Chapter 2: The Storehouse of the Chancellor’s Mansion
“What are you two-father and daughter-doing? Xiao Luo, quickly go and put away the things I prepared.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Luo didn’t waste any time and hurried into the room.
“Dad, how about we also ransack the Chancellor’s mansion next door? We just gathered quite a bit of fire oil—it’ll come in handy. Let’s make a big score!”
“Ah? But… that’s someone else’s territory…”
“Don’t worry. Using the same method as before, the Chancellor’s mansion is definitely richer than our Marquis’s mansion. Now, quickly change into these two sets of clothes. I’ll pose as a maid, and you as a servant—remember to smear your face.”
After a brief hesitation, Yu Haojie decisively nodded in agreement.
Bold as always, Ye Jiamai saw that her daughter could even produce two sets of servant uniforms for both mansions out of thin air, so she immediately helped the two get dressed.
Once everything was ready, the pair climbed out from the back courtyard of the Guo An Mansion.
This narrow path led directly into the secondary courtyard of the Chancellor’s mansion.
Using their old trick—and with the fire spreading throughout the Chancellor’s mansion—the storehouse, originally guarded by four men, now had two of them withdrawn.
Yu Luo managed to enter the storehouse successfully. When she saw the treasures inside, a delighted smile curved her eyes!
Not to mention whether the items in the Chancellor’s mansion were more valuable than those in the Marquis’s mansion, the storehouse itself was more than twice as large!
Countless precious herbs were there—century-old ginseng, three-foot-long deer antler, reishi, cordyceps—everything was available.
There were also innumerable huge, lustrous pearls in various colors, each one perfectly plump.
Chests of gold and silver treasures were piled high. Wherever Yu Luo passed, everything was whisked away into her storage space!
It seems the Chancellor wasn’t honest either. How could he, relying on his meager monthly salary, possibly afford such luxurious items?
With a grand gesture, Yu Luo not only took the goods but even the wooden racks holding them.
Her looting method was like plucking every last feather off a passing goose—leaving nothing behind!
By the time Yu Luo emerged, Yu Haojie—the lookout—had already scouted the terrain and chosen the best escape route.
When they returned to the Guo An Mansion’s secondary courtyard, Yu Luo stored the clothes she was wearing into her system. Then, using the warm water Ye Jiamai had prepared, she quickly washed her face and immediately put on all the thick clothing from the room!
On the road to exile, there’s no luxury of soft bedding.
In this bitter winter, if the three of them don’t dress warmly, they might freeze to death that night.
“Little Luo, my heart is still pounding—how can things be going this smoothly?”
“Don’t be so incredulous. If transmigration is possible, then all sorts of things can happen. But just know, the road to exile will surely be bitter. We must brace ourselves!”
“Look at you, acting all cowardly—why aren’t you calm yet, Little Luo?”
Ye Jiamai gave a disdainful glance at Yu Haojie, who was bundled up like a sticky rice dumpling, clearly dissatisfied.
“Mom, Dad, when it comes time to cry, let’s cry out loud and not give away our true feelings. And mind your titles—don’t mess that up later. We probably have about fifteen minutes to compose ourselves before the Marquis’s mansion is thrown into chaos.”
Yu Luo’s estimation was spot on—exactly fifteen minutes later, the door to the secondary courtyard was forcefully kicked open!
Soldiers clad in armor burst in one after another, drawing their swords and advancing menacingly toward the three huddled together.
Soon, everyone remaining in the Guo An Mansion was rounded up and brought to the front courtyard.
“The imperial decree! By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor has decreed: Because the Marquis of Guo An, while drunk, harassed Consort Rong and enraged the imperial majesty, the entire Yu clan—through nine generations—shall have its property confiscated and be exiled, never to return to the capital!”
After the leading official finished reading the decree, he immediately dispatched soldiers to rush directly to the Marquis’s storehouse!
“Oh my God… Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!”
Upon hearing that their entire family’s property was confiscated and that they were to be exiled, everyone in the mansion broke down in tears.
Among the crowd, Ye Jiamai’s wailing was the most heartrending—the loudest cry in the entire front courtyard!
Yu Luo clutched her mother tightly, burying her head in her shoulder, trembling—not out of fear, but because she couldn’t hold back her laughter, worried that her mother’s overzealous performance might make her burst out laughing.
“Yu Luo, you jinx—how dare you even cry! It’s all because of your cursed presence that our Marquis’s mansion has been doomed to confiscation!”
As Ye Jiamai cried her heart out, a flood of angry voices suddenly rained down insults on Yu Luo.
Yu Luo looked utterly confused: “What does this have to do with Sister Guan?”
Ye Jiamai’s crying abruptly stopped. Together with Yu Luo and Yu Haojie, they turned to look at the woman hurling the insults.
After a moment’s recollection, they realized that the woman was Yu Meiyao, the illegitimate daughter from the main branch!
Although also illegitimate, Yu Meiyao was born with a silver tongue and possessed a certain beauty.
She usually managed to charm the Marquis’s wife and even the father of the An Rong Crown Prince, earning their favor and being well pampered.
“Hehe, you really are like a little knife pricking your own butt—truly something to behold! How dare you claim to be my beloved daughter! What sort of person are you? Standing there like a latrine that won’t do its duty! If you don’t go plead with the Emperor, then…”
Though Ye Jiamai was well-educated, she had grown up in the countryside.
A shrew who cursed loudly, she had never been afraid of anyone.
Moreover, considering that in their past lives, their family had suffered so miserably, this heartless, hypocritical ‘white lotus’—even though she was only sixteen—would not be treated kindly by her!
“Is that even speaking like a human? I won’t indulge you, Yu Meiyao!”
“You…”
Suddenly, the now-slick-tongued Ye Jiamai left Yu Meiyao no time to form any suspicion. Infuriated by her insulting words, Yu Meiyao’s face flushed and her neck swelled with anger.
Just as she was about to retort, a group of soldiers sent to seize valuables returned to the front courtyard, frightening her into immediately grabbing her maid’s hand and obediently shutting her mouth.
“Reporting to Commander Zhang: Most of the storehouse has been burned. Our subordinates went in to put out the fire, but there’s nothing left inside.”
“Reporting to Commander Zhang: The main building is also empty—there isn’t even any furniture left, let alone valuables.”
“Reporting to Commander Zhang: Aside from a small amount of gold, silver, delicate antique vases, and a few items recovered from the servants’ quarters, even the kitchen was burned down. There isn’t a single grain of rice left in the storeroom!”
Hearing these reports from the soldiers, everyone in the Yu household’s faces turned ashen!
Before anyone could even express their shock, Commander Zhang’s gaze immediately fell on Yu Haojie—huddled beside Ye Jiamai—as he was the only one in his prime among the men present.
“Second Young Master Yu? How dare you divert the Marquis’s property? Aren’t you afraid of being beheaded?”
With that, Zhang Bin drew the large knife at his waist and immediately pressed it against Yu Haojie’s neck!
The cold blade, pressed against the warm skin at his neck, made Yu Haojie tremble violently, his legs shaking as if sieved, his face turning deathly pale!
Just when he didn’t know how to explain himself, someone suddenly prodded him on the knee, and he immediately dropped to both knees!
Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Luo noticed her mother’s impressive quick draw with a knife, and she silently gave her a nod of approval.
For us modern folk, it’s hard to kneel down instantly—but credit to our mother for thinking ahead.
Now is not the time to talk about dignity. Flexibility will serve us well in the days to come.
“Commander Zhang, I… I don’t have any such ability! No matter what, you… you were once a colleague of my elder brother. Can’t you beg the Emperor to spare our family?”
