Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

"This trip has indeed yielded a rich harvest!"

Walking home, Xiao Yi was very satisfied with the outcomes.

Not only had he earned a hundred thousand taels of silver, but he also obtained the only surviving masterpiece of the Life-Chasing Scholar, truly making the journey worthwhile.

"The 'Subduing Tiger Sword Technique' is Jin Wuheng's simplification of the 'Life-Chasing Soul Sword.' This man truly was a natural-born swordsman!"

Xiao Yi glanced at the scroll in his hand.

Nanhuang City was just a remote small town.

Even being one of the four great families, the Fang Family's highest-level martial technique was only a third-grade intermediate.

This 'Subduing Tiger Sword Technique' could completely serve as a treasure to protect the clan and, as a birthday gift for Fang Tianhao, it would definitely suffice, "This gift should indeed make Qingzhu proud!"

Presenting such a precious martial technique as a congratulatory gift wasn't to curry favor with Fang Tianhao.

It was merely to mitigate his own remorse towards Fang Qingzhu!

......

The following evening.

The setting sun burned the western sky red, as if a layer of Hongxia had been spread across it.

Fang Qingzhu came to the courtyard to meet with Xiao Yi, and upon seeing his wrinkled clothes, her eyebrows knitted together, "Didn't I give you a hundred taels of silver to buy clothes?"

Xiao Yi touched his nose, "I'm sorry, I forgot."

He had gone straight home after leaving Elder Yan yesterday, completely putting the matter of buying clothes out of his mind.

"You..."

Fang Qingzhu opened her mouth but ultimately let out a powerless sigh, "Never mind, even if you dressed up, those people wouldn't look at you any differently. Let's just go! It's getting late, we should leave..."

Xiao Yi asked, "Is it just the two of us?"

He remembered that Fang Qingzhu's parents were still alive, and she had a younger brother—why were they nowhere to be seen?

Fang Qingzhu's eyes dimmed, not wishing to elaborate, she merely said, "They've already gone ahead!"

"Alright, just wait a moment!"

Xiao Yi returned to the house and brought out the 'Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll.'

Fang Qingzhu frowned, "What is this?"

Xiao Yi replied, "A birthday gift!"

Fang Qingzhu looked deeply at Xiao Yi, said nothing more, and softly remarked, "I already told you I'd prepare the gift... But since you've prepared one yourself, let's use yours then!"

The two took a carriage to Mr. Fang's main house.

The vast Fang Family home was brightly lit and decorated, buzzing with joy and the hustle and bustle of people coming and going.

The birthday feast was set in the Fang mansion's banquet hall, with over thirty neatly arranged red tables, all seated with important figures from Nanhuang City.

Chen Yong, the head of the Chen Family, Zhao Yu of the Zhao Family, and Zhang Yong, the head of the Zhang Family—all important figures from the four great families—were seated in prominent positions.

In addition, there were others like Lei Hu, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang, Nie Tianying, the head of the Flying Eagle Escort Agency, and so on, each bringing substantial gifts, reflecting the Fang Family's status in Nanhuang City.

Today's birthday star was Fang Tianhao, the head of the Fang Family and also Fang Qingzhu's grandfather.

Fang Tianhao, donning a fiery red python robe, was beaming and enjoying a hearty conversation with the heads of the other three major families.

Fang Qingzhu's parents, Fang Zheng and Liu Yun, along with their son Fang Hao, were all smiles, warmly welcoming the guests arriving. Suddenly, a servant reported, "My lord, madam, Miss Qingzhu and the young master have arrived!"

The smiling faces of Fang Zheng and his wife changed instantly, their smiles dissipating.

It was as disgusting as stripping a beautiful woman only to discover she was a man.

Fang Zheng scoffed, "So they've come, but am I supposed to greet them personally?"

Liu Yun's face was full of disdain as she scolded, "Remember, that worthless man is not our son-in-law. If you get it wrong again, you can leave the Fang Family!"

The servant was terrified, "This servant understands the mistake."

Fang Hao, dressed in a splendid robe and looking impatient, said, "Dad, Mom, stop arguing. I'll go take a look."

Fang Zheng's face showed nothing but disgust as he nonchalantly waved his hand, "Just find them a corner to sit in!"

"Understood!"

Fang Hao lazily made his way to the entrance and glanced at Fang Qingzhu and Xiao Yi with a mocking tone, "Oh my, isn't this my haughty sister and the worthless brother-in-law? You two finally decided to show up. I've specially arranged seats for you, come with me!"

Back then, Fang Qingzhu was the pampered darling of the heavens, the entire family treated her like she was the moon surrounded by a halo of stars.

Fang Hao had often been disciplined by Fang Qingzhu.

But now...

With Fang Qingzhu having fallen to a cripple and bound to lose her status as the family heir once Fang Jin returned, he couldn't be more delighted.

Fang Hao directly led the two of them to the most secluded corner. While others had grand red tables full of dishes and wine, all they had were two plates of cold dishes, not even a set of utensils.

Fang Hao said, "We're a bit short on space up front due to the number of guests, and grandfather's wish is for you to stay out of sight to avoid displeasing the other guests. You'll just have to make do here!"

"Is this grandfather's idea, or did our parents ask you to do this?" Fang Qingzhu asked tremulously, her words heavy with intent.

There were several empty seats at the tables in front of them, how could it be that there wasn't enough space for guests?

This was clearly a deliberate humiliation!

Since when did one have to worry about causing guest displeasure by sitting in the front at a birthday celebration for one's own grandfather? Could it really be that their own family members ranked lower than these so-called guests?

In the face of Fang Qingzhu's interrogation, Fang Hao feigned innocence, "Sister, you're thinking too much! Today is grandfather's birthday, his happiness is what matters most. It's just a seat; where does it matter where you sit, right?"

Xiao Yi gave him a sidelong glance, his eyebrows arching, a cold smirk on his face.

Where does it matter where you sit?

Then why don't you sit here? Why not arrange for the heads of the other three major families to sit here?

But seeing Fang Qingzhu beside him, silent and speechless, Xiao Yi knew her heart was much heavier than his own. After all, it was her own younger brother who had arranged for her to be here. He understood all too well the feeling of being humiliated by one's own flesh and blood.

It was a desolation that words could not describe, a powerlessness and heartache.

It cut deep to the heart.

"Sister, just stay here for now! I have to get busy," said Fang Hao with a laugh, striding away.

Their situation was naturally witnessed by the guests, who whispered and gossiped among themselves, their comments too offensive to bear: "Is that the Fang Family's useless son-in-law? Well, he does look pretty handsome, but it's a pity he's useless..."

"Not just useless, but a bringer of misfortune too! Fang Tianhao used to spoil Fang Qingzhu rotten, afraid she might fall and get hurt, or melt in his mouth, and now? Look at where they've been seated, in the furthest corner without even a decent dish..."

At this moment, the banquet officially began.

The guests toasted and made merry, the atmosphere lively.

Only in the corner where Xiao Yi and his companion were seated, the desolation was emphasized by the two plates of cold dishes.

After three rounds of wine and a multitude of dishes had been served,

Fang Zheng, seated at the main table, gave a light cough, and seeing that everyone was looking at him, he began to speak, "Hao, haven't you specially prepared a birthday gift? Isn't it time to offer it to grandfather?"

"Alrighty!"

Fang Hao, his face flush with excitement—having always been overshadowed by Fang Qingzhu at previous birthday feasts, it was now his turn to shine—stepped forward cheerfully, "Grandfather, I have prepared for you a hundred-year-old ginseng, wishing you fortune as vast as the East Sea and a longevity greater than the southern mountains."

A hundred-year-old ginseng was worth tens of thousands of silver, and Fang Tianhao's smile was so wide he could barely close his mouth, "Good grandson, your gift is very much to grandpa's liking!"

Pleased with himself, Fang Hao maintained a facade of modesty, "As long as grandpa likes it, that's all that matters!"

"Family head, our younger brother couldn't return from the capital to join in your birthday celebration. Before he left, he made me promise to deliver his gift personally!"

Fang Ao had largely recovered after a month of recuperation, but his voice had taken on a colder, sharper edge. He presented a jade box to Fang Tianhao, "Our brother knows you enjoy studying sword manuals, so he prepared this 'Falling Leaves Sword Skill,' a third-grade beginner-level sword technique. We hope you will find it to your liking!"

Hisss!

The crowd collectively gasped in astonishment, "That 'Falling Leaves Sword Skill' must cost at least a hundred thousand silver!"

"Even for the Fang Family, such a sword technique could be considered a treasure of the clan!"

Watching the envious expressions in everyone's eyes, Fang Tianhao reveled in his pride, "Very good, very good, Fang Jin indeed is the most outstanding son of the Fang Family, this gift has truly won my heart!"

"If the family head is pleased, our younger brother will be extremely happy!"

Fang Ao's pale face twisted into a venomous smirk as he looked in the direction of Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu and said mockingly, "Our younger brother, even from afar in the capital, remembered to prepare a birthday gift for the family head. Fang Qingzhu, you are the Fang Family's heir apparent. What gift have you prepared for the family head?"

At his words, all eyes turned toward the corner where Xiao Yi and his companion were seated…