Chapter 77 Cursed Three Generations

Chapter 77: Three Generations of Bad Luck

"A vile woman like that—good riddance, divorcing her was the right call. We need to get more manpower, and fast."

Yang Xingxian had the same idea and went and bought a few guards right away.

"My son is so pitiful, with the autumn exam right around the corner, and he still has to worry about all this."

Lady Wu couldn't help but feel a wave of grief: "They say a good wife can prosper a family for three generations. Marrying that Xi woman has cursed our family for three generations."

Yang Xingxian suddenly remembered something important and didn't want to keep talking to his mother, instead going to see his father.

Marquis Yang fixed his eldest son with a stern look: "You're a scholar too—how could you just believe any rumor you hear out there?"

Yang Xingxian looked anxious: "Dad, this time it's real. It's just the provincial exam, not the spring palace exam. If exam questions can be sold for money, how could the examiner not be tempted? Besides, what does it have to do with the examiner? The one selling the questions is a nephew so distant he's practically a stranger. This is straight from an inside source."

"Instead of studying, you spend all day chasing after shady schemes. If exam questions were that easy to buy, wouldn't everyone be passing?" The Marquis was still annoyed.

The family's generations of good luck must have been spent on his father—a pig butcher—and his contribution to the emperor's rise. There's no way that many pies would just fall into their laps.

"I'm warning you—don't. You have no fear of heaven at all."

Yang Xingxian grew impatient: "Dad, just think about it—if I don't pass the exam, when will the Emperor even notice me and give me a title?"

"Then just take the exam like everyone else. Why go through all these shady back channels?"

"Dad, you've never sat for the exams—how would you know how hard it is? It's just that the questions cost a fortune..."

"How much silver does it cost?" The Marquis was somewhat curious.

"Three thousand taels of silver."

The Marquis jumped in shock, but Yang Xingxian was regretful: "I only got wind of this two days ago. If I'd known a few days earlier, I never would have picked a fight with that Xi woman at a time like this. At least I'd have some silver left to grease the right palms."

The Marquis waved him off wearily, telling him to get out.

"I can't rein you in anymore. If you've already made up your mind, why bother coming to me? You should know—the silver is the least of it. If this gets out and the Emperor gets angry, neither of us can survive that."

Yang Xingxian brushed it off. His dad had been stuck in bed for years and had turned into a scaredy-cat.

The only reason he'd come to the Marquis was to ask for money. Sure, his dad didn't have money, but if he could swallow his pride and borrow some, maybe he'd scrape a little together...

Seeing his dad's attitude, he knew there was no way he'd lend him anything.

Yang Xingxian slunk back to Xi Jiaojiao's place, dejected, and filled her in on everything.

Xi Jiaojiao was floored by the "five thousand taels of silver": "Husband, I know this is a matter of great importance, but where am I supposed to get that kind of silver? Right now, I can't even afford a nice piece of fabric or any makeup."

"Forget it, forget it... ugh. If only you had as much money as Xi Qianyue. Once I get back on my feet, I could buy you all the fabric and makeup you want."

Yang Xingxian lay there, all deflated, his face still swollen, looking pathetic and a little ridiculous at the same time.

"Husband, I've already shelled out so much silver... I don't have any more! Even my mother—she's got nothing left. She already gave me every bit of silver she'd saved over the past decade or more."

Xi Jiaojiao felt a pang of sadness as she spoke.

"How much money could your mother possibly have? If you're going to ask anyone, it should be your dad. And remember, do it on the down low—don't let Xi Qianyue find out, or she'll come after us demanding we pay back the silver..."

Xi Jiaojiao was irritated by how casually he said it, like it was a given.

"Husband, I've poured out all this silver, and I'm still just a concubine. If you'd just make me your official wife right now, then I'd have a good excuse to go ask my dad for money."

Yang Xingxian sat up immediately: "Of course I'll make you my wife—why else would I have gone through all that trouble to divorce your sister? Don't you trust your husband?"

With that, he planted a wet kiss on her soft cheek.

Xi Jiaojiao's face turned bright red instantly. She pretended to give him a little slap, her heart all warm and sweet again.

She was just one step away from becoming the official wife. Once she helped her husband pull this off, the title of Marchioness would be hers.

Basking in Yang Xingxian's sweet talk, Xi Jiaojiao headed back to her parents' house.

But wouldn't you know it—she ran smack into Xi Qianyue at the front gate.

Too late to dodge, she had no choice but to put on a smile: "Sis, heading out?"

Xi Qianyue just gave her a cold smile, said nothing, and let the carriage roll on.

Xi Jiaojiao stomped her foot in anger. Hmph, that drama queen drove her own husband away and had the nerve to blame her?

Little did she know, Xi Qianyue was feeling pretty great.

The system had already told her that the "payout" she'd gotten from Xi Jiaojiao counted as money she'd earned!

And whatever she earned could be taken back to her real life—how could that not thrill her?

Concubine Yu had waited forever to see Xi Jiaojiao. The moment they locked eyes, they almost burst into tears.

"Don't cry, my girl. Just as you said would happen, one day you'll be the grand and noble Marchioness of the Marquis household!"

Xi Jiaojiao choked back her tears: "Mom, I'm so glad you've got my back. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't be where I am today. Don't worry—I'll take care of you in the future. I don't have much power right now, but if I really do become Marchioness, I'll make Dad make you his official wife."

Concubine Yu felt warm and comforted inside. Indeed, a real daughter was a warm, snug little coat for the heart.

When Xi Jiaojiao stated why she'd come, even though Concubine Yu had a hunch her daughter had come to ask for money, she was still taken aback to hear "five thousand taels."

"How can you throw around thousands of taels like that? I figured if you asked for three or five hundred, we could beg your father together and he'd hand it over. Five thousand taels—your father won't go for that."

Concubine Yu's concern was spot on. Thousands of taels of silver—how could anyone just hand that over?

Master Xi wasn't the Yang family's personal ATM!

Besides, Master Xi hadn't seen a single ounce of return, and he couldn't see what good that son-in-law would ever do him.

"Dad, I'm begging you. If you help me out just one more time, I'm about to be made the official wife—won't I be Marchioness after that? This is my make-or-break moment. If I miss this chance, I'll be stuck as a concubine forever."

Master Xi wasn't swayed. He couldn't stop thinking about what Xi Qianyue had said, how she'd laughed at him, saying he was pouring piles of silver into the Yang family's bottomless pit.

Xi Jiaojiao had no choice but to go up and whisper something in Master Xi's ear, so quietly that not even Concubine Yu could catch it.

Master Xi blurted out: "Really?"

"Of course it's real, Dad. The autumn exam is coming up, and my husband is sure to pass. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't dream of bothering you."

"This is way too risky..."

"Dad, why do you think those poor scholars study for ten years and get nowhere? For sons of noble families, passing the county exam and the provincial exam is way easier, right?"