Jiapingguan Chronicle

"Oh, so you're not going to be a live-in son-in-law?" Jin Miaomiao's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of disdain. "That's such a shame." She looked Yingjun up and down. "What exactly is it about you that doesn't meet their requirements?"

"Lord Jin, please don't be like this, okay? I'm going to do something respectable, not become a live-in son-in-law!" Eagle Falcon was somewhat amused and exasperated by Jin Miaomiao's sudden change of expression. "I've just met a few men who are live-in sons-in-law, that doesn't mean I have to go, okay?"

"Alright, then continue. How did you meet this live-in son-in-law, and why did you choose to become one?"

“Why are there so many questions?” Eagle Falcon sighed and said, “The nobles of Liao, both large and small, who are currently in power and have a foothold in Linhuang Prefecture, have quite a deep foundation. It’s not easy for them to be sons-in-law. The one who impressed me the most was not a Liao person, but a man from our Great Xia, a scholar, who became a son-in-law in a very old noble family. According to him, his life is not bad, much better than before.”

"A scholar from the Great Xia?" Jin Miaomiao was taken aback and asked in confusion, "How could a scholar travel thousands of miles to such a far place? And to become a live-in son-in-law? Was his family willing to do so?"

“It’s not like he traveled thousands of miles!” Eagle Falcon smiled bitterly. “That brother was kidnapped. His family thought he was missing and even reported it to the authorities, but they couldn’t find him no matter how hard they looked. About half a year later, they received a message from him and learned that he had been kidnapped by the daughter of a noble family in the Liao Kingdom and had become their son-in-law.”

"And then?" Merlin blinked. "His family didn't go to check on him either?"

“No.” Eagle shook his head slightly. “That brother said he’s not an only child; he has older and younger brothers, so…” He shrugged and said, “He just occasionally sends things home to repay the kindness of his family.”

"It's a bit strange, but," Jin Miaomiao didn't know how to describe it, "but to dare to kidnap someone in broad daylight, they're quite bold. Whose daughter is this? Where was she kidnapped?"

“I came to Gusu City incognito, and met that brother. I liked him at first sight, but then…” Eagle Falcon sighed. “I met this brother thirty years ago. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of his family, or if they’re still around. After all, Linhuang Prefecture has been in turmoil for the past few decades. I don’t know if they were involved.”

"Whose family is it?"

"I only know the Han surname Xun."

“Xun?” Shen Haolin and Shen Cha exchanged a glance, then Shen Haolin nodded to the eagle. “I see. His original surname was Haernu, and he’s from a very mysterious family. Don’t worry, his family is still around, and they’re doing quite well.”

“Really?” Eagle breathed a sigh of relief. “That means my brother will die a peaceful death.”

"The current head of the Harnu family is the sworn brother of the Third Grandfather. He spends his days raising birds and doesn't concern himself with worldly affairs, just living his own quiet life. However, his family has always kept a low profile and never gets involved in the messy affairs of the court, which is why they survived several palace coups. On the other hand, families similar to his family have basically disappeared during these palace coups."

"Harnu?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment, then gently patted her leg. "I understand!"

"What does Lord Jin know?"

"Xiao Cha, isn't that the fair-skinned guy we met at our Uncle's residence who looks like a playboy, right?"

“Yes!” Shen Cha nodded. “Looking at him, how old do you think he should be?”

"How old?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment, "Around fifty?" Seeing Shen Cha, she continued, "Isn't that too old? How about forty?" "The more I guess, the younger it seems." Shen Cha chuckled and said, "He is the third great-grandfather's sworn brother. I asked my uncle, and he's almost seventy."

"Seventy?" Jin Miaomiao's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

“When I heard it, you were in the same state as you are now. I asked Uncle Shi three times before I was sure it was true.” Shen Cha smiled and looked at Yingjun. “If I’m not mistaken, your brother should be his son-in-law.”

"If we consider age, then yes."

“If your brother marries into the Halnu family, it would be a very good place for him. After all, what the Halnu family wants is completely different from what other families want.” Shen Cha looked at the hawk. “If I’m not mistaken, your brother is quite good-looking, very handsome, has a sweet tongue, and knows how to coax people. Most importantly, he’s also quite educated, right?”

“Ah, yes, what the young master said is all correct.” Eagle blinked. “That brother is indeed good-looking, with a refined demeanor and having studied for many years. He looks just like the talented scholar described in plays.” He looked at Shen Cha, then at Shen Haolin, and said hesitantly, “What the young master said earlier, that his family has things they want, I know a little about that.”

"What is it?" Jin Miaomiao looked at the falcon with anticipation and said, "Tell me quickly, don't keep me in suspense!"

Just as Eagle Falcon was about to speak, Xue Ruitian and Bai Meng tiptoed over, gestured for them to be quiet, and pointed to the three old men who had fallen asleep sometime earlier.

"Where are the blankets?" Bai Meng asked in a low voice. "Cover them up, so they don't catch a cold."

Shen Cha stood up, walked to a corner of the tent, took out three blankets from a low cabinet, and handed them to Bai Meng, who had followed her.

After covering all three people with blankets, Shen Cha asked Meilin to add a few more pieces of charcoal to the brazier to make the tent warmer and prevent the old men from catching a cold.

"Why are they so tired? Judging from their faces, they haven't slept well for the past few days." Shen Cha looked at Xia Chen. "Not again..."

"No, Fourth Grandfather's schedule has been quite normal lately. He hasn't been staying up late playing cards. I just heard that Uncle Yan and Uncle Qin have started morning and evening classes recently. I wonder what they're planning to do."

“The morning and evening classes have always been there, it didn’t just start recently. I guess you weren’t keeping a close eye on them, and they’ve probably been doing something behind our backs again.” Shen Cha waved her hand and said softly, “Alright, we’ll find out when they wake up and ask them.”

Everyone stared at the three old men for a while, making sure they were sound asleep and wouldn't be woken up, before tiptoeing back to their original spots.

“Let’s continue.” Jin Miaomiao glanced at the falcon sitting beside her. “What exactly does the Harnu family want?”

"They've always loved beautiful things, whether people or objects." (End of Chapter)