Inside a fancily decorated room, a young man who looked to be around seventeen or eighteen was seen sleeping on a bed. The white blankets covering him were half on the ground, and his upper nightwear was loose revealing his pale torso.
A double-sided window that was nearby had its swinging covers open from the night before, causing several streams of the rising sun's golden hue to seep through the square and diamond-shaped gaps onto the young man's sleeping face. His black untied hair that was spread out on his pillow also shimmered slightly.
This constructed a rather fascinating scene, as the young man's appearance was by no means ordinary.
Coupled with his handsome face and the rays from the sun, it would seem as if a being from the heavens that was sculpted to perfection had shimmered down to the mortal world through the golden radiance of the sun.
With such an appearance, it felt like blasphemy for him to be sleeping in this supposedly fancily decorated room.
Knock~
Knock~
"Third young master? It's time to get up, the Family Head and the eldest young master are waiting for you in the main dining hall."
The young man's eyes twitched open at the female's voice at the door before he slowly sat up, completely ruining the heavenly scene. Rubbing his eyes to get rid of his lingering sleepiness, he hoarsely said to the door.
"Okay, tell them I'll be there shortly."
Several faint exclamations of surprise could be heard from outside the door. An obvious indication those behind it hadn't expected that the young man would agree.
The young man ignored them and pulled his sheet that was half on the ground onto the bed before swinging his feet over the bedside to get up. However, the voice of the maidservant spoke once again, and this time it made the young man stiffen.
"Third young master, do you wish for our help in getting you prepared for the day?"
There was hesitation in the maidservant's voice, and it seemed she was choosing her words carefully as she spoke.
A look of irritation appeared on the young man's face, but it quickly disappeared to be replaced by a calm smile as he responded.
"No, that won't be necessary."
After a pause, the young man said once again.
"Tell my father and elder brother to stop with these schemes, I do not wish for a wife much less a concubine."
The three maidservants outside the door glanced at each other with a bit of disappointment in their eyes. Since their third young master was agreeing to eat after so long, they thought he had a change of mind, giving them a chance.
All of them had skin as smooth as jade without blemish. Their hair was neatly combed, and they wore clothes that were expertly picked out to accentuate their best features.
With dismay filling their hearts, the lead maidservant announced their leave before turning to walk away.
The young man listened to their footsteps retreat further and further away before he released a weary sigh.
But he could also hear their gossip.
"Looks like we failed."
"How unfortunate, the third young master might be a good-for-nothing that can't cultivate, but he's still the third son of the Family Head. Aside from those downsides, his personality isn't as bad as the rumors are either."
"That's right, the maidservants who came before us all said he never lost his warm smile when talking to them even though he looked down on their appearance. If we could have helped him bathe, perhaps in that situation he would have fancied one of us then and there."
"That might not be the case, he only chases after the skirts of top beauties like those courtesans in the Azure Pavilion after all. we surely can't compare to those brothel ladies."
"Have you heard of the rumors from the past? They say even as a child of ten years old he fired his maidservants saying they weren't worthy enough to bathe him."
The three maidservants then all giggled. Even though they thought their third young master was supercilious, they didn't think it was out of the ordinary. His looks were just too out of this world, so much so that even the talented young misses from those noble families showed interest in him despite his reputation as a good-for-nothing.
The young man inside the room was accustomed to the servants gossiping about him because they thought he couldn't hear them, so he simply dismissed these too.
Instead, his mind focused on the matter at hand.
"I can't hold on for much longer, does father really intend to force this marriage upon me?"
Growl~
The young man's stomach suddenly let out a growl. Glancing down at it he said with annoyance.
"Oh, shut up."
Though as if in protest another rumble came from his stomach.
The young man's annoyance faded quite a bit, and a look of struggle appeared on his face. Then with another tired sigh he relented.
"Fine, I've been persisting without food and water for two weeks, but father still hasn't budged on his decision. I've also abandoned my cultivation and have not used my Innate Qi to support my body. But the natural constitution of an Innate Master can only get me so far."
However, the young man's eyes, which had a bit of a dark circle forming underneath them, flashed with obstinance as he added.
"Father and elder brother, you two forced me to this point. If you think I'll agree with this marriage, then you don't know your own son and brother. Humph!"
After snorting coldly, the young man circulated his Innate Qi in his dantian for the first time in two weeks. His hunger and exhaustion that had piled up over the weeks faded somewhat, but Innate Qi was not omnipotent, he still had to eat and get some rest before he could fully recover.
Scratching his messy black hair, he got up to fetch water from the well in the back of the courtyard to wash himself. Not only was he refusing to eat anything during these past days, but he had also refused to bathe or change his clothes, so he smelled quite a bit.
In the washroom, the young man was slightly distracted as he sat on a stool while washing himself. He was busy thinking up a way to annul his marriage once and for all.
After finished scrubbing himself, he got into the wooden basin full of water. However, after settling down inside while resting his back and arms on the side of the basin, not three seconds later the water splashed widely as he jumped up and yelled.
"That's it!"
The sun from the window nearby shone on his excited face. A convenient ray of sunlight also shone on his bare nether region, blocking a would-be embarrassing sight.
Skipping out of the bath, the young man was too excited to continue bathing. He quickly dried himself and wore a new set of clothes before rushing out of his room.
….
…
..
"Father, since the Tang Clan sent us wedding gifts, it at least means they're not opposed to your decision even if it's only on the surface."
"Hm, we share the same sentiments."
A young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties along with a middle-aged man was seated at a table while eating and discussing important matters.
After picking a piece of the roasted duck on the table with his chopsticks, the young man was about to speak once again, however, he happened to glance across the table and caught sight of his younger brother nodding off. With an exasperated voice, he reprimanded.
"Little Xiao, can you not fall asleep at the table? You've finally decided to eat with us so you should eat properly. Look how thin you've gotten."
"Huh?"
The teenager named Xiao woke up with a start, the small bowl full of rice in his hand nearly spilling as a result. After blinking repeatedly, he sat up in his chair.
"Sorry."
Xiao muttered softly before he resumed eating his food. However, he seemed a bit distracted. The rice on the chopsticks would fall off before it could reach his mouth, but he hadn't even notice.
The young man and the middle-aged man glanced at each other worriedly when they saw this scene.