You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 60: This Is Also Your Reason for Fleeing the Marriage?
The early summer sun in Shu State was strong. Combined with the overcast rain of the past few days, the city felt a bit muggy.
But outside the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, a hundred Personal Guards still stood ramrod straight, their armor gleaming in the sunlight.
Long lines of people were queued up on both sides.
There were local officials and nobles from Shu State, wealthy merchants and gentry, and even soldiers of the Dingyuan Army.
Most of them gathered in small groups of two or three; very few came alone.
「Just past the Hour of the Serpent.」
The two dragon-like queues began to slowly enter the Marquis’s Mansion.
Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong stood just inside the main gate. Whether viewed from afar or up close, they could truly be called a perfect pair.
Chen Yi was dressed in a long, cyan robe, fastened at the waist with a sash from which hung a round Jade Pendant.
With his neatly arranged topknot and delicate features, his face wasn’t strikingly handsome, but combined with his physique and bearing, he could still be described as "distinguished."
Xiao Jinghong’s attire was a departure from her usual simplicity. A brocade long dress softened her normally cool temperament.
Even with the half-armor mask still on her face, she didn’t exude an unapproachably cold air.
Across from them was a reception table where the elderly second steward of the Marquis’s Mansion personally sat, writing with a flourish of his brush.
A Household Servant at the side was announcing the arrivals: "Lord Prefect of Shu State, Liu Si, has arrived! Presenting one thousand taels of silver, two bolts of silk, and a pair of jade discs."
Liu Si had come early, so he was at the front of the line.
After placing the gift list before the second steward, he clasped his hands in a salute toward Xiao Jinghong. "General Jinghong, I’m sorry to trouble you to welcome me personally."
Xiao Jinghong gave a slight bow. "Uncle, please come in."
Liu Si nodded, glanced at Chen Yi, and hesitated before clasping his hands in a salute. Without even a single word of courtesy, he followed a Household Servant directly into the mansion.
Chen Yi, however, showed no reaction. He calmly returned the gesture and then stood obediently by Xiao Jinghong’s side.
’I’m just a tool for welcoming guests. The less I say, the better.’
As for Liu Si’s attitude, Chen Yi could understand it.
After all, just yesterday afternoon, his confrontation with Chen Yunfan had completely ruined Liu Si’s reception for the Imperial Top Scholar.
’The fact that he didn’t ignore me completely is probably the absolute limit of what the Lord Prefect could manage.’
After Liu Si, the guests coming to celebrate the Old Marquis’s birthday arrived in an endless stream.
One after another, they first presented their gift lists to the second steward, then exchanged a few words with the couple, Xiao Jinghong and Chen Yi.
Though the conversations were short, it was overwhelming when every single person stopped to chat.
Fortunately, Xiao Jinghong handled most of the talking, with Chen Yi merely playing a supporting role. They complemented each other well.
Moreover, after each guest passed, Xiao Jinghong would quietly whisper to Chen Yi, introducing their identity and background.
Their official position, their family history, their relationship with the Xiao Family—the list went on.
Although Chen Yi was a little curious about her intentions, he still cooperated, committing all the information about these people to memory.
’My wife is probably worried I’ll get the guests’ names wrong at the banquet, or cause some embarrassing scene because I don’t know them.’
「Soon, it was past the midpoint of the Hour of the Serpent.」
The two long lines at the entrance had dissipated, and now only a sparse trickle of guests was coming in.
Taking advantage of a lull in the greetings, Xiao Jinghong asked in a low voice, "I heard you and the Imperial Top Scholar parted on bad terms yesterday, husband?"
Chen Yi chuckled softly. "Did Uncle Dongchen tell you? I suppose so. My brother and I just bickered a bit."
Xiao Jinghong hummed in acknowledgment. "If he tries to make trouble about it later, I’ll handle it."
Chen Yi looked at her in surprise, only then realizing she was worried he couldn’t handle Chen Yunfan.
After a moment’s thought, he said with a smile, "My brother may seem arrogant and high-profile, but that’s likely just on the surface. There’s more to him than meets the eye."
After thinking it over and over yesterday, Chen Yi was more than fifty percent certain that his half-brother wasn’t as simple as he appeared.
’It makes sense. If he were truly an ignorant, arrogant rake, he never would have made it to the Jinluan Hall.’
After all, while the Holy Emperor could have the final say on the Imperial Top Scholar, no scholar would have gone easy on him during the preceding metropolitan examinations.
The words had barely left his mouth when, before Xiao Jinghong could speak, Chen Yunfan’s voice came from outside the gate:
"I never expected to be so... outstanding... in Brother Yi’s eyes."
Chen Yi froze. He glanced at Xiao Jinghong, who looked like she had been about to say something, and instantly understood that she had noticed Chen Yunfan’s arrival long ago.
With that thought, he looked at the newcomer and said with a smile, "Brother, you’ve now achieved the rank of Imperial Top Scholar. If that isn’t considered outstanding, I’m afraid all the scholars in the Great Wei Dynasty would blush with shame."
Chen Yunfan, now in a magnificent purple robe and accompanied by his maid, Chun Ying, strode over the threshold with a brilliant smile on his handsome face.
"Now that’s what I like to hear. If Brother Yi had said this yesterday, I would have been even happier."
As he spoke, he gestured for Chun Ying to present the gift list.
Chen Yi smiled and said, "Please forgive me for not making you happy during our long-awaited reunion, Brother. But as for me, I was quite happy yesterday."
’I gained a significant Opportunity and a Black Tortoise Concealment Technique to help me feign incompetence. It was indeed a day to be happy about.’
Chen Yunfan’s smile faltered for a moment, then his face took on a resentful look as he said pointedly, "You certainly should be happy."
’Not only did he prevent me from showing off, but he even had some damn girl from the Mountain Race knock me out, cut up my clothes, and leave me at the academy.’
’Thankfully, Chun Ying was always with me, so I wasn’t completely humiliated.’
’Otherwise, the biggest joke in Shu State City today would be the story of the Imperial Top Scholar lying disheveled in Guiyun Academy.’
Chen Yi didn’t understand, only sensing that there was a hidden meaning in his words.
After a moment of thought, he said no more and took half a step back, yielding the floor to Xiao Jinghong.
Seeing this, Chen Yunfan’s gaze fell on Xiao Jinghong. He immediately performed a formal salute, his tone official.
"Chen Yunfan of the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family pays his respects to General Jinghong."
Xiao Jinghong sized him up, thinking to herself, ’Perhaps my husband is right. This legitimate son of the Chen Family, rumored to be an ignorant good-for-nothing, might not be so simple after all.’
"You are too kind, Brother."
Hearing this, Chen Yunfan seemed to let out a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "Before coming, I was wondering just how ’imposing’ the legendary General Jinghong from the rumors in Jinling would be. Now that I see you in person, I realize how shallow I was."
"’Imposing’?"
Xiao Jinghong looked at Chen Yi, only to see him looking a bit unnatural, as if he were trying to stifle a laugh.
’Imposing, my foot.’
According to the rumors in Jinling and Jiangnan Prefecture, Xiao Jinghong was eight feet tall and eight feet wide. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe her as a "monster."
Chen Yi knew the full story but couldn’t very well say it out loud. He could only shake his head and wave his hand at Chen Yunfan.
"Brother, you should head inside. The Old Marquis is already waiting."
Chen Yunfan shot him a look, understood, then pointed a finger at him before walking into the Marquis’s Mansion with a smile.
Chun Ying, holding a brocade box, bowed to Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong before following right after him.
「After the two had walked some distance away.」
Xiao Jinghong was still a bit curious and asked, "Husband, how exactly do they describe me in Jinling?"
Hearing this, Chen Yi pressed his lips together, afraid he’d burst out laughing if he didn’t.
After taking a moment to compose himself, he finally spoke in a gentle voice, "They’re just baseless rumors. You can’t take them seriously."
Xiao Jinghong didn’t reply, her crystal-clear eyes fixed right on him.
Seeing this, Chen Yi had no choice but to lean in closer and whisper the false rumor about her.
After hearing it, the look in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes immediately changed, showing a rare mix of confusion and astonishment.
She truly couldn’t have imagined that this was how her appearance was described in Jinling and Jiangnan Prefecture.
’How outrageous.’
Chen Yi, watching from the side, took in her entire reaction and couldn’t help but chuckle.
But before his smile could even widen, he heard Xiao Jinghong ask hauntingly, "Husband, was this also why you tried to run away from the wedding?"
The smile on Chen Yi’s face instantly vanished. "..."
’Wait... How did she even connect it to that?’
Despite his thoughts, Chen Yi’s reaction was swift. He flatly denied it, "Of course not."
Xiao Jinghong studied him carefully, as if trying to determine the truthfulness of his words.
After a long moment, she nodded. "I believe you."
’Ah, this...’
’Is there anyone who understands a woman’s heart? Please, I need advice—does she actually believe me, or is she being sarcastic?’
