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

When Lu Qingyan returned to the courtyard, it was already completely dark.

He lit the oil lamp and sat down at the table, but didn't immediately start reading. Yun Shuwei's words were still echoing in his mind: "Thank you for saving me, I'm sorry."

It's not easy for such a proud girl to say those words.

He poured himself a glass of water and drank it slowly. The water was cold, and as it went down his throat, it made him feel refreshed.

Today's meeting with the old Duke and Yun Shuwei appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, every step was fraught with danger. Every word the old Duke spoke was a test, and every glance from Yun Shuwei was scrutinizing. And he himself was also assessing the situation.

What would happen if I really married Yun Shuwei?

Being the son-in-law of the Duke's mansion sounds glamorous, but it's actually quite difficult. It's always been the case that daughters from high families marry into wealth, while wives from lower families marry into wealth. For a poor scholar like him to marry a daughter of the Duke's mansion might seem like a step up to outsiders, but within the mansion itself, he'd likely find it hard to hold his head high.

But if he doesn't marry Yun Shuwei, his life will be ruined. Neither remaining in the family temple for spiritual cultivation nor marrying anyone else is a good way out.

Moreover, the old Duke's meaning was already very clear—he had no choice but to accept this.

Lu Qingyan put down his water glass and walked into the courtyard. The night at the end of February was still cold. He looked up at the sky; the stars were sparse, and the moon was hidden behind the clouds.

He thought back to his past life. Back then, he was focused on his studies and didn't concern himself with romance. Colleagues introduced him to several women, but he politely declined them all. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he found it troublesome. Being alone and quiet was quite nice.

Now, things have gotten much better; they've skipped the dating and courtship phase and gone straight to discussing marriage.

He smiled bitterly.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.

When I opened the door, it was Zhang Zhiqing.

"Brother Lu!" Zhang Zhiqing slipped in, carrying a small wine pot. "I knew you weren't asleep yet."

The two entered the house. Zhang Zhiqing placed the wine pot on the table and took out two oil paper packets, one containing braised beef and the other containing peanuts.

"Where did it come from?" Lu Qingyan asked.

"I had someone bring this over." Zhang Zhiqing sat down. "I was thinking of you being alone, so I came to have a couple of drinks with you."

The liquor was ordinary spirits, strong and pungent. The two of them sipped it slowly, eating it with braised beef and peanuts.

"Brother Lu," Zhang Zhiqing took a sip of wine, "any news from the Duke's mansion?"

Lu Qingyan briefly recounted what had happened that day.

After listening, Zhang Zhiqing remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "That's for the best. Miss Yun isn't a bad person. She's just been spoiled."

"Do you know her?"

"I've met her a few times," Zhang Zhiqing said. "At the banquet at the Princess's residence, she was with Princess Lingyue. She was a bit blunt, but she didn't have any bad intentions."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Brother Lu, if it really works out, it might not be a bad thing. The Duke's family's social standing will be helpful to your career in the future. Although Miss Yun is spoiled, she is simple-minded and much better than those who are full of scheming."

Lu Qingyan didn't say anything, he just drank.

Zhang Zhiqing looked at him and suddenly asked, "Brother Lu, what do you think?"

"I don't know," Lu Qingyan said honestly. "This came so suddenly; I didn't expect it."

"Now think about it." Zhang Zhiqing poured him some wine. "If you pass the imperial examination, you'll at least become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) after the palace examination, and you'll have an official position. At that time, marrying a daughter of a Duke's family wouldn't be too outrageous."

He lowered his voice: "But if you don't pass, then you'll really have to rely on the Duke's mansion for support."

That's very true. Lu Qingyan nodded: "I know."

The two drank for a while longer. Zhang Zhiqing became more talkative, talking about his parents, the hardships of preparing for the exam, and his hopes for the future. By the end, his eyes were a little red.

"Brother Lu, what have we been studying so hard for over a decade?" he asked. "Isn't it all so that one day we can pass the imperial examinations with flying colors and bring glory to our ancestors?"

"Yes."

"Then you must seize the opportunity," Zhang Zhiqing said earnestly. "I know you are aloof and don't like to curry favor. But in this world, aloofness won't put food on the table. Miss Yun is a good girl, and the Duke's mansion is a good backer. Now that you've come across this opportunity, don't let it slip away."

Lu Qingyan looked at him and suddenly asked, "Brother Zhang, if you were in his shoes, what would you have done?"

Zhang Zhiqing was taken aback, then thought for a moment and said, "I will marry him."

Why?

"Because you like Miss Yun?"

Zhang Zhiqing shook his head: "Not entirely. It's also because it's a good road."

He spoke bluntly, even somewhat pragmatically. But Lu Qingyan understood.

For students from impoverished families, rising to prominence is incredibly difficult. The imperial examinations are one path, but even reaching the end requires patronage and connections. Otherwise, even if one passes the examinations and becomes a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), they will likely remain stuck at the bottom of society.

A family like the Duke's Mansion is an opportunity that many people would rather die for.

"I understand," Lu Qingyan said.

Zhang Zhiqing patted him on the shoulder: "Brother Lu, we're from the same hometown, that's why I said this. Think it over carefully."

After finishing his drink, Zhang Zhiqing said goodbye and left.

Lu Qingyan cleared away the dishes and sat under the lamp, lost in thought.

Zhang Zhiqing is right, this is a good path. It is for Yun Shuwei, and it is for him as well.

But he felt uneasy. It was as if he was being pushed along, being carried along, not choosing this path himself.

But then I thought, how many things in life are truly our own choices? In my past life, choosing a major and a job seemed free, but in reality, we were also influenced by various factors. Now that I've been transported to this world, I'm even less in control of my own destiny.

He blew out the light and lay down.

In the darkness, my thoughts became clearer.

Yun Shuwei's face, the old Duke's words, and Zhang Zhiqing's advice intertwined in her mind.

The final image is frozen on the shore of that lake. The icy water, the struggling figure—he didn't think of anything when he jumped in.

Perhaps this is fate.

What's meant to happen will happen, and what's meant to be borne will be borne.

At the same time, at the Qixia Courtyard of the Duke's Mansion.

Yun Shuwei didn't sleep either.

She sat by the window, holding the jade hairpin in her hand—the very one she had used for self-defense that day. The hairpin was cool to the touch and had a delicate feel.

Madam Wang came in and, seeing that she was still awake, sighed, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Mother," Yun Shu turned around slightly, "Lu Qingyan came today."

Wang sat down beside her: "You saw him?"

"Um."

"What did you say?"

Yun Shuwei recounted their conversation. When she got to the part where Lu Qingyan asked, "Are you willing?", her voice lowered.

Mrs. Wang listened quietly, and only after her daughter finished speaking did she ask, "So what do you think?"

"I don't know." Yun Shu lowered her head, fiddling with the jade hairpin. "Mother, do I really have to marry him?"

"Your father and grandfather have already made their decision." Madam Wang held her daughter's hand. "Weiwei, things have come to this point, there's no turning back."

"I know..." Yun Shu's eyes reddened slightly, "I just... I just feel wronged. Not wronged for marrying him, but wronged because why me? Why did they have to hurt me?"

Madam Wang hugged her daughter and gently patted her back: "Because you are the legitimate daughter, because your father loves you, because you are in the way of others."

She paused, then said, "Weiwei, in this world, just because you don't harm others doesn't mean they won't harm you. You'll have to be even more careful after you get married. Lu Qingyan... I think he's an upright person. But his family is poor, and if you marry into that family, your life will definitely be worse than it is now."

"I'm not afraid of hardship." Yun Shu raised her head slightly. "I'm just afraid... afraid he won't like me. Besides, I slapped him in public, making him lose face. I..."

Looking at her daughter, Wang felt a pang of sadness. This child had finally grown up and was beginning to think about these things.

"Life is something you have to live through," she said gently. "You may not like him now, and he may not like you back. But once you're married and spending every day together, feelings will gradually develop."

She recalled her own marriage into the Duke's mansion. It was also an arranged marriage, decided by her parents and a matchmaker. In the early days of their marriage, she and her husband treated each other with respect, and it was only after many years that they developed the affection they had for each other.

"Remember this," Wang said earnestly, "Once you're married, you're an adult. You must be filial to your parents-in-law, get along well with your sisters-in-law, and be considerate to your husband. You can no longer be as willful as you were at home."

Yun Shu nodded slightly and buried her face in her mother's arms.