Chapter 17  : Living with the In-Laws

After a long while, the Earl of Xuanwu finally calmed down and asked, “This matter about the Zhu Family seeking to marry is a secret, and even I am unaware of it; how did you know about this? From whose mouth did you hear it from?”

That’s right. Everyone’s gaze landed back on Shen Lang. With his lowly status, how did he find out about a big secret like this?

Shen Lang replied, “The new fiance of the Xu family’s daughter, Zhang Pu!”

“Zhang Pu?” The Earl of Xuanwu asked, “The new leader of Xuanwu City’s guards?”

“Yes, that’s him,” Shen Lang replied, “I had married into the Xu family previously when Xu Qianqian chased me out of their house; her new fiance, Zhang Pu, said that he wants to host their wedding as soon as possible since Zhu Hongxue wishes to seek your blessing to marry your daughter, Jin Mulan. He thought I was a moron and let it slip, but he also reminded Xu Qianqian not to leak this information.”

At this moment, the Earl’s most trusted aide went over and whispered into his ears. Clearly, he had informed the Earl of Shen Lang’s background.

In Xuanwu City, Shen Lang was a famous person.

When everyone didn’t dare to marry into the Xu family, Shen Lang stepped forward and became famous in Xuanwu City. 1

Everyone knew that a useless moron had become the son-in-law of the Xu family. All of Shen Lang’s history was unraveled. This included how he studied for a decade but couldn’t even complete the elementary course or how there was a problem with his IQ.

“Just two days ago, the Xu family announced that their live-in son-in-law, Shen Lang, had stolen things in their house and flirted with the female servants. Thus, he was chased out of the Xu family,” the Earl’s trusted aid said slightly loudly, intending for Shen Lang to hear it.

Upon hearing all these, the Earl of Xuanwu instantly frowned.

Whether Shen Lang stole from the Xu family or flirted with their maids was hard to tell, so the Earl didn’t buy it.

However, Shen Lang, who had studied for almost ten years and was chased home without completing elementary education, was obviously incompetent. A youngster like this was genuinely disappointing.

From the way they saw it, Shen Lang was willing to marry into the Xu family purely out of greed. The Earl absolutely couldn’t stand youngsters who lazed around with greed. Thus, he had a horrible opinion of Shen Lang.

Had this been an ordinary period, he would have definitely given him a harsh teaching. However, right now, he didn’t have the time to be concerned about it anymore because what Shen Lang had told him was too important, and it concerned the fate of the Earl’s Palace.

He could instantly tell that what Shen Lang was saying was the truth.

The Zhang Family was the newly promoted nobles of the Yue State, and they had the Zhu Family’s support.

Zhang Pu’s father, Zhang Chong, had assumed the position of the governor of Nujiang County, but it was purely due to the recommendation of the governor of Tian Nan province, Zhu Rong.

Thus, it wasn’t weird for Zhang Pu to know about the family secrets of the Zhu Family.

As for Zhang Pu, the Earl of Xuanwu knew about him. Even the nobles of Xuanwu City were a little shocked because of how desperate the Zhang Family was for money. The son of a governor wanted to marry the daughter of a wealthy merchant, but this daughter in question already had a live-in son-in-law once.

Earl Jin Zhuo could understand, though. The Zhang Family had risen too quickly, and their foundations were unstable. If they wished to grow stronger, they would require a large amount of money. However, everyone’s eyes were on the Zhang Family, so it wasn’t good for them to appear too greedy for money. Thus, they had to establish a marriage that could produce significant monetary gain.

Thus, the marriage alliance between the Zhang and Xu family was the perfect union between power and money.

“Immediately send some men to the various paths to scout. Report back immediately if you discovered money that came from the Zhu Family,” ordered the Earl, “it’s important to know wherever the people who are on their way from the Zhu Family are right now!”

“Yes, sir!” One of them ran out of the hall. He would personally bring men to go and scout for people from the Zhu Family.

Then, the Earl said to Shen Lang, “Young lad, I don’t have a good opinion of you, but what you have told me is something of absolute importance and have done us a huge service. I will definitely reward you heavily. Say what you wish. As long as it does not go against the laws of the country and morals, then I can agree to it.”

Shen Lang instantly had an even better impression of this Earl.

This person was really straightforward. The matter had yet to be verified, and he already wished to grant hefty rewards.

The Earl’s intentions were evident. No matter how much money Shen Lang wished for, as long as he said a sum, and no matter what problem Shen Lang had, the Earl was willing to solve it.

In other words, the crisis Shen Lang was facing from the Xu family, the Lin family, and Tian Heng could be instantly resolved.

As long as the Earl sent someone to pass the message, these three families definitely wouldn’t dare to touch even a single hair on Shen Lang.

However, this was not the only thing Shen Lang wanted.

With such a valuable bargaining chip, it would be too wasteful to exchange it for something like dealing with the Xu family and the Tian Heng crisis.

What he wanted was to take the opportunity to stay in the palace, find ways to get closer to Jin Mulan, continuously show himself to her, always emphasize his presence, and finally marry… the goddess.

Shen Lang swore that with his talents and handsome appearance, it would only take half a month at most for him to leave a deep impression on the goddess.

“I wish to stay in the palace of the Earl for a job,” Shen Lang bowed and said.

He did not raise the matter about the Xu family and Tian Heng and how they were trying to harm him since there was no need to talk about it. As long as he remained in the Palace of the Earl, naturally, these two families wouldn’t dare touch his family.

The Earl instantly furrowed his brows. He didn’t have a good impression of Shen Lang. Forget that he was a young man who lazed around and did not study properly, most importantly, he even went to marry into the Xu family as their live-in son-in-law. This was obviously a sign of greed and an extremely unfilial act.

He felt that Shen Lang wished to stay in the Palace of the Earl purely with ill intentions. The Earl still had good judgment.

However, since he had already said it, he shall keep his promise.

Shen Lang was still young; even if he had any bad habits, it would all be corrected under the strict teachings of the Palace of the Earl.

The Earl said, “Since you wish to stay in the palace for a job, then I can agree to it, and since your report was a great contribution to us, I wouldn’t make you work as a servant, but…” The Earl’s tone suddenly became extremely strict. “But you’re not here in my palace to enjoy life. I will not let you laze around. Instead, I will educate you strictly. Are you able to bear the hardship?”

Bear hardship?!

“Then, let’s forget it.” The last thing Shen Lang wanted in this life was to bear hardship and be exhausted.

However, for the sake of the goddess, bearing hardships temporarily was still doable. Of course, it was for a few days only, any more would be impossible.

“Yes!” Shen Lang agreed instantly.

Then, the Earl went forward and squeezed Shen Lang’s shoulder. Shaking his head, he said, “Your body is too weak, and you’re too old to start practicing martial arts, but this is a good age to continue studying for a good future. From now on, you shall study with my son. Your parents had pampered and doted on you, but the Palace of the Earl would not. I will definitely make you someone useful.”

Shen Lang couldn’t help but feel stunned! Wasn’t this like the high-ranking page boy in Flirting Scholar1?

“Alright, you’re still injured, so go and rest first. You shall accompany the other highnesses to study tomorrow. I will send someone to inform your parents and also send some gold coins over,” the Earl said, “If you have any problems, then I will resolve it as well.”

“Look, big shots are just this generous.” 1

“Yes, Earl,” Shen Lang replied.

“Jin Zhong, go to the tailors and get a couple of new articles of clothing made for Shen Lang,” the Earl’s wife added.

“Yes,” the old servant replied.

Shen Lang felt warm and fuzzy inside. The Earl and his wife were outstanding people.

“Earl, Madam, Miss, I shall take my leave.” Shen Lang bowed and began to take his leave.

However, before he could step out of the door, a man came running in the hall. It was the Earl’s trusted aid. He had just brought some men to scout on the current location of the Zhu Family’s people, but he had come rushing back.

“Master! There’s trouble!” This trusted aid knelt down and said, “Our scouts in Nujiang County had just sent pigeons to deliver the message, and a certain big shot from the Zhu family had already arrived in Nujiang County last night! They are heading in our direction!”

“What?” the Earl cried out.

“What?” Shen Lang cried mentally.

“This is bad, ah!”

He had already successfully accomplished the first step, which was to remain in the Palace of the Earl.

In the next few days, he would have to put the second step into action: to show himself, always emphasizing his presence.

Then, it would be the third step: to find a way to marry into the Palace of the Earl as their live-in son-in-law.

That’s right, living with the in-laws.

Since the current situation was straightforward, Jin Mulan absolutely wouldn’t be marrying out of the family.

However, the crucial figures of the Zhu family had already arrived in Nujiang County; he would reach the Palace of the Earl of Xuanwu tonight to ask for Jin Mulan’s hand in marriage, which meant that there was no time left.

Whether showing himself or emphasizing his presence, there was not enough time for it anymore.

F*ck, not even giving me two weeks, three days, or even a single day! 1

This meant that Jin Mulan must get married today, and Shen Lang only had six hours left!

Otherwise, his goddess would belong to someone else. His wealth and fortune would also fly away into the horizon.

“No! The goddess is mine!”

…