Chapter One: Newly Transmigrated, and the Family Is Already Bankrupt?

Aah!

Stop it, stop it!

I cannot take it anymore...

In the residence of the Deputy Minister of Revenue, a glamorous married lady was pushing a handsome youth on a swing. Behind them stood a ring of lovely maids, bright as orioles and swallows. A gentle breeze lifted their skirts, revealing slender, alluring legs.

"Do you like it, young master?"

The beautiful lady caught the ropes and steadied the swing.

The maids behind her immediately stepped forward.

One brought a blue-and-white porcelain teacup and fed him tea with a delicate golden spoon.

Another carefully peeled the skin from a grape, used tweezers to remove the seed, and fed the flesh into his mouth.

Sweet, tart, wonderfully delicious. Heavenly, truly heavenly!

Ha!

At fifteen, already living in the lap of luxury.

This damned feudal life was far too corrupt, far too indulgent, far too decadent...

He was condemning it hypocritically in his heart, yet the corners of the youth's mouth could not help lifting into an excited grin: I absolutely fucking love it!

The youth was named Ye Xiu, a native of Jinling.

His grandfather had once served as a prefect and as the Superintendent of Silk Weaving for Jiangsu and Zhejiang; now he was the Left Deputy Minister of Revenue of the Great Qian Dynasty, a senior official of the third rank, in charge of all the salt transport in the south of the Yangtze. It was the most lucrative post in the realm.

Ye Xiu had lost his mother young, and his grandfather and father doted on him to the extreme, so from childhood he had lived the aristocratic life of silk robes and fine food.

Beside him were a personal beautiful attendant, eight alluring maids, and sixteen servants...

Altogether there were forty people, all assigned to serve him and keep him entertained.

In truth, his was a case of great joy followed by great sorrow.

Seven days ago, while climbing a tree, he had fallen and died on the spot.

When he awoke, the body had been handed over to Ye Xiu from a thousand years in the future.

"Does the young master feel comfortable?"

The beautiful lady at the front extended her boneless jade hand to massage him gently.

"Call me brother. Your own dear brother!" Ye Xiu's lips curved in a satisfied smile.

"Oh my!"

Her exquisite face flushed bright red at once. "Young master, isn't 'brother' only something one may call you at night? To say it now... how shameful..."

The youth reached out and drew the lady into his arms, and his hands began their work as well.

Her whole body trembled; in an instant, she went soft all over.

Those hands of the young master...

Truly a divine touch. In just a few moves, this one simply cannot hold on anymore.

"Young master, spare me. I cannot endure this..."

The beauty breathed in a sweet, soft pant, lowering her head in embarrassment. "Brother, good brother, dear brother..."

"Reward them, reward them all!"

Yet after he said that, he heard no laughter from the lady or the maids. Instead, there was only silence.

Ye Xiu opened his eyes in displeasure, only to find a middle-aged man standing before him, his entire bearing scholarly and refined.

Naturally, this was the cheap father he had inherited after transmigration, Ye Wuji.

Though his father could have risen in rank and fortune through his grandfather's connections, he insisted on proving himself with ability alone.

The result was four examinations, four failures.

Ye Xiu was just about to say something when Ye Wuji suddenly embraced him.

First came long sighs and lamentations, and in the end he broke into heartbreaking sobs.

"Father, this is..." Ye Xiu played the part of a dutiful son with great professionalism. "If you think I have been too extravagant, then I shall never live like this again."

"No, no, no. If a child is not properly taught, it is the father's fault. If a son turns out useless, it means his father is incapable." Ye Wuji held him even tighter. "But Father is truly suffering, truly suffering!"

Ye Xiu looked puzzled. "In our family, with money, power, and influence, what is there to suffer about?"

"Son." Ye Wuji wiped away his snot and tears. "Such a life... you will never enjoy it again."

Ye Xiu, the beautiful lady, and the maids all froze in place, completely bewildered.

Ye Wuji let go of Ye Xiu and looked toward the servants. "All of you, withdraw."

"Yes!"

The maids departed in orderly fashion, and in the courtyard only Ye Xiu and his father remained.

Looking at the dispirited Ye Wuji, Ye Xiu immediately felt an ominous premonition.

He asked uneasily, "Father, what exactly happened?"

"If there were even the slightest room for a turnabout, Father would not have come to tell you." Ye Wuji let out a heavy sigh, his face full of grief. "There is no point hiding it from you now. You must brace yourself after hearing this."

Ye Xiu's heart quivered, and he blurted out, "Father, am I not your biological son?"

"Nonsense. How could you not be my biological son?"

Ye Wuji patted Ye Xiu's shoulder, his eyes full of reluctance. "Your grandfather embezzled public funds and took bribes, and now the Censorate has detained him. The Chief Censor has given us seven days. If we can make up the two million taels shortfall, we may still find a way to clear your grandfather's name and spare our whole family from exile. So, to save your grandfather, your uncle and I discussed it and packed up the house, the land, the antiques, the paintings, everything, and sold it all. Your uncle will take the silver notes to the capital to rescue your grandfather. In two days, you and I must dismiss all the servants and leave with nothing at all."

As he spoke, Ye Wuji struck his own chest with bitter anguish. "Farewell, my Hundred Flowers Tower; farewell, my maiden of the reeds..."

Heavens, are you making a fool of me?

I had just transmigrated into the most powerful third-generation official in the realm, and before I could even enjoy it, the family fortune has already collapsed?

Hearing this dreadful news, Ye Xiu felt as if he had been struck head-on, his mind buzzing.

He stood rooted in place, wishing he could find a piece of tofu to smash himself to death, then transmigrate back to his original world.

At noon, just after the servants of the household had been dismissed, the buyer arrived at the Ye residence with accountants and a convoy to inventory the Ye family's property.

"A pair of tri-color phoenix-head polo-pattern handled pots..."

"A set of blue-and-white floral scalloped dishes..."

"A jade incense burner with cloud-and-dragon motif..."

"A bronze square zun vessel..."

"A jade mountain carved with Great Yu Taming the Flood from Mille Tower Mountain and Hetian..."

One item after another was carried out and packed into crates before Ye Xiu and his father for counting.

Each word was like a sharp blade piercing Ye Wuji's heart, causing his whole body to tremble uncontrollably.

Looking at the rockeries and flowing water, the exquisite pavilions and towers in the home;

Looking at the calligraphy and paintings on the walls, the antiques and jade pieces on the golden nanmu shelves...

All of these would belong to someone else from now on, and Ye Xiu could not accept it either.

Only when the house had been completely emptied did Ye Wuji finally come to himself.

He looked at his foolish, dazed son. "Son, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Ye Xiu forced a smile.

"Son, you must keep your spirits up." Ye Wuji lowered his voice. "Hardship is only temporary. Your grandfather held a high position and long ago foresaw such an outcome. He left a retreat for us father and son in advance."

"Really?" Ye Xiu's eyes lit up. There truly was a path where heaven left no dead end.

"You were betrothed since childhood. Your future father-in-law is Shen Wanshan, the richest man in Jinling, with a fortune of no less than ten million!"

Hiss!

Ye Xiu drew in a sharp breath. Ten million taels of silver was the equivalent of a billionaire in later times.

"Your future father-in-law is also the vice president of the Jiangnan Merchant Association, the only tycoon in the south of the Yangtze who can stand against the Anhui merchants."

Ye Wuji began, solemn and earnest, to plan Ye Xiu's future path. "When I have time, I'll take you to the Shen family to press the marriage. Even if you have to marry in, it will still keep you fed and clothed for life."

Though his future father-in-law was formidable, Ye Xiu was not optimistic about this matter. "Father, our family has already fallen. Would the Shen family still acknowledge this marriage?"