You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Second Sister, You Can’t Do That

Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Jinghong came together to Qingjing Residence to visit the Old Marquis.

No one was allowed to approach within a wide radius. Even Duke Qian, Zhang Xuan, and the former Governor, Sun Fu, had been temporarily asked to step outside.

Shen Huatang, Su Zhenyue, Xiaodie, and the others placed the gifts the two sisters had brought back inside the residence before exiting to stand guard at the entrance.

Facing Qingjing Residence, Zhang Xuan sat by the pond in front of the central courtyard’s main hall, playing a game of Go with Sun Fu.

On the Go board between them, black and white stones occupied the four corners, a clear sign the game had just begun.

Zhang Xuan gazed toward the entrance of Qingjing Residence and sighed. ”I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious.”

Sun Fu glanced at him, then looked back toward the residence. He chuckled. ”Your Duke Qian’s Mansion is teeming with descendants. What reason do you have to be envious of Old Xiao?”

”Hmph. Teeming with descendants, but not enough capable ones. Shaojie has courage in spades, but he’s short on strategy. He’s stubborn and conceited. He’s bound to suffer for it later.”

”Is that why you’ve been lingering here at my home?”

”You old fox. You see right through everything.”

Zhang Xuan placed a white stone on the board with a CLACK and let out a sly laugh.

He was, in fact, nursing the idea of luring Sun Fu back to Jiao State.

As the saying goes, an elder in the home is a treasure to be had.

Sun Fu might not be a master strategist, but as a former Governor, he was an expert at managing internal affairs.

With his help, Duke Qian’s Mansion would be free from any turmoil over finances or grain for at least a decade.

”So, what’s your answer? Yes or no.”

”I’m not going.” Sun Fu blocked the liberty of a white stone with a black one, refusing without a second thought.

”And your reason is?”

”Wealth never lasts beyond three generations. Why go to all the trouble?”

At these words, Zhang Xuan glared at him. ”Who do you think you’re talking about?”

Utterly unafraid, Sun Fu kept his eyes on the board and said calmly, ”Instead of wasting your time here with me, you’d be better off thinking about how to properly educate your Heng’er’s generation.”

Zhang Xuan frowned. After a moment’s thought, the implication dawned on him. ”Are you saying Shaojie is a lost cause?”

”He lacks magnanimity, courage, and intelligence. What do you think?”

”Hah! As if you’re any better, you old relic! That boy of yours...”

”A simple life as a commoner, free of worries, is more than enough for him.”

Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes. Huffing, he placed another stone and began muttering curses under his breath.

”Damn it all! The moment I get back, I’m finding a good teacher for Heng’er. I’ll make you eat your words, you old goat!”

Sun Fu just smiled and placed a black stone in response.

”As the saying goes, ’the child at three foretells the man to be.’ In my opinion, that boy Wuge has a far more promising future than your Heng’er.”

”Shut your mouth! Just play the game...”

Every family has its own troubles, many of which are not for outsiders to hear.

Inside the inner hall of Qingjing Residence, Old Marquis Xiao’s gratification at seeing his two granddaughters lasted only for a moment.

”Jinghong, how goes the training for the New Army of the Three Towns?”

”Their morale is high, but their Cultivation is a bit low. We’re short on newly forged weapons and Armor, horses, and both funds and provisions.”

Xiao Jinghong’s report was concise, but not a single word conveyed satisfaction.

The Old Marquis frowned. ”Have you inquired with the Protectorate and the Military Supervision Institute?”

Xiao Jinghong nodded. ”After I submitted the memorial, the Minister of Earth objected. He said all the funds and grain raised by the Ministry of Revenue this year are already allocated and cannot be diverted to our Dingyuan Army.”

”The Minister of War spoke up for us, but to little effect.”

”Ultimately, the Holy Emperor adopted the Minister of Earth’s recommendation, allocating ten percent of the salt and iron tax revenue from Shu State for the establishment of the New Army.”

The Old Marquis’s brow furrowed deeply. As he leaned back in his Grandmaster’s Chair, the hand gripping the armrest trembled uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Xiao Wan’er felt a pang of pity, but she knew they were discussing critical matters concerning the Dingyuan Army, so she held her tongue.

After a moment of silence, the Old Marquis sighed. ”That small amount isn’t even enough for the soldiers’ pay... What did the Protectorate have to say?”

Xiao Jinghong, sitting ramrod straight in her chair, replied calmly, ”They said their hands were tied.”

She paused, then asked, ”Grandfather, with 300,000 soldiers and horses to feed in our Dingyuan Army, our funds and provisions are already stretched to the limit. As for the veterans who have retired...”

She trailed off as she saw a flash of pain in the Old Marquis’s eyes. She understood immediately.

”I will make proper arrangements for the retired veterans.”

Old Marquis Xiao was taken aback. ”You have a plan?”

”The other day, the Mountain Race and other tribes sent representatives to propose we jointly build a Mutual Market. If it’s managed well, I was thinking of arranging for some of the veterans to work there.”

”Good, good... excellent. A Mutual Market is a fine idea. It would benefit the Thirteen Tribes as well as our Dingyuan Army’s Three Towns.”

Hearing this, Old Marquis Xiao’s expression finally eased.

But after a moment’s thought, he asked, ”Do you plan to inform the Protectorate of this?”

Xiao Jinghong shook her head. ”They already control the salt and iron trade. I have no intention of letting them get involved in the Mutual Market as well.”

Old Marquis Xiao gave a slight nod. ”That’s for the best. With the Xiao Family facing threats from both within and without, we do need to look after our own interests if we’re to support the massive Dingyuan Army.”

Xiao Jinghong’s eyes flickered. She desperately wanted to correct him.

’The Dingyuan Army isn’t the Xiao Family’s private force. It belongs to the Imperial Court.’

’But how could it be right for the Imperial Court to withhold all funds and provisions, forcing them to fend for themselves?’

But after a moment’s consideration, she decided against saying it out loud.

After a long moment, Old Marquis Xiao turned to Xiao Wan’er. ”How are things at home?”

Xiao Wan’er smiled. ”Grandfather, you needn’t worry about the family. The medicinal herb business is doing well, bringing in several thousand silver each month.”

”The other day, Uncle Dongchen pulled some strings and had a shipment of medicinal herbs transported from the Northern State, enough to supply our Medicine Halls for half a year.”

Old Marquis Xiao nodded. ”That’s good to hear. With you and the second branch helping out, I don’t have to worry so much about family matters.”

Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Jinghong exchanged a glance. After a few more minutes of small talk, they stood up to leave.

”Jinghong, ah, now that you’re back, stay home for a while. As for that husband of yours, Chen Yi...”

A smile appeared on the Old Marquis’s face. ”He’s not a bad person. As for him running out on the wedding before, just let bygones be bygones.”

Xiao Jinghong bowed slightly. ”I will keep that in mind.”

Xiao Wan’er was suddenly reminded of the ”Wan God’s Ode,” and a blush spread across her pale cheeks.

She was a tangled mess of shame, anger, and frustration, unsure what to make of it all.

The two sisters bid farewell to the Old Marquis and walked out of Qingjing Residence together, heading for Spring Lotus Garden.

Just then, a voice called out from the distance. ”Jinghong, Wan’er, it’s been too long! I’ve missed you both dearly.”

Xiao Jinghong’s brow twitched. With her sharp hearing, she already knew who was approaching. She had wanted to duck back inside with her sister, not expecting him to be so persistent.

Xiao Wan’er glanced at Xiao Jinghong. Seeing that her sister had no intention of speaking, she bowed to the newcomer. ”Brother, I trust you have been well.”

”I am, I am! Haha...”

His voice preceded him. A tall young man in dark green brocade robes was striding quickly toward them.

He was quite handsome, with a square-jawed face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His skin was the color of bronze, a clear sign of long exposure to the wind and sun.

When Shen Huatang, Su Zhenyue, and the others saw him, they all bowed in greeting. ”General Li.”

Li Changqing, General of the Dingyuan Army’s Iron Wall Town, waved his hand. ”No need for such formalities. We’re all family here.”

With that, he turned to Xiao Jinghong and Xiao Wan’er with a smile. ”Did you two just visit the Old Marquis?”

”Yes.” Xiao Jinghong shot him a glance. ”We have other business. If you’ll excuse us.”

Seeing that she was about to leave, Li Changqing reached out a hand to stop her. ”Jinghong, I missed your wedding a while back. How about I make it up to you later?”

”That won’t be necessary.”

Xiao Jinghong said coolly, taking Xiao Wan’er by the arm and turning to leave.

Li Changqing watched them walk away, still smiling as he called after them, ”Give my regards to your husband for me!”

Xiao Jinghong paid him no mind, but Xiao Wan’er looked as if she wanted to say something, then thought better of it.

”Jinghong, you and Brother Changqing...”

”Pay him no mind. He just needs to do his job.”

”Oh.”

As the group passed through the central courtyard and entered a long corridor in the rear courtyard, Xiao Jinghong’s brow furrowed once more.

There at the far end, Xiao Wang and Xiao Qiuyun were waiting with several Armored Warriors.

Xiao Wan’er sighed internally, but a smile touched her lips. ”Second Grand-uncle, it has been a long time. I trust you are well?”

”Thank you for your concern, Wan’er.”

”Greetings, Auntie Qiuyun.”

After they had exchanged greetings, Xiao Wang leaned on his cane with both hands and said flatly, ”Jinghong, you haven’t been back in a long time. There are a few things I must say.”

Xiao Jinghong bowed slightly. ”Please speak, Second Grand-uncle.”

”What that husband of yours has been doing recently is out of line. How do you intend to deal with him?”

Seeing the cold look in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes, the nearby Xiao Qiuyun immediately tried to smooth things over. ”What my father means is that he hopes you’ll keep a tighter rein on him, to prevent him from doing anything too outrageous.”

Xiao Wang’s expression hardened. ”What I mean is—he must be punished severely!”

Xiao Wan’er gripped Xiao Jinghong’s hand, afraid she would talk back to their elder.

But Xiao Jinghong had already spoken. ”My husband may have been a bit reckless, but it’s not as serious as Second Grand-uncle claims.”

Xiao Wang frowned slightly. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard her continue, ”I know that Second Grand-uncle is now in charge of the Punishment Hall and that you act with the Xiao Family’s best interests at heart.”

”But please, take my advice. When it comes to my husband’s affairs, it would be best if you simply looked the other way.”

”You...”

Before Xiao Wang could get another word out, Xiao Qiuyun quickly grabbed his arm. ”Father, you should just listen to Jinghong,” she said with a smile. ”Why must you worry about the young couple’s affairs?”

Then, she changed her tune. ”However, Jinghong, you must have heard about what Chen Yi has been up to lately, haven’t you?”

Xiao Jinghong nodded. ”I have.”

Xiao Qiuyun smiled. ”Then perhaps you’ll hear your auntie’s thoughts on the matter.”

”Just as you said, Chen Yi is merely a bit reckless, not fundamentally a bad person. And since he has some talent, why don’t you let me and your Uncle Dongchen find something for him to do?”

”As it happens, there’s a vacancy for a Chief Clerk at the Governor’s Office. It’s not a high-ranking position...”

Before she could finish, Xiao Jinghong cut her off coolly. ”Auntie, you are the Duchess of Qian now. It would be best if you involved yourself less in the family’s affairs.”

With that, she ignored them completely, leading Xiao Wan’er straight down the corridor.

Xiao Qiuyun’s expression darkened, and Xiao Wang grew so furious his eyes reddened, yet he was left utterly speechless.

Xiao Wan’er sighed to herself, but she didn’t know how she could possibly reason with her younger sister.

Meanwhile, Shen Huatang, Xiaodie, and the others hardly dared to breathe.

By the time they reached the entrance to Spring Lotus Garden, Xiao Jinghong, who seemed to have been pondering the entire way, suddenly spoke. ”Sister, on second thought, what Auntie Qiuyun said does make some sense.”

”Having my husband stay at home all the time truly is a waste of his talents. But sending him to the Governor’s Office is inappropriate. Why not have him help you instead?”

Hearing this, Xiao Wan’er’s mouth fell open. ”Th-that...”

’Jinghong, you can’t do that!’