Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter 28: Falsehood or Not

The mother and daughter’s expressions froze, glancing at each other with barely concealed anger. Especially Qin Fuluo, the mother-in-law—when had she ever endured such frustration? Yet, there was no choice. If they wanted to restore their household registration in the Inner City, Chen Changan was their only hope.

The beauty and rejuvenation dishes at Eight Immortals Residence, the city’s dazzling lights before the Inner City’s nightly curfew, the countless street food stalls, and those carefree outings with old friends—none of these existed in the Outer City.

Thus, gritting her teeth and forcing a smile, she said, “Ah, dear son-in-law, what do you mean ‘think it over’? Once our Inner City status is restored and you and Wanqiu have a boy or a girl, it will be so much better for the child’s future, won’t it?”

As if. What a sly old woman. I haven’t even so much as held Su Wanqiu’s hand—having a child is pure fantasy.

Pulling up a stool, Chen Changan crossed his legs and deliberately complained, “The tea’s a bit cold!”

“I’ll get a fresh pot!” Su Wanqing hurried off with unusual enthusiasm.

No sooner had she left than Su Qingtang, holding a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals, strode over with his honest, unassuming son-in-law, Zhu Jiawen.

Su Qingtang spoke earnestly, “If you help the Su family restore our Inner City registration, we’ll double your monthly stipend, add two more serving maids, and you’ll be allowed to participate in clan meetings—what do you think?”

He himself didn’t care much about the difference between Inner and Outer City status. Escaping death this time was already a miracle—what more could he ask? But he couldn’t resist Qin Fuluo’s persistent insistence.

Everyone knew Su Qingtang doted on his wife.

While his mother continued to massage Chen Changan’s shoulders, her face showed both shock and gratitude, as if all these promises were meant for her. After all, a son-in-law of humble status was rarely assigned personal maids, and participating in clan affairs was usually a privilege reserved for the eldest son.

Qin Fuluo arched her brows, muttering to herself, “With such concessions, surely you’ll agree now, Chen.”

Zhu Jiawen, the second son-in-law, bowed politely and then spoke with scholarly flourish, “As the saying goes, a man is born into this world to accomplish certain things and abstain from others. The Su family lacks male heirs; the future burdens fall to us.”

“Since you have both the energy and intent, you should act—for your father, for your mother. If today you are unfilial, who will care for them in old age? For the clan, if you do not seek its prosperity, who will uphold it in years to come?”

He might appear simple, but he was no fool. Moving to the Outer City meant that, even if a family member achieved the top scholar’s rank, with a father merely holding a minor post in Qingzhou, his career would hit a ceiling—at best, a second rank official. First rank or becoming a minister? Impossible.

Inner City registration was the prerequisite for rising through the ranks!

Chen Changan’s head ached as Zhu Jiawen launched into his scholarly rhetoric; the damage of his words felt greater than any physical threat. All he needed to say was, “Once the case is solved, the Su family’s Inner City status must be restored,” but instead he insisted on a long-winded lecture.

Ah, the curse of scholars!

Just as Chen Changan was about to answer, light footsteps approached. Soon, Su Wanqiu stood before him, her voice clear and melodious: “If you want to divorce, the fault is mine. Please, help us.”

Indeed, she would rather move to the Outer City to sever all ties with Yuan Yunfei, but for the sake of her family, that was selfish.

She was well aware how many people from the Outer City fought desperately to obtain Inner City registration. Seeing her mother and second sister so distressed over this matter, her heart softened.

And it wasn’t over yet. As her words faded, the white-robed swordsman Su Dingfeng appeared, extending two books and a talisman. “Here, for you.”

He didn’t say it outright, but his meaning was obvious—he hoped Chen Changan could use the investigation as an opportunity to help restore the family’s Inner City status.

As the eldest son of the Su family, raised in the Bashan Sword Sect, no matter how aloof he tried to appear, seeing his parents and sisters plead so earnestly still moved him.

Of course, he only gave gifts without mentioning the favor—his final show of stubbornness.

Well, well, Chen Changan thought—if even Su Dingfeng is involved, refusing now would probably mean facing the whole family’s wrath. Worse, if he dared say no, Su Dingfeng might draw his sword in anger, and the fate of the Princess’s palace guard dog would be his own.

Considering he had no roots in Chang’an, this might be the perfect opportunity to secure his place with the Su family.

First, he tucked the two books and talisman from Su Dingfeng into his robe. Then, nodding gravely to Su Wanqing and Zhu Jiawen, he offered a faint smile to his “wife” Su Wanqiu and arched his brow at Qin Fuluo. Finally, he turned to Su Qingtang:

“Father-in-law, I have one more request.”

“Speak!” Su Qingtang replied without hesitation.

Chen Changan said, “You mentioned allowing me to attend clan meetings, but that’s not enough. I want veto power at those meetings!”

Clan rules in ancient times were strict and inflexible—one never knew when the aunts and uncles might gather to discuss his fate. Best to be cautious.

Su Qingtang was taken aback. “What do you mean by veto power?”

“It means,” Chen Changan explained, “that for any decision the clan makes, if I disagree, it can’t be carried out.”

Su Qingtang’s eyes widened, his earlier magnanimity vanishing. The gathered children were equally speechless—this was essentially putting him on par with the family head.

The Su family might not be among the elite, but they were old Inner City residents—how could a son-in-law have such decisive authority?

“Oh, just say yes, husband!” Qin Fuluo coaxed in her most persuasive tone.

Su Qingtang waved his hand. “Alright, you have your veto power. But any decision you make must adhere to principle and morality.”

“Rest assured, that goes without saying!”

Chen Changan clapped hands with his father-in-law, solemnly sealed the agreement, cradled it like a treasure, kissed it, and patted his chest in assurance: “The day the case is solved is the day the Su family’s Inner City status is restored.”

Even as he spoke, an image flashed through his mind—a future clan banquet where some uncle slams the table, demanding the expulsion of the useless son-in-law, only for the latter to straighten his back and declare, “I veto your motion.”

How marvelous!

At Chen Changan’s promise, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Su Wanqiu deliberately stood off to the side, casting a peculiar glance at her contractual husband, feeling he wasn’t quite the same as before—though she couldn’t pinpoint the difference.

“Never mind. Once Yuan Yunfei comes of age and joins the army as required by Great Min law, the marriage can end.”

With a quiet sigh, she returned to her room. Qin Fuluo, so obsessed with Inner City status, fainted from excitement on the spot. Su Wanqing and Su Qingtang hurried to carry her to rest.

Su Dingfeng clapped the half-blind son-in-law on the shoulder but said nothing, then stomped off deliberately, each step echoing his irritation. One by one, the family retired to their rooms.

Since the Su family was secretly residing in the compound to avoid “official” detection, they dared not light any lamps.

Around midnight, in the dimness, Chen Changan groped his way through the corridors, mistakenly barging into the rooms of a changing maid and an amorous couple—Su Qingtang and Qin Fuluo—before finally reaching Su Dingfeng’s door. He knocked: “Brother-in-law, let me in!”

Tonight, as the family’s last hope, he was feeling bold.

“Get lost!” came the swordsman’s polite but firm reply from within.

Chen Changan, reluctant, protested, “We need to stick together. What if that mysterious person with his original spell comes after me?”

Silence from within.

He sighed, then recited mournfully, “You possess a fine blade, long locked away by mundane cares. One day, when the dust is gone, it will shine again… Such a pity. If I die, no one will ever know the rest of that verse.”

“Such a pity… such a pity…” He turned to leave.

Creak.

The door opened, and Su Dingfeng whispered conspiratorially, “Come in.”

Grinning, Chen Changan hurried inside. “Brother-in-law, does your Bashan sect—or was it Maoshan, Shushan, er, Bashan—have any techniques for sneaking somewhere unnoticed?”

“You mean, something like ‘Boundless’?” Su Dingfeng eyed him warily. “What are you plotting?”

Chen Changan grinned ruefully, “Don’t misunderstand. It’s for the investigation. I want to secretly check out the residence of Xu Hezi, the kingdom’s top painter, and see if I can find any leads.”

His initial examination of the headless corpse had led him to believe the victim was a calligrapher or painter—someone who spent their days seated, brush in hand. Coincidentally, two days before her death, Xiao Lian had recommended Xu Hezi to Princess Changning. It was hard not to be suspicious.

Su Dingfeng replied, “The Bashan Sword Sect has similar techniques.”

“Great! Please use them to take me to Xu Hezi’s place!” Chen Changan clapped with delight.

Su Dingfeng shook his head. “But I don’t know them.”

Chen Changan’s face fell, only to hear Su Dingfeng add, “But people like us, once we reach the Nascent Soul stage, can cultivate a Dao embryo and send our spirit wherever we wish.”

People like you? Chen Changan rolled his eyes. He recalled Ye Lin mentioning on the way to the Spring Cloud Pavilion that his brother-in-law was only at the mid-Innate stage—still a long way from Nascent Soul.

“Anyway, you’re not strong enough,” Su Dingfeng stated bluntly.

Su Dingfeng’s lips curled, clearly waiting for this moment. “But I can use a false realm.”

“A false realm? How?”

Seeing Chen Changan’s naïveté, Su Dingfeng raised his chin proudly. “The three things I just gave you—a manual on the Meridian Sword, an Innate physical technique, and the Chaos Clear Spirit Talisman.”

“By burning the Chaos Clear Spirit Talisman, I can temporarily elevate my cultivation to the Nascent Soul level, allowing me to project my spirit and see whatever you wish.”

Chen Changan’s eyes sparkled, but then Su Dingfeng added haughtily, “But using a false realm brings backlash, and is tantamount to crippling one’s foundation. I refuse!”

Chen Changan: “…”

If he weren’t outmatched, he’d have slapped him twice. With a stiff neck, he demanded, “Will you or not?”

Su Dingfeng retorted, “No, I won’t!”

“Will you?”

“I said no!”

“Alas, what a pity. You possess a fine blade, long locked away by mundane cares. One day, when the dust is gone, it will shine again… but the last half of the verse will never see the light of day!” Chen Changan lamented shamelessly.

Su Dingfeng twitched from head to toe, finally spitting out, “Fine… fine… I’ll do it!”