【As expected of the Second Concubine, every sentence is laced with thorns. Who wouldn’t be muddled by such sweet talk in their ear? It’s no wonder that later on, she managed to cuckold the Marshall so thoroughly without him ever finding out. Tsk, tsk.】
Liu Xiyin secretly glanced at the top of Yan Ting’s head.
【Thinking about the fact that the Marshall might end up with the same “green hat” as I have… no, the Marshall would be even “greener,” and he remains completely oblivious. It makes me happy~】
“…”
For some reason, the corners of Yan Ting’s mouth twitched slightly. He pulled his arm away from the Second Concubine. “Since Shi Yun just caused such a scene, you should also behave yourself.”
Song Mei’er was deflated and aggrievedly turned her head away to wipe her tears.
With Song Mei’er’s interruption, Yan Ting didn’t dwell on the issue of kneeling anymore. He reached out to take the tea handed over by Yan Changye, took a casual sip, and set it down.
Liu Xiyin quickly handed her tea to Qin Wan.
Yan Changye didn’t kneel, so she didn’t either.
Yan Ting drank the tea, and Qin Wan didn’t say anything; she took the tea and even gave her a top-tier imperial green jade bracelet as a wedding gift.
Liu Xiyin then served tea to Yan Ting, and he gave her two large gold bars.
【Wow, gold bars!】
Liu Xiyin loved them.
In this era, two large gold bars were equivalent to 800 silver dollars, enough to buy a small house.
Yan Changye also received a gift, but it had nothing to do with her, so she just kept her own—they were her future “running away” funds.
After the tea ceremony, Yan Changye led Liu Xiyin to a sofa nearby. Yan Ting asked, “Someone planted a bomb under your car?”
Yan Changye took the tea served by a servant and glanced at Yan Changzhuo opposite them. “A timed bomb. I don’t know which blind fool did it.”
Yan Changzhuo was busy comforting Song Mei’er in a low voice. Upon hearing this, he looked over.
He was the second young master, a military academy graduate, and Yan Ting’s right-hand man. His behavior was elegant and refined, every bit the noble son of a powerful family.
“It’s fortunate that you and my sister-in-law are unharmed. Ancheng hasn’t been peaceful lately, and with the year-end being so busy, the Police Bureau is spread thin. It’s a pity that you were startled just after returning.”
【It’s only “not peaceful” because you and the male lead are conspiring to muddy the waters in Ancheng, right? You’re both big bad wolves, don’t try to play the ‘Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio’ act with me.】
Liu Xiyin hummed inwardly.
【Don’t let this second young master’s handsome looks fool you; underneath, he’s a total snake. In the future, he’ll be a pro at leeching off the Marshall’s mansion to support the male lead. Calling him a snake is an insult to snakes; he’s more like a leech.】
【However, this time… it really wasn’t Yan Changzhuo’s doing…】
So, his little bride actually knew the true culprit behind the scenes?
Yan Changye had only just returned to Ancheng. Although the mansion’s servants were temporarily arranged, besides Yan Changzhuo, who else could have infiltrated the place so seamlessly?
Yan Changye decided to test him. “If the city is unstable, it just means the people at the Police Bureau are incompetent. Second brother, you are so eager to cover for them—what are you trying to hide?”
Yan Changzhuo had worked at the Police Bureau after graduation, which was essentially his “home base.” Yan Changye calling the Police Bureau incompetent was no different from calling Yan Changzhuo incompetent.
Liu Xiyin sat to the side, quietly eating her “melon” (watching the drama).
【Fight! Fight!】
If they fought, no one would remember her.
Yan Changzhuo, however, very politely didn’t take the bait. Instead, he said, “Big brother is right. I’ll make sure they strengthen their training.”
He took out a box, stood up, and walked over to Liu Xiyin. “Something happened at the Military Government last night, and I didn’t make it back in time. I heard that cousin Yun was rude to you and even brought up the necklace I gave her, causing you distress.”
“I feel terrible about it, so I had someone find an identical necklace overnight to give to you as an apology.”
He handed the box over with both hands. Inside lay a sapphire necklace. “I hope you can accept this, sister-in-law.”
“…”
He knew Song Shiyun used the necklace to frame her, yet he still sent her the same one?
This second young master really knew how to make people feel disgusted.
Liu Xiyin hurriedly stood up and declined. “Second brother, your words are too kind. Everyone already knows the truth about cousin Yun slandering me; it has nothing to do with you. I really didn’t fancy that necklace anyway, so please, don’t let it weigh on your mind.”
“Pfft.”
It was unclear which young lady couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yan Changzhuo was unruffled. “It was my lack of consideration. How about this: if you see any necklace you like in the future, just tell me, and I will buy it for you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Yan Changye’s face darkened. “You’re buying necklaces for my wife?”
The Third Concubine chimed in from the side, “Second Young Master, the eldest young mistress is not only your sister-in-law, but also the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law. Even if you want to apologize, you should bring something that is appropriate.”
The Third Concubine must have hated the Second Concubine’s family to the core to speak up at such a moment.
Liu Xiyin looked back at her.
However, Yan Changzhuo turned to look at the Third Concubine and said with a smile, “Third Concubine, I understand you are upset about the Third Brother’s incident, but this is not the place for you to speak.”
Although he was smiling, speaking to a concubine of his father like that in public was far too arrogant.
The Third Concubine’s face turned pale.
【The Marshall isn’t even doing anything about this? He’s so biased; he deserves to be dismembered by his own flesh and blood later.】
Liu Xiyin frowned, secretly glancing at Yan Ting, who was sitting on the sofa smoking a cigar.
In the original book, Yan Ting’s excessive favoritism led to Yan Changye and the other concubines’ children being repeatedly targeted. In the end, out of over twenty children, only three remained alive. If it weren’t for Yan Changye protecting the Ninth Concubine, she would have met her end sooner or later.
When Liu Xiyin died suddenly, she had just reached the part where Yan Changye, Yan Changzhuo, and the Fifth Concubine’s daughter, Yan Changying, were all plotting to kill Yan Ting.
Yan Changye wouldn’t kill him, but he and the Ninth Concubine would die themselves, as Qin Wan had already been harmed by Song Mei’er by then.
Yan Changzhuo felt the time had come for Yan Ting to step down.
As for the Fifth Concubine’s daughter, Yan Changying, her lover had been killed by Yan Changzhuo, and Yan Ting—trusting Song Mei’er’s words—wanted to send her to act as a companion to an old eunuch working for a Prince.
At the time, Liu Xiyin felt Yan Ting deserved it. Now, seeing him sit by and watch Yan Changzhuo humiliate the eldest daughter-in-law and scold a concubine, she felt even more that his death was well-deserved.
Yan Ting suddenly choked on his cigar and coughed for a long time, breaking the standoff in the main hall.
Qin Wan helped him catch his breath and handed him some tea. “Marshall.”
Yan Ting drank half a cup of tea, waved his hand, and looked at the farce in the hall. “Second son, how are you speaking to your Third Concubine? Who taught you to treat your elders like that?”
Everyone in the hall was surprised. Probably no one expected Yan Ting to rebuke Yan Changzhuo for the sake of the Third Concubine.
Liu Xiyin silently covered her mouth.
【That’s not right. Marshal Yan isn’t supposed to have this personality. Could it be…】
Liu Xiyin was shocked.
【Could my mind be read?!】
Yan Changye was startled.
Just now, his little bride had been thinking about Father’s ending, saying he would be dismembered by his own flesh and blood due to his favoritism. Immediately after, Father choked on his cigar and then stood up to support the Third Concubine.
This had never happened in Yan Changye’s memory. Yan Changye was just wondering what was going on when he heard his little bride’s thought.
Could Father also read minds?
How could the little bride even know about mind-reading?
How could Liu Xiyin not know? In the modern era, she had read countless books; she was very familiar with the trope of mind-reading!
Oh heavens, could it be that it had happened to her too?