Chapter 21: Returning Home

Words : 1502 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Returning HomeAs for these shop stewards, Su Jin didn’t feel any sympathy. Which one of them, skilled in business, wasn’t sharp? On the very first day she walked through the door, they came to collect debts, trampling the Marquis Dongxiang household and her face harshly into the ground. Sympathizing with them and standing up for them would be condoning their future troubles at the Duke Mansion. Ignoring them, she waited for the coachman to drive the carriage over. Once in the carriage, Xingxing also climbed in. As for Xie Jingchen, he rode the horse to lead the way. Anyone who saw would know that Young Master Xie was escorting Eldest Young Madam back to her parental home. This was the only effective way to guard against the potential barrage of rotten eggs. The journey was peaceful. Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the gate of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion. Su Jin lifted the curtain and got out, only to hear Xie Jingchen say with a faint smile, "Your Qingyun Mountain’s Feihu Village’s way of welcoming the son-in-law is indeed unique." Su Jin was a bit confused. She turned her head and then couldn’t help but twitch her mouth uncontrollably. She saw that at the grand vermilion gates of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, eight servants were hanging like cured meat on both sides, with cloth stuffed in their mouths, unable to struggle or speak. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su Jin wasn’t really the daughter of the Marquis Dongxiang, so she didn’t know the customs of Qingyun Mountain. She looked towards Xingxing. Xingxing shook her head, indicating she’d never heard of such a custom, and whispered, "Maybe it’s a show of Marquis’s authority toward the son-in-law. Marquis once said that when the new son-in-law visits, his momentum should be curbed." Xie Jingchen had a black line across his face. Su Jin held her forehead, "Isn’t he frail enough? Curb him a bit more, and he might probably need to be carried back." Is he really that weak?! Xie Jingchen was displeased, dismounted, and Su Jin also got down from the carriage. As they stepped onto the stairs, a stench wafted over, and Su Jin quickly covered her nose and rushed into the mansion. A servant nearby carried a wooden bucket over and asked, "Is it still stinky?" It’s suffocatingly stinky, how could it not be? "This smell is familiar; it seems like a rotten egg smell," Xingxing said. "Isn’t it just rotten eggs," the servant grumbled. "Who was it, so unafraid of death, dared to throw rotten eggs at the Marquis Mansion?" Xingxing’s eyes widened. The servant pointed to the front gate and said, "They’re all hanging at the gate. Last night, these servants came to the Marquis Mansion to throw them. It wasn’t just rotten eggs; there were notes telling us to roll back to Qingyun Mountain. Not one escaped, all were caught. After a round of questioning, they refused to admit who sent them. Marquis then hung them at the mansion gate, waiting for their master to claim them. No one has come; the notes are easy to tear, but the rotten eggs... I scrubbed for two hours, and my nose can barely smell the stench anymore." Her dad is a bit naive. Anyone daring to throw rotten eggs at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion isn’t an average person. It’s unlikely they’d fall out with the Marquis Mansion over a few servants. But hanging the servants at the gate can indeed serve as a warning. Su Jin continued forward, and a servant approached, "Thank goodness the young master is here, Marquis has been waiting for you for a while." Waiting for him? Xie Jingchen frowned slightly. Su Jin felt a bit uneasy and asked, "Do you know why he’s looking for the young master?" "Marquis knows the young master cannot fight, so he plans to test his literary skills," the servant replied. Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "That shouldn’t be too hard for you. Do your best." Su Jin didn’t plan to accompany Xie Jingchen, but as she was about to leave, Xingxing tugged on her sleeve. "Miss, aren’t you going to see the study?" Xingxing asked earnestly. "What’s there to see?" Xingxing glanced left and right, hesitant to speak. Su Jin then said, "Just say it if you have something to say." "Marquis doesn’t allow anyone to say he lacks literary skills," Xingxing whispered. Su Jin, "..." Xie Jingchen, "..." Without literary skills, and yet he’s testing others’ literary skills. Her dad’s logic isn’t that twisted, is it? Looks like there’s indeed a problem. Su Jin glanced at Xie Jingchen and said, "I’ll go with you." The servant who delivered the message quickly said, "Marquis only allows the young master in, asking the young mistress to accompany the madam. He and the young master will soon be in the inner courtyard." Su Jin shrugged at Xie Jingchen, a face full of helplessness. Xie Jingchen rubbed his forehead, followed the servant away, overhearing a conversation behind him: "Will Marquis and the young master get into a fight?" Xingxing asked. "Probably not," Su Jin replied. "If they do fight, who will you support, miss?" Xie Jingchen’s ears perked up, his pace slowed, only to hear Su Jin’s hearty laughter: "Do you even need to ask? Of course, I’d sit on the side, munching seeds and watching the fun." "..." Not siding with her dad— Xie Jingchen’s lips curled upwards, cheerfully following the servant to the study. Upon entering the study, Xie Jingchen almost got hit by a flying paper ball aimed right at him as Marquis Dongxiang sat sternly on a chair. Xie Jingchen approached, bowed, and greeted, "Greetings to my father-in-law." Marquis Dongxiang sized up Xie Jingchen several times, making him feel uneasy. They’ve met before, so why the detailed scrutiny? After some time, Marquis Dongxiang spoke, "Seems like a forcibly twisted melon is quite sweet." "..." Xie Jingchen recalled the time he was locked up in the woodshed; Marquis Dongxiang praised Su Jin as peerless, suggesting marrying her was like winning the lottery across lifetimes. Exhausted by it, Xie Jingchen coldly retorted, "A forced melon is not sweet." Now accompanying Su Jin back home, isn’t this a slap to his own face? Xie Jingchen said nothing; Marquis Dongxiang glanced at a man standing nearby and said, "Tell him the question I want to test him on. I’m going out for some air." Marquis Dongxiang left the study with a serious expression. Confused, Xie Jingchen looked at the man, who cleared his throat and said, "The Marquis incurred debts first and then beat up some shop stewards. During the morning court, he was impeached by the Imperial Censorate. Marquis got angry and retorted a few things. It is unknown if he scared or provoked him, but Imperial Censor Chen fainted. The Emperor asked Marquis to reflect properly. Marquis couldn’t figure it out and complimented your literary talent, asking you to reflect for him and write it down. He needs to present it to the Emperor tomorrow." Xie Jingchen, "...!!!" This is how he tests his literary skills? He’s not a bandit! How is he supposed to reflect for him?! Xie Jingchen was at a loss for words. This family, none of them are normal. If not for promising Su Jin to perform well, Xie Jingchen would’ve likely turned around and left without looking back. He had no choice but to sit down, pick up a brush, dip it in ink, and reflect on the bandit-like behavior of his father-in-law. However, the brush was raised but hesitant to fall. He asked the man, "How did my father-in-law provoke Imperial Censor Chen to faint?" The man replied, "Imperial Censor Chen said that the Marquis incurred debts to host banquets and weddings, putting up a facade. Marquis replied that even without the facade, he was fatter than the reed-like Imperial Censor." Xie Jingchen, "..." Just that one sentence, Imperial Censor Chen couldn’t withstand it and fainted. The man genuinely worried he might get infuriated to death someday. "Marquis warned not to write it too bluntly; it should appear as reflection but is actually arguing defensively. Marquis never did anything wrong in his life and doesn’t want blemishes on his record." Xie Jingchen, "..." This is harder than the imperial examination! With twitching lips, Xie Jingchen racked his brain and managed to fill one sheet of paper after intermittently writing for a quarter of an hour. Then he received a feedback that quite frustrated him. After completing it, Xie Jingchen handed the paper to Marquis Dongxiang and took his leave. Upon turning around, he heard Marquis Dongxiang praising him, "No wonder my daughter set her eyes on him; indeed, he’s gifted and charismatic. Look at these words, the bandit spirit jumps off the page, uplifting people. If this lad ever becomes a bandit, he will surely be more successful than I am."

Chapter 21: Returning Home

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