Butler Song quickly laid out the terms. They were almost the same as the ones Master Su Zhi had announced earlier at Gualu Hall, except this time it was only for three years as a live-in son-in-law, and he made a point of stressing that nothing could be done to disgrace the Su family’s name.

Liu Xiaolou fell into deep thought. Butler Song sipped his tea patiently, listening to the sounds of strings and flutes drifting over from Gualu Hall. His attitude made it clear to Liu Xiaolou: if you refuse, there’s a whole line of people waiting for their turn.

After a long while, Liu Xiaolou finally spoke. “The reputation of being a live-in son-in-law isn’t great. If it were for life, I could live with it, but to be sent away after three years sounds terrible.”

Butler Song considered this. “So…”

“You’ll have to pay more,” Liu Xiaolou said firmly.

Butler Song smiled. “How much more?”

“Two spirit stones a month.”

Butler Song shook his head. “Impossible. You’ll only be a son-in-law in name, not in fact. The Su family will provide your food, clothing, and lodging, and still give you one spirit stone a month. You should be satisfied. How about this, I can decide to give you twelve more spirit stones as compensation when the three years are over.”

As far as Liu Xiaolou was concerned, the so-called bad reputation didn’t exist at all. For the rogue cultivators of Wulong Mountain, marrying into a powerful family was nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it was something to be proud of. Whether he got sent away afterward, who cared? So, once he’d gotten what he wanted, he stopped playing hard to get. What he really minded was the tight restrictions. “If I’m not a son-in-law in fact, then I’m basically a hired hand. Since I’m a hired hand, there’s no reason to be tied to the manor all the time. The rule about not leaving the mountain without permission is too much. I’m asking for three months off every year.”

What Butler Song feared most was that Liu Xiaolou would try to cling to the arrangement, so when Liu referred to himself as “just a hired hand,” it came as a relief. Butler Song offered on his own, “At least three months. If Fifth Lady agrees, you could even extend it. Anything else?”

Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment, then added, “As for everything being decided by my wife… or rather, the master of the household, that needs to change. Since I’m a hired hand, I’ll naturally follow her lead for anything that falls within my duties. But I can’t be forced to do something I don’t want to do.”

Butler Song was about to ask what sort of things Liu Xiaolou didn’t want to do, when it suddenly dawned on him. He broke into a grin. “Fair enough. No forcing. Anything else?”

With terms this generous, Liu Xiaolou was very pleased with his three-year meal ticket. For a moment, he even considered asking to extend it to five years, but in the end he didn’t dare push his luck. After all, there were plenty of people still waiting in line at Gualu Hall.

So he said, “That’s all.”

Butler Song smiled. “Then shall we put it in writing?”

Song was worried Liu Xiaolou might go back on his word, and Liu Xiaolou was worried they might deny the deal, so he readily agreed. “Sure.”

Butler Song left for a short while and soon returned with a written contract. The terms were exactly what they had just discussed, but it also required that the agreement be kept secret. It was signed by Su Zhi, head of the Su family, the strokes bold and powerful, the ink still wet.

Liu Xiaolou dipped the brush in ink and hovered over the paper for a moment, debating whether to simply write “Liu Xiaolou” or to add the prefix “Master of the Sanxuan Sect.”

Seeing that Liu Xiaolou still hadn’t put pen to paper on the deed of servitude, Butler Song pulled out a red envelope and slid it across the table. “A wedding gift for the new son-in-law.”

Inside were three spirit stones. Liu Xiaolou let out a long breath. Since the Su family was even giving him a signing bonus, of course he was going to sign. He didn’t bother adding the extra five words for “Master of the Sanxuan Sect” and simply wrote his name.

Butler Song clapped his hands, and a young maid stepped in from outside. It was the same one who had spoken to Liu Xiaolou earlier. “This is Susu,” Butler Song introduced, “chosen to be your personal maid. She’s been with the manor for years and is very proper in her manners. From now on, she’ll look after your daily needs. For now, you’ll stay in the guest quarters. The wedding date is set for three days from now, and after that you’ll move into the Hibiscus Garden.”

Liu Xiaolou followed Susu out, winding through covered walkways, crossing one courtyard after another, circling past flowerbeds and gardens until they returned to the guest quarters where he and the others had been placed earlier. This time, of course, he was shown into the main room.

All the way back, his thoughts were in a haze. It all felt absurd and unreal. He had only been hoping to score some return gifts, yet somehow he’d landed a three-year meal ticket. And when that ticket expired, even if there was nothing to eat, he’d still be gilded with the title of having been the Su family’s son-in-law on Shenwu Mountain. Wouldn’t that drive his fellow cultivators on Wulong Mountain crazy with envy?

He thought of his good friend Wei Hongqing, who claimed to have gotten close to an inner disciple from Tianlao Mountain. But that Lu Yan woman was a widow, and worse, there was no official title. How could that compare to being a legitimate son-in-law?

Sorry, Brother Wei, but I’ve gotten ahead of you this time. Hah!

At least for the next three years, he wouldn’t have to worry about running around trying to earn spirit stones. He counted the ones in his pouch. Six in all. Then there would be one a month, and twelve more at the end of three years. He felt very content.

Satisfied and in high spirits, Liu Xiaolou slept soundly. In his dream, he was dressed in fine silks and satins, dining on exquisite delicacies, strolling through the marketplace with a birdcage in hand. Whenever he saw something he liked, he would lift his chin, and the servant behind him would rush forward to spend silver by the handful.

When he cultivated, he held a spirit stone in his hand and stood on another under his feet. When he drank spirit wine, he’d finish one bowl and pour another. When he had fragrant spirit rice, he’d cook up two big pots. One for himself and one for Big White. And it had to be dry rice with no extra water. He always carried a large pouch of Red Conch Manor’s White Dew Fortune Snails, eating them one after another in a carriage, and whenever he saw a fine view, he’d lean out of the sedan window, spit, and let the shell fly. As extravagant and grand as it could get. That was exactly how it was.

He woke from the dream, stretched lazily, and was still savoring it when a voice came from the doorway. “Young master, are you awake? This maid has come to help you wash and dress.”

So he was a young master now? Liu Xiaolou quickly called out, “Come in.”

The maid entered, carrying a steaming basin of wash water, with a sapphire-blue silk towel draped over her shoulder. She carefully wiped his face for him.

After letting her fuss over him for a moment, Liu Xiaolou grew uncomfortable. He grabbed her wrist and took the towel from her. “I’ll do it myself. Butler Song said your name is Susu, right?”

“Yes,” Susu replied. “From now on I will be serving you, young master. Why not let me take care of it for you…”

“No need. You’ve worked hard enough already…” Liu Xiaolou gave her wrist a light squeeze and thought to himself that she truly lived up to being a maid from a great household. Raised almost like a young lady from a wealthy family. “Your hands are so soft. How do you keep them like this?”

Susu’s cheeks flushed. “It’s called Clear Rain Dew. I just make it myself in the back mountain. If young master would like some, I can bring it to you later.”

Liu Xiaolou waved his hand. “No, no, I was just making conversation.” He finally let go of her wrist. He was already nineteen. Two more months and he’d be twenty. After being taught a few things by Sister Qing, he understood far more about men and women, though there was still one barrier he had yet to cross. Without that, he couldn’t truly study and practice the Yin-Yang Arts, and for now could only satisfy himself with a little touching here and there.

“Have you always served at Fifth Lady’s side?”

“How could I have that kind of fortune, young master? I used to tend the gardens in the back mountain. Only a few days ago was I transferred to the manor and told to attend to the new son-in-law. If I don’t serve you well, just say so, and I’ll change.”

After rinsing his mouth with Susu’s help and relieving himself, he heard her say, “It snowed heavily last night. It’s cold today, young master, so you should dress warmly.” She helped him into a new coat with a stand-up collar lined with sable fur.

Looking well put together, Liu Xiaolou pushed open the door and saw that the courtyard was covered in white. Turning back with a smile, he said, “Such heavy snow, and I didn’t even notice. I must have been sleeping too soundly. What are you looking at?”

Susu sighed softly. “I never realized Young Master was this handsome…”