SBCEJM -Chapter 77 The “Perfect Son-in-Law” Persona Collapses — The Father-in-Law Goes into Shock on the Spot!

“Father-in-law?”

Wen Ruoyu forced a look of concern onto his face and reached out to support the swaying He Jingnian.

He Jingnian suddenly jerked backward, dodging the hand.

“Don’t touch me!”

Wen Ruoyu’s hand froze mid-air. The flawless mask on his face cracked open a thin seam.

【Oh? Still pretending? System, continue. How does he treat his wife?】

Feng Zexuan’s gossip excitement surged.

【How else? He despises her to death! He thinks she’s vulgar—loud when speaking, chewing noisily when eating—basically a stain on his perfect life!】

【So even his feelings for his wife are fake?】

【Of course! A man this obsessed with “perfection” would never truly love someone with “flaws.”】

【He married her purely because her father is the Left Imperial Censor. It’s just political investment—a stepping stone for his career.】

【Later, he even found his home “not refined enough,” so he used the excuse of “bringing good fortune to his mother” to take in a concubine—his so-called pure and innocent cousin.】

【And then?】

【Even more hilarious—one night he couldn’t sleep and went for a walk, only to stumble upon that “fair and pure” cousin… behind a rockery, gazing at the moon while enthusiastically picking her nose!】

【His worldview collapsed on the spot. He felt his soul had been defiled and never entered her courtyard again!】

Pfft.

Feng Zexuan almost laughed out loud from the corner.

On the dragon throne, Xiao Juechen’s mouth twitched slightly. A certain image of a concubine yawning and picking her nose flashed through his mind—and strangely, he found it… somewhat understandable.

【The saddest part is his wife. She thinks he avoids the concubine out of respect for her dignity as the principal wife, and proudly tells her friends she married a peerless good man!】

【She has no idea her husband, after sleeping with her, immediately rushes back and scrubs himself with three huge buckets of hot water—from head to toe—like washing a pig, terrified of any “mundane contamination.”】

【What the hell… is this even human behavior?! Disgusting!】

Feng Zexuan’s worldview shattered.

【Even worse, his younger sister grew up watching this constant performance. Now she’s also a habitual liar. The whole family is a den of actors!】

“G-g-g…”

He Jingnian’s face turned deathly pale. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, and his official hat tilted.

His daughter… his precious daughter he had raised with care… was living like this in her husband’s household?

That “perfect son-in-law” he had proudly praised everywhere… was secretly cursing him to die sooner, while treating his daughter like filth?

And he—this fool—had just defended that poisonous snake in court?!

“Lord He!”

A nearby official quickly supported him before he collapsed on the spot.

The atmosphere in the imperial court turned bizarre as officials looked between the father-in-law and son-in-law.

Xiao Juechen had heard everything.

Leaning against the throne, he looked again at Wen Ruoyu.

Beads of cold sweat slid down Wen Ruoyu’s temples, washing away the thin powder on his face and revealing faint red patches beneath.

Everything matched.

“Wen Ruoyu.”

Xiao Juechen spoke calmly.

Yet that calm voice made Wen Ruoyu tremble all over.

“I… I am here,” he forced out.

Xiao Juechen stared at him.

“One sentence.”

“Your face is powdered too thickly.”

BOOM!

Wen Ruoyu’s mind went blank.

The Emperor… knew everything?

How did he know?!

“Aaaah—!”

He let out a short, broken scream, collapsing onto his knees.

Xiao Juechen lost interest in him entirely.

“Chu Heng.”

A voice rang out again—unyielding and absolute.

From the corner, Chu Heng stepped forward and knelt.

“I am here.”

“Do you dare take the position of Minister of Revenue?”

Chu Heng was silent for a moment. He was not good with grand speeches. He simply raised his head.

“Your Majesty… I cannot promise great things.”

“But I can guarantee this: not a single copper coin in the national treasury will be miscounted. And not a single cent that the people deserve will be lost.”

Murmurs broke out across the hall.

“This… is too honest.”

“He can’t even say polite formalities. How can he be a minister?”

【Hahaha! I love this kind of straightforward person!】

Feng Zexuan admired him deeply.

【Way better than those smooth-talking frauds!】

【System, scan deeper! What hidden strengths does he have?】

【Roger! Deep scan initiated… Whoa! Host, Chu Heng is basically a living saint!】

【Tell me!】

【He personally funds an orphanage, and secretly sponsors three poor students. One is already a county magistrate with a great reputation; the other two are about to take exams—excellent prospects!】

【And there’s more!】

【What else?!】

【He is also the hidden owner of the largest grain merchant in the capital, “Chu Grain Stores”! But he never uses it for profit. Instead, he stabilizes grain prices during disasters—even selling at a loss. During last year’s southern flood, he anonymously donated 50,000 shi of grain!】

【What the… this is a walking saint! Rich, moral, capable—if not him, who else deserves the post?!】

Xiao Juechen made his decision without hesitation.

He stood up and walked down from the throne.

The entire court fell silent.

“Chu Heng, accept the decree!”

Chu Heng’s body shook. He immediately bowed.

“I accept!”

“From this day forth, you are the Minister of Revenue of Great Xia!”

He Jingnian’s face drained of all color. He had tried to elevate his son-in-law—only to personally send him into ruin, and trample the He family’s reputation into the ground.

But… perhaps it was for the best. At least now he had seen the true face of the poisonous snake.

Wen Ruoyu lay collapsed on the floor, nails digging into his palms until blood flowed.

Damn it… all of them deserved to die!

Xiao Juechen’s cold voice fell again.

“Wen Ruoyu, go back. Learn how to be human—and treat your family well.”

It was calm.

But it struck like a blade.

Wen Ruoyu scrambled up and fled the hall in disgrace.

He Jingnian also stumbled out after him, both father-in-law and son-in-law reduced to miserable figures.

Xiao Juechen walked to Chu Heng and, under the stunned gaze of all officials, personally helped him up.

“Chu Aiqing, I entrust you with the lifeblood of Great Xia’s treasury.”

Chu Heng, a man who had worked silently in the Ministry of Revenue for twenty years, had red eyes.

“I… I will not fail Your Majesty!”

【Aaaah, good people really get rewarded! I love this ending!】

Feng Zexuan sighed emotionally.

【System, how do you think Chu Heng will celebrate? Big banquet?】

【Not at all!】

【He’s thinking: great, I can donate this month’s salary to the orphanage. And I should buy more meat for the kids tonight.】

【Hahaha! This guy is adorable!】

Xiao Juechen steadied Chu Heng slightly, his grip firm.

Yes.

This was the kind of person he needed.

At that moment—

A panicked voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

A little eunuch rushed in, stumbling and screaming, hat askew and one shoe missing.

“Your Majesty! Bad news! Eight-hundred-li urgent military dispatch from the Northern Desert—!”