Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ji Ningsheng was robust, a full head taller than me.

He had beautiful phoenix eyes, his pupils black and bright.

Unfortunately, his face was too dirty to make out its original appearance.

Under my gaze, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, he said seriously, “I… am not worthy of you, Miss.”

That was a refusal.

With that, Ji Ningsheng cupped his fists and turned to leave.

As I observed him, I caught a glimpse of his shoes.

They were worn through; his big toe was sticking out.

The thought that Ji Ningsheng would die at thirty filled me with pity.

In that battle, Ji Ningsheng defended the city to the death, holding out for a full month without any supplies.

Because of his perseverance, the reinforcements arrived in time to protect the border.

At that time, I was in a neighboring city.

A strange emotion surged in my heart.

I didn’t know why I was reborn, but it certainly wasn’t to marry Chen Jing again.

Since Chen Jing wanted to swap wives, I too needed a new beginning.

I called out to Ji Ningsheng, “Wait!”

Ji Ningsheng stopped and turned his face toward me.

I asked, “Brother Ji, how old are you?”

He lowered his gaze slightly, still polite and dignified. “I will turn nineteen next month.”

That meant in one year, he would be conscripted.

In my previous life, he endured ten years, lost an arm, and finally became a great general known as the “One-Armed General.”

I couldn’t help but feel that a man like him shouldn’t have such an ending.

Outside, the weather had changed without notice, and now it was pouring rain. I seized the chance to keep him. “The rain is too heavy. You won’t be able to make it back for a while. Why not stay overnight?”

Ji Ningsheng frowned, hesitating.

But I gave him no chance to refuse. “Someone! Lead Brother Ji to the guest courtyard and bring him some food. Also, prepare a suitable set of clothes, shoes, and socks.”

With such heavy rain, it would soon be pitch dark. How could he travel?

The servants obeyed and invited Ji Ningsheng to the guest courtyard.

Ji Ningsheng glanced outside, assessing the rain’s strength, before cupping his fists and saying, “Thank you. I’ll impose on you tonight.”

Setting aside his tattered clothes, this man truly had an extraordinary bearing.

My father and mother sighed repeatedly.

“Thank heavens, this man Ji is a decent fellow and doesn’t cling shamelessly.”

“Chen Jing has gone too far! If he didn’t want to marry our daughter, he shouldn’t have tossed the embroidered ball to someone else!”

“Yes, if not for good luck this time, our daughter would have been ruined! Didn’t Chen Jing worry that the embroidered ball might land with a beggar?!”

I also breathed a sigh of relief secretly.

The embroidered ball had struck Ji Ningsheng-it was a blessing in disguise.