A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

When Yun Shuwei was sent back to the Duke's mansion, she was already in a daze.

The doctor came and said it was because the cold had entered the body and the girl had been frightened. He prescribed a remedy to dispel the cold and calm the nerves. Wang stayed by her daughter's bedside, looking at her pale face, her heart felt like it was being ripped out by a knife.

Inside the main courtyard, the atmosphere was colder than the weather in December.

The old Duke Yun Zhenshan sat in his armchair, his face ashen. He was sixty-eight years old, his hair was gray, but his back was straight, and his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. Standing below him was his son, Yun Chengzong, with his head bowed, not daring to utter a sound.

"Have you found out?" The old duke's voice wasn't loud, but it was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"We've found out." Yun Chengzong said in a low voice, "That maid was a cleaner in the outer courtyard and had been in the mansion for less than half a year. She said that a woman wearing a veiled hat gave her twenty taels of silver and asked her to lead Weiwei to the lake... As for who pushed her, she didn't see it. She panicked and ran away."

"Didn't you see it?" The old Duke sneered. "You think you didn't see it? A mere sweeping maid dares to plot against her master? Without someone directing her, would she dare?"

Sweat beaded on Yun Chengzong's forehead: "My son has already sent people to investigate that woman."

"Investigate? What good will it do if we find out?" the old duke interrupted him. "Last time it was bandits, this time it's drowning. Time and time again! This is going to kill Weiwei!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup rattle loudly: "Has my Yun family fallen into ruin, or is it all extinct? That a mere girl can repeatedly scheme against my own granddaughter?"

Yun Chengzong knelt down: "It is my incompetence."

The old Duke closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his gaze as cold as ice: "That scholar who saved people, his name is Lu Qingyan?"

"He is a candidate from Yongning Prefecture, nineteen years old this year, and ranked seventh in last year's provincial examination."

"Investigate him."

Yun Chengzong was taken aback: "Father, that scholar should just be passing by."

"Just passing by?" The old duke stared at his son. "Once is just passing by, twice is still just passing by? What a coincidence!"

"But Weiwei slapped him in public that day and said those things..." Yun Chengzong hesitated, "If it really was his doing, how could it be..."

"A self-inflicted injury scheme!" the old Duke exclaimed sternly. "He's just a poor scholar, driven mad by his desire to marry into a wealthy family! First, he plotted to save someone, then he made Weiwei misunderstand, causing a huge scandal. And in the end? Weiwei's reputation is ruined. Who else can she marry besides him?"

Yun Chengzong's expression changed: "Father, are you saying..."

"My Yun family's daughter, no matter what, cannot marry a scheming, poor scholar!" The old Duke's voice was fierce. "Investigate, investigate thoroughly. Who has he seen these days, who has he been associating with, where has the money come from? Find out everything!"

"Yes," Yun Chengzong replied, but still hesitated, "Father, what if the investigation reveals he is truly innocent?"

The old Duke remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Does it matter whether I'm innocent or not?"

Yun Chengzong was stunned.

"How many people saw it at today's poetry gathering? Weiwei fell into the water, and he saved her. In full view of everyone, the two of them had physical intimacy." The old Duke's voice grew weary. "Weiwei's reputation was already damaged last time, and this time it's completely ruined."

He looked at his son: "Tell me, which respectable family in the capital would want a woman who fell into the water in public and was rescued by another man as their daughter-in-law?"

Yun Chengzong opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"If that scholar is innocent..." the old Duke sighed deeply, "then it can only be him."

"Father!" Yun Chengzong cried out anxiously, "Wanwan is still young, we can wait two more years, until things calm down..."

"Wait?" The old Duke shook his head. "We can't wait. The spring imperial concubine selection is just around the corner, and with Weiwei's condition, entering the palace is out of the question. If she stays at home, the rumors will only get worse. By then, I'm afraid even ordinary families won't want to marry her."

He stood up and walked to the window. Snow began to fall again outside, swirling and fluttering.

"Chengzong, remember this." The old Duke, his back to his son, spoke in a hoarse voice, "For a family like ours, reputation is more important than life. Weiwei is my own granddaughter, and I love her dearly. But I cannot gamble the reputation of the entire Duke's mansion for her sake."

Yun Chengzong knelt on the ground, his fingers digging into the cracks between the floor tiles.

"If that scholar is truly innocent..." The old Duke turned around, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "then give Weiwei a larger dowry, a more generous one. If that scholar is sensible, he can help her in the future. It's better than letting Weiwei live a life of seclusion or marry just anyone."

These words were like the final blow, shattering any lingering hope in Yun Chengzong's heart.

He kowtowed, his voice hoarse: "Son understands."

After leaving the main courtyard, Yun Chengzong did not return to his own courtyard, but went directly to Wang Shi's place.

Yun Shuwei had already gone to sleep. Madam Wang sat in the outer room, her eyes red and swollen. Seeing him enter, she quickly stood up: "What did Father say?"

Yun Chengzong looked at his wife, his throat tightening. Wang had been with him for twenty years, bearing him two sons and a daughter, but Weiwei was his favorite. How could he possibly say such a thing?

"Speak up!" Wang said urgently.

Yun Chengzong closed his eyes and repeated his father's words. When he said the last sentence, "She has to marry whether she wants to or not," Wang swayed and grabbed the table for support.

"No..." She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, Weiwei can't marry such a man, it's a living hell, Master!"

"I know," Yun Chengzong said in a hoarse voice, "but Father is right, Weiwei's reputation is ruined. So many eyes were watching at the poetry gathering today. She fell into the water, that scholar saved her, and the two had physical intimacy. This can't be covered up."

"But what if that scholar was setting this up?" Wang grabbed her husband's sleeve. "What if he did it on purpose..."

"My father asked me to investigate." Yun Chengzong grasped his wife's hand. "If it's found that he orchestrated it, there will be ways to deal with it. But what if it's found that he's innocent?"

Wang was stunned.

"If he's innocent..." Yun Chengzong smiled bitterly, "Weiwei will have no choice but to marry him."

"I won't agree!" Madam Wang shook off his hand. "I only have one daughter. I've doted on her since she was little, teaching her everything from music and calligraphy to needlework and housekeeping. She deserves to marry someone of equal social standing, to be a respectable and proper wife. How can she marry a poor scholar?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice trembling: "Master, please think of something. Please beg Father. Weiwei is still young. Let's wait... wait until things calm down, wait..."

"We can't wait any longer." Yun Chengzong interrupted her, his eyes filled with exhaustion. "The spring selection of officials is approaching, and all the mansions are watching closely. Weiwei's condition can't be allowed to stay."

Wang slumped into a chair, covered her face, and began to cry in suppressed sobs.

Yun Chengzong squatted down and hugged his wife: "Don't worry, if it really is that scholar, I won't mistreat Weiwei. I'll give her the most generous dowry, and prepare land and shops for her. If that scholar is sensible, I can also help him in the future. In any case, I won't let Weiwei suffer."

"What's the use..." Wang cried, "How much suffering she must be in..."

The snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, covering everything in the courtyard.

Inside the room, Yun Shuwei wasn't actually asleep. She kept her eyes closed, listening to her parents' conversation in the outer room, tears streaming down her face and soaking her pillow.

When she slapped him, she truly hated him. She hated that this person had ruined her, she hated that this person had schemed against her.

But now...

She remembered the hands that caught her when she jumped into the water. She remembered his lips, purple with cold, when she climbed ashore. She remembered his bewildered yet calm gaze when she hit him.

If it weren't for him, she might be dead.

Yun Shuwei turned over and buried her face in the blanket.

Outside, Wang's sobs gradually subsided. Yun Chengzong was whispering something, as if trying to comfort her.