You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 61: Old Grudge

As Chen Yunfan crossed the front courtyard, the wide smile on his face inexplicably erupted into laughter.

It was the kind of laugh that made him clutch his stomach.

Chun Ying looked at him in confusion. "Young Master, what are you...?"

But when she caught the household servants and personal guards of the Marquis’s Mansion glancing over, she quickly changed her tone to remind him, "Young Master, please stop laughing. It’s unbecoming of your station."

But Chen Yunfan couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his stomach, managing to explain between gasps of laughter.

"I just... HAHA... remembered something hilarious... HAHA..."

’Oh, Brother Yi, Brother Yi. So you sent someone to mess with me.’

’Well, one good turn deserves another. Now we’re even.’

Chun Ying still didn’t understand, but she knew that if she didn’t stop him, others would start to gossip about him.

"Young Master, this is the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion. If word of this gets out, the Matriarch will send a letter."

"Ha... *Ahem*. Right. I should be more mindful."

Chen Yunfan forced himself to stop laughing. His face turned red from the effort as he put on a serious expression and said:

"Chun Ying, later, remember to open this calligraphy scroll on the spot. Let the Old Marquis have a good look at it."

At these words, the onlookers finally looked away and went back to their business.

Chun Ying breathed a sigh of relief. Though still puzzled, she looked at the scroll in her hands and said worriedly:

"Young Master, if that girl from the Mountain Race gives a gift identical to yours, I fear it will be inappropriate."

Chen Yunfan started walking forward and snorted. "That’s the whole point."

"She dared to prank me like that. The fact that I’m not actively seeking revenge already proves how magnanimous I am."

"Besides, I didn’t steal it or rob anyone. They’re both scrolls written by Brother Yi, so what does it matter if they’re identical?"

"..."

Seeing that he couldn’t be persuaded, Chun Ying fell silent in resignation, clutching the brocade box as she followed him into the central courtyard.

「Outside the gate to the front courtyard.」

Chen Yi wasn’t sure if Xiao Jinghong had believed him, but on second thought, it didn’t really matter.

’A real man’s word is his bond.’

’If I said it wasn’t me, then it wasn’t.’

’Besides, it really wasn’t.’

The two of them waited at the gate for a while longer.

During that time, several more distinguished guests arrived.

There was Yang Ye, the Governor of Shu State, an old man with graying hair and a beard—the very same Governor who was set to retire in less than two years.

Next was Tang Zixing, the Inspector General of Shu State, whose official rank of Third Grade was just half a step below the Governor’s Junior Second Grade.

There was also Xie Ying, a commander of a Thousand Households from the Capital Commandery.

His rank was considerably lower, so upon arriving, he explained to Xiao Jinghong that the Commander-in-Chief had a sudden family emergency and was unable to attend.

The rest were mostly members of prominent Noble Families from around Shu State.

However, it wasn’t the Patriarchs who came. Some families sent the heir of the main branch, others sent the Chief Steward of a secondary branch, and some simply sent a household manager.

Xiao Jinghong explained each of their situations, giving Chen Yi a clearer understanding of the landscape of Shu State.

After all, the books he had read only gave a general overview, nothing this detailed.

All in all, judging from the guests, it was easy to see that the Xiao Family of Duke Dingyuan held considerable prestige in Shu State.

Aside from a few Noble Families and Clans, aristocrats, and officials, nearly everyone else had shown up.

It wasn’t until nearly noon that the two of them informed the second steward and prepared to head to the central courtyard.

Just then, however, Xiao Jinghong paused mid-turn. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes as she whispered, "What are they doing here?"

Chen Yi tilted his head. "Who?"

Xiao Jinghong shook her head, pulled him back to their original spot, and stood up even straighter than before.

Not knowing why, Chen Yi could only follow her lead.

A moment later, he heard the clopping of horse hooves, followed by a familiar voice:

"Teacher, be careful. Let me help you."

’Li Huai’gu?’

’Isn’t his teacher... Mr. Yue Ming from Guiyun Academy?’

Chen Yi glanced at Xiao Jinghong. Seeing her continued confusion, he thought to himself:

’This group certainly qualifies as a rare sight.’

He had good reason to think so.

If he recalled correctly, he had once heard Xiao Wan’er mention the relationship between the Marquis’s Mansion and Guiyun Academy.

To say they "never associated with one another" would be an exaggeration, but their relationship was best described as "well water not mixing with river water"—they kept to themselves and had little interaction.

In truth, the Xiao Family had hoped to build a good relationship with Guiyun Academy.

After all, the Dingyuan Army was mostly filled with simple-minded soldiers. While they were competent in the Martial Arts, they were completely ignorant when it came to military strategy, tactics, and so on.

If they could get help from Guiyun Academy, the combat capabilities of the Dingyuan Army’s various divisions would be greatly enhanced.

It would at least shore up a major weakness.

Unfortunately, the scholars of Guiyun Academy, especially Mr. Yue Ming, held the Xiao Family in low regard.

Over time, the Xiao family gave up on the idea of currying favor with Guiyun Academy.

Yet now they had come to celebrate the Old Marquis’s birthday... It seemed odd, no matter how he looked at it.

Just then, Li Huai’gu, who was carefully walking in behind Mr. Yue Ming, caught Chen Yi’s eye and gave him a subtle nod, as if to say, ’This is a good thing.’

Chen Yi understood. He nudged Xiao Jinghong with his elbow, and they bowed in greeting together.

"Greetings to you, honored sirs," Chen Yi said.

"Jinghong greets Mr. Yue Ming, Mr. Huang Long, and Mr. Zhuo Ying..." said Xiao Jinghong.

It was impressive that she could name all six elderly gentlemen beside Li Huai’gu and greet each one in turn.

Mr. Yue Ming glanced at her, but his gaze settled on Chen Yi. "There is no need for such ceremony, Jinghong Girl," he said indifferently. "While your grandfather and I have not associated for years, we are old acquaintances."

Given his age and status, he was certainly entitled to call her "girl."

As he spoke, he motioned for Li Huai’gu to present their gift list and turned to Chen Yi.

"That calligraphy scroll your maid had mounted—was that your work?"

’Huh? Is he here for me?’

The realization dawned on Chen Yi, and he felt a sense of exasperation. Mr. Yue Ming was certainly persistent.

He’d previously had Li Huai’gu deliver an invitation to a poetry gathering, which Chen Yi had refused.

He had thought the man would give up, but now, he had used the Old Marquis’s birthday celebration as a pretext to come find him.

’Does he really need to see that scroll that badly?’

With that thought, Chen Yi had no choice but to admit, "Indeed, I am the one who wrote it."

Mr. Yue Ming studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Ju Yi has taught a fine student."

With that, he stepped past them and entered the Marquis’s Mansion.

Li Huai’gu bowed to Xiao Jinghong and Chen Yi before hurrying after him.

The attitude of the other scholars, however, was rather telling. They completely ignored the pair.

In fact, one or two of the old men shot Chen Yi annoyed looks, their faces practically screaming with the urge to say something.

If Xiao Jinghong hadn’t been standing there, he guessed they would have blurted out:

"You, the Xiao Family’s live-in son-in-law? A good-for-nothing freeloader like you could produce such fine calligraphy? Hah! Pathetic."

Of course, this was all just Chen Yi’s speculation.

But regardless, he could tell from their faces that the scholars were not pleased to see him.

Once they were a good distance away, Xiao Jinghong looked at Chen Yi suspiciously. "Was that about the calligraphy scroll?"

When she had returned to Shu State, she and Xiao Wan’er had seen that scroll, and she’d also witnessed the argument between Mr. Yue Ming and Xiaodie.

At the time, she had intended to give Mr. Yue Ming an explanation later.

She never imagined that before she could find the time, he would show up on their doorstep with his colleagues.

Chen Yi nodded. "I assume so."

Xiao Jinghong understood and gestured for him to accompany her to the central courtyard.

As they walked, she explained, "Mr. Yue Ming and my grandfather are indeed old acquaintances. Or, to be more precise, they share an old grudge."

"An old grudge?" Chen Yi asked, surprised.

Xiao Jinghong lowered her voice to explain. "In her youth, my grandmother’s talent and beauty were renowned throughout Shu State. Mr. Yue Ming was quite taken with her at the time and even wrote several poems for her."

"But then Grandmother and Grandfather fell for each other, and, well..."

Chen Yi couldn’t help but chuckle.

’So that’s another reason why the scholars from Guiyun Academy keep their distance from the Xiao Family.’

Xiao Jinghong watched the lean yet imposing figures of the scholars ahead. "Grandfather will likely be very surprised by this visit."

Chen Yi said with a smile, "Let’s just hope they don’t come to blows."

If men their age caused a public scene over some old grudge, they’d become a laughingstock throughout the entire Great Wei Dynasty.

He conveniently forgot that his own recent scandals—fleeing his wedding and "abducting" a commoner—had caused just as much of a stir.

Xiao Jinghong looked at him, her eyes sparkling. "How could they?"

"Just kidding..."

The two continued toward the central courtyard, chatting and laughing.

Just as they thought the birthday banquet was about to begin, another person arrived in a hurry.

Just then, a loud cry rang out from behind them: "An Imperial Edict has arrived!"