Chapter 4

The Wang family, one of the six major families in the Great Merchant State, is led by a founding elder who holds a prominent position in the imperial court.

The Xiang family, also one of the six major families, is the most powerful among them! The head of the Xiang family, Xiang Liang, is renowned throughout the Qingzhou region and is also the father of Xiang Chen.

Although Xiang Chen was born with unusual features and was ostracized, his father treated him well. Despite appearing cold and distant, he secretly sought martial arts techniques to help Xiang Chen cultivate, which Xiang Chen naturally knew.

Unfortunately, during a palace banquet, Xiang Liang, after drinking, lost control and entered the emperor's harem, putting a green hat on the emperor. He was caught on the spot and thrown into prison, and the Xiang family's status was suppressed.

However, the Xiang family remained one of the major families due to its deep roots. The emperor did not take action against the Xiang family, which still commanded a powerful army on the border.

However, Xiang Chen never believed that his father would lose control after drinking. Although he was young, he had died young in his previous life, so he had lived two lifetimes. Having read many historical books in his past life, he understood the emperor's intentions.

Xiang Liang's prestige in the military was too high, and his achievements overshadowed the emperor. Without Xiang Liang, or with Xiang Liang as a hostage to restrain them, the Xiang family would not dare to rebel. The emperor's heart has always been like this: when the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden; when the rabbits are dead, the dogs are cooked. Peace is established by the generals, but they are not allowed to see peace.

Getting back to the point, what Xiang Chen is most concerned about now is his younger sister, who is two years younger than him. His sister was brought home by his mother, and they grew up together, wearing open-crotch pants. The depth of their sibling bond is self-evident.

His younger sister, Ye Rou, although only twelve years old and not fully grown, is already a renowned beauty in the Shang Dynasty. At the age of ten, countless nobles had already proposed marriage for their children to his father.

After his father's incident, he was framed, his mother was sent to the cold palace, and his sister was taken away by a young noble from the Wang family, Wang Ying.

Wang Ying, a well-known playboy in the Shang Dynasty, despite his young age, has already defiled countless virtuous women, and his reputation is tarnished.

Unfortunately, this beast is also a martial cultivation genius, already a cultivation master at the Divine Storage realm at a young age. With his father as the head of the Wang family, many people in the Shang Dynasty hate him but can do nothing about it.

On the street, the terrifying aura Xiang Chen released earlier had frightened everyone to close their doors and windows, leaving the street empty.

Xiang Chen moved ten meters with each step, rushing towards Wang Ying's residence at a speed of over ten meters per second.

Wang Ying's residence.

This is a large villa covering several acres of land. In the Shang capital, where real estate prices are high, only the important offspring of major families have such large private residences.

At this moment, Wang Ying's residence is festively decorated, with over twenty servants and maids busy entertaining guests.

Most of the guests are teenagers in their teens and early twenties, along with some elders from smaller families, making for a lively gathering of over a hundred people.

"Master Wang Ying, congratulations, congratulations."

"Haha, indeed, although Ye Rou is young, her beauty is already renowned in the Shang capital. Master Wang Ying, you have great fortune."

"Brother Ying, we salute you."

At the banquet, filled with fine wine and delicacies, many teenagers stood up to toast.

"Haha, everyone, please enjoy yourselves. I apologize for any shortcomings in the hospitality."

In the middle of the banquet, a young man in his late teens, wearing a short-tailed red robe, smiled.

This young man, with a somewhat handsome face, had slightly sunken eyes and a pale complexion from excessive indulgence, but his cheeks were flushed from drinking. He raised a wine glass to toast the guests.

This young man is Wang Ying.

This is not a formal marriage, but the taking of a concubine. The concubine in question is Xiang Chen's adopted sister, Ye Rou!

Although Wang Ying is not old, he already has three concubines, and the number of women he has defiled is countless.

After entertaining his friends and guests for a few rounds, Wang Ying left the task to his subordinates and eagerly entered the bridal chamber.

Inside the bridal chamber, a beautiful red-clad girl was crying.

Her face, though not fully developed, was already extremely beautiful, with a pure and charming appearance. Her delicate peach-like face, arched eyebrows, and phoenix-like eyes, her nose was finely structured, and her small, cherry-red lips were charming.

She wore a red silk dress, her figure was well-proportioned, but not fully developed.

Her ethereal and innocent aura was captivating, and her pitiful appearance was heart-wrenching.

Never before had such a beautiful girl been seen at such a young age. One can only imagine what kind of beauty she would become when fully grown.

At this moment, her hands and feet were tied with red ropes to the bedposts, and her beautiful eyes were red and swollen from crying.

"Brother... Mother, I'm so scared, Brother, where are you, Brother..."

Ye Rou's voice was like a nightingale's mournful cry, beautiful and sad.

At this moment, the terror enveloped her heart. Her big brother, who had always protected her, and her mother were not by her side.

"Creak..."

At this moment, the door to the room was pushed open, and Wang Ying, reeking of alcohol, entered and closed the door behind him.

Looking at the bound beauty on the red bed, Wang Ying's eyes instantly lit up with admiration, followed by a wicked smile.

"Ye Rou, my beautiful girl, the one I have been thinking about day and night, you are truly stunning." Wang Ying walked towards Ye Rou with a wicked smile, his eyes full of admiration.

"Wang Ying, let me go, let me go! If you dare to do this to me, my brother will never forgive you, let me go."

Ye Rou struggled and shouted.

"Hahaha, your brother, that monster who can't cultivate or practice martial arts, Xiang Chen? He's probably already beheaded, my beauty. If it weren't for me saving you, you would have been killed as well."

Wang Ying lifted Ye Rou's delicate chin and smiled, "Spit!"

Ye Rou spat in Wang Ying's face, her eyes full of tears, and angrily shouted, "You're lying, my brother can't be dead. He said he would stay with me forever. Let me go, my brother will punish you when he comes."

Wang Ying wiped the saliva from his face and smiled wickedly, "You don't know yet, your brother has already been sent to the execution platform by the Empress to be beheaded. His fate is sealed."

"What, Brother..."

Ye Rou's tears instantly flowed down her face. She knew that the Empress hated her brother.

"No, no... Brother, I don't want you to die. You promised to stay with me forever." Ye Rou cried out loud.

Suddenly, as if she had found a lifeline, she looked at Wang Ying and said, "Wang Ying, please, save my brother. If you can save him, I'll do anything for you, even become your slave. Please, save my brother."

Wang Ying sneered, "I can't save him, but I'll have someone bring his head to you. Rou'er, let's play a game first, hehe..."

He pulled out a whip and approached to tear Ye Rou's dress.

"No, no, no, Big Brother, Mother!..."

Despair and terror echoed in the room, and no one came to help her. Outside, the faint sounds of guests drinking and laughing could be heard.

In the winter month, the northern wind was bleak, and the sky was filled with heavy snow.

This snow could bury the filth of the earth, but it could not conceal the evil and dirt in people's hearts.