Chapter Twelve

“Chen Lang, you coward who goes against the times and strikes your own head! Selling your daughter for personal gain—what kind of hero are you?!”

Xu Shi, like a wild horse freed from its reins, bore a fierce expression as she hurled insults at the Prince of Huai’an.

Lacking much education, her words were coarse and vulgar like a shrew’s, pointing at Chen En and throwing a tantrum.

In an unprecedented display, Chen En endured silently, sitting expressionless on the couch.

Xu Shi’s fury only grew; all her usual meekness vanished. She pointed at him, stomping and cursing:

“You dog who sells your daughter for glory! Your Chen family is utterly oppressive!

I, Xu Huilan, raised my daughter by myself, while the main family never contributed a thing. How dare you snatch her away?!

A Ying had a father who begot her but no one to raise her—what right do you, Chen En, have to send her away?!”

She was so infuriated that she spewed curses without restraint, her face flushed and twisted with rage.

Chen Jiao, standing nearby, knew it was useless to reason with her and didn’t step forward to stop her tirade.

Still unsatisfied, Xu Shi tried to claw at Chen En in a fit of venting.

Suddenly, a sharp slap rang out—Chen En struck her across the face.

Caught off guard, Xu Shi stumbled and fell to the ground.

Chen Jiao cried out, “Mother!”

Xu Shi clutched her face, eyes blazing with fury.

Chen Jiao stepped forward to help her, but she shoved him away fiercely and warned:

“Chen En, if you push me too far, I’ll set fire to your Huai’an Prince’s manor—if I die, we’ll all die together!”

Chen En’s anger flared. With a cold face he retorted, “Nonsense!”

Though his face was gentle, always wearing a look of harmony and prosperity, as the lord of a state, he carried an air of dignity and would not tolerate Xu Shi threatening him.

“Since you’ve entered my Chen household, in life you are mine, in death you are my ghost.

Zheng Shi is my legitimate wife, brought in through proper match-making ceremonies; she is A Ying’s lawful mother.

Marriage is a matter of parental command and matchmaker’s word. If I can decide, so can she. How could I allow your recklessness?”

Xu Shi spat venomously, “Bah! A bunch of hypocrites!

Your Chen family are all heartless scoundrels!

You prey on widows and orphans. If you force A Ying into marriage, I, Xu Huilan, curse you, Chen En—may you have no descendants and may your spirit never find peace!”

Her words were truly poisonous, causing veins to bulge on Chen En’s forehead.

Fearful he might strike again, Chen Jiao hurriedly shielded Xu Shi.

Chen En pointed coldly at the mother and daughter, but suppressed his anger, stood up, and strode away, sleeves flicking.

Xu Shi’s eyes reddened with fury as she cursed, “You son of a bitch, may you trip and die on the road, choke while eating, and—”

Chen Jiao quickly covered her mouth to prevent further outbursts.

Outside, the servants were terrified, all kneeling silently, not daring to breathe.

Chen En, full of pent-up rage with nowhere to vent, kicked a passing maid.

The maid was knocked to the ground in pain but dared not cry out, instead painfully rising to continue kneeling properly.

Chen En walked with hands behind his back, his expression as cold as dark water, exuding a deadly aura.

As he and his retinue reached the moon arch gate, he slipped on a pebble.

Fortunately, attendant Gao Zhan acted swiftly to steady him, preventing a fall.

Chen En felt a surge of bad luck and ground his teeth, muttering, “Shrew!”

He increasingly questioned how he had ever been blind enough to favor Xu Shi—a vulgar woman utterly unfit to be seen.

The courtyard fell silent. Xu Shi’s face swelled and reddened.

Chen Jiao sent someone to fetch a cloth for cold compress to reduce the swelling.

Old Nurse Jiang was worried, cautiously saying, “Madam was indeed impetuous, but the lord’s temper is kind; he didn’t lose control on the spot.”

Xu Shi cursed bitterly, “He’s a devil—what use am I as a person?”

Nurse Jiang patiently advised, “The lord is after all a prince; he carries dignity. Madam confronting him head-on will only bring harm.”

Xu Shi impulsively wanted to confront the main family but was stopped by Chen Jiao.

After some thought, Chen Jiao confided to Nurse Jiang, “Please find out what’s happening at the Jade Courtesan House.”

Jiang nodded and left.

Once she was gone, Chen Jiao lowered his voice, “If Cui Jue turns a blind eye, I’ll have to drag him into this.”

Xu Shi anxiously said, “This is already critical; he surely won’t just sit by.”

Chen Jiao said coldly, “Mother, be patient. The barefooted are never afraid of those wearing shoes.

I’ll give him two more days. If there’s no chance to turn things around, I’ll expose our connection and see if he can still hold onto his position as deputy magistrate.”

Xu Shi’s eyelids twitched wildly, “Will that work?”

Chen Jiao replied, “If we’re going down, we go down together.”

Xu Shi fell silent.

***

The uproar at Pear Fragrance Courtyard soon spread, but Zheng Shi had no mood to gloat—she was busy searching for her daughter.

Chen Xianle and Zhou Beixiu fled east out of the city yesterday, unaware they had a tail quietly following.

Cui Jue was determined not to let Zhou Beixiu fall into the hands of the Zheng family or the Prince of Huai’an, for exposure would ruin him.

Currently, Wang Ni was both a curse and a shield for Chen Xianle and Zhou Beixiu.

There were several days left before the thirteenth of the twelfth lunar month; delaying was their best hope.

Early next morning, the Prince of Huai’an visited the Jade Courtesan House to discuss the adoption of Chen Jiao with Zheng Shi.

Zheng Shi responded anxiously.

Chen En lifted his cup and asked, “Where is Fifth Lady? Bring her here—I have something to say to her.”

Zheng Shi hurriedly replied, “Fifth Lady went to the Zhu family yesterday. Lord, you know she’s been unhappy lately; having the young mistress Zhu guide her might help.”

Chen En frowned in surprise. “Send someone to fetch her back.”

Zheng Shi agreed.

Chen En mentioned the adoption arrangements and said the marriage envoy from Jiaozhou had arrived; Zheng Shi was to ensure the wedding went smoothly without mistakes.

Zheng Shi replied absentmindedly.

Chen En did not sense her unusual demeanor then, still thinking Chen Xianle was at the Zhu residence.

In the afternoon, a messenger came asking, learning Chen Xianle had not returned.

Chen En was annoyed and personally ordered a household servant to visit the Zhu family.

The servant returned with startling news: the Zhu family had never seen Chen Xianle.

Chen En belatedly realized something was wrong. After pondering, he summoned Liu Po for questioning.

Liu Po came trembling.

Chen En sat kneeling behind the desk, his face grim as he asked, “Where did Fifth Lady go?”

Liu Po lowered her head, silent.

Suddenly, Chen En slammed his palm on the table, scaring her into prostrate submission.

“Take her away for interrogation.”

Hearing the threat of punishment, Liu Po turned pale, begging, “Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!”

Chen En pointed at her, enunciating each word: “Where exactly is Fifth Lady?”

Liu Po almost wept, opening and closing her mouth, fearful.

Chen En lost patience: “Take her away!”

“She... she ran away!” Liu Po wailed, a look of utter despair.

Gao Zhan beside him showed surprise.

Though Chen En suspected, hearing it confirmed shocked him.

“When did she run? With whom did she elope?”

Liu Po dared not answer.

Chen En barked, “Take her away! Beat her to death if necessary!”

Liu Po was so frightened she nearly lost control and confessed everything, enraging Chen En beyond measure.

He could no longer stay seated and immediately went to the Jade Courtesan House to confront them.

Zheng Shi, realizing she could no longer hide the truth, was terrified.

Chen En’s anger was uncontrollable; upon entering, he roared, “Zheng Yuezhi, do you and your daughter intend to rebel against heaven?!”

Zheng Shi was cowed by his fierce glare. Knowing she was at fault, she knelt in grievance, crying, “Lord, please spare Fifth Lady this once. She knows her mistake...”

Chen En spat venom, “Eloping with an outsider—who gave her the audacity?!”

Pointing at Zheng Shi, he scolded, “You raised such a good-for-nothing? I cared for her for eighteen years, and this is how she repays me?!”

Zheng Shi, knowing disaster had arrived, crawled forward pleading for forgiveness but was kicked aside. Chen En lamented bitterly, “She’s brought this on herself. I loved her in vain!”

Zheng Shi covered her face, weeping.

No one could quell Chen En’s wrath. He immediately ordered Gao Zhan to summon all officials from the prefecture to capture the wayward daughter before the wedding and send her to Jiaozhou.

Almost overnight, the entire Zhangling prefecture mobilized.

Xu Zhao, having heard the rumors, secretly met with Cui Jue once.

Cui Jue appeared ill, having taken leave these past days and coughing weakly.

He lay on the bed, face pale as death.

The room was thick with medicinal herbs; Xu Zhao opened a window slightly to clear the stale air.

“Recently, many in the city have caught colds. It seems to be an epidemic. Wen Yun is frail; he must be watched carefully.”

Cui Jue replied faintly, “An old ailment, nothing serious.”

Xu Zhao sat on a low stool at the bedside, hesitating before carefully asking, “Does Wen Yun know about the affairs at the Prince’s mansion?”

Cui Jue did not answer but countered, “Know what?”

Xu Zhao lowered his voice, “The marriage envoy from Jiaozhou is already waiting, yet Fifth Lady Chen has fled.”

Cui Jue’s eyes moved slightly but remained silent.

Xu Zhao asked, “Did you secretly arrange this?”

After a long silence, Cui Jue said, “She will return by the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month. The envoy to Jiaozhou will not have come for nothing.”

Xu Zhao stared at him for a long while, then hesitated, “Wen Yun, be honest with me. All this fuss...”

Cui Jue interrupted, “If Ninth Lady Chen ruins her reputation by telling the Prince of Huai’an that I have a secret affair with her, how am I to respond?”

Xu Zhao was speechless.

Cui Jue cleared his throat twice and reached for water on a low table; Xu Zhao handed it to him.

“If Wen Yun is trapped by Ninth Lady Chen, his future actions will be greatly hindered.”

Cui Jue sipped the warm water, showing some disdain. “A naive little girl, still inexperienced.”

He had a flaw: he never tolerated things more than three times.

If Ninth Lady Chen caused him trouble, the only solution was to kill her.

Only the dead obey completely.

***

Indeed, as Cui Jue predicted, on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Xianle was found by men from the Prince of Huai’an’s mansion in Han Family Village.

The two fled recklessly; Zhou Beixiu was lost and nowhere to be found.

The Prince issued orders to seize Zhou Beixiu and punish him severely.

Unknown to them, Wang Ni had already beaten them to it, silencing him by drowning him in the river.

When Zhou Beixiu awoke from unconsciousness, he found his mouth gagged and his body tied to a huge stone.

Sensing danger, he struggled desperately.

Wang Ni appeared suddenly, his sly fox-like eyes ringing alarms in Zhou Beixiu’s mind.

The cold-faced man grinned, revealing sharp white teeth.

Terrified, Zhou Beixiu widened his eyes, trying to call for help.

Wang Ni ignored his desperate struggles and pushed the stone into the river.

A dull thud echoed as the greenish water surged.

The icy river water flooded Zhou Beixiu’s mouth, nose, and chest, pulling him into the abyss of death.

The murky surface soon calmed.

Wang Ni cleaned up all traces and left quietly.

The riverbed’s silt settled again with time, restoring its former stillness.

As if nothing had happened.

Only three days remained until the wedding.

Chen Xianle was hurriedly sent back to the Prince of Huai’an’s mansion.

Zheng Shi felt as if the sky was falling when she learned of her daughter’s capture.

Qinfang Tower strictly forbade outsiders, so security was exceptionally tight.

Chen En, filled with suppressed fury, went to confront Chen Xianle.

But just as he reached the door, Gao Zhan hurried over breathlessly.

Chen En frowned, “What’s the rush?”

Gao Zhan bowed, “Bad news, lord. The official office just sent word that two of the envoys from Jiaozhou have suddenly died!”

Chen En was stunned, surprised, “Why would they die all of a sudden?”

Gao Zhan anxiously explained, “I heard it was due to the epidemic.

Recently, there was unrest in Minzhou, where the epidemic first appeared.

People fled in all directions; many surrounding areas were affected. The Jiaozhou envoys caught the disease en route, and medicine failed.”

Chen En’s head spun. He wanted to blame his wayward daughter but was stopped by Gao Zhan.

“The young mistress just returned. Lord, please avoid contact with her to prevent infection.”

Chen En was frightened by these words and instinctively stepped back, first inquiring about the envoys’ condition.

That night, Chen Xianle developed a high fever—the early sign of the epidemic.

Zheng Shi, desperate for her daughter’s welfare, immediately summoned a doctor.

By the next day, news of Chen Xianle’s infection spread like wildfire through the entire mansion.

The disease was contagious and deadly.

Fear and panic gripped everyone inside.

Chen Jiao at Pear Fragrance Courtyard was more anxious than anyone.

She had long heard that the Prince of Huai’an intended to marry Chen Xianle.

Now, at the last moment, if Chen Xianle died from the disease, the bride sent to Jiaozhou would undoubtedly be herself.

Chen Jiao was utterly stunned.