Lady, Wait - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When I was fourteen, my blade technique had finally reached a modest level of mastery, so my master tossed me a jade pendant.

“Go to the Xiao Family in Jiangnan. A child betrothal was arranged for you years ago. Go get married.”

That was all she left me with before she wandered off to enjoy her carefree life.

I had only just completed my training, and all I wanted was to roam the martial world. I had no desire whatsoever to get married.

But as luck would have it, I drew my blade to help someone in need-and just so happened to save a member of the Xiao Family.

Even more tragically, I was poisoned and needed several extremely precious medicinal herbs for the antidote.

People roaming the martial world tended to have pockets cleaner than their faces. Where was I supposed to find the money for medicine?

“You saved this young master’s life, which makes you a benefactor of the Xiao Family. Come back to Jiangnan with me, and you’ll have more wealth and glory than you could ever enjoy.”

Xiao Yue was only thirteen at the time, and one look at him told you he was a pampered young lord raised in a pile of brocade.

He had the rich man’s disease too. He had run away from home with a single attendant, only to be taken for a fat sheep.

If I hadn’t been kind enough to save him, he would have been sold off to some pleasure den to wait on people by now.

“What are you even wearing? Even the beggars in Jiangnan don’t look as shabby as you.

“How could this young master possibly gnaw on steamed buns? I’m telling you, I’d rather die than eat them!”

His attendant was dead, and in order to get the money for my medicine, I had no choice but to escort him home.

Along the way, he either complained that the tea stalls were filthy or that the steamed buns were too bland.

I quietly hid the jade pendant away, thinking that if I had to marry a sheltered young lord like him, I would rather die!

Xiao Yue was strikingly handsome, spoiled and willful, with eyes as bright as the moon-utterly likable at first glance.

Unfortunately, against all odds, he had been born with a rotten mouth.

After much difficulty, I finally delivered him to the Xiao Family. The old and young alike wept with astonishing enthusiasm.

I pushed past the crowd and went up to Master Xiao, then said politely, “In order to save the young master, I was poisoned. I urgently need five hundred taels to purchase medicinal herbs. I hope Master Xiao will show mercy.”

To my surprise, Master Xiao stared at me for a moment, then said in shock and uncertainty, “You… Are you the disciple of Yuan Hongxiu, the Desert Blademaster? Your given name is Yuan Xiaodao?”

“Pfft-hahaha!” Xiao Yue burst out laughing at once and mocked me without the slightest restraint. “So you actually have such a crude name. No wonder I kept asking what you were called the whole way here, and you never answered me.”

My heart sank. I hadn’t expected the old man to recognize me. I was just about to grease my soles and slip away.

Who knew Master Xiao would smack Xiao Yue on the back and snap, “Mind your manners! This is your future sister-in-law!”

Heaven refused to grant my wish. My Cold Poison flared up, and I spat out a mouthful of blood before passing out cold.

As I fainted, I vaguely heard Xiao Yue shouting at the top of his lungs, “Save her! Hurry and save this wretched woman! She saved this young master’s life. If you can’t save her, I’ll die with her!”

You little bastard. At least you had some conscience.

Mm. So this wastrel young lord wasn’t my fiancé after all. The heavens still took pity on me.