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Alternate timeline setting—please do not apply real historical archaeology logic.
The next day, while Madam Liu was doing her hair, she realized that all her jewelry was missing. In a panic, she rushed to check her storerooms to see if the luggage she had packed was still there.
Upon seeing the two empty storerooms, she finally couldn’t take it and fainted on the spot.
Liu Shuyu and Liu Yuchen also discovered that their own courtyards had been robbed. Before they could even figure out how much was missing, a servant rushed in to report that Madam Liu had collapsed.
The two of them hurried over to Madam Liu’s courtyard.
Seeing Madam Liu unconscious on the ground, Liu Shuyu grew anxious and quickly pressed on her philtrum. It took a while, but finally, Madam Liu slowly came to.
The moment she opened her eyes, she burst into loud wails. “What kind of sins have I committed?! My jewelry, my fortune—everything’s gone!”
Liu Yuchen frowned and calmly said, “Mother, please stop crying. We need to send someone to notify the police right away. I suspect this theft was premeditated.”
Liu Shuyu also nodded in agreement. “Let’s call the police quickly. My courtyard was also hit by the thief.”
“What? You were robbed too? How can this be? Could the thief have a personal grudge against the three of us? Could one of the concubines have hired someone to do it?” The more Liu Yuchen thought about it, the angrier he became. His fists clenched tightly, and veins bulged on his forehead.
“They dared rob both your courtyards? Where did they get the guts? It must’ve been Fourth and Fifth Concubines behind this. Could it be they found out we planned to leave Shanghai without them?” Madam Liu’s face darkened drastically, her eyes flickering with fury.
“I’ll go see Father first to check how things are on his end. When the police arrive, just tell them everything truthfully.”
What Liu Yuchen was most concerned about now was the gold and U.S. dollars in his father’s possession. In recent days, his father had sold the factories and shops and exchanged the money for precious metals and foreign currency.
All of that wealth was stored in his study. If those were stolen too, the Liu family would suffer a huge loss.
Upon hearing about the theft, Liu Zhixiong rushed back to his study immediately. When he saw that the seals on the boxes were still intact, he finally felt a sense of relief.
When the police arrived, they searched every corner of the Liu residence but found no clues.
A sudden appearance of a theft team with such highly skilled methods shocked even the police. But they were helpless—the thieves had left absolutely no trace behind.
Having pulled off an enormous heist, Liu Shuning kept her success hidden. With her haul from last night, she had nearly forgotten today’s main task. Tomorrow was her wedding—she had to retrieve whatever was inside the secret room today.
After lunch, Liu Shuning called Chuntao into her room.
“Chuntao, go to Madam and collect your pay for this month, then head home. I’m getting married tomorrow—you don’t need to come with me to suffer in the countryside.”
(Note: After the founding of the People’s Republic, indentured contracts were abolished. In this alternate timeline, household servants only have an employment relationship with the Liu family.)
“Miss Fifth, did I do something wrong? Please don’t send me away!”
Working in the Liu residence was easy and paid well. Chuntao truly didn’t want to leave.
She felt uneasy now—had Miss Fifth found out she’d been helping Madam all this time?
“Chuntao, I know you’re reluctant to leave the Liu household. But I really can’t take you with me to the remote mountains of the Northeast. Here, take this hairpin—it’s my favorite. Consider it a keepsake.”
Liu Shuning tucked a worn wooden hairpin into Chuntao’s hair. It was a gift from Madam Liu on her tenth birthday.
“Thank you, Miss Fifth. I’ll go see Madam now.” Chuntao’s heart was in turmoil. Was she really about to collect her last pay and leave the Liu family?
After sending Chuntao away, Liu Shuning closed the gates of Tingxue Pavilion and entered the storeroom.
The worn-out wooden crate in the corner was still in its original spot.
After transferring everything else in the storeroom into her space, Liu Shuning approached the corner and unlocked the hidden door using the necklace key.
Boom! With a loud sound, the secret room’s door swung open. A musty smell rushed out, and Liu Shuning covered her nose.
Once the air inside had enough oxygen, she stepped in.
The room was pitch black—she couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face.
“System, do you have anything I can use for light?”
[Host, you need to learn to handle things yourself. Don’t come to me for every little thing.]
“Then let me sign in. Can I get a flashlight? Pretty please? You’re the best, most understanding system in the world.” Liu Shuning could tell the system had what she needed—it hadn’t outright refused.
The system felt a chill down its back. This host was definitely scheming something again.
[Sign-in successful. Host has received 10 flashlights, 100 batteries, and 100 pork buns.]
“Thank you, System! I love you!”
[Host, please mind your behavior. Cross-species romance never ends well.]
If the system could take human form, it would be blushing furiously by now. It had never met such a shameless host before.
With the flashlight from her sign-in, Liu Shuning followed the stairs down and arrived in a room filled with boxes.
“System, where’s the good stuff you mentioned?”
[It’s inside the purple box at the very back. Heads up—someone is about to reach the courtyard gate.]
To avoid anyone discovering the secret room, Liu Shuning didn’t have time to locate the purple box. She quickly stored everything in the room into her system space and made her way back out.
Outside Tingxue Pavilion, Chuntao had brought Madam Liu and Liu Shuyu to the gate. They were already knocking.
“Fifth Sister, what are you doing in there? Hurry up and open the door!” Liu Shuyu rarely came to Tingxue Pavilion. When she saw how dilapidated it looked, she thought she had gone to the wrong place.
How could such a wealthy family have a courtyard in such disrepair?
“Chuntao, knock harder!” Madam Liu was getting impatient. With so many problems at home, she wouldn’t have come here unless she was worried that Liu Shuning might try to escape the marriage.
The engagement to the Lu family had been secured by Liu Zhixiong with great effort. If Liu Shuning refused to marry, the one sent instead would be her daughter, Liu Shuyu.
“I’m coming, I’m coming! If you knock any harder, my door’s going to collapse.” Liu Shuning opened the door and found a furious Madam Liu and a gloating Liu Shuyu standing outside. “Mother, Sixth Sister, what brings you here?”
“I heard you were dismissing Chuntao. Are you unhappy with this marriage?” Madam Liu wasn’t really concerned about Chuntao—she was worried the wedding tomorrow might fall through.
The engagement to the Lu family had taken a lot to arrange. If Liu Shuning refused to marry, Liu Shuyu would have to go instead.
“You must be joking, Mother. I wouldn’t dare object to a marriage arranged by Father. Don’t worry—I’ll obediently marry into the Lu family tomorrow.”
Run away? Could she even manage that? She’d probably be dragged back before she even got out of the alley.