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

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: A Couple’s Night Talk

Xiao Wan’er thought of several excuses, but felt none of them would get past her second sister, so she could only tell her to ask for Chen Yi’s opinion first.

After all, from what she knew of Chen Yi, the man was undeniably talented, but he was also an idle, lazy good-for-nothing.

’Even if he isn’t... he’d better be!’

Setting aside Xiao Wan’er’s inner turmoil, Xiao Jinghong received her sister’s reply and made a mental note to find some time to talk with Chen Yi.

As she had said before, she was well aware of her grandfather’s purpose for having Chen Yi marry into the family, so she had never considered refusing.

It was just that with so many things happening with the Xiao Family and the Dingyuan Army, she didn’t have the time to figure out her relationship with Chen Yi, let alone how to act around him.

After thinking it over, Xiao Jinghong decided it was best for them both to keep busy with their own affairs.

After all, she was about to get busy establishing a Mutual Market with the Thirteen Tribes of the Shu State Mountain Area, and she likely wouldn’t be able to tend to anything else for some time.

And having Chen Yi help her older sister was a way to give him something to do.

She didn’t expect Chen Yi to contribute much; she just hoped they could weather the current crisis.

Chen Yi, of course, was unaware of all this.

When Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Wan’er, and the others returned, he had lunch with the two sisters, Xiao Wuge, and Zhang Heng.

Xiaodie, meanwhile, ate with Shen Huatang and Su Zhenyue at a small table in an adjacent room.

Only Pei Guanli was in the wooden building next door, gnawing on a pig’s trotter and pitifully wondering when she would be able to openly appear before the Xiao Family.

But she figured that was unlikely anytime soon. After all, the fact that she had poisoned her way from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard was something even Xiao Jinghong found difficult to explain.

During the meal, Chen Yi and the others exchanged a few words now and then. The conversation was simple, but the atmosphere was harmonious.

Chen Yi didn’t harbor any ill will toward Xiao Jinghong, but he couldn’t say he liked her or felt any romantic love for her, either.

As long as she didn’t force him to do anything and just let him stay peacefully in the Marquis’s Mansion, a simple, uneventful life would be for the best.

During lunch, however, Xiao Wan’er was unusually quiet, keeping her head down without a word and refusing to even spare Chen Yi a glance.

Xiao Jinghong found it strange but didn’t know this change in her older sister was because of Chen Yi; she just assumed it was due to the Xiao Family’s current difficulties.

Chen Yi, on the other hand, knew the reason. ’I’ll find a chance to explain later,’ he thought.

”First Sister, Second Sister, you didn’t get to see the Third Place Scholar in all his glory! The entire street was filled with scholars...”

As usual, Xiao Wuge began recounting everything that had happened recently.

”No, I can’t call them all scholars. Brother-in-law says a true scholar is someone with both talent and virtue. Some of those people had neither.”

When he finished, Chen Yi picked up a chicken leg and stuffed it in his mouth. ”Wuge, talk less and eat more.”

’This little traitor will spill anything,’ Chen Yi thought. ’Is he not afraid I’ll get him sent off to the army barracks?’

Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Jinghong didn’t think much of it, merely assuming the two of them had a very good relationship.

Beside them, the Young Crown Prince Zhang Heng remained silent, acting much more subdued.

Chen Yi was amused. ’It’s true what they say,’ he thought, ’everyone meets their match.’

After lunch, everyone went their separate ways.

Xiao Wan’er hadn’t been back to the mansion for a long time, and all the household affairs, both big and small, needed her attention, such as the accounts for the first and second households.

Xiao Jinghong was even busier.

Throughout the afternoon, Spring Lotus Garden was bustling with activity.

One moment, members of the Xiao Family Branches would arrive; the next, officials from the Shu State Prefecture’s City Guard, Imprisonment Department, and other government offices would come to call.

There were also some noblewomen from obviously wealthy families who came to the door, saying they were there to see Xiao Jinghong and Xiao Wan’er about organizing banquets.

At first, Chen Yi found it refreshing, since Spring Lotus Garden hadn’t been this lively in a long time.

But these visitors were only polite to his face; behind his back, they were all pointing and whispering, making it impossible for him to continue fishing in peace.

In the end, he simply returned to his study to read medical texts and practice his calligraphy, which was a peaceful way to pass the time.

...

「Nightfall.」

After finishing his calligraphy practice, Chen Yi stretched, leaned back in his chair, and rested, rubbing his slightly aching eyes.

The next moment, a screen of light appeared before his eyes:

[Opportunity +1.]

[Evaluation: Person unseen, voice unheard, scene un-witnessed. To let a heaven-sent opportunity pass by is the mark of a truly idle man.]

Chen Yi glanced at it, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

Although he hadn’t left the mansion recently and had gained few Opportunities, his various ”Dao” techniques had all progressed significantly.

He had practiced his Cursive Script to the Mastery Level. Empowered by his Calligraphy Dao and Qi Mechanism, he was now able to achieve a restrained elegance in his strokes.

He had cultivated his Big Spear Pile Skill to Skilled Level Perfection. He just needed enough Opportunity to advance his Martial Arts Body to Great Success, which would allow his Pile Skill to break through to the Mastery Level.

At that point, his physical strength would also improve significantly, likely reaching the Power of Four Symbols.

His Fist Technique, Palm Technique, and Step Technique had all been cultivated to the Skilled Level. Among them, the Mountain Shattering Fist, the first he ever learned, had even reached Skilled Level Perfection.

’The only real trouble is the Medical Dao.’

Chen Yi looked at the medical books on his desk and felt a headache coming on.

Although he had the guidance of the Profound Mysteries of the Medical Dao, the subject matter was simply too complex. It wasn’t something he could improve just by reading books.

For example, the Four Diagnostics—observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking—required him to actually see patients.

Then there were things like acupuncture and prescribing medicine. Relying on self-study alone, his rate of improvement was far slower than it was for the Calligraphy Dao or Martial Arts.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi gave up for now. ’I can’t just go find a clinic and start practicing, can I?’

With that thought, he got up to stretch his arms and legs. As he walked to the window, he suddenly froze.

Under the bright, starry sky of early summer, Xiao Jinghong was sitting in the pavilion by the pond, staring blankly at the endlessly leaping Golden Carp.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi left his study and walked over to the pavilion. He sat down at the table and asked casually, ”It’s so late. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Xiao Jinghong had heard his footsteps and was prepared for his arrival, but she was still taken aback by his casual words.

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes glinting strangely from beneath her half-mask. ”You... you’ve changed a lot.”

Chen Yi picked up the teapot on the table, poured two cups, and passed one to her. ”People change.”

’He didn’t call her ’My Lady,’ and she didn’t call him ’my husband.’ Good. This is the perfect setup for an honest conversation.’

Xiao Jinghong stared at him for a moment before nodding. ”That’s true.”

She then visibly relaxed, leaning against the side of the stone table and looking out at the pond.

’After all these years of military training, I really have changed a lot.’

Seeing she was lost in thought, Chen Yi didn’t disturb her, simply sipping his tea. SLURP... SLURP.

Perhaps disturbed by the noise, Xiao Jinghong thought for a moment and asked, ”Why did you run away from the wedding?”

Chen Yi paused. ”I suppose I thought about the uneventful life ahead and couldn’t resign myself to it.”

’It’s not like I wanted to run away,’ he thought. ’I couldn’t help it, I was framed.’

With that in mind, he said tentatively, ”What if I told you I didn’t actually want to run...” He trailed off, seeing her expression. ”I suppose I just wasn’t ready to settle down.”

He didn’t even have to finish; the look in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes gave him his answer.

’On second thought, there’s no way Xiao Jinghong would believe me.’

After all, on the wedding day, everyone saw him as the Xiao Family’s live-in son-in-law who used the chaos as a chance to escape his marriage.

’If I had died, maybe the Xiao Family would have investigated thoroughly. But I’m still alive.’

Xiao Jinghong looked away and continued, ”Then why do you want a quiet life now?”

Chen Yi smiled. ”Perhaps because I’ve started thinking about the more distant future.”

”Take the Old Marquis, for example. He fought campaigns north and south for decades, and isn’t he enjoying his later years in the mansion now?”

”So I figured, when I get to the Old Marquis’s age, I’ll probably be just like him.”

”If that’s the case, why not start enjoying that life now? Wouldn’t that save me years of taking the long way around, sparing me a great deal of pointless toil?”

”...”

Xiao Jinghong was taken aback again. She tilted her head, studying him as if trying to tell whether he was just spouting nonsense.

Still, she had to admit, his argument was certainly a novel one.

”With your talent and knowledge, don’t you feel it’s a waste? Do you have no regrets?”

”Sometimes,” Chen Yi said honestly. ”But when I really think about it, that kind of life just doesn’t suit me.”

Seeing Xiao Jinghong nod, he pointed to her half-mask. ”May I ask why you always wear that?”

Xiao Jinghong watched him for a moment, then reached up and unfastened the mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.

This time, it was Chen Yi’s turn to be stunned.

Although he had known she was beautiful from the first time he saw her, he never expected her to look ninety percent like Xiao Wan’er.

It was just that the two sisters had completely different builds and temperaments.

Xiao Wan’er was like a sacred lotus, so delicate that one felt an urge to protect her.

Xiao Jinghong, on the other hand, had a more valiant air and less fragility. And on her exquisite face, just beneath the corners of her eyes, were two faint scars.

”The first time I led troops on patrol outside the pass, we encountered a large army of the Barbarian Race. I was careless and got wounded by one of them.”

For some reason, Xiao Jinghong found herself explaining further, ”But I don’t wear it to hide the scars. It’s just that things can be inconvenient in the army, so the mask is better.”

Chen Yi kept looking at her face. After a long moment, he smiled and nodded. ”It doesn’t diminish your beauty at all. In fact, it adds a touch of valor. It’s nice.”

”But I’d like to know... where is the one who hurt you now?”

”Dead, of course.”

”In that case... he got off easy.”

After he said that, they looked at each other and smiled.

From Chen Yi’s perspective, he now understood Xiao Jinghong a little better. He found her to be straightforward and unaffected, which was quite nice.

As for Xiao Jinghong’s view of Chen Yi... he was, perhaps, just easy on the eyes.

In any case, she felt less reserved now, more relaxed in both body and mind. The worries about the Dingyuan Army’s funds and provisions had also faded somewhat.

They chatted idly for an hour.

Chen Yi glanced at the sky, then rose and cupped his hands in a formal gesture. ”My Lady, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Chen Yi, courtesy name Qingzhou, of Jiangnan Prefecture.”

Xiao Jinghong was amused. She also rose and smiled. ”Xiao Jinghong. It is a pleasure to meet you, my husband.”

That smile was like the evening breeze upon his face.

Chen Yi froze for a second, then simply nodded and turned to walk toward his rooms, giving a lazy wave over his shoulder.

”Good night, My Lady.”

’Perhaps, many years from now,’ he thought, ’I’ll still remember that smile.’

Xiao Jinghong watched him enter the wooden building, listening to the unhurried sound of his footsteps as he went into his room. Only then did she look down at the half-armor mask in her hand, a little lost in thought.

”Good night, my husband.”