Volume One, Chapter One: I Will Cancel the Engagement and Marry Someone Else!

Liang Kingdom, the capital city, Xiao Residence.

Ten coffins were neatly arranged in the courtyard.

Several women knelt over the coffins, weeping bitterly.

The autumn wind was chill, and the setting sun bled red.

The entire mansion was filled with sorrow and desolation.

Madam Xiao’s tears streamed down her cheeks, her heart torn as if by knives.

For decades, three generations of the Xiao family’s sons had marched to the battlefield, never to return.

Time and again, the elderly Madam Xiao had to bid farewell to her own children, a pain no ordinary person could bear, her body trembling as if about to collapse at any moment.

Behind her stood the widows, orphans, and solitary women of the Xiao household, all washed in tears.

“Madam, His Majesty has sent compensation funds for the family. Please accept our condolences,” the eunuch Li Zhong said sorrowfully.

In this recent war against the Xiongnu, the Xiao family’s army suffered grievous losses. General Xiao Zhantian, his three sons, and six nephews all perished—a tragedy no one had foreseen.

“Thank you, eunuch,” Madam Xiao forced herself to respond through her grief.

“We must return to the palace to report. We shall not stay long. Please take care of yourself, Madam,” Li Zhong sighed, cupping his hands and turning away.

Madam Xiao looked toward the only young man left in the household, her voice heavy with sorrow: “Tenth Young Master, you are the last male of the Xiao family. You must live well.”

Xiao Yichen nodded firmly.

He was not originally from this world. The original owner had fallen into a cultivation frenzy a year ago, his meridians shattered, his powers lost, and in despair, he took his own life. It was then that he transmigrated here.

After merging with the original owner’s memories, Xiao Yichen gained a sense of belonging to this world and grew deeply attached to the Xiao family.

The deaths of his father and nine elder brothers caused him profound grief as well.

Just then, a commotion arose outside, followed by a crowd of women flooding into the courtyard.

Upon seeing Madam Xiao, they immediately knelt.

“Madam, please help us. The compensation from the court is far too little. It’s not enough for us to live on,” the leading woman cried bitterly.

The others wept alongside her.

These were the families of the fallen Xiao soldiers. Their husbands had died in battle, and the court had only granted them three taels of silver. With no other recourse, they came seeking Madam Xiao’s help.

Madam Xiao fell silent for a moment before speaking: “Jin’e, bring out all the silver from the residence.”

Liu Jin’e wiped her tears, suppressing her sadness, and whispered, “There isn’t much silver in the house. Even if we bring it all out, it won’t be enough.”

“Mother, let’s give it for now. I’ll think of a way to make up the difference. We mustn’t let the families of our soldiers suffer,” Xiao Yichen said.

Madam Xiao nodded. “Tenth Young Master is right. Even if we live in hardship, we cannot let them suffer. Bring it all out!”

Liu Jin’e sighed. With the Madam’s command, she had no choice but to comply.

After seeing off the group of women, three other women arrived.

When they saw the neatly arranged coffins, their steps faltered, tears falling like pearls.

These were the wives yet to be married to the seventh, eighth, and ninth sons.

Their wedding dates had been set; they had planned to marry after the war, but instead, they received this dreadful news.

These three future sisters-in-law were well-known throughout the capital.

Seventh Sister-in-law Su Lingxue was born from a military family, skilled in martial arts and horsemanship. She had intended to accompany Xiao Qilang to the battlefield but was stopped by her father.

Eighth Sister-in-law Han Ziyun was a refined lady from a noble family, accomplished in both calligraphy and painting. When she became betrothed to Xiao Baluo, countless young noblemen in the capital lamented their loss.

Ninth Sister-in-law Luo Wanying was the daughter of the famed city physician Luo Yan, renowned for her exceptional medical skills and called a goddess healer. Xiao Yichen knew her best. Over the past year, he had been taking medicine prescribed by Luo Yan, delivered by Luo Wanying herself.

“You need not have come since you are not yet married,” Liu Jin’e said softly.

She liked the three women very much; they might have been her daughters-in-law, but now that was impossible.

Su Lingxue replied sadly, “We came to see the generals off on their final journey and to keep vigil for the seventh night.”

Hearing this, Liu Jin’e’s tears flowed anew.

“Begin the funeral procession!” Madam Xiao struck her cane firmly, and the women of the Xiao household lifted the coffins.

Though Liu Jin’e initially wanted the three women not to wear mourning clothes, they insisted. The three also helped carry the coffins.

Xiao Yichen, dressed in mourning attire, walked at the front, scattering joss paper as he went.

The streets on either side of the Xiao Residence were lined with citizens, who watched the funeral with heavy hearts.

“What a tragedy! I never expected General Xiao and the young generals to both fall in battle.”

“Yes, three generations of the Xiao family’s men have died on the battlefield. Such loyalty and sacrifice!”

“All the men in the General’s household have perished, leaving only widows and orphans. How will they survive?”

“Isn’t Tenth Young Master still alive?”

“What use is he? He’s a cripple now. The Xiao family is bound to decline. Such sorrow!”

“Let us also see the General off.”

Many townsfolk had prepared white headscarves, which they donned silently before following behind the Xiao funeral procession.

At first, the group was small, but as they progressed, more and more citizens joined, stretching the procession longer and longer.

In the end, the ten-li-long street was a sea of white, like a vast snowy expanse.

…

“Bow!”

In the Xiao family ancestral hall, Xiao Yichen stood at the front, leading the women of the household in a deep bow before the densely arranged spirit tablets.

The great general and nine young generals had been laid to rest, and their spirit tablets prepared.

After the ceremony, Xiao Yichen lit incense and placed it in the censer.

Then the other women followed, and finally Su Lingxue, Han Ziyun, and Luo Wanying.

When they left the hall, Xiao Yichen asked, “Mother, has the money been distributed to the families of the fallen soldiers?”

Liu Jin’e nodded. “All given. They are temporarily pacified. But once we start this, we must take responsibility until the end. The silver our household earns monthly is simply not enough.”

“Besides, there are so many mouths to feed in the household…”

Liu Jin’e could say no more, overwhelmed with worry.

Xiao Yichen pressed his lips together.

He somewhat regretted his past life. In the modern world, he worked overtime every day until he was worn to death. Now, having transmigrated as the youngest son of a general’s family, with such a status, why should he toil? Every day he lounged, healed his wounds, took walks, drank tea and wine, never thinking about earning money.

But now, scrambling to raise a large sum in a short time was no easy task.

Just then, the gates of the Xiao Residence were pushed open.

A valiant female general rode in on horseback. The doors remained open, and outside, a crowd of citizens pressed in.

“Ao Shuang, when did you return?” Xiao Yichen’s face brightened upon seeing her. It was his fiancée, Chu Ao Shuang.

A year ago, Chu Ao Shuang had followed Xiao Zhantian to battle, promising to marry along with the three sisters-in-law upon their return.

With his father and brothers all fallen, Xiao Yichen had feared for her safety. Seeing her unharmed now brought relief to his heart.

Chu Ao Shuang rode beside Xiao Yichen without dismounting, looking down at him.

She paused at the sight of his mourning clothes, then said, “Xiao Yichen, I’ve fallen in love with someone else. I want to break our engagement and marry another!”