“Greetings, Uncle.”
Lin Ce’s palms were sweating when he spoke. Su Zhang was not easy to deal with. Anyone who could maneuver through the court for over twenty years, even his grandfather had once sighed, calling Su Zhang a true master of cunning. Opening with such a sharp question was clearly meant to put him in his place, making Lin Ce feel slightly nervous.
“Father!” Su Nanqiao frowned and pouted, clearly displeased. She stepped forward and held onto Su Zhang’s arm.
“Lin Ce came to discuss the marriage. Have you forgotten our family’s engagement with the Lin family?” Madam Su quickly added, “Take a good look. The Duke of the Empire has taken Lin Ce as his nephew and personally sent these rare treasures as betrothal gifts.”
“Be careful what you say. Lin Ce has powerful backing.”
Madam Su kept it brief, giving Su Zhang a look, signaling him to look at Xu Rong.
Xu Rong immediately stepped forward respectfully and smiled, “Master Su, the Duke instructed me to deliver the betrothal gifts on behalf of Young Master Lin. He also said once the wedding date is set, he will personally handle all the arrangements.”
Hearing this, Su Zhang took a good look at Lin Ce. He said in a serious tone, “Was it really you who solved the ‘Star River Dream’ yesterday? How did you come up with that move?”
The Duke of the Empire had done everything he could to save his son. The inescapable chess situation had caused a huge stir throughout Bianjing. Su Zhang himself, as Minister of Rites, had some knowledge of the chess arts, but even he couldn’t break the setup. That such a trap—one that stumped all of Bianjing—was cracked by Lin Ce was a surprise.
“It was just a stroke of luck. I happened to have read a solution to that chess game. If Uncle would like to see it, I can recreate the board and demonstrate the break,” Lin Ce replied as he raised his head. The determined expression on his youthful and handsome face shone with confidence.
His clear eyes carried a strong sense of conviction, which made Su Zhang pause for a moment.
Everyone believed the Lin family had been utterly defeated after their fall from grace. Yet here stood the young heir of the Lin family, not only uncrushed by misfortune, but returning to the capital at a time when he should’ve stayed far away—announcing his return by breaking that infamous game.
This was a sign of something unusual.
Su Zhang began to view Lin Ce with more interest. But instead of commenting further on the chess game, he switched topics and said, “You’re here to talk about the marriage, I assume.”
“Marriage is no trivial matter. Though there’s a written engagement and words exchanged between elders and matchmakers, a mere contract doesn’t mean my daughter will marry just anyone.”
“To marry my daughter, there are conditions you must meet.”
Hearing this, Su Nanqiao stomped her foot in frustration. Lin Ce had just passed Madam Su’s test, and now Su Zhang was throwing out new ones.
Still, it wasn’t a bad thing. If the Duke of the Empire weren’t backing Lin Ce, Su Zhang wouldn’t even bother engaging with him. In Su Zhang’s eyes, the Lin family had no political value. Naturally, he wouldn’t allow his daughter to marry into it. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Lin Ce stood tall and met Su Zhang’s gaze directly.
Su Zhang had seen many bold young men in his time, but Lin Ce felt different.
“If you want to marry my daughter, you have two options,” Su Zhang said after a brief pause. “First, enter the court as an official and attain a fifth-rank position. Only then would you have the stature of a true dragon, and I would feel secure entrusting my daughter to you—knowing your future wouldn’t be precarious.”
“That’s reasonable,” Lin Ce nodded.
“Second… surpass my daughter in martial cultivation. Reach the Dragon Transformation Realm. Only then can I be sure she won’t be bullied, and that you’re capable of protecting her.”
The moment these two conditions were laid out, Su Nanqiao grew anxious and said, “Father, you’re clearly just trying to stop me from getting married! Even if Lin Ce doesn’t meet those two conditions, I’ll still marry him!”
Su Zhang’s forehead throbbed with frustration. Why was his daughter siding with an outsider? Even if daughters were destined to leave the home eventually, she could still choose someone more suitable. Why someone like Lin Ce—who had no power or status?
Even with the Duke of the Empire’s support, true strength was built by one’s own hands. Su Zhang couldn’t just agree so easily.
“So, how about it? Fulfill either one of these conditions, and you may marry Nanqiao,” Su Zhang said with his hands behind his back. Wearing his official robe, he radiated authority. Whether Lin Ce would become a dragon or a worm depended entirely on what he did next.
Xu Rong stood to the side, stunned by Su Zhang’s high standards. What a demanding Minister of Rites. Still, the Duke of the Empire had already promised that if Lin Ce wished, he would help arrange a good government post—fifth rank was certainly within reach.
This was basically a done deal.
“Father-in-law, let’s make that a promise. The day I succeed will be the day I marry Nanqiao. Let me offer that title to you now,” Lin Ce said with a cheerful laugh.
Achieving the Dragon Transformation Realm in cultivation was slightly difficult. But obtaining a fifth-rank official position? That was simple, especially with the Duke’s support.
“This old fox just wants to test how serious the Duke of the Empire is about backing me. If the Duke supports me, then he’ll be happy to marry off his daughter. If not, then this engagement would be quietly dropped.”
Having lived two lives, Lin Ce naturally saw through Su Zhang’s intentions.
“Take the betrothal gifts back. Return to us when you’ve achieved one of the conditions,” Su Zhang said with a wave, showing no interest in the eight chests of rare treasures.
Madam Su looked reluctant. Why refuse so hastily?
“No need. I’m marrying Nanqiao no matter what. No point moving the gifts back and forth—just leave them here,” Lin Ce replied with confidence, leaving everyone in the Su family momentarily stunned.
Even Su Zhang found Lin Ce unreadable now.
There was something about this youth, something that made others believe his words.
Madam Su quickly responded with a smile, “That’s fine. You’re going to marry Nanqiao eventually. Let the betrothal gifts stay here.”
Seeing this, Lin Ce didn’t linger. Meeting Su Nanqiao today had already been a pleasant surprise. Since Su Zhang had laid out his terms, he needed to fulfill them quickly before things could change.
“Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I’ll take my leave for now. I’ve just arrived in Bianjing, and there are still many people I need to visit.”
Lin Ce cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. Once Su Zhang gave a nod, he left with Xu Rong.
Su Nanqiao quickly followed, waving to Su Zhang and Madam Su, “Father, Mother, I’ll walk Lin Ce out.”
Hearing this, Madam Su couldn’t help but scold with a smile, “Look at your precious daughter—she’s not even married yet and her heart’s already flown away.”
“I don’t understand what she sees in Lin Ce. There are plenty of talented young men in the capital, and she’s met many of them. Why fixate on him?”
She sighed repeatedly while gently running her hands over the eight chests of rare treasures.
Su Zhang was equally helpless. Ever since Nanqiao returned, she seemed like a completely different person.
But as he watched Lin Ce’s figure fade into the distance, a flash of sharp light flickered in Su Zhang’s eyes.
“Lin Ce’s return to Bianjing isn’t just about fulfilling a marriage contract. The Lin family’s roots run deep. Even if others want to topple them, they’ll have to scheme carefully.”
“This return… he’s likely here to stir up a storm.”
He looked up at the sky.
Clear skies stretched overhead.
“Lin Ce—whether you’re a dragon or a worm, it all depends on what you do next,” Su Zhang murmured. “Back then, the Lin family did me a favor. But if you want me to repay that debt, you’d better prove you’re worthy!”