“Ruan, you should know that my heart belongs only to Miss Jiang.”
“As for you, despite all your schemes—not even hesitating to conspire with my mother to use such despicable means to force me to marry you—so what?
Even if the Emperor’s decree of marriage is hanging over me, I will not touch you once. From now on, you will behave yourself and act as nothing more than a decoration.”
“…”
One second, Ruan Nanxi had dropped dead from working overtime; the next, she had transmigrated into ancient times as a bride. It seemed she had transmigrated into a book, specifically as the nominal wife of a devoted male supporting character in a brainless, sweet-petting novel where everyone was obsessed with the female lead.
Because of her jealousy toward the female lead, the original character had sought her own death in various ways, eventually being thrown into a fire and burned to ashes.
Ruan Nanxi trembled.
She secretly peeked up at the “cheap” husband across from her, whose tone was incredibly cold and harsh.
Hiss, what a handsome, top-tier youth!
Too bad the look he gave her was as if he wanted to skin her alive.
Ruan Nanxi sighed in despair. Ugh! What kind of luck is this? It was bad enough working overtime every day in my last life, but even after dying and joining the transmigration army, I’m still just cannon fodder!
Before her despair could last a second longer, the man opposite her suddenly turned around and picked up a large chest from the floor. With his face still cold, he said stiffly:
“As compensation, all the money and properties under my name will belong to you from now on.”
Huh?
Ruan Nanxi was instantly revived. Her eyes uncontrollably drifted toward that plain-looking wooden chest.
Under her gaze, Xiao Ye opened the chest and began pulling things out.
“These are the property deeds for eighteen shops on the capital’s East Main Street. These are the land deeds for four estates in the suburbs. There are also two hot spring manors in Yongzhou, four orchards, and several residences in the capital… These are last year’s account books; the total revenue last year was fifteen thousand two hundred taels.”
After saying that, he pulled a wooden box from the bottom of the chest, which was filled with silver notes.
“These are my savings from the past few years, roughly forty thousand taels.
As for my salary, I am a Yunhui General of the Deputy Third Rank, personally appointed by His Majesty. Combined with my position as the Commander-in-Chief of the Infantry and my status as the heir to the Duke of Jin, it all adds up to a monthly salary of five hundred taels.
I will keep one hundred taels for my daily expenses, and the rest will go to you.”
“There are also a dozen chests of spoils brought back from the border in the storehouse—some furs, jewelry, gemstones, and spices. If you like them, take them all.”
Ruan Nanxi’s mind raced through the calculations. In ancient times, one tael of silver was roughly equivalent to 288 yuan. 400 × 12 = 4,800. 15,200 + 4,800 = 20,000. 288 × 20,000 = 5.76 million!
Ruan Nanxi clenched her hands in excitement. Heavens, I’ve suddenly come into tens of millions in cash plus a dozen chests of luxury goods!
Also, that meant she wouldn’t have to work herself to death at an 8 AM job every day, wouldn’t have to deal with weird clients, and wouldn’t even have to serve this dog of a man. She just had to lie back, be an obedient decoration, and over five million in cash would flow in every year!
Wow! What kind of divine life is this!
Beside her ear, Xiao Ye was still coldly warning her:
“…From now on, just stay quietly as the Madam of the Duke’s Mansion. Don’t harbor any delusions you shouldn’t have, and absolutely do not bully Miss Jiang.
Otherwise, while I don’t hit women, I won’t let you off easily either!”
To be honest, Xiao Ye’s gaze was truly terrifying, but Ruan Nanxi wasn’t afraid at all now. She patted her chest and nodded heavily.
“Mm-hmm, don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ll definitely be quiet and obedient.”
As long as the money was right, forget being a decoration—she’d even serve the white moonlight during her postpartum confinement without a problem.
Because she was too happy, she couldn’t control herself and let out a laugh.
However, in Xiao Ye’s eyes, that laugh was nothing but pure mockery. His body tensed up instantly.
“What are you laughing at?”
At the same time, his heart was filled with extreme loathing. He had never detested a woman so much.
It was truly because Ruan Nanxi had used every ounce of strength and every scheme imaginable just to marry him.
First, she had conspired with his mother to drug him at a banquet. Even though he had resisted the drug and hadn’t touched a single hair on her head, this woman had spread rumors everywhere, trying to use public opinion to force him to marry her.
His father had whipped him until his skin was flayed and his flesh was torn, yet he still hadn’t compromised.
Later, the matter somehow reached the Emperor’s ears, and the Emperor decreed their marriage.
Ruoyu said that Ruan Nanxi had gone to such lengths to marry him only because she craved the wealth and glory of the Duke’s Mansion.
In that case, he would simply fulfill her wish. After all, no matter how much he detested her, the fact that they were married was already a reality. Regardless of everything else, as her husband, Ruan Nanxi was now his responsibility. Giving her this money was no loss to him.
He felt he had done more than enough. What else did this woman want?
Ruan Nanxi, completely unaware of his thoughts, saw Xiao Ye’s expression turn even uglier and her heart skipped a beat.
Deducing from the original plot and Xiao Ye’s words, the original host was likely madly in love with Xiao Ye. Unfortunately, it was a one-sided affair.
Her current behavior was clearly out of character!
If Xiao Ye realized this body had a new soul, forget getting her hands on tens of millions in assets—she might be burned to death as an evil spirit.
She quickly pulled her lips into a straight line and tried very hard to look heartbroken.
“I… pfft, hahaha…”
Alas, her acting skills weren’t enough. She didn’t have the ability of the female leads or supporting characters in palace drama novels to change their faces in a second. She squeezed her eyes for a long time, but not only did no tears come out, she almost burst out laughing again.
Seeing the youth opposite her clenching his fists until they cracked—looking like he was about to lose his temper—Ruan Nanxi got anxious. She could only frantically brainwash herself in her mind:
【Sob sob, I’m so sad I could die! On my wedding night, the person I love most is actually so heartless to me! I don’t want money; I just want lots and lots of love!】
Xiao Ye, who had reached his limit and had secretly decided that if this woman went crazy and made a scene, he would divorce her even at the risk of defying a decree and losing his official post, suddenly froze.
He stared fixedly at the girl’s unmoving lips and shocked, dug at his ear.
What was going on? He was hearing Ruan Nanxi’s inner voice!
Before he could think deeper, the voices in his ear rang out one after another, each more explosive than the last:
【I’m really in so much pain! That day, I caught a glimpse of him from afar on the street, and from then on, he lived in my heart and I couldn’t get him out! I’m crazy for him, I’m wild for him, I’d bang my head against a wall for him! As long as I can be near him, I’m willing to be crushed to pieces!】
Xiao Ye: “??”
【Even though every word he says stabs me in the heart, I’m still so happy. He’s finally talking to me! I want to learn how to make lip rouge and then give it to him secretly. That way, when he kisses his beloved, it’ll be like I’m participating too.】
【Just thinking about my name being on the same household register as his makes me so happy I could faint!】
【Really, I’m crying to death. How can I love him this much?】
Xiao Ye’s pupils were shaking. His expression went from anger to something utterly indescribable.
People of the ancient world were always subtle; when had he ever heard such blunt, cringey, and cheesy words of love!
For a moment, Xiao Ye’s worldview suffered a massive shock.
Ruan Nanxi had really pushed herself to perform heartbreak. She ran through every “simp” and “love-brain” line she could think of in her head, trying hard to put herself in that mindset.
She finally managed to look a bit sad, only for Xiao Ye to suddenly point at her and stutter a curse:
“You… you are shameless!”
With that, he turned and left without looking back. If one looked closely, there was a hint of fleeing in his departure.
Ruan Nanxi, who had been cursed for no reason: “…” What a neurotic man!
However, looking at the chest of silver notes and deeds, her mood turned joyful again.
She happily counted the silver notes, imagining her future life as a super-wealthy lady, spending money like water and lying around like a salted fish.
Only then did she rub her head and try hard to recall the original plot of the book.