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

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: A Grand Design Within

”Earth Level Opportunity: A Storm Brews at Duke Dingyuan’s Birthday Banquet.”

For the first time in months, Chen Yi saw a daily intelligence report of such a high level.

Based on past experience, he just had to be present and observe. He could obtain the basic rewards—like an Opportunity, a Cultivation Technique, or knowledge—without doing a thing.

If he got involved, like how he actively spoke with Chen Yunfan this afternoon, there would be additional rewards.

At this thought, Chen Yi gave a knowing smile.

’It’s so close and there’s no risk. Maybe I can try to make a bit of a showing.’

’But I need to be careful not to overdo it. After all, it’s the Old Marquis’s birthday. Standing out too much would be a bad look.’

Having made his decision, Chen Yi rose, left his study, and went outside. He looked up at the bright moon and the myriad stars in the night sky.

Summer had arrived in Shu State, and the weather was a bit stuffy. Even in the dead of night, the blowing wind carried a humid heat.

With it came the faint, sweet fragrance of Purple Bamboo, unique to the Spring Lotus Garden.

Chen Yi took a deep breath and stretched his limbs. He didn’t feel hot at all; on the contrary, his entire body felt refreshed and much more relaxed.

The entry-level Black Tortoise Concealment Technique had brought him benefits no less significant than those from the Big Spear Pile Skill.

While it didn’t further strengthen his muscles, bones, skin, flesh, or internal organs, nor did it increase his Power, the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique could put his body into a peculiar state.

First, it naturally concealed his Qi Mechanism, causing all traces of his Cultivation to vanish. All that remained was the scholarly elegance he had developed from long years of study.

Second—just as it was doing now—even when Chen Yi wasn’t practicing his Pile Skill, the Qi Mechanism in his body still grew, albeit at a very slow rate.

This was because the hair-thin wisps of his Qi Mechanism covering the surface of his body came into contact with the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism, refining it and adding it to his own.

As drops make an ocean, the Qi Mechanism within the two Seas of Qi—his Dantian and his Chest Acupoint—gradually increased.

’My Cultivation progress is much faster this way.’

A hint of a smile appeared on Chen Yi’s face.

To be honest, this feeling of making a little progress every day gave him a great sense of accomplishment.

Even if he hadn’t had many chances to use his Martial Arts, having a skill to fall back on was better than having nothing at all.

It was just as the saying goes—when others think you’re weak, you had better not actually be weak.

Otherwise, they will only bully and suppress you more brazenly.

This was Chen Yi’s current situation.

He could live his days carefree and unrestrained, but that didn’t mean he would choose to endure it when others bullied him.

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have brought up Xiao Wuge when facing Chen Yunfan this afternoon, nor would he have been so confrontational.

Chen Yi tilted his head and saw that the lights in the wooden building where his wife, Xiao Jinghong, stayed had already been extinguished. He didn’t linger outside any longer and turned to return to his wing-room.

Tomorrow, a storm would stir at Marquis Xiao’s birthday banquet. He was curious to see whether Shu State had more heroes or more monsters.

In the wooden building next door.

In the dimness, Xiao Jinghong watched through the half-open window as Chen Yi returned to his wing-room, her thoughts drifting slightly.

Since that night, she had been busy securing funds and provisions for the Dingyuan Army and had few opportunities to interact with Chen Yi.

But for some reason, she always felt that Chen Yi was very different from ordinary scholars.

Beyond his unrestrained and calm demeanor, he seemed to possess a self-confidence that most people lacked.

Or perhaps, an inner strength.

’To have landscapes in one’s heart... That’s probably what it means.’

Xiao Jinghong thought to herself as she reached out, pulled down the support rod under the casement window, and closed it.

She gazed toward the wing-room, her focus sharpening for a moment in thought. A faint smile quietly appeared on her stunningly beautiful face.

If Chen Yi had been there to see it, the words ”Like Jade Steps and Jade Trees, a beauty such as yours is rare in this world” would surely have been a fitting tribute to his wife.

It was just a pity that the only ones to witness such a captivating smile were the bright moon, the myriad stars, and a wisp of the clear breeze.

’Me and him... one martial, one literary. We’re actually a good match.’

At this thought, a rare trace of shyness flickered in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes.

Immediately, she took a light, phantom step and gracefully turned, landing on her bed.

As the quilt covered her delicate figure, a pair of bright eyes still stared blankly at the perfumed canopy above.

No matter what others thought, no matter her status, and no matter her previous considerations, she and Chen Yi were now bound together.

The scene from that night couldn’t help but surface in Xiao Jinghong’s mind, and that easygoing voice echoed in her ears:

”Chen Yi, courtesy name Chen Qingzhou, from Jiangnan Prefecture.”

”My lady, good night.”

The corners of Xiao Jinghong’s mouth lifted slightly. She then closed her eyes and silently responded in her heart:

’My husband, good night.’

...

As mentioned before, the laws and regulations of the Great Wei Dynasty were strict.

Especially the laws of etiquette.

Even the birthday of a Border Guard Marquis was governed by detailed rules. On one hand, it had to comply with etiquette and ancestral traditions; on the other, it had to avoid overstepping one’s station.

For this reason, and to avoid trouble, Old Marquis Xiao’s birthday celebration was not held in the heavily fortified military town.

This way, they could skip the rites of paying respects to the spirit of the Dingyuan Army and receiving tribute from the small neighboring kingdoms and the Mountain Race.

In the Old Marquis’s own words: ”This old man is gravely ill and unfit for long journeys. Let’s keep everything simple.”

Just after midnight.

The sound of gongs and drums already echoed within the Xiao Mansion.

The second master, Xiao Wang, personally carried a bronze gong, making a full circle from the rear courtyard, through the various residences of the middle courtyard, and finally arriving at the front courtyard.

A hundred Personal Guards clad in Profound Armor were already standing solemnly before the courtyard gate.

Xiao Wang inspected them one by one, and only after confirming there was nothing amiss did he hand the bronze gong to a Household Servant at his side.

”Today is the Marquis’s birthday. Although it’s being held within the mansion, you must still display the spirit of the Dingyuan Army.”

The moment he finished speaking, the hundred tall and burly soldiers stood even straighter and answered in unison.

Their voices were clear and bright, and when joined together, they boomed like a clap of thunder.

”Very good. Go. Stand guard outside the main gate and prepare to receive the guests.”

”Yes, sir!”

Upon hearing the commotion from the outer courtyard, the Xiao Family relatives in the middle and rear courtyards, who had been leisurely getting out of bed, were suddenly thrown into a panic.

They scrambled to get dressed and do their hair and makeup.

Chen Yi, however, dressed and washed up without any hurry.

Once he was neat and fresh, he leisurely walked downstairs and, by the light of the lanterns, glanced outside the Spring Lotus Garden.

Because the calligraphy piece for Pei Guanli had been lost, Xiaodie, Wang Lixing, and the others still hadn’t returned. The owner of the mounting shop would likely have a long night.

Of course, most of the other people in the Xiao Mansion were also sleepy.

’It’s a good thing I practice Martial Arts. Otherwise, if I had to wake up after only an hour of sleep, I’d probably be completely groggy right now.’

As Chen Yi was thinking, he glanced at the wooden building next door, and his gaze paused.

The previously dark room was now lit. In the dim yellow light, the faint silhouette of a beautiful woman could be seen sitting by the window.

Through the half-open window, he could see the uncovered half of Xiao Jinghong’s face, just as it looked when she wore that half-armor mask.

Her features were as smooth and fine as jade, with full lips and pearly white teeth.

Faintly, Xiao Jinghong’s voice drifted over: ”Zhenyue, go wake up Guanli.”

”Also, help her put on that Mountain Race attire. It’ll save her from fumbling around and making a mess of it.”

Su Zhenyue seemed to chuckle and said softly, ”That girl really is nothing like a typical person from the Mountain Race.”

”Her? She’s used to running wild.”

Xiao Jinghong’s tone was uncharacteristically casual. But as she spoke and drew her eyebrows, the corner of her eye caught the figure outside the window.

She paused, and her voice returned to its usual calm. ”Go on, get busy. I have to go with Grandfather to the ancestral hall to pay respects later. There’s still some time.”

It was rare for Xiao Jinghong to put on makeup and dress up. Being stared at so intently now, she couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

If it weren’t for today’s special occasion, she would definitely have gone with a plain, unadorned face as usual.

Chen Yi sensed the slight change in her tone, smiled, and turned his head, looking away.

It seemed his wife wasn’t always so calm and composed; she sometimes revealed a more feminine, flustered side.

As if she heard Chen Yi’s chuckle, Xiao Jinghong stood up, a little flustered, and removed the window’s support rod.

CREAK.

Chen Yi paused and looked back.

Xiao Jinghong froze, a faint blush quietly appearing on her cheeks.

”Hahaha...”

The laughter, of course, belonged to Chen Yi, causing Xiao Jinghong to frown slightly when she heard it.

This was the first time she had encountered such a situation, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

Vaguely, only a single thought remained in her mind:

’How is a situation like this harder than handling military affairs or practicing Martial Arts?’