Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress

Xia Chen returned to his courtyard. The night had long since enveloped the earth, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky. Strands of moonlight danced like sprites on Xia Chen’s fingertips. From the morning when he had left until now, this day had been more eventful than the past two months combined.

“Master!”

Xia Qian, hearing the sound, quickly came out and called out joyfully.

“Master, I heard that His Majesty has betrothed the second princess to you. The news has spread throughout the mansion now, and gifts have been sent from every courtyard!”

“Hmm, just make sure to keep them safe for me!”

Xia Chen nodded, not spending much energy on this matter.

For the next two days, Xia Chen stayed diligently in the courtyard, studying and practicing hard. As the proficiency levels on the system panel rose one by one, Xia Chen felt his progress was rapid.

The pure yang energy within him grew thicker, and his combat strength was incomparable to what it had been before. He used the Shouyang Demon-Slaying Blade to draw the extreme yang energy from the world to specifically temper his flesh and blood. He also cultivated Chi Yang Duan Ti Jue to refine his internal energy and strengthen his bones. Although these two methods had some overlap, they seemed more complementary, causing Xia Chen’s physique to undergo a qualitative change.

This tranquility was broken on the third day. A retainer who had long been with the head of the household, Xia Qian, knocked on the door of Xia Chen’s courtyard.

“Third young master, my lord asks for your presence!”

Xia Chen was the third in line among the legitimate descendants of his generation, hence he was called the third young master in the mansion.

“Uncle Dong, why did you come in person? You could have just sent a servant to call for me.”

Xia Chen, who was in the middle of forging his body with his upper body bare, quickly invited the middle-aged man in. Xia Dong, a capable assistant to Xia Qian and also a member of the Xia family, was a branch that had split off 156 years ago, so the blood relationship was still relatively close. He had grown up with Xia Qian, like a study companion, whether it was practicing martial arts, learning military strategy, or even later going to the barracks, this person was always by his side.

Twenty-one years ago, he had achieved great merits with Xia Qian on the southern border, and the court had enfeoffed him as a general. But after Xia Qian left the military, he also resigned from his official position and followed Xia Qian like an ordinary retainer.

“For matters concerning the young master, it’s better for me to come in person!”

Xia Dong smiled, standing in the courtyard, watching as the redness on Xia Chen’s skin, which was like fine steel, gradually faded, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“We’re all family, no need for such formality. Uncle Dong, please have a seat. I’ll freshen up and be right back!”

Xia Chen smiled and pulled Xia Dong to sit in the courtyard. Although Xia Dong considered himself a servant, no one really treated him as such. With a smile on his face, Xia Dong was not too polite and had a good impression of this somewhat inconspicuous third young master. Compared to visiting other young masters’ courtyards, this third young master showed him much more respect.

Xia Chen quickly freshened up, changed into a clean set of clothes. Although he was somewhat pleased inside, his steps were still steady, appearing as immovable as a mountain. He had already guessed why Xia Qian had called for him—it must be about the official position.

The marquisate covered a vast area, and since he couldn’t travel at high speed, Xia Chen had to walk slowly. It took him more than twenty minutes to reach Xia Qian’s residence.

“Uncle!”

“No need for formalities!”

The low-key and reserved front hall had a few chairs placed. Xia Chen took a seat, and immediately a maid came to pour tea, then quickly withdrew.

“Chen’er, you wanted to go out and train. This matter has been resolved. There are currently three positions, all of which are quite good.”

Xia Qian took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.

Xia Chen smiled. With the backing of the marquisate, things were indeed easier. In his previous life, it had taken him half a year to enter the game and obtain an official rank, and it was only the lowest ninth rank. Now, he had three official positions to choose from. Although he didn’t know the ranks of these three positions yet, with the marquisate’s involvement, the positions would definitely not be low.

“The first is the Imperial Guard, the second is the Qingzhou Garrison Army, and the third is the Southern Border Army. All are seventh-rank official positions!”

Xia Chen’s eyes were like torches. As a hereditary family, the Xia family’s descendants could inherit official positions, and the ranks were not low. This was also the reason why Xia Chen had asked Xia Qian to intervene.

There was no need to start from scratch as a common soldier. Starting from a lower position just to prove one’s abilities? How absurd!

After being parachuted into a higher starting point, couldn’t one prove their abilities later on?

“The Imperial Guard!”

Xia Chen took a deep breath and made a quick decision.

The Imperial Guard was the emperor’s personal army, responsible for guarding the palace and the safety of the capital.

They were in charge of the day and night patrols of the capital, maintaining the order of the capital, managing gatekeeping, and had the authority to investigate and enforce the law against illegal and criminal activities within the capital.

What Xia Chen valued was the law enforcement power of the last item. Although there were many powerful figures in the capital, and a random brick thrown might hit a royal relative or noble, if he could make good use of this responsibility, he could leverage tremendous power.

And more importantly:

“In five years, during the coup, the Imperial Guard played a huge role. I might be able to make some arrangements in advance!”

A gleam flashed in Xia Chen’s eyes. He immediately ruled out the garrison soldiers. Although the Southern Border Army could temper himself and quickly accumulate military merits, it was useless to Xia Chen at the moment. With the system’s assistance, he didn’t have to worry about his cultivation speed. Military merits were good, and they could lead to rapid promotion, but Xia Chen felt that staying in the capital, the center of power, might offer more opportunities.

“Are you sure?”

Xia Qian asked seriously.

“Uncle, I’m sure. It’s the Imperial Guard!”

Xia Chen made a quick decision without any hesitation.

“Alright, wait for my news!”

Xia Qian smiled and waved his hand.

Xia Chen also turned around with a smile and took his leave, in a great mood.

“Two months later, am I finally leaving the beginner’s village? Capital, here I come!”

In his previous life, when he played this game, although his initial identity was just an ordinary civilian, he quickly experienced the prosperity of the capital. But this time, although his initial identity was extremely noble, there were many restrictions in the marquisate. He couldn’t leave the mansion at will until he reached the eighth rank.

“Come to think of it, why do I still have memories of the various schools of thought, Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, and poetry from the other world in my previous life?”

Xia Chen suddenly thought of a very important point. In his previous life, although the players had arrived in this world, they only knew they were from another world and could remember their daily life friends and relatives. All the culture, ideas, classic articles, Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, and other things from the other world were blocked. Once they entered this world, they couldn’t remember them at all. It was as if this world did not allow those things to exist.

It was not until the 【Fusion of Myriad Worlds】 version was activated that this restriction was lifted.

Xia Chen had made a guess that it might involve the supreme Dao and Li, and some scriptures, ideas, and other things were not allowed to descend to the world prematurely.

“Did I become the one who was overlooked?”

Xia Chen took a deep breath and glanced once more at his hand, where only he could see the faint shadow of the Nine-Dragon Jade Seal.

“Where on earth do you come from, not only bringing me into this world ahead of time, but also preserving my auxiliary system and lifting the block on me!”

Xia Chen muttered to himself. But as he inquired, the seal unexpectedly emitted a hazy, precious light, as if it were about to awaken and seemed to want to respond!