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

Just as dawn was breaking, the snow stopped sometime earlier.

When Yun Shu opened her eyes slightly, it was still dark inside the tent. She lay there motionless, listening to the very faint footsteps outside—it was Cui'er stirring the charcoal brazier, the sparks crackling twice. Her throat was dry, and her head felt heavy. She slowly sat up, the blanket slipping down to her waist, and a chill crept in.

"Miss is awake?" Cui'er heard the noise and came in carrying a copper basin, the rim of which was still steaming. "Please get up slowly, you had a fever for half the night yesterday."

The water was lukewarm, but when she put the handkerchief on her face, she realized her cheeks were burning hot. Yun Shu looked at the person in the mirror; her eyes were dark circles and her lips were dry and chapped. She tugged at the corners of her mouth, and the person in the mirror moved accordingly, her smile looking more like a grimace.

Footsteps came from outside, the curtain was lifted, and Madam Wang entered.

"Mother," Yun Shu called out in a slightly hoarse voice.

Wang didn't answer, but went to the bedside and touched her forehead. Her palm was warm and dry, and she lingered on the burning skin for a moment before moving away. "Still burning up," she said, turning to Cui'er. "Go and bring the medicine that's keeping warm on the stove."

Only the mother and daughter remained in the room. Wang sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on her daughter: "Are you still feeling unwell?"

"I don't feel bad anymore," Yun Shu shook her head slightly.

The mother and daughter remained silent for a moment. The light outside the window gradually brightened, reflecting off the snow, making the room seem even darker.

"Weiwei," Wang finally spoke, her voice a little hoarse, "did you hear what your father said last night?"

Yun Shu lowered her head slightly, her fingers twisting the corner of the blanket.

"If you're unwilling, Mother will think of another way." Madam Wang held her daughter's hand. "There are always other options."

"What path?" Yun Shu raised her head slightly, her eyes red. "A life of quiet contemplation and Buddhist practice? Or just marrying anyone and spending the rest of my days in obscurity?"

Wang opened her mouth, but could not utter a word.

"Mother, I'm not stupid," Yun Shuwei said softly. "I know how important reputation is to a woman. What happened last time could be explained away, but this time, in front of everyone, I fell into the water, he saved me, and we had physical intimacy. If word gets out, which family would dare to take me in?"

She paused, tears welling up in her eyes: "Even if someone dares to take me, it's because of the Duke's family's status, not because of me. If I marry into that family, I'll just be at their mercy and be manipulated by them."

Wang's tears also fell as she tightly hugged her daughter, saying, "Why is my Weiwei's life so miserable?"

Yun Shu leaned on her mother's shoulder, cried for a while, and then slowly stopped. She wiped her tears and sat up straight: "Mother, did Father investigate that Lu Qingyan?"

"I've investigated," Madam Wang nodded. "I sent people there last night. If he really did orchestrate this, your father will not let him off easily."

"What if not?"

Looking at her daughter, Madam Wang's eyes were filled with complex emotions: "If it weren't for your father's intention to prepare a larger dowry for you, that scholar, if he were sensible, could have helped you in the future. In any case, you wouldn't have suffered."

Yun Shuwei remained silent for a long time.

"I want to see him," she suddenly said.

Wang was taken aback: "Who?"

"Lu Qingyan," Yun Shu glanced out the window, "there are some things I want to ask you face to face."

"How can this be!" Madam Wang exclaimed anxiously. "You are an unmarried young lady; how can you meet with men outside your marriage?"

"So what if I see him?" Yun Shu smiled bitterly. "My reputation is already ruined anyway."

Wang was about to persuade her further when Yun Shuwei grabbed her hand: "Mother, I'm not being stubborn. I just want to know... to know what really happened that day. If I really wronged him..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Wang understood.

This child is holding something in their heart, harboring grievances and guilt. If it's not resolved, it might make them sick.

"I'll discuss it with your father," Wang sighed. "You should focus on recovering first. This can't be rushed."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Yun Chengzong lifted the curtain and came in, his face tired, but his eyes were deep.

"Father." Yun Shuwei was about to get up.

"Lie down." Yun Chengzong sat down on the chair beside the bed, looked at his daughter, then at his wife, "I've checked."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly asked, "How is it?"

"Lu Qingyan is from Yongning Prefecture, and he is nineteen years old this year. His parents are farmers, and he is the third of three brothers. He ranked seventh in the provincial examination last year." Yun Chengzong spoke quickly, "After arriving in the capital, he stayed at the Yuelai Inn in Juzi Lane in the south of the city. He slept in a large dormitory and earned forty coins a day. Besides studying, he usually went to bookstores to copy books to earn money. Occasionally, he also wrote storybooks. The manager of Yawen Bookstore recognized him and said that his writing was quite good."

He paused for a moment: "Yesterday's poetry gathering was attended by a fellow townsman who had passed the imperial examinations. He stayed in the warm pavilion for less than fifteen minutes before coming out, saying that he felt stuffy in the crowd. He was taking a walk in the garden when he heard cries for help and ran over."

Wang pressed further, "What about before? Did anyone see him in contact with anyone?"

"No." Yun Chengzong shook his head. "I've asked the innkeeper and the other scholars staying with him. This man is usually quiet. Besides studying and copying books, he goes to bookstores or the prefectural school. I haven't seen him associate with any special people."

The room fell silent.

Yun Shu listened, her fingers slowly tightening. A dormitory-style room, forty coins a day, earning money by copying books—these words didn't seem to match her understanding of "scheming to climb the social ladder."

"So..." her voice was dry, "he's innocent?"

Yun Chengzong did not answer directly, but only said, "At least, no problems can be found."

Wang became anxious: "So that means Weiwei really wants to..."

"Father has already made the decision," Su Chengzong interrupted her. "If no problems are found, the decision will be made in the spring."

He looked at his daughter: "Weiwei, I know you're being wronged. But if that scholar is truly a reliable and hardworking man, he might be a good match. I'll prepare a generous dowry for you. If he treats you well, I can help him in the future. If he doesn't treat you well..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the ruthlessness in his eyes said it all.

Yun Shu lowered her head slightly and said after a long while, "Father, I want to see him."

Yun Chengzong frowned: "Nonsense."

"I'm not being ridiculous." Yun Shu raised her head slightly, her eyes firm. "There are some things I want to ask him face to face. If I really wronged him, I have to pay for this slap."

She spoke the last few words very softly, but very earnestly.

Looking at his daughter, Yun Chengzong suddenly felt that the child had grown up overnight. She was no longer the little girl who would whine and throw tantrums, but had her own thoughts and convictions.

He looked at Madam Wang. Madam Wang nodded gently.

"Let me think about it." Yun Chengzong stood up. "You should rest and recover first. We can discuss this matter in due course."

He stepped out of the house and stood on the porch. The air after the snow was crisp and pungent, and icicles dripped from the eaves, melting away.

In the distance, laughter could be faintly heard from Aunt Liu's courtyard; it was Yun Yao teasing the parrot under the eaves. The laughter was crisp and cheerful, a world apart from the oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard.

Yun Chengzong narrowed his eyes, and his hand in his sleeve slowly clenched.

Some scores need to be settled.

But he first needs to figure out whether that scholar named Lu Qingyan is worthy of his daughter entrusting her life to.