You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 77: Hidden Guard Reserve Personnel?

"I have completed the task you entrusted to me, but the two women interfered. The matter of the Fledgling is now for you to decide."

"I have discovered that the two women are using their family’s wealth to establish a Mutual Market with the Mountain Race, hoping to cover the shortfall in funds and provisions for the Dingyuan Army. I need your help in this matter."

Chen Yi looked at the two sentences on the Yunsong Paper, which lacked any context.

Still, he was able to glean a few pieces of information from them.

First, this wasn’t an intelligence report being sent up or down a chain of command, but clearly a correspondence between two people of equal status.

’Second, Xiao Dongchen once did something for the other party, something concerning the Fledgling... which is to say, concerning me.’

’Third, Xiao Dongchen, or rather the Hidden Guard, is also targeting the Xiao Family. They don’t want the family to cover the shortfall in the Dingyuan Army’s funds and provisions.’

’Does this last objective perfectly align with the Imperial Court’s actions against the Xiao Family?’

’So, the Hidden Guard belongs to the Imperial Court?’

After much thought, Chen Yi circled three items on the Yunsong Paper: "I," "Fledgling," and "Dingyuan Army."

’I’ve only interacted with Xiao Dongchen a handful of times. Once to deliver a gift, a second time to welcome Chen Yunfan, and a third time at the birthday banquet.’

’Beyond that, there were a few incidents where we didn’t meet face-to-face, but were still connected.’

’One was after I "abducted" Yun Xiang, Xiao Dongchen helped by putting in a good word for me.’

’But the secret letter clearly isn’t talking about that, because at the time, one of the "two women," Xiao Jinghong, wasn’t at the estate.’

’The second incident was something Xiaodie once said.’

"That day, the Second Master wanted to punish you, Young Master, but the Duchess mentioned she had found an official post for you at the Governor’s Office. She said Master Dongchen was the one who pulled some strings to get it."

’If the secret letter was referring to this, it would more or less make sense.’

Then Chen Yi circled the word "you." ’He asked Xiao Dongchen to arrange an official position for me?’

’Looks like my earlier guess was right.’

’Those Hidden Guards really are planning to groom me, this "Fledgling."’

’But for what purpose?’

Chen Yi ran through it all again in his mind, and two words surfaced: ’The Xiao Family!’

’The only possibility is that they want to use me against the Xiao Family.’

’With that, everything fell into place.’

’The Hidden Guard’s purpose is to oppose the Xiao Family—to gather intelligence, create trouble, and prevent them from raising funds and provisions.’

’Chen Yunfan and Li Huai’gu’s appointments in Shu State must be for the same reason. I imagine there are further plans for those two.’

’And finally, there’s me—the husband of Xiao Jinghong, the current pillar of the Xiao Family.’

At this thought, Chen Yi destroyed the Yunsong Paper, leaving no trace, and muttered, "Making me an official... there can only be a few reasons."

’Either they want to frame me and implicate the Xiao Family in the process...’

’The chances of that are pretty high. A single charge of treason would be enough to topple the entire Xiao Family.’

’Or they want to use me against Xiao Jinghong... Heh, they can’t possibly think I can overpower her and take control of the Xiao Family, can they?’

He paused.

Chen Yi’s expression turned serious. As he burned the last scrap of Yunsong Paper, a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

’Of course, that’s impossible for me.’

’Putting my abilities aside, my heart and ambitions lie neither in the bureaucracy nor the military.’

’But if this were the original owner of this body—the "Chen Yi" who was suppressed by the Chen Family for five years and missed the imperial examinations—he would probably...’

He instantly re-evaluated everything.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi gave a self-deprecating laugh. ’It’s a good thing I didn’t tell Xiao Jinghong about the Hidden Guard. Otherwise, I’d never be able to clear my name.’

’So, as far as they’re concerned, I’m "one of them"—a potential recruit for the Hidden Guard?’

Chen Yi dusted the ash from his palms, got up, and opened the window, letting the night wind disperse the smoke and the smell of burning from the study. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He looked at the nearby pavilion, his mind replaying the last few months.

’It’s been quite comfortable and pleasant.’

After a long silence, a smile returned to Chen Yi’s face. "Damn it," he muttered, "never a moment’s peace."

...

「Just past Yin hour.」

Xiaodie rose as usual. After tidying her bed, she changed into a clean, floral-patterned tunic and trousers.

By the light of an oil lamp, she wet a towel to wash her face, then tidied the two buns at the back of her head.

Once she was ready, Xiaodie picked up a porcelain basin, grabbed two freshly dried towels, and headed to the rear kitchen to fetch water.

The rain outside had begun to subside, but the sound of it pattering against the roof tiles was still audible.

Xiaodie quietly opened her door and stepped outside. She glanced at the dim sky, then reached her hand out from under the eaves.

A few raindrops fell on her palm.

"Wow, it’s still coming down pretty hard," she murmured.

With that, Xiaodie crouched into a runner’s stance, braced herself, and prepared to dash out into the rain.

Just then, a voice spoke up beside her. "Fetching water? Bring some hot water back."

The abrupt voice startled the unprepared Xiaodie, making her jump and nearly drop the porcelain basin.

She followed the sound with her eyes and saw Chen Yi standing outside the wooden building, covered in mud and water. "Young Master, you... what...?"

Chen Yi glanced down at himself and smiled. "I was practicing my Pile Skill."

Xiaodie glanced from the sky to him. ’Two hours of Pile Skill... What time did the Young Master even get up?’

She had no idea, but she did as she was told and trotted off to fetch the water.

Once Xiaodie was gone, Chen Yi was careful not to track the mud from his feet onto the wooden floorboards under the eaves.

He simply stood there in the rain, letting the cold water wash over his searing hot body.

’After realizing the Hidden Guard’s objective, he knew his own strength was far from sufficient to deal with what was coming.’

’Unless he defected to the Hidden Guard, or rather, the Imperial Court, he would suffer the same fate as the Xiao Family.’

’Either he would be brought down by their schemes, or he would sweep them all aside and remain standing.’

’There was no third option.’

’The Duchess and the Duke must understand this as well, which is why they’re acting with such urgency.’

Chen Yi didn’t need to dwell on the specifics.

At least, until he had the power to protect himself, he just needed to act as if he knew nothing and carry on as usual.

Before long, Xiaodie came running back. She gave him a quick wipe-down, had him stand under the eaves, and after getting him clean, brought out a fresh set of robes.

"Young Master, you shouldn’t do your Cultivation outside when it’s raining. You’ll catch a cold."

Chen Yi smiled and nodded. He took the clothes and returned to his room to change. After letting Xiaodie straighten his robes, he finally went to the main hall and sat down.

"Bring something to eat."

Xiaodie acknowledged and hurried off.

Once the Qi Mechanism within his body had settled, Chen Yi began circulating the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique to mask its presence.

Now that his Martial Arts Body had reached the stage of Great Success, his progress in both the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique and the Big Spear Pile Skill was astonishingly fast. His cultivation grew by the day.

’Once he finishes tempering his body—from his skin and bones to his internal organs—his Martial Arts foundation will be far more solid than any other Martial Artist’s.’

Soon, Xiaodie returned with food. As he ate, Chen Yi gave his instructions:

"Later, I’m going to Jishi Medicine Hall. You stay here at the estate with Wuge. I’ll just have Brother Xing and his men accompany me."

Before Xiaodie could reply, he looked up with a smile. "It’s raining, after all. I’d rather Wuge didn’t catch a cold."

’The truth was, there was a new piece of intelligence from the brothel in South City’s Yanhua Lane.’

’He had no choice. He had to make a trip and see what the commotion was about.’