You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 56: Did I Offend Her?

Even after the poetry gathering ended, Chen Yunfan still couldn’t understand how Chen Yi’s Calligraphy had reached such a profound level.

He had clearly been confined inside the mansion by his mother for three long years, without access to paper or brushes. How could he...

’Oh, maybe he practiced his Calligraphy alone in his room, using his hand as a brush, water as ink, and the floor as paper.’

’And his Poetry... he must have recalled what he’d previously learned every single day to achieve his current skill.’

As Chen Yunfan made these guesses, he sighed inwardly. ’Mother, why on earth did you lock up Brother Yi?’

’If Chen Yi hadn’t been locked up, he probably wouldn’t have achieved so much.’

’Father was right. A person can’t become great without enduring hardship.’

’Fortunately, I’ve already become great.’

Thinking about how he was now the Imperial Top Scholar of the Great Wei Dynasty, a smug look appeared on Chen Yunfan’s face.

He strode briskly toward the academy’s back gate.

He had earlier refused Mr. Yue Ming and Li Huai’gu’s offers to see him off, so he was now walking with a relaxed and carefree air.

But just as he passed through a corridor, he heard a girl’s voice from behind him ask, "Are you the Imperial Top Scholar?"

"I am—"

Before Chen Yunfan could even get a clear look at her, a cloud of powder was thrown in his face the moment he turned his head.

He froze for a second, quickly covering his mouth and holding his breath as he stared at the person.

"Miss, what are you... doing..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Yunfan’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell backward to the ground.

THUD.

Seeing this, Pei Guanli clapped her hands and huffed, "Did you really think you could defend against this Female Knight’s medicinal powder?"

She glanced left and right. Seeing no one around, she took out a small Blade and stepped forward.

A moment later, Pei Guanli put away the Blade and giggled as she admired her handiwork.

"We’ll see if you dare bully my brother-in-law again, hmph!"

With that, Pei Guanli skipped and hopped out of the academy, the Bells on her tinkling and ringing as she went.

"What a stupid poetry gathering. It wasn’t fun at all."

’If I hadn’t been clever enough to wander around while all those scholars and beauties were leaving, I never would have found Chen Yunfan.’

’Good thing I finished what I came to do. I got revenge for my brother-in-law, hehe.’

When Pei Guanli returned to the carriage, the anxious look on Xiaodie’s face finally eased. She said faintly:

"When we get back, I will tell the Master everything."

Feeling a little guilty, Pei Guanli grabbed her hand and swayed it back and forth. "Sister Xiaodie, we can just blame this on the mounting shop, right?"

Unable to resist her pestering, Xiaodie could only nod and urge Old Luo to hurry the carriage back to the mansion.

Pei Guanli was instantly delighted. "I knew you were the best, Sister Xiaodie! Just as nice as my brother-in-law."

Xiaodie’s expression softened, but she still added a worried reminder, "Later, if the Master asks, we both have to say the owner of the mounting shop caused the delay."

"Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’m an expert at lying."

"Hm?"

"Er, I mean, I’m great at keeping secrets."

Up front, Old Luo, who was driving the carriage, heard their conversation and couldn’t help but wipe his forehead.

’I wonder what sins that mounting shop owner committed in his past life to deserve such suffering in this one.’

「Sometime later.」

Chen Yunfan groggily awoke to Chun Ying splashing a handful of cold water on his face.

"W-what happened to me?"

Chun Ying lowered her head slightly, not daring to speak. She simply pointed a finger at his clothes.

Chen Yunfan, sitting inside the carriage, looked down at himself.

His robe, which had taken months to custom-make, along with the priceless sash at his waist, had been slashed to ribbons by a sharp blade.

Only his white underclothes were still intact, sparing him from being completely naked.

After taking it all in, Chen Yunfan wiped the water from his face and asked through gritted teeth, "Who was that damn girl?"

Chun Ying shook her head.

Chen Yunfan understood. "She has a powerful background?"

"Young Master, she is the granddaughter of Granny Shan from the Mountain Race."

"Which Mountain Race?"

"The largest of the thirteen Mountain Race clans in the Wumeng Mountains."

He was silent for a long moment.

Chen Yunfan thought for a moment. "If I recall correctly, I only just arrived in Shu State today, didn’t I?"

Chun Ying nodded.

"Then I shouldn’t have offended her, right?"

Chun Ying continued to nod.

A vicious glint appeared in Chen Yunfan’s eyes. "Then why would she treat me like this?"

Chun Ying hesitated for a moment before taking out a brocade box, removing a scroll of calligraphy from inside, and unrolling it for him to see.

Chen Yunfan’s gaze fixed on the signature in the bottom-left corner of the scroll. First, he was stunned, then he erupted in a furious tirade:

"Brother Yi, are you even one of the Chen family anymore?"

"I just wanted to show off in front of you, and I didn’t even succeed! You son of a... Ptooey, ptooey! How could you let an outsider do this to your own half-brother?"

"Bastard! Shameless! Detestable!"

He cursed for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finally stopping.

Seeing this, Chun Ying spoke hesitantly, "Young Master, why don’t you... just pretend this never happened?"

Chen Yunfan whipped his head toward her, his tone full of grievance. "Chun Ying, I never thought this was how you’d support me."

"How can I possibly pretend nothing happened when I’ve been stripped and left in this state?"

"Damn it! It’s always been me bullying others! Now I’ve been treated like this by some damn girl? This is utterly intolerable!"

"I’m going to get my revenge. Do you have a way?"

Chun Ying pursed her lips and bowed. "If you insist, Young Master, then I can only report this matter to the Matriarch and let her decide."

"I can’t even do that?"

"The people of the Mountain Race are too dangerous. I fear for your life."

Chen Yunfan’s anger dissipated slightly. "How dangerous?"

Chun Ying thought for a moment, gesturing several times at her own body. "They aren’t skilled in direct confrontation. They mostly use assassination, Poisoning, and Poisonous Gu."

"If you were to fall victim to them, Young Master, you’d probably break out in pustules all over your body, or have your organs devoured by Gu Insects, or..."

"Stop!"

Before she could finish, Chen Yunfan took a deep breath. "Forget it. I am a magnanimous person. I’ll let her off this one time."

With that, he looked at Chun Ying and asked hesitantly, "Um, no one saw me like this, right?"

"I was following you from the shadows the whole time. After she left, I brought you back here. No one should have seen."

Hearing this, Chen Yunfan relaxed. At least his dignity as the Imperial Top Scholar was intact.

But as he looked at his shredded robes, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache for them.

After a moment of silence.

Chen Yunfan remembered the important matter at hand. "Has the Hawk arrived?"

Chun Ying nodded. "He is currently exchanging intelligence with an Iron Banner Officer from the Marquis’s Mansion."

"In that case, we’ll wait."

Chen Yunfan gazed out of the carriage. "I’d also like to know what business the Hidden Guard, under our dynasty’s Secretariat’s White Tiger General, has here."

’Perhaps the Holy Emperor’s decree appointing me to Shu State is also related to the White Tiger General.’

...

「Xiao Mansion, Spring Lotus Garden.」

The second watch drum had already sounded, and the lanterns and candles in the quiet garden had grown much dimmer.

Inside the study, Chen Yi sat at his desk, head bowed as he wrote.

Beside him, Pei Guanli hung her head, a sheepish grin on her small, round face.

Xiaodie, meanwhile, had tears in her eyes and sobbed, "Master, it’s all my fault."

Pei Guanli quickly interjected, "It’s not Xiaodie’s fault! Brother-in-law, it’s my fault."

"If I hadn’t insisted on going to the academy’s poetry gathering, that calligraphy scroll wouldn’t have been lost. If you’re going to punish someone, punish me."

As she spoke, she pulled Xiaodie’s hand and comforted her, "Don’t cry, don’t cry. Brother-in-law won’t blame you."

Xiaodie ignored her, still blaming herself.

Chen Yi looked up at the two of them and shook his head. "Alright, that’s enough. A lost calligraphy scroll is a lost calligraphy scroll. It’s not the first time."

’Counting the previous time, I’ve lost two...’

’No, wait. Counting the two scrolls Xiao Wan’er took without permission, I’ve actually lost three.’

Pei Guanli immediately beamed and nudged Xiaodie with her elbow. "See? I was right. Brother-in-law isn’t mad."

Xiaodie shifted away from her, pouting.

Seeing that Pei Guanli was about to say more, Chen Yi waved a hand to send her back to Xiao Jinghong, then gave an order:

"Xiaodie, have Brother Xing take this calligraphy scroll to the mounting shop. See if they can have it mounted before the birthday banquet begins."

Xiaodie took the scroll, apologized once more, and turned to leave the study.

Pei Guanli, however, hesitated, not wanting to leave. She still wanted to tell Chen Yi about the prank she had pulled on his brother that evening.

But just then, Xiao Jinghong’s voice came from outside the door. "Guanli, come out and go back with me. Let your brother-in-law get some rest."

Pei Guanli flinched. Seeing Chen Yi make a helpless gesture, she could only hang her head and leave.

"Coming, Sister Jinghong."

After they left, Chen Yi shook his head, tidying up his desk while sipping a sobering soup.

’No wonder the Mountain Race sent this Tiger Girl out. With this much chaotic energy, she probably caused trouble for them back home too.’

A short while later, the drum for the hour of Zi sounded—

[Daily Intelligence · Earth-level Lower Grade: After the hour of Chou, Duke Dingyuan Xiao Yuan’s birthday banquet will begin. A day of great change. Many Opportunities can be obtained.]

Chen Yi glanced at it, his brow twitching slightly.

’An Earth-level Opportunity? A day of great change?’