Chapter 1: The Embarrassing Prodigal Son

Alas, it is too late for regret

It is well known that the Zhenguan era was one of the rare periods of good governance in history, and the name of Emperor Taizong of Tang is widely recognized. Living in this era, peace and stability, as well as ample food and clothing, should not be a problem

The vast family estate fell into the hands of the teenager Xie Yi, and without any constraints, Xie Yi became increasingly reckless, turning into a veritable spendthrift.

On the morning of the day before yesterday, Xie Yi felt that the dream he had during the night was an auspicious sign. He took the only remaining money in his home and went back to the gambling house. By coincidence, he encountered a group of local rascals from Huaiyang, who were also his usual opponents. After several exchanges of words, Xie Yi, unable to withstand the provocation, and eager to quickly recover his losses, began to wager large sums.

Leading eagles and riding horses, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment without restraint; were it not for his youth and the heat of filial piety, one can only imagine that he would frequently be found in the brothels and pleasure quarters.

He was once a young doctor who participated in a volunteer medical outreach program in the western mountainous region. He had a pleasant conversation with a beautiful female doctor from his profession, and there seemed to be potential for further development in their relationship

To put it nicely, since you are here, you should make yourself comfortable; to put it bluntly, no matter how much reluctance you feel inside, you must accept your fate. Fortune and misfortune are interdependent, and it is not necessarily a bad thing.

Could it really end in such tragedy? Amidst the ebb and flow, a sense of foreboding rose within Xie Yi's heart

Xie Yi felt utterly perplexed, especially after inadvertently catching a glimpse of his reflection in the rusted copper mirror, which left him completely unsettled

Having calmed his mind and searched his memories thoroughly, Xie Yicai let out a sigh of relief, almost forgetting that the Xie family had a younger sister, Xiaoman, who was not yet four years old. As for the young woman, she was not a wife, but rather his own sister-in-law.

Originally hoping to have a son in old age, it was unfortunate that a daughter was born instead. Mother Xie, being an advanced maternal age patient, died due to complications during childbirth. Many family members had passed away, and the offspring were unworthy. Old Xie was deeply affected by the setbacks and subsequently fell ill, passing away a few months later with regrets.

As for what the tenth year of the Zhenguan era signifies, Xie Yi has no profound impression. It is likely that the national mourning was solemn and widely known, and the original memory in his mind quickly sent back a signal—Empress Changsun's passing, leading to nationwide mourning

What an awkward predicament, sigh

One day, while returning from a round of consultations, a beautiful doctor accidentally dropped her backpack into a river as she crossed a small wooden bridge. Xie Yi, confident in his swimming skills, took the initiative to jump into the water to retrieve it

As the old saying goes, "Nine out of ten gamblers lose," and this is certainly true. Over the course of a year or two, the once substantial family fortune of the Xie family was completely squandered by Xie Yi, and dozens of acres of land were handed over to others, leaving only an old residence.

After the nth instance of choking on water, Xie Yi could no longer care about his image, and his perfect freestyle turned into a dog paddle

The beautiful and graceful Du has remained a widow like this, which is truly a pity! Xie Yi sees this and can only feel that it is a waste of such beauty

In those days, the spendthrift Xie Sanlang was out with his friends and was not at home, so the specific circumstances were not very clear. When he returned home, his second brother Xie Qian had already passed away. Upon seeing the mourning Du family at the spirit tablet, Xie Yi casually referred to her as "sister-in-law," and this term has remained until now

Does this have anything to do with oneself? At least not at the moment

Avoiding prostitution, yet unable to escape gambling, under the deliberate inducement of certain individuals, Xie Yi gradually developed a gambling addiction. He engaged in intellectual contests such as chess and horse racing, and had also frequented gambling houses to play with gambling tools.

Faced with this situation, Xie Yi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He had inexplicably arrived in the Tang Dynasty, only to become a prodigal son, and moreover, he had just lost his entire family fortune, finding himself in an extremely destitute state

As for the little girl in her arms, she appeared to be around three or four years old, with a pair of bright, watery eyes and a rosy little face, looking quite adorable. However, she seemed somewhat frail and bore a hint of malnutrition.

What is the situation regarding emotions and books

There is hope, as Xie Yi smiled broadly, and the river water surged once more into his mouth and nose, choking him and making it difficult to breathe

It must be said that Xie Erlang is quite unfortunate, as he could not keep his beautiful and delicate wife, who passed away early.

I have crossed over

As a time traveler, what concerns me the most is undoubtedly the era and time. In Xie Yi's mind, the answer quickly emerged—the tenth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty

Xie Yi is increasingly concerned about his situation. Coincidentally, he is also named Xie Yi, currently seventeen years old, residing in Chen Zhou, Huai Yang City. He is the third in his family, commonly referred to as Xie Sanlang

The beautiful and delicate widow alone with her young and handsome brother-in-law inevitably leads one to indulge in fanciful thoughts

With a sigh, Xie Yicai realized that he was not the only person in this household

The Tang Dynasty can be regarded as the most prosperous dynasty in the history of China; the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties is not to be taken lightly. The era name "Zhenguan" is also quite familiar, referring to Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin

The pink backpack is just ahead, and as I am about to grab it, a wave suddenly crashes over, causing the river water to rush into my nose and mouth again, making it hard to breathe

The two looked like a mother and daughter. Although I am only seventeen in this life, it is not unusual for people in ancient times to marry and become fathers at this age

In the vague impression, the spendthrift has at least a modicum of respect for this sister-in-law, yet does not treat her with particular kindness. Every day, he indulges in eating, drinking, and entertainment outside, completely disregarding the situation at home.

At this point, it stands to reason that if Xie Yi were to promptly turn over a new leaf, he could barely manage to get by, or even revive his family's business. However, the traits of a spendthrift have already penetrated his very bones, and coupled with the influence of a gambler's mentality, he remains restless and unable to resist temptation

Madam Xie, upon seeing the beautiful and cultured Miss Du, decided to spend money on a lavish burial for her mother and brought Miss Du home. Initially, she served as a maid, but later, influenced by the words of a Taoist priest, she arranged for her to marry the gravely ill Second Young Master Xie to bring good fortune.

and - diagram - book

The outcome was tragic; the backpack was not retrieved, the beautiful woman was not won over, yet I successfully joined the ranks of the time travelers

It seems that time travel is often a one-way journey, and I rarely recall anyone returning. Holding onto a glimmer of hope is not particularly meaningful

Father and mother are truly something; since they have set their sights on this daughter-in-law, knowing full well that the second son is in poor health, they should have considered the robust Xie Sanlang instead. It's really frustrating!

Alas! This time it has gone too far; the cost of impressing girls is a bit too high

Fortunately, the Du family is frugal and diligent in managing their household. They remain steadfast and unwavering, caring not only for the prodigal son Xie Yi but also quietly raising their young sister-in-law. Life is hard, and they have endured their share of grievances, yet the neighbors have taken notice and often express their admiration and praise.

In the past, there should not have been much, as a spendthrift may have the heart of a thief, but lacks the courage of one. It must be said that in terms of observing filial piety, the spendthrift Xie Sanlang is still quite disciplined; a person who does not dare to enter brothels and pleasure houses certainly would not dare to act recklessly at home

Five months ago, in June of the tenth year of the Zhenguan era, the virtuous Empress Changsun, who shared a deep bond with Li Shimin, passed away in the Hall of Governance. Half a month ago, she was just interred in the Zhao Mausoleum

He clearly remembers that the river was flowing rapidly, and a wave came crashing in, nearly drowning him. Fortunately, a boat arrived to rescue him. However, after being saved and brought back to shore, how is it that he has changed his face and taken on a different guise

Xie Yi woke up to see a roof of wooden beams and blue tiles. On the mottled earthen wall, there was a small wooden window, through which a faint light filtered in. In front of the low bed, a young woman with swollen red eyes was silently shedding tears, holding a small girl in her arms.

# # # .

The Xie family's parents are somewhat inhumane, forcing a delicate young lady to marry a sickly man, under the pretext of bringing good fortune. What is the result? It is nothing but harm!

Traveling through time can be quite unfortunate, but arriving in the Tang Dynasty, without being caught in the turmoil of war and the suffering of the people, can be considered a stroke of luck amidst misfortune

After leaving the gambling house, the prodigal son, who was penniless, felt an extraordinary sense of loss. It was unclear whether he felt guilty towards his parents and ancestors or was worried about his future livelihood. In a moment of despair, he actually jumped into the lake. Fortunately, a boatman discovered him in time, and with the help of a time traveler who borrowed his body, he was "fortunate enough to survive"

Having committed the grave mistake of being restless and impulsive in the casino, it is already difficult to win back what was lost. Furthermore, the opposing group seems to have a clear intention to conspire against him, employing some underhanded tactics behind the scenes

The water flows rapidly, and Xie Yi appears quite flustered

In a daze, the water seemed to have calmed significantly, and a wooden boat was hurrying towards me; on the distant shore, a crowd of people was gathered, and it appeared that a woman was shouting loudly.

This woman, surnamed Du, fled with her mother to Chenzhou Huaiyang several years ago due to famine. After her mother fell gravely ill and passed away, she staged a tragic drama of selling herself to bury her mother.

However, it seems that it is not too late now

How should I put it

Uncertain of the circumstances or the profound scientific principles involved, one finds oneself drowning and dying, only for the soul to inexplicably traverse time and space, subsequently borrowing a body to be reborn in the form of a young man from ancient times

Due to excessive toil, the body appears somewhat slender and shows signs of fatigue and weariness. If one were to rest and nourish oneself, and apply a light touch of makeup, one would undoubtedly become a delicate and charming beauty, captivating and enchanting.

What exactly has happened? Where am I? Who are these two women in front of me? A series of questions flooded his mind, leaving Xie Yi completely bewildered

The face reflected is young and handsome, yet strikingly unfamiliar, so unfamiliar that I do not recognize myself at all

Before long, Xie Yi lost everything. Under the persuasion and provocation of those around him, the impulsive spendthrift, in a bid to turn the tide, staked the only remaining old residence. By noon, it had completely changed ownership.

Xie Yi turned to look at the young woman sobbing by the couch, who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. She was strikingly beautiful, with clear brows and bright eyes, fair skin, and a head of dark hair flowing like clouds

Due to excessive pampering, Xie Yi, at a young age, became arrogant and indulgent, turning into a spendthrift and a wastrel. The elder Xie couple, seeing this, were heartbroken and distressed. However, their attempts at discipline proved fruitless. In order to ensure the continuation of the Xie family's lineage and the inheritance of their estate, they took matters into their own hands and worked hard, resulting in the birth of another child.

When many memories that do not belong to him intruded into his mind, Xie Yi finally became aware, albeit belatedly, of this absurd yet real fact

In a state of helplessness, Xie Yi could only retreat in difficulty, struggling to swim back to the shore. It was easy to come, but hard to return; at a critical moment, his legs inexplicably cramped up. As another wave surged towards him, he had no time to react, leaving him somewhat dazed.

Though she does not apply any cosmetics and merely wears a simple skirt made of coarse cloth, it is difficult to conceal her gentle beauty and the exquisite grace of her figure, making her appear as a woman of exceptional charm

The Xie family was originally prosperous and wealthy, with a thriving business. However, in recent years, they have faced a series of misfortunes. First, the eldest son, Xie Jin, passed away at a young age; then, the second son, Xie Qian, fell ill and, after two years, also departed from this world. The third son, Xie Yi, became the sole heir and the only hope of the Xie family, naturally receiving much attention and affection.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, and Xie Yi felt a bit dizzy, as if there were flashes of light flickering before his eyes, and his consciousness gradually became somewhat blurred

Vaguely, Xie Yi seemed to see many people pointing and whispering, sighing, and there was also the sound of a woman crying in his ears

Affection and indulgence differ by only one character, but once the boundary is crossed, it becomes uncontrollable, leading to serious consequences

Forget it, life is more important than chasing girls

At this moment, this beautiful and virtuous sister-in-law, looking at the dazed Xie Yi, was crying like a weeping pear blossom

His gaze fell upon two women beside him, one large and one small. For a moment, Xie Yi was somewhat bewildered, wondering if they were his wife and child