“To break off the engagement at this critical juncture is indeed a breach of etiquette, but it is purely a helpless act. We hope the Old Madam will forgive us.”
“Everyone says the Old Madam of the State Duke Mansion is magnanimous and reasonable. You must understand the difficulties our Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion is facing, right?”
“Your mansion’s Sixth Young Lady is still young, so the matter of marriage is not urgent. In contrast, my family’s Third Young Master has already reached the age of maturity and truly cannot afford to wait.”
“Once you leave, it’s not a matter of returning in three to five years… Don’t you agree, Old Madam?”
Xin Nian felt dizzy, the world spinning around her. A noisy, intermittent chatter buzzed in her ears, a gibberish that made her head ache.
She abruptly opened her eyes. Her gaze wavered for a second, and she subconsciously reached for the M3-latest model Light Energy Laser Ability Gun she kept at her waist.
Her hand met empty air, and an inexplicable jolt went through her heart.
Her surroundings were dim and cramped, and the air was filled with the stench of rot and mildew.
Xin Nian narrowed her eyes and tried to struggle into a sitting position, but her body was strangely unresponsive. She fell backward, landing where she had been.
Her brain felt like a malfunctioning machine, forced to receive memories that didn’t belong to her. It was swollen, numb, and throbbed with a pain like needles pricking her.
Xin Nian was utterly bewildered.
She, a Nine-Tier Peak Dual-Type Ability User who had roamed the post-apocalyptic world for fourteen years, had actually transmigrated into the body of the Sixth Young Lady of the Xin State Duke Mansion, who was about to be exiled?
That’s right. She remembered it now. Her entire team had been focusing their fire on the Two-Headed Zombie King when a blinding flash of light…
Ugh, so she had died in battle and transmigrated?
Xin Nian’s heart tightened.
What about her parents and brother? Did they transmigrate with her?
Before she could sort anything out, she heard someone say gently, “Sixth Sister, don’t be sad. Grandmother will stand up for you in everything.”
Sad my foot, Xin Nian thought. Right now, she was only anxious about where her parents and brother were. Everything else was irrelevant to her.
Helped into a sitting position, Xin Nian still felt extremely dizzy.
However, once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could see clearly. The entire family of the Xin State Duke Mansion was currently imprisoned.
A quick glance revealed at least twenty people in the cell—men and women, old and young, all sitting listlessly on the ground.
She squinted at the young woman helping her. She was about eighteen or nineteen, and though her face was haggard, her white prison uniform couldn’t hide her refined and elegant beauty.
This was… the original owner’s Third Sister, Xin Ruoyu?
Xin Nian’s eyes darted around as she forcibly sorted through the information flooding her mind, managing to connect the face with the person.
Outside the wooden bars stood three plump old women. The one leading the group, who was chattering away most enthusiastically, was the woman whose voice had been giving her a headache. She was still babbling on.
“My lady originally wanted to come in person, but the weather has been hot and dry lately, and her chronic pharyngitis has flared up again.”
“So, this old servant boldly requested this errand. I hope the Old Madam will grant our request.”
“What’s there to grant or not grant? You speak too seriously, Momo. This marriage was originally sought by your mansion’s Old Master from our Old State Duke. Now that both of them are gone, it’s only logical that the Marchioness of Lin’an would see an opportunity to go back on her word.”
The one who retorted was the former Old Madam of the Xin State Duke Mansion, Yu Shi. Even in a filthy prison uniform, her back remained ramrod straight.
Chun Momo’s face stiffened, and she stammered, “That’s not the right way to put it. You also know that your mansion is leaving the capital this time, and it will likely be difficult to return within three to five years. Since our two families are destined to be apart, it’s better for each to find a suitable partner and choose another good match. Don’t you think so, Old Madam?”
“Hmph.” Old Madam Yu Shi sneered. “Indeed. My Xin family is of humble status; we wouldn’t dare hold back your mansion’s young master from his great future. Sixth Lass, give them back the engagement token.”
Xin Nian didn’t register the name “Sixth Lass” at first. It was only when her Third Sister, Xin Ruoyu, gently pinched her that she jolted back to her senses.
Sixth Lass? Oh, Sixth Lass was her. This body was the sixth among the Xin family’s sisters. Her surname was Xin, her given name was Nian, and she was the legitimate daughter of the fourth branch.
But as for that token, she had absolutely no memory of it.
Xin Nian rummaged through her muddled mind but couldn’t retrieve any key information.
She looked up, her innocent gaze falling on the old woman outside the wooden bars.
Chun Momo met those misty eyes.
She was taken aback. Was this girl playing dumb, refusing to return it? The other old women simultaneously turned their contemptuous and accusatory gazes toward Old Madam Yu Shi.
They had already said so much. To cling to the engagement token now would be utterly graceless.
Old Madam Yu Shi was quite helpless. She knew very well that Sixth Lass had been spoiled rotten by her unreliable mother. Not only was she indecisive and unable to make a clean break when things happened, but she was also a natural crybaby. A few more words, and she would probably flood the prison cell with tears.
It was one thing to dote on and spoil her on normal days, but in the current situation, she couldn’t be allowed to be willful anymore.
The Old Madam hardened her heart and said with a cold face, “Sixth Lass, give it back to them. You’re probably not worthy of this marriage. Don’t stand in the way of Young Master Lu the Third’s future.”
With an innocent expression, Xin Nian simply swayed to her feet, jumped twice, tilted her head, and spread her hands. “What do I have? I ask you, what could I possibly have on me right now?”
Everyone was stunned.
That’s right, the entire mansion had been confiscated!
Before changing into prison uniforms, they had all been stripped clean of their accessories. Now, you couldn’t find half a copper coin on any of them!
Token or no token, the entire State Duke Mansion had been cleaned out by the bailiffs.
Yu Shi cursed herself for being muddled by anger. She turned her gaze to the three momos outside the bars. “You’ve all seen it clearly. Please go back and inform the Marchioness that since the engagement token has been turned over to the state treasury, the marriage between our two families is hereby null and void.”
Chun Momo grinned from ear to ear. “With the Old Madam’s word, we can rest assured.”
“Although we won’t become in-laws, there’s still some friendship between our families. My lady specially ordered this old servant to prepare many daily necessities that your mansion can use on the road.” With a look from Chun Momo, another old momo lifted a bundle and stuffed it through the bars.
“No need.” A middle-aged man in the front row sneered mockingly. “Although my Xin family has fallen, we still have…”
Before he could finish, a pair of fair, tender little hands reached out from inside the bars and cheerfully accepted the two bundles from the old woman.
Everyone in the Xin family was dumbfounded.
“Thanks.” Everyone watched as Sixth Lass, with a look of pure innocence, took the bundles and even waved at them.
The Xin family: …
This girl used to be a gentle, weak crybaby. Now it seemed like a screw had come loose in her head. Had the shock been too great and made her a fool?
They were breaking off the engagement and then offering some small favors to slap her in the face. What was she so happy about?
Chun Momo also left the prison with a baffled expression.
Her attendant momo asked, “Is there something wrong with that Sixth Young Lady’s head?”
“She’s a clever one,” Chun Momo said, her words full of meaning.
What’s the use of winning a verbal spat? Getting tangible benefits is what truly matters.
To be able to yield and adapt makes one a formidable person. It seems I’ve underestimated this Sixth Young Lady before.
“Momo, we’ve thoroughly offended the entire State Duke Mansion today. What if they make a comeback one day…”
Chun Momo shook her head. “I’m afraid they won’t have that chance.”
“As for the Young Master, we can’t just keep him locked up and let him starve himself…”
“Sigh.” Chun Momo sighed, and the group gradually walked away.