Volume One, Chapter 14: A Done Deal

Xiao Residence.

The dim candlelight illuminated two figures in the room.

Xiao Yichen swallowed nervously. “Su… Miss Su, you’re not really planning to consummate our marriage tonight, are you?”

He was still somewhat dazed. He had been sound asleep when his mother woke him and sent him to the main hall, where he learned that his three sisters-in-law, who had not yet formally joined the family, had arrived.

What baffled him even more was that all three insisted on holding the wedding ceremony that very night.

Despite objections from the Xiao family, who thought it too hasty, Luo Wanying was reasonable enough, but Su Lingxue and Han Ziyun insisted that the longer they delayed, the more complications could arise—they adamantly demanded the wedding be that night. There was no choice but to comply.

Having a triple wedding ceremony with three women at once was unprecedented, even in these times.

After the ceremony, Su Lingxue was eager to seal their union immediately.

Xiao Yichen was speechless—this was incredibly bold; what had provoked such fierce resolve?

Fortunately, Han Ziyun was more reserved and did not suggest consummation, and Luo Wanying, feeling shy, ceded the night to Su Lingxue.

“I’m your wife now, so no more calling me Miss Su.”

“That doesn’t count,” Xiao Yichen replied. “There were no witnesses, no wedding banquet—no one knows you’re my wife.”

“On the day Chu Aoshang called off the engagement, I declared in front of all those townspeople that I would marry you. Those people can testify. Are you thinking of going back on your word?”

Xiao Yichen hurriedly shook his head.

“Since you’re not reneging, then I, Su Lingxue, am your wife. The entire Xiao family witnessed it—no one can deny it.”

As she spoke, Su Lingxue blew out the candle and began to undress.

Moonlight spilled in, casting a sensuous glow over the room.

Xiao Yichen’s breath quickened, especially when he saw Su Lingxue’s long, flawless legs—he nearly had a nosebleed.

Those exquisite legs!

Likely due to her martial training, there was not a trace of excess flesh.

Straight and slender, the contours flowed like a meticulously sculpted work of art.

Her calves were firm, her thighs full, the proportions perfect, radiating a natural, effortless beauty.

In modern terms, those legs could keep a man enchanted for a year.

At this moment, Su Lingxue finally showed a shy, feminine side, no longer so bold and brash. Feeling Xiao Yichen’s burning gaze made her heart flutter wildly.

Yet, as a warrior woman, she refused to back down in any situation.

With a rip, she tore his clothes apart, fixing him with a steady look.

Who says women are weaker than men?

You look, I look.

“Ugly,” she muttered.

Xiao Yichen laughed in disbelief. “Ugly? This brings you unimaginable pleasure.”

Now that they were in this state, Xiao Yichen stopped being coy and wrapped his arm around Su Lingxue’s waist, rolling them onto the bed.

---

Soon, Xiao Yichen’s voice sounded.

“My wife, slow down—your husband’s body is weak.”

“Aren’t you tired...?”

“Let’s rest a moment.”

Though he pleaded, there was an unmistakable joy in his tone.

Truly, a young beauty’s body is soft as silk; wielding a sword at her waist, she cuts down fools—not by beheading, but by sapping their very marrow in secret.

After their passionate encounter, Su Lingxue lay nestled in Xiao Yichen’s arms, her cheeks still flushed.

Xiao Yichen stroked her long hair, exhausted. “Ugly now?”

Su Lingxue huffed proudly, saying nothing, but a certain restlessness stirred within her.

Xiao Yichen was startled. Not again!

...

When the sun was high, Xiao Yichen slowly woke.

His back ached, his waist sore; he bitterly smiled to himself—his inner energy was still disrupted, his meridians tangled, and his body weakened.

Of course, Su Lingxue’s vigor was also to blame.

As a martial general, she was strong from long training. He felt that until his cultivation recovered, he wouldn’t be able to hold her back.

Su Lingxue was nowhere to be found in bed; she had already risen and was practicing martial forms in the courtyard.

Xiao Yichen marveled at her boundless energy—after a night of exertion, she still had the strength to train at dawn.

“You’re awake,” Su Lingxue called as she returned indoors.

Xiao Yichen washed up and glanced at the bed, noticing a faint crimson stain spread across the sheets like plum blossoms.

Su Lingxue looked too, recalling the wildness of last night, her usually carefree demeanor tinged with embarrassment.

“Shilang, I have something to tell you,” she said, composed.

“The deaths of General Xiao and the others may be suspicious.”

Xiao Yichen paused. “Do you know something?”

She shook her head. “When I told my father I wanted to marry you, he opposed it fiercely, saying my marriage would bring disaster upon the Su family. If I didn’t listen, he said I was no longer his daughter.”

“Ziyun was also confined by her father—it’s too coincidental. I think there’s trouble. Has the Xiao family offended a powerful figure?”

Xiao Yichen frowned. His father was a grand general, already highly respected among the martial elite. Aside from a few princes, who else could be a great figure to challenge the Xiao family?

His eyes darkened. Could the deaths of his father and brothers have been plotted by some prince?

Unfortunately, his cultivation had not yet recovered; otherwise, he would have gone to the border to investigate.

He took Su Lingxue’s hand. “So you all came last night to marry me in order to make it official.”

Su Lingxue nodded. “Since we promised to marry you, we intend to follow through.”

“From today onward, I will protect you closely. Anyone who harms you will have to get past me first.”

Hearing her words, Xiao Yichen was moved. Since the decline of the Xiao family, many had struck when they were down. Only these three women had come to his aid.

“Lingxue, I, Xiao Yichen, will never fail you in this life.”

“Heh, you wouldn’t dare,” Su Lingxue said proudly. Back when he was Seventh Brother, he wasn’t a match for her, and now, without his cultivation, he was even less so.

If he dared betray her, she’d castrate him without hesitation.

Afterwards, the two paid respects to Grandmother Xiao and Liu Jine, then had breakfast with the family.

Afterward, Han Ziyun and Luo Wanying pulled Su Lingxue aside for a whispered conversation, while Xiao Yichen stepped outside.

He needed to gather some funds. Though Chu’s family would soon return the betrothal gifts, he preferred to be prepared.

...

By the riverside pavilion, Mu Yueli was already waiting.

Seeing Xiao Yichen approach, she smiled. “Brother Xiao, you sent word yesterday to meet me today. Is there something urgent?”

Xiao Yichen smiled. “I have a business opportunity and want to invite Brother Wang to join me in profit.”

“What kind of business?”

Xiao Yichen outlined his plan. “Brother Wang, this venture is guaranteed to profit. If you invest now, when we earn, I’ll share the dividends. How about a 70-30 split—70 for me, 30 for you?”

Mu Yueli calmly replied, “You’re short on money, so you came to me.”

Caught, Xiao Yichen was unabashed. “Will you invest or not?”

“You just reclaimed the betrothal gifts from the Chu family. Why are you so short on funds?”

Xiao Yichen didn’t mention that he had already distributed much of the money to the families of fallen soldiers. Besides, part of the betrothal gift would only arrive in over ten days.

Mu Yueli asked the exact date, then paused, surprised. That was the day Fu Chenxing and Chu Aoshang were to marry.

She had planned to present Fu Chenxing’s title then as a wedding gift.

Now it seemed these two intended to embarrass Xiao Yichen, which displeased her.

She admired Xiao Yichen and, as a descendant of loyal ministers, could not stand to see him bullied. She resolved to support him.

Pulling back her thoughts, she asked, “How much do you need?”

“One hundred thousand taels.”

“That much!” Mu Yueli gasped.

Xiao Yichen said, “Brother Wang, don’t pretend. You’re clearly a rich heir in the capital. Just look at your clothes—they’re valuable. Is one hundred thousand really so much to you?”

Mu Yueli felt embarrassed. The Liang Kingdom’s finances were strained; she had already used her personal funds and was constantly anxious about money.

Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Yichen sighed, realizing he wouldn’t secure full funding here.

Just as he was about to let her off the hook, Mu Yueli bit her lip. “I can offer you fifty thousand at most. If you really make a profit, I want twenty percent. If we lose…”

“Don’t worry, we won’t lose. If we do, I’ll sell everything to repay you—whenever you want,” Xiao Yichen interrupted.

“Tomorrow. I’ll have someone deliver it to your residence then.”

Xiao Yichen stood and patted Mu Yueli’s shoulder.

“I knew you were a man of your word, Brother Wang. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Xiao Yichen departed, unaware that outside the pavilion, Mu Yueli’s elite guards were ready to draw their swords.