Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Shen Lang racked his brain, considering various options. Just then, the large doors before him closed, leaving him outside. An outsider like Shen Lang could not be present for the Count's Estate's important internal affairs.
"Who has come from the Zhu Clan?"
"It is General Zhu Lin of Pingnan, the younger brother of Governor-General Zhu Rong!"
In response to the Count's question, a trusted retainer handed him a message sent by a spy in Raging Tide City via carrier pigeon. The Count's face turned pale as he read it. The arrival of General Zhu Lin complicated matters. This was as good as a declaration of the Zhu Clan's intent to succeed in their marriage proposal, no matter what.
Moreover, their swift and secretive movements showed not only their firm resolve to truly make Jin Mulan one of their own but also their intention to deny the Count's Estate any time to find a way to refuse.
The Zhu Clan's desire for a marriage with the Count of Xuanwu's Estate was not merely for a simple alliance between families. They intended to take advantage of the reform policies being implemented in various states. If the Zhu Clan and the Count of Xuanwu's Estate were to become one family, the real power of the estate, currently held by an incompetent heir, would naturally pass to the most talented member of the bloodline, Jin Mulan, and the Zhu Clan man she married. In doing so, the Zhu Clan would easily gain control of the Count's fief and military authority.
The Countess spoke in a trembling voice.
"My lord, can we refuse?"
The Count shook his head.
"We cannot. The Zhu Clan is a preeminent family; refusing their proposal would be tantamount to making an enemy of them. What's more, the King's will may be behind this proposal."
"Father, Mother. I will never marry out. I will remain in this house, support my younger brother, and protect the Jin Clan's century-old legacy. If anyone tries to bring down our family, they will have to do so over my dead body."
At Jin Mulan's response, the Count sighed, his brows furrowed deeply as he paced the room in agitation.
"Father, I would rather disfigure myself."
She drew a dagger, intending to mar her beautiful face, but the Count of Xuanwu caught her arm and spoke firmly.
"What are you doing?! Though protecting our family's hundred-year legacy is important, it is not more important than my own child. Besides, even if you were to disfigure yourself, the Zhu Clan would still press on with their proposal."
"Then I would rather take a live-in son-in-law and marry today. If I hold the wedding before General Zhu Lin arrives and make it a fait accompli, they will have no choice but to withdraw and will be unable to propose to me!"
This was the only way. Taking a live-in son-in-law didn't involve an engagement, so a betrothal was out of the question. General Zhu Lin was less than two hundred li from the Count of Xuanwu's Estate and would arrive by tonight. Originally, the Count of Xuanwu had intended to find the best possible son-in-law for his daughter. But now, he had to choose a live-in son-in-law within four hours…
The Count of Xuanwu's heart softened as he looked at his beautiful and resolute daughter.
"Mulan, the Zhu Clan is at its zenith right now. Zhu Hongxue would be a promising and fine husband. I cannot sacrifice your happiness for the sake of the family's interests. You should think about it again, carefully."
"Father, contributing to our family is my greatest happiness. My brother will surely be unable to protect the hundred-year legacy passed down from our ancestors. I will never marry out of this family."
Hearing Jin Mulan's solemn declaration, the Count of Xuanwu felt his heart swell with a strange mix of pride in his daughter's devotion to the family and a parent's sorrow for her plight. He then took out an inkstone and brush and wrote five names on a sheet of white paper. These five were outstanding young men whom the Count had secretly considered the best candidates for a son-in-law.
The Count had begun searching for her husband three years ago and had kept these men in mind, but it was not easy to ask another family to give up their son as a live-in son-in-law. Moreover, Jin Mulan herself had been staunchly against marriage, so he had never mentioned them before. But now, there was no time for such considerations. A decision had to be made.
Among the five candidates, the first name written on the paper was Wang Lian. A young man who had passed the provincial examinations at eighteen, he currently served as the Registrar of Xuanwu City and was also a distant relative of the Count's Estate. The name written below his was Mo Ye. He was a renowned martial arts prodigy in Xuanwu City who, after passing the military provincial examinations at sixteen, had continued to train diligently in preparation for the military metropolitan examinations.
The remaining three were outstanding young men from within the Count's Estate itself. They were skilled in both literary and martial arts, raised by the Jin Clan from a young age to be talented individuals, and their loyalty to the estate was unquestionable. Furthermore, all five of these young men were infatuated with Jin Mulan. No, to be precise, Jin Mulan was the woman of every young man's dreams in Xuanwu City.
"Jin Zhong, send for these five men at once and bring them to the estate. Mulan will make her choice."
The Count felt so sorry for his daughter that he decided to leave the final decision to her.
"Understood!"
"Mulan, time is short, but I will find the best son-in-law for you to ensure you live a happy life. These five young men are all exceptionally talented. Choose one of them wisely."
Just then, Shen Lang walked in.
"Your Excellency, might I also be considered a candidate? Had I known about this earlier, I would have made this request instead."
Everyone present was stunned by Shen Lang's words. It was so sudden that no one could react. But soon after, the Count of Xuanwu felt an unbearable rage surge within him at Shen Lang's absurd request. It wasn't just the Count; several others present glared at Shen Lang as if they wanted to tear him to shreds.
*You? Of all people? How dare you try to marry our estate's lady? No matter how handsome you are, perhaps you could be some other woman's kept man, but to be our lady's live-in husband? You must be dreaming. And what about your family's situation? You're from a dirt-poor family that lives in a thatched hut.*
*Of course, no one can choose their origins. If you were an outstanding young man, His Excellency might have considered it. After all, one can't insist on a live-in son-in-law from a powerful, noble family. But Shen Lang, take a good look at yourself. You studied for ten years and still couldn't even graduate from the town's academy before being kicked out. How dare you?*
To draw a modern-day parallel, it was as if Shen Lang had done nothing but study, yet at eighteen, still hadn't graduated from elementary school. He was from a poor farming family, lacked the strength to lift even light objects, and was lazy and incapable of doing any proper work—a complete good-for-nothing.
Everyone in Xuanwu City knew Shen Lang was slow-witted. The five paragons the Count had chosen were either brilliant scholars or exceptional martial artists; compared to them, Shen Lang wasn't worth a single coin.
*Shen Lang, you have no skills, yet you abandoned your own parents in your greed for wealth and fortune to become a live-in son-in-law for the Xu Clan, didn't you? And now that you've been kicked out by them, you dare to try and marry our estate's precious daughter?*
*What do you take our estate for? Our Count of Xuanwu's precious daughter is infinitely more noble than Xu Qianqian. You truly don't know your place and live with nothing but vain ambitions!*
The Countess stepped forward, gently stroking her husband's back as she spoke in a soft voice.
"My lord, please don't be angry. They say Shen Lang is mentally deficient. Besides, he is still an immature child. How can we stoop to his level?"
The Count of Xuanwu let out a long sigh.
Right, he has a problem with his brain, and he's still young. What would the Count gain from arguing with him?
"Guards, send this vagrant home. And entrust the gold I sent to his parents. Make sure none of it falls into this boy's hands until I send for him again."
"Yes, sir!"
Two guards stepped forward, grabbed Shen Lang by the shoulders, and began to drag him out by force when he spoke urgently.
"Lady Mulan, I would be a more suitable husband for you than those five men. Do I truly not even have the right to compete?"
Jin Mulan looked at Shen Lang, then looked again, before speaking after a long moment.
"I remember now. You're the one I injured while hunting three years ago, aren't you? Ah, that's right. You were already the village fool. Everyone called you Little Dummy!"
Hey! My goddess, that's a bit too blunt, isn't it? Talk about a reality check. In his village, no one called him by his name; they all called him Little Dummy. There was another fool in the village called Big Dummy, who was Shen Lang's only friend at the time.
When Jin Mulan's warhorse had accidentally struck Shen Lang, she had picked him up and asked the villagers about him. At the time, the villagers, unable to lie to the daughter of a noble house, had explained in detail just what kind of boy Shen Lang was.
Listening to the exchange between Jin Mulan and Shen Lang, the Count's face soured even more.
"That's right, Lady Mulan. I am Little Dummy. But I, too, wish to marry you. Does a little dummy not even deserve that right? Please, give me a chance. I swear I will not disappoint you."
Jin Mulan's gaze upon Shen Lang was filled with softness. It was even gentle. To Jin Mulan, the foolish and simple-minded Shen Lang was just a child. Having been raised as the precious daughter of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, she despised the deceitful world of adults and longed to escape the political arena of schemes and intrigue. That was why Jin Mulan found it amusing to look at Shen Lang, who embodied a childlike purity and simplicity.
"Alright. Shen Lang, I will add you to the list of husband candidates. You will compete fairly."
Others might look down on Shen Lang, but she did not. When the Count opened his mouth to object, Jin Mulan smiled and said,
"Father, what are you worried about?"
The Count scoffed at himself.
*Right, what am I worried about? Mulan only added him to the list out of pity; she would never choose him. There's no need to get angry over groundless fears.*
The Count gave an order.
"Guards, take Shen Lang to the sixth study!"
***
Not long after, the five young men personally selected by the Count of Xuanwu were led into five separate studies. Shen Lang, too, was seated in the sixth study, awaiting Jin Mulan's choice.
They had no prior knowledge of one another and had not met, so they had no way of knowing who their rivals were.
Jin Mulan had decided to meet and observe each of them one-on-one to choose a groom worthy of her. Today, only one of these six men would become Jin Mulan's husband.
And finally, Jin Mulan entered the first study. The selection for the Count's Estate's live-in son-in-law had begun.