4.1 Crossing Over Against a Transmigrator

Qiao Chen felt a small jolt. When he opened his eyes, he only had a blurry view of small cubical-like area. At least he wasn't nauseous anymore. Finally, his vision cleared. He immediately saw that he was actually lying in a carriage. Apparently, he had returned to an ancient time period for this life.

The moving carriage suddenly stopped, and there was a commotion outside. Qiao Chen was about to sit up when the carriage's curtain was swatted open.

A familiar face suddenly appeared before him. Qiao Chen stared blankly, but then blurted out, "Xiao Qinan?"

After the name slipped out of his mouth, Qiao Chen remembered that this was supposed to be the first time that the two should have met. He suddenly blurted out their name, so they were probably weirded out by him now. Qiao Chen looked at the man. Sure enough, the man kept a confused look from the moment he laid eyes on him.

"General, they have just escaped from over there." Xiao Qinan's subordinate reported from the outside.

Qiao Chen immediately reached for Xiao Qinan's arm just as Xiao Qinan turned around and was just about to jump out of the carriage. Xiao Qinan quickly turned back. He had wanted to shake off Qiao Chen's hand, but when he looked into Qiao Chen's eyes… His body suddenly stopped in fear of hurting Qiao Chen. This made the already confused Xiao Qinan even more bewildered. Qiao Chen quickly pointed to the bottom of his carriage.

He knew that the men Xiao Qinan's subordinates found were just unimportant grunts who were trying to lure them away. The people Xiao Qinan really wanted were hiding under his carriage.

Xiao Qinan glanced down and his expression changed. He pretended to leave and jumped down from Qiao Chen's carriage. Some of his men had already chased the other escapees, while others had stayed and awaited his command.

Xiao Qinan signaled to his subordinates to surround Qiao Chen's carriage.

"Ah! You guys…. Wuwu, wah!" Qiao Chen's servants and attendants initially stood nearby at their wits' while sobbing. When they saw the carriage being surrounded, they rushed up and tried to protect Qiao Chen. However, they were immediately dragged away by Xiao Qinan's men.

Xiao Qinan's men cordoned off the carriage from Qiao Chen's people and the first carriage. They were held back with blades to their throats, so they didn't dare let out another peep, but tears were still streaming down their faces.

Qiao Chen jumped out of the carriage's window as Xiao Qinan's men surrounded it. He jump over to the carriage in front of his and climb through the window. His mother and her two maids looked at the blades as they glinted in the light and were terrified half to death. When they saw Qiao Chen, they opened their mouths and were about to call out to him. However, Qiao Chen immediately put his fingers to his lips and signaled them to keep quiet.

At the back carriage, there was the sound of a horse whose carriage had been overturned and sounds of a scuffle quickly followed.

After the fighting stopped, Qiao Chen's carriage curtains were opened. Xiao Qinan stood outside, looked at Qiao Chen, and said, "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, General Xiao." Qiao Chen said with a smile. Since he had already said the man's name aloud, then he might as well admit that he knew him.

Xiao Qinan raised his brow and asked, "Have we met before?"

"I've seen you before general, you just haven't seen me. My mother has suffered a fright, so we will be on our way home now. We can discuss this another time and explain it later." Qiao Chen gave Xiao Qinan one last look, and then had his servants continue to drive the carriage. The other servants also returned to the other seats in the carriage behind them.

"Jingyun, what just happened?" Madame Shu put her hand over her jumping heart. Just as she was relieved that they had arrived in Luodu city, they had actually encountered bandits.

"Don't worry, mother." Qiao Chen held Madame Shu's hand and consoled her. "General Xiao was just catching some fugitives. It's okay now."

Qiao Chen knew that the people Xiao Qinan was after weren't any common criminals, but Turkic spies. In the previous life, Xiao Qinan had not caught the spies, so there had been very severe consequences.

"General Xiao? Which General Xiao is he?" Madame Shu asked doubtfully.

"The general of Flying Tiger Battalion- that Xiao Qinan."

"Flying Tiger Battalion? Your grandmother's most hated family? Those Xiaos?" Madame Shu asked somewhat surprised.

Qiao Chen nodded. Madame Shu knew Xiao Qinan's identity and didn't ask or say anymore.

Qiao Chen didn't expect to see his lover just moments after he opened his eyes. They had loved each other for a few lifetimes now. However, every single time, his lover couldn't remember him and didn't even know he existed. Qiao Chen's heart felt out of sorts, but there wasn't any other choice. His mission and destiny required the man to fall in love with him. He could only accept the misfortunes fate had given him. It wasn't so bad since he could right the wrongs his previous lives encountered.

In this life, Qiao Chen was the Guangde's Marquis' first and true born son. This sounded like he was the son of a noble family, but he didn't enjoy the treatment that the legitimate son usually had. This was because of his brother, Cheng Jingrui, who was only a year younger than him. It just so happened that this bastard born brother of his was much more talented than he was.

Cheng Jingrui's body contained a soul that had transmigrated over from modern times. This meant that at the age of three, Cheng Jingrui was about to write his own poems. At the age of four or five, he was able to pick up a brush and paint. By five or six, he was able to coax and convince his father to treasure him and him alone. He got their father to believe that he was the family's lucky star.

Even though Cheng Jingrui's mother, Madame Xu, was just a concubine, she was also their grandmother's distant cousin. She was given great importance and had a huge banquet for part of her dowry. While the old madam heavily favored that mother and son, she wasn't very fond of Qiao Chen on the other hand. If that wasn't enough, Cheng Jingrui also used his modern knowledge to create a lot of things that showcased his cleverness and luck. So the old lady, who's heart was already heavily biased, stay firmly on their side.

When Cheng Jingyun was ten years old, the old madam's immediate family was sentenced to death because they embezzled disaster relief funds. Xiao Qinan's father was the one who discovered this and beheaded them after he wiped out the bandits that attacked after a large the natural disaster occurred. After the old madam found out, she fell greatly ill from the shock. From then on, she hated the Xiao family down to the bones. However, she didn't dare scold the Xiao family who held massive military power and influence. She couldn't stand staying in Luodu city anymore, so she moved to the south, where her other son was an official.

The old madam didn't mind going to live there. However, Cheng Jingrui and his mother had "let it slipped", within the madam's presence, that if the old madam wasn't there in the home, then that Madame Shu would constantly make things difficult for them and never let them live easy. They encouraged the old madam to bring Madame Shu and Cheng Jingyun along to the south. It was considered as filial piety for the eldest son to accompany her. The old madam liked the idea. It was much easier to criticize Madame Shu every time she made her daily morning and evening visits to the old madam if they were away from prying eyes.

Cheng Jingyun's father, Cheng Su, was the most traditional and filial person around the Guangde Province. When the old madam proposed that the head daughter-in-law to go to the south with her to fulfill her filial piety, he thought that it was a reasonable request. He had Madame Shu bring Jingyun with her as they accompanied the old madam south.

Madame Shu suffered from this choice in bitter silence. She had no choice but to agree and followed the old madam to the south on her beck and call and torment. The old madam truly did all she could to torture Madame Shu.

Cheng Jingyun and Madame Shu lived in the uncle's home in the south for eight years. Finally, Cheng Jingyun's uncle one day told the mother and son pair that Cheng Jingyun was getting older. He was afraid that if they stayed in the south, then it would delay Jingyun's future. The old madam finally relented and allowed them to return to Luodu.

Cheng Jingrui, who had stayed in Luodu for many years now, gained a great reputation, opened a lot of shops, and made a lot of money. He also befriended Prince Yong An, so his strength was on par with the Xiao family. He often helped Prince Yong An recruit talented people. This in turn caused the Prince to treat him especially well.

The former Cheng Jingyun loved to paint. Because of his talent, he was accepted as a student by a famous and reclusive painter in the south. In addition to his strengths in painting, he had nothing. Cheng Jinyun couldn't do anything else and had no other advantages over Cheng Jingrui. Therefore, Cheng Jingyun was very lacking in the capabilities department when compared to Cheng Jingrui.

However, Cheng Jingrui was still unwilling to let Cheng Jingyun off due to his identity as the first and true born son. Furthermore, his ability to paint could be noticed by Prince Yong An, and his reputation could increase. Cheng Jingrui was quite possessive of Prince Yong An and refused to allow an ancient and backwards nobody catch his attention.

When Cheng Jingrui lived in his modern era, he was a sophomore in a second-rate art university. He was a narrow-minded and jealous person. He always used under-handed means he thought were clever, but were actually contemptible tricks. Therefore, his roommates and classmates all didn't like him at all and actively avoided him. No one liked to befriend a schemer who could stab them in the back when they weren't looking.

Cheng Jingrui also knew that he was hated by everyone, so he no longer took the initiative to contact them. He believed that was above such peasants. He thought that after he graduated, he would be able to make them all cry for looking down on him.

One day, his class made a trip to a scenic area. Everyone gathered in twos and threes. Only Cheng Jingrui walked around the area by himself. He was taking photos on his phone when he accidentally fell off a cliff and transmigrated.

After he transmigrated, Cheng Jingrui didn't feel an ounce of sadness or loss. He felt that with his knowledge of modern things would help in mix in and then rise above in this ancient and cave-man like time.

Cheng Jingrui was born gay and a 100% shou. After he made friends with Prince Yong An, he couldn't help but fall in love with the elegant prince. He was determined to assist Prince Yong An ascend the throne, so the one that he loved would be the emperor and the one the emperor loved would be him.

Even though Cheng Jingrui was jealous of Cheng Jingyun's identity as the first and true  born son, he never thought of Jingyun as a rival. It was only when Cheng Jingyun returned to Luodu, did he see that Jingyun's artistic ability far exceed his own ability as the superior modern soul. Furthermore, Prince Yong An looked at Cheng Jingyun quite favorably, and that was the one thing he could not tolerate. The prince belonged to him.

Cheng Jingrui couldn't bear the idea that Prince Yong An looked at someone other than him favorably. He gave Cheng Jingyun a slow acting poison that caused his hair to slowly fall off, his skin to dry and jaundice, and then finally die a painful death due to organ failure.

However, in this life, the one thing that Qiao Chen could not forgive was not that Cheng Jingrui caused his past self's death. It was that Cheng Jingrui and Prince Yong An worked together to kill Xiao Qinan. The previous Cheng Jingyun, before Qiao Chen was him, and Xiao Qinan never met, because Cheng Jingyun had passed out in the carriage due to the stress of travel. Qiao Chen's system told him that Prince Yong An and Cheng Jingrui colluded with the Turkic invasion in order to ascend the throne. In contrast, Xiao Qinan fought in the city that was occupied by the Turkic in order to protect the citizens from being cruelly murdered by the Turkic people. He led the Flying Tiger Battalion soldiers for seven days and seven nights until the Turkic people were finally driven from the city. After the gates closed, the Turkic soldiers turned around, fired out dozens of arrows, and nailed him to the city gates.

Qiao Chen clutched his chest and fell forward. Madame Shu immediately held him tightly and asked, "Jingyun! What's the matter?"

Qiao Chen's heart ached when he saw the images of Xiao Qinan. So his mother wouldn't worry, he forced his grief down, shook his head, and said, "I'm okay. I'm probably tired because of the bumpy road. Just wait until we get home. I'll feel better after I rest for a couple of days."

"You weren't comfortable the entire way back. When we get home, please get a doctor to take a good look at you." Madame Shu said worriedly.

Qiao Chen nodded. He really was too weak in this life. However, he was a doctor and had a system. He naturally knew how to make his body better than any doctor in this time and era. However, so his mother wouldn't worry needlessly, he didn't refuse her proposal.

Qiao Chen pulled open the curtains and looked at the familiar yet strange bust streets of Luodo city. He returned. This life wasn't only for him. It was also for his beloved. He would make those two people pay a painful price for what they had done. He would definitely make them regret everything they had done.

Cheng Jingrui's mother, Madame Xu, led the other servants and concubines in the house to greet Qiao Chen and his mother at the gates with a smile.

"Big sister and Jingyun, the journey was hard on you. We have waited long for your arrival." Madame Xu smiled and tried to hold Madame Shu's hand, but was blocked by Qiao Chen. Madame Xu's outstretched hand stopped awkwardly, and she looked blankly at Qiao Chen.

"What did Concubine Xu just address my mother as? And how did you address me just now? Why is it that I remember my mother not having any sisters?" Qiao Chen's expression was serious and looked at Madame Xu fiercely.

Under Qiao Chen's pressure, Madame Xu put away her smile, bowed to Madame Shu and Qiao Chen, and greeted once more, "Madam and young master, you've had a long journey."

Qiao Chen turned to Madame Shu and said, "Grandmother often told mother that Concubine Xu had the best conduct and home governance. Grandmother and mother haven't been in the home for so long that it seems as though Concubine Xu has almost forgotten the house rules and proper conduct. Mother, you must have Concubine Xu practice the house governance and conduct rules later. If not, then when grandmother later returns here, I'm afraid that she will say that mother runs the home in an undisciplined manner."

Madame Shu was also stunned by her son's sudden change of character. After she finally reacted, she agreed, "It is just as you've said. Our family's conduct and rules cannot be lesser than."

"Has the meal been prepared?" Qiao Chen asked Concubine Xu.

"This concubine will immediately have the kitchen prepare it." Concubine Xu replied.

"Let's begin enforcing the family's governance and conduct with this meal." Qiao Chen escorted Madame Shu in and said. "Allow Concubine Xu to serve mother's meals. The timing is just perfect, mother can teach Concubine Xu all the rules set by grandmother from now on. In that way, Concubine Xu will not fail grandmother's praises and expectations of her over these past few years."

Concubine Xu followed behind and gritted her teeth. She even almost tore apart her handkerchief. She inwardly thought: This mother and son pair had unexpectedly come back and immediately exerted their power. Wait until they knew that my own son was someone that even Prince Yong An treated with respect, then they wouldn't even dare do this to me. Did they think that because the old madam wasn't here, that I didn't have any support? Ha! Soon the family will rely on my son to support the family.

The other concubines behind them had been suppressed by Concubine Xu's strength. Over the years, Concubine Xu had waved her money before their faces and acted as the first wife, but they didn't dare speak out or exhibit their anger. After they saw Concubine Xu be put in her place, they didn't show it outwardly, but they were basking in schadenfreude. It was only a pity that Cheng Jingrui wasn't and random commoner, so scenes like these wouldn't continue for long.

During the meal, Madame Xu, whether intentionally or not, constantly mentioned to them about how many powerful people her son had made friends with in Luodo. They ranged from nobles like Prince Yong An to rich businessmen. Then she continued to tell them about the how many or so profitable shops he also opened. She talked about how even the old madam from Prince Yong An's mansion had invited her, several times now, over. Even though she tried to restrain her voice and speak calmly, her tone still carried a sense of pride as she flaunted her connections.

After listening to Madame Xu's story, Madame Shu's heart thumped quickly. She looked over at Qiao Chen several times, but he hadn't responded to any of Madame Xu's words. From time to time, he reminded Madame Shu to advice Madame Xu on his grandmother's rules for serving food during mealtime.

Madame Xu noticed that Qiao Chen had absolutely zero reaction to her words, and was convinced that he didn't believe her words. She angrily clenched her jaw and stopped talking. She wanted to wait for the time when they would find out that everything she said was true. When that time comes, then I'll see the two fall over themselves to try and fawn on and flatter me.