Chu Tianba rummaged through chests and cabinets, finally finding an envelope.
On the envelope was the emblem of the Celestial Sect!
“Grandpa, don’t tell me you already knew Jiang Ning?”
Chu Yunyun exclaimed in astonishment, but then she thought about it and realized that couldn’t be right.
This Jiang Ning was, at most, in his twenties.
“I don’t know Jiang Ning, but I was fortunate enough to have been looked after by his master.”
Having found it, Chu Tianba plopped down on a stool, his face filled with relief and gratitude.
Back in the day, he was just a hot-blooded young man!
He had set out from the East Sea alone, traveling the world to make his mark.
All he wanted was to rise above the rest!
Then, in the darkest moment of his life, he met an ethereal, sage-like old man who gave him an envelope.
Inside the envelope were a marriage certificate and a Jade Pendant as a token.
The old man told him that as long as he had this envelope, he would be unstoppable, no matter where he went.
If he didn’t want to accept it, it was simple: just tear up the envelope and throw away the token.
And from that point on!
Chu Tianba was unstoppable, establishing the immense Chu family!
“So, this Jiang Ning and I… we’re engaged?”
Chu Yunyun was completely floored as she read the contents of the letter.
‘What century is this?!’
‘The Qing Dynasty collapsed ages ago.’
‘Why does a prestigious family like ours, the Chu family, still have something like a marriage certificate!’
“That’s right!
Since you have this marriage agreement, and he also saved your grandfather, this must be fate!
Pick an auspicious day and get married.”
Chu Tianba said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Grandpa, I won’t marry him!”
Chu Yunyun refused on the spot, her cheeks puffed out, clearly furious.
Even though this Jiang Ning had saved Uncle Lang and her grandfather…
…a matter as important as marriage concerned her happiness for the rest of her life.
How could it be decided so casually!
Besides, they didn’t have even the slightest emotional connection.
“No!
You must go through with this marriage!”
Chu Tianba’s usual doting attitude vanished, replaced by an overbearing dominance.
The future fortune of the Chu family was at stake!
He had to be firm about this!
“Hmph!
You’re bullying me!”
Feeling wronged, Chu Yunyun cried out and ran toward her room.
Just then, Ancient Wolf approached, his face alight with excitement.
“Patriarch, Master Jiang is here.”
Ancient Wolf reported immediately.
“What?” Chu Tianba jolted and shot to his feet.
“Quickly, invite him in!”
After saying that, as if he’d just thought of something, he added, “No, I’ll go greet him myself!”
And so, the two of them headed toward the Chu family’s main gate.
「At the gate.」
Long Jiaojiao carefully straightened her appearance, then reached out with her right hand, intending to loop her arm through Jiang Ning’s.
“What are you doing?”
Jiang Ning was a little confused.
“Don’t you want to call off the engagement?
If you don’t drop some hints, I don’t think the Chu family will agree.”
Long Jiaojiao said with perfect clarity.
She was doing this for a reason, of course.
‘With such a bold hint, the Chu family wouldn’t dare try to steal my man, would they?’
“Fair point.”
Jiang Ning nodded and held out his arm.
This very scene was witnessed by Chu Tianba as he stepped out of the main gate.
His expression froze for a moment, then he slapped Ancient Wolf’s shoulder.
“Quick, go get Yunyun and bring her to my room.
Tell her a love rival has appeared.”
Although Ancient Wolf was a bit confused, he did as he was told.
He greeted Jiang Ning, then immediately turned and hurried toward Chu Yunyun’s chambers.
“Master Jiang, welcome to the Chu family.”
Chu Tianba said with great enthusiasm.
“Patriarch Chu, I’m not here as a guest today.
I’ve come to ask for a favor.”
Jiang Ning stated frankly.
“Oh?” Although Chu Tianba was puzzled, he puffed out his chest and assured him, “Master Jiang, don’t you worry.
If there’s anything I can do to help, you have but to say the word!”
Watching all this, Long Jiaojiao could barely suppress her laughter.
But in order to successfully call off the engagement, she decided to keep him in suspense.
“Grandmaster Chu, this is a favor that only you can grant.
No one else can help.”
“Master Jiang, rest assured.
Even if it means bankrupting my family, I will definitely help you.”
Chu Tianba invited the two of them inside.
Looking at the enthusiastic Chu Tianba, Jiang Ning awkwardly rubbed his nose.
After all, he was here to call off an engagement.
The more enthusiastic the other party was, the harder it was for him to bring it up.
“Then let’s head inside and talk.”
Jiang Ning decided to be a bit more tactful.
The moment they stepped inside, Long Jiaojiao tightened her grip on Jiang Ning’s arm as if to make a statement.
Her generous bust, practically bursting out, pressed fiercely against Jiang Ning’s chest.
This brought a trace of awkwardness to Chu Tianba’s face.
‘I wonder if Jiang Ning is aware he still has a marriage agreement with the Chu family.’
‘If he is…’
‘How am I supposed to bring this up?!’
“Grandpa, I told you, I won’t marry him!”
Before they even entered the reception hall, they heard Chu Yunyun’s roar.
This made Jiang Ning freeze.
Chu Tianba’s face instantly turned ice-cold.
‘That Chu Yunyun.
It’s one thing for her to act up at home, but to be so rude in front of Master Jiang!’
“Hmph!” Chu Tianba snorted coldly and pushed the door open.
“As long as I, Chu Tianba, am alive, I call the shots in this family!”
Jiang Ning and Long Jiaojiao exchanged a look, instantly understanding the situation.
“Patriarch Chu, I didn’t expect you to already know.”
Jiang Ning gave a wry smile and took out the Chu family’s copy of the marriage certificate from his clothes.
“As I thought!
You truly are his descendant!”
Chu Tianba took the certificate and compared it with the one in his hand, becoming incredibly excited.
“You two—”
Chu Yunyun had just turned around to say something when she saw Long Jiaojiao clinging tightly to Jiang Ning.
Not only was she dressed seductively, but she was also acting like she was the lady of the house.
This left a sour taste in her mouth!
As far as she knew, this Long Jiaojiao was even prouder than she was.
But now, she was nestled against Jiang Ning’s side like a little schoolgirl.
“Yunyun, I know you two have a marriage agreement, but so do we.
Since I beat you to the punch, you can just forget about it, ‘kay?”
Long Jiaojiao chuckled and produced her own marriage certificate on the spot.
Seeing the certificate, Chu Yunyun froze.
And Chu Tianba’s brow furrowed even deeper.
‘Just how many of these marriage certificates did that old man prepare for Jiang Ning?’
‘But it’s fine!’
‘Even if the Chu family isn’t the first, we’re at least the second!’
“Jiaojiao, since you and Master Jiang also have a marriage agreement, then from now on, you and Yunyun can work together to bear many children for Master Jiang!”
Chu Tianba’s words were shocking.
“What?!”
Chu Yunyun and Long Jiaojiao cried out in unison.
They were both proud, privileged young women.
Since birth, they had never had to share anything.
This was the first time they’d ever heard of something as absurd as two women serving one husband.
“Grandpa~ You can see for yourself.
Jiang Ning has Jiaojiao now, he doesn’t need me~”
Chu Yunyun whined, her voice full of grievance.
If Jiang Ning married Long Jiaojiao, wouldn’t that make her the second wife?
That was unbearable!
“Yunyun, stop this nonsense!”
Chu Tianba’s face hardened as he continued, “It’s common for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
Besides, Master Jiang is a dragon among men—what’s wrong with him having a few more women!”