Five days later.
Chen Yi lay sprawled at the window, his eyes fixed on the western gate of Chunhe Garden—the end of the corridor leading to Jiaxing Garden.
Ever since Xiao Die had brought him the "good news" from Eldest Miss Xiao, he had been beyond excited. In only five days, he had copied out the remaining two hundred passages of the Family Rules.
No, "copied" was not the right word. It should have been "memorized."
The entire passage contained one hundred characters. He could recite it backward fluently with his eyes closed.
"First, be loyal to the sovereign and serve the country, wrapped in horsehide upon death. Second, all male members of the lineage upon reaching six years of age must enter the Training Ground..."
The Family Rules of the Marquis of Wu Family were largely harsh. If they were not about loyalty to the sovereign, then they were about martial training, or else bringing glory to the family name.
It looked impressive, though he had no idea what any of it meant.
A complete mess of random thoughts.
Chen Yi still could not calm himself.
He had not stepped outside for fifty days. Even prisoners in jail got time out in the yard every day, while he truly had not left his room by so much as a single step.
Even the Armored Soldiers at his door could see how impatient he was, and faint smiles appeared on their faces.
Over these past days, the four Armored Soldiers had come to understand Chen Yi somewhat and felt a measure of sympathy for his fleeing marriage.
Thinking about it carefully—a scholar born into a prestigious family, well-read, and with hopes of passing the Imperial Examination, only to be arranged by his lineage to marry into another family... anyone in his place would be unable to accept it.
"Brothers," Chen Yi said, noticing their gazes and making conversation, "if I can leave this room, does that mean you won't have to stand guard here anymore?"
The four Armored Soldiers exchanged glances. One of them, whose left arm bore a braided cord, answered in a muffled voice.
"Yes, but we will stand guard outside the garden."
"..."
Chen Yi thought that was fine too.
Going from a three-story Wooden Tower to a garden spanning over a dozen mu, that still counted as taking a great step forward.
Perhaps because Chen Yi was about to have his confinement lifted, or perhaps because the Armored Soldiers' opinion of him had changed.
In any case, while they waited for Xiao Die to return, they became much more familiar with one another.
Chen Yi thus asked the question he had wanted to ask most. "Can martial cultivation truly cross through the air?"
He had long learned from his memories that the Martial Path flourished in the Great Wei Dynasty, and those with profound Cultivation Bases possessed unimaginable strength.
For instance, Yin Tiankuang, the sect master of Jiangnan Prefecture's Broken Blade Sect, had once visited the Chen Family. During his visit, he displayed the Sect-Breaking Saber—splitting apart a small mountain with a single slash.
There was also the rumored Sword Ghost, who had "stopped a river with one sword." Alone, he had broken through three thousand armored troops and slaughtered the Huben Army sent to surround him until corpses carpeted the ground.
But Chen Yi only knew of the former and had never seen the latter. Thus, during this time, he occasionally fantasized about becoming a martial expert himself—the reclusive sort.
If he could use his Fortune on martial training, then with the Dao Realm's enhancement, he could rapidly improve his martial Cultivation Base.
The armored soldier with the braided cord on his left arm was named Wang Lixing. Hearing this, he replied, "Of course. Second Miss can do it."
Chen Yi froze. "Second Miss... Madam? Her martial Cultivation Base is that high?"
Wang Lixing nodded, his expression carrying a hint of yearning. "Second Miss possesses extraordinary martial talent. At only twenty years old, she has already reached the Fourth Rank Realm. She can cross dozens of li through the air and travel two thousand li a day."
Chen Yi clicked his tongue inwardly. Xiao Jinghong was that formidable?
Fine. Before he had enough strength, he had better stay honest and keep a low profile.
Not long after.
Xiao Die finally passed through the arched gate framed by blue tiles and white walls, appearing at the end of the corridor. At once, she spotted Chen Yi peeking around eagerly and jogged over with a giggle.
"Son-in-law, there's good news and bad news. Which... which would you like to hear first?"
"Either one," Chen Yi said, rolling his eyes as some of his excitement faded. "To this son-in-law, any news is good news."
Xiao Die muttered that he was no fun, then promptly conveyed Eldest Miss's words to the Armored Soldiers. "Eldest Miss said that from now on, you only need to guard outside the garden."
"Yes, Miss Xiao Die."
The Armored Soldiers had expected this already.
After Wang Lixing bowed to Chen Yi, he led the other Armored Soldiers out of the garden in single file.
The moment he saw them disappear.
Chen Yi did not wait at all for Xiao Die's good or bad news. Bracing one hand against the windowsill, he leaped straight out, then let out a howl and charged toward the nearby pavilion.
Xiao Die hurried after him. "Son-in-law, Son-in-law, please slow down."
She was not worried that Chen Yi would run away. It was broad daylight, and Armored Soldiers stood guard outside the garden. It was not like on their wedding day, when Chen Yi had escaped amid the chaos on the road from the inn to the Marquis's mansion.
Chen Yi turned a deaf ear and ran all the way into the pavilion. Facing the rippling jade-green pool, he spread his arms and took a deep breath, instantly feeling refreshed in body and mind.
Xiao Die ran over, panting. "Son-in-law, I haven't even finished speaking yet."
Chen Yi did not turn around. He merely kept his head raised, breathing in the air of freedom.
Seeing that he did not respond, Xiao Die continued on her own. "Eldest Miss said that you must endure staying in Chunhe Garden for the time being. She has already written to Second Miss to explain the matter. Once Second Miss replies, your confinement should be lifted."
Chen Yi exhaled deeply, and his entire person suddenly felt as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun. "What's the good news?"
Xiao Die blanked. "This is the good news."
"Then what's the better news?"
"There isn't any better news." Xiao Die puffed out her cheeks and glared at him with a pout. "Son-in-law, there's only one piece of bad news left."
Chen Yi turned to look at her. "Let's hear it."
"The bad news is that Eldest Miss said... no, it should have been Old Master's instruction. Since Son-in-law has already married into the Xiao Family, you must follow the mansion's rules."
"What rules?" Chen Yi raised his brows, thinking there really was bad news after all.
"Son-in-law, have you forgotten? The Family Rules say, 'All male members of the mansion upon reaching six years of age must go to the Training Ground to study the Martial Path.'" Xiao Die covered her mouth and laughed. "You have to train too."
Chen Yi was stunned. "Are you sure?"
To him, this news was neither good nor bad.
He had previously guessed that the Xiao Family would not teach him martial cultivation. After all, he was a live-in son-in-law who had once fled his marriage. The Xiao Family had already shown utmost kindness by providing him food, clothing, and an allowance.
And now they were letting him cultivate the Martial Path... Were they treating him as one of their own?
After pondering for a moment.
A thought stirred in Chen Yi's heart. "Could they be trying to press me into service? They aren't planning to make me enlist and fight in a war, are they?"
From what he had learned about the Xiao Family during this time, he knew that the mansion was indeed short on male members.
That was quite possible...
Xiao Die had no idea what he was thinking and said with a suppressed smile.
"But Eldest Miss told Son-in-law not to worry. If you don't wish to learn, you can simply put on an act and go through the motions. And because you still cannot leave Chunhe Garden, they should arrange for a teacher to come here."
Chen Yi raised his brows and said irritably, "Xiao Die, remember to say everything in one go from now on."
If that was the case, then he did not need to worry too much. Still, just in case, he had to act as though he was "untalented in the Martial Path," lest they drag him off to serve as a conscript later.
Xiao Die stuck out her little tongue. "Who told you to care only about running over here?"
Hearing that, Chen Yi sensed that something was off. He glanced at her. "You seem a little different from before."
"Am I?" Xiao Die lowered her head and looked herself over.
"You addressed me differently. Over these past two months, you've never used an honorific for me. What is this? Did the sun rise in the west today?" Chen Yi teased.
Xiao Die's face reddened, and she said softly, "E-Eldest Miss told me that from now on, I am to follow you, Son-in-law..."
"Ohhh, so that's how it is." Chen Yi drew out his words. "You're worried I'll make things difficult for you in the future."
"N-No..."
"You're blushing."
Xiao Die made as if to hit him, but remembering that she would be his personal maidservant from now on, she restrained herself and lowered her head without speaking.
Seeing this, Chen Yi stopped teasing her and earnestly said a few heartwarming words.
Xiao Die smiled again and secretly looked at his back.
Previously, because Son-in-law had fled the marriage, everyone in the Xiao Family disliked him, herself included.
Only today did she realize—Son-in-law was actually a very good person, as approachable as Eldest Miss, Second Miss, and Old Master.
No.
After thinking back carefully, Xiao Die realized that from the time she had met Chen Yi until now, he had never treated her as a servant.
Though he sometimes asked her to do things, such as grind ink or bring him food, his tone had never made her feel that he stood above her. Instead, it had always been gentle.
So gentle that she could completely relax around him.
Thinking this, Xiao Die asked quietly, "Son-in-law, you must be hungry, right? I'll go bring some food."
"Go on, go on."
Chen Yi waved without turning back, still watching the lively fish darting about in the pool with great interest. He was calculating when to get himself a fishing rod and haul them all up in one sweep.
He was a seasoned fisherman known as "never coming home empty-handed." How could he not cast a few lines?
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