You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 51: Something’s Missing

Chen Yunfan began, a wry smile on his face. "Back when Father was ordered to head west, all the officials in Jinling Prefecture, big and small, scrambled to give him a farewell banquet."

"It was lively, to be sure, but it was just an ordinary affair."

"Father was no stranger to such commotion. He’d just exchange a few pleasantries and be done with it."

"I don’t know what got into Brother Yi, but in front of all those elders, he wrote that poem, ’A Farewell to Jinling,’ for Father."

"It was a good poem, I’ll admit, but I knew Father definitely didn’t like it. The other guests mostly praised his literary talent out loud, but inwardly they were probably laughing at him for not knowing his place."

As he spoke, it was as if Chen Yunfan was reliving that day. He chuckled and asked:

"Tell me, how could such a self-important, arrogant man, so proud of his own talent, suddenly learn forbearance?"

"Did Mother locking him up for five years truly smooth out all his rough edges?"

Chun Ying didn’t answer, only silently massaged his temples.

Chen Yunfan hadn’t expected a clear answer from her anyway and muttered to himself, "Perhaps."

"Still, I was happy to see him again."

But as he said this, his smile vanished. He continued in a complaining tone, "But that guy... he’s so thoughtless."

"After all the trouble I went through to become the top scholar, and with the Holy Emperor’s grace, my journey here has been nothing but glorious. I was thinking I’d have a good chat with him, reminisce a bit, and reaffirm our brotherly bond."

"But what does he do? It’s one thing for peers to try and one-up each other, but how could he drag the Young Master into it just to embarrass me, his own older brother?"

Hearing this, Chun Ying thought for a moment and asked, "Young Master, are you and Young Master Yi on good terms?"

"Good? Good my ass!"

Chen Yunfan swore a few times, completely losing his composure. "He nearly drove me and a few of our clan brothers crazy."

"He was smart ever since he was a child, and a good student, so the teachers at the academy all liked him. They often gave him private lessons, teaching him policy analysis."

"A few of the clan elders liked him too."

"Especially my Uncle Xuandu. He said that seeing him was like seeing his younger self and sent people over many times with gifts of food and clothing."

"Even Father..."

Chen Yunfan paused, then grumbled resentfully, "Anyway, because of him, my clan cousins and I got scolded quite a bit."

Chun Ying murmured an "oh" and asked no more.

But Chen Yunfan seemed to have opened a floodgate, recounting all the old grudges and favors between him and Chen Yi from their childhood.

On the surface, it sounded like complaints, but the more Chun Ying listened, the more silent she became. She wasn’t sure if she should praise their deep brotherly bond or agree that Young Master Yi deserved a scolding.

There was just an indescribable sense of strangeness about it.

It wasn’t until they entered Shu State Prefecture City that Chen Yunfan finally fell silent. His ears twitched, he shot up, and lifted the carriage curtain, his expression slightly excited as he looked outside.

Especially when he saw some women from the Mountain Race and the Poshisu, his eyes grew brighter, and he stared at them intently.

"Tsk tsk, back in Jinling, I heard people say that Shu State has many Exotic Races, and that they have a very different flavor from the women of the Central Plains."

"Now that I see for myself, it seems they were right."

Chun Ying glanced through the gap in the curtain and calmly reminded him, "Young Master, the Mistress instructed me to watch over you."

Without turning his head, Chen Yunfan said, "The heavens are high and the emperor is far away. Even the Emperor can’t control things here, let alone Mother."

"Young Master, even if Chun Ying says nothing, others will report back truthfully."

"..."

Chen Yunfan watched the women, smacking his lips, then reluctantly closed the curtain and sighed.

"Being from a Noble Family is such a pain. I can’t do this, can’t do that."

"Thinking about it, Brother Yi has it easy. Even though he married into the Xiao Family, he acts like nothing’s wrong—visiting brothels, bullying people... he’s having a grand old time."

Hearing this, Chun Ying said with a serious expression, "Young Master, you cannot do any of those things."

Chen Yunfan rolled his eyes at her, lay back down on her lap, and closed his eyes, muttering to himself for a good while.

Just then, it was unclear what he heard, but a smile appeared on his face.

"Chun Ying, when we get to the inn, go and send Liu Si and the others away. Also, cancel the evening banquet."

Chun Ying was confused. "Young Master, the Right Governor is hosting a banquet for you tonight. It wouldn’t be right for you to decline."

"Just say I have other plans tonight... Hmm... I can’t be that perfunctory."

"Then just tell them directly that I’ve been invited by Mr. Yue Ming to attend a poetry gathering at Guiyun Academy tonight."

Chen Yunfan thought of the talented scholars and beautiful ladies at the poetry gathering, his eyes alight with excitement, but he forced his face to look serious.

"Then are you still going to the Old Marquis’s birthday banquet tomorrow?"

"Of course I’m going. If I don’t even attend an event as important as the Old Marquis’s birthday, then this whole trip to Shu State would be rather pointless."

"That’s good..."

...

Thinking back on his meeting with Chen Yunfan, Chen Yi felt that something was a little strange.

Originally, he had been prepared to be verbally humiliated by his older brother. It wouldn’t have even been surprising if they had come to blows in public.

However, that’s not what happened.

Chen Yunfan was certainly arrogant and high-profile, but in those few words he spoke, there wasn’t a single insult.

To put it more aptly, his brother’s behavior was mostly just showing off—showing off his birth, his achievements, and his official status.

Even Liu Si and the other high-ranking Shu State officials who came to greet him were just more assets for him to flaunt.

It was like two relatives, or lovers, who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, comparing their respective statuses, positions, and wealth.

Moreover, Chen Yunfan’s every word and action was in accordance with propriety. It was hard to find fault with him on that point.

Thus, Chen Yi couldn’t, for the moment, figure out what Chen Yunfan’s real attitude toward him was.

’If he’s really practicing a Cultivation Technique like the Breath Concealment Technique, perhaps he’s not as simple as he appears on the surface.’

’And that word, "witness," sounded like a prediction that he would have a meteoric rise in Shu State.’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

As he mulled it over, Chen Yi leaned in a corner of the carriage, his gaze passing through the open curtain to stare absently at the woods on both sides.

He wasn’t sure about other things, but one thing was clear.

If Chen Yunfan was to have a meteoric rise in Shu State, with its complex relationships and great distance from Jiangnan Prefecture, he couldn’t possibly rely on just his birth and background.

Ability, cunning, and intellect were all indispensable.

But what Chen Yi didn’t understand was, why Shu State of all places?

It was the case with Li Huai’gu, and now Chen Yunfan, not to mention the Governor who was about to retire and return to his hometown...

Oh, and he also had to include the Xiao Family’s Old Marquis, who was in his twilight years and suffering from an illness with little hope of recovery.

Chen Yi subconsciously stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. ’I’m missing a clue... just one little piece.’

Xiaodie saw his strange expression and didn’t disturb him.

Xiao Wuge, however, was completely oblivious. He was still on a high.

Because just now, he had thrown a few verbal jabs at Chen Yunfan, and he had used that line his brother-in-law taught him, which made him feel quite pleased with himself.

"Brother-in-law, why don’t we wander around outside for a bit before going back?"

"Hm? Oh, alright."

Chen Yi came back to his senses, nodded, and told Xiaodie to pass the word to Wang Lixing up front.

They had left early that morning and it wasn’t even noon yet. If they went back now, it would be too early for a nap or rest.

Afterward, the group wandered around North City for a while.

On Kangning Street, Chen Yi bought a set of silver needles for Acupuncture, which used up almost all the monthly allowance he had saved over the past few months.

Xiaodie asked curiously, "Young Master, you know Acupuncture too?"

"I don’t."

"Then you..."

Chen Yi gave a perfunctory reply, "They look nice. Maybe I can use them as fishhooks."

’That would be a bit extravagant,’ he thought. ’I couldn’t bear to.’

It wasn’t until after they had lunch at a tavern on the street that the group headed back home. They passed straight through the lively front courtyard and the noisy central courtyard, arriving outside Spring Lotus Garden.

Chen Yi’s casual and calm gaze suddenly froze. He looked at the figure leaning against the porch, her fair, tender feet bare, and said in surprise:

"What are you doing out here?"