Chapter 24: Father-in-Law

Chapter 24

Father-in-Law

Nie Shuang continued to leave the manor daily under the pretense of visiting her natal family. Xu Shi didn’t object, seeing that Song Qilin hadn’t altered his plan to bring Nie Shuang to the border. Xu Shi thought it was only right for Nie Shuang to spend more time with her parents before they parted ways for a long time. Additionally, she felt guilty about her son marrying another principal wife, so allowing Nie Shuang this freedom seemed like a small compensation.

"If you need to go out, there’s no need to ask for my permission. You’ll be leaving soon. Whether you want to visit your natal family or buy supplies, go ahead."

Xu Shi said kindly to the young woman.

Nie Shuang, thrilled to hear this, smiled sweetly at the Elder Furen as always. Seeing her like this, Xu Shi couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. How could someone so beautiful and sweet be cursed with such misfortune?

Nie Shuang used the manor’s carriage, but she didn’t head to her family home. The carriage stopped in a wealthy residential area in front of a large courtyard house. After knocking on the door, Da Shi came to answer.

"Young Furen!"

He greeted her, bowing respectfully before inviting her inside. Nie Shuang waved off his attempts to attend to her, instead motioning toward the carriage. Da Shi immediately called upon four men from the house to help unload large, heavy chests from the carriage. These men were from a protection agency, which Nie Shuang had hired to help transport the dowry and other bestowed valuables she’d been gradually moving from the manor to this house. She didn’t dare convert these items to promissory notes. Who knew how wide the General’s eyes and ears extended? She didn’t want to risk getting caught now, or she might lose her last chance. Besides, selling such valuable items hastily would only result in a loss, and since she’d already hired the protection agency, it was better to move the entire load as it was.

Nie Shuang pulled out a key from her chest and led the way to the treasure storage room. Once Da Shi and the four men had stored the chests inside, she locked the door again.

"Have you decided which city we’ll head to yet, Young Furen? If we need to find a suitable home, it might take some time. I could write to a broker to prepare in advance."

Da Shi asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Nie Shuang frowned slightly. She hadn’t made a final decision yet. She hadn’t even consulted Princess An Le when she saw her. Given the princess’s life confined within palace walls, Nie Shuang doubted she would have much knowledge of such matters. Ideally, Nie Shuang wanted to flee to a city far from Song Qilin’s route or reach a place he would never pass through. But most importantly, the city needed to be a major trade hub, preferably a port city, to expand her business empire. While the books Da Shi had bought her gave a general understanding of the land, they lacked the specific details she needed.

"Give me another week to think it over,"

She replied, then boarded the carriage to return to the manor.

If Song Qilin still insisted on taking her to the border, Nie Shuang knew she’d have to make her move during his wedding to Chen Yuelan. That day, everyone would be too preoccupied to notice her disappearance.

Now, she had to act swiftly as time was running out. Nie Shuang instructed Da Shi to prepare six carriages and hire fifty guards. She didn’t hesitate to spend money since the items she was transporting were incredibly valuable. Besides, her life was more important—if she didn’t survive, she wouldn’t have a chance to use the money. While walking back to her residence, she happened to bump into Song Ren.

"Second Brother,"

She greeted him first. Song Qilin’s younger brother had always been kind to her. Though he bore a strong resemblance to his elder brother, Song Ren exuded an air of the scholar. This was the first time Nie Shuang had seen him since word of Song Qilin’s impending marriage had spread. Song Ren respectfully greeted her before inquiring after her well-being, but eventually, he couldn’t hold back.

"Sister-in-law, regarding my elder brother—he’s trying to find a way."

Nie Shuang smiled at him.

"Tell him not to trouble himself. He should focus on preparing for his wedding. The bride’s family holds a high position, and if the arrangements are less than perfect, they might take offense."

"Eldest Brother doesn’t mean to neglect you, but right now, he’s too ashamed to face you. Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry with him."

Song Ren tried to defend his brother. Though his eldest brother had initially treated his sister-in-law harshly and ignored her, now that he was forced to marry Chen Yuelan, he was visibly distressed and trying to avoid the marriage, even at the risk of angering their father.

"You worry too much, Second Brother. I am neither hurt nor angry with your elder brother in the slightest. Now, if you’ll excuse me."

The next day, the Hou summoned Nie Shuang. Surprised, she had no time to send A’Yi to gather information, so as she walked, her mind raced with various speculations.

The maid led her to the study, where the Hou sat at his desk. When Nie Shuang arrived, he remained indifferent, showing the same cold demeanor Song Qilin had once shown her. Nie Shuang couldn’t help but scrunch her nose slightly as she curtsied.

The Hou was only in his early forties, and his face still retained traces of his former nobility. However, his serious and rigid nature had led to graying hair. He had a tall, imposing figure similar to his son’s, but old war injuries had left him with chronic pain in his right leg. He could no longer walk normally. What had once been the dignified bearing of a warrior had now turned into a limp, leaving him like a cripple.

The Hou was a man of unbending pride, particularly regarding the prestigious image of Yong An Hou, the General who had once led the army. Unable to bear the pitying gazes of others, he had resigned from his position despite still being physically capable. If he was this harsh on himself, it was no wonder he despised Nie Shuang, seeing her as an outsider and a blemish on his family’s honor.

Nie Shuang stood in silence for a long while, waiting for him to finish ’pretending’ to write before he finally looked up. His gaze was filled with disdain, but Nie Shuang met his eyes without fear. She had encountered men like this countless times, especially in the business world. Many men had underestimated women, only to be crushed by her time and time again.

The Hou snorted with contempt.

"You have a passable appearance, but your manners are disgraceful. It’s not surprising, considering you’re the daughter of a merchant. Meeting an elder and yet you don’t even know how to lower your gaze."

Nie Shuang smiled, deliberately acting overly familiar to provoke him.

"Father-in-law is so dignified and impressive, Nie Shuang couldn’t help but look a bit longer."

His face twitched in annoyance. A man as arrogant and proud as the Hou, who even demanded his own wife address him with utmost formality, was now being casually addressed as father-in-law by this lowborn daughter-in-law. And worse still, she flattered him in a way that felt utterly shameless and insincere.

The Hou cleared his throat to regain his authority, his sharp eyes fixed on her once more.

"I called you here to discuss the matter of Qilin’s marriage. He is soon returning to the border, and if he continues to delay, how much longer will Yuelan have to wait? As his wife, instead of guiding him, you use deceitful tricks to seduce him into postponing the arrangements. If this continues, I will have you thrown out of this manor and divorced under the seven grounds for expulsion."Nie Shuang listened, her lips curling into a smile. She was quick-witted, already calculating in her mind how much she could extract from her father-in-law to make this worth her while.