Chapter 40: Adopted Son
Yue Tang remained unruffled: “To earn the Top Scholar’s silver, I naturally have to make full preparations.
“These aren’t secrets; as long as one knows a few more people in the Capital City, it’s not hard to inquire about them.”
She glanced over: “If this matter succeeds, it wouldn’t be too much for me to take five hundred taels of silver from you, right?”
Five hundred taels of silver was certainly not a small amount!
But upon hearing this, Xu He’s tense face relaxed instead.
In the past, he had heard that powerful families often engaged in shady dealings behind the scenes, frequently hiring outsiders to handle matters.
It seemed she made her living by doing this.
In any case, since it was all about money, it would be easy to handle.
Not to mention that five hundred taels of silver to buy her petition and resolve this marriage matter wasn’t expensive; even if he truly felt heartbroken about it, once the matter was settled, he could later accuse her of extortion or theft and have her arrested—it wasn’t impossible.
Thinking of this, he took two more sips of tea.
But while the tea was still in his mouth, he thought of something extremely important: “But my former wife is still in Luoyang; she can’t get here in a short time.”
“Why must it be her?” Yue Tang smiled, “If you’re willing to add another five hundred taels, I can stand in for her as Lady He for once, so that you, Top Scholar, can settle this matter with peace of mind—how about it?”
“You?”
“Am I not suitable?”
Xu He held his breath as he sized her up, then quickly turned his body away.
This woman was about the same age as He Shi, but her face was so excessively beautiful that, under the guise of a wife of humble origins, it might be hard to convince the crowd.
But no one in the Capital City knew He Shi, so that wasn’t a problem.
The key was that this woman was exceptionally intelligent and sharp-minded; she was probably accustomed to handling such matters for powerful families, so having her step forward would likely have no issues.
But the trouble was, if she appeared as He Shi, it would be difficult to later accuse her of extortion or theft and bring her to court.
Yue Tang withdrew her gaze from his face: “If the Top Scholar finds it too expensive, then forget it; you can go find someone else.
“But for my petition and the idea I proposed, you must exchange them for five hundred taels.
“Please have the Top Scholar seal the silver, and you and I will write a document proving this silver is legitimate; then I will leave immediately.”
Xu He frowned, only because he couldn’t find anyone more suitable than her at the moment.
Fine, a thousand taels or so of silver wasn’t something he couldn’t afford; if he truly felt it wasn’t worth it later—
In any case, she would have already appeared as his wife Xu He; then, as her “husband,” he could close the door and deal with his own wife however he wanted—no one would dare say anything, right?
There would be plenty of ways to deal with her, wouldn’t there?
Thinking this way, he felt settled in his heart and sat down again: “Then as you say. From now on, you are my Xu He’s long-lost wife of humble origins He Shi, and until the matter is fully settled, you must stay in my Xu Residence.”
“That’s natural!” Yue Tang smiled, “Not only will I move in myself, but a few of my attendants will also move in. So that if I have business to go out, the Top Scholar won’t misunderstand that I’ve run away.
“However, you must pay me five hundred taels first today; you and I will sign a written agreement, and only then will this matter count.”
Xu He tugged at the corner of his mouth: “Don’t worry about the silver.” He beckoned under the door: “Summon the accountant!”
……
The Xu Family only had mother and son living there, with several empty courtyards besides.
The place arranged for Yue Tang and the others was called Azure Cloud Studio.
On the way there, Huo Yun couldn’t help but ask: “We’re here for the birthday banquet; Xu He has broken off the engagement with the Duan family—will the Du Family still invite him to the banquet?”
Yue Tang faintly scanned the scenery along the way: “The Du Family must be determined to have Xu He.
“Even if the engagement is broken off, they will definitely find another way to bind him.
“He can’t escape.
“Put your heart back in your stomach; we’ve secured this birthday banquet.
“Later, when Xu He goes out, you go bring Lan Qin and the others over. We’ll settle here and conveniently follow the Du Family’s intentions to probe the traces of the person behind him.
“At the same time, with the identity of the Top Scholar’s Wife protecting us, we can also avoid the search from Prince Jingyang’s Mansion.”
Huo Yun clapped her hands in delight: “Exactly! For Prince Jingyang to find someone, could he really send people to search the Top Scholar’s Mansion? It’s killing two birds with one stone!”
……
Du Yu returned to the Marquis’s Mansion and explained the whole story to the Marquis of Guangling, who then cursed out the Xu Family again.
After all, it was the Xu Family who handled the matter, and the Xu Family who submitted the petition; just when it was about to succeed, at this crucial moment, something went wrong!
How did that petition end up in Xu He’s hands?
Is there someone in the Supreme Court opposing their Marquis’s Mansion?
Must investigate!
Have to investigate!!
Du Yu was driven out again.
The Marquis of Guangling sat down; he didn’t know why he was so unlucky lately?
Not a single matter was going smoothly; the big matters with the He Family and Zhang Family were one thing, but how could even a small Xu He almost slip away?!
Exactly what’s wrong?
What evil spirit had he offended?
He had just sat down and hadn’t even caught his breath when two servants came rushing in one after another, reporting the same matter: “Marquis!
“Something’s happened at the Xu Residence; just now, all over the streets it’s being said that the Top Scholar’s wife of humble origins, missing for two years, has arrived in the Capital City!”
The Marquis of Guangling nearly choked on the tea in his mouth; he set down the tea bowl: “What wife of humble origins? Wasn’t his original wife already sent someone to Luoyang to deal with?”
“She’s come back! Now the Xu Residence’s main gate is tightly shut, but it’s said all the neighbors know, and they saw her with their own eyes!”
The Marquis of Guangling was stunned; the mess stabbed by the Xu Family had just been sorted out, so how did that damned wife of humble origins show up at the door again?
She’s shown up, so what about Xu He’s marriage to the Duan family miss?
No, this isn’t right!
How did all these matters pile up together?
He instinctively rushed toward the doorway.
But someone came from outside the door, lifting his robe hem as he hurried up: “Marquis! Lord Xu has arrived!”
The Marquis of Guangling stopped under the door and glanced over; sure enough, he saw Xu He coming in.
“Marquis.” Xu He came forward and deeply bowed, then presented the marriage horoscope post. “Thanks to the Marquis’s Mansion’s favor in arranging the match between this lowly one and the Duan family miss, but most unfortunately, this lowly one is entangled in family matters and can no longer fulfill the engagement.
“For the sake of the Duan family miss’s reputation and to maintain the Marquis’s reputation, I beg the Marquis to forgive me and go to the Duan family to explain on my behalf.”
The Marquis of Guangling had a breath stuck in his chest and couldn’t bring it up for a long time!
“You’re here to break off the engagement?”
Xu He silently nodded. “Presumably the news has already reached the Marquis’s Mansion; the Marquis should know that this lowly one truly has no choice.”
“How did she suddenly pop up again? Wasn’t she already paid off long ago?” The Marquis of Guangling pounded the table loudly, “Didn’t you say she only has a widowed mother and no power or background? How could she have the guts to come to the Capital City and make trouble? Who’s instigating her from behind?”
“This lowly one doesn’t know; in any case, the matter has happened, and this lowly one cannot deny it—Marquis, forgive me!”
Xu He clasped his hands and bowed again.
The Marquis of Guangling looked at the top of his head, truly not knowing what to say anymore.
The matter had come to this; the streets were buzzing with the news that the long-lost Top Scholar’s Wife had arrived in the Capital City—no one could cover it up.
Even if he personally stepped forward—
Could he step forward for this?
The He Family matter wasn’t settled yet; how many eyes were watching outside? If he suppressed this wife of humble origins, wouldn’t he be sitting there waiting to be dealt with?
For a moment, all thoughts turned to despair; he sat back in his chair.
“Since this is your own intention, what more can I say? Leave the horoscope post.”
Xu He instantly breathed a sigh of relief, placed the invitation on the desk with both hands, bowed, and retreated to the doorway, about to leave.
The Marquis of Guangling watched him and called him back: “Wait.”
Xu He stopped.
“After all, we’re lacking that family bond.” The Marquis of Guangling gripped his knees with both hands and slowly stood up, his tone softening, “Since the marriage can’t happen, you won’t treat this old man as an outsider, will you?”
“The Marquis has shown this lowly one great support; how would I dare?”
“That’s good,” The Marquis of Guangling stopped in front of him, “Since it’s about favor, how about I recognize you as my adopted son?”
Xu He was stunned.
The Marquis of Guangling smiled: “You wouldn’t disdain this old man’s status as insufficient, would you?”
Xu He was terrified and respectful: “This lowly one absolutely has no such intention!”
“Since there’s no such intention, then it’s agreed.” The Marquis of Guangling stroked his beard, “The Fu Family matter, I will handle for you.
“At the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow, I will also introduce you to the various lords as my adopted son.
“Just treat it as giving my Marquis’s Mansion some decorum after breaking off the engagement; surely you won’t refuse?”
Xu He, a mere novice fresh out of the countryside, what courage did he have to resist the old fox?
Lowering his head and grinding his teeth, he finally nodded heavily.
