Chapter Nineteen: Vengeance Fulfilled, Imperial Rewards Bestowed!

The official who had been spat upon by Zhou Qing was named Du Zitang, and by now, he had already left. He was a man who cared about appearances; with phlegm clinging to his clothing, he could hardly linger. Even if he himself was not bothered, wandering about would surely disgust others.

But he was not the only one to leave. Thanks to Zhou Qing’s shocking display, the officials departed one after another. By the time Zhou Yuanshan realized something was amiss, nearly two-thirds of the guests had quietly slipped away, leaving the front hall, never crowded to begin with, even more desolate.

With this in mind, and having witnessed firsthand his own son’s conduct, Zhou Yuanshan finally understood the cause.

When the bridal procession returned, Zhou Qing was in the small courtyard receiving his punishment, his wailing faintly audible.

The previously cold and cheerless main hall regained a touch of liveliness as many guests watched the newlyweds pay their respects, each with different expressions and thoughts.

Because it was a marriage by matrilocal adoption, the ceremony was much simplified. Under the gaze of so many guests, the three bows—first to heaven and earth, second to the elders, third the couple to each other—were quickly concluded.

Since Han Fu’s parents were both deceased, there were no elders on his side to honor, so only Zhou Xinyi and his wife were saluted.

As the saying goes: "Honoring the parents is akin to offering sacrifices to heaven, boundless is their virtue..."

After the ceremony, etiquette dictated that Han Fu meet the many relatives of the Zhou family. At this, Bai Li Mingda volunteered himself, stepping forward and saying, "Brother-in-law, from today, we're truly family, ha ha... Come, I’ll introduce you to everyone."

With that, he dragged Han Fu along for introductions. Bai Li Mingsu, her head still veiled, followed silently at his side.

"This is eldest brother Zhou Yuanshan..."

"This is second brother Zhou Yuantou..."

"This is..."

Having lived in the Zhou residence for three days, Han Fu was meeting the two young masters for the first time, and his impressions of them were mixed.

Zhou Yuanshan was neither warm nor cold, and in light of Zhou Qing’s spitting incident, Han Fu understood this man harbored some resentment toward him.

“I won’t say much else; just don’t let Mingsu down in the future,” said Zhou Yuanshan, a word of admonition to Han Fu.

This was a brother-in-law who knew where to draw the line between kin and outsider. Even though it was their first meeting and only a few words were exchanged, Han Fu appraised him as such.

Indeed, as Han Fu suspected, Zhou Yuanshan was displeased but knew the matter was settled and beyond his power to undo. No matter how much he disliked Han Fu’s circumstances, now that he was family, he might scold him in private, but could not allow the family’s dignity to be lost before outsiders.

By comparison, Zhou Yuantou was slightly more amiable, though not exactly warm.

“I heard from Guard Ge that ever since you entered the manor, you’ve practiced some soft, feeble martial art. Can that kill? We should spar sometime. If you beat me, I’ll teach you real skills, killing techniques...”

Zhou Yuantou was tall, dark, and burly, with piercing eyes that left no doubt he was a practiced martial artist.

Han Fu was eager for the opportunity and was about to reply, but Bai Li Mingda interjected first.

With a curl of his lip, he remarked, “If he beats you, what’s the point of you teaching him?”

The skills of solo combat could not compare to the chaos of the battlefield, and all Han Fu knew were solo techniques. Battlefield skills were another matter entirely.

After all, in his former life in a highly advanced civilization, even warfare was fought at range; at worst, a single “whoosh...bang...” and a missile would settle it. The chaos of bayonet charges and close combat had long since vanished.

But Bai Li Mingda gave him no chance to speak, pulling him away, laughing, “Don’t mind him, brother-in-law. He’s so obsessed with the blade that he wants to spar with anyone he meets.”

“Have you been beaten by him?” Han Fu asked, curious.

“Hmph...” Bai Li Mingda’s fair, round face darkened. “He hits hard, never knows his own strength. After that, I stopped playing with him.”

Stopped playing with him? Han Fu couldn’t help but think it sounded like the words of quarreling children. “When was this?”

“Six years ago.”

Han Fu was speechless, but it was clear Bai Li Mingda bore grudges.

“In the future, I’ll help you get your revenge,” Han Fu said with a smile.

Since Zhou Yuantou had issued the invitation—offering a chance to become stronger—Han Fu would not let it pass. He had been looking for someone to teach him.

Yet Bai Li Mingda looked at him askance, skeptical: “You?”

Han Fu swept his sleeve and walked away. Instantly, Bai Li Mingda’s face lit up with a fawning smile as he chased after and apologized.

“Come on, brother-in-law, don’t be angry, ha ha... That’s not what I meant. I appreciate your intention, really, I’m touched... ha ha... Don’t be mad. You don’t realize, Zhou Yuantou really is formidable. He’s mastered nearly all of Guard Ge’s skills. I just don’t want you to suffer for nothing...”

After another round of introductions, Han Fu finally finished meeting the Zhou family’s relatives and moved on to toasting each table.

This was mostly an exchange of pleasantries—Han Fu smiled and played along, using the opportunity to glean some basic information about each person.

Meanwhile, Bai Li Mingsu had already returned to the bridal chamber, sitting on the bed’s edge, still veiled, awaiting him.

Han Fu remained behind to continue his duties as host. Isolated and new to Dingxing, with all the guests from the Zhou family’s circle, the process felt perfunctory. If not for the desire to learn about them, he would have left at once.

The story of Zhou Qing spitting everywhere and being punished—this Bai Li Mingda recounted in a low voice, treating it as a joke.

Han Fu laughed along, genuinely amused.

With his great enemy avenged, he drank three generous cups.

The wine was mild, nothing like the fiery spirits of his former life. If one asked its proof—well, less than ten percent, at a guess.

So, even after several rounds, Han Fu was only slightly tipsy.

When the socializing was over, the guests gathered in groups of three or four, drinking with friends. The focus had shifted from the wedding itself; seeing this, Han Fu prepared to take his leave.

Not that he was eager to go, but Bai Li Mingda insisted, urging him to hurry to the bridal chamber and produce a chubby son as soon as possible.

Such an attentive brother-in-law was a rarity.

Han Fu had joined the Zhou family primarily to secure a place to call his own; Bai Li Mingsu was not his main objective. Yet, as one of Dingxing’s famed beauties, her looks needed no further praise.

To be close to beauty, to enrich life and refine one’s tastes—what harm could there be in that?

But just as Han Fu was about to leave, a eunuch arrived from the palace.

It was not only Wang De; a dozen young eunuchs followed behind, two of whom bore a chest between them.

“By His Majesty’s decree: fifty pieces of jewelry, two chests of treasures, one hundred bolts of fine silk, and a thousand gold coins... to celebrate the joyous union.”

Zhou Xinyi hurriedly brought everyone forward to express their gratitude.

The eunuch smiled broadly, displaying a mouthful of white teeth. “Duke of Peiguo, His Majesty says these wedding gifts are not for you, but for your son-in-law, Han Fu. He is alone and unsupported in Dingxing; now that you are family, do not think to bully him because he is a son-in-law by adoption...”

When Wang De finished, the crowd’s reactions were mixed.

Some were surprised, some thoughtful, and those who seemed to have worked out the connection wore expressions of sudden realization.

They had wondered why, for a mere matrilocal wedding, an imperial gift was already an honor—how could there be such generosity?

Some now understood, casting meaningful glances toward Han Fu.

“Humble subject thanks His Majesty for his vast kindness,” Han Fu said with a bow, feeling a wave of relief inside.

Fortunately, the Xu Dynasty did not require kneeling for such ceremonies, or he would have been caught in an awkward dilemma.

At the same time, Han Fu pondered: what was Emperor Xiaokang’s intention in this?