The Live-In Son-in-Law

(A top scholar with layers of secret identities and his young lady, a couple who show two very different faces in public and in private)

Chu Yunxue was the youngest daughter of Chu Wenjun, Chancellor of Qi. Beautiful and bright, she was proud yet cheerful, and dearly loved by her parents and older siblings.

At fifteen, she came of age. The girl had grown up.

The Chancellor and his wife had no time to feel pleased before the threshold of their home was nearly worn down by families seeking a match for her. Even the ladies of the imperial palace joined in.

The Chancellor was deeply troubled. To avoid entanglement in factional strife and ensure his daughter could still live freely after marriage, he made a decision: he would take in a son-in-law!

He turned his attention to this year's imperial examination and, after much consideration, chose a nineteen-year-old named Xu Lingshan.

The young man was handsome and decent-looking. His parents had died early, but through extraordinary perseverance and a remarkable gift for scholarship, he had made his way to the capital and become the youngest candidate in this year's spring examination.

Whether or not he would pass this year, a nineteen-year-old provincial graduate was already an impressive achievement. The Chancellor thought highly of him, secretly sent people to make contact and assess him, and quickly settled on him as his son-in-law.

Ten years of hard study, and at last the results were posted.

At the parade of successful candidates, Chu Yunxue caught sight of her betrothed. He was a spirited young man, brimming with confidence and drawing every eye. She was more than pleased.

Their wedding came as scheduled. After they married, her husband treated her wonderfully, considerate in every way and tolerant of her little moods. Whenever he went out, he thought of her when he came across delicious food or fun diversions. Yet she always felt that something was missing.

The women of the capital envied her thoughtful, handsome husband and their loving marriage. Only she would lie awake at midnight, turning restlessly as she gazed at his indistinct face beside her and sighed softly.

Her husband did not seem as simple as he usually appeared. He had many secrets and carried a great deal of trouble with him.

What should she do? Throw him away and find another?

She could not quite bear to. But if she kept him, might the trouble he brought with him implicate the Chancellor's household?

Xu Lingshan had no idea that there was a “hole in his backyard,” nor that the woman he had longed for was agonizing over whether to replace him. He devoted himself to planning and scheming, determined to see his wish fulfilled as soon as possible: clear his family's name and bring the truth of the wrongful case from more than a decade ago to light.

When it was all over and he had laid down his burden, he would take his beloved wife to pay respects to the ancestors of the Xu family. After that, he would settle happily in the Chu household, fulfill his duties as a live-in son-in-law, and enjoy a shamelessly happy life with his wife.

Little scene:

Xu Lingshan: Who did you see today, my lady?

Chu Yunxue (looking guilty): An old friend.

Xu Lingshan: Oh, an old friend?

He edged closer and pulled her into his arms, muttering, “Hmph. I'll believe you this time.”

Note:

1. The official system in this novel is based on the Ming Dynasty, from the early Ming arrangement in which the Chancellor and the Six Ministries coexisted to the later abolition of the Chancellor's office. However, it does not follow the Ming system completely, and other periods may be referenced as the story develops. Please don't scrutinize the details too closely.

Coming next: The Chronicles of Cultivation at Jiuhua Sect

(Two powerful leads, ensemble cast, traditional cultivation, no System, a cultivation world full of spirited young people)

Ever since Qin Shu could remember, she had traveled far and wide with her father, making a living in the markets and streets by telling fortunes and reading faces.

Her father was quite capable, but his foul mouth was far too blunt and often offended people. As a result, Qin Shu had to endure beatings and flee for her life alongside him from a very young age. In this unsettled life, she learned to read people's expressions and became worldly and tactful. With her there to smooth things over and say a few kind words, the pair got beaten less often, and their finances gradually improved until they no longer had to worry about food and drink.

But their good fortune did not last. When Qin Shu was seven, her unreliable father divined that a tremendous opportunity awaited in Yanjing, one that could make him rich overnight and give him the comfortable life of his dreams. He immediately packed up their belongings and took Qin Shu north.

Yanjing was a place of hidden dragons, right beneath the Son of Heaven's feet, and everything in sight spoke of wealth. Her unreliable father grandly waved his hand, full of confidence and ready to make his fortune. Who could have guessed that his first reading would go badly? He divined that his client was near death and would certainly die within three days!

As soon as he finished speaking the “plain truth,” even the air around them fell silent.

Qin Shu froze. Instinctively, she grabbed their things and dragged her father into a run. The client was only half a beat slower to react, but soon came after them with people in tow, shouting threats of violence.

The client chased, the father and daughter fled, and there was no way they could escape.

Just as they were about to be caught, Qin Shu noticed from the corner of her eye a group of people running toward a shrine outside the city. She could vaguely hear words like “immortal” and “spiritual root.” With no time to think, she tugged her father along and charged into the crowd to escape their pursuers.

This unexpected incident set her on an unknown path of cultivation. Her father, meanwhile, used the silver the immortals gave him to settle in Yanjing and enjoy a life of comfort and good food. In a way, the “tremendous opportunity” foretold by his divination had indeed come true.

The long road of cultivation was full of dangers, but she held firm to her Dao heart and steadily pressed on. More and more companions joined her along the way. Spirited and fearless, they faced countless trials together and ultimately reached the Great Dao!

Little scene:

Qin Shu: I've heard that the path to ascension in this world has been blocked. Do you know about it?

The young cultivators nodded vigorously, indicating that they had heard as well.

Qin Shu: Then what's the point of working so hard to cultivate?

The young cultivators shook their heads vigorously, indicating that they didn't know either.

Qin Shu lowered her brows and pondered. After a long while, her eyes lit up. She boldly declared, “Don't worry. Cultivation is about defying Heaven in the first place. If they won't let us ascend, then I'll ascend anyway. We'll fight our way straight up! What about you? Will you join me?”

The young cultivators were full of spirit and had no idea how high the heavens were or how vast the earth. Without hesitation, they loudly agreed, each adding their own thoughts.

Fu Yao said nothing. He quietly hugged his natal sword close and took a firm stand behind Qin Shu, gazing tenderly at the back of her head.

(2026.4.20)

Theme: Hold fast to your principles and bottom line