Chapter 13
A few days after Zan Yunxiao agreed to the marriage, the atmosphere within the Zan Manor gradually became lively once more.
The young lady of the Jin Family.
Jin Feixue.
Temporarily stayed within the manor while preparing matters regarding the wedding.
At first, Zan Yunxiao expected the situation to become awkward.
After all, he suddenly had a second future wife living under the same roof.
Yet unexpectedly.
The relationship between Jin Feixue and Xueyun became surprisingly harmonious.
The two women often spent their time chatting together within the courtyard, drinking tea, discussing stories from the capital, and occasionally laughing softly like close sisters who had known each other for years.
Even the servants within the manor became surprised by how quickly they grew close.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao himself sometimes felt strangely unnecessary whenever the two women gathered together.
One afternoon, while the three sat beneath the courtyard pavilion, Xueyun suddenly curiously asked the question she had been wondering about for days.
“Feixue,” she said gently, “why did you suddenly decide to marry my husband?”
The moment the question was asked, even Zan Yunxiao quietly looked over.
To be honest.
He himself was also curious.
Jin Feixue’s usually confident expression unexpectedly softened slightly.
Then, after a brief silence, she answered honestly.
“…It was love at first sight.”
The moment those words were spoken, even Zan Yunxiao paused briefly.
Meanwhile, Xueyun only smiled knowingly.
“I understand,” she replied naturally.
Then she glanced toward Zan Yunxiao, who was sitting nearby.
“With how handsome Husband is, it’s not surprising.”
Zan Yunxiao nearly coughed hearing this.
“Haven’t you praised me enough already?”
Xueyun only laughed softly.
Meanwhile, Jin Feixue quietly lowered her gaze for a moment before speaking again.
“When I first saw him at the auction house…” she admitted softly, “it felt like I suddenly understood what kind of man I wanted to spend my life with.”
Her voice was calm yet sincere.
There was no trace of noble arrogance anymore.
Only genuine affection.
Even Zan Yunxiao himself became slightly speechless after hearing it.
After several more peaceful days, Jin Feixue eventually prepared to return to the imperial capital.
Outside the manor gates, a luxurious carriage from the Jin Family waited for her departure.
Before entering the carriage, she turned toward Zan Yunxiao with a bright smile.
“I’ll return to the capital first,” she said. “I need to prepare for the wedding… and also tell Father that I found a good husband.”
The moment those words came out, even Xueyun softly laughed nearby.
As for Zan Yunxiao.
He suddenly felt a strange sense of pressure.
For some reason, meeting her father sounded far more troublesome than fighting hooligans or gambling den owners.
Jin Feixue then added gently:
“Don’t worry. Once everything is prepared, I’ll send a carriage to personally bring you to the capital.”
Zan Yunxiao sighed helplessly.
“…Alright.”
Jin Feixue smiled happily before finally boarding the carriage.
Soon, the convoy departed from Solhaven Village and gradually disappeared into the distance.
The courtyard became quiet again afterward.
Beside him, Xueyun suddenly nudged Zan Yunxiao lightly with amusement visible in her eyes.
“Husband,” she teased softly, “you really are popular.”
“Hmm…By the way,” he said while looking toward Xueyun, “where’s little Wei?”
The moment Zan Wei was mentioned, Xueyun immediately crossed her arms with a slightly helpless expression.
“Hmph,” she said. “He’s probably in another town again doing some kind of business.”
Zan Yunxiao instantly fell silent.
He sighed deeply.
At this point, he had completely confirmed it.
His second son was genuinely obsessed with money.
And not ordinary obsession either.
Even at such a young age, Zan Wei constantly talked about business, profit, investment, and becoming the richest man in the world someday.
Sometimes Zan Yunxiao genuinely wondered whether his son had secretly transmigrated from Earth as well.
What kind of child voluntarily traveled to nearby towns just to “do business”?
Meanwhile, Xueyun rubbed her forehead helplessly.
“He even tried selling snacks to the villagers yesterday,” she complained softly. “And somehow he actually made profit.”
Hearing this, Zan Yunxiao’s expression became even stranger.
“…This brat.”
For some reason, he increasingly felt that both his sons had developed in unusual directions.
One became a top scholar and government official.
The other somehow seemed destined to dominate the business world.
Meanwhile, he himself merely wanted a peaceful life.
Zan Yunxiao suddenly felt slightly tired.
Eventually, he shook his head helplessly before gently taking Xueyun’s hand.
“Forget it,” he said calmly. “Let’s go inside.”
Xueyun’s expression softened slightly before she nodded.
“Alright.”
The two slowly walked back into the manor together beneath the warm afternoon sunlight, leaving behind the quiet courtyard as peace once again settled over the Zan Family estate.
Another few days quietly passed in Solhaven Village.
Finally the Jin Family’s carriage convoy arrived before the gates of the Zan Manor.
Several luxurious carriages stood outside accompanied by armored guards bearing the insignia of the Jin Family. Even the villagers nearby became slightly nervous seeing such an imposing noble procession appear within their peaceful village.
Today was the day Zan Yunxiao and his family would depart for the imperial capital.
The wedding would officially begin in two weeks.
Inside the manor courtyard, Zan Yunxiao looked at the grand convoy with a somewhat complicated expression.
Somehow…
Things had progressed unbelievably fast.
Beside him, Xueyun lightly smiled while fixing his clothes.
“Husband,” she teased softly, “you’re about to become the son-in-law of a general.”
Zan Yunxiao rubbed his forehead helplessly.
“Please stop reminding me.”
Meanwhile, Zan Wei looked far more excited than anyone else.
“Will the capital nobles be rich?” he asked seriously. “Maybe I can do business there too.”
Hearing this, even Zan Yunxiao no longer knew whether to laugh or sigh.
Soon afterward, the three boarded the carriage together.
The convoy finally departed from Solhaven Village and began its long journey toward the imperial capital once more.
Weeks later.
The towering walls of the imperial capital once again appeared before them.
After entering the city, the Jin Family convoy traveled through several noble districts before eventually stopping before a massive estate.
The Jin Family Residence.
Compared to ordinary noble estates, this place felt far more imposing. Armed guards stood at every entrance while banners bearing the Jin Family insignia fluttered proudly in the wind.
The atmosphere carried traces of military discipline everywhere.
The carriage doors slowly opened.
The moment Zan Yunxiao stepped outside.
He immediately saw Jin Feixue already waiting at the entrance.
The instant her eyes landed on him, her face visibly brightened.
“Husband!”
Without caring about the surrounding servants, she immediately walked toward him happily.
Yet standing beside her.
Was another figure entirely different.
A tall middle-aged man with a massive build stood silently near the gates. His body resembled a mountain of steel while several scars stretched across his skin, evidence of countless battles fought throughout his life.
His aura alone carried overwhelming pressure.
Especially his eyes.
Cold. Sharp. Intimidating.
This was clearly someone who had killed countless enemies on the battlefield.
General Jin Zhou.
The moment Zan Yunxiao saw him, even he instinctively felt slight pressure.
As expected of a military general…
Jin Zhou merely stared silently at Zan Yunxiao for several moments.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Even the surrounding guards subconsciously straightened themselves.
Suddenly, Jin Zhou’s cold expression completely disappeared.
“Hahaha!”
A loud laugh echoed throughout the entrance.
The terrifying battlefield aura vanished instantly as the general stepped forward enthusiastically.
“So you’re my son-in-law?!”
Before Zan Yunxiao could even react, Jin Zhou heavily patted his shoulder several times with enough force to make ordinary people cough blood.
“Good! Very good!”
“You’re handsome, calm, responsible, already have a successful son, and even my daughter stubbornly chased after you for an entire month!”
Jin Zhou laughed proudly.
“As expected of the man my daughter chose!”
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao stood there slightly stunned.
Just moments ago.
This man looked like someone capable of slaughtering armies without blinking.
Now, he resembled an overly enthusiastic father welcoming family during a festival.
The contrast was so extreme that even Zan Yunxiao became confused.
Why does this father-in-law feel so two-faced?
Even Xueyun beside him quietly covered her mouth while trying not to laugh at her husband’s bewildered expression.
Meanwhile, little Zan Wei stared at General Jin Zhou with sparkling eyes.
“So this is a general…” he muttered seriously. “I wonder how much money generals make.”
The moment those words came out.
Silence instantly fell nearby.
Even Jin Zhou froze briefly before bursting into even louder laughter.
“Hahaha! I like this child already!”