Chapter One: Transcendence

“Your Majesty, I must report that our nation is suffering from a severe imbalance between men and women.”

“Explain in detail.”

“Out of every hundred people, there are fewer than twenty men. No men guard our borders, and there are no men to till the fields. If this continues, our population will dwindle, undermining the very foundation of our country!”

“Issue a decree: from this day forth, each regional governor shall take full responsibility for arranging marriages for all unmarried women. Every adult man must take a wife—three wives earn a minor reward, four a medium reward, five a major reward. Any couple who bears a son will receive a generous reward. Within three years, we must reverse the current situation of too few men and too many women in our dynasty.”

The autumn winds howled fiercely in August.

“Aqin—!”

“What a strong wind! Did you leave the window open again while sleeping?”

Chen Fan suddenly sat up in alarm.

“Huh! Where am I?”

He looked around and found himself in a bare, desolate room. The thatched roof was riddled with holes, and there wasn’t even a window.

“If Liu Yuxi lived here, he probably wouldn’t have composed ‘Ode to the Humble Room’!”

Wasn’t he supposed to be resting in the military barracks? How had he opened his eyes to find himself here?

It seemed he had transmigrated into another world.

Chen Fan felt something wet in his hands. He looked down.

A young woman, her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, gazed up at him with sorrowful, beautiful eyes.

Her features were as delicate as jade, and she wore a rough cloth headscarf. Chen Fan was utterly transfixed—he had never seen such a lovely woman before. For a moment, he was speechless.

The girl blushed under his gaze.

“Master, you’re finally awake! Without you, what would we do?”

Her voice rang in his ears like silver bells.

“What an absolute goddess—flawless in every way!”

“Why do you call me Master?”

“Master, when you went up the mountain, you slipped and fell into the ravine. You’ve been unconscious ever since—I was so frightened.”

“Now that you’re awake, let me fetch some water for your bath!”

She stood up immediately, limping as she hurried outside.

“Ah, what a pity she’s lame! Otherwise, her figure alone would drive any man mad.”

A sharp pain stabbed through Chen Fan’s head. The memories of the body’s previous owner flooded into his mind.

“This original owner was truly cruel—how could he bear to hurt her so badly?”

Chen Fan rubbed his temples, feeling unnaturally weak in this body. He wasn’t used to it.

In his previous life, he had served many years as a special forces soldier.

“Master, may I wash your face for you?”

“Yes.”

She extended her hand only after he spoke.

“Oh!”

“How comfortable,” Chen Fan murmured inwardly.

She abruptly stopped.

“Master! Did I hurt you?”

“No! You made me feel very comfortable. Thank you!”

It was the first time she had ever heard Chen Fan thank her. She grew anxious.

“By the way! I hit my head and can’t quite remember your name. What was it?”

“Master, my name is Yue Rou.”

“Oh! I always thought your name was lovely.”

Yue Rou’s cheeks flushed deeper.

Chen Fan’s eyes never left her face.

Any girl would feel shy under such scrutiny.

Yue Rou’s hands slowed as she continued.

Suddenly she stood up, picked up the basin, and prepared to leave.

“Master, is the water cold? I’ll fetch another basin for you!”

Chen Fan grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

Yue Rou didn’t resist, letting him guide her.

She set the basin aside.

Before she could do anything else, Chen Fan seized her other wrist.

They sat facing each other in silence.

“Master, if I did something wrong, please go easy this time. Don’t break my right leg too. Otherwise, no one will be left to care for you.”

Chen Fan was speechless.

Yue Rou trembled slightly, unable to meet his gaze.

“What are you doing, Yue Rou?”

“I’m waiting for your punishment, Master.”

“Oh! The original owner truly had no pity for her at all! Look how frightened she is.”

His eyes roamed over Yue Rou.

Her neck was as pale as snow.

Her chest rose high and proud.

Chen Fan felt a surge of desire.

He had spent his previous life in the army, rarely interacting with women.

But his soldier’s discipline prevailed.

He decided to comfort his wife.

He wanted to embrace her, but hesitated.

“I’m just trying to comfort her, not take advantage. She is my wife, after all!”

He took her hands from their laps and lifted them to his chest.

Then he spread his arms, and Yue Rou fell gently into his embrace.

Yue Rou pressed her hands against his chest, trying to rise.

But Chen Fan pulled her tightly into his arms.

Her head had nowhere to rest but on his shoulder.

“Master! I was wrong! You can hit me as you wish!”

“I shouldn’t have washed your face with cold water. I deserve punishment!”

“It’s all right—you’ve done nothing wrong. I won’t ever hit you again.”

“Very well, Master. From now on, I’ll do everything myself.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“I don’t understand, Master. Please explain yourself clearly.”

“My point is, from now on, no one in this household will ever be beaten, not even by themselves.”

“Master, are you hungry? Shall I cook for you?”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

After a while,

“Are you sleepy, Master? Let me help you change for bed!”

In truth, Chen Fan had only ever beaten or scolded Yue Rou, never shown her any kindness. He made her work like a beast of burden, constantly finding fault and abusing her.

Only the laws of this dynasty forced women to submit to their husbands.

Chen Fan vaguely recalled that, in his world, there was a region known as the Land of Abundance in Sichuan and Chongqing. There, women held high status, and men doted on their wives, obeying their every wish.

There was a famous mountain called the Shu Dao.

The road to Shu was said to be harder than climbing to the heavens—a phrase synonymous with the region.

Fortunately, this nation had no Shu Dao.

Otherwise, there would probably be no men left in the country.

If the men of Shu Dao descended the mountain, they would be the white moon in the hearts of all the women of this land.

“Master, aren’t your arms tired? What are you trying to do?”

“It’s nothing. I don’t want anything, Yue Rou. I just want to hold you.”

“This is the first time you’ve held me like this, Master!”

“I feel so comfortable.”

Chen Fan gently stroked Yue Rou’s soft hair.

The scent of her hair was intoxicating.

In the army, Chen Fan and his comrades had once cared for a dog abused and abandoned by its owner. At first, it would scream whenever anyone approached.

But they fed it meat every day and gently petted it. Eventually, it grew cheerful and no longer feared people.

“Hey, Chen Fan! Did you forget what we agreed on? Why aren’t you going to the casino to play? Do we have to bring people along to invite you?”

Yue Rou squeezed her eyes shut, then broke free with all her strength and stood up.

“Master, you have guests. I’ll go prepare food for them.”