Chapter 1237: Loyal Dog Shou Care Rules 01

【Now transmitting plot memories……transmission successful.】

The villain Yajiu, a member of the Jianghu top-tier assassin organization, was abandoned by the organization after failing a mission and suffering severe injuries. Furthermore, fearing he would leak information, they sent people to hunt him.

During his escape, passing through Yangzhou's Danyang Commandery, he was rescued by the protagonist shou Xu Huaiyu at the foot of a temple mountain. Feeling pity, Xu Huaiyu took him in as a household servant.

Yajiu's meridians were corroded by poison; due to delayed treatment, he lost all his martial arts, so he decided to settle down and become a servant, just hoping to stay alive.

The story begins half a month before Xu Huaiyu's wedding.

Everyone in Wanling City knew that Xu Family's heir Xu Huaiyu and the son of the Yangzhou Situ, Zhou Zhihong, were innocent and affectionate toward each other, and moreover they were betrothed by imperial decree; their wedding was set for the 24th year of Jianzhang.

But Xu Huaiyu suddenly changed his mind just before the wedding, throwing the entire Xu family into chaos with his willful attitude.

Xu Huaiyu even declared outright that if he had to marry, he would hang himself at home the day before.

The Xu family mother suggested that, but since Xu Huaiyu was unwilling, someone else would have to go through with the marriage.

Yajiu felt he could never repay Xu Huaiyu's lifesaving grace, and willingly became a substitute, donning a human-skin mask to marry in Xu Huaiyu's place.

Xu Huaiyu also promised that he would surely find a chance to rescue him when the time came; Yajiu initially did not understand why the word "save" was used, but a few days after the wedding the question was answered.

Zhou Zhihong's temperament underwent a drastic change; ignoring his parents' objections, he eagerly took in concubines, and his methods of doting on them became even more cruel.

Although Yajiu's meridians were damaged, he had once been the top assassin and could have protected himself, yet after several schemes Zhou Zhihong detected something amiss.

To protect Xu Huaiyu, Yajiu could only restrain his sharp edges; not being abused or oppressed was his last bottom line, yet he endured all manner of strange torments inside Zhou Zhihong's manor.

Yajiu thought Xu Huaiyu would never come, or that he had been abandoned, completely unaware that Xu Huaiyu had been gravely wounded by an assassin and had no time to spare.

After Xu Huaiyu recovered from his injuries, Yajiu had already left the Zhou manor on his own, and even counterattacked Zhou Zhihong, inflicting serious injury and nearly killing him.

Yajiu originally intended to return to the Xu family to repay his gratitude, but unexpectedly Xu Huaiyu merely went to glance at the injured Zhou Zhihong, then willfully insisted on remarrying him; when the Xu family asked for the reason, Xu Huaiyu refused to speak.

This, seen through Yajiu's eyes, was utterly baffling—surely it was deliberate torment, using him as amusement.

In this brief regret‑then‑consent marriage, the only one who suffered abuse was him.

Yajiu harbored hatred in his heart, ignoring Xu Huaiyu's obstruction, and drove a hidden dagger straight into Zhou Zhihong's heart.

Yajiu thought he had succeeded, even witnessing Zhou Zhihong's breath cease and death, but shortly after fleeing he received news that Zhou Zhihong had actually come back to life.

But this time Xu Huaiyu went mad; upon seeing Yajiu again, every word accused him of killing his beloved, demanding a life for a life. He also said that he himself had failed, losing everything.

Yajiu did not understand—Zhou Zhihong was not innocent, so why could he not be killed? But without the Xu family's protection, Xu Huaiyu exposed Yajiu's identity, and the assassin organization soon tracked his whereabouts; Yajiu lost his life in Wanling City.

Not long after, Xu Huaiyu committed suicide.

Jin Chen: ……?

He hadn't felt this confused in a long time.

So, is the protagonist shou in love or not!

Jin Chen shifted his posture and continued lying down, receiving the original body's memories.

Wow, this identity is impressive!

Yangzhou's little tyrant!

His father is the emperor's younger brother, the Han King Jin Xuanqi, whose fief is Yangzhou's thirty‑nine commanderies, with a tax household of 1,500, and who also serves as Yangzhou Inspector.

His mother is from the esteemed Yangzhou clan, the current head of the Xu family's merchant lineage, Xu Wangyue, who oversees all the Xu family's businesses.

Xu Wangyue's elder brother, thanks to his outstanding talent, was exceptionally appointed to an official post despite his merchant background; he now serves as a Sixth Rank Chief Clerk in the Ministry of War.

Jin Xuanqi and Xu Wangyue have been married for over twenty years, and their only precious offspring is this original self; they dote on him lawlessly, and because the emperor's uncle favors him, he was granted the title of Heir Apparent before reaching adulthood, with hereditary fief.

Jin Chen sat up cross‑legged and pondered his relationship with the two.

His mother is Xu Wangyue, and his maternal aunt Xu Qiongyin is the mother of the protagonist shou.

Zhou Zhihong is the legitimate son of Yangzhou Situ Zhou Guidé, and Zhou Guidé is a subordinate of his adoptive father.

Jin Chen stroked his chin, quite satisfied.

【Isn't this identity awesome!】

0731 cheered.

【The plot has just begun; in the original storyline, if you were unwilling to go to the temple, you would have missed meeting Yajiu.】

Jin Chen lifted the bed curtain: "Da Hu!"

The personal attendant Da Hu hurried in, remarking astonished: "Today the sun hasn't even risen in the west—why are you up so early?"

Having said that, he promptly attended to Jin Chen's dressing, while the servants waiting outside brought the washbasin in an orderly manner.

Jin Chen yawned and lazily stretched out his hand.

"Aren't you supposed to go to Nanfu Temple today? If you're late you'll surely get a scolding."

"Ah?"

Da Hu pondered, carefully recalling that the young master had indeed said yesterday he didn't want to go: "You weren't saying you were bored, not wanting—"

Jin Chen glanced at him, eyes hinting danger: "Not wanting what?"

Da Hu hurriedly changed his tune: "Nothing, I was saying the young master is handsome and suave!"

The Little Heir Apparent has a new idea every day, and we're already used to it!

When they went to the front hall to pay respects and have breakfast, Xu Wangyue and Jin Xuanqi saw Jin Chen and were also greatly startled.

"Oh my son!"

Xu Wangyue immediately put down her chopsticks and rose: "Where do you feel unwell today?"

Being pulled by his mother to spin around twice on the spot, Jin Chen looked puzzled and hurriedly held Xu Wangyue's hand.

"I'm not uncomfortable; what are you saying, Mother?"

"Then why did my son get up at the chen hour?" Xu Wangyue still found it odd, she pulled Jin Chen to sit down and worriedly told Jin Xuanqi, "Husband, perhaps we should have the house physician take a look later."

"All right." Jin Xuanqi nodded.

Jin Chen: ……

He explained the reason again; after hearing it, Xu Wangyue laughed through tears: "You simply changed your mind—let's go together to pray for blessings, so Mother won't worry."

"It's rare for Chen'er to have breakfast; I'm really not used to it." Jin Xuanqi said earnestly, "If only we could get up early every day..."

"That's absolutely impossible." Jin Chen responded without hesitation, "Handsome old man, don't even think about stealing his sleep time!"

Jin Xuanqi: "……"

"Don't listen to your father; this is the time to grow your body, so you need to sleep more."

Jin Chen nodded, "Mother is still the best."