Chapter 100 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 100

Dawn broke, with smoke from cooking fires drifting in the air.

The county town, quiet throughout the night, gradually woke up and became lively.

The Su family’s servants also rose, washed their faces, hastily ate a few bites, and began cleaning the long corridors and eaves, preparing for their masters’ movements later.

At that moment, a tall, thin figure in a wrinkled long robe, reeking of alcohol, walked in from outside.

The servants’ expressions did not change; as if nothing had happened, they continued sweeping the courtyard.

The figure suddenly stopped, turned back, and a voice, magnetic yet carrying a faint weariness, sounded: “You see me and don’t even greet me?”

The servants were taken aback but did not make a fuss. They responded with a perfunctory bow: “Good morning, Master.”

The figure was none other than Ji Xiu.

Seeing the servants so lax, Ji Xiu frowned slightly, a faint displeasure crossing his face. Yet he said nothing more and continued walking inside.

Soon, he passed the front courtyard and entered the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was divided into an inner and outer courtyard. The inner courtyard was larger, where the four members of the Su family lived.

Su Laoye and Su Furen lived in a side wing, while Miss Su Xiangyu and her beloved daughter Su Ling’er resided in the main wing.

The outer courtyard, narrow and named Pine Wave Courtyard, had been newly built in recent years, and only Ji Xiu lived there.

When Ji Xiu entered Pine Wave Courtyard, two laborers cleaning the yard looked up in surprise: “Master, why are you back?”

It was still early; by habit, the original Ji Xiu should not return until mid-morning.

But Ji Xiu had traveled through time last night and had woken up lying in a haze of smoke and lights along the Qinhuai River, drunk, and on the verge of losing his virtue. How could he possibly stay the night there?

The moment he woke up, he hurriedly left the Qinhuai River and rushed home.

When faced with their questions, he had no intention of explaining much. He said calmly: “Go fetch some water. I want to bathe.”

The two laborers, puzzled, dared not ask more and hurried off to fetch water from the main kitchen.

“Strange, Master seems different today.”

“I was wondering the same… he’s actually sober when he returned.”

Ji Xiu, sharp-eared, heard their conversation as they left and could not help but chuckle. He resignedly sat at the round stone table in the courtyard, waiting for their return.

The original Ji Xiu had been reckless all night; drunk and smelling of alcohol, he could not rest without a bath.

Yet with no one around, he had time to organize his thoughts.

This world was an ancient one.

The original Ji Xiu was a scholar from Shanglang County. He started school at six, became a xiucai at fourteen, and his name as a young prodigy spread throughout Shanglang.

But his youthful arrogance led him to offend the county magistrate’s son during a fall outing. Framed by a villain, his family was ruined.

To save his parents, he sought the Su family, who were looking for a son-in-law for their only daughter Su Xiangyu, offering to marry in exchange for their help.

The Su family, a wealthy household in Shanglang County, had been trading cloth for generations. Their influence was so deep that even the county magistrate showed them respect.

Su Laoye had only one daughter and had long worried about her marriage.

Seeing the young prodigy with a promising future, he was moved by Ji Xiu’s talent and agreed to take him as a son-in-law, saving Ji Xiu’s parents in the process.

From then on, Ji Xiu formally became a live-in son-in-law of the Su family.

At the time, he was young. Despite the misfortune, he was proud of his talent, confident, and carried himself like a shining star.

Su Xiangyu, the same age as him, initially doubted her father’s decision, but after meeting him, she accepted the match.

Thus, even though Ji Xiu felt some hesitation about being a son-in-law, under Su Xiangyu’s gentle comfort, they had a happy period together.

He did not live in Pine Wave Courtyard then, but with Su Xiangyu in the side wing of the inner courtyard.

Two years later, they consummated their marriage and had a daughter a year later, named Su Ling’er.

Su Ling’er was the little antagonist of this world.

After her birth, Ji Xiu and Su Xiangyu were overjoyed, doting on her. The family of three was closely bonded.

Unfortunately, that same year, Ji Xiu participated in the provincial exam but failed, suffering a severe blow to his confidence. He moved to Pine Wave Courtyard, refusing to live with Su Xiangyu and their daughter, claiming he needed peace to study.

Su Xiangyu could not stop him.

From then on, Ji Xiu seemed cursed. For the next nine years, no matter how hard he studied, he failed every provincial exam.

In contrast, Su Xiangyu, at twenty, established a female household, learning to run the family business. She excelled, and by twenty-three, when Su Laoye fell ill, she took over the Su family completely.

With her at the helm, the Su family expanded across Jiuyang Commandery, becoming revered by all.

Meanwhile, the repeatedly failing Ji Xiu was despised.

Even if he had been a child prodigy, those wasted years, consuming the family’s wealth, led only to failure, making him worse than the famously doomed prodigy Shang Zhongyong.

The once proud scholar, after four exam failures, became a laughingstock. He gave up on the imperial exams, drifting through life, indulging in teahouses and taverns with frivolous friends, ignoring Su Xiangyu’s advice.

Su Xiangyu, busy with business, could not comfort him daily.

His friends, coveting the name of Su’s son-in-law and his wealth, led him astray, even taking him to the famous Qinhuai River yesterday.

Had Ji Xiu returned even slightly later, he would have ruined himself completely—falling for a renowned courtesan that night, becoming her companion, composing poems that spread throughout the city.

This would have severed any remaining affection from Su Xiangyu.

She gave up trying to counsel him, allowing his parents to drive him away, focusing entirely on business and raising Su Ling’er.

Without the Su family’s backing, he was abandoned by friends and family, and three years later, died in poverty at the Ji family estate.

At his death, the world’s storyline began.

That year, his daughter Su Ling’er sought a husband and chose a poor young scholar.

The boy came to the Su family with a sickly younger sister—the world’s original heroine.

The boy agreed to marry in order to secure funds for his sister’s treatment.

Su Ling’er adored him and eagerly accepted.

But without a father’s guidance and with her mother busy, Su Ling’er grew impulsive and reckless.

She discovered the young scholar harbored unnatural feelings for the girl. In a fit of rage, she accidentally pushed the sister into the water, causing her death, and allowing a soul from another world to possess the girl’s body—the true heroine of this world.

The heroine had no memory of the sister, only knew she and her brother were living under the Su family’s roof, often mistreated by the servants, and frequently clashed with the impulsive Su Ling’er.

Upon learning the truth, Su Xiangyu annulled the marriage and compensated the pair, sending them away.

Accustomed to the Su family’s wealth, the heroine struggled in poverty and grew to hate the family deeply.

At this time, the lost marquis’s daughter found her, reclaiming her noble status.

She later easily destroyed the Su family in retaliation for their cruelty, leading to their ruin and death.

Su Ling’er, disguised as a maid, would later stab the bride and groom at the heroine’s wedding.

Ji Xiu recalled all this, sighing in admiration of his daughter.

True, he had been a scoundrel, but his daughter was not entirely wicked.

Though Su Ling’er committed misdeeds, the true culprits were the deceitful groom and the careless heroine.

Even so, such people became the pillars of the world’s fate.

It seemed another morally skewed world needed education.

Ji Xiu sighed, knowing that even if he explained to Su Ling’er, the male and female leads could not die.

To save this world, he first needed to alter its trajectory.

To change the world’s course, he must first change his own image—to avoid being expelled by Su Laoye and Su Furen and remain in the Su family.

Three years later, he must prevent his daughter from choosing the young scholar as her husband.

.....

The servants brought hot water.

Ji Xiu paused his thoughts, bathed, changed clothes, and took a short rest before sunrise.

When the light brightened, he felt revitalized and went to the main wing to see his wife and daughter.

The first step to change began with reconnecting.

Su Xiangyu was having breakfast.

Seeing Ji Xiu, she paused in surprise, then coldly asked: “Why are you here?”

Ji Xiu glanced at the servants and, seeing no harm in speaking in front of them, sat calmly: “I have something I want to tell you.”

Su Xiangyu paused, dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, and said: “Go on.”

Years of running the family had left her tone with a commanding edge, far from the gentle young lady she had been.

This change in tone had been one reason the original Ji Xiu abandoned his family for the nightlife.

The original Ji Xiu, proud and sensitive, after four exam failures, perceived her coldness as disdain, deepening his inferiority and rejection of her.

Yet Ji Xiu did not mind.

Observant as ever, he noticed the brief flicker of regret in her eyes after she spoke.

Clearly, she did not wish to be harsh but had defaulted to habit.

Ji Xiu softened slightly and continued: “Last night, I went to the Qinhuai River…”

“What!” Su Xiangyu stood abruptly, gripping her chair, eyes wide with shock.

Ji Xiu quickly reassured her: “Don’t worry, I didn’t touch anyone.”

Su Xiangyu froze, realizing her overreaction. Embarrassed, she masked her expression and sat down: “Then why mention it?”

Ji Xiu smiled lightly: “Brother Zhang took me to the Qinhuai River. I realized drinking there is meaningless, so I went. But there, on the flower boat, I saw Liu Zhuang.”

“Who is that?” Su Xiangyu pondered.

Ji Xiu explained: “He was my classmate when we both became xiucai. Eight years older, repeatedly failed the exams. I once comforted him, but who knew he would fall into ruin…”

He sighed: “After repeated failures, Liu brother became obsessed with pleasure, lost his family, and indulged in self-destruction. Seeing him reminded me of myself.”

Su Xiangyu’s eyes widened, anticipating his point.

At that moment, a voice came from the door:

“Mother, I’ve come to greet you~”

Su Ling’er, leading a group of servants, ran in.

Ji Xiu turned to see her.

At twelve, she had inherited her parents’ beauty. Wearing a light pink embroidered dress adorned with butterflies, she carried a matching fan, smiling as she ran to Su Xiangyu.

Su Xiangyu frowned, speaking coldly: “Ling’er!”

Reluctantly, Su Ling’er stopped and knelt, bowing: “Good morning, Mother.”

Su Xiangyu’s tone hardened: “Anything else?”

Ling’er pouted, noticing Ji Xiu for the first time: “Father, good morning…”

“Ling’er, come here, let Father see you.”

Su Ling’er approached carefully, puzzled by his presence.

Ji Xiu gently commented: “Two years without proper conversation, and you’ve grown so tall.”

Her guard melted; she beamed proudly: “I’m almost as tall as Meihua!”

Meihua was her personal maid, older than her. Keeping pace with her made her proud.

Ji Xiu smiled warmly: “Well done, my Ling’er.”

Su Ling’er laughed, her trust returning naturally.

Previously, Ji Xiu’s indulgence in drink lasted only these two years; before that, he had been attentive to his daughter despite his exams.

Thanks to Su Xiangyu, Ling’er had been well cared for, shielded from the servants’ disdain.

The time of the original Ji Xiu’s neglect had allowed her to see the world’s harshness, changing her temperament.

Now, Ji Xiu’s warmth drew her in effortlessly.

In mere moments, she repeatedly called him “Father,” intimately.

Ji Xiu, enjoying fatherhood, claimed the girl as his own.

Before Su Xiangyu, he gently entertained her.

Su Xiangyu, exasperated, said: “You two are fine, leaving me aside.”

Ji Xiu smiled: “Wife, I will never forget your kindness in raising Ling’er.”

Su Xiangyu froze, frowning: “What do you understand?”

Ji Xiu looked at her warmly: “Ling’er has kept her innocence thanks to you. I am grateful and will never forget.”

“Stop flattering!” Su Xiangyu snapped. “Why are you really here?”

Ji Xiu calmly replied: “I already said.”

“What did you say? I heard nothing.” Her urgency betrayed concern.

Ji Xiu smiled inwardly, slow and deliberate: “I saw Liu brother and remembered myself. I don’t want to repeat his path, losing you and Ling’er.”

Su Xiangyu’s expression was complex: “…Smooth talker.”

After breakfast, Ji Xiu excused himself to Pine Wave Courtyard to study.

Su Ling’er, sensing tension, returned to her room.

Su Xiangyu remained in the hall, deep in thought.

The nanny returned, dismissing the servants, whispering: “Miss, have you softened?”

Su Xiangyu looked up.

The nanny sighed: “I won’t stop you, but Master’s temperament is weak. Even if he seems stable now, he may relapse. You must think carefully.”

As Su Xiangyu’s confidante, the nanny understood her well.

Ji Xiu’s prior recklessness had caused her heartache, yet she was also annoyed at his irresponsibility.

Two years had passed, and discussions in the Su family were constant. Without a reliable husband, Ling’er was her only solace.

Determined for her daughter, Su Xiangyu resolved to send Ji Xiu to the family’s countryside estate for two years, giving Ling’er time to come of age socially.

She did not reveal this to Ji Xiu, consulting only Su Laoye, Su Furen, and the nanny.

The nanny supported this plan fully.

Yet today, Ji Xiu’s voluntary apology and expression of intent to change stirred Su Xiangyu’s thoughts.

The nanny warned: “Miss, are you sure you haven’t been swayed?”

Su Xiangyu, annoyed, muttered: “He’s willing to change; must I deny him this chance?”

“Miss!” the nanny scolded. “Think of Ling’er! Just a few words from him, and you’re shaken?”

“I understand…” Su Xiangyu sighed. “Let’s see his actions. If he’s pretending, I won’t relent.”

The nanny relaxed.

Having watched Ji Xiu for fifteen years, she knew him well: a weak, flashy man, incapable of being a pillar for the lady.