You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 72: A Waste of Talent

The night passed without incident.

Just past the hour of the Tiger, dark clouds drifted over Shu State, obscuring the summer stars.

The humid, hot wind died down, replaced by a cool, refreshing breeze that set the lanterns in Spring Lotus Garden swaying.

A moment later, a light rain began to fall, pattering against the curved eaves and tiles.

Even so, Chen Yi remained asleep.

It wasn’t until a clamor arose outside that he groggily opened his eyes. Peering at the raindrops falling through the dim light outside his window, he finally realized it was raining.

"Xiaodie, what time is it?"

Xiaodie’s voice came from outside the room. "Young Master, it’s already past the halfway mark of the hour of the Tiger."

’The hour of the Tiger... Didn’t my wife say yesterday that we’re leaving at the hour of the Rabbit?’

Chen Yi’s head cleared. He got out of bed of his own accord to stretch his limbs, then called for Xiaodie to help him wash up and dress.

As he dressed, he asked, "Who are those people outside?"

Xiaodie straightened his collar and smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, replying in a clear, bright voice, "They’re the servants who’ve come to pack the Second Miss’s luggage."

"First thing this morning, Sister Zhenyue organized for people to come over. They’ve already packed two carriages full."

Chen Yi nodded in understanding. Once fully dressed, he ambled downstairs.

He scanned his surroundings, and his gaze inevitably fell upon the wooden building where Xiao Jinghong was staying.

A thin mist was rising in the rain, making it difficult to see clearly, but he could still make out the lovely silhouette illuminated by candlelight.

He could faintly hear her voice. "Zhenyue, find a brocade box for this piece of calligraphy. The mountain roads will be bumpy in the rain. Be careful not to let it get wet."

"Miss, why isn’t this piece mounted? Storing it like this is too simple. Why don’t I... uh."

"Forgive me, Miss. I didn’t—I didn’t mean to look..."

"Just put it away. Be careful."

A sliver of light appeared at the window, illuminating the silhouette for a moment before fading back into darkness.

Chen Yi saw and heard most of it, a slight smile gracing his lips.

Last night, after he’d finished writing that poem, he had expected Xiao Jinghong to say a few words to him.

Praise, perhaps, or a shy reaction, or even dissatisfaction.

Who would have thought Xiao Jinghong wouldn’t say a word? She had simply picked up the Yunsong Paper, the ink still wet, and hurried back to her rooms.

Although Chen Yi didn’t know what was on her mind, he could make a pretty good guess.

’Can’t blame me. You were the one worried you’d feel distant from me, who asked me to... No, ’begged’ is the right word.’

’You begged me to write this for you, Xiao Jinghong.’

With these thoughts, Chen Yi stood quietly under the eaves and watched.

It was just as Xiaodie had said.

Xiao Jinghong had indeed prepared for a long journey. Their things filled more than just two carriages.

He could hear another two carriages waiting outside the garden.

Besides changes of clothes, the carriages were mostly filled with books, blueprints, and other such items, all wrapped in layer upon layer and placed at the bottom of the compartments.

’Those must be the preparatory materials for building the Mutual Market,’ he thought.

The packing was soon finished, and the carriages began to file out of Spring Lotus Garden one by one.

Only then did Xiao Jinghong, Pei Guanli, and Su Zhenyue emerge from the wooden building, closing the door behind them and walking toward him.

Xiao Jinghong was dressed in casual red clothes, her ponytail tied high and cascading down to her waist. The half-mask on her face seemed freshly polished, gleaming with a silver light.

But it still couldn’t outshine the crystalline, jade-like white of her complexion.

Chen Yi bowed slightly in greeting. "Wife, good morning."

Before Xiao Jinghong could speak, Pei Guanli pouted beside her. "Brother-in-law, what about me? What about me?"

Chen Yi chuckled. "Good morning to you, too."

Pei Guanli giggled, but then the thought of returning to the Mountain Race wiped the smile from her face.

"Brother-in-law, once Sister Jinghong and I are done with our work, I’ll come back and play with you."

Chen Yi agreed, his gaze landing on Xiao Jinghong, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Xiao Jinghong noticed his gaze and looked away, a little flustered. She gave a slight bow and said, "Husband, the road is slippery in the rain. There’s no need to see us off far."

"Later, I will take them to the Governor’s Office to pick up a few craftsmen, and then we will head straight for the Mountain Race’s territory."

Chen Yi had almost thought she wasn’t going to speak to him at all. Hearing her words, he smiled. "Wife, I wish you a safe journey."

Xiao Jinghong murmured her assent, darted a quick glance at him, and then turned to leave.

She looked rather uncomfortable.

It was for no other reason than the poem she had seen last night. Even now, her heart still fluttered at the memory.

"If love between two hearts can last for an eternity, why must they be together day and night...?"

Pei Guanli followed reluctantly, her head swiveling back every so often to give Chen Yi a tearful expression.

Unfortunately for her, Su Zhenyue was right by her side, linking her arm and pulling her along.

With the movement, bells tinkled.

TING-A-LING, TING-A-LING...

The tinkling of bells faded into the distance.

Chen Yi felt an inexplicable chill in the air and pulled his robes tighter. He turned to Xiaodie and ordered, "I’m hungry. Let’s eat."

"I’ll go wake the Young Master to eat with us."

Although Chen Yi didn’t see Xiao Jinghong off, some members of the Xiao Family still escorted her to the main gate.

Among them were the Eldest Miss, Xiao Wan’er, and their Second Uncle, Xiao Xuanshuo.

Outside the mansion gates.

Xiao Jinghong motioned for Su Zhenyue and the others to get into the carriages first, then turned to the two people standing under the central gate.

"Eldest Sister, Second Uncle, you don’t need to come any further."

Xiao Wan’er’s pale face was etched with worry. "Be careful on your journey to the Mountain Race. Even if the collaboration fails, all that matters is that you are safe."

Xiao Jinghong nodded. "Don’t worry, Eldest Sister. I will be cautious."

Then, she looked at Xiao Xuanshuo. "Second Uncle, the cultivation and techniques of our family’s disciples are still weak. They are not even a match for an ordinary Profound Armor Army soldier. I’ll have to trouble you to oversee their training."

Xiao Xuanshuo nodded. "I will keep that in mind."

Xiao Jinghong was about to turn away, but she paused and added, "Regarding what you said before about testing my husband’s martial arts, I hope you won’t bring it up again."

With that, she leaped lightly into the carriage, entered the compartment, and waved goodbye to them through the window.

With a RUMBLE of wheels, the five carriages, escorted by a hundred Armored Warriors, disappeared from outside the Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Wan’er withdrew her gaze. Noticing Xiao Xuanshuo’s slight displeasure, she tried to reassure him, "Second Uncle, Jinghong didn’t mean anything by that."

"Then what did she mean?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"She must think... think that our brother-in-law should focus on his studies. Practicing martial arts would be too demanding for him."

Xiao Xuanshuo gave a noncommittal nod and, using both hands, pushed his wheelchair back toward the mansion.

Watching his retreating back, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but sigh.

She suddenly recalled her childhood, when Second Uncle was healthy and whole. Every time he returned from the barracks, he would bring them food, trinkets, and toys.

But ever since a battle five years ago left him severely injured and confined to a wheelchair, it was as if he had become a different person.

He had grown increasingly stern and cold.

Just then, Shen Huatang reminded her, "Miss, it’s cold and windy. You shouldn’t stay outside for too long."

Xiao Wan’er nodded lightly and followed him through the mansion gate.

Shen Huatang opened an Oil Paper Umbrella for her to prevent the rain from touching her.

COUGH, COUGH...

An abrupt coughing sound rang out. The two women looked toward the sound and saw a stooped old man walking slowly toward them.

Xiao Wan’er stopped and bowed slightly. "Uncle Gui."

But the old man acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He ambled slowly past them, muttering, "Slippery roads on a rainy day... leave early, return early... I’m getting old, so old..."

After the man had walked some distance away, Xiao Wan’er withdrew her gaze. Seemingly used to Uncle Gui’s strange behavior, she led Shen Huatang through the front courtyard and into the Qingjing Residence in the central courtyard.

"Grandfather, Jinghong has already left for the Mountain Race."

"Good..."

...

After leaving the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, Uncle Gui walked at an unhurried pace, crossing South Street to Ba Mountain Street, then turning east at the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office onto Wudong Street.

He wore the old uniform of a Household Servant from the Marquis’s Mansion, but the character for "Xiao" on his left breast was still easy to make out.

Fortunately, it was a rainy day with few pedestrians, or many would have looked upon him with envy.

He walked for about an hour.

Uncle Gui finally stopped. His dull, cloudy eyes swept his surroundings, his feet shifted slightly, and he vanished.

In the next moment, Uncle Gui appeared inside a residence and knocked a few times on the spirit screen.

"Your subordinate, Iron Banner Officer Wang Gui of the White Tiger Guard, has come as summoned to see Lord Hawk."

As soon as he finished speaking, the spirit screen trembled twice and slid open, revealing a passage just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Uncle Gui entered without hesitation. His posture was no longer so stooped; in fact, there was a certain agility to his movements.

He followed the passage down into a spacious, secret underground chamber.

Uncle Gui stopped, squinting at the figure seated on a chair before him.

Bright candlelight shone from behind the person, obscuring their form and features in shadow.

All that could be seen was a plain white mask.

"Your subord—"

"Dispense with the formalities."

Hawk’s voice was slightly hoarse. Two glittering points of light behind the mask’s eyeholes watched him. "Any movement from the Xiao Mansion?"

Uncle Gui lowered his gaze respectfully. "Xiao Jinghong has left. It seems she’s going to the Mountain Race to negotiate something."

"The Mutual Market? That matter is not my concern. Tell me about the Fledgling."

"Him? He remains idle at home as always, and rarely goes out."

Uncle Gui seemed to recall something and added, "The Xiao Family’s Eldest Miss arranged a position for him as the shopkeeper of a medicine hall."

"Shopkeeper of a medicine hall?"

A moment of silence.

Then, a voice echoed in the secret chamber. "For a scholar of his caliber to be a mere medicine hall shopkeeper... what a waste of talent."

’It’s high time he was given something to do.’