Shocking Everyone! A Good Wife, MuLan

At this moment, no words could describe the shock in Zhang Boyan's heart.

Though he had never met Shen Lang before, he had certainly heard of him many times. He was supposedly a dim-witted fool with deficient intelligence.

Not a single person present recognized the Small Seal Script he had written, yet Shen Lang recognized it. Not only did he know its meaning, he even knew how to pronounce it.

This, this was downright uncanny.

Licentiate Yan Xiong laughed from the side. "Master, he made that up, didn't he?"

Everyone present turned their eyes toward Zhang Boyan.

He truly wanted to deny Shen Lang's answer outright, to call something correct incorrect.

Then no one could do anything to him, and no one would be able to seek justice for Shen Lang.

However, Zhang Boyan had not been the only one to excavate this inscription back then. There had been two others, both men of great virtue and prestige. Moreover, the meaning of this ￥ had been jointly confirmed after several of them studied the contents of the inscription.

So if he denied Shen Lang's answer today before so many eyes, he might be slapped in the face someday. When that happened, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

Most importantly, Shen Lang alone was not worth taking such a huge risk for.

Seeing his teacher's expression, Licentiate Yan Xiong sensed that things were going badly and stressed, "Teacher, Shen Lang made it up, didn't he? He simply does not understand what this character means!"

There was already a strong note of prompting in this disciple's voice. He wanted his teacher to turn black into white.

Zhang Boyan shot Yan Xiong a cold glare, then smiled. "Young Master Shen truly is well-versed in writing. He can even recognize such an obscure seal-script character, and knows its pronunciation as well. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

The moment those words came out, everyone was dumbfounded! Shen Lang was this incredible? No one in the entire hall recognized Zhang Boyan's character, yet Shen Lang, that legendary useless fool, knew it and could even pronounce it? Was he not an ignorant wastrel? How could he be so capable? Shen Lang looked at Yan Xiong. "Brother Yan, you said before everyone that if I won, you would slap yourself. You are a dignified Licentiate, the finest student of our Hanshui Town Academy back then. Surely you are not going to go back on your word?"

Everyone's gaze shifted to Yan Xiong again. Although they had dearly wanted to see Shen Lang humiliated, now that things had not gone as they wished, seeing Licentiate Yan Xiong slap himself was quite entertaining too. Who said human nature was inherently good?

If they had been alone, Yan Xiong could still have reneged. But now everyone was staring at his face, especially the Xuanwu Earl, whose smiling eyes carried a trace of chill.

"Shen Lang, you have some skill. I will remember this day!" Yan Xiong said coldly, then viciously slapped himself across the face.

Slap!

The crack rang out sharply! This Licentiate Yan Xiong was truly earnest—he hit himself with such force. Perhaps he had imagined himself striking Shen Lang? Shen Lang found the sound immensely satisfying.

"Farewell!" Yan Xiong no longer had the face to remain here and left in fury.

At this moment, the Xuanwu Earl said, "Shen Lang, you should take MuLan to pay respects to your parents."

"Begin the feast!"

At the command, fine wine and delicacies were brought forth in an unbroken stream, and everyone took their seats.

Unfortunately, there was one person who had not witnessed today's scene.

It was Wang Lian, Chief Registrar of Xuanwu City and Shen Lang's rival in love.

He had originally been the most favored candidate. After failing to compete for MuLan's hand, he naturally would not attend tonight's wedding.

Shen Lang led Jin MuLan toward the rear courtyard to pay respects to his parents.

"Hold it!" At that moment, Lord Zhu Lin suddenly called out.

He was a true great figure. If he truly intended to make things difficult for Shen Lang, even the Xuanwu Earl would be in a bind.

Zhu Lin looked at Shen Lang and said, "Boy, you are rather interesting. I will remember you too."

It was not a threat, yet it resembled one all too closely. Being watched by a colossal force like the Zhu Family was truly uncomfortable.

As though he had not understood, Shen Lang bowed and said, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Zhu."

"Hahaha..." Zhu Lin burst into laughter.

The Xuanwu Earl said, "Why are you still standing there? Go pay respects to your parents. Do not keep your elders waiting."

"Yes, Father-in-Law," Shen Lang said.

"Shameless!" Nearly every young person in the hall said in unison.

Shen Lang was so eager to call him Father-in-Law. He truly had no shame!...

Shen Lang's parents felt that their family was poor and their status low, so they refused to appear in the main hall no matter what. The Xuanwu Earl's Manor had prepared brocade clothes for them, but his parents still refused to wear them. They only wore their own clothes, naturally the ones they had bought for the New Year several years ago. They normally could not bear to wear them, so they were still fairly new.

His younger brother Shen Jian had wanted to wear the Silk clothes provided by the Earl's Manor, but their father had sternly stopped him.

Both parents sat stiffly in their seats, as if uncomfortable all over. They only wanted to hurry back home, even if it was merely a mud-and-thatch hut.

His father, Shen Wan, still had inflammation in his lungs, yet desperately held back his cough.

Shen Lang brought Jin MuLan into the rear courtyard and immediately knelt. "Your son pays respects to Father and Mother. Your son has failed in his filial duty!"

His mother hurried forward to help Shen Lang up, but she had not expected Jin MuLan to kneel with him. "Your daughter-in-law pays respects to Father and Mother."

In an instant, the entire Shen family was stunned.

Jin MuLan was the Princess of Xuanwu City, the daughter of a noble clan that had endured for a hundred years. Yet she had knelt before Shen Lang's parents, lowly farmers, without the slightest reluctance on her face.

In that instant, Shen Lang's favorable impression of her soared sky-high.

"You mustn't, you mustn't..." Shen Lang's mother immediately wanted to help Jin MuLan up, but upon seeing how pure, noble, and breathtakingly beautiful she was, she pulled her hands back.

She had worked farm labor all year round, and her hands were rough and dark. Even after washing them clean, they still seemed to carry dirt, so she did not dare touch Jin MuLan at all.

Yet Jin MuLan took Shen Lang's mother's hands and rose, saying softly, "Thank you, Mother."

At once, Shen Lang's parents looked at Jin MuLan with eyes full of warmth.

She was a good girl. At the very least, she would not bully Shen Lang.

"Come, let us offer wine to Father and Mother," Jin MuLan said. "Father is unwell, so shall we use sweet rice wine instead?"

"Yes, yes..." Shen Lang's father replied repeatedly.

Then Jin MuLan filled wine cups for the two elders. She and Shen Lang knelt once more and offered wine to his parents.

The moment the wine entered their mouths, Shen Lang's parents felt a little drunk.

Shen Jian impatiently drank a cup of sweet rice wine. Seeing how gentle Jin MuLan was, he could not help saying, "Sister-in-law, you are really beautiful."

At once, Shen Lang's father nearly slapped him.

"Thank you," Jin MuLan said gently. Then she looked toward Shen Lang. "You and Father and Mother must have things to discuss. I will go out first and attend to the guests."

"Alright," Shen Lang said.

Once Jin MuLan had left, the air itself seemed to relax, and his parents loosened up as well.

Though she had been exceedingly gentle and amiable toward them, she was still the Earl's Manor's daughter. No matter what, Shen Lang's parents would feel inferior before her.

Shen Lang said, "Father, Mother, I am sorry. Your son has disappointed you."

His parents had never wanted Shen Lang to become a Live-in Son-in-Law, whether for the Xu Family or the Earl's Manor.

A Live-in Son-in-Law's status was far too low, only slightly above that of a servant. If he could not earn his wife and father-in-law's favor, he might even rank below a servant.

Moreover, his parents had always hoped Shen Lang could carry on the family line. Even if he married Widow Liu from the village, the children they had in the future would at least bear the Shen surname. Even living in their thatched hut would be better than living under another's roof.

Shen Wan said mournfully, "My son, say no more. You did it to save us, to save the whole family. It is your father who is useless. I dragged you down!"

Though Shen Wan did not know exactly what had happened, Tian Shisan bringing men to their home that afternoon to arrest someone was enough for him to infer the reason.

As he spoke, Shen Wan's eyes filled with tears. His heart was brimming with reluctance and guilt. He felt that if he had not been so incapable, his lifeblood, Shen Lang, would never have needed to become a Live-in Son-in-Law.

Beside him, Shen Jian said quietly, "I think it is pretty good. Sister-in-law is nice too, and the key is that she is beautiful. You could not find anyone prettier than Sister-in-law within several hundred li. Oh, Brother, can I discuss something with you?"

Shen Lang said, "Go ahead!"

His younger brother said, "You already have a wife as beautiful as Sister-in-law. Could you give Widow Liu from the village to me?"

At this point, his mother could no longer endure it and smacked the back of her younger son's head.

"Dream on! What if your brother cannot stay at the Earl's Manor and has to come home? Widow Liu still has to be saved for your brother. Besides, she has secretly peeked at Da Lang several times already. My Da Lang is simply beautiful—there is not another like him in ten villages and eight hamlets." His mother said, "A few days ago, I tested the waters. Widow Liu is probably willing in her heart."

Shen Jian looked speechlessly to the heavens. Father, Mother, could you be any more biased? I must not be your biological son—you picked me up somewhere! After eating with his parents for a while.

"Alright, Da Lang. Now that we have seen you safe and well, Father and Mother can rest easy. We will return now," his father said.

Shen Lang said, "Father, Mother, will you not stay the night? It is already too late."

His father said, "We are not used to staying here."

Then Shen Lang had Jin Zhong prepare two large carriages to send Shen Lang's parents home.

The Earl and MuLan also left the banquet over there specifically to see them off.

"Brother, stop seeing us off. Go to the bridal chamber. Sister-in-law is waiting for you," his younger brother said. "A single moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold!"

Shen Lang waved farewell to his family, then headed toward the bridal chamber.

Note: Before release, there will be two steady updates daily, one at noon and one in the evening. There will be more updates after release. Thank you!