Chapter 103: The Gao Family

Through conversation, Lu Fang learned that the maid’s name was Xue’er, a servant to the Gao family’s eldest daughter, and that she had brought him into the Gao household to make him a son-in-law.

Lu Fang had originally planned to flee immediately, but then he paused to wonder—was there some hidden reason behind this?

Otherwise, which family’s daughter would randomly drag in a stranger and demand he become a son-in-law?

“There’s no need to rush.”

Lu Fang could leave anytime he wished; he decided to hear out the Gao daughter’s reasons first—there was no harm in waiting.

After a thorough washing.

Xue’er combed Lu Fang’s long hair and said, “You look like a frail scholar, yet your physique is so robust—my mistress will surely be pleased with you.”

Lu Fang probed a few questions, but Xue’er knew nothing—she only said he could ask the mistress when the time came.

So he stopped asking.

After being properly dressed, Xue’er left, and Lu Fang sat alone in the room, waiting from noon until afternoon, then from afternoon until night, before a maid finally came to summon him to meet the Gao daughter.

The Gao family’s rear courtyard.

In a spacious boudoir, sandalwood incense drifted slowly from the censer, filling the room with fragrance.

“Mistress, the man has been brought.”

The maid bowed.

By the window sat a woman in her early twenties, bent over stacks of ledgers, her black hair tied with a green ribbon; when she looked up, her delicate face took one’s breath away.

Lu Fang couldn’t understand how a woman like this would suddenly seek out a destitute scholar and demand he become a son-in-law.

If she merely spoke a word, surely many would rush to marry her.

Gao Youyao sized up Lu Fang, nodded slightly, and said, “Let’s cut to the chase: if you become a son-in-law of the Gao family, I’ll ensure you never lack silver for the rest of your life—but we will not have marital relations.”

“Nor may you take concubines outside.”

“However, if you behave properly, after three years, I’ll give you Xue’er as a concubine to carry on your family line.”

Lu Fang frowned and said, “Why must it be this way?”

“You don’t need to know.” Gao Youyao resumed flipping through her ledgers.

Lu Fang smiled faintly. “That won’t do—I must know why. Otherwise, how can I tell if becoming your son-in-law will put me in danger?”

Seeing Gao Youyao frown, Xue’er hurried to say, “Master Fang, it’s like this: Master Gao has only one daughter, and recently he fell gravely ill—he wants her to marry immediately.”

“That’s all?”

Lu Fang asked, puzzled.

Choosing a controllable destitute scholar as a son-in-law was understandable.

Xue’er sighed. “The haste is to block Zheng’s son from marrying our mistress—he’s a idle playboy who only wants to seize the Gao family’s fortune.”

“Because of his rumors, no one in town dares to become a Gao son-in-law anymore—we’ve had to burden Master Fang with this.”

“So that’s the case?” Lu Fang raised an eyebrow. “Who is this Zheng official?”

Xue’er replied, “He’s the county magistrate. The Zheng family has held high office here for three generations—they hold immense power. But don’t worry, as long as you don’t wander around, you’ll be safe.”

Lu Fang frowned. “This place is so close to the capital—how can a mere county magistrate act so tyrannically?”

“How bold of you to call him a mere county magistrate?” Gao Youyao said coldly. “In Beicheng, Master Zheng is a father and mother to the people. You think you can go to the capital to file a complaint? He has connections there too—what would you have me do? What can I do?”

Lu Fang fell silent for a moment, then chuckled bitterly. “So becoming a Gao son-in-law is even more dangerous than I imagined.”

Xue’er quickly added, “Mistress’s master is a sixth-rank martial cultivator—he’ll arrive in Beicheng soon. Then, Master Zheng won’t dare overstep.”

Gao Youyao shook her head. “Xue’er, you’ve spoken too much today. If he’s afraid of danger and refuses, then let him go. I see he’s just another arrogant scholar with no humility—otherwise, how could he have fallen so low?”

Xue’er blushed and said nothing more.

Lu Fang nodded. “I never said I refused. I’m nearly starving to death. Even if it’s dangerous, I’ll become your son-in-law.”

He wanted to see just how tyrannical this county magistrate was, right under the Son of Heaven’s gaze.

Besides, this Gao son-in-law role was only nominal.

“Hmm. You’ve agreed—I still need to consider. Someone, take Master Fang away and treat him well. But rest assured, even if I don’t choose you, I’ll give you silver as compensation.”

Gao Youyao waved her hand.

After the maid led Lu Fang out, Gao Youyao stared silently at Xue’er.

Xue’er pouted. “Mistress, why are you looking at me like that?”

Gao Youyao rolled her eyes. “You little minx—have you taken a fancy to this Fang Lu? What’s so appealing about him? Destitute, arrogant, and his looks are merely average.”

Xue’er squirmed and swayed her body.

“Mistress, Master Fang isn’t as bad as you think—he’s a true gentleman. There’s something about him—he makes you feel at ease just being near him. I can tell he’s no bad man.”

“Then it’s him?”

Gao Youyao asked.

She and Xue’er had grown up together, like sisters; this search for a son-in-law was really about finding Xue’er a husband.

Naturally, she cared about Xue’er’s opinion.

Besides, Gao Youyao didn’t dislike Lu Fang—she just thought he had no sense of reality. He was destitute yet still carried himself with scholarly pride.

Still, that was fine—at least his character was sound.

The next day.

Lu Fang was reading records about Beicheng when Xue’er knocked and entered. “Master Fang, Mistress’s master has arrived. She asks you to come with her to see Master Gao.”

“Alright.” Lu Fang rose and followed her toward the rear courtyard. On the way, he asked, “What illness does Master Gao have? Is it serious?”

Xue’er sighed. “My master…”

From Xue’er’s brief account, Lu Fang learned that Master Gao had once been a Confucian scholar, one of righteous spirit, though only at the ninth-rank level.

Previously, Master Gao had been in good health, but three months ago, he suddenly fell ill, growing weaker day by day.

Now he often slipped into unconsciousness, rarely regaining full clarity.

As for Gao Youyao’s master, he was a former friend of Master Gao named Wu Feng, whom she had studied under since childhood.

As they spoke,

they arrived at a courtyard, where Gao Youyao was conversing with a man in his forties.

Lu Fang sensed the man was a sixth-rank martial cultivator—he guessed this must be Wu Feng.

Gao Youyao gestured politely. “Master, you’ve traveled far and seen much—please examine my father. Could this strange illness be poisoning? It came on so suddenly.”