Everyone Was Shocked, the Matter Was Settled

"What?!"

Upon hearing Jin MuLan's words, Earl's hair practically stood on end.

Earl's Wife completely thought she had misheard, and Earl's trusted aides and advisers beside him were utterly stunned as well.

"MuLan, have you lost your mind?" Earl said. "You passed over all those outstanding men and chose Shen Lang instead?"

Everyone present stared at Jin MuLan in disbelief.

Of these six men, Shen Lang was the worst. Not only could he not compare to Wang Lian and Mo Ye, nor to the five outstanding talents of Earl's Manor—he was not even the equal of an ordinary person.

He was a dim-witted Second Fool who had studied for ten years without even graduating from the village town school. His shoulders could not bear a load, his hands could not lift one, and he could not even take care of himself.

"MuLan, why?" Earl said. "Wang Lian and Mo Ye are so outstanding. Why did you not choose one of them?"

Jin MuLan said, "Father, those two are indeed exceptional. When I asked what they could bring me in the future, one said that he would complement me in both letters and martial arts, and govern Earl's Manor with me. The other said that his martial prowess was unmatched, and that he would lead Earl's Manor's troops into battle in all directions, winning great achievements!"

Earl fell silent in thought upon hearing this.

Yet everyone else felt that there was nothing wrong with those answers. They were excellent answers.

MuLan said, "If Father remains well, naturally there will be no problem. But if one day you are gone, and Younger Brother inherits the earldom... what if my husband develops ambitions toward the great authority of Earl's Manor? What should I do? What should Younger Brother do?"

The moment those words came out, Earl grew even more silent, while the people around him suddenly understood.

It had to be said that MuLan had considered matters extremely thoroughly, and her loyalty to the family was absolute.

Jin MuLan said, "Shen Lang's answer was that he would give me freedom. So long as I did not seek out other men, I could do whatever I wished!"

"That dissolute brat has no restraint over his tongue! What does he take my daughter of Earl's Manor for?" Earl thundered, then said, "MuLan, your father understands your intentions now. But... there is no need for you to wrong yourself so grievously. Even if you do not choose Wang Lian or Mo Ye, you could still choose one of the three young men from our Earl's Manor."

"No, I cannot hold them back," Jin MuLan said. "Besides, they were once all my subordinates. We know each other too well."

Earl's Wife said, "But this Shen Lang is far too poor a choice. You have no idea what kind of reputation he has in Xuanwu City."

Earl said, "He was once the Live-in Son-in-Law of the Xu Family. After being driven out, he immediately became the Live-in Son-in-Law of our Earl's Manor. This... how are we of the Jin Clan supposed to hold our heads up? This concerns your lifelong happiness. Your father would rather see you marry a heaven-blessed prodigy like Zhu Hongxue than sacrifice you for the family and push you into a pit of fire."

Jin MuLan said, "Shen Lang's reputation is terrible. Doesn't that happen to let Lord Zhu Lin vent his anger? If I marry too well, I fear the Zhu Family will refuse to let the matter rest. If I marry someone with a notorious reputation, the Zhu Family's resentment toward us will lessen somewhat. After all, seeing one's enemy suffer misfortune is always a happy thing."

Those words made great sense. MuLan was very clever and deeply understood the human heart.

Jin MuLan added, "I think Shen Lang is quite good. In truth, I have only one requirement for my future husband: he must be handsome. In that regard, Shen Lang is unquestionably first!"

"But, but..." Earl's Wife's heart felt as though it were being carved by knives. Her son was useless, and now her daughter's happiness had to be sacrificed, bringing such a worthless live-in son-in-law into the family. What sin had the Xuanwu Jin Clan committed?

Earl said, "MuLan, how about considering it again?"

"No, it is settled," Jin MuLan said. "Time is pressing. Father, immediately send out wedding invitations far and wide. Begin preparing the wedding at once, and make the ceremony as grand as possible. It would be best if Lord Zhu Lin arrived at Earl's Manor just in time to attend the wedding."

"Father, Mother, I have been rushing about outside with the troops these past days and am somewhat tired. I will go rest now."

Then she bowed in salute and withdrew.

Earl's heart ached, yet he had nowhere to vent it. He could not take out his anger on Shen Lang, so he could only use his own son as a punching bag.

"Where is that unfilial brat?" Earl roared.

"Young Lord is studying," an adviser said.

"Studying what? He has studied for over ten years and is still a useless waste! Drag him out and make him kneel outside." Earl raged. "Good-for-nothing! If he had shown any promise, why would my MuLan have to make such a great sacrifice?"

"Yes!" The trusted attendant hurried away.

"No, I'll go myself," Earl said. "Where is the whip? Today, I will whip him fiercely."

"Husband," Earl's Wife said.

"Are you trying to stop me?" Earl said.

"I'm going with you to whip him!" Earl's Wife said.

At that moment, in another study, a fat man was buried in his books, studying diligently, secretly feeling touched.

As the Young Lord of Earl's Manor, I worked so hard. I got up to study as soon as dawn broke. When Father and Mother see this, they will surely be especially gratified and praise me.

Just then, Earl and Earl's Wife charged in.

The fat man said, "Father, Mother, look at you two. I merely got up early on purpose to study, yet you came specially to praise me. This is what your son should do. As the Young Lord of Xuanwu Earl's Manor, I ought to be this diligent."

"Praise you?" Earl suddenly pulled out a whip.

A moment later, wave after wave of shrill screams rang out from Earl's Manor.

"Father, Mother, why are you beating me? I did nothing wrong today! I got up early to study!"

"Do I need a reason to beat you?" Earl said, continuing to lash him with the whip.

Earl's Wife gripped a ruler and viciously struck her son's backside and thighs. "That's right. Do we need a reason to beat a good-for-nothing like you?"

"Ah... ah... ah..." Young Lord of Earl's Manor wailed miserably. "Sister, save me! Save me!"

After learning the result, Shen Lang let out a long breath of relief!

At last, he had succeeded. From one Live-in Son-in-Law, he had moved on to another Live-in Son-in-Law.

From this day onward, he would eat fine food, drink fine wine, and enjoy glory and wealth.

What in this world tasted better than living off a woman? Nothing!

He had originally faced a dead end, with the Xu Family, Lin Family, and Tian Heng joining forces to wipe him out.

Now, this crisis had been reduced to ashes.

After becoming the Live-in Son-in-Law of Xuanwu Earl's Manor, neither the Xu Family, the Lin Family, nor Tian Heng would dare lay a hand on him or his family, even if they had the nerve of heaven itself.

Just wait for me. I, Shen Lang, will show you what revenge means.

Tian Heng, Lin Family, Xu Family—I would not spare a single one of you. If I did not leave your families shattered and your people dead, then my surname would not be Shen.

Earl's trusted aide, Jin Zhong, stood before Shen Lang.

His expression was foul, as though someone owed him a thousand gold coins.

Jin Zhong had been in Xuanwu Earl's Manor since birth. He was not merely a servant, but family—a man utterly loyal to the Jin Clan.

Moreover, he had watched Miss Jin MuLan grow up since she was little. Now, this phoenix was being forced to marry the piece of trash before him. How could he not be furious?

After all, he was the loyal servant of a noble house that had endured for a hundred years. Thus, no matter how angry he was, no matter how much he despised Shen Lang in his heart, he would not speak rudely. His manner was cold, yet not lacking in courtesy.

"Scholar Shen, come with me. I will take you to the guest room."

Then Shen Lang followed behind him. They walked for more than ten minutes before reaching the guest room, and only one thought remained in his mind.

This Earl's Manor was really... damn huge.

Even the wealthiest people on Modern Earth did not possess such an enormous mansion.

"By the way, please send someone to my home and tell my parents not to worry," Shen Lang said.

"Someone has already been sent to notify them," Jin Zhong replied coldly.

Shen Lang added, "Could you bring my parents and Younger Brother here for tonight's wedding as well?"

"I will personally lead people to bring your family here," Jin Zhong said. Then he shut the door and left at once. He did not wish to look at Shen Lang's face for even half a minute.

Shen Lang said, "Please go quickly, because someone is trying to harm my family."

Jin Zhong's gaze turned cold. No matter how useless Shen Lang was, he was now Earl's Manor's son-in-law. Someone in Xuanwu City actually intended to harm Shen Lang's family? Had they eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall? "Understood. I will ensure your family comes to no harm. Scholar Shen, rest well and prepare to bow before Heaven and Earth tonight."

At the same time, within the Black Clothes Gang! Tian Heng said calmly, "The time is about right. Shisan, take men and seize Shen Lang's family. If he hands over the Dye formula, kill them swiftly. If he refuses, kill them painfully."

"Yes!" Tian Shisan said.

Then he led more than a dozen warriors out of the Black Clothes Gang and headed toward Shen Lang's home.

Note: Bosses, I beg you for recommendation votes to cheer me on.