Yan Changye took a deep breath, gritting his teeth.
The Second Concubine finally snapped out of it, stepping forward and slapping Song Shiyun across the face. “You wretched thing, apologize to your Sister-in-law and the Third Auntie this instant!”
Things had already reached this point. No matter how silver-tongued Song Shiyun and the Second Concubine were, there was no room left for excuses. They could only resort to self-punishment first.
Song Shiyun hurriedly crawled to the Third Concubine’s feet. “Third Auntie, Shiyun was foolish, Shiyun drank too much. Shiyun apologizes to you and the Third Young Master.”
The Third Concubine turned her head away and ignored her.
Song Shiyun then crawled over to Liu Xiyin. “Sister-in-law, it is Shiyun’s fault. I was possessed by a momentary delusion, I… I was just afraid of being driven out of the house. I grew up in the Marshal’s Mansion, I cannot leave. Please forgive me just this once.”
Marshal Yan switched off the small horn, his face as dark as still water. “Eldest daughter-in-law, you are the victim here. How do you wish to handle this?”
[Asking me? As a newly wedded daughter-in-law who just crossed the threshold, if I punish the favorite Second Concubine’s biological niece too severely, won’t it make me look petty? And it’s not like I can actually drive her out of the family.]
[Besides, why didn’t he ask the Third Concubine? The one with the broken leg is her son. If I punish too lightly, won’t the Third Concubine hold a grudge against me?]
While Liu Xiyin was fretting, Yan Changye made his move.
He drew the pistol from his waist and aimed it directly at Song Shiyun’s leg. “Before resolving the crime of framing, Cousin had better return Third Brother’s leg first. An eye for an eye, a leg for a leg—that is Father’s rule.”
“No—”
*Bang!*
A bloody hole appeared on Song Shiyun’s leg.
The concubines shrieked and retreated in succession, and the Second Concubine scrambled even further behind Marshal Yan’s back.
Liu Xiyin was also startled.
He shot her just like that, without any warning or buffer at all.
[This man is actually kind of handsome. The Ninth Concubine is going to eat very well in the future.]
Marshal Yan didn’t say anything, merely keeping a wary eye on Yan Changye’s gun. He only let out a sigh of relief once Yan Changye holstered it.
Marshal Yan looked at Liu Xiyin. “What does the eldest daughter-in-law say?”
Liu Xiyin stepped forward timidly, looking as if she were about to be driven to tears by the gunshot. “L-Let’s just punish her by not letting her eat for three days.”
[Injured and not allowed to eat for three days, I am truly wicked. Hee-hee.]
Yan Changye: “…”
Song Shiyun had tried to drive her to her death, yet she let her off with such a superficial scrape, and she still had the nerve to call herself wicked.
“Then we shall do as you say. The military doctors are forbidden from using anesthetics on her.” Marshal Yan waved his hand, and two maidservants dragged the fainted Song Shiyun away.
[Since she can’t cause trouble anymore, it should be time to sleep in the middle of the night, right? This outfit is so tiring to wear.]
It was no exaggeration on Liu Xiyin’s part; her wedding dress weighed at least eighty catties. Coupled with the various pieces of jewelry Qin Wan had put on her, her waist was about to snap under the weight.
Just as Liu Xiyin was thinking this, a large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
[What are you doing!]
She was greatly startled.
Yan Changye held her tightly, preventing her from breaking free. “If Father has no other matters, I will take my bride back to the Yan Villa.”
Marshal Yan furrowed his brows. “You came back just for this?”
Yan Changye: “Father wanted me to marry, so I married. As for where we have our bridal chamber night, that is my decision.”
[What? Still having a bridal chamber night?]
A shiver ran down Liu Xiyin’s spine.
Wasn’t it agreed that Yan Changye had a terrible relationship with the Marshal and rarely came home?
She had thought that by marrying in, she only needed to keep her life safe, live as a chaste widow, enjoy plenty of gossip, and then wait for the Ninth Concubine to enter the household so she could be divorced and cast out, completing her peaceful run.
Liu Xiyin’s large eyes were filled with sheer panic.
*Tch.*
Yan Changye sneered inwardly.
On a wedding night, what else would they do if not share the bridal chamber?
He hadn’t married by twenty-four, wasn’t it precisely to wait for her to reach marriageable age?
Initially, Yan Changye had zero interest in the woman his father forced him to marry just to fulfill an old promise, which was why he hadn’t even bothered to show up for the daytime ceremony.
But looking at things now, this woman was far more interesting than he had imagined.
Moreover… she seemed to harbor a great many secrets.
Yan Changye had to take her back to study her thoroughly.
Qin Wan opened her mouth, intending to say something, but Yan Changye spoke first, “Mother, I will bring her to visit you another day.”
Yan Changye could take Liu Xiyin to the villa, but he couldn’t take Qin Wan along.
No matter how much Marshal Yan disliked the Marshal’s Wife, they couldn’t live in separate residences lest it make them a laughingstock to outsiders.
Qin Wan looked at Marshal Yan. “Ye’er has grown up and prefers to live on his own. Let them go.”
Marshal Yan was still holding the small horn Liu Xiyin had gifted him. Though his face remained dark, he did not object. “Eldest daughter-in-law, you have gifted this father a wonderful item. What would you like in return?”
Liu Xiyin tried with all her might to pry her hand from Yan Changye’s grip but failed. When she looked up, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
“It is only right for this daughter-in-law to give Father a gift. It is a pity that coming from the countryside, I have nothing to offer Mother. Mother suffered a fright today, could Father help me comfort her more?”
Qin Wan had been protecting Liu Xiyin the entire time, enduring several mocks from the Second Concubine and several glares from Marshal Yan.
Liu Xiyin was deliberately reminding Marshal Yan of this fact.
He owed Qin Wan, and he had biased too heavily toward the Second Concubine.
Marshal Yan’s expression stiffened. “This father understands.”
Marshal Yan got up and left, heading in the direction of Qin Wan’s courtyard.
Qin Wan stepped forward, holding Liu Xiyin’s hand. “You have suffered.”
Liu Xiyin touched the necklace around her neck. “The necklace Mother gave me is much prettier than Cousin’s.”
Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile.
Yan Changye: “Mother, we are leaving.”
Yan Changye took Liu Xiyin back to the Yan Villa that very night. Before departing, he even had people pack up her luggage, and even the phoenix coronet she had taken off was brought along.
“Young Madam, it’s our bridal chamber night. Are you ready?”
Liu Xiyin was about to be frightened to tears!