Anyang County, Su Family.
Su Jingshan, as the County Magistrate of Anyang County, is the parental official of Anyang County; the Su Family is the largest noble family in the entire Anyang County.
The Su Family mansion is a massive three-entry courtyard, with dozens of maids and servants in the residence.
With the annual festival approaching, the Martial Arts Hall is on holiday.
Su Chang follows his father, Su Jinghong, back to the city residence.
At the hour of You, the government office is on recess, and when Su Jingshan returns home, he sees Su Chang teasing a maid from the residence.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
"The master has returned!"
The attendant notices Su Jingshan and hurriedly alerts him.
Su Chang immediately withdraws his hand, tidies his disheveled clothing, and comes up to salute, "Uncle."
Su Jingshan passes by him with a cold face, not acknowledging him.
In the back courtyard hall, Su Jinghong is accompanying an elderly woman in conversation; upon seeing Su Jingshan enter, he hurriedly stands up to salute, "Brother."
The elderly woman also smiles and says, "Jingshan, you came just in time."
Su Jingshan puts away the displeasure on his face and promptly salutes his mother, "Mother."
The elderly woman nods with a smile, "Sit down."
The brothers sit together, and the elderly woman takes Su Jingshan's hand, saying, "Jinghong was just telling me that after the annual festival he plans to send a betrothal gift to the Huang Family. As the elder brother, you must keep an eye on this matter."
Su Jingshan nods in response, "Mother, rest assured, I remember this matter."
Saying this, he turns to Su Jinghong, "How is Chang'Er's relationship with the Huang Family's girl after spending a few years in Yunshui Town?"
Su Jinghong touches his bald head, laughs awkwardly, and says nothing.
"Mother, please rest; Jinghong and I will discuss this matter."
Su Jingshan also knows of his nephew's character and does not want to mention it in front of his mother.
Just then, Su Chang rushes in anxiously from outside, noticing Su Jingshan is present, he slows down, approaches respectfully, and salutes the elderly woman, "Grandmother, I have ordered the cook to prepare your favorite deer antler soup, it will be ready soon."
The elderly woman nods happily, "Chang'Er is filial, come and chat with grandmother."
Upon hearing this, Su Chang hurriedly moves closer and kneels down.
Su Jingshan gives him a glance, says nothing, and rises to leave.
Su Jinghong follows closely.
The two come to the pavilion in the courtyard; Su Jingshan, with hands behind his back and a sullen face, says, "Such a wastrel, how can he be of any great use?"
"Did you know that the news has come; after the annual festival, Huang Yunxiao from the Huang Family will be assigned as the County Captain of Anyang?"
Facing his elder brother's questioning, Su Jinghong nods somewhat nervously.
Though they are blood brothers, Su Jingshan is ten years older than him, coupled with years in officialdom, carrying an aura of authority that makes Su Jinghong somewhat respectful.
"And do you know that the Huang Family already harbors the intention to cancel the marriage?"
Su Jingshan speaks again, his voice growing colder.
Huang Yunxiao sent an official disc to the government office today, and the two met unexpectedly. After some pleasantries, Su Jingshan naturally brought up the marriage contract.
However, Huang Yunxiao's reaction was subtle, merely deferring repeatedly, saying the children are still young and need more time.
Su Jingshan is not foolish; how could he not understand that the Huang Family already intends to annul the marriage?
Previously, Huang Yunxiao was merely a Captain in the Mountain Patrol Captain Camp, equivalent to a Hundred Generals in the military, and their families had a marriage agreement, which meant the Huang Family was reaching high.
But now, due to military achievements from intercepting a Barbarian Race squad, Huang Yunxiao was reassigned as the Anyang County Captain, and they are nominally of equal rank.
The marriage between the two families would allow him to better control Anyang County.
By then, whether for family development or political career advancement, there would be significant benefits.
But now...
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Su Jingshan sighs and asks.
He understands that the biggest reason for the Huang Family's decision to cancel the marriage is probably because this nephew is too incorrigible.
Over the years, Su Jinghong's family has been living in the old residence in Yunshui Town to foster good relations with the Huang Family, and he is unaware of what exactly has transpired.
Su Jinghong dares not conceal anything and speaks directly, "Chang'Er may lack ambition, but he is indeed devoted to the Huang Family girl."
"Brother, I believe the Huang Family wants to cancel the marriage because they've found a better backing."
A better backing?
Su Jingshan scoffs, "Given the Huang Family's connections, there aren't many who would entertain them. The Huang Family girl is neither an extraordinary beauty nor possesses any startling talent; how could she attract those from Great Noble Families?"
In his view, his brother is merely shielding his son.
After six years of martial arts study, consuming countless resources, he has yet to break through to the realm of Postnatal Martial Artist.
At a young age, he indulges in brothels, teases maids, and is uninformed; such a person, even he wouldn't dare marry a daughter to him.
"Brother, there truly is."
Su Jinghong quickly says, "I heard from Chang'Er that the Huang Family girl has been spending time with a boy named Shen Wenxing recently."
"Before that boy went to the Martial Arts Hall, their relationship was quite harmonious; after he went there, the Huang Family girl stopped paying attention to Chang'Er."
Surname Shen?
Su Jingshan frowns, reflecting carefully, but can't think of a family that fits.
"What is this Shen Wenxing's background?"
"He comes from Jinliu Village in Yunshui Town!" Su Jinghong is apparently informed and responds immediately, "Shen Family's ancestors had military merit, once bestowed noble rank, but now it's been stripped; they are just ordinary farmers."
"But..."
Su Jinghong glances at his brother and continues, "But the second child of the Shen Family managed to somehow become a student of the great scholar Master Lu from the Imperial Academy..."
Master Lu!?
Su Jingshan is slightly stunned, unable to suppress the memory of a letter he received some time ago.
It was Lu Zhiyuan personally writing to him about purchasing a field from Jinliu Village.
Recall back in the day, upon learning Lu Zhiyuan had secluded himself in Jinliu Village, he brought generous gifts, hoping to have his youngest son accepted as a student, becoming a disciple of a great scholar.
But at that time, he couldn't even meet Lu Zhiyuan.
And for that, Su Jingshan dares not harbor any resentment; after all, Lu Zhiyuan is a great scholar of the time, a literary giant, and the Imperial Academy and officials are replete with scholars and students from his tutelage.
Reportedly, even the current Emperor Yu, when he was the Crown Prince, sought advice from him at the Imperial Academy.
Though over a decade ago it was rumored that Lu Zhiyuan intended to commit a 'betrayal against his master and ancestors,' leading numerous radical scholars to condemn him, that doesn't diminish his status as a great scholar.
"Is there more?"
Su Jingshan asks in a deep voice.
Shen family's second child becoming a disciple of a great scholar is still far from a reason for the Huang Family to annul the marriage.
After all, it is Shen family's eldest who has a good relationship with the Huang Family girl.
"This..." Su Jinghong runs out of words momentarily.
Investigating the Shen Family is easy, but Su Chang certainly wouldn't reveal what happened at the Martial Arts Hall concerning Shen Wenxing.
"Enough, make sure to discipline this kid in the meantime; don't disgrace the Su Family!"
These recent years, Heaven's favor has brought continuous harvests with no disasters, thinking of accomplishing significant governance achievements and advancing further.
He absolutely cannot allow this scoundrel nephew to ruin anything.
Su Jinghong quickly bows, "Rest assured, Brother, I will certainly discipline him well!"
Su Jingshan waves him away, signaling him to leave.
After he departs, Su Jingshan's face reveals a hint of contemplation.
Regarding the Huang Family, he still wants to strive for it; after all, if the two families successfully marry, it could smooth his path to advancement.