Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Jiang Xiaochuan took a deep breath, raised his head, looked at Tian Buyi, and said in a low but clear voice, "This disciple... has no objections."

"Bang!"

Tian Buyi slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup jump. He stood up, his chest heaving, and pointed at Jiang Xiaochuan, his finger trembling: "What...what did you say? Say it again!"

Jiang Xiaochuan stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and knelt down, his back ramrod straight.

He looked at Tian Buyi, his eyes slightly red, but his voice was steady: "This disciple has no objection. Senior Sister Lu... is very good. This disciple is willing."

"Willing?" Tian Buyi was so angry that his beard stood on end. He paced back and forth in the hall for a couple of steps, then suddenly turned around and glared at him, his eyes almost spitting fire.

"You're willing? Did you ask me? Did you ask your master's wife? Did you ask everyone on Dazhu Peak? She said she wanted to marry you, and you just let her? You're a disciple of Dazhu Peak, not her child bride from Xiaozhu Peak!"

"Master!" Jiang Xiaochuan's voice trembled slightly, but his back remained straight.

"Disciple knows that my life was saved by Master and Mistress, and my path to enlightenment was given by Qingyun Sect. I can never repay the kindness of Dazhu Peak in my lifetime, but..." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, "But one's heart is only one, and I cannot control where it goes. Senior Sister Lu... her kindness to me is not charity, but sincerity, and I feel the same way about her."

"Sincere? For your own good?" Tian Buyi laughed in anger, but his laughter was tinged with suppressed heartache.

"She's good to you? In front of so many people, she dragged you around asking if you were a good match, and then came to Shoujing Hall to propose marriage! Is this how a man should act? You are a disciple of Dazhu Peak, not Lu Xueqi's possession! She can do whatever she wants with you. Have you ever thought about your own reputation? Have you ever thought about the reputation of Dazhu Peak?"

"Master!" Jiang Xiaochuan said urgently, his voice trembling with tears, yet still clear.

"Senior Sister Lu is just... straightforward and doesn't know how to play games. She never meant to look down on me, never. She would rather bear all the gossip herself than let anyone else know that she cares about me, not that I'm unworthy of her. How could I possibly let down such a woman?"

Tian Buyi was speechless for a moment, his chest heaving, and the anger in his eyes gradually turned into a complex emotion.

Jiang Xiaochuan remained kneeling, his forehead pressed against the cold ground, and kowtowed once, his voice muffled:

"Disciple knows that my actions have brought shame upon Master and trouble to the sect. Disciple is unwilling to betray the sect, and dares not contradict Master, but..." He raised his head, tears welling up in his eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall. Each word seemed to be crushed from his heart, "If this world truly cannot accept this disciple's intention, disciple is willing to accept any punishment, but... but please don't make disciple say 'unwilling,' disciple... cannot say it."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Several senior brothers stared wide-eyed at Jiang Xiaochuan in disbelief. Song Daren's lips moved, but he was too frightened to speak by Tian Buyi's ashen face.

Su Ru stopped sewing and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan with a complicated expression.

Tian Buyi stood frozen in place, staring intently at Jiang Xiaochuan. His eyes slowly reddened, his chest heaving violently. He pointed a trembling finger at Jiang Xiaochuan, and after a long pause, he forced out a low growl through clenched teeth:

"You bastard—!!"

The sound was like thunder, making the roof beams seem to tremble.

"Master, please calm down!" Song Daren and the others knelt down in fright. "Junior Brother is young and doesn't know any better. Master, please don't take it to heart!"

"Yes, Master, Junior Brother has lost his mind. Please calm down..."

"Junior brother, quickly apologize to your master! Hurry!"

Several senior brothers offered their advice in unison, kowtowing and giving Jiang Xiaochuan meaningful glances.

Jiang Xiaochuan remained kneeling, his back ramrod straight, his eyes red-rimmed, and tears finally slid down silently, dripping onto the bluestone ground.

He didn't speak, nor did he bow his head.

Tian Buyi felt a tightness in his throat as he looked at him. Suddenly, he flicked his sleeve, and a powerful force surged out. Song Daren and the others who were kneeling on the ground cried out in surprise and were all swept out of Shoujing Hall. They fell into the courtyard with a few thuds and rolled around in a heap.

"Get the hell out of here!" Tian Buyi roared, his voice hoarse.

Only Tian Buyi, Su Ru, and Jiang Xiaochuan, who was kneeling, remained in the hall.

Tian Buyi, panting heavily, stared at Jiang Xiaochuan, his voice low and hoarse, as if all his strength had been drained: "Do you know what you're saying?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's throat tightened with a sob. He nodded forcefully, his voice trembling with tears, yet steady: "Disciple knows, disciple...is willing to accept all punishment. But my mind is made up, and I dare not deceive Master."

Looking at his tearful yet unwavering eyes, Tian Buyi suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He raised his hand, his palm surging with inner energy, but looking at that drooping, stubborn head, he couldn't bring himself to strike.

Su Ru sighed softly, put down her needlework, walked to Tian Buyi's side, pressed his raised hand, and said gently, "Buyi, the child is grown up and has his own path."

Tian Buyi suddenly turned his head to look at Su Ru, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only snorted through his nose, flung his sleeves open, and turned his back.

Jiang Xiaochuan kowtowed again, his forehead touching the ground, and said in a deep voice, "This disciple is unfilial. Thank you, Master and Mistress, for your years of nurturing. This disciple... will remember it for the rest of my life."

He slowly stood up, his knees numb from kneeling. He staggered for a moment, then steadied himself, took out the Ink Snow Immortal Sword from his robes, held it with both hands, and presented it to Su Ru. His voice was hoarse: "Master's wife, this sword... was bestowed upon me by you. I am no longer worthy to use it. Please take it back."

Su Ru didn't take it. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan's red eyes, his red nose from crying, and his slightly trembling hands, sighed softly, and pushed the sword back.

"Take it." Her voice was gentle, tinged with a sigh. "Consider it your early wedding gift from your teacher's wife."

Jiang Xiaochuan's hand trembled, and Mo Xue almost fell to the ground.

He suddenly looked up at Su Ru, but Su Ru had already lowered her head, picked up her needle and thread again, and stopped looking at him.

Tian Buyi had his back to them, his shoulders stiff, and he remained silent.

Jiang Xiaochuan gripped the sword sheath tightly, the cold blade digging painfully into his palm. He bowed deeply to the backs of Tian Buyi and Su Ru, then turned and walked out of Shoujing Hall, step by step.

In the courtyard, several senior brothers helped each other to their feet. They were covered in dust and looked rather disheveled. When they saw Jiang Xiaochuan come out, they all surrounded him, wanting to say something, but seeing his tear-streaked face and distraught appearance, they swallowed their words and silently made way for him.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't look at them, kept his head down, and walked through the corridor towards his room.

The corridor is still the same corridor, the bluestone slabs have been worn smooth by time, and shallow moss grows in the cracks.

Sunlight streamed in at an angle, casting dappled shadows on the pillars.

Everything was just as it had always been, as if he had just run past here yesterday, laughing and joking as he stole snacks from the kitchen.

But it seems like everything is different now.

He pushed open the door to his little hut.

The room was spotless, the tables, chairs, and bed were immaculate, and the small green plant on the windowsill was still alive with its leaves lush and green. Everything was just as he had left it, even the two books he had casually tossed on the bedside table were still in their original places.

He walked to the bedside and sat down.

The bed was hard, the blankets were neatly folded, and they smelled of sun-dried dryness. He stroked the cold scabbard of Mo Xue's sword. His mind was empty, yet it also felt full. He remembered his master's ashen face, trembling fingers, and hoarse voice. He remembered his master's wife's words, "Consider it your wedding gift in advance." He remembered the worried and helpless looks in his senior brothers' eyes.

He lowered his head, looking at the cold sword in his hand, and a sour feeling welled up in his throat. He slowly bent down and buried his face in his palms.

Outside the window, the sun shines brightly, and birdsong fills the air on Dazhu Peak.

He grew up here, learned his skills here, and met the person he cared about most in his life here. But it was also here that he disappointed his master for the first time and put the entire Dazhu Peak in a difficult position for the first time.

He didn't know if he was doing the right thing; he only knew that some paths, once chosen, cannot be turned back.

Very light footsteps came from outside the door. They stopped at the doorway, hesitated for a moment, and then gently knocked.

"Senior Brother Jiang?" It was Zhang Xiaofan's voice, cautiously.

Jiang Xiaochuan wiped his face, took a deep breath, and tried to make his voice sound normal: "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Xiaofan walked in.

He held a bowl of water in his hand, placed it on the table, and stood there, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan with worry, unease, and a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Senior Brother Jiang, are you...are you alright?" Zhang Xiaofan asked in a low voice. "I heard...I heard you had a fight with Master."

Jiang Xiaochuan shook his head and didn't say anything.

Zhang Xiaofan was silent for a while, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, and his voice was even lower: "I also heard... that Senior Sister Lu... she's coming to propose marriage."

Jiang Xiaochuan raised his head and looked at Zhang Xiaofan. Zhang Xiaofan had his head down, so his expression was not clear. Only his tightly pursed lips revealed a few emotions that were hard to decipher.

"Xiao Fan," Jiang Xiaochuan began, "I..."

"Senior Brother Jiang, there's no need to say anything more," Zhang Xiaofan interrupted him, raising his head and forcing a smile. "I understand. Senior Sister Lu... she's a good person. She's good to you, and you like her too. That's enough. I... I wish you both well."

After he finished speaking, he quickly turned around, opened the door, walked out, and gently closed the door behind him.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the door that had closed again, feeling a dull ache in his heart, as if something was blocking it. Zhang Xiaofan's forced smile, her evasive eyes, and that "blessing" felt like needles piercing his heart.

He felt like a despicable thief, having stolen what rightfully belonged to someone else and then pretending to be innocent.

But what could he do? Lu Xueqi wasn't an object; she wasn't someone who could simply be given away. When it comes to feelings, there's no logic to it.

He sat by the bed for a long time until the sun began to set and the room became dark. Outside the window, he heard his fellow students talking in hushed tones, footsteps, and the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen. Everything was just as it had always been: lively, mundane, and full of everyday life.

……

Inside Shoujing Hall, Tian Buyi remained motionless, his back to the door, like a stone sculpture.

Su Ru finished sewing the last stitch, bit off the thread, and held up the little bib in her hand to examine it in the light. It was embroidered with a pair of plump carp playing in the water around lotus flowers. The stitches were fine and lifelike.

She folded the undergarment neatly and placed it aside before getting up, walking to Tian Buyi's side, and gently pressing her hand on his stiff shoulder.

"Alright, everyone's gone, why are you still angry?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of a smile.

Tian Buyi shrugged, not turning around, and muttered, "That bastard... how dare he say that... I've raised him for nothing all these years!"

Su Ru walked around to face him, looked up at him, but Tian Buyi turned his face away, refusing to meet her gaze, though his ears turned slightly red.

"You," Su Ru reached out and poked his chest, "you clearly don't mean it that way, so why do you have to put on that sour face and scare the child?"

"Why don't I think that way?" Tian Buyi glared. "He dared to talk back to his master for a woman, and I can't even be angry?"

"Yes, yes, you can get angry." Su Ru went along with him, but the smile in her eyes deepened. "But how come I remember there was someone who was willing to risk his life to marry his junior sister?"

Tian Buyi was stunned, his old face flushing red: "You, what nonsense are you talking about! How can they be the same?"

"How is it different?" Su Ru tilted her head to look at him, her eyes sly. "You know that Senior Brother Wan is in love with me. You also remember the kindness Senior Brother Wan has shown you. But back then, someone stubbornly went up to Senior Brother Wan and said, 'Senior Brother, I'm sorry, but I'm determined to have Junior Sister. Even if you kill me, I will still marry her.' Was it you, Tian Buyi?"

Tian Buyi was speechless, his face turning even redder, his beard twitching. After a long pause, he finally managed to stammer, "Why bring up old news!"

Su Ru smiled, took his arm, leaned on his shoulder, and softened her voice: "Not easy, look at Xiao Chuan today, doesn't he look like you back then? For the person in your heart, you dared to say anything and do anything."

Tian Buyi stiffened and remained silent.

Su Ru continued, "Xueqi, I think she's genuinely good to Xiaochuan. She's a bit straightforward and assertive, but she's kind-hearted. A wife like that is hard to find even with a lantern. Xiaochuan is gentle, so having her protect him might not be a bad thing."

"But..." Tian Buyi frowned, his voice lowering, "But she is, after all, a woman. What kind of logic is it for a woman to propose to a man? This... this is utterly disgraceful! If word gets out, where will Dazhu Peak put its face?"

"Discretion?" Su Ru chuckled. "Can discretion put food on the table, or can it buy you someone who truly cares for Xiao Chuan? Back when you married me, didn't some people say you were a toad trying to eat swan meat, that you weren't good enough for me? Did you ever care?"

Tian Buyi remained silent.

Su Ru sighed and patted his arm: "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Xiao Chuan has grown up and has his own ideas. As his master and mistress, we can only stop him for a while, not forever. Why be the bad guy and let the child resent us for a lifetime?"

Tian Buyi remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long breath, his shoulders slumping as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

"Let them be," he muttered, turning and walking unsteadily into the inner hall. "I don't care anymore, I can't control it!"

Su Ru watched his retreating figure, shaking her head and chuckling. This old man, stubborn as a mule, still puts on airs even though he's already given his mind.

She walked to the table, picked up the embroidered little bib, and ran her fingertips over the delicate fabric, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes.

Carp playing among lotus flowers symbolize the birth of many noble sons.

Hopefully, those two children will have a smooth and successful life.