Don’t worry, Father won’t die. We’ll all be fine. Wait for me at home, okay?”
Reassured by her sister’s promise, Yan Changying felt a sense of security and nodded through her tears. “Okay, I’ll wait. You must bring Father back!”
Leaving Eldest Sister’s courtyard, Yan Changfeng hurried straight to the front yard and summoned the head of the household guards.
Though anxious inside, she maintained a calm exterior, speaking as if it were a routine matter. “Old Wu, I need you to take a few men and make an overnight trip to Qingzhou Fu. Father and Third Sister are carrying a heavy load this time, and with the many bandits in Qingzhou, they’re bound to attract attention. I’m worried the people he brought aren’t enough.”
Old Wu was taken aback.
The Yan Family was a prominent merchant household in Jiangnan, with connections in every region. Ordinary bandits wouldn’t dare touch anything bearing the Yan Family’s insignia—why would they need overnight reinforcements?
“Second Miss, has something happened?”
If only she knew what had happened. Yan Changfeng couldn’t explain in detail and simply said, “Today’s safety letter hasn’t arrived. I’m not sure if it’s the outpost or Father who’s in trouble. Take a few skilled men and ride fast horses. Try to get there within two days… but don’t push yourselves too hard if you can’t make it. It’s also good to keep an eye on the outposts along the way.”
Old Wu’s heart sank. Trouble at a secret outpost was no laughing matter. If it was just rivals causing mischief, that was one thing, but the worst fear was an insider plotting treachery—that would mean the Family Head was also in danger! He didn’t dare delay, clasped his fists, and left immediately. “Second Miss, rest assured. Even if I have to ride the horses to death, I’ll get there within two days!”
After sending Old Wu off, Yan Changfeng rushed without pause to the pigeon valley and released several letters in one go, all addressed to the secret outposts closest to Qingzhou Fu, to scout the way. She reasoned that if what Eldest Sister said was true, these outposts, which could provide the nearest support to Father, were likely also in grave danger.
If there were no reinforcements nearby, she couldn't pin all her hopes on Old Wu. Therefore, she also sent distress letters to nearby acquaintances in the martial world.
After arranging everything, she hurried back home at full speed. Along the way, her mind remained active, pondering Yaoniang and Third Sister's mother-son pair.
Third Sister Yan Changqing was not Mother's biological child, but she had been raised under Mother's care since childhood, receiving meticulous guidance and abundant affection, no different from a birth child. Now, she had already begun learning the family business under Father's guidance, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would undoubtedly become the future Head of the Yan Family. Yan Changfeng couldn't think of any reason why she would scheme for the Yan Family's assets.
As for Yaoniang, she had always been well-behaved and knew her place. To avoid suspicion, she rarely even showed closeness to her own flesh and blood. Her daily pastime was needlework, she didn't pursue extravagant clothing or accessories, occasionally cooking a couple of her signature dishes, and going out once every ten days or half a month only to have tea and listen to music with concubines from other families. She didn't seem like someone who would covet the family's assets either.
Thus, based on the above, Yan Changfeng believed Eldest Sister's words were mostly nonsense. However, caution was still necessary because Eldest Sister's bizarre claims were too coincidental, aligning precisely with the time when Father went to Qingzhou Prefecture.
As soon as she returned to the mansion, Yan Changfeng immediately arranged for trusted matrons to secretly keep an eye on Yaoniang. By the time she reached Mother's courtyard, it was already dark.
She strode briskly all the way, but upon stepping through the courtyard gate, she moderated her pace and entered quietly.
Her mother was the eldest daughter of a marquis's household. Even after twenty years of marriage into a merchant family, she couldn't shake the habits cultivated in the inner quarters of a great clan—everything had to follow etiquette and rules.
Yan Changfeng gently lifted the curtain and entered the room. Facing the delicate, beautiful woman on the couch with red, swollen eyes, she called out, "Mother."
Lady Yao, exhausted from crying anxiously, had been reclining on the soft couch, frowning with her eyes closed. Upon hearing the voice, she immediately opened her eyes and sat up straight, asking hopefully, "How is Changying? Did she let you into her room?"
Yan Changfeng dismissed the maids to rest and sat beside her mother, saying, "I went in. She had a nightmare at noon, dreaming of some things from the future, and it frightened her."
Lady Yao didn't understand at all what she was saying. "What dream? What future?"
Whether it was truly a dream remained uncertain, but aside from a dream, Yan Changfeng couldn't think of a more plausible explanation. In any case, putting it this way made it easier for Mother to accept.
"She dreamed of some things that would happen in her future in-laws' home—Pei Yu abusing her in every possible way—which is why she was so traumatized."
Until there was news from Father, Yan Changfeng didn't want Mother to worry, so she only mentioned the part about Pei Yu.
Lady Yao listened wide-eyed, finding it hard to digest. If anyone else had told her this, she would have surely had them driven out as a madman.
"How is that possible? Changying has never met the Pei family's young master, so how could she dream about married life? And even having children? An unmarried young lady couldn't possibly imagine such things—she must have read too many storybooks!"
Yan Changfeng replied, "My first thought was the same. But regardless of how Eldest Sister came up with it, her current state doesn't seem feigned."
At the thought of Eldest Sister's condition, Lady Yao's eyes welled up with tears again.
Yan Changfeng was thinking further ahead—she had already begun considering Eldest Sister's marriage. Regarding Pei Yu, she couldn't unjustly suspect him based on nothing at the moment. But if Eldest Sister remained in this state, then this marriage arrangement would need to be reconsidered.
Of course, even if Eldest Sister suddenly recovered, she no longer favored this marriage. She didn't want Eldest Sister to take even the slightest risk.
But this matter wasn't something she could bring up directly. She carefully considered her words: "Mother, I was wondering if it might be divine guidance? Allowing Eldest Sister to foresee the future, to prevent her from being harmed?"
Lady Yao was taken aback. Once it involved divine intervention, Eldest Sister's strange words suddenly seemed more solemn and credible. Perhaps there really was some unseen guidance at work?
Seeing that her mother was already somewhat convinced, Yan Changfeng pressed further: "Since we've received this guidance, we should at least investigate this Pei family's Heir Apparent. If he turns out to be no good, I think Eldest Sister had better not marry him."
"This…" Lady Yao clearly couldn't be as straightforward as her daughter. After all, marriage was no trivial matter. "Setting aside whether things have reached that point, even if that Pei boy's character is lacking, this marriage isn't something we can just cancel at will. Even if your Eldest Sister foresaw the future, how would we explain it to others? Even your Maternal Grandmother wouldn't accept such an explanation!"