Ah, the second male lead appears.

Minister Zhu's residence

At the end of the first volume of"the Emperor's cunning bride," the male lead and female lead killed the entire Zhu family and were crowned the Emperor and Empress. The first volume ended with Lu Yaozhu's sudden invasion of northern Wei.

Although Su Liya could not pinpoint what changed the plot, the prospect of the plot change gave her much hope. It showed that their future wasn't yet set in stone, she could still change everything. 

If she prevented Zhu Fengyin from marrying the sixth prince, she could prevent her from going down the path of destruction. The same goes for her character Su Liya, if she could avoid Zhu Faye and their complicated relationship maybe she wouldn't end up the way the original Su Liya did in the novel.

Su Liya dropped the hairpins into the jewellery box and shut the lid. Zhu Fengyin had her back turned to Su Liya as she put on her outer jacket.

Su Liya walked to the small wooden cupboard opposite the dressing table and returned the jewellery box to its usual spot in the cupboard. As she did Su Liya silently contemplated if she should bring Zhu Faye's early return to the light. 

However, Zhu Fengyin beat her to that "Liya isn't the third brother back earlier than expected. In my past life, he came back after the Emperor's banquet"

Su Liya shut the cupboard door and turned around "That's what I thought too… I don't know why he is back early but the change in the plot is not necessarily a bad thing"

Zhu Fengyin stepped away from the hanger and sat on the bed "how do you mean?"

Su Liya looked around to make sure no one eavesdropped on their conversation. Since Tian Tian was due back anytime soon, Su Liya walked to the bed and sat next to Zhu Fengyin "Scoot over" she whispered.

Zhu Fengyin shook her head, moved to the side and made more space for her. "Here you go, is that enough space or do you need more space," she said sarcastically.

Su Liya rolled her eyes and replied "Ha Ha very funny! We don't have much time, Tian Tian will be here soon".

Zhu Fengyin smiled and rubbed her nose gently.

"You look a little scared Liya, which is weird since I am the one that should be that scared since I am the one that got killed. You are safe since Su Liya and my third brother had an ambiguous relationship"

"An ambiguous relationship… please these three words should not be used with Su Liya and Zhu Faye in the same context"

"Why?" Zhu Fengyin asked eyebrows raised. 

"Those two had a doomed relationship, hmph if you can even call whatever those two had a relationship."

"Huh that's odd, didn't the two of them get married and had a child?"

"They did but how long would a relationship as toxic as theirs last.  At her highest time of glory, Su Liya was killed by Zhu Faye"

Zhu Fengyin sat there agape, she tried to make sense of everything Su Liya said. The more she thought of everything, the more it all made sense to her. 

How could she forget the kind of person her elder brother was? Zhu Fengyin was as heartless as her father, how could she expect anything more from a power-hungry man like him.

Her death back then was of her own doing, she let her guard down. That was the only way She ended up the way she did. She forgot the two rules of survival in the Zhu Family "Never let your guard down or you would die" and 'power begets power".

Zhu Fengyin sighed "We have to be careful around the third brother."

Su Liya nodded"To beat a master manipulator like him, we have to make sure we have all the cards on our table. Starting with the sixth Prince" 

*******

On the day of the banquet.

Members of the noble families all stepped out in grand style to attend the Emperor's banquet. Carriage after carriage rode into the palace, as various high ranking families attended in mass.

The banquet was to celebrate thirty years of the Emperor's rule. It was a major event of the year that a lot of foreign dignitaries were invited. 

The Zhu family arrived at the events in two carriages, Minister Zhu and madam Zhu were both seated in the carriage in front while the young mistresses were in the second carriage. 

The carriages were allowed in order of seniority, carriages belonging to members of the royal family and high titles families such as Dukes, earl's and viscounts were allowed inside before everyone else.

The Zhu family were titled Earls but since minister Zhu wasn't from the primary line of the family but the fifth son of the family he was only a mare Lord. They had to wait until it was their turn.  

A short while later it got to its turn, the carriage moved forward and came to a stop at the gate. Two servants rushed down from the carriage, brought down a step each and placed it at the foot of each carriage.

Minister Zhu came down first, hr stretch out his hands and helped Madam Zhu down the steps. Minister Zhu and madam Zhu put on the pretence of a loving couple for the public to see but privately were always in discord.

After the couple were out their daughters followed them closely. Zhu Fei'er who was closest to the door came down first. Servants were not allowed to ride with the family so Su Liya and the other maids followed the carriage on foot.

Su Liya a modern time day who even though was used to the hard life, had a difficult time getting accustomed to life in ancient times. Su Liya cursed the heavenly empress and the author of the book dizzy scholar all through the trip. 

"Ahh! My legs are on fire. Why Why Why did she have to name a cannon fodder Su Liya and then make her a maid! Living in these ancient times as a maid was pure torture!", Su Liya thought as she stood by the step and helped Zhu Fengyin come down.

Zhu Fenfang was the last to come down and like all white lotus female leads out there she made sure to slip down the step. As she fell Zhu Fenfeng was caught by a tall lanky male dressed in black.  

Su Liya rolled her eyes when she saw who caught the tumbling female lead.

"wow like every idol drama out there, dizzy scholar never disappoints," Su Liya said watching as the female fell into Lu Yaozhu's arms. "Ah, the second male lead finally appears"