Chapter 12: Filled with Ambition and Resolute Determination

The small courtyard of Crescent Dwelling was lush and vibrant. On the white walls topped with dark tiles, willow branches swayed gently in the breeze. In the corner, a cascade of blooming roses exuded a subtle fragrance. At the center of the courtyard, a pond shimmered, its surface as tranquil as a mirror, the new green of water plants freshly washed by spring. Occasionally, a dragonfly would skim the water, sending ripples across its pristine face.

In one corner of the courtyard, a maid carried a small wooden bucket, while another, holding a ladle, sprinkled water over the flowers, their soft laughter carried on the wind.

Such was the summer scene in this southern courtyard—peaceful, beautiful, filled with the warmth of daily life and the poetry of the countryside.

Lu Jin stood in the yard, stretching his body, his mind cluttered with tangled thoughts.

In recent days, the events and people he had encountered replayed in his mind like scenes from a dream.

He had awakened to find himself the confused son-in-law of the Shen family; only after a storm of troubles did he come to understand the reasons behind it all.

He had witnessed the beauty of this world—Shen Yanxi's radiant face was the brightest color he had seen since arriving here.

He had also seen its cruelty: forced to kneel in the rain without cause, the humiliation and helplessness still fresh in his memory. Though he had not been beaten, the status and relationships revealed were hard for him to accept.

Even Shen Yanxi, who appeared gentle, poised, and wise, often spoke from an unconscious height that pricked his sensitive pride.

Lu Jin could understand the rules of a feudal household and the perspectives of those within it. Even in the seemingly equal world he came from, where was true fairness or respect to be found?

If you have power, influence, and ability, the world around you is filled with good people—polite, humble, always wearing that kindly smile.

But if you have nothing, even a dog will look down on you!

Human society has always been a jungle where only the strong survive, with nothing but layers of pretense. The more advanced civilization becomes, the more sophisticated the disguises.

As the current son-in-law, Lu Jin could understand all this, but he did not wish to accept it.

If changing himself so easily were possible, his previous life would not have been marked by such hardship.

Of course, he desired wealth and comfort, but not at the cost of his own happiness. If forced to choose, he would rather guard a humble corner and live simply.

Yet, in this vast human world, where could he find true, uncomplicated freedom? Whether willing or not, everyone is eventually swept into endless strife.

To fight or not to fight was never the question. The real issue was how to fight.

Life had already knocked the idealism out of Lu Jin. The dream that, relying on his own abilities, he could carve out a grand empire had long since faded.

In his previous, more forgiving world, with no foundation to stand on, Lu Jin had struggled just to get by, while others easily amassed fortunes. Not to mention the rich and the corrupt; even a football coach could rake in untold wealth.

A man cannot become rich without windfalls, nor a horse fat without night grazing. The efforts of ordinary people are almost a joke in the face of harsh reality, let alone in this devouring feudal society.

So, Lu Jin faced a choice.

If he chose the Shen family, wealth and power were within reach. If he could abandon his true self and work diligently, relying on the Shen family might not mean he would accomplish nothing; he could even achieve greater things in the future.

Being a son-in-law was never the problem; the problem was whether he had the ability to break free from such shackles. Wasn't Nurhaci, or Zuo Zongtang, once a son-in-law? If you have ability, even a beggar can become emperor; without it, even a king can be dragged from his throne.

If he left the Shen family, the grievances he would suffer would likely be no less, and the road ahead would be hard. He would have to fight for everything from a room to a horse, starting from scratch.

Yet, living anew, Lu Jin still could not betray his own heart—simply because it made him unhappy.

So he chose to leave the Shen family. He would rather struggle actively than endure passively. He longed for unrestrained freedom, even if it meant crashing and burning once again!

But leaving the Shen family wasn’t as simple as walking out the door. As a son-in-law, the decision to stay or leave was never his to make. He only hoped Shen Yanxi would grant him his freedom, as she had promised a few days ago. If not, he would have to find a way to force his departure.

Secondly, he needed to understand this world, at the very least become familiar with the city of Jiangning—see what this era looked like, get to know its people and its affairs.

Thirdly, he wanted to go home!

The thought of home suddenly brought to mind the slips of paper he had seen the other day. He hurried back into the house to search for them, but after some time, still couldn’t find them.

“Caiyun!”

“Sir, I’m here,” replied Caiyun, entering with her face streaked with sweat.

“Have you seen those slips of paper I left on my desk?” Lu Jin asked, turning to her. The little maid looked curious, as if she had done something odd with them.

“Sir, I put them away in the study. What do you need them for?” Caiyun asked, her curiosity piqued.

They were just identification documents, weren’t they? Hardly anything used on a daily basis—surely the sir wasn’t planning to run away?

She had no idea that her master had forgotten even his own home. As a maid-in-training, Caiyun was literate—no surprise there, given her status as a reserve in the household. That was also why she never served him too intimately; no prominent family would allow a promising maid to be spoiled by a son-in-law of uncertain future. Who would want such a servant afterward? The only reason she was serving Lu Jin now was because Shen Yanxi had specifically requested it.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t lose them, or I’d be a homeless wanderer,” Lu Jin said as he headed to the study.

Caiyun couldn’t understand—how could a few slips of paper make him a vagabond? Was he really planning to run away? No way, she’d have to keep an eye on him.

Lu Jin reached the study and, as expected, found the papers on the bookshelf, which held only a few books.

He took the papers and sat down to examine them. In addition to the “floating pass” he had seen before, there was a pale yellow hemp paper labeled “Academy Certificate.”

On the right side, large characters read “Wende Academy, Shangqing County.” The left was crowded with dense, tiny script.

Lu Jin stared at it for a long time before he roughly understood. It was a student’s certificate, listing his basic information, the name of the academic director, and the names of his sponsors.

There were a few key details. One was his home’s exact location: it stated that he was from Xihe Village, Shangqing County. That must be it, Lu Jin thought with relief—it had not been easy to find.

Next was his age: it stated he was born in the fifth year of Taihe. By the reckoning of this era, he was already twenty-one. Not bad, the prime of youth.

Finally, there were several names: Academic Director Wang Shizhang, sponsors Nan Yunhuai and Jiang Jinnian. That was all he could glean. As for who these people were or their relation to him, except for a vague guess about the director, he knew nothing.

He folded the ancient student ID and set it aside, then picked up the last slip of paper.

This one was scrawled rather messily; it was likely a travel permit or letter of introduction, stating that Lu Jin of Xihe Village, Shangqing County, Jiangning Prefecture, was to attend the academy exam at Jianglin, with a request for assistance along the way.

There wasn’t much more information, which only made things more confusing. He felt as if he knew more, yet still understood little. He had no idea who, if anyone, awaited him at home.

Lu Jin sat, lost in thought, letting the slip fall from his hand to the floor. As he bent to pick it up, the jade pendant at his neck swung out from his collar.

Looking down at the pendant, Lu Jin was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, his face flushed with excitement.

He had always worn this piece of jade, only slightly larger than an ordinary coin, pure white and smooth. He had never paid it much mind, thinking it just a simple jade pendant. Now, however, a memory surfaced.

So, he thought, after traveling to another world, why didn’t he have a cheat like everyone else? No mysterious memories, no golden finger—could it be this was what he’d been waiting for all along?

He had read such scenes countless times in novels—wasn’t the son-in-law always granted a legendary inheritance and soared to greatness? No wonder, he thought, no wonder—I’ve maligned the heavens!

Was it a gift from his ancestor, or some celestial being? Would it grant him unmatched medical knowledge, or earth-shattering magical powers?

Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years west—never look down on a poor youth! If the Shen family would not have him, so be it!

Where’s my blade? Lu Jin searched the room frantically, and in his excitement, bit his finger and dripped blood onto the jade. Compared to the thrill of gaining an inheritance, this small pain was nothing.

Now, with the ritual complete, Lu Jin stared at the pendant in his hand, his heart pounding with excitement, his breath nearly unsteady.

Today, with this inheritance in my grasp, how much do I still resemble the man I once was?