Mercy, Was the Young General a Good-for-Nothing?

In my previous life, I was the biggest joke in Bianjing City. To mock the greedy, hypocritical Chao family, I let myself sink into depravity and did every shameful thing imaginable. In the end, when the family fell, everyone turned against me. I died at the bottom of the freezing sea. The only one who shed a single tear for me was the tea merchant’s daughter I had forced into marriage. Given another life, I, Chao Xian, will never again be a useless good-for-nothing! I’ll hold on to this overwhelming wealth, protect this fortune of ten thousand taels, and make sure my wronged wife wears a phoenix crown and embroidered robes and receives a first-rank noblewoman’s title! Mu Shanlan eyed the shameless man before her coldly. She set down her teacup with a heavy clack and spoke in a cool voice: “Chao Xian, in our previous life, you switched my bridal sedan chair in the street, and I broke one of your legs. We settled our score long ago. I know you’re not stupid. It’s just that no one in the Chao family ever taught you right from wrong or how to love! If you insist on wallowing in the mire, then let me go home!” At her words, Chao Xian’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He gripped her wrist tightly, his knuckles turning white with the force, as if she were the only lifeline he had. He rasped, “Not a chance! You’re the last thing my Third Sister left me before she entered the palace! Even if it kills me, I will never let you return to the Mu family!” Mu Shanlan drew a deep breath and met his gaze, her eyes filled with pained resolve and the frustration of watching someone waste his potential. “Chao Xian, don’t make me hate you!”