Chapter Fifteen: Reputation Is but a Passing Cloud to Me

Chen Kan was not well-versed in history.

But he did understand what it meant in the Ming dynasty for a man to be forced by a woman to break an engagement.

It meant utter disgrace—not only for himself but for his ancestors for eight generations, all nailed to the pillar of shame in history.

Chen Kan had originally thought the script he received was about a worthless character.

Unexpectedly, it was about a broken engagement.

Ha! No one understands broken engagements better than I do—no one!

Chen Kan pointed at Zhu Jixi and asked Fu Yu, “Is this your idea, or his?”

Fu Yu lowered her head and said nothing.

But when Chen Kan pointed at him, Zhu Jixi instantly flared with anger.

What was his status? A dignified prince.

And what was Chen Kan’s status? A worthless nobody without even the rank of a scholar.

Yet such a worthless man dared to point his finger at him—how could Zhu Jixi not be furious?

“It’s her wish and mine as well, Chen Kan. You are nothing but a lowly commoner, descended from traitors. Although my sister bears the surname Fu, her mother is a princess, nobility of the highest order. How could you possibly be worthy of her? This marriage ends today, whether you want it or not.”

Before Chen Kan could respond, Fang Xiaoru rose indignantly and said coldly, “Your Highness the Prince of Jin, I address you with respect, but do you think I am dead? You call him a commoner—do you really think my student, Fang Xiaoru’s disciple, is so worthless in your eyes?”

Caught off guard by Fang Xiaoru’s rebuke, Zhu Jixi was momentarily speechless and realized he had overlooked the scholar.

Fang Xiaoru was a literary master of the age; Zhu Jixi would not want to offend him unless absolutely necessary.

After shooting a fierce glare at Chen Kan, he hastened to explain, “Master Fang, you misunderstand. I did not mean it like that. It’s just that their statuses are vastly different...”

Chen Kan ignored Zhu Jixi, cast a grateful glance at Fang Xiaoru, then looked back at Fu Yu and asked, “I understand what His Highness means. May I take it that now that you, Fu Yu, have climbed into the Prince of Jin’s household, you look down on me, a ruined nobody?”

Fu Yu bit her lip, wanting to deny it, but recalling her cousin Zhu Jixi’s earnest advice, she lowered her head and remained silent.

After all, her cousin was right. With the gap between their statuses, this marriage was indeed unsuitable.

Besides, even if she compromised and agreed to marry Chen Kan, she would still feel resentful inside.

She did not want to live like her mother—marrying a man she did not love, bearing two children, and dying young in sorrow.

Her mother married her father by the order of the imperial grandfather; she had no choice.

But Fu Yu was different. She had a cousin, the Prince of Jin, willing to stand up for her.

Fu Yu’s husband must be a peerless hero like her grandfather.

Not a loser like Chen Kan, a man living under others’ roofs.

She would never marry him—not ever!

Chen Kan could not read minds, but he could see clearly what Fu Yu was thinking from her face.

He understood perfectly.

Very well. Since that’s the case, then prepare for my moment of glory.

“Hahaha... hahahaha...” Chen Kan laughed heartily, then said coldly, “Thirty years the river east, thirty years the river west. Fu Yu, listen carefully. Today, it is not you who comes to break the engagement with me, but I who will—”

“Brother Chen, I know my actions today will hurt you, so I’m willing to compensate you with a thousand taels of gold as an apology.”

“Break—”

“Huh???”

“A thousand taels of gold?”

“Is that true?”

Chen Kan rubbed his ear, incredulous. If breaking engagement pays a thousand taels of gold, why didn’t someone say so earlier?

“Clap... clap!”

Fu Yu clapped her hands twice.

A soldier entered the courtyard holding a tray.

On the tray lay ten gold ingots arranged neatly, their dazzling glow reflecting the setting sun with a mesmerizing brilliance.

For a moment, Chen Kan was almost entranced by the sight.

Then, amid the stunned gazes, Chen Kan dashed forward like lightning, snatched the tray, grabbed a gold ingot, and bit into it.

Mumbling incoherently, he said, “Breaking the engagement, I must break the engagement.”

“Oh right, Teacher, where did you put my marriage certificate? Find it quickly and destroy it.”

Fang Xiaoru: “...”

Zhu Jixi and Fu Yu were utterly shocked by Chen Kan’s reaction.

One thousand taels of gold to settle it? Why didn’t he say so earlier!

Little did they know, Chen Kan had been too overwhelmed by life-or-death matters since crossing over to even remember he was engaged.

Chen Kan had no time to entertain them now.

One thousand taels of gold—truly, when drowsy, someone brings a pillow.

The money to renovate the house just arrived.

He wished he could break a few more engagements.

...

“Your Highness the Prince of Jin, Miss Fu Yu, take care and visit often.”

Seeing off a gloomy Zhu Jixi and Fu Yu, Chen Kan held the gold, grinning foolishly in the courtyard.

“The Prince of Jin is a man of great generosity…”

“Smack~”

“Ouch~”

Chen Kan rubbed the back of his head, displeased. “Teacher, why did you hit me?”

Fang Xiaoru looked furious. “Why hit you? You scoundrel! How dare you ask? Do you realize what it means if today’s matter spreads?”

“What does it mean? Of course, it means the student just got a free thousand taels of gold.”

Chen Kan answered matter-of-factly.

Hearing such shameless words, Fang Xiaoru became exasperated, pointing at him and cursing, “You... idiot, bastard, little scoundrel, you...”

Chen Kan interrupted, asking, “Teacher, do you really believe that even without today’s broken engagement farce, Zhu Jixi would have honored the marriage and given Fu Yu to me?”

Fang Xiaoru paused, uncertain. “Most likely not.”

Chen Kan shrugged. “Then it’s settled. Since it was destined to be wasted anyway, agreeing to break the engagement and getting a thousand taels of gold is all the better.”

“But—”

Chen Kan cut him off again. “I know you’re worried about my reputation, but honestly, do you think I have any reputation left?”

“Well...”

“People say I first caused my parents’ death, then the death of the kind Duke of Yingguo’s family who took me in. Recently, I even caused you to be imprisoned. They say I’m a complete disaster. Now, this trivial broken engagement—I really don’t care.”

Chen Kan’s words darkened Fang Xiaoru’s face.

He looked at Chen Kan sharply and said, “Where did you hear such things?”

“From the townsfolk.”

Chen Kan was not trying to fool Fang Xiaoru; he had genuinely overheard the commoners talking like that during the day.

Fang Xiaoru solemnly said, “Yuansheng, you must understand, these things are not your fault.”

Chen Kan replied, “Of course I know. Foolish gossip is not worth my time. What I’m trying to say is, reputation is but fleeting clouds to me!”