Chapter 2: The Household Raid That Ended in Nothing

“Vice General Lü, for the sake of our Jiuyuan, can you go a little easier?”

The old madam looked heartbrokenly at the wrecked Wang Residence, sorrow welling up inside her.

“Old Madam.”

The leading general was none other than Vice General Lü, who had once served under the War King. He looked smugly at the group of women.

“By imperial decree, Song Jiuyuan attempted rebellion and was caught red-handed. Considering his past military merits, he was spared from execution. Instead, his military power has been revoked, he’s demoted to a commoner, his household is to be raided, and he’ll be exiled. This is already the Emperor’s mercy.”

His words made the women of the War King’s Residence cry even harder. They knew that this time, disaster was unavoidable. In their grief, they no longer cared about the ransacked mansion.

“My elder brother treated you well. Is this how you repay him?”

The speaker was Song Jiuyuan’s younger brother, Song Jiuchi. His bloodshot eyes stared angrily at the overly smug Vice General Lü.

If not for his elder brother’s promotion, this man would still be just a gate guard!

And now he had the audacity to take the initiative in raiding their house? It was obvious he was just the Sixth Prince’s lackey!

Vice General Lü let out a cold snort and ignored Song Jiuchi’s glare. He waved his hand and ordered:

“Search every corner thoroughly. We must find evidence of Song Jiuyuan’s rebellion. All property is to be confiscated!”

The Imperial Guards surged in, beating any servants who tried to resist. Jiang Wan stood calmly in the corner. She finally had time to sort through the plot of the novel.

In the original storyline, after the original host had schemed her way into the War King’s bed and forced a marriage, the War King’s household was raided the very next day. The original host only became the princess consort for one day.

However… even after being exiled, the original host didn’t change her ways. She continued to act recklessly, angering the villains one after another, and was eventually killed during the exile.

Sigh!

What a terrible starting hand, but Jiang Wan never admitted defeat. Even with bad cards, she would play them beautifully.

Just as she was spacing out, Shen Qian, whom she had dealt with earlier, suddenly pointed the finger at Jiang Wan.

“It’s her! It must be her!”

Shen Qian angrily pointed at Jiang Wan. “You jinx! You just got married and now you’ve brought disaster!”

She hated Jiang Wan so much her teeth itched. If it hadn’t been for competing with Jiang Wan, she wouldn’t have married in, and she wouldn’t be facing exile now!

With Shen Qian’s outburst, everyone in the Wang Residence turned their attention to Jiang Wan. The old madam gripped her cane tightly, her sharp gaze locked onto Jiang Wan, full of suspicion.

“Yes! It must be that jinx Jiang Wan who brought this on us.”

“We were doing so well before. Ever since she married in, our whole residence is being raided!”

“I don’t want to be exiled—wu wu wu…”

“……”

It seemed they had found someone to vent their anger on. Everyone looked at Jiang Wan with resentment in their eyes. Jiang Wan gave Shen Qian a cold stare.

“You and I entered this household at the same time. If you want to put it that way, it’s really unclear who the jinx is!”

At such a critical moment, instead of thinking about how to get out of this situation, this woman was still trying to attack her—how stupid could she be?

“It’s you!”

Shen Qian raised her voice, her eyes bloodshot. Even Song Jiuchi, who had spoken with the Imperial Guards earlier, now looked at Jiang Wan with disgust.

Just as things were about to erupt, the old madam suddenly said, “All of you, shut up!”

She had experienced much and understood that the Emperor had already made up his mind to destroy them. No amount of fighting would help now.

Jiang Wan was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Minister’s household. Perhaps her family might still send them some support during exile, so she shouldn’t be offended.

Furthermore, the survival of everyone in the residence might still depend on Song Jiuyuan. Even if he didn’t like Jiang Wan, she was still his wife.

Shen Qian, though extremely displeased after being scolded, dared not say anything more.

At this moment, Song Jiuyuan—who had been summoned to the palace earlier—returned.

But he was being carried back!

His lower body was drenched in blood, shockingly so. The main madam of the Song family, who had just recovered, fainted completely upon seeing her son like that.

“Big Brother!”

Song Jiuchi hurried to meet him. His usually brave elder brother was now barely clinging to life, pale and unconscious.

This was the original host’s husband—and the villain in the story!

Jiang Wan also hurried forward. Her fair hand discreetly touched Song Jiuyuan’s pulse. Without changing expression, she softly called:

“My lord!”

Heavens!

That damn Emperor really was ruthless!

In the original host’s memory, the man who had still been alive and well that morning was now beaten half to death. He was clearly breathing out more than he was breathing in—this was a beating meant to kill. Even if he didn’t die, he would be crippled!

Seeing Song Jiuyuan in this state, the women from the various courtyards, who had still held onto hope, were now plunged into utter despair.

It was over—everything was over for them!

With great effort, Song Jiuyuan opened his eyes. Looking at the people in the courtyard breaking down in tears, sorrow surged in his heart as well.

It was his own incompetence that had left his loved ones unprotected.

The handsome man’s expression was dazed, his whole being radiating a broken, fragile aura. For some reason, Jiang Wan found him stunningly beautiful in that moment.

“My lord!”

Suddenly, the Imperial Guards who had gone to search the courtyard all came out at once, their faces pale as they shook their heads at Vice General Lü.

“There’s nothing in the storage rooms!”

“Nothing in the kitchen either.”

“Nothing in the main residence!”

“……”

The Imperial Guards were all dumbfounded. When His Majesty had summoned the prince to the palace, he hadn’t given any hint of his true intentions.

They had rushed straight to the Wang Residence, and even if someone had tried to transfer the property, there was no way they could’ve done it so quickly!

So this whole raid had been for nothing?

Vice General Lü, who had planned to take advantage and pocket some spoils, looked absolutely livid!

And the people of the Wang Residence were equally confused by what the Imperial Guards had just said. The very next second, they all turned their gazes toward Song Jiuyuan.

Could it be that the prince had predicted this and hidden away the valuables in advance?

Vice General Lü had the same thought and immediately looked at Song Jiuyuan. “Prince—oh wait, you’re not a prince anymore.”

“Song Jiuyuan, are you aware that concealing property carries an additional charge?”

“I… didn’t.”

Before going to the palace, Song Jiuyuan had already had a bad feeling. But the only thing he’d hidden was his private assets outside the residence—there hadn’t been any opportunity to hide what was in the Wang Residence itself.

He was just as confused as anyone else right now.

Vice General Lü didn’t believe him. He raised the sword in his hand, aiming it at Song Jiuyuan—but before the blade could strike, Jiang Wan kicked the sword aside with a single move.

“The punishment has already been given by the Emperor himself. Who are you to think you can punish my husband too?”

Song Jiuyuan had once been the original host’s benefactor. So if she could protect him now, she would—consider it her way of repaying the original host’s gratitude.

Realizing what was happening, Song Jiuchi immediately threw himself in front of his older brother, shielding him fiercely. His eyes were sharp like a wolf’s as he glared ferociously at Vice General Lü.

Vice General Lü felt a chill down his spine under that glare. Just then, an Imperial Guard suddenly rushed into the courtyard.

“Vice General Lü, bad news! There’s been a theft at the palace and the Sixth Prince’s residence. His Majesty is summoning you immediately!”

“Keep a close eye on them! All property in this residence is to be confiscated. Absolutely nothing is to leave with them!”

Before leaving, Vice General Lü barked out this final command. Because of it, the female members of the household, who still wore jewelry, were forced to remove their adornments on the spot.

Jiang Wan touched the wooden hairpin in her hair. Thankfully, she’d been foresighted—there was nothing for them to snatch from her.

She quietly let out a breath of relief—only to suddenly feel a gaze settle on her. When she looked down, she met Song Jiuyuan’s puzzled eyes.

Jiang Wan fell silent. In truth, her spatial storage contained a lot of medicinal powders and trauma ointments, but with the Imperial Guards present, it wasn’t the right time to take anything out.