Chapter 1

" Ning Chen, get out here. "

" Second Young Master, you can't go in... Fourth Young Master has caught a cold, don't let it spread to you. "

" Get out of the way, you damned dog slave, how dare you block my path? Tell that bastard to stop pretending to be dead and get out here to see me. "

Amidst the insults, a loud slap echoed.

Ning Chen was startled awake.

He looked around the small room in confusion.

A square table, a round stool, and a dilapidated bed—nothing else.

Where am I?

As Ning Chen was wondering, fragments of memories flooded his mind, causing intense pain that almost made him faint.

But the pain came and went quickly.

Ning Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his expression somewhat strange... he had actually traveled through time.

He was originally the commander of a special forces unit on Earth, struck by a stray bullet in a firefight, and died for his country.

After death, he somehow ended up in the body of someone with the same name and surname.

This place is the Great Xuan Dynasty.

A dynasty that has never appeared in history.

However, the previous owner of this body had a miserable life.

His father, Ning Ziming, was the current Minister of Rites, a second-rank official.

But Ning Chen lived a life worse than a servant in this family.

Years ago, when Ning Ziming went to the capital to take the imperial exams, he promised Ning Chen's mother that he would come back for her once he passed.

But he waited for five years.

In fact, Ning Ziming had already placed second in the imperial exams five years ago, was favored by the current Left Chancellor, and married the Chancellor's daughter, with whom he had three children.

The Great Xuan Dynasty values filial piety, so Ning Ziming returned this time only to pay respects to his ancestors.

Ning Chen's mother knew nothing of this, thinking Ning Ziming had come to take her to the capital to live a better life.

But after a night of passion, this beast left without a trace!

Later, Ning Chen's mother discovered she was pregnant.

When Ning Chen was seven, his mother fell ill with depression and passed away.

After that, Ning Chen lived by begging, surviving on scraps from others.

When Ning Chen was twelve, Ning Ziming sent someone to find him and brought him back to the Ning family.

Later, Ning Chen learned that it wasn't because Ning Ziming had a change of heart, but because he was worried about his future.

Ning Ziming received news that his political enemies had learned about his abandonment of his wife and child, so he brought Ning Chen back home first and fabricated a perfect story.

But the main lady of the Ning family, Chang Ruyue, and her three sons, fearing that Ning Chen would eventually inherit the family's wealth, did not treat him well at all.

Ning Chen tried to please them every day, but all he received was even more severe abuse.

No matter how much he was abused, Ning Chen never made a sound, because he didn't want to go back to begging and wandering.

But what he didn't know was that no matter how much he endured... they would never treat him as one of the family, and they wanted his life.

Now that it was autumn, Ning Chen was still wearing thin clothes and had caught a cold.

They not only refused to let a doctor treat Ning Chen but also secretly poured cold water on his bedding.

As a result, Ning Chen fell seriously ill and died without medical care.

Ning Chen sighed, feeling only eight words for the previous owner of this body... pity his misfortune, anger at his lack of resistance!

At that moment, the door opened.

An old man in rough clothes with a limp walked in.

Seeing Ning Chen sitting on the bed, the old man was first stunned, then his face lit up with joy, saying, "Fourth Young Master, you're awake? That's great, that's great..."

This old man had been in the Ning family for a long time, and he was there when Ning Chen arrived... others called him Old Chai, and Ning Chen called him Uncle Chai.

Uncle Chai was the best person to Ning Chen in the family.

Usually, Ning Chen ate leftovers and was often hungry, and it was Uncle Chai who saved his own food to give to Ning Chen.

"Fourth Young Master, you're still sick, lie down quickly..." Uncle Chai said as he quickly poured a cup of water and brought it over, "Here, Fourth Young Master, drink some water... are you hungry? I'll... "

Before he could finish, the door was kicked open with a bang.

A young man in fine silk and brocade, arrogant and domineering, rushed in.

Ning Xing, Ning Chen's second brother.

Seeing Ning Chen, Ning Xing immediately pointed at him and shouted, "I knew you were faking it, you bastard... give me back my jade pendant, or I'll beat you to death today."

"Second Young Master, Fourth Young Master just woke up, can we talk about this later?"

Uncle Chai quickly blocked Ning Xing.

Ning Chen had just survived a near-death experience and was weak; he couldn't withstand Ning Xing's beating.

He had seen Ning Xing beat Ning Chen, with no restraint, beating him to death.

"Get out of the way, dog slave!"

Ning Xing, seventeen years old and physically strong, kicked Uncle Chai to the ground and shouted, "Dog slave, you dare to help this bastard deceive me, I'll beat you to death."

Seeing Ning Xing about to attack, Ning Chen's eyes darkened, but he forced a smile, "Second Brother, I'm sorry, I'll give you back the jade pendant... don't be angry!"

Ning Chen said as he felt around the head of the bed.

Ning Xing strode over, "I knew my jade pendant was stolen by you, you bastard... if you dare to steal my jade pendant, you'll be in for it when Father comes back."

Yesterday, after Ning Xing and Ning Chen met, Ning Xing said his jade pendant was missing and accused Ning Chen of stealing it,纠缠不休。

“找到了！”

Ning Chen suddenly said, then extended his hand.

Ning Xing stared at Ning Chen's hand, but when Ning Chen opened his palm, it was empty.

Ning Xing was stunned, not reacting in time, when Ning Chen grabbed the porcelain pillow from the head of the bed and smashed it hard on his head.

Bang!

With a dull thud, the porcelain pillow shattered.

Ning Xing staggered back a few steps, almost falling, and was instantly bleeding from the head.

He looked at Ning Chen in disbelief, even forgetting to scream.

Because he couldn't believe that Ning Chen would dare to hit him?

In the past, no matter how they bullied him, Ning Chen never fought back or spoke up, and no matter whose fault it was, Ning Chen would always carefully apologize and beg for forgiveness.

Uncle Chai was also stunned!

After a while, Ning Xing finally reacted, screaming and pointing at Ning Chen:

"You dared to hit me? You, you bastard, dared to hit me?"

Ning Chen, holding the shards of the porcelain pillow, said coldly, "I not only dare to hit you, I dare to kill you, do you believe me?"

Ning Xing was frightened by Ning Chen's eyes, trembling all over, and turned to run out, shouting that he had been killed.

Uncle Chai got up from the ground, panicking, and said, "Fourth Young Master, what... what do we do now?"

Ning Chen looked at Uncle Chai without speaking.

"Fourth Young Master, are you okay?"

Uncle Chai thought Ning Chen was scared stiff and asked worriedly.

Ning Chen, however, smiled faintly and said, "Uncle Chai, go find more wood, and then get some pine oil."

Uncle Chai didn't understand but still went to do as he was told.

Ning Chen got out of bed, stumbling... this body was malnourished and severely weakened from the illness.

"Looks like I need to train a bit... the hit on Ning Xing just now was much weaker than I expected."

Ning Chen muttered to himself.