Chapter 1244

Tian Tian urgently cried for help: "Father! Mother! Help!"

Unfortunately, the neighboring Tian household remained silent.

1058 was inept at speech and understood nothing of business tactics.

1058 was inept at speech and understood nothing of business tactics.

Tian Xingye carried her over the wall, mounted a horse, and galloped swiftly toward the northern city.

Tian Tian sat atop the horse, tossed about until she felt dizzy.

She couldn't help asking: "Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Hm?" The young man turned his head to look at her, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Doing what on purpose?"

"Pretending to be my eldest cousin to scare me! You want to marry me?" Tian Tian stared into the young man's face, her tone dangerous.

His features—every line of his face, his skin tone, his build—were utterly handsome and captivating.

Especially those ink-black eyes, as if holding countless tender emotions.

Tian Tian thought to herself: Such beauty, if not made Emperor of Jingcheng, would be a waste.

The young man's lips curled in a faint smile, his eyes brimming with playful intrigue.

"You say that, and it reminds me of a poem—'Spring nights are short, the sun rises high; from now on, the emperor no longer rises early!'"

Tian Tian blinked slowly, her large eyes stunned.

What the hell?

What did he just say?

Such a scandalous poem came from the mouth of a noble young master!

No wonder he's the hereditary commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Awesome!

"Elder Cousin, you don't just want to be an emperor—you want to be a corrupt one!" Tian Tian declared indignantly.

The young man burst into laughter: "Little girl, you really dare to say that."

Tian Tian: "It's true!"

Tian Xingye said: "Stop arguing—we're almost there."

The young man pulled the reins taut, stopping before a towering vermilion-painted gate.

Tian Tian turned her head and saw a vast courtyard, carved beams and painted rafters, Jin Bihuihuang, extravagantly opulent.

She sighed inwardly: So this was indeed imperial kin.

"Go in," the young man urged.

Tian Tian dismounted and followed Tian Xingye across the threshold.

The entire three generations of Elder Cousin's family bore the surname Tian.

Tian Tian's grandfather, father, and elder brother were all Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Only the secondary branch—Tian Yuan and Tian Jiaojiao—were distant relatives with no ties to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's duty was to maintain state stability and defend the nation.

Yet the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a leisurely royal clansman, idle and unambitious, constantly traveling the four seas and ignoring court affairs.

Tian Tian's grandfather was ambitious, but he had little education, was inept at speech, and understood nothing of business tactics.

Though the Tian family had once been illustrious, it had gradually declined.

Today, the Shi Sect was no longer as prosperous as in days past.

Now, besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Tian family also operated an apothecary.

That grandmother was the shopkeeper of the apothecary.

"Big brother, why are you here again?" A young woman, dressed in flamboyant attire, stepped forward.

She was strikingly beautiful, clad in a red dress, heavily made-up, and utterly eye-catching.

Tian Tian squinted: This was her grandmother Tian Yulan—also her stepmother Lin Shi.

Tian Yulan had married into the Shi Sect for three generations.

She was wild and fond of lavish revelry.

Her husband Tian Yuan disapproved of her ways, but the family was poor and had no choice but to rely on her.

"Jiaojiao, I have something to tell you," Tian Xingye pushed Tian Tian to Tian Yulan's side, then left the apothecary and headed toward Tian Family Village.

As soon as Tian Xingye left, Tian Jiaojiao eagerly grabbed Tian Tian's hand and examined her closely.

After a moment, she exhaled in relief.

"Good, you're unharmed," she comforted. "You're the most valuable person in our Tian family now—if you're lost, we're all finished."

Tian Tian tugged at her lips, giving a perfunctory reply.

Her head buzzed, her whole body felt dizzy and utterly uncomfortable.

"I'm going to lie down in my room. Don't call me for dinner," she muttered, head bowed, then hurried back to her room.

Tian Jiaojiao watched her retreating figure with concern, murmuring to herself: "This child must've been overstimulated."

Tian Tian returned to her room, flung herself onto the bed, and pulled the quilts over her head.

1059 A celestial immortal descended from heaven.

Her soul was imprisoned within her body; she could not control it, and all she could do was close her eyes and pretend to be dead.

"Hey…" She heard someone calling her.

"Wake up." The familiar voice came again, warm and pure, as if dispelling all darkness.

Tian Tian opened her eyes and found a young man standing before her.

He stood tall and elegant, his features like a painted scroll, his aura otherworldly—as if a celestial immortal had descended, making all surrounding scenery pale in comparison.

Tian Tian's eyes went wide; she stared at him blankly, taking a long while to react.

"I am Ximen Wudi, sent here by your Great Hall Uncle." The young man explained.

Tian Tian suddenly came back to her senses.

Great Uncle sent someone to impersonate Great Hall Uncle?

What kind of move is that?

This is clearly bullying her for being young and ignorant!

"Thank you for helping me escape, I will definitely repay you in the future!" she said sincerely, expressing her thanks.

Ximen Wudi shook his head and smiled, his voice clear and pleasant: "You're welcome."

Tian Tian suddenly felt she had said the wrong thing just now — she shouldn't have thanked him!

Such a handsome man, she should have been flirting with him instead.

"How are you going to repay me?" Ximen Wudi curved his lips into a smile.

Tian Tian's heart trembled; oh my, that face value is just too foul!

"I…"

"You don't need to say it." Ximen Wudi extended his right hand and placed it on top of her head. "I've helped you out, so from now on you are my fiancée."

Tian Tian: "???"

What's with this domineering-CEO style of forcing a deal?

"Wait… wait!" Tian Tian hurriedly stopped him.

"We don't even know each other yet."

"Knowing each other is enough." Ximen Wudi leaned slightly forward, coming close to her; his thin lips brushed past her cheek as he asked softly, "My name is Ximen Wudi, what's yours?"

Tian Tian swallowed her saliva and stammered: "Tian Tian."

"Mm, I'll remember that." Ximen Wudi raised his hand and ruffled her head, speaking indulgently and affectionately: "You must be exhausted, hurry and rest a bit."

Having said that, he stepped back and stood in place.

Tian Tian:???

What kind of operation is this?

Tian Tian cast him a suspicious glance, then slowly climbed onto the bed.

She closed her eyes and began mulling over the owner of this body, Tian Tian.

The original owner of this body was seventeen years old, yet due to long-term hunger and malnutrition, she was petite and delicate, a bag of bones.