Xiao Moye had never seen a woman wail like a child before.
Women in the capital never cried to their heart’s content. They wept with delicate restraint, tears pearling on their cheeks like rain-kissed blossoms, as if even while crying they were considering how to look beautiful, how to cry in a way that would achieve their purpose.
Not like Ye Xiaojin’s crying—unrestrained, yet making it seem as if heaven and earth itself should grieve alongside her, shrill and despairing.
Ye Hong was startled by his granddaughter’s crying, his voice trembling as he said, “Don’t cry, Xiaobao, don’t cry. Grandfather will right your wrongs. Don’t cry—it breaks my heart to see you like this…”
His Xiaobao must have suffered such great injustice. In all these years, when had she ever cried so sorrowfully? Even back then…
At the thought, Ye Hong shot a fierce glare at Xiao Moye.
Then, turning back to Ye Xiaojin, he spoke in a gentle, soothing tone, “Don’t be afraid. Grandfather is here. If this brat has bullied you, I’ll stake my very life to seek justice for you.”
Xiao Moye: “…”
His indignation and grievance had nowhere to rest.
Hearing these words, Ye Xiaojin finally stopped crying and said between sobs, “He didn’t bully me… um… I… um… drugged him.”
This time, it was Ye Hong’s turn to be speechless.
After a moment of shock, he asked cautiously, “Then why are you crying so bitterly?”
“I…” She opened her swollen eyes but couldn’t speak for a long while. She couldn’t say that the old man before her looked exactly like her grandfather, allowing her to see her lost loved one once more. Nor could she say that from the original owner’s memories, she had learned that the old man before her didn’t have long to live.
The grief of having lost him before, the endless longing and regret, the joy of having him back, and the despair of losing him again.
Just as she was immersed in sorrow and despair, a sharp beep suddenly sounded in her mind, and a black screen appeared before her eyes.
On it, words scrolled across like bullet-chat: “Ye Hong, male, sixty-one, remaining HP: five days.”
Ye Xiaojin stared at the white words on the black screen. She understood every character individually, but couldn’t comprehend what they meant together.
Grandfather only had five days left to live?
“That’s correct. Ye Hong has five days until death.” The screen seemed able to read her thoughts.
“Then who are you? How do you know what I’m thinking?” Ye Xiaojin was startled.
“I am the System that the Host has signed with—Xiao Mu.”
Signed with a system? She didn’t remember signing any contract with any system. What was going on?
“Host, whether you remember those things doesn’t matter. What matters is—do you want to extend Ye Hong’s life?”
“How do I extend it?” Ye Xiaojin hastily asked through her thoughts.
“Complete the System’s assigned mission: marry within three days. The System will reward three hundred Points. Points can be exchanged for HP. One Point can exchange for one day of life for Ye Hong, up until Ye Hong reaches one hundred years of age. Additionally, Points will be awarded based on the Host’s daily performance. The System will also periodically release side missions. Upon completing them, the Host can obtain varying amounts of Points or additional rewards based on the difficulty of the mission.”
Ye Xiaojin: “…”
The reward was tempting—it struck her Achilles’ heel. Grandfather was her Achilles’ heel.
Though the name was different, in her heart she was certain that Ye Hong was her grandfather from her previous life.
But she had just sworn to Xiao Moye that she would never marry into the Zhennan Prince’s Manor. The slap to her face had come far too quickly.
Within three days, aside from Xiao Moye, she had no other choice.
“Grandfather, you’re not well. Let me help you back to your room first, and we can talk there.” She looked at Ye Hong, who seemed unsteady on his feet.
“Fine, let’s talk inside.” He truly couldn’t hold on much longer, then turned to Xiao Moye and said, “You come too.”
Xiao Moye said nothing, following the two of them into Ye Hong’s room.
After helping Ye Hong to a chair and settling him down, she poured a cup of hot water for both him and Xiao Moye.
Ye Xiaojin was pondering how to broach the subject when Ye Hong’s voice rang out, “Xiaobao was wrong to administer the drug, and it’s my failure to have taught her properly. I am deeply ashamed. But your grandfather has already agreed to her marrying into your Zhennan Prince’s Manor. Now that her purity has been given to you, you must take responsibility.”
Though the old man had long shed his official titles, he was still a seasoned general of many years on the battlefield, his presence and authority intact. His gaze burned into Xiao Moye like a torch. His words spoke of shame, but his expression was cold and murderous, as if the moment Xiao Moye uttered a refusal, he would cut him down on the spot.
Xiao Moye wanted to say something but ultimately found no words.
The Zhennan Prince’s Manor had only two sons. Since the grandfather had agreed to this marriage, it had to be honored. Now that he and Ye Xiaojin had been intimate, there was no way he could let her marry his elder brother instead.
His brilliant and mighty elder brother—the Youth General who had earned his title through his own battlefield merits—how could someone like Ye Xiaojin ever be worthy of him?
Xiao Moye suppressed the burning rage beneath his eyes, clenched his fists, and ground his teeth in silent frustration.
He was just about to accept this scourge Ye Xiaojin to keep her from defiling his brother when a female voice cut in first, “Grandfather, he said he would marry me. Three days from now, we will hold the wedding here.”
Xiao Moye’s gaze turned icy. Sure enough, this woman had been putting on an act just now. How laughable—he had actually thought her weeping seemed genuine, unlike the women of the capital, and had considered giving her some measure of trust.
Moments ago, she had sworn a vow never to beg for marriage. Now she was demanding the wedding be held in three days.
Ha. How utterly desperate was she?
Xiao Moye looked at Ye Xiaojin, his face betraying undisguised disgust. Yet he knew this marriage could not be avoided, so he said coldly, “A wedding in three days is rushed. I’m afraid we cannot follow proper ceremonial protocol—only a simple rite will be possible. I hope Miss Ye will be understanding.”
A woman as hypocritical and two-faced as her did not deserve a grand wedding.
Ye Xiaojin felt her face burn with shame but steeled herself and said, “I understand. A gentleman’s word is his bond. Come on time in three days.”
Though a wedding in three days was hasty, the principle that delays breed complications was carved deep into Ye Hong’s bones after decades on the battlefield. His body was barely holding on now, and he couldn’t last many more days. If he didn’t settle this matter properly, he would die with regrets.
His heart ached too—his precious treasure, raised like the apple of his eye, was about to become another family’s wife, another family’s daughter-in-law, and under such hurried and simple circumstances at that.
Ye Hong was old and shrewd—how could he not see the tension passing between the two young people?
But given what his granddaughter had done, obtaining this outcome was already no small feat.
They would take things slowly. Both were good children. Given time together, they would come to appreciate each other’s merits.
He found an excuse to send Ye Xiaojin away.
Ye Hong sat face to face with Xiao Moye. Taking a sip of water, he said earnestly, “You’re a good child. I know you’ve been wronged in this matter. My coercing your grandfather into letting Xiaobao into your family—that was despicable of me.
But my little Xiaobao is truly a good girl. She merely made a mistake in a moment of confusion. When you take her as your wife in the future, please treat her well, alright?” By the end, his words carried a hint of pleading.
Xiao Moye remained silent, his face revealing nothing.
Yet in his heart, he despised Ye Xiaojin for tarnishing the Ye family’s integrity, forcing Elder General Ye to bend his spine for her sake and humble himself before a younger generation.
Ye Hong was not offended and continued, “Xiaobao is to marry in three days. It is probably because of my health. After I die, take her back to the capital. I hope you will formally marry her into the Zhennan Prince’s Manor as your Heir Apparent’s consort with the three letters and six rites. On your wedding day, if you are willing, light a stick of incense facing the direction of Shuiwan Village to let this old man know.”
“Grandfather Ye, you…” Xiao Moye finally reacted.
Yesterday he had noticed Ye Hong’s poor complexion and assumed it was merely due to the harsh rural life. But hearing these words today, he could not help but take his pulse. The moment his fingers touched it, Xiao Moye’s expression turned grave.
This battle hero, whose body had once been as tough as iron and bronze, now had a pulse like a lamp running out of oil.
For a moment, Xiao Moye’s emotions were complex. He harbored resentment toward Ye Hong for using past favors to coerce the Zhennan Prince’s Manor into accepting Ye Xiaojin, yet he also felt a pang of sorrow for this aging old general. For a moment, he did not know what sentiment he should hold toward him.
It seemed he suddenly understood why Ye Hong had demanded that Ye Xiaojin marry into the Zhennan Prince’s Manor—he had to find her a refuge before he died.
He must be mad, his mind clouded, for amid the old man’s leveraging of past favors, he saw a blazing, fervent grandfatherly love—where fame, power, and pride all mattered less than the safety and happiness of the one dearest to his heart.
His resentment dissolved, and he said sincerely, “I will send word to have Elder Guo come examine you. His medical skills are superb; perhaps the situation is not so dire.”
Ye Hong shook his head and insisted, “Promise me first.”
Xiao Moye knew this was tantamount to a dying man entrusting his last wishes. Looking at this elder who was like a grandfather to him, the words of refusal would not leave his lips. “Very well, I promise you. When I return to the capital, I will formally marry her with the three letters and six rites and treat her well in marriage.”
Ye Hong slowly leaned back into his chair. With those words, he was at ease. He trusted the character of the Xiao men—they always kept their word.
But he still mustered a breath and said firmly, “I hope you remember today’s promise. If you ever harm her in the slightest, even if these old bones are gone, there will still be those who seek justice for her.”