Reborn As The Wicked Little Sister-in-Law - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Wrath Value Reset to Zero

Wei Chengyan’s recent behavior left Lyu Guiyan utterly bewildered. She muttered to herself: In the afternoon, I slapped her right-hand woman, Heyu, yet tonight she’s kind enough to remind Xiaotan to light the candles?

Does she know I’m afraid of the dark? No, even if she did, she wouldn’t be this benevolent. Given her personality, shouldn’t she be plotting to make me suffer all night? What’s her angle? Could it be…

Got it! She must be trying to stay on my good side so I’ll hurry up and help her seize the household management rights.

This woman’s style was usually “thunderous means”—either crushing people with money or forcing cooperation through intimidation. Since when did she use “soft power” to win hearts, especially toward someone she supposedly detests?

Lyu Guiyan was shaken. Could she have been possessed? This thought terrified her, and she hurriedly asked Qiyun: [Has a second Task Executor arrived?]

No, it’s still just you.

Hearing Qiyun’s answer, she finally relaxed. Wei Chengyan’s sudden change in temperament had forced her to consider if another player had entered the game.

Yanyan, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?

Hearing those familiar lines, Lyu Guiyan had a bad premonition. Bad news.

As of this moment, Wei Chengyan’s Wrath Value toward you has returned to zero. Congratulations, your progress bar has been reset.

Lyu Guiyan’s heart sank. She stammered: There was still 5% left at the Ping Medical Clinic this afternoon! How is it gone now?

How should I know?

This reset was brutal. Lyu Guiyan felt her heart bleeding. And the good news?

Wei Chengyan’s Blackening Value is now at 25%.

At least that bar was moving up. Her fragile spirit found a small bit of comfort.

Yanyan, the choice of how to play this is yours; I cannot forcibly interfere. Currently, you appear to be helping Wei Chengyan. If her Blackening Value maxes out but her Wrath toward you remains low, she might actually decide to keep you alive. If that happens, your mission fails, and you’ll be spending eternity as my companion after you die.

Don’t worry, I won’t let that happen. Lyu Guiyan was confident she could make Wei Chengyan follow the original plot and kill her. After all, her wealthy future depended on it…

“LYU—GUI—YAN!”

A piercing scream erupted in her ear. Lyu Guiyan immediately covered her ears, looking in panic at the fuming Xiaotan.

“What are you doing?”

Xiaotan tried to catch her breath. “I called your name over and over and you didn’t answer! I had no choice but to yell in your ear.”

Because they were so close, Lyu Guiyan’s eardrums felt like they had burst. Knowing she was the one who spaced out and ignored the girl, she didn’t argue. She walked into the main room and saw the steaming food on the table, feeling a wave of emotion.

“You saved this for me?” Her voice was slightly excited.

Xiaotan nodded. “Since I’m now a part of Muhe Courtyard, you are my mistress. This is my duty.”

Lyu Guiyan’s heart skipped a beat: Damn, at this rate, Xiaotan is definitely going to be collateral damage. She remembered Xiaotan had some “maidenly worries” a few days ago; she’d have to ask about that later. If the guy was decent, she’d try to marry Xiaotan off to save her.

“Thank you anyway.”

Xiaotan brushed it off, looked at the courtyard, and added: “Mistress, there are too many plants in the yard. If we don’t tidy them up, summer will bring mosquitoes and maybe even snakes. I was thinking we should pay someone to clear out the weeds and flowers. It would make the yard more spacious and keep the pests away.”

“I was thinking the same thing, but you don’t need to handle it. I’ll find someone. We won’t clear everything; we’ll leave a few.”

She was saving those plants for Zou Shengsheng. To get Concubines Five, Six, and Seven to invest their money, she had to let them see Zou’s talent first.

“Alright then. Eat up, I have big news for you.”

“What big news?” Lyu Guiyan picked up her rice bowl, ready to listen.

“You shouldn’t have run out of the manor today. You missed a spectacular show.”

Lyu Guiyan wasn’t naturally nosy, but Xiaotan’s schadenfreude piqued her curiosity so much she forgot to pick up her chopsticks. “Tell me!”

“The Marquis took a new concubine today.”

Lyu Guiyan wasn’t surprised. There were already thirteen; a fourteenth was inevitable. She casually picked up a rib. “What’s so strange about that? Everyone knows the Marquis loves women. He’s only forty-five; there will probably be a fifteen and sixteen later.”

If Wei Chengyan didn’t end up “ending” him, the man would probably have collected a twenty-strong harem by the time he died. Hmph, old pervert!

“But do you know who ‘sent’ the Fourteenth Concubine?”

“Sent?”

Xiaotan couldn’t hold back her smirk. “Concubine Three sent her. The Fourteenth Concubine is Yanyu—the maid who was always by Concubine Three’s side.”

A maid becoming a concubine wasn’t unheard of in the Marquis’s manor, but being personally gifted by one’s own mistress was a first. Concubine Three was in her thirties and had children; the Marquis didn’t neglect her. Her heart must be incredibly “spacious” to give her husband another woman.

“Concubine Three wants a newcomer to split the favor away from my cousin, Concubine Lan.”

“But why not find someone from outside? Yanyu is average-looking, and the Marquis sees her all the time. Can she really hold his interest?” Xiaotan asked.

“People from the outside are hard to control. Yanyu has been with Concubine Three since she was a child; she’ll do whatever she’s told.”

Xiaotan seemed to understand. Knowing Yanyu was now the Fourteenth Concubine, Lyu Guiyan lost her appetite. Things at Lanxin Courtyard were likely chaotic, and as Concubine Lan’s cousin, she had to show her face.

“I’m full. Xiaotan, clean this up and hang up the clothes in my bundle.”

Seeing she’d barely eaten, Xiaotan worried: “Eat a bit more.”

“No, I’m going to Lanxin Courtyard.”

At the mention of that place, Xiaotan’s face darkened. “Then eat your fill before you go.”

Lyu Guiyan ignored her, grabbed a lantern, and hurried out. The normally quiet, dark paths were now bustling because of the news. Many concubines and maids were wandering near Lanxin Courtyard under the guise of “digesting their dinner,” but they were all there to see Concubine Lan’s humiliation. Even the bedridden Concubine Eight had made a rare appearance at the gates.

Lyu Guiyan spotted Concubines Five, Six, and Seven in the crowd. They were grinning so widely they looked ready to set off firecrackers.

“Sisters, what time is it? Shouldn’t you be in your own courtyards?”

The three jumped at the sound of her voice. “Are you here for the show too?” Concubine Five asked, before realizing Lyu was Lan’s cousin. “I didn’t mean it like that—are you here to comfort her?”

Lyu Guiyan nodded blankly.

Concubine Seven warned: “Your cousin has been throwing a tantrum since dinner. Don’t go in now, or you’ll be the one getting yelled at.”

Concubine Six didn’t share that concern; she wanted more drama. “What are you saying, Seven? They’re cousins. Only Ninth Sister can talk sense into her right now.”

Lyu Guiyan understood—Concubine Six just wanted to watch the world burn. “Sixth Sister, since you’re like this, next time we play cards, I’m going to bite down on you and never let go.”

With that, she walked away. Concubine Six panicked, chasing after her: “I was just joking! Don’t take it seriously!”

Lyu Guiyan quickly entered Lanxin Courtyard. She had only taken a few steps before a loud crash echoed from the main house. Without looking, she knew: Concubine Lan was smashing things.

Tonight was definitely going to involve a lot of shouting.