Five days later.
Chen Yi leaned against the window, his eyes fixed on the western gate of Chunhe Garden-the end of the long corridor leading to Jiaxing Garden.
Ever since Xiao Die brought him the "good news" from Eldest Miss Xiao, he could hardly be called anything less than excited, taking a mere five days to finish copying the remaining two hundred chapters of the Family Rules.
No, the word "copy" could not be used here; it should be "memorize."
The whole text totaled one hundred characters, and he could recite it backward with his eyes closed.
"First, show loyalty to the sovereign and serve the country, returning with horsehide shrouds; second, all males in the lineage upon reaching the age of six must enter the Training Ground..."
The Family Rules of the Marquis of Wu Family were mostly strict, concerning either loyalty to the sovereign, the practice of martial arts, or bringing honor to one's ancestors.
It all looked profoundly impressive.
Utterly chaotic, he let his thoughts wander wildly.
Chen Yi still could not calm his mind.
He had to remember that he had not stepped outside for fifty days; even in a jail cell, they gave people yard time every day, yet he had truly not stepped a single step outside the door.
Even the armored soldiers at the entrance could see his impatience, their faces revealing faint smiles.
Over these past few days, the four armored soldiers had gained some understanding of Chen Yi, and they felt a certain degree of sympathy for his elopement.
Think about it carefully-a scholar born into a prominent family, well-read in history and literature, and expected to pass the Imperial Examination, only to be arranged by his lineage to marry into a household as a son-in-law. Anyone in his position would lose their mind.
"Brothers," Chen Yi noticed their gazes and made small talk, "if I am able to walk out of this quarters, will you not need to guard this place anymore?"
The four armored soldiers exchanged glances. One of them, an armored soldier with a braided rope on his left arm, answered in a muffled voice:
"Yes, but we will guard outside the garden."
"..."
Chen Yi thought to himself that this would do as well.
Moving from the three-story Wooden Tower to a garden spanning over a dozen mu, this could still be considered a major step out for him.
Perhaps because Chen Yi was about to have his confinement lifted, or perhaps because the few armored soldiers' views of him had improved.
At any rate, in the intervals of waiting for Xiao Die to return, the few of them grew much more familiar with one another.
Chen Yi consequently asked a question he most wanted to ask: "Can the cultivation of the Martial Path truly enable one to vault through the air?"
He had long known from his memories that the Martial Path flourished in the Great Wei Dynasty, and that those with profound Cultivation Bases possessed unimaginable mighty powers.
For instance, Yin Tiankuang, the master of the Broken Blade Sect in Jiangnan Prefecture, had once visited the Chen Family, during which he displayed the Sect-Breaking Saber-splitting a small mountain with a single strike.
There was also the legendary Sword Ghost of "blocking the river with a single sword," who with his own strength broke three thousand pieces of armor and slaughtered the encircling Huben Army until corpses littered the field and blood flowed everywhere.
Yet Chen Yi only knew of the former and had never seen the latter, so during this period he occasionally fantasized about becoming a strong martial artist-the reclusive kind.
If he could use his Fortune on practicing martial arts, he could rapidly elevate his martial cultivation relying on the blessing of the Dao Realm.
That armored soldier with a braided rope on his left arm, named Wang Lixing [Wang Lixing], replied upon hearing this: "Naturally you can, Second Miss can."
Chen Yi was startled. "Second Miss... Wife? Her martial cultivation is this high?"
Wang Lixing nodded, his expression carrying a hint of yearning: "Second Miss possesses exceptionally lofty martial talent, and at the tender age of twenty she is already a Fourth Rank Realm cultivator, capable of vaulting through the air for dozens of li and traveling two thousand li in a single day."
Chen Yi clicked his tongue inwardly. Was Xiao Jinghong truly this formidable?
Fine, it seemed that without sufficient strength, he had better honestly keep a low profile.
Not long after.
Xiao Die finally crossed the arched doorway with green tiles and white walls, appearing at the end of the long corridor. Catching sight of Chen Yi poking his head about, she trotted over a few steps with a giggle.
"Son-in-law, there is good news and bad news. Which one would you... would you like to hear first?"
"Either is fine," Chen Yi rolled his eyes, his excited state of mind dissipating somewhat. "To your son-in-law here, any news is good news."
Xiao Die muttered that he was no fun, then immediately relayed to the armored soldiers: "Eldest Miss says you may henceforth keep watch outside the garden."
"Understood, Miss Xiao Die."
The armored soldiers had anticipated this long ago.
After bowing to Chen Yi, Wang Lixing led the other armored soldiers out of the garden in single file.
Watching them vanish.
Without waiting for Xiao Die's good news or bad news, Chen Yi propped one hand on the window sill and vaulted straight out, then let out a whoop as he charged toward the pavilion not far away.
Xiao Die hurried after him, calling out, "Son-in-law, Son-in-law, please run a bit slower."
She was not worried about Chen Yi running away, after all, in broad daylight, armored soldiers still guarded outside the garden. It was nothing like the wedding day when Chen Yi fled taking advantage of the chaos on the road from the inn to the Marquis's mansion.
Chen Yi paid no heed, running all the way into the pavilion, opening his arms toward the rippling green pool and drawing a deep breath. Instantly, his body and mind felt thoroughly refreshed.
Pant, pant. Xiao Die ran up, breathless. "Son-in-law, I haven't even finished speaking yet."
Without looking back, Chen Yi still held his head high, breathing in the air of freedom.
Seeing that he did not reply, Xiao Die spoke on her own accord: "Eldest Miss says you are temporarily wronged to stay in Chunhe Garden. She has already written a letter to explain to Second Miss, and once Second Miss replies, she should lift Son-in-law's confinement."
Chen Yi let out a long breath, his entire being opening up. "And the good news?"
Xiao Die was taken aback. "This is the good news."
"Then what is the better news?"
"There is no better news." Xiao Die puffed out her cheeks, staring at him pouting angrily. "Son-in-law, there is only one bad news left."
Chen Yi turned his head to look at her. "Let's hear it."
"The bad news is that Eldest Miss said... No, it should be what Old Master instructed, saying that since Son-in-law has already married into the Xiao Family, you must follow the rules of the household."
"What rules?" Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, thinking that there really was bad news after all.
"Did Son-in-law forget, the Family Rules state that 'males in the household upon reaching the age of six must go to the Training Ground to practice the Martial Path'." Xiao Die covered her mouth and smiled. "You have to practice too."
Chen Yi was stunned. "Are you certain?"
This news was neither good nor bad to him.
It was just that previously he had deduced the Xiao Family would probably not teach him martial cultivation. After all, as a son-in-law who had eloped, having food, clothing, and provisions provided, the Xiao Family had already treated him with the utmost benevolence and righteousness.
To let him practice martial arts as well... Were they treating him as one of their own family now?
Pondering for a moment.
A thought stirred in Chen Yi's mind: Could it be that they harbor the intention of drafting able-bodied men? Surely they don't want to drag me off to join the army and fight wars?
Judging from his understanding of the Xiao Family during this period, he knew that the household indeed suffered from a shortage of males.
This was quite likely...
Not knowing what he was thinking inside, Xiao Die straightened her smiling face and said:
"However, Eldest Miss told Son-in-law not to worry. If you do not wish to learn, you can just put on a show and go through the motions. Furthermore, because you cannot leave Chunhe Garden yet, a master should be sent here."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, and said with a trace of exasperation, "Xiao Die, remember to tell things all at once in the future."
If that was the case, he did not need to worry too much. Yet just to be safe, he still needed to appear "unskilled in the martial path" to avoid being drafted as an able-bodied laborer later on.
Xiao Die stuck out the tip of her tongue. "Who told you to only focus on running over here."
Hearing this, however, Chen Yi sensed a hint of something amiss and eyed her. "You seem a bit different from before."
"Do I?" Xiao Die lowered her head and looked at herself.
"Your form of address is different. For these nearly two months, you have never used an 'honorific' toward me. What's this, did the sun rise from the western regions today?" Chen Yi teased.
A blush crept onto Xiao Die's face as she softly said, "E-Eldest Miss told me to follow Son-in-law from now on..."
"Oh~ So that's how it is~" Chen Yi drew out his tone. "You're worried about me wearing small shoes for you in the future."
"N-No such thing..."
"Your face is blushing, hey."
Xiao Die made a motion as if to hit him, but remembering that she was to be his dedicated maid from now on, she restrained herself, lowering her head in silence.
Seeing this, Chen Yi dropped the joking manner and earnestly spoke a few heartwarming words.
Xiao Die smiled once more, stealing glances at his back.
Previously, because the son-in-law had eloped, everyone up and down the Xiao Family held no affection for him, and she was no exception.
Only until today did she realize-actually, the son-in-law was a very fine person, as approachable as Eldest Miss, Second Miss, and Old Master.
No.
Reflecting carefully for a moment, Xiao Die realized that from her contact with Chen Yi until now, he had never treated her as a mere servant.
Although at times he would still have her do things, such as grinding ink or bringing food and the like, his tone when speaking never made her feel that he was superior to her; rather, it was very gentle.
To the extent that it allowed her to completely relax.
With this thought, Xiao Die asked in a low voice, "Is Son-in-law hungry? I'll go fetch some food."
"Go on, go on."
Without looking back, Chen Yi waved his hand and continued to watch with great interest the lively fish jumping about in the pond, calculating when he might procure a fishing rod and scoop the lot of them up in one fell swoop.
He was, after all, a veteran angler known as "never skunking"; how could he not cast a few lines?
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