Chapter 23 - The General's Wife is an Illegal Resident in the Star System

Translator's Note:

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The Qin Family's Ancestral Rule

 

 

At the Qin estate.

 

The moment Qin Shuang walked in, he knew his father had set him up. Madam Qin was seated in the living room, watching the news about his elder brother, Qin Yu.

 

Though her back was to him, her posture was unnaturally stiff, her spine drawn tight like a stretched cord ready to snap. Normally, Madam Qin maintained an elegant, poised demeanor, her posture always perfect, never hunched.

 

But every Qin family member knew that when Madam Qin was angry, her spine would curve ever so slightly, the bend growing with the intensity of her fury.

 

Qin Shuang had just returned from a mission, and had no idea about his brother's situation. When Marshal Qin had told him to return home, he hadn't suspected anything unusual. But when he entered and saw the news, it was already too late to retreat. Madam Qin shot him a sideways glance.

 

So this was his father's plan for escaping Madam Qin's displeasure—throwing his unsuspecting son under the bus. Qin Shuang silently noted that he would be settling this score.

 

"Mother, I'm back." Under Madam Qin's glare, Qin Shuang braced himself and approached. Seeing her expression stony, he inwardly sighed; though she hadn't voiced it, everyone in the family knew what was on her mind.

 

"You knew about your brother's marriage, didn't you?" Madam Qin's voice was barely suppressing her anger.

 

He had expected this line of questioning and mentally rolled his eyes. "How could I? I only found out just now. If I'd known, I would've told Father, and Father would have certainly informed you."

 

Madam Qin was somewhat appeased, though the fire in her chest showed no sign of abating. She continued sharply, "I'll never agree to let that vixen set foot in the Qin family."

 

Qin Shuang doubted a mere "vixen" could captivate his brother, who had always been indifferent to others. So, he paid little attention to her complaints; once his brother made a decision, not even their father could stop him, and his mother's disapproval was even less likely to matter. Brutal as it was, it was simply the truth: even if the entire Qin family stood united in opposition, Qin Yu would only dismiss them as mere background noise.

 

"Mother, isn't it a good thing that Big Brother's found someone? Given his personality, we should be relieved that someone is willing to be with him."

 

He himself had always been convinced that his brother would never marry. It wasn't just about his personality; Qin Shuang hadn't thought anyone could measure up to his brother's standards. While his mother remained adamant in her disapproval, he was far more curious to know what sort of person had managed to win him over.

 

"How can I be pleased about this?" Madam Qin became increasingly agitated. "I had planned to introduce him to a better match once he returned from A123. He's a general and the Glory Empire's God of War. He deserves the best, not some nobody from who knows where."

 

A123 was the former designation of Qin Lu Star.

 

"Mother, the 'better match' you mean wouldn't happen to be Barbara, would it?" Qin Shuang frowned, clearly displeased by her wanting to interfere with their marriages.

 

"What's with that look? What's wrong with Barbara? She's beautiful and noble, the perfect match for your brother."

 

"Mother, don't assume that just because you and Father are happily married, we'll follow suit. Big Brother isn't going to listen to you. Besides, you have no authority over him." Qin Shuang's last words carried an implied message.

 

Madam Qin was momentarily speechless but knew her third son was right. She couldn't control him even if she wanted to.

 

This situation called to mind the long history of the Qin family, a lineage stretching back nearly two thousand years. Back then, there was no Glory Empire, nor the current Druze Royal Family.

 

At that time, the R star system was engulfed in chaos. It was a collection of small states, each vying for dominance, until an ambitious faction sought to conquer the system, igniting a series of conflicts.

 

The Qin family was among the most powerful clans capable of ending this turmoil. They were not aligned with any single state, and rather than seizing control, they chose to support a promising new military force. Its leader, who eventually became the Druze dynasty's first king, was an ancestor of the present royal family.

 

Without the Qin family's support, Druze would not have triumphed. There were later attempts to drive a wedge between the Druze and the Qin family, but all these efforts failed. The Qins had no interest in ruling but were also unwilling to let the R star system fall into ambitious hands. Thus, they chose to back the Druze royal family's ancestor.

 

This leads us to a peculiar ancestral rule that shaped the unique character of the Qin family.

 

This unique rule prohibits family-arranged marriages and forbids elders from meddling in the younger generation's marriages. For centuries, members of the Qin family have freely chosen their partners, and more often than not, their choices are shockingly unorthodox. Qin family members rarely marry people of status, usually choosing commoners instead, defying conventional standards.

 

Although such marriages typically present a higher risk of conflict, the Qin family seems to be an exception. Whether by luck or fate, nearly every marriage has been harmonious, with couples either deeply respectful of each other or lovingly devoted until the end.

 

Marshal Qin and Madam Qin's own marriage is also a result of this rule. However, unlike most of their relatives' unions, Madam Qin's status was quite distinguished, making her an exception. She held one of the highest statuses among Qin family marriages.

 

Perhaps because her own marriage had succeeded, Madam Qin believed her son would follow the same path and frequently tried to set him up with eligible matches, much to her eldest son's frustration, causing him to visit home less frequently.

 

Qin Shuang had hoped this might temper her efforts, but instead, she'd only become more insistent. With a sigh, he excused himself to change clothes, leaving her to cool down.

 

Moments later, Lu Li and Qin Yu entered to find Madam Qin sitting alone in the living room, simmering with frustration.

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