Li Xinyue ran while shouting, afraid she couldn't keep up with Qin Yichen's pace.
"Qin Yichen, wait for me..."
She chased him long before finally seeing Qin Yichen's red figure ahead.
Qin Yichen turned around, still looking at her with no expression: "What's the matter?"
Li Xinyue ran over to Qin Yichen, out of breath, and pulled his arm to walk back.
"What are you doing?" Qin Yichen frowned and asked.
Li Xinyue didn't know how to explain her purpose; she could only vaguely say, "I have a hunch that you're afraid of being plotted against when you enter the palace this time."
When she said this, Li Xinyue was already prepared to be questioned by Qin Yichen.
However, Qin Yichen did not do so but asked, "What have you heard?"
Since Qin Yichen returned to the capital from the border, he had a vague feeling of being targeted, especially by the Emperor, who always gave him a hypocritical feeling when talking to him.
Li Xinyue certainly couldn't say she knew this history, so when asked again, she could only bite the bullet and answer.
"I told you, I just have a bad hunch."
In Qin Yichen's eyes, her explanation was too far-fetched, but at this moment, he was in a hurry to enter the palace and had no intention of asking further.
He allowed Li Xinyue to lead him and gave her the initiative.
Li Xinyue lingered around the yard of the Bridal Chamber for a while and finally settled her eyes on the carriage she was riding in.
She let go of Qin Yichen's arm, ran into the carriage, and took out a thick cushion.
When leaving her parents ' home, the original owner often brought this with her. She hated bumps, whether they were carriages or horses, so the meticulous Madam Li ordered the servants to make her a cushion.
Li Xinyue squeezed the thickness of the cushion, which was still acceptable, turned around, and handed it to Qin Yichen.
"If you believe me, put this pad behind you; it may help you."
After a pause, she added, "Also, if someone claims the Emperor has summoned you to the harem, you must not go."
This was all she could do for now. Whether Qin Yichen could escape physical suffering depended on his fortune.
Qin Yichen hesitated for a moment but still took the cushion.
As he turned to leave, he said, "It's late. Don't wait for me; go to rest early!"
Watching Qin Yichen's retreating figure, Li Xinyue still couldn't help reminding him, "Don't forget to put the pad behind you."
Getting no more response from Qin Yichen, Li Xinyue could only return the same way.
She saw eight sisters-in-law and one little aunt waiting in the yard.
The eight sisters-in-law were all experienced people. Seeing Li Xinyue come back, they couldn't help but come up and comfort her.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry. The Emperor summoned their brother-in-law so late. He must have some urgent matter. I'm sure it won't take too long."
"That's right, and brother-in-law will return in time to consummate your marriage."
"..."
The sisters-in-law were too enthusiastic. Li Xinyue knew they were all showing her goodwill, but she couldn't understand what they said.
Looking at the eight very young sisters-in-law, Li Xinyue felt a moment of heartache.
The poor women were doomed to become young widows.
In the end, they would fall into exile.
Thinking it over, Li Xinyue still decided to warn them.
"Sisters-in-law, I've had a strange dream these days, saying that the Marquis of Protector's mansion will be searched and exiled."
The usually calm eldest sister-in-law, Cui Biting, came over and grabbed her arm, speaking gently, "Sister-in-law, you can't say such things randomly. Our Marquis of Protector's family has been loyal for generations. How could we possibly be searched and exiled?"
"Nonsense... We can't say such unlucky things. Sister-in-law, let's pretend we didn't hear that today." The second sister-in-law, Xie Fang, immediately spat on the ground twice.
Li Xinyue knew this would be the effect after her warning, but she didn't intend to give up just like that.
"Sisters-in-law, I also hope this is not true, but this dream is so real, and it's the same scene every day, so we might as well believe it and make some preparations ahead of time; it won't hurt.
Everyone looked at Li Xinyue talking plausibly there, and they were instantly conflicted.
Little Aunt Qin Hanyue, raised by many elders all her life, was the most timid. Hearing Li Xinyue's words, she was already scared to tears.
The little girl said tearfully, "Sister-in-law, I'm scared. This can't be true."
Seeing this, the eldest sister-in-law gently hugged her, "Don't be afraid, Hanyue; they say dreams are reversed."
Qin Hanyue wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and snuggled into the eldest sister-in-law's arms.
The eldest sister-in-law looked at everyone and said, "It's late. My Sister-in-law has had a tiring day. Let her rest early!"
Li Xinyue didn't know if anyone believed her words, but she had done what she should, and from now on, she could only take it one step at a time.
Back in the room, after several maids had finished helping her wash up, Li Xinyue sent them all away.
What she needed now was quiet. Only by calming down could she think carefully about the next step.
She could see the dazzling array of the entire bridal chamber in the light of the red candles. It was a pity that she couldn't take these things away.
Since this was the case, she could only focus on the most portable silver tickets.
She needed to find out how many silver tickets were in the Marquis of Protector's mansion. Her dowry from her parents contained exactly two thousand taels of silver tickets.
With the silver tickets in hand, Li Xinyue's first thought was that when the house was searched, someone would search her. Where could she hide these tickets without being found?
It would be great if she also had a space like those transmigrated female leads in novels. She could put the tickets in the space, which would be perfectly safe. But unfortunately...
Just as she complained that transmigration gods were unfair, she suddenly felt the scene in front of her change.
The scene before her was so familiar; it was her medical office.
Could it be that she didn't die?
Soon, Li Xinyue was ruthlessly defeated by the facts.
She tried to push open the door of the medical office, but the door was like a prop, completely unresponsive. Not even a gap could be seen.
The windows were the same, as if welded shut…