Future Son-in-Law

Under the veil of night, the Minister's Estate was brightly lit.

As the residence of the Minister of Revenue, its layout and scale, though not as extravagantly luxurious as those of princes and nobles, still covered a vast expanse of land.

Pavilions, terraces, towers, and winding paths leading to secluded spots—every detail exuded the understated elegance and grandeur of a prestigious official's family.

Today, the atmosphere within the estate was exceptionally different.

Servants hurried about, their faces bearing smiles of mingled nervousness and anticipation.

The kitchen was even more bustling, with the rich aroma of cooking wafting through every corner of the manor.

In the main hall, a large round table made of yellow rosewood was already laden with a dazzling array of dishes.

They were all Shangguan Yunying's favorite flavors, showing the utmost care and thought.

Several uniquely designed glazed palace lanterns bathed the hall in a warm and bright glow.

Shangguan Yuan sat upright in the seat of honor, holding a scroll in his hands. He appeared to be reading, but his eyes frequently drifted outside the hall; clearly, his mind was not on the text.

Around fifty years of age, he had a lean and clear-cut face. Dressed in a casual dark cyan straight-cut robe, his sharp eyes carried a trace of the shrewdness and composure accumulated from years in officialdom.

The Minister's Wife, a beautiful woman who still retained her charm, appeared somewhat restless.

She occasionally smoothed her luxurious brocade dress, glanced at the dishes on the table, and whispered instructions to the maid beside her.

Finally, unable to hold back, she leaned close to Shangguan Yuan again and asked softly, "My lord, are you certain Yun'er will really come home today? The food is getting cold..."

Shangguan Yuan set down the scroll, picked up the celadon teacup at hand, and took a slow sip. Stroking his beard with the air of an old master, he spoke with absolute certainty, "Rest assured, Madam. Today at court, Her Highness just had a contest with the Second Prince and the others, and took on His Majesty's test to replenish the state treasury."

"Now that all the ledgers of the Ministry of Revenue have been requisitioned, Her Highness is eager to understand the inside story. Given her resolute and vigorous nature, how could she not send someone? And the most suitable candidate..."

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. "Who else could it be but our precious daughter? Therefore, Yun'er will definitely return today. Even if she doesn't want to, Her Highness will make her return."

Hearing this, The Minister's Wife felt slightly relieved, though the longing for her daughter in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest. She murmured, "This girl, ever since she entered the palace to serve Her Highness, she hardly comes home a few times a year. This time, we must have her stay for a good few days..."

Just then, a steward of the estate walked briskly across the courtyard to the outside of the flower hall and respectfully reported, "My lord, Madam, I was just looking out from the estate gates and caught sight of the Young Miss from afar! She is heading straight for our estate!"

"Really?!" The Minister's Wife was overjoyed. She stood up immediately, her face blooming into a wide smile. "Quick! Have someone brighten the lanterns at the gate! Don't let Yun'er trip while walking in the dark!"

A smug smile also appeared on Shangguan Yuan's face, as if everything was within his grasp.

He put down his teacup and straightened his robes, preparing to rise and welcome her. After all, Shangguan Yunying was returning on the orders of the Crown Heir.

It was considered official business. As her father, he ought to show the proper posture, both publicly and privately.

However, the steward's next words made the smile on Shangguan Yuan's face freeze instantly.

"It's just... My lord, Madam," the steward's voice carried hesitation and uncertainty. "I saw... it seems the Young Miss is accompanied by a young gentleman. The two of them are walking side by side."

A young gentleman? Walking side by side?!

The smugness on Shangguan Yuan's face collapsed in an instant. His brows locked tightly together, and his gaze turned sharp and vigilant.

A suspicion immediately formed in his mind. A young gentleman walking side by side with Shangguan Yunying at a time like this...

Nine times out of ten, it was Gu Chengyin, the man who had stolen the spotlight at court today, stirring up a storm with the mere rank of a minor secretary!

However, in stark contrast to Shangguan Yuan's darkened face, the eyes of The Minister's Wife suddenly lit up astonishingly bright!

"What?! Not only has Yun'er come home, but... but she also brought a man back with her?!!!"

The voice of The Minister's Wife spiked in pitch, filled with unbelievable surprise and excitement, as if she had just heard the greatest news in the world!

She grabbed the steward's arm and asked eagerly, "Did you see clearly? Is it really a young gentleman? Is he handsome? How is his posture? Could you see which family he belongs to? Which of the noble families is he from?"

A barrage of questions hit the steward like rapid-fire cannonballs.

The Minister's Wife had worried her heart out over her daughter's marriage prospects.

Shangguan Yunying was top-notch in both looks and talent, but she was stubborn and had high standards. After entering the palace, she had devoted all her attention to serving Her Highness, completely avoiding the topic of marriage.

For her to take the initiative to bring a man home now—it was simply like the sun rising from the west!

Startled by the Madam's excited demeanor, the steward hurriedly bowed and replied, "To answer Madam, the sky is too dark and they are a bit far away, so I couldn't see his face clearly... However, he has an upright posture, a steady stride, and an extraordinary bearing. As for exactly which family's young master he is, my eyes are clumsy, and I truly could not recognize him."

"Upright posture! Extraordinary bearing!"

The Minister's Wife automatically filtered out the other information and only latched onto these two key phrases. The smile on her face grew even more radiant, and she was almost weeping with joy. "Wonderful! This is truly wonderful! My Yun'er has finally seen the light! She knows how to find a man! Thank the heavens, and bless the ancestors!"

She clasped her hands together and bowed repeatedly to the empty air, looking the very picture of profound gratitude.

Then, she turned her head and saw Shangguan Yuan's dark, gloomy face that looked as if water could drip from it. Her heart full of joy instantly transformed into dissatisfaction and anger.

"Shangguan Yuan!"

The Minister's Wife arched her delicate eyebrows and pointed right at her husband's nose. "What kind of attitude is this?! Our daughter finally managed to bring a man home, shouldn't you be a little happier? Ah?"

"Who are you showing that stinking face to? If you dare give my son-in-law... no, my future son-in-law a bad look later and scare him away, causing Yun'er to be single for the rest of her life, just you try it! I will never let you hear the end of it!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she got. She planted her hands on her hips, bringing out the full majesty of the lady of the house.

Scolded so fiercely by his wife, Shangguan Yuan's face flashed green and pale.

He groaned inwardly but could not speak plainly. Was he supposed to tell his wife that the man was not a son-in-law at all, but an imperial envoy sent by Her Highness to audit her husband's accounts?

Looking at his wife's threatening gaze, Shangguan Yuan knew that if he did not state his stance now, there would be no peace at tonight's family banquet.

He could only forcefully suppress the displeasure in his heart and squeeze out a smile that looked uglier than crying.

"Madam is right," Shangguan Yuan's voice was dry. "As your husband... I am naturally happy. It's good that Yun'er is back, it's good that she is back. Bringing a friend back is also... also quite good."

It was just that his smile was stiff and his eyes were shifting; anyone could see he did not mean a word of it.

The Minister's Wife, however, couldn't care less. Seeing her husband concede, she immediately beamed with joy again. Pulling a maid along, she began making arrangements: "Quick! Send someone to the kitchen again to see if there are any signature dishes we can add right away! Oh, and bring out that jar of Nu'er Hong wine I've been saving! Today is a great day!"

As she busied herself, she did not forget to shoot Shangguan Yuan a glare: "When they get here, you had better look sharp! If you scare off my future son-in-law, you will have me to answer to!"

Shangguan Yuan could only sit there in helpless resignation, his heart a swirling mix of complicated, indescribable emotions.

Picking up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold, he downed it in a single gulp, only to find a bitter taste filling his mouth.

Outside the estate gates, lanterns hung high, bathing the front stone steps in a bright, clear light.

The figures of Shangguan Yunying and Gu Chengyin were already clearly visible, approaching step by step.