Volume 1, Chapter 7: I Am Determined to Marry the Ugly Woman

As Li Jin finished speaking, the soldiers behind him automatically split into two rows. A young soldier, head bowed and back hunched, ran forward holding a golden imperial decree high with both hands.

Li Jin reached out with his right hand, snatched the decree, and unfurled it. With a rustle, every soldier dropped to one knee.

Huang Suqiu, terrified, knelt to the ground as well, desperately tugging at Li Jize’s hand. The crowd shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

Li Jin’s cold gaze landed on Li Jize, who had been sitting there from start to finish as if he had not yet woken up.

Frowning in displeasure, he barked, "Rebellious son! Why have you not yet knelt to receive the decree?"

Li Jize pursed his lips, choosing to ignore him.

His mother, Huang Suqiu, panicked and pulled him hard. Since Li Jize was already sitting on the ground, the forceful tug didn't make him kneel; instead, he caught off guard, ended up sprawled flat on the floor.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Li Jize is unparalleled in bravery and has rendered great service to the Great Qi; my heart is deeply gratified. Hereby, I bestow upon him the hand of Wang Yanya, daughter of Imperial Physician Wang, in marriage, along with one hundred mu of fertile land and one thousand taels of gold to honor his merits. Thus it is written!"

With a snap, Li Jin closed the scroll and looked coldly at his son. "Li Jize, why have you not yet accepted the decree?"

Watching his son struggle to stand, Huang Suqiu quickly pressed him back down. "Accept the decree! Accept it! Jize, thank the Emperor for this grand favor!"

After speaking, she stood up, walked over with a beaming smile, and took the decree from her husband’s hands.

Regarding the current Empress’s way of breaking off their previous engagement, Huang Suqiu dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. She merely smiled and said, "Brother Jin, this... future daughter-in-law, this Wang Yanya, which family is she from? Is she gentle, virtuous, and respectful to her parents-in-law?"

Li Jin watched as Li Jize climbed to his feet once more. Facing his wife’s inquiry, he kept his hands behind his back and snorted coldly, "For such a heartless, unfilial little beast, it is already a blessing that a girl is willing to marry him. What more could he ask for?"

"This..."

Huang Suqiu frowned, looking troubled. Just as she was about to say more, Li Jin raised his hand to stop her and looked toward Li Jize.

"Rebellious son! Listen well! Your wedding is set for three days from now. Regardless, you carry the blood of the Li family, and we will arrange the wedding for you. You will come home with me now. After three days, you can go wherever you please!"

Hearing her husband’s words, Huang Suqiu looked at her son and gave him a frantic signal. This was an opportunity to return to the Li family!

Unfortunately...

Looking at Li Jin’s arrogant posture and remembering how his predecessor had been conspired against and killed by him and the Empress, Li Jize found it laughable.

He looked at the self-important Li Jin and said flatly, "No need! General Li, if I want to marry a wife, I will do it myself! There is no need to trouble yourself."

Hearing the title "General Li," Huang Suqiu was horrified, while Li Jin’s eyes bulged with rage, his teeth gritted.

"Rebellious son! What did you say? If you have the guts, say it again!"

Seeing his father ready to "devour" him, Huang Suqiu jumped between them, terrified of a physical confrontation.

"Oh, Brother Jin, children say the darndest things! Jize’s mind is not quite right now, he’s like a little child. Why bother arguing with him?"

She turned back and tugged at Li Jize’s sleeve. "You child, really! No matter what, he is still your father. How can there be an overnight grudge between family?"

But...

Li Jize was not buying it!

Because the predecessor who had "bought it" had already been killed. He had no intention of following that same path.

So, even if this was the biological father of this body, there was no room for negotiation!

*Jize is already dead, you chose this, father!*

"Fine. If you won't leave, I will!"

With that, he turned, picked up his spear, and walked away amidst Huang Suqiu’s anxiety and Li Jin’s fury.

Li Jin shouted in anger, "Rebellious son! Do you intend to defy the imperial decree? Do you know that defying the decree is a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan?"

Regrettably...

Li Jize was truly stubborn; he didn't even look back!

It was his mother, Huang Suqiu, who was so frightened that she waved her hands frantically, calling out, "He'll marry, he'll marry! I promise, in three days... Brother Jin, I will definitely bring Jize back in three days and make sure he completes the marriage!"

After speaking, she hurried off in a panic to chase after Li Jize.

Yet...

An hour later, after Huang Suqiu had pushed through the gossiping crowds and finally caught up to her son, she regretted it.

From the rumors, she had learned exactly what kind of person her future daughter-in-law was.

"The Peerless Talented Woman," Wang Yanya!

Not only was she known for having a "yin-yang face," but her temper was also said to be beyond description. Among those she knew, she was a delicate, modest beauty; among strangers, they said she was a "man-eating tigress."

Huang Suqiu was terrified!

She couldn't understand it. Even if her son Li Jize hadn't exactly earned great merit for the Great Qi or the Empress, he had at least suffered for them!

If the Empress wanted to break off the engagement, so be it! Why ruin her foolish son by forcing him to marry such a woman? This was clearly an act of humiliation.

Hastily catching up to Li Jize, Huang Suqiu could not bear the thought of her son marrying an ugly tigress, so she pleaded, "Jize, this marriage... should we reconsider?"

Li Jize paused and glanced back at his mother. "Why?"

"I heard this Wang Yanya is not a good person! Mother is worried that in your current state... you won't be able to handle her!"

Li Jize found it amusing.

The Empress intended to break off the original engagement and used this method to dictate a new one; how could one possibly refuse? Li Jize saw it clearly now!

Since this marriage could not be avoided, and considering the thousand taels of gold and the hundred mu of land... even if Wang Yanya were a sow, he would still marry her!

Without money and without land, how could he recruit soldiers and buy horses? How could he manufacture cannons and muskets?

Li Jize suddenly stopped, nearly causing Huang Suqiu to bump into his back.

After a long moment...

He turned around, looked at the woman, and with great difficulty, managed to squeeze out the word, "Mother."

Huang Suqiu was stunned; this was the first time he had called her "Mother" since returning from the palace.

"I will definitely marry this Wang Yanya! If you have nothing else, you should go back!"

With that, he turned and continued walking.

What was he going to do?

Naturally, he was going to collect his thousand taels of gold and hundred mu of land!

Using the money and land bestowed by the Empress to recruit soldiers and stage a rebellion against her—did he feel guilty?

He felt no guilt at all!

Everything he took was what he was owed!

Considering he was the renowned General of the Heavenly Strategy and the Prince of Qin of the Great Qi, was this all the reward he got for his immense contributions?

If his strength were not currently insufficient, Li Jize would have turned hostile right then and there, ready to shout, "Are kings and nobles born with high status?"

Watching his son’s receding back, Huang Suqiu sighed deeply.

Jize must have been dealt too heavy a blow; he had truly lost his mind.

He was determined to marry an ugly woman just to vent the dissatisfaction in his heart?