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

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Several People on the North City Official Road

Perhaps because it had rained for several days straight, the air in Shu State Prefecture City felt exceptionally fresh.

On Kangning Street in the North City, the road was paved with slabs of bluestone, each clearly etched with a lotus flower. The design symbolized the auspicious saying, ”a lotus with every step.”

Scholars were particularly fond of such omens, whether they sought success in the imperial examinations or wealth and power as an official.

In any case, Kangning Street was the most refined and scholarly area in all of Shu State City.

This was a stark contrast to South City’s Yanhua Lane, where the flagstones were carved with images of beautiful women, as if afraid people wouldn’t know what sort of business was conducted there.

Chen Yi, however, paid little attention to such details. To him, even the finest decorations in the city only warranted a single comment: ’Quaint and antique.’

Recently, however, things had improved. He had read a great deal and learned much about the local customs and rules of Shu State, so he could at least make some sense of it all.

This was especially true for the tools of his trade—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—which he handled daily.

At the very least, Chen Yi now knew that Yunsong Paper came from Guangyue Prefecture and was made from its unique local pine trees.

He also knew of the famed inksticks from Jiangnan Prefecture, the wolf hair brushes from the Northern State, and the fine inkstones crafted from the unique stones of Jing State.

Though his knowledge was superficial, he was still gobsmacked by the price of these seemingly insignificant trinkets.

Take the Yunsong Paper he often used, for instance. A single one-foot-square sheet cost five copper coins, the same price as a pound of coarse rice.

Of course, this was only because he was part of the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, one of the top noble houses in the Great Wei Dynasty. His daily necessities were naturally on a different level from those of an ordinary person.

A scholar from an ordinary family wouldn’t even dream of using Yunsong Paper; they would be lucky to even see it. Most had to make do with cheaper, coarser paper.

Beyond that, the history books Chen Yi read most frequently had familiarized him with the major events of the Great Wei Dynasty’s two-hundred-year history.

He had also sought out historical records from the previous dynasty, mostly to understand the changes that had occurred in Shu State and Jiangnan Prefecture over the years.

「Not long after.」

A carriage flying the crimson banner of the Dingyuan Marquis’s Xiao Family passed through the city gates and stopped at a post station three li away.

The coachmen, Wang Lixing and Yan Hong, glanced around, their faces etched with confusion.

Outside the post station, no fewer than ten carriages of various sizes were already parked.

One of them also bore the Xiao Family’s crimson banner, indicating that another master from the mansion had come.

Beside the official road, a dozen or so officials in blue and green official robes stood waiting expectantly. The man at their head was none other than the Prefect of Shu State, Liu Si.

The two men exchanged a look, neither having any idea what Chen Yi was doing here.

They especially recalled the ”incidents” Chen Yi had caused on his previous excursions from the mansion. A nervous flutter, like a cat scratching at their hearts, made them wish they could turn the carriage around and head straight back.

Fortunately, they spotted Xiao Dongchen of the second branch among the officials. They figured that with him present, Chen Yi would surely be more restrained.

”Have we arrived?”

Just then, Chen Yi lifted the curtain, peeked out, and then stepped down from the carriage, followed by Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie.

Wang Lixing glanced at Xiao Dongchen, whose expression seemed a little off. He sidled up to Chen Yi and asked in a low voice,

”Sir, what brings you here today?”

”To meet someone,” Chen Yi replied, straightening his robes.

”Is it the same person those lords over there are waiting for?”

”I suppose so.”

Chen Yi glanced toward the officials and saw many of them looking his way. He smiled, straightened up, and offered a deep, respectful bow.

Fortunately, he held the rank of a Scholar, which exempted him from kneeling before these officials. Otherwise, it would have been improper to approach them so closely.

Wang Lixing winced, a deeply uneasy feeling settling in his stomach. He shot a look at Yan Hong, signaling him to step forward and press for more answers.

But before Yan Hong could speak, Xiao Wuge, who had been looking around curiously, turned his attention back to Chen Yi and asked,

”Brother-in-law, who are you here to meet?”

”Chen Yunfan.”

”Oh, I feel like I’ve heard that name before.”

Then, as if remembering something, Xiao Wuge said, ”I know! He’s the one who doesn’t get along with you, right?”

Chen Yi chuckled and shook his head. ”I wouldn’t dare say such a thing. If someone overheard, they might think there’s a rift between my brother and me.”

’As if there wasn’t?’

Even a gruff man like Wang Lixing didn’t buy it.

He finally understood what was happening, but the fact that it involved Chen Yunfan gave him a deeply ominous feeling.

Yan Hong, standing beside him, felt the same. His face was practically scrunched into a knot.

’Last time, this master of ours tried to run away from his own wedding and nearly got me killed. It can’t be that bad this time, can it?’

Perhaps Xiao Wuge had spoken a bit too loudly, because several of the officials up ahead turned to look.

Upon spotting him, the leader, Liu Si, could no longer feign ignorance. He led the other officials over, bowed with clasped hands, and said,

”We officials greet the Young Master.”

Xiao Wuge waved his hand with an air of adult authority and said with a smile, ”Uncle Liu, there’s no need to be so formal. Weren’t you just at our mansion a couple of days ago?”

Hearing this, Liu Si’s face brightened, clearly pleased by the familiar address.

”Wuge, what brings you here today?”

”My brother-in-law said he was meeting someone, so I tagged along to have a look.”

”Meeting someone?”

Liu Si frowned and glanced at Chen Yi. Seeing that he maintained a placid smile, Liu Si thought for a moment before nodding.

”This year’s Imperial Top Scholar, Chen Yunfan, is your brother-in-law’s elder brother. It is indeed fitting that he would come to welcome him.”

Xiao Wuge’s eyes lit up. ”Imperial Top Scholar? Does that mean he’s even more amazing than a Third Place Scholar?”

Liu Si nodded hesitantly, then said with pointed significance, ”He is now an Assistant Governor in the Governor’s Office, holding the same Fourth-grade rank as I.”

”Fang Gui, on the other hand, is merely a Fifth-grade Advisor. In terms of official rank, he is a notch below the Imperial Top Scholar.”

Chen Yi naturally understood the subtext. Liu Si was reminding him of his place and the gravity of the occasion.

But whatever his thoughts, he pretended not to understand. With a smile, he said, ”Wuge, what the Lord Prefect means is that Chen Yunfan is more impressive than Li Huai’gu.”

Liu Si’s expression soured instantly. He shot Chen Yi a glare, then turned and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

He was deeply vexed.

For one, he was displeased with Chen Yi’s recent string of antics in Shu State City.

For another, the relationship between Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan was clearly not a harmonious one.

If they were on good terms, Chen Yi would have come alone. Why bring the Young Master, Xiao Wuge, with him?

At this, the other officials of Shu State exchanged glances, gave another bow to Xiao Wuge, and followed Liu Si.

Only Xiao Dongchen walked over, his brow furrowed. He stared at Chen Yi and asked in a grave tone, ”Second Son-in-law, this is hardly a good time for you to be here, is it?”

He was a few years older than Xiao Xuanshuo but well-preserved, with a fair, beardless face. His blue official robe lent him a distinct air of authority.

Chen Yi gave a noncommittal nod, then pulled a calling card from his robes and showed it to him. ”Uncle Dongchen, my brother summoned me. I had no choice.”

Xiao Dongchen glanced at the card and his expression softened, but he still added a word of caution.

”Don’t think me meddlesome, but your brother has traveled a great distance from the Capital Prefecture to take up a post in the Shu State Governor’s Office. I’m sure you understand how special his position is.”

”How so?”

Though it was forward of him, Chen Yi pressed on. ”Perhaps Uncle Dongchen could enlighten me?”

Xiao Dongchen hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and lowered his voice. ”The Right Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office is getting on in years. He will retire in two years, at most.”

Chen Yi froze, silently astounded. ’This has something to do with Chen Yunfan?’

A Governor was a province’s chief administrator, a high-ranking official of the Junior Second Grade.

As an Imperial Top Scholar, Chen Yunfan’s direct appointment to Shu State as a Fourth-grade Assistant Governor, without first serving time in the Hanlin Academy, was already a special exception.

’To have him take over as the Right Governor of Shu State just two years later... Is the current Emperor really that autocratic?’

Xiao Dongchen could see that he understood and continued, ”In such a sensitive period, it’s best to be even more cautious.”

Chen Yi cupped his fists. ”Thank you for the advice, Uncle Dongchen.”

Xiao Dongchen nodded, offered a quick, smiling greeting to Xiao Wuge, and then turned to rejoin Liu Si and the others.

Wang Lixing and Yan Hong breathed a sigh of relief. ’At a critical moment like this, it’s good to have a master from the mansion who understands the stakes.’

Beside them, Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge both looked on with a mixture of understanding and confusion.

”Brother-in-law, since the Imperial Top Scholar is your brother, that means he’s not the one you don’t get along with, right?”

Chen Yi shot him a look, then his gaze drifted to the far end of the official road. He spoke with a half-smile,

”I suppose so... But who can really say?”