The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 21: This Lord Will Tell You a Story (Part Three)

Miss Yao was a fiery personality. Upon returning home, she lost her appetite and nagged her father for information about Chen Bohuan. Although Chen Bohuan had already taken a wife, it was a secret marriage; who in the neighboring villages would know? Even the townspeople were unclear about the arranged marriage between the Luo and Chen families years ago.

Thus, Miss Yao learned that this Mister Chen was ”not yet married.”

After several assessments, the county magistrate found Young Master Chen capable and gentle, with a decent family background. As a result, he dispatched someone to discuss the marriage proposal with the Chen family.

This left Magistrate Chen with deep regret. They politely told the envoy they needed time to consider, but behind closed doors, the elderly couple began to argue.

Magistrate Chen said, ”I told you so! That poor scholar died young, and his daughter should be mourning him for three years. If we hadnʼt let them get married beforehand, our son could still back out now! Just look at the mess weʼre in!”

Madam Chen was also anxious. ”Blame me? Didnʼt you insist on the childhood betrothal? Now look, the county magistrateʼs daughter! Can she be compared to... to Luo Xianxian?”

The two old turtles locked themselves in a heated debate until they were too exhausted to continue. They panted heavily across the table from each other.

Magistrate Chen asked, ”What should we do? Should we reject the county magistrateʼs offer?”

Madam Chen replied, ”We... canʼt refuse. Our Chen familyʼs prosperity depends on Miss Yao.”

Chen Yuanwai fumed, ”Can that Yao familyʼs daughter be taken as a concubine? Can she? Doesnʼt our son already have one in his household? How can we squeeze another in? Look at how affectionate they are together!”

”...” Mrs. Chen remained silent. After a moment, a glimmer appeared in her eyes as she murmured, ”Old Chen, Iʼve been thinking... about Luo Xianxian and our sonʼs affair. Apart from our family, no one else knows...”

After a brief silence, Chen Yuanwai, stunned for a moment, suddenly understood his wifeʼs intention.

He trembled, half out of fear and half out of excitement.

”You... You mean...”

”No one knows, so it doesnʼt count as a marriage,” Mrs. Chen said. ”Weʼll find a way to drive her away. If persuasion doesnʼt work, weʼll use force. The whole vicinity knows that our son is still unmarried. Do you remember the incident when she stole an orange as a child? As long as all of us stick to our story, even with seventeen or eighteen mouths to speak up, sheʼll have no way to defend herself!”

Chen Yuanwai strode to the door, making sure it was securely shut. He hurried over to his wife, who had just been arguing like roosters, and now huddled together, whispering their plans in low voices.

Chen Yuanwai said, ”Iʼm afraid your plan wonʼt work.”

”Why not?”

”Our son wonʼt agree. He has liked Luo Xianxian since he was young. How could he turn against her on your say-so?”

Mrs. Chen pondered for a moment before patting her husbandʼs hand reassuringly. ”Donʼt worry, Iʼll take care of it.”

Sometime later, Mrs. Chen suddenly fell gravely ill with an inexplicable condition. She raved deliriously all day, spouting nonsense and claiming that she was possessed by a ghost.

Mr. Chen was distraught and sought the help of a Taoist priest. The priest, with an air of otherworldliness and a whisk in hand, examined his fingers and declared that something in the Chen household was causing harm to Mrs. Chen. If not resolved, she wouldnʼt survive the year.

Chen Bohuan, being the most filial, panicked and asked, ”What is harming my mother?”

The priest intentionally obscured the matter, speaking of an ”invisible beauty.”

Everyone in the room was stunned. The Chen familyʼs sons turned their heads to look at Luo Xianxian, who was standing on the side.

Luo Xianxian was also frozen in shock.

Since childhood, she had been told numerous times that she had a strong fate, a celestial killer star. She was said to have brought misfortune upon her birth, causing the death of her mother, then her brother, and eventually her father.

Now, she was being accused of bringing harm to her mother-in-law.

The Chens grew anxious. One by one, her brothers-in-law spoke to her, urging her to leave the family. As no one outside knew of her marriage, her reputation remained untarnished. They offered her money and silver, hoping she would find another suitable family.