"So, Yi Chen, tell me about yourself, your family, and what you do for a living?" Master Ru asked with a not-so-happy tone as the two of them were walking side by side on a stone pathway in the residence's huge garden.
'Is this an interview or what?' Yi Chen remarked in his mind.
"Well, my name is Yi Chen, I've been in this town for the last eight years, and I'm an orphan. I've been working as a sweeper to fill my stomach, and my work schedule is five hours a day with no days off, just like all the other sweepers," Yi Chen said, blurting out whatever he could think of.
"A sweeper?" Master Ru's brows tightened when he heard this.
Seeing this, Yi Chen's mood brightened the very next moment. He felt like this was an opportunity to do away with the marriage
With this in his mind, he answered, "Yes, Master Ru, I'm just a sweeper. Someone as lowly as me shouldn't be allowed to be even within ten steps of Miss Yu, and therefore, you do not need to feel conflicted at all.
If you want me to go away, I'll readily do so since Miss Yu deserves someone worthy enough to stand next to her. A sweeper like me would only be a blemish to her reputation if I got married to her,"
Hearing Yi Chen's words, a trace of shock appeared on Master Ru's face, and he started laughing the next moment.
"Oh, Heavens! I had almost done a great blunder, but thank you for opening my eyes!" Master Ru said out loud and continued with his laughter.
Hahaha!
His loud laughter made Yi Chen pull back in fright.
'What happened? Did I say something wrong?' Yi Chen thought in fear and uncertainty as he waited for Master Ru to stop laughing.
When Master Ru finally calmed down, he patted Yi Chen's back and said, "Do you know I was really about to kick you out of the family if I found that you were here just for my money. However, after listening to you, it's clear that you have a clear character and you're an honest and hardworking man."
He paused and continued, "What's wrong with being a sweeper? We all start somewhere, so there's no need to be ashamed since you're still young. Moreover, you even tried to deny this marriage, thinking of the well-being of my daughter. After hearing that, how could I not let you marry her? A man with a golden heart like you is definitely deserving of my daughter."
'Are you crazy, old man?! You want to marry your daughter to a sweeper?' Yi Chen wanted to cry tears of blood at his situation, but he couldn't.
"It's a pity you don't have parents, but don't worry. I'll take all the responsibility for your marriage as your father-in-law." When Master Ru finished, he clapped his hands, and a manservant soon arrived at the scene.
"Guide Young master Yi Chen to his quarters," Master Ru said to the servant, who nodded his head and soon addressed Yi Chen.
"Follow me, young master," The servant said respectfully and started walking.
Seeing the uncertainty in Yi Chen's eyes, Master Ru patted his back and said, "Surprised? You'll be staying with us from now on. Think of it as your new home. You may send some servants to pick up your belongings from your house later on."
With that, Master Ru left, and Yi Chen was forced to follow after the servant, who soon guided him to his quarters.
"This is your quarter, young master," The servant said and showed him his quarter.
It contained two rooms. One was a meeting room and the other was the bedroom. The floor was neatly furnished with polished wood. There was even a small 5x5 meter courtyard just outside his quarters in which several potted plants were placed.
As if to enhance the scenic beauty to another level, a small pond had been made with stones encircling it. An orange fish suddenly jumped in the air as if to welcome Yi Chen before diving back into the water.
"This is all mine?" Yi Chen couldn't help but ask.
"Yes. Young master. As the future son-in-law of Master Ru and the future husband of Lady Yu, it is a given that you would be provided with this residence," The servant said with a courteous smile and continued, "I'll go and stand outside then, if there's anything that you may need you can call me."
With that, the servant left the quarter, leaving Yi Chen all by himself.
Yi Chen soon landed on the bed with a silk mattress and muttered, "Well, being her husband isn't as bad as I thought earlier."
However, Feng Yu's face soon flashed in Yi Chen's mind, and he shook those thoughts away.
'What am I even thinking? I must find a way to escape from here…. but where should I escape to…moreover, would I even be alright if I offend someone like her?' A trace of fear welled up inside Yi Chen. He had no intention of becoming an enemy of the future Phoenix Empress.
"God…just when everything was going so well, I was splattered with a pile of shit…" Yi Chen cursed to himself.
However, he realized that there was no way out of his plight now. Becoming Feng Yu's enemy was too great of a risk.
"There's no choice then, I must accept this fate," Yi Chen said to himself while consoling himself in his mind.
'At times, one must be practical in their lives, and for a person as weak as me, I cannot afford not to be practical!'
A lot had happened in the last few hours, and it had taken a significant toll on Yi Chen's mind. He was naturally very exhausted, and just a few moments later, he fell asleep.
Knock Knock
"Young master!"
Yi Chen was soon woken up by the servant's voice outside.
"Yes, come in," Yi Chen said after his drowsiness went away.
The servant soon entered the quarter with a trolley filled with food. The meat and vegetables on the plates wafted off an aroma which made Yi Chen salivate.
"Here's your lunch, young master. As for Dinner, Master Ru has ordered me to inform you that the dinner will be held in the family hall tonight. Be sure to attend it," The servant informed.
"Ah, I'll be sure to attend," Yi Chen nodded in understanding.
"Yes, Young Master, I'll be going then." With a bow, the servant left the room soon after, and Yi Chen launched himself on the food.
In the evening, he visited his house with a few servants, and they took whatever little belongings he had back to his quarters at the Great Blue Residence.
"Brother, I wish you a happy married life," Brother Hu tightly hugged Yi Chen as if he were seeing him for the last time.
It was the same with other elders who had an expression of sorrow on their faces but still forced themselves to smile towards Yi Chen as if they didn't want to lower his morale.
Seeing this reaction, Yi Chen couldn't help but feel like a bride who was leaving her home after marriage. However, he respected their sentiments and reciprocated them.
"Everyone, I'll miss you all," Yi Chen told them one last time and waved them all goodbye. His steps then moved towards his new home, Great Blue Residence.