You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 36: When the Drama Is About You

The benefit of reaching the Upper Ninth Grade was that Chen Yi’s control over his body, Qi Mechanism, and Power had greatly increased.

His muscles, bones, and skin felt as if they had fused into one. He could freely utilize every bit of his flesh and bone, and could even infuse Qi Force into his skin and hair.

Although his Qi Mechanism was still very weak, he could now use the Profound Mysteries of his Martial Arts Body at the Minor Success Realm to form a layer of his Qi Mechanism within his skin for offense or defense.

At the same time, the most direct change was to his Power. It had soared from Five Ox Power to Ten Ox Power, which was the Power of One Symbols.

A single punch from him now carried a full ton of force.

Even Pei Guanli, who was also at the Upper Ninth Grade of cultivation, would have to dodge him if he used his full strength with the Mountain Shattering Fist.

Otherwise, if the punch landed true, her small frame would be left severely injured, if not dead.

Soon, an hour of Pile Skill practice was over.

After breakfast, Chen Yi left the Spring Lotus Garden to stroll around, accompanied by Xiaodie, Xiao Wuge, Wang Lixing, and the others.

During their walk, Liu Si’er naturally didn’t forget to find an opportunity to apologize to him.

With his sincere and upright expression, anyone would mistake him for a loyal Personal Guard just by looking at him.

Chen Yi offered a few words of comfort and let the matter drop.

Xiao Wuge, however, spoke like a little adult, "Guard Si’er, to know your mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue."

Chen Yi almost burst out laughing.

In the time the Young Master had been with him, he had not only improved his fishing skills, but was also starting to speak and act more and more like him.

Those who knew he was only five years old were aware of the truth, but those who didn’t would think he was the reincarnation of some old monster.

Even Xiaodie couldn’t help but want to laugh when she saw the casual way Xiao Wuge carried himself.

Just then, Xiaodie looked away with a dejected expression and whispered, "Sir, did you hear that?"

Chen Yi was busy wondering how he could find the Duchess of Qian, Xiao Qiuyun, to watch her discipline Zhang Heng. He asked casually, "Hear what?"

Xiaodie jutted her chin towards several maids and servants not far away. "Them. They’re still badmouthing you, Sir..."

Chen Yi just said, "Oh." Not only did he not react, but he even flashed a smile at the group, scaring them into scurrying away.

"See? Anyone who likes to gossip behind your back is just a paper tiger to your face."

Xiaodie looked at them, then back at Chen Yi, and broke into a grin.

Xiao Wuge glanced at them furtively, silently committed the phrase to memory, and also broke into a wide, happy grin.

"By the way, why haven’t I seen the Young Prince today?"

After racking his brain and failing to come up with a good plan, Chen Yi decided to just ask directly.

Xiao Wuge gave him a strange look. "Brother-in-law, you don’t miss him, do you?"

To his surprise, Chen Yi nodded directly. "That’s right. A day without seeing him feels like three years. The Young Prince may be young and thoughtless, but he’s not a bad person."

He was telling a bald-faced lie. Never mind that the young Xiao Wuge didn’t believe him; Xiaodie, Wang Lixing, and others who knew his personality believed him even less.

But Chen Yi nodded with great conviction, winking at Xiao Wuge.

"Why don’t we go find him?"

’Seeing that noon is approaching, if I don’t go find Xiao Qiuyun and Zhang Heng soon, my daily report will once again be rated ’lazy.’’

Xiao Wuge didn’t know his intentions, but he didn’t refuse. He ordered Ge the Third to continue following Chen Yi on his stroll through the Marquis’s Mansion.

It had to be said, the impact of the "abducting a common girl" incident was far greater than he had imagined.

Every time they passed through a corridor, he could hear a few servants and maids whispering:

"That husband of the Second Miss... he’s so careless about his reputation, and he’s dragging the Marquis’s Mansion’s name through the mud."

"Exactly. I went out to buy things yesterday, and the shopkeepers who used to smile at us don’t anymore. They were all passive-aggressive, saying things like ’public morals are degenerating’ and that ’the Marquis’s Mansion has produced a real character’."

"He’s really causing so much trouble. Why don’t the Old Marquis and the Second Master do something?"

"They did! That day, the Second Master wanted to lock him in the Punishment Hall and give him fifty strokes of the cane. It was only because Mr. Sun the Elder pleaded for him that he stopped."

"If it weren’t for the fact that Master Dongchen and that Third Place Scholar are both in the Civil Government Office, making it awkward to cause a scene over this, he would have been punished long ago."

"I wonder what the Second Miss will think when she returns to the mansion..."

’What will she think?’

Chen Yi wanted to know too.

’If my wife, Xiao Jinghong, returns from her patrol of the Three Towns and learns that her husband has earned the title "The Most Shameless Son-in-Law in History," how will she react?’

The thought actually made him feel a little expectant.

Not long after, Ge the Third came running back with a strange expression. "Young Master, Sir, the Young Prince is kneeling in Qingjing Residence."

Chen Yi’s eyes lit up. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Xiao Wuge’s eyes lit up even more. Before Chen Yi could speak, he immediately decided to go to Qingjing Residence to pay his respects to his grandfather.

But after just a few steps, he turned back and asked, "Brother-in-law, are you still coming?"

"Of course I’m coming."

Chen Yi knew what Xiao Wuge was thinking. The boy was probably worried that the Old Marquis and the others would reprimand him because of the recent incident.

He, however, wasn’t worried at all.

At least, from his observations during this period, aside from Xiao Wang, who was in charge of the Punishment Hall, and his Second Uncle, Xiao Xuanshuo, everyone else in the Marquis’s Mansion treated him fairly well.

He didn’t know if it was because of Xiao Jinghong, or because they didn’t really pay him much mind, or both.

In any case, on the surface, the powerful figures of the Xiao Family weren’t overly harsh with him.

「A short while later.」

The group arrived at Qingjing Residence. Xiaodie, Wang Lixing, and the others waited outside the courtyard gate while Chen Yi followed Xiao Wuge inside.

Before they even rounded the screen wall, they heard the crying of the Young Prince, Zhang Heng.

"I was wrong, Mother! I’ll never do it again, SOB SOB... I-I saw the cup was small yesterday, so I took it with me to the Spring Lotus Garden. But then the runaway... my Second Brother-in-law bumped me, and it shattered."

’Huh? The drama is about me?’

Chen Yi froze for a moment. When he realized what was happening, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This kid was a master at framing people and shifting blame.

’When had he ever seen any cup, let alone shattered one?’

With that thought, Chen Yi stopped in his tracks and also pulled back Xiao Wuge, who was about to rush forward and explain. He put a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.

’If I rush in and explain everything, this interesting event will end prematurely, won’t it?’

This was a perfect opportunity. He wanted to see what the powerful figures of the Xiao Family really thought of him.

Just then, the Second Master, Xiao Wang, spoke up. "Heng’er, are you telling the truth?"

Zhang Heng said between sobs, "Grandfather, your grandson wouldn’t dare lie! It was really him, SOB SOB..."

Hearing this, the Duke of Qian looked troubled. "Whether it’s true or not, we’ll know once we summon Chen Yi to ask."

"What do you say, Heng’er?"

Zhang Heng’s crying faltered. He couldn’t quite keep it up.

"Grandfather, I... every word is true..."

Seeing this, how could the others not understand his little scheme?

Old Marquis Xiao, sitting at the head seat, looked displeased. He placed his teacup on the table and said flatly:

"A cup is just a cup. If it’s broken, it’s broken. Qiuyun, take Heng’er back."

Xiao Qiuyun, however, acted unusually. She shook her head and said, "First Uncle, Heng’er is the one at fault here. As his mother, it is my duty to punish him."

With that, she picked up a rattan cane, walked over to Zhang Heng, and struck him hard.

Instantly, Qingjing Residence was no longer quiet. The sound of wailing was deafening.

Chen Yi peeked over and saw the situation in the main hall from a distance, carefully observing everyone’s expressions.

「A moment later.」

[Witnessed Xiao Qiuyun Disciplining Her Son—Because Zhang Heng broke a cup gifted by the Holy Emperor to Xiao Yuan, Xiao Qiuyun was ruthless in her punishment. Reward: Opportunity +8.]

[Evaluation: You arrived at the scene, heard the sounds, and saw what happened, but your peeping was too obvious, a sign of a naturally furtive character.]

Seeing this, Chen Yi understood the situation. He patted Xiao Wuge on the shoulder and turned to leave.

"Brother-in-law, aren’t you going in?"

"I’ve already had my fun. Why go in now?"

"Huh?"

"Didn’t you have fun?"

The two looked at each other and chuckled mischievously.

After their laugh, however, Chen Yi frowned internally.

’Setting aside the fact that Zhang Heng’s lie was seen through, just from their reactions, it’s not hard to tell—that old fellow Xiao Wang is just itching to get some dirt on me.’

’And Xiao Qiuyun...’

’That woman is ruthless. The way she whipped Zhang Heng just now, she didn’t hold back at all.’

’Although Zhang Heng certainly deserved a beating for breaking the cup the Holy Emperor gifted to the Old Marquis, it’s hard to say she wasn’t putting on a show by being so heavy-handed.’

Thinking this, Chen Yi headed back to the Spring Lotus Garden. From a distance, he saw an Armored Warrior standing at the garden entrance.

"This subordinate, Yan Hong, greets the Young Master and the Second Master-in-law."

Before Chen Yi could speak, Xiao Wuge piped up, "I remember you. You’re one of Second Sister’s personal guards."

"That is correct, Young Master."

After bowing, Yan Hong looked up at the two and said respectfully:

"The Second Miss is on her way back to the mansion. She ordered this subordinate to come ahead and deliver the birthday gift for the Old Marquis to you, Sir."