Chapter 26: Astonishing the Four! The Good Daughter-in-law, Mulan!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It was impossible to describe the shock that Zhang Boyan was feeling at this moment with words.
He might not have met this Shen Lang before, but he had indeed heard of him many times. He was supposed to be a complete moron with inferior intellect.
No one present could recognize the small seal he had written, but Shen Lang could. Not only did he know its meaning, he even knew how to pronounce it.
This... this was too strange.
Yan Xiong guffawed on the side. “Teacher, he’s making it up, isn’t he?”
Everyone’s gaze landed on Zhang Boyan.
He really wanted to deny Shen Lang’s answer, claiming that it was wrong when it was actually correct.
That way, no one could do anything about him, and no one would be able to seek justice back for Shen Lang.
However, he wasn’t the only person who excavated this stone tablet back then. Two other highly respected people were also with him. The meaning of this character ‘￥’ was affirmed when they had analyzed the contents of the inscription together.
Thus, if he denied Shen Lang’s answer before everyone today, he might be slapping his own face in the future, ah! When that happened, his reputation would crumble completely.
All for a mere Shen Lang... It was not worth taking such a huge risk.
After seeing his teacher’s expression, Yan Xiong noticed that something was wrong and changed his tone, “Teacher, Shen Lang is making things up, right? He doesn’t know the meaning of this character, right?”
The tone of this student was clear; he was trying to make his teacher invert the truth.
Zhang Boyan gave Yan Xiong a cold glare before laughing, “Student Shen is truly well-versed in words! To be able to recognize a character as unfamiliar as this and know how to read it. Truly the younger generations will surpass us in time, ah!”
The moment this was said, everyone present became stunned!
Shen Lang was this impressive?!
Not a single person present could recognize the character that Zhang Boyan had written! This legendary moron, Shen Lang, could understand and even read it out loud?
Wasn’t he an ignorant, incompetent, and useless person?
Why was he this impressive?
Shen Lang looked at Yan Xiong and said, “Brother Yan, you had said it yourself in front of everyone, if I win, you’d slap yourself. You’re a scholar, the most promising figure of Hanshui Town College, you wouldn’t go back on your words, would you?”
Thus, everyone’s gaze went onto Yan Xiong. Although everyone wanted to see Shen Lang being humiliated, it would also be interesting to see Scholar Yan Xiong slap his face. Who said people were inherently kind?
Had this been in private, Yan Xiong could go back on his words, but everyone’s gaze was locked on his face, especially the Earl of Xuanwu. Despite his smile, his gaze was a little cold.
“Shen Lang, you win! I will remember this day!” Yan Xiong said coldly, and then he gave himself a tight slap in the face.
“Pak!”
A crisp sound rang out!
This scholar Yan Xiong sincerely hit himself with great strength. Perhaps he was hitting himself as if he was hitting Shen Lang?
Shen Lang felt thrilled after hearing the sound.
“Farewell!” Yan Xiong no longer had any face left in him to remain there, so he went away with anger.
At this moment, the Earl of Xuanwu said, “Shen Lang, you should bring Mulan to pay your respects to your parents.”
“Let the banquet begin!”
With this command, they served all sorts of delicacies, and everyone returned to their seats.
It was a pity; there was one more person who didn’t get to witness the scenario today.
It was the chief registrar of Xuanwu City, Wang Lian, Shen Lang’s love rival.
He was the most promising candidate. After failing to be chosen as Mulan’s husband, he couldn’t even come and attend the wedding ceremony tonight.
***
Shen Lang brought Jin Mulan and headed to the courtyard to greet his parents.
“Wait!” Zhu Lin suddenly shouted.
This was a real prominent figure. If Zhu Lin wanted to make things difficult for Shen Lang, the Earl of Xuanwu would really be troubled.
Zhu Lin looked at Shen Lang and said, “Lad, you’re interesting. I have remembered you.”
This was not a threat, but it seemed like one. To have the attention of a prominent figure from the Zhu Family wasn’t a good thing.
“Many thanks to Sir Zhu for your favor,” Shen Lang bowed and said as if he didn’t understand what was said.
“Hahaha...” Zhu Lin laughed.
The Earl of Xuanwu said, “Hurry and go pay your respects to your parents. Don’t let the elders wait too long.”
“Yes, father-in-law,” Shen Lang replied.
“Shameless!” Every single youth exclaimed in unison.
“Shen Lang, you calling ‘father-in-law’ in such a hurry is truly shameless!”
***
Shen Lang’s parents felt that their background and statuses were too low, so they weren’t willing to appear in the hall. The Palace of the Earl of Xuanwu had prepared brocade items of clothing for them, but they were still unwilling to wear them. They only wore their own garments, which were made several years ago for the New Year; they rarely wore it, so it was still quite new.
Shen Jian, the younger brother, wanted to wear the silk garments the Palace of the Earl had given, but his father stopped him.
Both father and mother sat on their own seats with significant reservations, feeling extremely uncomfortable from head to toe. They only wished to hurry back home even if it was just a thatched hut.
Shen Wan’s lungs were still inflamed, but he forced himself to not cough.
When Shen Lang brought Jin Mulan into the courtyard, he instantly knelt down and greeted, “Greetings father and mother, this son has been unfilial!”
Shen Lang’s mother instantly rushed forward to help Shen Lang up, but she didn’t expect Jin Mulan to also go on her knees to greet, “Your daughter-in-law greets father and mother-in-law.”
Instantly, Shen Lang’s entire family became stunned.
This Jin Mulan was the princess of Xuanwu City, ah! The lady of an aristocrat, ah! To kneel down and greet Shen Lang’s parents, who were lowly farmers, without any unwillingness in her face...
Instantly, Shen Lang’s favorable impression of her was about to escalate even further beyond.
“You shouldn’t... shouldn’t...” Shen Lang’s mother immediately wanted to help Jin Mulan up, but upon seeing her gorgeous, porcelain-like beauty, she retracted her hands.
Since she did farm work all year round, her hands were rough and blackened. Even if they were washed, it still looked like there was dirt on it, so she didn’t even dare to touch Jin Mulan.
Then, Jin Mulan got up and held the palms of Shen Lang’s mother. She said in a gentle voice, “Thank you, mother-in-law.”
Instantly, Shen Lang’s parents looked at Jin Mulan with gentleness in their eyes.
This was a good lady. At least, she wouldn’t bully Shen Lang.
“Come, let us toast to father-in-law and mother-in-law,” Jin Mulan said, “father-in-law’s body isn’t well; is it alright if we replace it using sweet rice wine instead?”
“Yes, Yes...” Shen Lang’s father said.
Jin Mulan poured wine for the two old folks. Then, she and Shen Lang paid their respects to her father-in-law and mother-in-law with a toast.
Shen Lang’s parents felt a little tipsy the moment the wine entered their mouths.
Shen Jian drank the sweet rice wine impatiently. Seeing how gentle Jin Mulan was, he couldn’t help but say, “Sister-in-law, you’re gorgeous.”
Instantly, Shen Lang’s father wanted to send a slap over.
“Thank you,” Jin Mulan replied gently. Then, she glanced over at Shen Lang and said, “You must have things to say to father and mother. I’ll head out to entertain the guests first.”
“Sure,” said Shen Lang.
When Jin Mulan left, it was as if the air wholly relaxed, so his parents also eased.
Although she was extremely gentle and polite to his parents, she was still the daughter of the Palace of the Earl. Shen Lang’s parents would still feel inferior when facing her no matter what.
Shen Lang said, “Father, Mother, I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed you.”
His father and mother had always hoped that he would not marry into the wife’s family, be it the Xu Family or the Palace of the Earl.
The status of a son-in-law was too low. It was just a little higher than the servants. If he couldn’t get the fancy of the wife’s family, he would be worse than a servant.
His parents had always hoped for Shen Lang to carry on the ancestral line. Even if he married Widow Liu from the village, at the very least, the child would be surnamed Shen. Even if he stayed in the toilet of their own house, it would be better than staying under someone else’s roof.
Shen Wan cried bitterly, “My son, speak no more! You were trying to save us, save our family. It’s all because father was useless and had implicated you!”
Although Shen Wan didn’t know what the matter was, he could think of the reason when Tian Thirteen came to capture them in the afternoon.
Shen Wan’s eyes were filled with tears as he spoke. He had a pang of tremendous guilt and reluctance to spare. He felt that if he wasn’t this incompetent, his lifeblood, Shen Lang, wouldn’t have to marry into a woman’s family ah.
However, Shen Jian mumbled, “I think it’s pretty great, sister-in-law is nice, and she’s beautiful, ah! There’s no one else prettier than her around! Also, Brother, could I discuss something with you?”
Shen Lang said, “Sure!”
Shen Jian said, “Since you already have a beautiful wife like sister-in-law, then could you let me have that widow Liu from the village?” 4
At this moment, mother could no longer endure it. She sent a slap to the back of her younger son’s head.
“Dream on! In case your brother cannot stay in the Palace of the Earl anymore, he still needs to come home. We must still reserve Widow Liu for your brother. Please, she had peeped on Shen Lang several times before. Our Shen Lang is too good looking. You can’t find anyone that can compare,” Mother said, “I had tested for her intentions a few days ago! Widow Liu was willing.”
Speechless, Shen Jian questioned the heavens. “Father, Mother, ah! Could you be any more biased? I’m not your real son, you probably picked me up didn’t you!” 3
Shen Lang joined his parents for the meal for a while.
“Alright, son. Father and Mother are relieved to see you safe and sound; we will head back now,” Father said.
Shen Lang asked, “Father, mother, won’t you stay for a night? It’s already late, ah.”
Father replied, “We are not used to staying in here.”
Then, Shen Lang got Jin Zhong to prepare two carriages to send his parents home.
The Earl and Mulan also left the banquet and came to send them off.
“Brother, don’t send us off, go to the nuptial chambers! Sister-in-law is waiting for you!” His younger brother said, “The short night of the spring season is precious!”
Shen Lang waved goodbye to his family and headed in the direction of the nuptial chambers.
***
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