Chapter 937: Might as Well Cry Yourself to Death

Zhan Er heard this and felt like he didn’t want to live anymore. He cried and asked Elder Zhan, "Father, what do you mean by this? She’s already betrothed to Luo Wu, and you want me to wait and wait again. They’ll soon be married! Are you asking me to give up on Sister Xiu?"

Elder Zhan looked at his tearful appearance, frowned slightly, and said, "Since you understand your father’s intentions, then do as you’re told."

Zhan Er was stunned, forgetting to cry, and once he reacted, he grabbed Elder Zhan’s hand and pleaded, "Father, please help your son. Your son truly cannot live without Sister Xiu, sob sob sob..."

Elder Zhan looked at Zhan Er crying so hard that he was almost fainting, and finally couldn’t help exploding. He pushed him away and then kicked him, cursing, "Look at yourself now, how are you any different from a deeply sorrowful woman in bedchamber? You are a man, you should be studying and taking exams to become an official. At the very least, you should stand out amongst scholars and madmen. How can you be obsessed with a woman?!"

"The Gu Family’s daughter looks down on you, can’t you think of a way yourself? All you know is to cry and cry, you might as well cry yourself to death!"

Elder Zhan had been working as an official in the Capital, and this second son had followed Old San everywhere since childhood. Originally, seeing him have some fame among scholars and madmen, he thought he was promising, but how could he be like this, so effeminate!

"Look at you! Your face is paler than a woman’s, your body frailer than a woman’s, even crying better than a woman’s. With such a demeanor, which girl would fancy you? From today, keep your distance from your Third Uncle. Once your health is better, I will hire a martial master for you to teach you fighting skills specifically. Study diligently for two years, and once you develop a sense of masculinity, the family will seek a noble lady for you to marry!"

Zhan Er was the best-looking child in the family, pure-hearted, and respectful to elders. Elder Zhan had once cherished him deeply, but now looking at him sobbing weakly, like an Immortal Lord, it’s almost blinding his eyes. He couldn’t help but ask Zhan Er, "Xiao’er, how did you end up like this?"

A proper noble son becoming like those Immortal Lords who mingle for meals in brothels, does it make sense?

If he hadn’t repeatedly said he wanted to marry Gu Jinxiu, Elder Zhan would have thought he liked men.

Zhan Er listened to Elder Zhan’s words, dumbfounded. Looking at Elder Zhan, he was dazed for a moment before asking, "Father, are you scolding me? If you don’t want to help, how can you scold me?"

How can he be scolded?

Elder Zhan looked at his earnest questioning expression and angrily slapped him: "You are born of me. Can’t I scold you?!"

Then continued: "The matter of the Gu Family’s daughter ends here. Give up for now. The family is in chaos now, no time for your nonsense."

After speaking, seeing Zhan Er looking disheartened and about to faint, Elder Zhan warned again: "Don’t do anything foolish on your own. All your actions are under Zhan Family’s control. That poetic-like letter of yours is with me, no need to write anymore, it’s useless no matter how many you write!"

Zhan Er had once given Zhan San a letter to pass to Gu Jinxiu, but Zhan San, knowing Zhan Er’s temper, feared he might write something offensive to the Gu Family’s daughter, and read it first.

It turned out Zhan Er truly wrote some verses applicable only in playful moments with maids.

Zhan San got scared, dared not deliver it to Gu Jinxiu, instead restrained it, handing it to Elder Zhan yesterday. Elder Zhan saw it and was furious.

Not angry for Gu Jinxiu. She was merely a tool to elevate Zhan Family; he wouldn’t seek justice for her.

He’s furious with Zhan Er: "You, a noble son, where learned manners and rules since small have gone to? Those verses, are they fit for official wife’s selection? Can’t you distinguish between an official wife and a bed-heating maid?!"

Zhan Er was shocked: "Father, you, did you take the letter I wrote for Sister Xiu?"

Then, he explained again with great grievance: "Your son naturally knows the difference. Writing those verses was merely wanting Sister Xiu to know your son’s infatuation and emotions."

Upon hearing, Elder Zhan was so angry that he couldn’t speak. Are those bawdy verses for expressing infatuation? If he dared deliver such poems to the Capital’s esteemed ladies, he’d get beaten without knowing when!

Thank goodness, he yet has an eldest son, and the elder isn’t foolish like Zhan Er, a normal person who, to advance family prospects, can be ruthless enough to employ tactics.

Upon seeing Elder Zhan immensely angered, unwilling to disturb him further, Zhan Er thought of Gu Jinxiu’s engagement matter and boldly seek his favor: "Father, regarding Sister Xiu..."

With a bang, Elder Zhan directly kicked Zhan Er, enraged: "I’ve told you, pause the matter concerning the Gu Family’s daughter, are you deaf not hearing!"

Zhan Er, kicked twice, already ill, was nearly fainted, yet persistently holding Elder Zhan’s hand, pleaded: "Father, why would you not aid your son? You previously supported your son much, saying Sister Xiu’s status isn’t ordinary, can be an official wife, why disapprove now, tell your son, tell your son, sob sob sob..."

Zhan Er repeatedly questioned, finishing, he cried again.

Elder Zhan detested Zhan Er’s weeping sobs most, seeing him crying again, angrily slapped him aside: "This matter is beyond your knowledge, just follow family orders. If you dare disobey, you’ll suffer for it. "

Saying thus, unwilling to hear Zhan Er’s cries, immediately departed.

Zhan Er, beaten, cried a tremendous cry, directly fainting, Zhan family was in chaos again, the famed doctor employed by Zhan family busily, finally saved Zhan Er awake after a day’s and night’s toil.

Upon awakening, Zhan Er was fasting, seeking to starve himself. Yet after tormenting a bit, ultimately too hungry, he could only eat while crying.

After eating, he sobbing asked his maid, "Bing’er, why she wouldn’t want to marry me? Am I not surpassing a mere peasant man?"

Bing’er, beautiful, was one of Zhan Er’s personal chief maids. Though lacking concubine maid’s status, she had served Zhan Er many times. All acts done, her relationship with Zhan Er stood remarkably different.

Bing’er embraced Zhan Er, comforting: "Second Young Master, do not grieve. You are good, Miss Xiu too is good. But marriage matters have always been dictated by parents’ orders, matchmakers’ words; Miss Xiu cannot decide, nor yourself, only pass by thus."

Bing’er adeptly spoke, knowing Zhan Er fancied Gu Jinxiu, she refrained from saying ill of Gu Jinxiu, merely stating it was both parental coercion separating the loving pair.

Zhan Er found Bing’er’s words too true!

His fairy didn’t dislike him; it was parental coercion marrying her to Luo Wu.

"I must save Sister Xiu!" Zhan Er ecstatically resolved, wishing to journey miles to heroically rescue the damsel, becoming renowned in Great Chu.