Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Although becoming a live-in son-in-law was indeed considered a shameful thing at the time, when the opportunity to marry into money was placed right before them, there would never be a shortage of people scrambling to seize it!

After all, if one could easily enjoy wealth and glory, who would still want to work hard for a living?

But human greed knows no bounds—most men would end up mooching off their wives while acting all high and mighty, enjoying the wealth and status brought by their wife's family with a clear conscience, while deep down feeling their self-esteem wounded and their hearts twisted.

After draining their in-laws' resources dry, they would turn around and curse how the other party had "humiliated" them, as if they were the ones who had suffered the greatest injustice.

But Han Qinnian was not among them, because the Han family, thanks to the brainwashing of elders like Grandfather Han, was all for living off a spouse's wealth.

Han Qinnian genuinely did love Shao Langzhou, but that did not stop him from clearly knowing what advantages marrying Shao Langzhou would bring him.

The Han family's current good days all depended on Han Zhang; his parents had virtually no family property to speak of.

As the younger brother, he could indeed cling to his elder brother and enjoy wealth and honor now, but he could not sponge off his brother's household forever—sooner or later, he would have to move out and make his own way.

Yet the phrase "settle down and make something of himself" was easy to say but incredibly difficult to accomplish.

Perhaps he could strive his whole life and still never reach the lifestyle at the Weiyuan Marquis Manor, but by becoming a live-in son-in-law, he could skip straight to the top of the world.

And the person he would marry was someone he loved—so what was wrong with becoming a live-in son-in-law?

It was absolutely wonderful!

As for the gossip of outsiders, Grandfather had said that was just sour grapes from those who couldn't get what he was getting.

Besides, when his elder brother had married his husband, others had also sneered behind his back, calling him shameless for living off his husband's dowry.

But once his brother topped the imperial examinations, those people immediately changed their tune, rushing to praise him as "a man of extraordinary talent with a limitless future."

Being laughed at now didn't matter—once he made something of himself, let's see who dares say another word.

"Grandfather, I am willing to become a live-in son-in-law, a thousand times over, ten thousand times over!! When will you set the engagement between me and Zhou Geer?"

Han Qinnian was enthusiastic and eager, his eyes filled with sincere anticipation.

This left Old General Shao completely dumbfounded, who emphasized in disbelief: "I said live-in son-in-law—as in moving into the bride's family, not the other way around! Did you hear me clearly?"

Who gets this excited about becoming a live-in son-in-law? Shouldn't he be angry, humiliated, or upset?

Han Qinnian nodded sincerely again: "Yeah, yeah, becoming a live-in son-in-law means I marry Zhou Geer, I know, I know."

"That's fine—our family has no substantial wealth to inherit, and I'm not the eldest son, so marrying into their family is no problem. My parents would definitely be happy; they're already stressing over the bride price for my wedding. Knowing they won't have to buy me a house and set me up, they'll probably be thrilled."

"As for the gossip outside, I don't care. When my elder brother married my brother's husband, it was basically the same as marrying into the family, and he was mocked plenty. But my brother was tough-minded—once he passed the imperial examinations with flying colors, no one dared say another word. Now he and his husband live in harmony, and everyone envies them."

"I don't think I'm any less capable than my big brother. In the future, I'll definitely become a great general, shut up everyone who laughs at me, and make everyone praise Zhou Geer for his good judgment, just like my brother's husband, so everyone's jealous of him!"

Han Qinnian's face radiated the bold spirit of youth:

"I don't know if I can achieve it, but my elder brother said that youth holds infinite possibilities—why should a young man sell himself short? Even if I've got nothing now, who knows what the future's got in store?"

Old General Shao stared, stunned, at the young man whose eyes blazed with determination. That open, fiery energy left him momentarily speechless.

After a moment, he stroked his beard, a smile and a glint of approval in his eyes:

"Good kid, full of fire... Alright, go on down. We'll talk about you and Zhou Geer's marriage after I've dealt with that heartless bastard Hong Liyong."

The implication was clear: the marriage was a go.

The quick-witted Han Qinnian was over the moon and immediately knelt: "Thank you, Grandfather, for your blessing. In the future, your son-in-law and Zhou Geer will definitely give you a big, fat great-grandson!"

At the mention of a fat great-grandson, Old General Shao grinned so wide his smile nearly split his face: "..."

No wonder his grandson was head over heels—the Han family really knew how to charm people.

...

Old General Shao didn't waste any time. After shooing the ecstatic Han Qinnian out,

he immediately mustered his personal guards and, with lightning speed, had Qianhu Hong seized in front of the troops. Hong was still dreaming of becoming the Marquis Manor's prized son-in-law.

"Old General, what's the meaning of this? What crime have I committed?"

Qianhu Hong's heart was racing, but he forced himself to stay calm and demanded loudly.

Old General Shao sneered, not bothering with pleasantries, and threw the evidence right in his face:

"What crime? Hong Liyong, you've got an honest face but a snake's heart!"

"You already have a wife and children at home, yet you claimed to be unmarried, passing off your real wife as your 'elder sister-in-law' and keeping her by your side, fooling everyone with that sister-in-law act, committing the crime of dumping your wife to marry someone else! That is the first crime!"

"Second, you had your eye on my marquis household's status, scheming with dirty tricks to ruin my grandson's reputation, force a marriage alliance, and seize my family's legacy—such wolfish ambition, with irrefutable evidence, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"You almost destroyed my lifelong reputation, you treacherous wolf!"

At these words, the surrounding soldiers erupted in uproar.

"What? Qianhu Hong already had a family? That 'elder sister-in-law' and 'nephew' he always kept by his side are actually his wife and son?"

"Heavens! I thought Qianhu Hong was an upright, passionate man of deep loyalty. When Master Shao rejected his advances, I even felt sorry for him—turns out he was harboring such malicious intent. You truly can't judge a book by its cover!"

"I always said Qianhu Hong was a bit too eager, probably had ulterior motives, but you wouldn't believe me. Now his true colors are finally exposed, aren't they?"

"Well, it's not that we were blind—it's that this man is too good at pretending. On ordinary days, he'd eagerly help anyone in camp who had difficulties, putting on a grand show of loyalty and brotherhood. Who would have thought his heart was so vicious and despicable..."

The surrounding murmurs reached Qianhu Hong's ears, turning his face pale and green, his fingertips cold.

He never imagined his family situation back home would be exposed so thoroughly!

In his hometown, he had used silver and threats to silence everyone in the know—how could anyone have found out?

No, he absolutely could not admit to this.

After all, nothing had actually been done—it was merely in the planning stages, with only physical evidence and no witnesses.

As long as he stubbornly denied everything, relying on his years of military merit and reputation, even if the Old General was furious, the worst he'd face was dismissal and expulsion from the army. As long as he kept his life, there would always be a chance to rise again.

But if the crimes of abandoning his wife to remarry and plotting against a marquis household's young master were confirmed, that would be a grave offense of deceiving the emperor and harboring treasonous intent.

Qianhu Hong's mind raced. Forcing himself to steady his nerves, he put on a look of indignant grievance and argued loudly:

"No! Old General, this is a frame-up! It's that Han Qinnian—he must be jealous that you favored me, forging evidence to eliminate me! I refuse to accept this! I demand a face-to-face confrontation with him!"

Hong Mother, though foolish, knew this was a life-or-death moment and absolutely could not confess. She plopped down on the ground, slapping her thighs and wailing hysterically:

"Injustice, Old General! My son has always been honest and well-behaved, bleeding and fighting on the battlefield, loyal to his comrades—who in the entire camp doesn't know that? Someone must be jealous of my son's prospects, trying to harm him!"

"Before that Little Han showed up, everything was fine—did anyone see the slightest fault in my son? The moment he arrived, my son got smeared with this filth... If it wasn't him framing us, then who? My son is wronged—"

Suniang was shrewder than Mother Hong. Knowing that arguing would be pointless now, she shoved the child into Mother Hong's arms and, putting on a show of outraged virtue, rushed forward crying:

"Old General! This poor woman knows you dote on your grandson and have taken a shine to that Han boy, changing your mind about who your grandson should marry. But even if you wish to unite Master Shao with Young Master Han, you can't trash my and my brother-in-law's good names just to protect Master Shao's reputation!"

"I can't bear such a stain! My brother-in-law and I are pure and blameless, yet today we suffer this monstrous humiliation—how can I go on living with any dignity? I'd rather die than live with this shame!"

With that, she lunged toward the stone pillar on the parade ground to smash her head.

But Old General Shao, having anticipated this, had his men grab her.

And Old General Shao grew even angrier.

These Hongs had some nerve—refusing to confess even with their backs against the wall, and even daring to bite back and sling mud!

Luckily, he'd been smart this time and held back some evidence, precisely to guard against such cunning tricks from the Hongs.

"Incorrigible!" Old General Shao bellowed, cutting off their little act. With a sweep of his hand: "Men, bring in the witnesses!"

Then several villagers from Hong Family Village were led forward.

"V-Village head... Third grandpa... Auntie Zhou..."

The three Hongs turned white as sheets at the sight of them, any last hope they had crushed, their lips shaking like leaves.

The villagers didn't waste any time once they came up. After quickly explaining how they knew the Hongs as kin and neighbors, they backed up everything Old General Shao had said, point by point.

The village head of Hong Family Village even produced the marriage certificates of the couple.

"Reporting to the Old General, this is the official copy of the marriage certificate between Hong Liyong and Wang Suniang, registered with the ancestral hall and the county government when they held their wedding banquet back in the village."

"Wang Suniang was a child bride bought by the Hong family. The two were married and consummated it ten years ago—everyone in the village knows it. Later, when Hong Liyong joined the army, he brought his wife and child to his side. People can lie about their family, fake their background, but this marriage certificate is rock-solid proof."

With the marriage certificate right there in black and white, there was no denying it. Qianhu Hong's legs gave out and he hit the ground.

He glared bloodshot-eyed at the village head—this old coot! He'd taken so much silver, sworn up and down to keep his mouth shut, and now he'd turned around and sold him out!

But the village head, stone-faced and staring straight ahead, acted like he didn't see the murderous look, sighing inwardly:

Well, you couldn't blame him for turning—the Hans had just paid too much!

Besides, every word he'd spoken today was the truth; he hadn't wronged Hong Liyong in the slightest.

If blame was to be placed, it lay with the Hong lad himself—crooked-hearted, ungrateful, and on top of that, outmatched—he'd kicked a steel plate.

With witnesses and hard evidence all lined up, the Hong family had no room left to argue.

Old General Shao turned to face the assembled troops, his voice booming like a great bell:

"Soldiers, listen up! Qianhu Hong Liyong, of vile behavior—concealing his marital history, tricking his way into marrying above his station, and plotting to harm a brother soldier's family with evil intent, undermining military discipline... From today, he's stripped of all rank and honors. The three Hongs are to be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for punishment by law, as a warning to everyone!"

To avoid anyone crying favoritism, handing it to the Ministry of Justice was the smartest move.

"Yes, General!"

The guards shouted back in unison, stepping forward to drag away the completely limp, speechless Qianhu Hong, Mother Hong, wailing and cursing, and the sobbing Wang Suniang.

The parade ground went dead silent.

Old General Shao swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a grave tone:

"You've all seen and heard what happened today with your own eyes and ears. Let this be a lesson to you all: remember that as soldiers, loyalty and courage are the bedrock, and virtue and conduct come before all! If any of you turn out disloyal, unrighteous, or immoral—Hong Liyong is your warning!"

"Yes, sir! We obey!"

The crowd answered in unison, their voices booming to the heavens.

Old General Shao nodded, satisfied.

By punishing him publicly and exposing Hong Liyong's ugly true face, no one would dare gossip anymore about the mess between his grandson and Hong Liyong.

That was the real reason he'd made such a big scene and wasted breath on the Hongs.

Better to settle it once and for all, so that after Zhou Ge'er gets engaged to the second Han boy, some muddle-headed or ill-meaning folks might start feeling sorry for Qianhu Hong.

Claiming his grandson was a snob who'd gone for the prefect's son and looked down on soldiers from poor backgrounds—ruining the Shao family's name in the army.