You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 48: Spanking Is Too Loud

Chen Yi had no intention of bothering with his half-brother.

But that night, just after midnight, a golden light flashed before his eyes.

[Daily Intelligence · Profound-rank Lower Grade: Past the midpoint of Mao hour (around 6 a.m.) on the main road in North City, this year’s Imperial Top Scholar, Chen Yunfan, will arrive on horseback. Officials from the government offices of Shu State and members of the noble families will be there to welcome him personally. A small amount of Opportunity can be obtained.]

Chen Yi scanned the message and stroked his chin. ’Looks like I have to go after all.’

He really didn’t like Chen Yunfan, but this Opportunity was precisely what he needed.

By observing the occasional squabbles in the Marquis’s Mansion over the past few days, his Opportunity had reached 83 points. He wasn’t far from raising his Martial Arts·Body to the Great Success stage.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi chuckled. ’The invitation was full of talk about brotherly affection and respect. I wonder what he’ll say to my face.’

’He figured Chen Yunfan, being cut from the same cloth as the Chen Family’s matriarch, Cui Yu, wouldn’t have anything pleasant to say.’

In fact, Chen Yi didn’t know much about this older brother of his.

During the years he was confined to the mansion, the number of times the two had met could be counted on one hand.

The last time he’d heard Chen Yunfan’s name was from Li Huai’gu—for this year’s imperial examinations, the Holy Emperor had defied all counsel to personally name him the Imperial Top Scholar.

He’d heard it had caused a prolonged uproar among the students in the Capital Prefecture, most of whom were dissatisfied with Chen Yunfan’s appointment as Imperial Top Scholar.

’To make such a grand entrance under these circumstances... it seems he isn’t bothered by the commotion at all.’

Thinking this, Chen Yi lay back on his bed and gradually fell asleep.

While he slept soundly, the two Xiao sisters were still burning the midnight oil next door in Jiaxing Garden... handling business.

Xiao Wan’er looked serious, one hand holding an abacus and the other on an account book, her fingers flying as the beads went CLACK-CLACK-CLACK.

After calculating each page, she would pick up her brush to mark the ledger in red.

Xiao Jinghong sat opposite her, her slender Wolf Hair Brush dancing across a memorial to the throne, writing line after line. The gist of it was:

"With the Southern Barbarians currently unstable, the provisions and pay for the Dingyuan Army’s new and veteran soldiers are insufficient. It is feared we cannot sustain operations."

Although she had previously told the Old Marquis she planned to establish a Mutual Market with the Wumeng Mountain Race to generate profit for military supplies, she had no intention of abandoning her requests for funds and provisions from the Imperial Court.

Just as she had thought before, the Dingyuan Army was an official force established by the Imperial Court to defend the border, not the private army of their Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

By any measure, the responsibility for funds and provisions should not fall on them.

They worked late into the night.

Xiao Wan’er finally closed the ledger. Her face was pale, but her eyes were bright with joy.

"Jinghong, the mansion has a surplus of four thousand silver this month. We can finally pay the remaining balance for that batch of medicinal herbs Uncle Dongchen brought in."

Xiao Jinghong had also finished her memorial. She reminded her sister as she checked it over carefully,

"Sister, there’s been a lot of rain in Jing State and Shu State recently. That batch of herbs is coming from the Northern State, so don’t forget to let Uncle Dongchen know."

Xiao Wan’er smiled. "I had Huatang go tell him yesterday. Business at our Medicine Hall has been good lately. We’re waiting on this batch to replenish our stock, so we can’t afford any mistakes."

Finding no errors, Xiao Jinghong put away the memorial. She stood up, stretching her arms and legs as she looked at her sister.

"Grandfather was right. With you here, everything in the mansion runs smoothly."

Xiao Wan’er chided playfully, "You shouldn’t praise me to my face like that. If we’re talking about contributions, you’re the one who works much harder."

The corner of Xiao Jinghong’s mouth curved into a smile beneath her half-armor mask. "As long as we sisters work together, we can surely hold out until Wuge inherits the Marquis Position."

Hearing this, a trace of worry appeared on Xiao Wan’er’s delicate face. "That’s true. The one we worry about most right now is Wuge."

After speaking, she paused. Thinking of Xiao Wuge’s recent changes, she couldn’t help but think of Chen Yi, and along with him, that poem, *Wan God’s Ode*.

A flicker of embarrassed irritation instantly shattered her melancholy.

Just then, Xiao Jinghong removed her half-armor mask and remarked with a sigh, "You know, Wuge has matured a lot during his time with Chen Yi."

"Sister, you were right to suggest that Wuge learn from him."

"I suppose so," Xiao Wan’er said, biting back her frustration. After a moment, she changed the subject. "How are things between you and him?"

Xiao Jinghong toyed with her half-armor mask, her tone distant. "We are, for all intents and purposes, husband and wife."

"Huh?"

"I spoke with him earlier. The situation is a bit better than I imagined."

"Sister, we both know what Grandfather intended. As long as Chen Yi remains quietly with the Xiao Family, he’s providing us with the greatest possible assistance."

Hearing this, Xiao Wan’er looked at her younger sister’s composed expression, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say to comfort her. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

And when she thought of something else, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

"If my health were better, perhaps you wouldn’t have been the one to marry a man into our family."

Xiao Jinghong turned to look at her. "Sister, you’re wrong. Even if you were in perfect health, it still would have been me."

"Grandfather sought out the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family not for their prestige, but simply for an excuse to silence the other families in Shu State and allow me to remain with the Xiao Family."

"Actually, this time inspecting the Three Towns..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Jinghong shook her head. "Never mind. I can’t speak of military matters to outsiders."

Xiao Wan’er understood, and didn’t take it to heart. Her guilt and self-blame eased a little.

But then, Xiao Jinghong spoke up. "Sister, what would you think if I had my husband come help you?"

Xiao Wan’er was suddenly flustered. "This, I..."

"You’re not willing either?"

"No, it’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s just... Brother-in-law is a man of exceptional talent. I’m afraid it would be inappropriate for him to be involved in matters of commerce."

"Is that all?"

"Mhm, that’s all."

Seeing Xiao Wan’er nod, Xiao Jinghong understood. She put her half-armor mask back on and said, "I believe my husband is a reasonable man."

"Sister, you should rest early. The day after tomorrow is Grandfather’s birthday, and it will be a busy time."

With that, she gave a small wave and left for Spring Lotus Garden, taking Su Zhenyue, who was waiting by the door, with her.

Xiao Wan’er stared blankly at the candle flame on the table, her thoughts once again in turmoil.

’If he were a reasonable man, he shouldn’t have—and wouldn’t have been able to—write those words.’

...

「The night passed peacefully.」

Sometime after 4 a.m., the clouds dispersed and the sky began to brighten.

Chen Yi awoke at a leisurely pace and, with Xiaodie’s help, got dressed.

Xiaodie looked at Chen Yi, taking in his tall, handsome figure, and the rare sight of him in fine brocade robes. "Sir," she asked curiously, "are you going out today?"

Chen Yi checked his reflection in the Copper Mirror, and once he confirmed everything was in order, he replied, "You can tell?"

Xiaodie nodded. "But, Sir, tomorrow is the Old Marquis’s birthday, and the mansion will be very busy today. I’m afraid no one will be available to accompany you if you go out now."

Chen Yi started walking outside and said with a smile, "Of course no one’s available if I go by myself, but it’s a different story if I bring the Young Master along."

Xiaodie froze for a second before it clicked. She hurried to catch up, giggling. "You always have a solution, Sir."

’It wasn’t that I have a solution,’ Chen Yi thought, ’it’s that this is the only option I have.’

Chen Yi knew his "brother," Chen Yunfan, was not coming with good intentions. He had to have some kind of backup plan.

With Xiao Wuge present, no matter how much of a mighty dragon crossing the river Chen Yunfan might be, would he dare to act bigger than the Duke Dingyuan himself?

With that in mind, Chen Yi first went to inform Xiao Jinghong, then headed to Jiaxing Garden to pick up Xiao Wuge and leave the mansion.

Wang Lixing, who was tasked with the serious duty of protecting him, followed along with Yan Hong.

Chen Yi glanced around and asked casually, "Where’s Brother Si?"

Before the more familiar Wang Lixing could reply, Yan Hong spoke up from the side. "Sir, Brother Si went to East City to buy supplies and hasn’t returned yet."

Chen Yi sized him up, nodded with a smile, and then boarded the carriage with Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie.

"Brother-in-law, where are we going?"

"Hmm... Let me ask you a question."

"Please, go ahead, Brother-in-law." Xiao Wuge’s little face grew taught. ’This must be the first time Brother-in-law is testing me.’

Chen Yi mused, "If someone has it out for you, and insists on getting in your face, how should you deal with them?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wuge looked blank. "Brother-in-law, are there people like that?"

"Hypothetically."

"Oh, then... then I’d order my men to give him a beating."

"Not bad, not bad. But a public beating makes too much of a scene. It’s better to just knock him out from behind when no one’s looking."