Chapter 3: Conspiring to Set a Trap

Soon, he paced out.

Without waiting for her to ask, he tilted his head slightly and said, "I will sleep in the study."

Hearing this, Yan Funing walked quickly to the window lattice. Watching him head toward the room on the left, she let out a sigh of relief.

Fu Ciyi's ears twitched, and his expression grew even more indifferent.

After closing the doors and windows, Yan Funing took off her wedding attire and washed up, only then noticing a jade pendant hanging around her neck.

The word "Yan" was carved into the jade, along with an engraving of a lotus flower; even the single droplet of water condensing on the lotus leaf was carved with exquisite roundness.

It complemented her name perfectly.

However, the book had not described this jade pendant.

——

That night, Yan Funing had a dream.

In the dream, it was also the twelfth lunar month, and the frost was thick and icy.

The sun hung higher in the sky, yet it emitted a cold light, devoid of any warmth.

She went to beg Fu Ciyi to let the Yan family go, but instead, she was locked away in a separate courtyard.

The windows in the room were all firmly nailed shut with wooden boards. Beams of light filtered through the gaps between the boards, illuminating the dust in the air.

Aside from that, the entire room was dark and freezing.

She was restrained, her hands tied behind the back of a chair, and her legs likewise bound to the chair legs.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Upon seeing the newcomer, her pupils shrank.

He was carrying a dagger!

In her panic, she struggled.

But she could not break free from the ropes binding her; instead, her collar loosened slightly, revealing a patch of pale, smooth skin at her chest.

The man glanced at it, then immediately withdrew his gaze, as if looking even a moment longer would defile his eyes.

He remained silent for a moment before drawing the dagger, the blade glinting with a cold light.

Seeing this, she pressed her toes down with all her might, barely managing to move herself and the chair a few inches.

The man smiled, but his eyes were like ice—sinister and resentful.

He approached her, slowly running the blade across her face. With just a fraction more force, the blade would tear a bloody gash into her skin.

She did not dare to move at all, her breathing even coming to a terrified halt.

"What do you want to do?"

Her voice trembled and shrank back.

The man leaned down close to her ear, his voice cold, yet sounding like a demonic chant calling for death: "Guess. Do I want to marry you, or kill you?"

Yan Funing woke up with a start!

She had seen this scene in the book; it was what happened after certain someone became a powerful official.

She pressed her hand against her rapidly heaving chest. Judging by their interaction yesterday and the descriptions in the book, he held a grudge regarding the broken engagement.

And now, through a series of errors, they had become husband and wife. Her future days...

After a period of panic and tossing and turning, she finally fell back asleep.

——

Early the next morning.

A maidlifted the bed curtains and called softly, "Miss, wake up quickly. The Old Master and Old Madam have come to the Fu residence!"

"Who came?"

Having not slept well last night, Yan Funing's eyes were bleary.

"It's your grandfather and grandmother, Miss."

Only then did Yan Funing open her eyes.

The maid before her had a round face and a round nose; she was Cai Yu, the personal maid of the female supporting character.

Looking closely, her eyes were red and her eyelids were swollen, clearly from crying.

"You were crying?" Yan Funing got out of bed and asked, "Why didn't I see you last night?"

Cai Yu could not help but shed tears. "When Miss got married, this servant was tied up at the Yan residence. I was only released this morning and followed the Old Master and Old Madam to the Fu residence along with the Eldest Miss's maid."

Hearing this, Yan Funing's sleepiness vanished instantly. "Who brought you here just now?"

As Cai Yu helped her dress, she recalled, "An old nanny, she seemed to be from the side of the Fu family's Second Old Madam."

Yan Funing's brow furrowed. "Could it be that the Yan family was also involved in the switching of the bride?"

Last night, she had thought the mistake in the bridal chamber was a conspiracy by the Fu family, but hearing Cai Yu's words, she couldn't help but suspect the Yan family as well.

"Switching the bride?" Cai Yu gasped. "Does that mean the groom has become the Second Young Master Fu?"

Yan Funing nodded.

"Then this is unacceptable!" Cai Yu rolled up her sleeves. "No, this servant must go and give him a beating to teach him a lesson, so he'll listen to everything Miss says from now on!"

Yan Funing's hand paused while tying her sash. The female supporting character was so arrogant that even her personal maid was this fierce.

Just then, a man's light cough came from the doorway.

The master and servant both looked up. Seeing it was Fu Ciyi, Cai Yu clenched her fists and prepared to rush over.

Thinking of how someone had slashed her face in the dream, Yan Funing felt a sense of dread and hurriedly grabbed Cai Yu's arm.

However, Cai Yu's strength was surprisingly great, and she actually ended up dragging Yan Funing along with her.

Seeing that her fist was about to strike Fu Ciyi, Yan Funing had no choice but to hug her.

"Cai Yu, calm down."

Fu Ciyi stood silently with one hand behind his back. After a moment, he spoke indifferently, "The elders of both families are already in the front courtyard."

Only then did Cai Yu retract her fist and help Yan Funing with her grooming.

——

The morning light reflected the clouds, and frost covered the ground.

The north wind blew in the twelfth lunar month, biting and fierce.

Yan Funing had a simple breakfast, pulled her cloak tight, and followed Fu Ciyi to the front courtyard.

Before they could pay their respects, the Old Master spoke directly: "Ciyi, starting today, your main branch will move to the countryside."

As if he had long expected this day, Fu Ciyi gave a faint nod of assent.

Yan Funing was puzzled. "Why?"

The Old Master picked up a teacup from the table and blew on it gently. "Wan'niang is not my brother and sister-in-law's biological daughter, so naturally, her three children are not of the Fu bloodline."

Yan Funing was utterly shocked. The book stated that the Fu family was divided into two branches: the main branch lived in the East Courtyard, and the second branch lived in the West Courtyard.

The elderly couple of the main branch had one daughter named Fu Wan'niang.

After Fu Wan'niang gave birth to Fu Ciyi, she also had fraternal twins.

Although the book did not mention Fu Wan'niang's husband, it did mention that because the elderly couple of the main branch doted on their daughter, they raised the three grandchildren as if they were their own.

But the book never mentioned that Wan'niang and her children were not of the Fu bloodline.

A sharp glint flashed in the Old Master's eyes as he took a slow sip of tea. "Ciyi, your grandparents left a will leaving the properties of the East Courtyard to our West Courtyard. Now that you are married, it is time for you to move out of the manor."

Yan Funing: "May I ask where the will is?"

The Old Master set the teacup down heavily and let out a cold snort. How could he possibly show her the will?

Old Master Yan's expression darkened, and he rebuked, "Funing, how can you speak to your elders like that?"

Yan Funing's eyes shifted slightly, and her brows moved faintly.

At this moment, Yan Haitang was leaning into Old Madam Yan's embrace, looking obedient, clearly having accepted the fact that she was now Fu Minghe's wife.

The expressions of the two Yan elders were calm, which made her even more certain of her previous suspicion.

"After I broke off the engagement, my grandparents said the Yan and Fu families were still meant to marry. My eldest sister said she admired the Second Young Master, so she would marry him. My grandparents told me to marry the Eldest Young Master."

Poor Yan Funing had thought Fu Minghe was the son of a County Vice Magistrate and a good match, so she had agreed on the spot.

Thinking back now, they were merely trying to trick her into the bridal sedan.

They deliberately tripped her up, drugged the wine, and no one called a doctor while she was unconscious; even the Yan family maids didn't follow. Every single detail had been for one purpose.

Yan Funing gave a shallow smile. "So, the switching of the bride was a scheme conspired by the elders of both families."

Though her voice was soft and delicate, it was clear and sharp, carrying a hint of detached understanding.

The elders did not expect that she had actually seen through it.

The two Old Madams let out soft, cold laughs and huffed, "Minghe's father is a County Vice Magistrate. How could an adopted daughter of the Yan family like you be a match for my biological grandson?"

Yan Funing's brows furrowed. She wasn't a daughter of the Yan family—the book didn't say that either.

At that moment, Old Madam Yan stood up. "Funing, you indeed are not a child of our Yan family."

(End of Chapter)