Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Twelve: Brother-in-law

Everyone in the courtyard, including Su Wanqiu, turned their heads at the sound.

Mother-in-law Qin Fuluo, moved by emotion, rushed to the doorway, peering anxiously outside. Not seeing the person she hoped for, she glared at Chen Chang'an, demanding, "How come you returned alone? Where is the master, where is he?"

Chen Chang'an answered casually, "Oh, Su—my father-in-law got heatstroke from the summer heat and hasn't woken yet. He’ll be back after the record is finished."

"That’s good, that’s good!" Qin Fuluo patted her chest, calming her nerves. Then, eyeing Chen Chang'an up and down, she couldn’t help but curse, "The master is still in prison, yet you came back alone and even went off to drink—what use is a son-in-law like you?"

Her anger flared, beauty marred by rage, as she shrieked, "When the master returns, I'll have him write you a divorce letter and throw you out of the family!"

Yuan Yunfei sneered, "Hmph, Chen Chang'an, a blind man like you is not worthy of Wanqiu. You’d better get out of the Su family. My General’s Mansion could use a gatekeeper; I might arrange something for you."

Chen Chang'an recognized the man’s identity and replied, regretful, "Even if I’m cast out, you won’t marry Wanqiu. Don’t dream such foolish dreams."

At the side, Su Wanqing stomped her feet and scolded, "Chen Chang'an, if not for Young Master Yuan’s efforts to find Princess Changning, would you have left prison alive? How dare you speak to your benefactor like this, you ungrateful wretch!"

What nonsense? Him? Chen Chang'an couldn’t help but chuckle, "Princess Changning did indeed return safely to the palace, and the Su family was pardoned, but it had nothing to do with Yuan Yunfei. I found her."

"What did you say, you found her? Chen Chang'an, did you get your head caught in a door?" Yuan Yunfei rubbed his ears, as if hearing the most ridiculous joke in the world.

Qin Fuluo and Su Wanqing exchanged bewildered looks, their mouths agape enough to fit two eggs, dazed for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Su Wanqiu, in the distance, her lovely lips curved into a subtle check mark, showed slight displeasure, though only that.

"Chen Chang'an, do you realize the three bureaus searched for two days without progress after Princess Changning disappeared? How could a blind man like you find her? Even a dog would be more useful," Yuan Yunfei scoffed.

Su Wanqing snorted coldly, "He must have gone mad on the execution platform. Mother, you must drive him out of the Su family, or else people will laugh at us."

Qin Fuluo nodded in agreement, "Yes, to claim before Young Master Yuan that he found the princess—I've never seen such shamelessness."

As they quarreled, the sound of armor clinking rang out once more. Two rows of Imperial Guards entered the Su residence, flanking the central path. In the middle, a refined, white-haired old eunuch, swaying his hips, walked in.

A sharp voice rang out, "The Su family, receive the imperial decree!"

"Oh, yes, yes!"

"Hurry, kneel!"

Qin Fuluo was the first to react, signaling to her two daughters. Su Wanqiu finally lifted her skirts and ran over, while Yuan Yunfei, born in a military household, needed no prompting and understood the ritual.

Chen Chang'an rolled his eyes, feigning the manner of a blind man, and knelt with ease beneath the lush camphor tree in the courtyard.

Is this Chen Chang'an? The old eunuch pondered silently, but said nothing and began to read aloud: "By the mandate of Heaven, and the decree of Her Majesty the Empress: Former Captain of the Royal Guard, Su Qingtang, failed to protect the imperial carriage, resulting in Princess Changning falling into the hands of bandits. Punishment had been decided!"

"However, the Su family's son-in-law, Chen Chang'an, assisted the three bureaus in locating Princess Changning. His merit offsets the guilt; thus, the family’s prior crime is pardoned, demoted from the Inner City to the Outer City. So decreed."

Finishing the proclamation, the old eunuch bowed, hands extended, holding the posture for a moment before scolding, "Why are you standing there? Receive the decree!"

"Yes, yes, kneel... Kneel and thank Her Majesty for her boundless grace."

Qin Fuluo, hands trembling, accepted the decree, her breath unsteady. Her gaze met Su Wanqing, Su Wanqiu, and Yuan Yunfei; all were shocked, veins throbbing on their foreheads.

Su Wanqing gazed, stunned, at Yuan Yunfei, "Young Master Yuan, didn’t you find Princess Changning? How did it become Chen Chang'an?"

Yuan Yunfei said nothing, grinding his teeth audibly.

Receiving no answer, Su Wanqing pressed, "Young Master Yuan, did you pity Chen Chang'an and deliberately let him claim the credit? How could a blind man possibly accomplish this?"

Yuan Yunfei stopped grinding his teeth and instead began to tremble.

"Speak, Young Master Yuan! What’s going on? Did the officials make a mistake or write the wrong name? Chen Chang'an can't steal your credit!" Su Wanqing persisted.

With a dull thud, Yuan Yunfei fainted on the spot.

Su Wanqiu, her brows arched in thought, allowed herself a gentle smile.

The old eunuch remarked, "Why, the son of General Yuan is also here. The summer sun is strong; he must have fainted from heatstroke. Come, send Young Master Yuan back to the General’s Mansion."

Then he addressed Qin Fuluo, "This time, your family survived solely thanks to your son-in-law, Chen Chang'an. With such a good son-in-law, you need not worry. I take my leave!"

He turned to step over the threshold, when suddenly from the sky came the clear, sharp sound of sword singing. The wind stirred from all sides as someone shouted, "The court is muddled, the officials are fools! I shall stand against you forever!"

In the lingering echoes, a figure in white, trailing afterimages, appeared before the old eunuch, sword raised and pointed at him. "You filthy, castrated wretch! How dare you threaten my family? Today, I’ll take your head!"

Chen Chang'an was stunned, clutching the camphor tree tightly.

Qin Fuluo and her daughters looked closely—it was the eldest son, Su Dingfeng.

Su Dingfeng, the eldest of the Su family, was clever from youth, famed as a prodigy. At seven, he caught the eye of Zhen Ziping, the master of Bashan Sword Sect, who took him up the mountain to train. Ten years had passed since.

If not for the white robes, hand-stitched by Qin Fuluo a few months ago and sent by courier to Bashan Sword Sect, she might not have recognized him.

Qin Fuluo hurried forward, "Feng’er, what are you doing? Don’t be disrespectful to the eunuch."

"Hmph!"

Su Dingfeng lifted his head in pride, his sword aimed half an inch from the old eunuch’s throat. "Mother, don’t deceive me. I know all that’s happened at home. Luckily, I arrived in time."

"At seven I followed my master to study swordsmanship. By ten I had achieved skill; at thirteen I challenged the world; at fifteen I rose to the summit of Bashan Sword Sect’s young swordsmen. Now I am of age—if I cannot protect my family, I am ashamed of my sword and unworthy as a son."

"Oh dear!"

Qin Fuluo’s cheeks flushed with anger, scolding, "Feng’er, you… the eunuch is here to deliver a decree. The Su family has been pardoned. Put your sword away!"

"Not… not here to arrest us?" The white-robed swordsman’s lips twisted, and his sword arm slackened.

Qin Fuluo snapped, "Arrest whom? I told you, he’s here to announce the pardon. Put your sword away, do you hear?"

"Ah..."

Su Dingfeng, standing proud, wavered, letting his iron sword clatter to the ground. He gazed at the old eunuch, lips trembling, "Her Majesty is wise, the court is bright, the eunuch… long live!"

From inside out, he was utterly hopeless. Practicing sword in the bamboo grove at noon, he’d received word from his junior of trouble at home; he flew on his sword for a thousand miles, only to find… only to find…

Qin Fuluo hurriedly apologized, "Eunuch, forgive us, forgive us, my son didn’t mean it. It’s a misunderstanding!"

"Bah, brat!"

The old eunuch trembled with fury, spat, and left with a sweep of his sleeves.

Su Wanqing and Su Wanqiu breathed a long sigh of relief.

The maids and servants in the courtyard all patted their chests, feeling at ease, though someone muttered, "Did the decree just say we’re being demoted to the Outer City?"

"What? ‘The court is muddled, the officials are fools! I, Su Dingfeng, will stand against you forever!’"

Hearing this, the white-robed swordsman raised his brows, sword in hand, about to chase after.

"Stop right there!" Qin Fuluo, without hesitation, swung her tiny golden lotus feet and kicked her son, sending him sprawling.

In the center of the courtyard, Chen Chang'an, still clinging to the camphor tree, wore a face of shifting emotions, inexplicably anxious, his legs nearly breaking the trunk. Oh heavens, must I call this one ‘brother-in-law’? Bah, no need!