A whirlwind marriage: The real heiress marries a warlord.

Qin Yan returned home quite late that day; it was completely dark.

The maid told her, "The young marshal said he had to have a meeting, so he finished eating and went up to the third floor."

Qin Yan nodded.

She ate something quickly, went upstairs to wash up, and then dealt with some newspaper documents.

Around nine o'clock in the evening, there were footsteps on the stairs, and Cheng Tianxun's men left.

He went back to the master bedroom by himself.

"You came back rather late today," Cheng Tianxun said.

After they got married, Cheng Tianxun was always very busy and only spent a short time in the city each time.

Until recently, he had been in the city for almost two months.

Things I never paid attention to before, I'm starting to notice now, like what time she leaves the newspaper office to go home.

"After I saw Manyun off, I ran into Madam Lan again," Qin Yan said.

Cheng Tianxun looked at her: "Mrs. Lan?"

Qin Yan explained it to him simply.

"Why bother with her?" Cheng Tianxun said indifferently. "She might not even remember your kindness."

"It was nothing. Her adjutant carried her out of the governor's mansion. This wasn't just to give face to the Lan family, it was to keep an eye on the governor," Qin Yan said.

Cheng Tianxun seemed unsure of what to say, so he reached out and gently stroked her head, a gesture that was both a caress and a light pat.

Qin Yan added that Qin Yao had gone to her newspaper office today.

Cheng Tianxun turned to go take a shower, but stopped when he saw this.

He said, "This innocent person seems to have no sense of propriety."

"I don't have much to talk to him about. I'll tell Miss Ling that they should meet outside next time, and my newspaper won't be hosting him," Qin Yan said.

Cheng Tianxun: "Under the current circumstances, we should not get too close to Guangzhou."

"I know."

He said nothing more and went to the restroom.

Before going to bed, Cheng Tianxun told Qin Yan that he should go to the governor's residence the next evening and have dinner with the governor's wife.

"I have to leave very early the day after tomorrow to be stationed in Suzhou. I probably won't be back until the end of the year," Cheng Tianxun said.

He added, "If there's anything difficult, send someone to your mother, and she'll take care of it for you."

Qin Yan said, "Okay."

She also said, "I'll be very busy from now on; I have a special issue to publish."

Cheng Tianxun kissed her.

That night, he told Qin Yan that the new bed was indeed very sturdy and hadn't broken even after being moved around several times.

Qin Yan felt that he was struggling with the bed.

The next day the sun came out, and when I woke up early, the sunlight streamed in through the window, bright and warm.

She opened her eyes to find Cheng Tianxun sweating profusely as he entered. He had gotten up early for a training exercise, which was his routine.

"You overslept, it's eight o'clock now," he said.

Qin Yan suddenly sat up.

She wanted to go to the guest room to wash up, and Cheng Tianxun hugged her tightly.

It was an early winter morning, and he was dressed in thin clothes, covered in sweat from his training exercise, which stained Qin Yan's pajamas. He deliberately rubbed his face against hers.

Sweat rubbed against her hair.

She loves cleanliness.

Qin Yan didn't understand his actions and watched him in silence.

Cheng Tianxun: "Since it's dirty anyway, let's wash it together."

Qin Yan: "I'm going to be late."

"If it's too late, we can go in the afternoon," he said.

Before she could answer, he picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

Qin Yan: "..."

In the steamy air, he kissed her, saying that she looked so innocent and adorable when she first woke up, which aroused his desire.

He often says nonsensical things at times like these.

He doesn't usually talk about it.

Cheng Tianxun wasn't reckless. He knew what to say and what not to say in different situations. Just like a bed is for sleeping, he wouldn't eat in bed.

When their clothes were completely off, his words became much more explicit.

Qin Yan's way of dealing with him was to cup his face and kiss him to shut him up.

She couldn't stand these words; they made her feel nauseous and gave her goosebumps.

He kissed her back: "So passionate? Why don't we skip going to the newspaper office this afternoon?"

"You're having dinner with your mom tonight," Qin Yan reminded him.

Cheng Tianxun: "..."

In the middle of the morning, Qin Yan still went to the newspaper office.

Ling Manyun went to work as usual.

She brought in documents and coffee, and Qin Yan told her to close the door, then asked her, "How was yesterday?"

"He didn't go upstairs," Ling Manyun said. "His car was parked until around eight o'clock, then he left."

He added, "He has time to waste, and so do I."

"He wants to take you back?"

"Don't worry about him," Ling Manyun said. "He's not mute; he'll speak if he needs to."

Qin Yan nodded.

In the late afternoon, Cheng Tianxun came to pick up Qin Yan to go to the governor's mansion.

The warlord and his wife were both present.

The four of them were having a formal meal. The warlord was giving instructions on military affairs, and his wife chimed in with a few words; Qin Yan, to show that she knew nothing, remained silent.

After the meal, the warlord went to the outer study, leaving Qin Yan, Cheng Tianxun, and his wife to sit idly and chat about everyday matters.

"Mother, I won't be back until the end of the year," he said to the warlord's wife.

"You must be careful in everything you do. The old generals in Suzhou are all your father's men, and they may not be willing to submit to you," the warlord's wife said.

He added, "Don't rush to kill and establish your authority when you get there. Find out the details first. We'll talk about it after the New Year. Your maternal grandfather is coming to the south of the city for the New Year."

Cheng Tianxun is good.

"I'm not in Nancheng. If the Lan or Du families bully Qin Yan, please help her out," he said.

The warlord's wife looked at Qin Yan.

Qin Yan: "If needed, I will ask my mother for help."

"If you encounter any trouble, just come to me. Although I'm busy, I can still find time to take care of my daughter-in-law's affairs," said the warlord's wife.

Qin Yan thanked him.

The warlord's wife then asked her, "Have you seen anyone from the Lan family these past few days?"

Qin Yan: "I ran into Lan Zheng before, and yesterday I met Madam Lan."

The warlord's wife said, "If you don't like them, ignore them. They're the ones who need your help now, not the other way around. If you have something to say, come and talk to me."

Qin Yan said yes.

The couple left the governor's mansion.

Both of them were a bit tired, and having dinner with the warlord was a battle of wits.

The couple didn't rush upstairs; instead, they smoked, drank tea, and chatted about trivial matters downstairs.

This was the first time Cheng Tianxun discussed the defenses of the villa with Qin Yan.

"I know," Qin Yan said. "You've deployed people at the 'fortress' along this street."

Cheng Tianxun slowly took a drag of his cigarette: "You're very perceptive."

Qin Yan spent a year in the royalist party organization.

"You never mentioned it," he added.

Qin Yan: "You didn't ask me."

Cheng Tianxun's eyes darkened: "Since you know what you're doing, I won't waste any more time."

As he was about to go upstairs, Qin Yan followed behind him, calling out, "Young Marshal..."

"What's wrong?"

"You've seemed to have something on your mind all day," she said. "What are you worried about? You can just tell me directly."

Cheng Tianxun paused slightly.

After a while, he moved his feet and went upstairs, saying as he went, "It's nothing."

Qin Yan: "..."

At dawn, when the night was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, Cheng Tianxun went out.

As he went downstairs, he lit his second cigarette, his brows slightly furrowed.

The adjutant asked him, "Young Marshal, is something wrong?"

Cheng Tianxun didn't answer and got into the car.

Qin Yan asked him this question last night.

Cheng Tianxun had left the villa for his post countless times, but this was the first time he felt "uneasy." He wanted to tell Qin Yan something, but he didn't know what he should tell her.

He had no idea where his "unease" came from.

Qin Yan is skilled, clear-headed, and extremely quick-witted; most people are no match for her.

Moreover, the street where the villa is located is heavily guarded.

Cheng Tianxun had no reason to be worried. So he didn't say anything tedious.

"Young Marshal, this is a letter your wife gave to me," said Lieutenant Qian.

Cheng Tianxun reached out and took it. It was dark inside the car, so he couldn't see. "What letter?"

"I wrote her name down, 'Qin Yan.' She asked her subordinates to remind you so you wouldn't forget next time you come back. She said it was something you instructed me to do before," said Lieutenant Qian.

Cheng Tianxun: "..."