[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-74":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2307852,4510,"Chapter 74: Youlian, Bai Shi, and the Intentional [Thank You All for Your Support!]","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>“Hero, this is my home. My daughter thanks you for protecting her on the way. Please wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, the woman pushed open the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, Mother, I’m back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lian’er, did you buy the medicine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman with rough hands and face stepped forward to greet her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, not now—just now on the street, a group of aristocratic ruffians harassed me, and it was this hero’s master who saved me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Sheng looked into the courtyard; it was worn but clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hero, please come in and sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Sheng, fully understanding his marquis’s meaning of “handle it properly,” naturally did not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two entered the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s mother wept and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thank you, hero. My daughter Youlian is still unmarried—if those ruffians ruined her reputation, how could she ever live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, the woman bowed to kneel before Qi Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your great kindness—please, hero, convey our gratitude to your master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was nothing. Madam, please don’t be so formal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the courtyard lay a gaunt man on a bamboo cot, dressed in a scholar’s blue robe, reading a book in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl then entered the house and brought out a bowl of medicine, approaching her father and saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, it’s time for your medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes were dull with despair, yet when he looked at his daughter, his expression softened with concern:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My illness resists all medicine—it’s only made life harder for you two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was sincere; Qi Sheng felt a pang of sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he seemed to recall something, and two tears rolled down his cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve burdened you both. Lian’er has been frail since childhood, and at this age, her marriage prospects have been ruined by her weakness. I ought to die—then you two would be free of this weight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s mother placed a stool beside Qi Sheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hero, please sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned to the frail man and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you die, I’ll follow you—but our Lian’er will be left alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Sheng rose slightly, bowed deeply, and sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, one of those aristocratic ruffians on the street is my master’s nephew. Take this silver—it’s a token of apology from my master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman still tried to refuse, but Qi Sheng said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s also for your husband’s health.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have matters to attend to at home—I’ll take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Qi Sheng rose and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the courtyard, the frail man swallowed the bitter medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a faint sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve suffered so much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Sheng left the courtyard, asked for the neighborhood chief’s location, and went with another personal guard to pay a visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quarter hour, Qi Sheng mounted his horse and returned to Ningyuan Marquis’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Ningyuan Marquis’s residence, in the main wife’s courtyard, Chang Mama stood behind Bai Shi, removing her hairpins and ornaments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, the marquis has gone to the ancestral hall again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. After returning from such a dangerous northern place, he must inform the ancestors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This evening, the marquis’s senior servant, Qi Sheng, finally returned to the residence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. Qi Sheng hadn’t time to explain—he was summoned straight to the study. He only said Fifth House’s Bing-er publicly harassed a commoner’s daughter, and he went to handle the aftermath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Fifth House family—rotten from the top down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chang Mama placed the exquisite jewelry into the chest, then returned to Bai Shi’s side to smooth her hair:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, I’ve felt uneasy lately—I can’t say why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi thought of Gu Yan Kai’s avoiding gaze, and her heart sank:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. Now I have both son and daughter, Yu-er is a good child, and we’re not who we were.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss speaks truly—I never dreamed I’d ever step inside the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mama, I’m thirsty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, my Yi-jie, Mama’s coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi stood, stretching slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow we’ll go fishing at Xu’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, fishing? Yi’er wants to eat fish.” With that, Gu Tingyi mumbled and fell back asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Gu Yan Kai returned to the main wife’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exchanged a few polite words, glanced at Gu Tingyi, washed up, and went to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi received word that Bai Shi was coming, and had the Xu household’s staff procure many fine goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Chen hour\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi had already arrived at the Xu residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting Xu Anmei and Gu Tingyi laugh loudly nearby, the two mistresses chatted gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that Hu Yan Jiong from Dengzhou had earned many invitations from Beijing’s noble horseball teams due to his dazzling performance on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some invited him to join their teams; others challenged him to matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In time, he made many friends,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the Jinghai Marquis’s household received numerous invitations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This eleventh son of the Dengzhou marquis was greatly popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard from Sister Wu that the Hu Yan family has received many marriage proposals—she’s gone back and forth several times, but Fifth House’s Lady Da has turned them all down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “How did she refuse them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Said the eleventh son is the youngest in the Hu Yan family, still young, and they wish to keep him under their care for a few more years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s reasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to speak of something else, Xiao Zhu entered smiling, bowed, and said: “Lady Da, the Lady Da of Yongchang Marquis’s household has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Show her in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could Sister Wu have heard us talking about her?” Bai Shi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows? That woman hears everything—she’s probably here to mooch off us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu bustled in, nodded curtly to Bai Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Sun Shi, then sat down in the main seat without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, seeing Sun Shi still watching her silently, she snapped:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? So I get no hot tea when I come visiting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi and Bai Shi exchanged glances, both puzzled, eyes full of confusion as they stared at Lady Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Zhu smiled apologetically:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Da, forgive us—we didn’t prepare your favorite drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu froze, then turned her head away with a haughty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi quickly intervened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, what’s wrong? Did she offend you? Tell me—I’ll make her pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu glared at Sun Shi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does everything good always fall to your household!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi’s face went blank, then she smiled bitterly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, what are you talking about? What good thing has happened to my household?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu pulled a scroll from her sleeve:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at whose invitation this is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi took it, glanced a few times, then said slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Jinghai Marquis’s Hu Yan household?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi’s eyes brightened with sudden realization; she slapped the table, waving her silk handkerchief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be…?!?!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu said sourly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's strange—I've gone to several baronial and marquis households on their behalf, but the Huyan family never gave in. Yet this time, the Fifth Branch’s Pan Da Niangzi directly sent the proposal to my Liang household.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sun Shi still bewildered, Bai Shi spoke beside her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were just criticizing them a moment ago. Jiong-ge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Sun Shi realize and ask hesitantly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are they asking for An-er?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Da Niangzi let out a deep breath and sneered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, you finally got there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s impossible! Our Xu family has never had any connection with the Huyan family. How could they—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Da Niangzi looked at Sun Shi, her eyes full of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Keep going.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Are you pretending not to understand?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How did I end up with a friend so slow to react?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Even your Jing-ge understands better than you.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I remember now! The polo match!\" Sun Shi suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my, sister, you finally got it. Also, I’ve inquired—the Huyan Fifth Branch has always controlled maritime trade to the eastern vassal states,\" Wu Da Niangzi whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi’s face showed surprise as she lowered her voice to ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not the Huyan First Branch?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The First Branch has a title waiting to be inherited—who’d risk their sons at sea? If the younger branches lack official posts, how could they hold control? Now, it’s all decided by the Fifth Branch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sipping the tea served to her, Wu Da Niangzi continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do the families in the capital truly value? That the eleventh son plays polo well? Or that he can’t compose poetry? If I didn’t have a daughter, I’d have begged and wheedled for him long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi, hearing this news, still found it hard to believe—she truly didn’t understand the underlying dynamics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t overthink it. The Huyan family’s proposal is just testing your stance. If you refuse, I’ll turn them down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi: \"On the polo field, Jiong-ge never even had a chance to meet my An-er. How could he possibly be asking for her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Da Niangzi rolled her eyes: \"Give me a clear answer so I can reply to them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you all for your support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please vote!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please tip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All kinds of requests, all kinds of asks, (`) heart\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1512,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9765ad9a5a5593746b4b1e614fde5c6c70ab1ccf5e37f02ac23ab85ec43e1395","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-75","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-73",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]