Chapter 24 - The General's Wife is an Illegal Resident in the Star System

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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The Third Son, Qin Shuang

 

 

"Mother, we're back." Qin Yu, who usually disliked conversing with Madam Qin, made a polite gesture this time, especially since he had a purpose for coming back. Normally, he would just greet her briefly and ignore her.

 

Madam Qin, however, seemed unaware of this change.

 

"So, you remember to come back? Away for all these years, it seems you've forgotten you even have a mother." She looked past Lu Li, her eyes fixed on Qin Yu with reproach.

 

"Father asked me to bring Lu Li back to meet him," Qin Yu responded pointedly, implying that if it hadn't been for Marshal Qin, he wouldn't have returned.

 

Madam Qin bristled at his blunt reply. She'd intended to ignore Lu Li entirely as a form of silent reprimand but now turned her glare directly at him.

 

One look, and Lu Li immediately understood just how much Madam Qin disliked him. He wasn't disappointed—it was exactly what he'd expected. Surprisingly, it was the marshal's attitude that had caught him off guard. The marshal had greeted him with a tolerant "My son has a difficult personality; please be patient with him." It was Madam Qin's response that felt more natural.

 

"Mother, I am Qin Yu's partner, so please…" Lu Li spoke up, respectful even in the face of her disdain.

 

"Don't call me 'Mother.' I have not accepted you as part of the Qin family," Madam Qin interrupted coldly, looking at him as if he were a seductress preying on her eldest. "I don't know how you ensnared my son or convinced him to marry you, but I will never agree to it. If you have any dignity, you'll leave on your own before I…"

 

"Mother!" Qin Shuang, descending the stairs after changing, caught her words just in time. "Where's the dignity in speaking like this? There's nothing noble in your words," he interjected quickly before his eldest brother could lose his temper.

 

Madam Qin paused, huffing in annoyance.

 

Qin Shuang approached, glancing at his brother's dark expression, then leaned closer to his mother and said quietly, "I almost forgot to mention—Father specifically told me to remind you to welcome Sister-in-law warmly. Big Brother will be staying on Glory Star for a while, and if you don't want him moving out with him, you might want to ease up on the comments."

 

"What? Are you telling me your father actually said that?" Madam Qin's focus shifted, now annoyed with the Marshal for not standing united with her.

 

"Why would I lie? If you doubt it, you can check with him directly later," Qin Shuang replied, relieved the tension was finally diffused, though he privately vowed not to take on such a task again. Qin Ge was smart to have avoided this.

 

Madam Qin, knowing full well that such a lie would easily be exposed, reluctantly accepted his words, mentally preparing to confront the Marshal later.

 

"So, about Sister-in-law staying here…" Qin Shuang pressed his advantage.

 

"A guest is a guest. The Qin family can still spare a room," Madam Qin replied dismissively, casting Lu Li a contemptuous glance before strutting away with her head held high

 

A guest, and only a guest in her eyes. Clearly, gaining her acceptance would take time, but Qin Shuang shrugged it off, certain the outcome would be the same in the end—no need to worry about it.

 

"Sister-in-law, welcome to the Qin family. I'm the third son, Qin Shuang; just call me by my name, or 'Third Brother,' if you prefer." Qin Shuang turned to greet Lu Li warmly, observing that his brother's choice was quite distinguished in appearance and, at first glance, seemed a fine match. Whether he'd hold up in other areas remained to be seen.

 

"Hello, I'm Lu Li. I look forward to your guidance," Lu Li replied, finding Qin Shuang instantly likable with his easy smile, a stark contrast to Qin Yu. It was hard to believe they were family. Remembering the Marshal's words earlier, he wondered if perhaps Qin Yu was the real odd one out.

 

Seeing Lu Li's friendliness, which contrasted so strongly with his striking appearance, Qin Shuang felt certain his new sister-in-law would be easy to get along with. That was good—if he were as prickly as his brother, the house might descend into chaos.

 

With Madam Qin reluctantly allowing it, Lu Li officially took up residence in the Qin household.

 

Reporters stationed outside who had anticipated the drama of Qin Yu's partner being thrown out soon noticed Lu Li hadn't been dismissed. Realizing that the Qin family was more or less accepting this new eldest daughter-in-law, they quickly embellished the tale for the evening news.

 

That night, under Madam Qin's strict orders, the servants arranged a guest room for Lu Li, even bringing several bedding options for him to choose from.

 

Before Lu Li could respond, Qin Yu threw the linens out the door and shut it firmly, right in Madam Qin's face, leaving her seething with indignation.

 

Qin Shuang, after only one day of enduring this, found an excuse to avoid returning home, escaping the Qin household altogether.

 

Just back on Capital Star, Qin Yu had plenty to keep him occupied. After spending a day with Lu Li, he left for the military headquarters early the next morning, arranging for An Ming to look after Lu Li while he was away.

 

An Ming wasn't enthusiastic, but couldn't let it show when faced with the General's orders. When he arrived, he was surprised to find Madam Qin disapproving of Lu Li.

 

He'd read yesterday's news reports, assuming the family had embraced Lu Li, yet here he was, with Madam Qin obviously not on board. He glanced at Lu Li with a hint of schadenfreude, his own earlier reluctance fading away.

 

Lu Li paid him no mind; he'd known from the start that Madam Qin disliked him and was ready for the challenge. Over the past two days, he'd come to know more about the Qin family's structure.

 

The Qin family was not lacking in offspring. Marshal Qin and Madam Qin had three sons and two daughters. The eldest, third son, and eldest daughter were all in the military, holding significant ranks. Only the second son, Qin Ge, had taken the political path, defying the Marshal's wishes years ago.

 

For most families, having one outstanding child would be a blessing. The Qin family, however, was different; every son and daughter was exceptionally capable, the kind of offspring that other families could only dream of. And with great ability came great responsibility, so each member of the Qin family was busier than the last.

 

In the two days he'd spent at the Qin household, Lu Li had only met Qin Shuang, who had been cornered into a brief visit by the Marshal. The rest he had yet to encounter, and as for the youngest daughter, she was reportedly away traveling, not expected back anytime soon. So, so far, Lu Li had met just three Qin family members.

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