[{"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-75":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},2307853,4510,"Chapter 75: Cold Melon, Hot Melon—Please Eat the Melon [Thank You All for Your Support","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-75",75,"\u003Cp>After some thought, Sun Shi said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, what do you think of the eleventh son of the Hu Yan family? Does he have any concubines or outside mistresses? How is his family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s still a mother with some conscience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi gave her a light slap, displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi said: “If you won’t listen, I won’t speak. Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi, sitting nearby, chimed in:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, I want to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t heard of any concubines for the eleventh son. Besides the main house, the other two branches are decent too. The second son of the Jinghai Marquis died young; he only has these four sons. The fifth son controls maritime trade in Dengzhou, while the third and fourth hold shares in the grain transport routes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would the main house be like this?” Sun Shi asked, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, isn’t it because the Marquis’s first lady favors the eldest son? After all, the Jinghai Marquis title goes to the firstborn. With three branches supporting him, why bother striving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi listened, weighing the words in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pan Dangzi of the fifth branch has been in Dengzhou all along; I don’t know her well—you’ll have to judge for yourself. But I’ve noticed she may not come from a grand, noble family, yet her bearing is unmistakably refined. She reminds me a bit of Bai’s younger sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi nodded and said: “Sister, are you saying this first lady was raised in luxury?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi raised her teacup toward Bai Shi, tilting it slightly—a gesture meaning: clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Shi told Sun Shi: “Sister, there’ll be less family scheming over wealth. When the time comes, your sister Wu and I will stand by you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi: “Then I’ll leave it to the two of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. I’ll tell the Hu Yan family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, sister.” Sun Shi bowed deeply, sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this match is settled, it truly would be a fine union,” Bai Shi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jinghai Marquis Mansion\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan fifth branch\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan Jiong sat at his desk, bouncing his leg. After a while, he stood and walked to the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has Mother returned yet? How long has she been gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, the mistress has not returned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his study, picked up a book on shipbuilding, read a few pages, then sighed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fu Ding, do you think Mother was turned down?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant Fu Ding replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, the mistress wouldn’t go straight to the point at another Marquis’s mansion—after all, we’ve turned down Wu Dangzi’s matchmaking several times already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to go outside to look at the flowers and birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing for a moment, he walked to the second gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes strained with anticipation—he finally saw his mother’s carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried back to his courtyard, picked up a book, and pretended to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the voices of servants and maids, he knew his mother had entered the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked over, feigning calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother, was it smooth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This first lady was surnamed Pan; the Pan family in the Donglu region, from Dengzhou to Mizhou, were genuine magnates, having amassed fortunes through maritime trade with eastern vassal states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After marrying into the Jinghai Marquis family, their power surged further; they helped their husband control maritime transport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan Jiong had always been raised under her watch; his older brothers had strong ties with the noble families of Bianjing, so for Jiong, there was less urgency to climb the social ladder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After investigating the family morals of potential matchmakers and listening to her son’s wishes, Pan Dangzi had turned down many noble families from Bianjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most assumed the fifth branch, long settled in Dengzhou, didn’t understand Bianjing’s inner circles, and their marriage proposals were insincere—so none succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had assumed Jiong was too young to care about marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But yesterday, her precious son had said Xu’s younger daughter was admirable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Dangzi thought they’d exchanged private tokens; she interrogated Fu Ding, her son’s servant, and learned it was her own son’s doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d barely seen each other—only glimpsed through a screen’s crack—and her foolish son was already bewitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t just show up unannounced, so Pan Dangzi brought a box of South Sea pearls to visit Yongchang Marquis Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She circled around, carefully explaining her purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi had originally been cold-faced—she’d visited the Hu Yan family several times, only to be rejected each time, leaving her embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pan Dangzi subtly hinted at the moral failings of those other families,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and seeing the large South Sea pearls she brought, along with her humble, pleading tone—especially upon hearing it was the Xu girl—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi instantly changed her demeanor: from stiff, dismissive, and unseeing, to fully attentive, nodding repeatedly, her words overflowing with praise for Pan Dangzi’s choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Wu Dangzi didn’t promise anything outright—she only said she’d go to the Xu family to inquire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Dangzi naturally replied: “If it works, best of all; if not, these pearls are still my goodwill and apology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the Hu Yan household,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>seeing her younger son’s forced composure, Pan Dangzi said nothing, only sighed deeply, avoiding direct eye contact with Hu Yan Jiong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan Jiong studied his mother’s expression; his calmness slowly crumbled into panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, has she already been betrothed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Dangzi remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, the servant Fu Ding saw his young master’s state and quickly slipped to the side of the main hall, took a bowl of sweet soup from one of the mistress’s maids, and carried it inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan Jiong, pale-faced, looked at the tray and realized he’d been rash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even greeted his mother before forgetting her, not yet married and already neglecting filial duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly picked up the sweet soup:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, please take a moment to rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Dangzi accepted the sweet soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at her son, exasperated:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop pretending. Wu Dangzi didn’t say Xu’s daughter is betrothed—she’s already gone to the Xu family. We’ll know soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yan Jiong quickly lowered his head to hide his ecstatic expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said cheerfully: “Thank you, Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. You haven’t even met her, and you’ve already lost your soul. You’re making me proud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I—I haven’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the evening, the fifth branch of the Jinghai Marquis Mansion received a note from Wu Dangzi, inviting Pan Dangzi to the Yongyi Marquis Mansion for tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Sun Shi sighed in her courtyard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What sin have I committed? Every time our children’s marriages come up, my husband is never home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wrote another letter, paid silver, and sent it by express courier to the Western Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Xu Anmei, still playing with Xu Zaijing in the room, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An’er, come here. Mother has something to say to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Anmei, unconcerned, replied: “It’s just a few aunts coming for tea, right? I know, Mother—I won’t be rude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Zhou Imperial Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prince is healthy; the Empress, in better spirits, seems to be growing younger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Imperial Consort Rong is much younger than the Empress, the two standing together appear nearly the same age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Empress’s complexion rivals even the young Imperial Consort Rong—everyone’s eyes are inevitably drawn to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not that Imperial Consort Rong isn’t beautiful, but she lacks something in aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace attendants could tell; the Emperor felt it even more acutely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, the Emperor has gone nowhere else—he sleeps only in the Empress’s palace. But the Empress has grown weary of him and urges him to visit other concubines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, irritated by her insistence, the Emperor went straight to Imperial Consort Rong’s palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress, meanwhile, gently patted the Prince while listening to her attendants’ report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, Wu Dangzi sent word early: the younger son of the Jinghai Marquis, Xiao Jiong, is interested in Xu’s daughter, Anjie. Tomorrow, they’ll go to the Xu family for a meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing “Xu,” the Empress’s lips lifted slightly as she looked at her son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The eleventh son of the Hu Yan family,” the attendant replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress paused, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His mother is from the Pan family of Dengzhou, yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re among the wealthiest families in the east. Tomorrow, pick a good time and send two baskets of the black jade watermelons from our household to the Xu family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady, we've sent nine baskets from home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to worry, just send them over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the hour of Wei (1 p.m.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Da Niangzi and Pan Da Niangzi arrived together at the second gate of the Xu residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the second gate, Bai Shi and Sun Shi stood together; behind them was Xie Er, wife of Xu Dalang, holding Gu Tingyi by the hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The weather has grown hot; thank you for waiting here so long, sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister, you speak too formally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the main hall together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, large blocks of ice cooled the air, and maids fanned with reed fans; the atmosphere was refreshingly cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Da Niangzi glanced at Bai Shi, who sat beside them as hostess, her eyes sweeping over Bai Shi’s clothing and jewelry, assessing: immense wealth—slightly surpassing even the Pan household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they chatted, sharing gossip Pan Da Niangzi had never heard, the room grew warm with harmony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the maid Xiao Dan hurried to the hall’s entrance:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady, the palace has sent imperial gifts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting smile passed through Wu Da Niangzi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Shi looked slightly startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief apology, Sun Shi hurried out to welcome the palace emissaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan Da Niangzi’s expression remained unchanged, but her eyes held a thoughtful gleam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time seeing her own work on the category recommendation list, she was extraordinarily excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than that, she felt deeply humbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please support, recommend, and tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The author sings: Not a drop of oil in the bowl—your support eases all worries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1673,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","beeec7d44cddd5b1c41b8e70513595a8b9c6576edae7fb42226d8dfe35b12e5f","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-76","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-74",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]