Volume One, Chapter Three: I’m Officially Backing Out of This Marriage!
As the three women declared their intention to marry Xiao Yichen, everyone was stunned. The common folk outside buzzed with gossip.
“General Su, the talented Miss Han, and Doctor Luo—they’re really going to marry that useless Xiao Yichen? It’s absurd.”
“Incredible. I’ve never seen anything so against reason in my life.”
“Each of those three women is renowned in the capital. How could they make such a decision? Once word spreads, it’ll cause an uproar.”
“First one left, now three have come. Xiao Yichen is already a wreck, yet he still attracts such good fortune.”
“Envious!”
“...”
It was truly hard to accept.
If Xiao Yichen were still the man he used to be, no one would question it; in fact, they’d think it fitting.
But now, he was ruined.
They just couldn’t understand why the three women would make such a choice.
Chu Aoshang was momentarily taken aback before sneering.
“Who are you three trying to fool? Who would believe you’d marry this waste?”
“And you, Xiao Yichen, thinking you can make me jealous and get me back with such tactics—how laughable.”
“Don’t waste your effort. I’m officially calling off the engagement!”
“Pretending?”
“Who told you we’re pretending? The three of us marrying the Tenth Young Master is sworn by the sun and moon, witnessed by heaven and earth!”
Han Ziyun spoke coldly. As a refined young lady from a prominent family, she found Chu Aoshang utterly outrageous.
This was like rubbing salt into the Xiao family’s wounds.
Riding up on horseback to bully a group of widows and women was truly unworthy of a general.
Chu Aoshang’s expression darkened. She had just claimed no one would marry into the Xiao family, and now the three women had come to contradict her.
Mounted on her horse, she cast a cold glance and scoffed.
“This waste you all are fighting over is the one I rejected. How strange.”
“Could it be you think no one else would have you, so you’re interested in this good-for-nothing?”
“If you insist on marrying him, I’ll be waiting to see how you endure a bitter life with this waste. Don’t come crying later.”
Her tone grew colder, dripping with disdain.
“Chu Aoshang, shut up!” Xiao Yichen’s voice was hard as steel.
He never expected that after a year away, Chu Aoshang would change so much—so arrogant and venomous.
She was a completely different person from the one he remembered.
“My father and brother’s bodies are barely cold, and yet you come here to humiliate us? Do you have no conscience?”
“You made mistakes in the army before. If not for my father protecting you, you’d have been punished long ago and wouldn’t have become a general.”
Chu Aoshang snorted lightly. “Your father protected me?”
“Hmph, that’s because he knew I wasn’t the one at fault. I’ve served for many years; how could I have made a mistake?”
“Even without your father, I could have become a general.”
“Your father saw my potential and befriended me early, so the Xiao family would have a powerful ally.”
“You...” Xiao Yichen was caught off guard by her shameless logic.
My father, a grand general, needs you as a crutch?
He didn’t want to waste more words on her and took a deep breath.
“If you’re so determined, I’ll let you have your way. Return the money your Chu family spent on me over the last year, as well as the betrothal gifts. Then we’re even.”
Hearing Xiao Yichen mention money, Chu Aoshang sneered.
“Xiao Yichen, don’t waste your schemes. I know you don’t truly want the money. You just want to use it as an excuse to tie me down, right?”
“It’s useless to tell you this—the mountain pheasant could never match the phoenix. Chen Xing has already petitioned the Emperor to marry me, and the Emperor has agreed.”
“So our marriage is settled. No one can stop it.”
“As for the debt, once my military rewards arrive, I will repay you. That’s all I have to say. I hope you won’t bother me anymore to avoid misunderstandings with Chen Xing.”
With that, Chu Aoshang turned her horse and rode away.
...
Inside the hall.
“Cough, cough...” Xiao Yichen coughed several times.
“Tenth Young Master, are you alright?” Luo Wanying patted his back to help him clear his lungs.
“I’m fine,” Xiao Yichen waved off her concern.
“You haven’t taken your medicine all day, have you?”
He nodded.
“Go take your medicine first.”
After taking it, he felt much better. Luo Yan had prescribed him treatments to reconnect and nourish his meridians. After a year of medication, his internal channels were much smoother.
Xiao Yichen sensed his cultivation still lingered. Once all the meridians were restored, his strength might return.
He had wanted to surprise Chu Aoshang with this news upon her return.
Now, that was unnecessary. Her attitude disgusted him.
Seeing Xiao Yichen’s complexion improve, the Xiao family members breathed a sigh of relief.
He was the only male heir left; nothing else could go wrong.
Xiao Yichen looked at the three women who had yet to become his wives.
Gratitude softened his expression. “Miss Su, Miss Han, Miss Luo, thank you for what you did just now.”
Su Lingxue replied, “We’re family. No thanks needed.”
Luo Wanying’s face was full of resentment.
“The Chu family is truly outrageous. Not a single person came to the funeral. The generals were barely buried when Chu Aoshang came to cause trouble.”
“It’s better to be rid of such a person. I’ll tell my father not to treat the Chus anymore.”
Han Ziyun agreed, “She’s only so brazen because she thinks the Xiao family is easy to bully. If the grand general were still alive, try telling her to call off the engagement.”
The Xiao women, already grieving, felt even more sorrowful after Chu Aoshang’s disturbance.
The matriarch sighed. “A lady’s reputation is paramount. You three foolish girls, how could you say such things just now?”
“If you could come to see them off one last time, I would be grateful.”
“Jin’e, go speak with the common folk now. Tell them not to believe what was said earlier. They are pure and innocent. Stop the gossip.”
Liu Jin’e nodded and prepared to leave.
Su Lingxue quickly interjected, “Matriarch, we are serious. The Xiao family is full of loyal and brave men. We all admire them greatly.”
“Though the seventh, eighth, and ninth brothers are gone, the tenth brother remains.”
“The three of us are willing to marry into the Xiao family, to continue the lineage.”
“I am sure the seventh brother and the others would support our decision from beyond.”
Han Ziyun and Luo Wanying nodded in agreement.
The Xiao women were stunned. They had thought the three women were only supporting the tenth brother for appearances, but it was truly their intent.
Xiao Yichen inwardly thought, Damn, they really want to marry me. His expression was complex.
He had no heart for romance now; he only cared about money.
He was the sole male heir of the Xiao family and had to rise to the occasion.
With so many mouths to feed and money already spent, he needed to earn quickly—earn big.
The fastest way was to confront the Chu family.
Breaking off the engagement was an option.
He had no desire to entangle himself with such a mercenary woman.
Before leaving, Chu Aoshang only mentioned the debt, never the betrothal gifts.
It was clear she didn’t intend to pay.
Compared to the debt, the betrothal gifts were the bigger sum.
That money had to be recovered!
...
This time, the Xiao family’s troops fought alongside the general’s forces and were almost completely wiped out.
The court’s relief funds were insufficient. Many families lost their pillars of strength.
Orphans, widows, the elderly, and women all needed care.
Since the general’s house was involved, it had to bear responsibility.
Moreover, the Xiao family’s female dependents meant daily expenses were considerable.
Xiao Yichen had lived a laid-back life before, borrowing money from Liu Jin’e when needed. Only now did he realize how difficult it was for his mother to manage the family.
Now, as the only male heir, he felt the responsibility keenly.
Previously, his father and brothers shielded him from hardship and money worries.
Now, with them gone, the Xiao family faced dire straits.
He could no longer afford to be idle. As a transmigrator, it was time to do something to impress the world.