Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Not just anyone can pull off the whole "living off someone else" thing.

You need either good looks or the ability to please and comfort—at least one of the two.

Qianhu Hong wasn't handsome to begin with, and the honest, simple image he had cultivated wasn't Shao Langzhou's type anyway. Even if Han Qinnian had never shown up, his scheme to marry into the Marquis household and seize their wealth would never have worked.

But how could he ever accept that truth?

So Qianhu Hong could only take out all his frustration on Han Qinnian while going back to seek advice from his mother and wife on how to win Shao Langzhou back.

The moment Mother Hong heard things had taken a turn, she slapped her thigh and launched into a tirade:

"What? That little wretch dares to take a liking to some young brat and wants to cast my son aside? Hah! If it weren't for his status as a Marquis's son and how it could help my son, with his reputation for spending all his time among men, we wouldn't even deem him worthy of being my son's concubine!"

Hong's wife couldn't help but purse her lips at her mother-in-law's insults toward the precious young lad, cursing inwardly—this old hag must have her eyes in the back of her head!

That's the Marquis's son! Even if his reputation were tarnished, he was still far above what their destitute family could ever aspire to!

All the old woman could do was spew vicious words and curse—she couldn't even tell what was important and what wasn't.

But for the sake of her own and her son's future riches and standing, Hong's wife swallowed her irritation and patiently coaxed:

"Mother is right, that young Master Shao truly doesn't appreciate what's good for him. But the most important thing now is figuring out how to win him back. If that Han brat gets to reap the rewards, then all of my husband's humiliating efforts these past days and the silver we spent to silence the folks back home will have been for nothing!"

Qianhu Hong cast his wife an approving glance and nodded: "Mother, Su Niang is right. What matters now is finding a solution—please stop cursing."

"That Han fellow is not only younger than your son, he's also handsome. His elder brother is the newly appointed prefect of Yunyang Prefecture—he surpasses your son in every way! If we don't come up with a good plan soon, this marriage is as good as doomed."

"What... that brat is the prefect's own brother? Then what are we to do?"

Mother Hong was nothing but an ordinary village woman. The moment she heard the Han family had an official—and a lord prefect at that—she panicked and fired the question right back.

Qianhu Hong was speechless.

He'd come to have his mother come up with a plan, and she'd just tossed the problem right back at him!

With no other option, Qianhu Hong had to steer the conversation, wearing a worried expression:

"Mother, I truly can't think of anything, which is why I came to ask you. The Han family has power and influence, and Han Qinnian is skilled in martial arts. My schemes in the army these past days have yielded nothing—worse, he's caught on to me. I'm at my wit's end."

"Old General Shao does hold me in high regard and trusts me, but Master Shao doesn't care for me at all. I can't very well force myself on him, can I? He's the Marquis's son."

His words carried a hidden meaning—part lament, part implication.

But Mother Hong seemed to have a sudden realization and blurted out: "Why can't you force him, then? So what if he's the Marquis's son? When all is said and done, he's still a young lad. If his chastity is ruined, even if he doesn't want to marry, this world will force him to marry!"

"My son, you're a Qianhu in the army—you'll find a way to get near him. Find a secluded spot, slip him a dose, and once it's done, who else could he possibly marry if not you?"

Qianhu Hong was inwardly satisfied but kept a stern expression: "No! Mother, how could I do something so immoral? Besides, the Old General dotes on his grandson—he'd kill me, not grant me such a wish."

Mother Hong grew anxious and argued: "He's just a young lad! Would the Old General really ignore the Marquis family's reputation and the honor of the other young ladies and lads in the clan?"

"The Old General only has Master Shao left as his bloodline. Between his only descendant and the family name, his own flesh and blood matters more..."

Qianhu Hong sighed theatrically, glancing at Hong's wife beside him.

Hong's wife, as his de facto wife who had shared his bed for years, understood his meaning perfectly. Wasn't he just saying his mother was too slow on the uptake and needed her—the sharp one—to speak up?

What a hypocritical, disgusting man.

But... for the sake of her own and her son's future glory and wealth, she wasn't about to let a bit of sympathy or resentment stop her from going after Shao Langzhou.

Seeing that Mother Hong couldn't get to the point, Hong's wife stepped in and said coldly:

"If we can't do it openly, then we play dirty. It doesn't matter that Master Shao doesn't care for Husband. Let Husband secretly take his purity first—ruin his innocence so he has no face to marry that Second Brother Han."

"Then Husband can 'step up' afterward, claiming it's to repay the Old General's favor by taking responsibility for the mess. Not only will the marriage go through, but you'll also earn the Old General's gratitude."

This wasn't a marriage proposal—it was selling someone out and making them count the money for you!

It was vicious, sure, but it would work like a charm.

Mother Hong nodded eagerly without a second thought: "This plan is good! If he comes in with a tarnished reputation, our family can control that little wretch easily."

"This... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Qianhu Hong continued his act of hesitation, as if that would shift all the blame onto his mother and wife, keeping his own hands clean.

After Mother Hong and Hong's wife coaxed him for a while, he finally put on a face of being left with no choice and let out a long sigh:

"Very well. When extraordinary times call for it, extraordinary measures must be taken."

...

The Hong family was scheming in the shadows.

But the Han family wasn't about to sit idle either.

That day when Han Zhang had escorted Han Qinnian to the military camp and learned that Shao Langzhou had a suitor in Qianhu Hong, he naturally couldn't just do nothing upon returning.

He immediately sent people to investigate the Hong family's background and keep tabs on their movements.

Though Qianhu Hong had hidden his marriage well, even paying silver to silence the folks in his hometown, everything leaves a trace.

Qianhu Hong didn't have the Han family's "work ethic" of treating acting like life itself. He and Su Niang were husband and wife in all but name, living under the same roof—when physical needs arose, how could they possibly restrain themselves?

So when they were alone together, they were bound to slip up eventually.

That's exactly what Han Zhang's surveillance caught. He then sent people to Qianhu Hong's hometown to investigate. With a hefty sum of silver thrown around, he not only uncovered the truth that Qianhu Hong was already married with children but even brought back witnesses!

Now that the Hong family was plotting something, Han Zhang received word immediately.

After careful consideration, he decided not to use the "turn their scheme against them" strategy again. Instead, he chose to have his younger brother report the plot directly!

The reason was simple.

While the "play hero and save the damsel" strategy was good, it wasn't suitable here.

First, using a young lad's purity as a bargaining chip was rather despicable. His second brother genuinely loved Shao Langzhou and would never agree to such a thing.

Second, the timing was wrong. Even without evidence that they'd swooped in after the Hong family's scheme, Old General Shao would still harbor doubts about them.

So instead of turning the scheme against them, it was better to simply report the plot outright.

As the saying goes: sincerity is the ultimate killer move!

And so it happened.

When the Hong family's vicious scheme was nearly in place, Han Zhang, having obtained solid evidence, handed over the testimonies and physical proof to Han Qinnian, telling him to go directly to the Old General and expose the matter.

Upon learning the truth, Old General Shao felt a chill shoot down his back, his forehead veins bulging in fury:

"What a cruel, ungrateful wretch! I promoted and trusted him because I thought he was honest and dependable, and I even had it in mind to match Zhou Geer with him. And this is how he deceives me? Not only did he conceal having a wife and family, but he also schemed to defile and ruin my Zhou Geer!"

He'd been shrewd his whole life, yet in a moment of folly, he'd been fooled by such a scoundrel in his old age. He couldn't bear to think what fate would have awaited his grandson if the plan had succeeded.

And when he went to the netherworld and learned the truth, how could he face his deceased son and daughter-in-law?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Han Qinnian, venting his frustration:

"You're no better! You put on a facade of honesty, but you've been quite busy behind the scenes. Even I couldn't uncover what you managed to dig up..."

"In the past, many fine young men in the army courted Zhou Geer, but he never took a liking to any of them. Yet after knowing you for just a few months, he's given his whole heart to you, and even I, his grandfather, can't say a word against you. You're quite capable, aren't you!"

The earlier tirade was just ranting; the real point of his anger came at the end.

He had painstakingly raised his precious young one for over a decade, and in just two or three months, someone had snatched him away. It was truly infuriating.

Han Qinnian, however, didn't take offense at the scolding. Having taken away the apple of the old man's eye, a few harsh words wouldn't hurt, and there was no need to clash with the elderly.

He simply clasped his hands and said sincerely, "Old General, I know you think little of me and have doubts about my family's standing. But since my elder brother managed to reach Yunyang Prefecture and assume his post, it's proof that the turmoil in the capital has blown over. With my brother's abilities, my family can live peacefully in Yunyang Prefecture."

"And I may not be as honest as I appear, but my feelings for Zhou Geer are witnessed by heaven and earth!"

"Even if you, Old General, were unwilling, I have any number of ways to marry Zhou Geer. Yet in the end, I chose to be frank with you."

"Because I don't want Zhou Geer to be sad. I hope our marriage can receive your sincere blessing. As my elder brother said, only sincerity can be repaid with sincerity."

These words were spoken with great earnestness, and Han Qinnian's actions indeed matched his words.

After hearing this, Old General Shao's expression finally softened, but fearing he might be deceived again, he thought for a moment and snorted:

"Pretty words are easy to say! That heartless wretch Hong Liyong spoke just as sweetly back then, and what happened? It was all lies!"

"But my feelings for Zhou Geer are sincere. I'm different from Qianhu Hong." Han Qinnian immediately retorted to pledge his loyalty: "I'm willing to prove it. Please, Old General, just say the word."

"Fine then, how about you become a live-in son-in-law?"

Old General Shao nodded decisively, his gaze fixed intently on Han Qinnian's expression.

He anticipated anger, humiliation, or even shock—but saw none of it.

Instead, Han Qinnian's face lit up with delight as he blurted out, "There's such a good thing?!"