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

On the seventh day of the third month, Lu Qingyan went to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty.

The Hanlin Academy is located on the east side of the imperial city. Its entrance is not large, but the interior is a hidden world. The floor is paved with blue bricks, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the corridors are winding. The air is filled with the fragrance of ink and the smell of old books.

Lu Qingyan, dressed in the blue official robes of a seventh-rank compiler, handed over his visiting card at the door. The old gatekeeper took it, glanced at it, and said with a smile, "Lu Tanhua has arrived? Scholar Li instructed that this way please."

He was led to a guardhouse. Several people were already inside, all writing at their desks. Hearing the noise, they looked up.

"This is the newly arrived editor, Lu," the old clerk introduced. "This is scholar Li, the head of our Hanlin Academy."

Seated in the main seat was a man in his fifties with a refined and slender face; he was none other than Li Mubai, the top scholar in both the provincial and palace examinations. He was now a Hanlin Academy scholar, a fifth-rank official.

"This humble official, Lu Qingyan, greets Scholar Li." Lu Qingyan bowed respectfully.

Li Mubai put down his pen, looked him over for a moment, and nodded: "Sit down. Your seat is over there." He pointed to a desk by the window.

Lu Qingyan sat down as instructed. A writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were already prepared on the desk, along with a stack of files waiting to be organized.

"The duties at the Hanlin Academy are simple and straightforward, mainly involving organizing classics, compiling historical records, and drafting imperial edicts," Li Mubai said slowly. "As you are a third-place scholar, you should start as an editor according to custom. You are on duty from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. You have four days off per month."

"Your humble servant understands."

"I heard that the Emperor has granted you permission to get married in May and to take two months' leave?" Li Mubai asked.

"Yes. I plan to take leave in April to return to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors, and then return to the capital in May to get married."

Li Mubai nodded: "Okay. Finish your current tasks and hand them over to your colleagues before taking leave."

As they were talking, the door to the duty room was pushed open, and an official in his thirties, dressed in the robes of a sixth-rank official, entered. Lu Qingyan recognized him as Zhou Wenyuan, the second-place finisher in the palace examination, who was now a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.

When Zhou Wenyuan saw Lu Qingyan, his eyes flickered, and he cupped his hands and said, "Scholar Li."

"Zhou Xiuzhuan has arrived at just the right time," Li Mubai said. "This is the newly arrived Lu Xiuzhuan; please take good care of him in the future."

Zhou Wenyuan turned to Lu Qingyan, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth: "Lu Tanhua, I've long admired you."

"You're too kind, Zhou Xiuzhuan," Lu Qingyan said, rising to return the greeting.

"Please sit down." Zhou Wenyuan sat down at the lower end of the main seat. "I heard that Scholar Lu's remarks on 'using commerce to weaken the army' in the palace were quite brilliant. Even the Emperor praised them highly."

These words sounded like a compliment, but the tone was somewhat sarcastic. Lu Qingyan remained expressionless: "This humble official is merely stating his opinion."

"Even when you speak your mind, you must be mindful of your words." Zhou Wenyuan picked up a file. "The Hanlin Academy is a prestigious place; you must be careful in your words and actions. Don't cause trouble because of a momentary slip of the tongue."

Li Mubai frowned: "Zhou Xiuzhuan and Lu Bianxiu are newcomers, so just give them some pointers. There's no need to say more."

Zhou Wenyuan smiled and said, "I meant well." He then stood up and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

After he left, Li Mubai said, "Zhou Xiuzhuan's father is the Vice Minister of War. You understand what he meant, but don't take it to heart."

"Thank you for your guidance, Scholar Xie."

Li Mubai waved his hand: "Go do your work. Today, sort and classify these files by dynasty and year."

Lu Qingyan agreed and began to work.

The files were mostly memorials and documents from the previous dynasty, some of which were yellowed and brittle. He carefully opened them and sorted through them page by page. Some of the handwriting was messy and needed to be carefully deciphered; some of the content was obscure and required repeated consideration.

This job was tedious, but it was the best way to temper one's character. Lu Qingyan did it meticulously, marking each book carefully and putting them back in their proper places.

At noon, a servant brought food. It consisted of two dishes, a soup, and a bowl of rice—a fairly substantial meal. Lu Qingyan ate in his duty room and then continued working.

In the afternoon, Li Mubai went out. Only he and two other editors remained in the duty room. One, surnamed Wang, was in his forties, engrossed in writing and silent; the other, surnamed Chen, was in his early thirties, occasionally glancing up at him, hesitant to speak.

At the end of Shen Shi (3-5 PM), Lu Qingyan finished organizing the last volume and rubbed his sore wrists.

Editor Wang looked up and glanced at him: "Editor Lu is quite quick."

"I was just following the proper procedures."

Editor Wang nodded and said nothing more.

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), the bell rang to signal the end of the shift. Lu Qingyan packed his things and bid farewell to Li Mubai.

When he left the Hanlin Academy, it was still light. A gentle spring breeze caressed his face. He walked slowly along the palace wall, his mind still preoccupied with the contents of the documents.

Back in the courtyard, Zhang Zhiqing was already waiting at the door.

"Brother Lu!" Zhang Zhiqing greeted him. "How's it going? Is your assignment at the Hanlin Academy going smoothly?"

"It's alright." Lu Qingyan opened the door and let him in. "Just sorting through some old files."

The two sat down in the courtyard. Zhang Zhiqing said that he had inquired at the Ministry of Personnel today and found that most of those who had passed the imperial examinations were assigned to other places. He might be going to be the magistrate of a county in the south.

"The south is fine too, the climate is warmer," Lu Qingyan said, "it's just a bit far from home."

"Far away is better than no official position at all," Zhang Zhiqing sighed. "My father wrote to say that the family is overjoyed and wants to hold a three-day banquet."

The two talked for a while. Zhang Zhiqing asked about the wedding date, and Lu Qingyan said May 16th.

"That'll be soon." Zhang Zhiqing calculated the days. "A little over two months. When are you going to ask for leave to go home?"

"April, perhaps," Lu Qingyan said. "Let's get familiar with the duties at the Hanlin Academy first."

Just then, there was another knock on the courtyard gate. When they opened it, they saw a servant from the Yun family delivering a note.

"Master invites Young Master Lu to the mansion for dinner." The servant changed his address and called him "Young Master Lu."

Lu Qingyan took the invitation: "I'll change my clothes and then go."

The servant waited outside the courtyard. Zhang Zhiqing chuckled, "Brother Lu, you've become a 'son-in-law' quite quickly."

Lu Qingyan shook his head and went inside to change into casual clothes.

Upon arriving at the Yun residence, the meal was already laid out. Yun Chengzong and Madam Wang were both present, as was Yun Shuwei, who sat to the left of Madam Wang. She blushed slightly upon seeing him enter.

"Please sit down," Yun Chengzong said, gesturing to the seat beside him. "How was your day at the Hanlin Academy?"

Lu Qingyan explained briefly. When Zhou Wenyuan was mentioned, Yun Chengzong frowned: "That Zhou family brat is just like his father. You don't need to pay him any attention, just focus on your own work."

Wang picked up a piece of fish for him: "Eat more. The Hanlin Academy is a humble place, and the food is probably not as good as at home."

"Madam Xie."

Yun Shuwei glanced at him secretly, but when she saw him looking over, she quickly lowered her head and ate her food.

After the meal, Yun Chengzong called him to his study.

"Has Scholar Li granted your leave request?" Yun Chengzong asked.

"Granted. I plan to take leave in early April."

"Hmm." Yun Chengzong took an envelope from the drawer. "This is a five-hundred-tael silver note. Take it with you. You'll need money for ancestral worship and betrothal gifts when you return to your hometown."

Lu Qingyan was taken aback: "This..."

"Take it." Yun Chengzong brooked no refusal. "You are now the son-in-law of the Yun family, so you can't be too stingy. I will have the betrothal gifts prepared, but you yourself must also show your appreciation."

Lu Qingyan accepted the silver note: "Thank you, Your Highness."

"There's one more thing," Yun Chengzong said, looking at him. "After the marriage, will you live in the Duke's mansion, or will you find another place to stay?"

Lu Qingyan thought for a moment and said, "This humble official would like to find another small courtyard."

Yun Chengzong nodded: "Alright. I'll have someone find a quiet place near the Hanlin Academy. The rent will be paid by the government."

"this……"

"Don't refuse." Yun Chengzong waved his hand. "The Yun family has some dignity when it comes to marrying off a daughter."

After leaving the study, Yun Shuwei was waiting in the corridor.

"I'll take you," she said.

The two walked out side by side. The moonlight was beautiful, shining on the courtyard like a layer of silver frost.

"Lu Qingyan," Yun Shu asked softly, "Is the Hanlin Academy tiring?"

"Not tired," Lu Qingyan said. "It's just sorting through some old documents."

"I heard..." she hesitated for a moment, "that Zhou Xiuzhuan made things difficult for you?"

"No." Lu Qingyan glanced at her. "Who told you that?"

"That's what my father said." Yun Shu pursed her lips slightly. "Don't be afraid, my father will protect you."

Lu Qingyan smiled: "I'm not afraid."

As they reached the door, Yun Shuwei took out a small pouch from her sleeve: "Here, take this. It contains some invigorating spices. If you get tired from reading or writing, just smell it."

The purse is light blue and embroidered with a few small magnolia flowers.

Lu Qingyan accepted it: "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Yun Shu lowered her head slightly. "Take care on your journey."

As Lu Qingyan walked out of the Yun residence, he held the purse that was still warm from her touch, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

Back in the courtyard, he sat under the lamp, looking at the five hundred taels of silver notes.

What should I buy for the family? Clothes for my parents, gifts for my brother and sister-in-law, snacks for my nephews and nieces...

There are also betrothal gifts. Although the Yun family is responsible for preparing them, he should also prepare some gifts himself.

He spread out the paper and began to make a list.