A family of loyal martyrs: Invincible from the moment they took a concubine in the mourning hall.

Chapter 1 Imperial Marriage

Torrential rain.

The stone lions in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion have turned white from being washed by the rain, resembling two tombstones.

White banners fluttered in the breeze inside the mansion. In the center of the mourning hall, seven black coffins were lined up in a row, and the eternal lamps in front of the coffins swayed precariously in the draft.

Xu Ming, dressed in white, stood alone in front of the mourning hall.

He didn't kneel, he didn't cry, he just held up an oil-paper umbrella and quietly watched the six coffins.

From left to right, they are:

Father: Xu Dingbian.

Second Uncle Xu Dingyuan.

Third Uncle Xu Dingguo.

Eldest brother Xu Mingyuan.

Second brother Xu Mingcheng.

Third brother Xu Mingli.

His eyes were slightly red.

This family is full of loyal martyrs.

My father led his army with unstoppable momentum, capturing twelve cities in succession. Just when it seemed he was about to strike the enemy's lair, the imperial court suddenly ran out of food, military supplies were seized, secret letters were intercepted, and the marching route was leaked.

They're all dead!

Now only he remains, Xu Ming.

The only son of the Duke of Zhenguo's family.

"Oh."

Xu Ming chuckled, his voice hoarse, as if he were crying.

He didn't know who to hate.

Hate the enemy country? The enemy country is the enemy, so killing you is perfectly justified.

What I hate is...

"Imperial edict has arrived!"

A sharp, long shout pierced the rain, interrupting his thoughts.

Xu Ming looked up.

The mansion gates were wide open, and rainwater poured in.

Under a yellow parasol, the Grand Eunuch Zhou An, dressed in a scarlet python robe, holding a bright yellow imperial edict, and wearing black boots, walked across the water.

Behind him were four guards with swords, and... a group of civil and military officials.

Zhou An walked to the front of the mourning hall, glanced at the seven black lacquered coffins, and a slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.

"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion receives the imperial decree—"

Xu Ming held the umbrella, remaining motionless.

Zhou An frowned: "Xu Ming, the imperial edict has arrived, why aren't you kneeling to receive it?"

Xu Ming looked at him, his gaze eerily calm.

Zhou An's heart skipped a beat, but he straightened his back again.

What are you afraid of?

He's just a spoiled brat.

"Your Majesty's decree," Zhou An unfolded the imperial edict, drawing out his words, "The Duke of Zhenguo, Xu Dingbian, sacrificed his life for the country, and his entire family was loyal and valiant. My heart is deeply grieved. However, loyal and valiant men cannot be without descendants. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon him a marriage to bring him joy and comfort his spirit."

A marriage arranged by imperial decree? A marriage to bring good fortune?

Xu Ming squinted.

Not long after her father and others died, the emperor bestowed a marriage upon them.

This is an insult.

Naked humiliation.

Zhou An opened the imperial edict and read it aloud:

"Xu Ming of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, receive the imperial decree—"

"I hereby grant you a death row inmate from the imperial prison as your concubine."

"I bestow upon you the Princess of Northern Yan, to be your concubine."

"I bestow upon you the most beautiful courtesan of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Hua Nongyue, to be your concubine."

"So be it."

Outside the mourning hall, there was complete silence.

Several accompanying civil and military officials exchanged glances, their lips curling into uncontrollable smiles.

Death row inmates in the imperial prison.

The disfigured princess of Northern Yan.

The blind courtesan of Zuixianlou.

Three "exquisite" women.

Each one is more "fortunate" than the last.

Is this an arranged marriage?

This is a slap in the face to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, a slap in the face to the whole world!

Isn't your family full of loyal martyrs? His Majesty bestows upon you three unwanted pieces of trash, and you have to kneel down to thank him!

Sun Qian, the Vice Minister of Works, chuckled softly to his colleague beside him, "The old Duke probably never imagined that his son would end up like this."

"He's a death row inmate," the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices said, covering his mouth. "Will Xu Ming even survive his wedding night?"

"It would be better if they didn't survive," Sun Qian raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "If the entire family of loyal martyrs were to die out, wouldn't the title, land, and military power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion... all be taken back by the imperial court?"

"Your Majesty is truly shrewd and calculating!"

Xu Ming clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

He was the only son left in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Now, he is being granted marriage to three "top-class" women. If he refuses the decree, it will be a grave offense of disrespect, resulting in the execution of his entire family and the extinction of his lineage.

If he accepts the imperial decree to marry a death row inmate, he might be strangled on his wedding night. His lineage will be cut off.

This is an attempt to wipe them out completely.

Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots!

Xu Ming suddenly looked up and stared intently at Zhou An.

Zhou Anzheng looked at him with a smile, his eyes saying one thing—"Go ahead and defy the imperial decree. Try defying the imperial decree."

The four guards behind him had already gripped their sword hilts, and a fierce killing intent swept over them.

All four are sixth-rank masters.

Xu Ming clenched his teeth so hard they made a grinding sound.

Who is he? He didn't even reach the ninth rank; he's just an ordinary person.

Disobeying the imperial decree? The next second will be bloodshed in the funeral hall.

Disobey the imperial decree? Marrying that death row inmate would only lead to an even more miserable death.

【Ding! 】

[The "Soft Rice and Hard Power" keyword sharing system is activated!]

[Host detected to be in a life-or-death crisis, system forcibly binding...]

[Binding successful!]

[System Core Function: The host can bind to a woman's hidden attributes and share her cultivation and talent.]

Xu Ming was overjoyed: The golden finger has finally arrived!

He took a deep breath, and then smiled.

He laughed loudly, laughing so hard he almost fell over, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Outside the mourning hall, Zhou An and the officials were stunned.

"Has this spoiled brat gone mad?"

"To laugh while being so humiliated, he must have really gone mad!"

"The illustrious reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's family has been ruined in an instant."

"Are you faking it?"

……

Xu Ming wiped away the tears of laughter and strode towards Zhou An.

"Father-in-law, this imperial edict—"

Zhou An looked at him warily.

Xu Ming held out his hand, "—Your subject accepts!"

He snatched the imperial edict and held it in his arms as if it were a precious treasure.

"Your Majesty understands me!" Xu Ming exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "I love thrills!"

Zhou An: "..."

Officials: "..."

Do you like death row inmates in the capital?

You like a disfigured princess too?

You still like a blind courtesan?

Xu Ming turned to face the seven coffins, raised the imperial edict high, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother—did you hear that! His Majesty has bestowed marriages upon our Xu family! A death row inmate from the Heavenly Prison! A princess from an enemy country! The most beautiful courtesan from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion! Three of them! Three at once!"

He turned around, looked at the dumbfounded Zhou An and the officials, and smiled so brightly it was unbelievable.

"Your Excellency, I have a request that I cannot make."

Zhou An's eyelids twitched: "...Speak."

"These three," Xu Ming held up three fingers, "I will marry them all. Tonight. A moment of bliss on the night of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold, and I can't wait any longer."

Zhou An's lips twitched.

He has seen people who care about their reputation, people who would rather die than submit, and people who are so frightened that they kneel down and beg for mercy.

I've never seen anyone steal an imperial edict.

And they're so happy about it.

"Then I'll see you off, Your Majesty," Xu Ming gestured for him to proceed. "I must go and prepare for our wedding night. Oh, and please inform His Majesty for me—"

Xu Ming took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said with his smile unchanged, "I thank Your Majesty for your great favor."

The last four words were spoken slowly and deliberately.

Zhou An looked at him and suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

That playboy's eyes... something's off.

But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

Ha, he's just a spoiled brat, he can't cause any trouble!

"Walk!"

Zhou An flicked his whisk and turned to leave with his guards and officials.

Through the rain, Xu Ming watched them leave, his smile gradually fading.