Zhang Chen, upon hearing this, didn’t have any objections. There are so many strange methods in the world, and a slight oversight might lead to a trap. It was normal for the Shen Family to be a bit strict.
Shen Xu took out a jade plate from his sleeve and placed it above the top of Zhang Chen’s head, explaining, "This jade plate is a secret treasure excavated by my Shen Family from an ancient tomb. It can detect a person’s bloodline and soul."
After a round of inspection, Shen Xu said, "It is indeed the bloodline of my Shen Family and the Zhang Family, and your souls haven’t been tampered with."
"Tomorrow, come with me to meet the old lady and acknowledge your relatives," Shen Xu said.
Hearing Shen Xu’s words, Zhang Chen nodded, and said politely, "Thank you for your trouble."
In Jiang Nan’s room, Jiang Nan was playing chess with Shen Ling, who was dressed in red. The sounds of their moves echoed continuously, especially clear in the quiet room.
Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps, along with a young maid’s shout, came from outside the room: "Miss, something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!"
Shen Ling paused her hand holding the chess piece, turned her head to look at the door, and said irritably, "Miss, I’m fine, what could be wrong?"
"Miss, there’s trouble! There’s trouble! Our young master-in-law has arrived!" Shen Ling’s personal maid, Cyan Sparrow, said anxiously.
"What?" Upon hearing this, Shen Ling’s face dramatically changed, "Who delivered this news? Is the news accurate?"
She had feelings for her cousin, Zhang Gaoqiu. They were inseparable and had privately promised themselves to each other. Now suddenly hearing this news left her flustered.
"I heard the stewards and the young servants talking and came to inform Miss specifically," said Cyan Sparrow.
Shen Ling put down the chess piece in her hand, furrowed her brows tightly, and after a long time, said, "Go and find out about my fiancé’s situation."
"I have already inquired for Miss," Cyan Sparrow said.
"What’s the story?" Shen Ling pursued further.
"Countrified! Extremely countrified! Wearing tattered clothes that only humble men would wear, he’s just a bumpkin from the countryside," said Cyan Sparrow.
Upon hearing Cyan Sparrow’s account, Jiang Nan, standing beside her, had a flicker of expression and showed a subtle look: "Could it be him?"
"What should I do? This is a big problem! I, as the dignified Miss of the Shen Family, how could I marry a bumpkin?" Shen Ling’s face darkened, filled with anger.
"Congratulations, Ling’er sister, it seems the good news is on the horizon. By then, perhaps I should get a cup of celebratory wine," Jiang Nan quipped with a smile.
"Hmph, a bumpkin from the north. I will not marry him! I have already promised myself to Brother Zhang Gaoqiu, how could I marry that bumpkin! I am the first to disagree with this marriage!" Shen Ling abruptly stood up and overturned the chessboard: "Cyan Sparrow, lead the way ahead. I need to warn that bumpkin to know his place and voluntarily withdraw from the engagement."
Cyan Sparrow led the way, and Shen Ling, in her red dress, followed aggressively. Jiang Nan, afraid that the two might cause some extraordinary trouble, quickly chased after them.
"Sister Shen Ling, don’t act recklessly; everything can be discussed," Jiang Nan followed closely behind, urging Shen Ling, "We still need to negotiate kindly. If he agrees to give up this marriage, it couldn’t be better. If he refuses to give up this marriage, it’s not too late to think of another way."
"You don’t have to persuade me. Just a trivial bumpkin from the north, a criminal from the Border Region, has no right to speak," said Shen Ling with a voice full of determination.
Then the three of them forcefully arrived at Zhang Chen’s residence and saw Shen Ling kick the door open: "Which one is Zhang Chen?"
Zhang Chen, having just seen off Shen Xu, stood in the courtyard contemplating the complex affairs of the Shen Family when he saw the door suddenly kicked open, revealing a familiar face in a fiery red dress storming in from outside.
Looking at the girl in the red dress, images of two round and white objects flashed subconsciously in Zhang Chen’s mind, causing his blood to stir slightly.
Upon seeing Zhang Chen, Shen Ling recognized his face, and a wave of shame flushed her cheeks. She then drew her sword and angrily shouted, "Scoundrel! I didn’t expect you’d hide here. Watch as I gouge out your eyes."
Shen Ling’s voice was filled with anger, her eyes appeared to be spewing fire, and the sword in her hand fiercely stabbed toward Zhang Chen.
This strike was swift and urgent, showing no mercy, whistling through the air. It made Zhang Chen’s eyelids twitch, and he hurriedly dodged the fierce strike by twisting his body.
Knowing he was at fault, he didn’t dare to fight back, after all, he had seen her... round and white with a touch of black...
"Ling’er sister, don’t!" At this moment, Jiang Nan rushed in from outside, seeing Shen Ling aiming her sword at Zhang Chen, his pupils contracted, and he hurriedly stepped forward to intercept.
"Jiang Nan sister, step aside, let me stab this scoundrel to death." Shen Ling’s voice was full of shame and anger.
She was a respectable young lady who had been stripped bare like this by someone, how could she tolerate it? When had the great miss of the Shen Family ever suffered such a loss!
"Shen Ling sister, this is a distinguished guest of the Shen Family. If you injure him, I’m afraid you won’t be able to explain to the matriarch. What’s the grudge between you and him, that you’d draw your sword against him? If word gets out, I’m afraid..." Jiang Nan glanced at Shen Ling, her voice full of caution.
Hearing Jiang Nan mention a grudge with him, Shen Ling was immediately furious and extremely embarrassed. How could she possibly talk about such matters with outsiders?
Impossible to speak!
If word got out, her reputation would be completely ruined!
"One day, I’ll dig out your dog eyes! Where’s Zhang Chen? Get Zhang Chen out here!" Shen Ling sheathed her long sword and shouted angrily.
She knew that the situation couldn’t escalate, otherwise her reputation would be destroyed.
"I am Zhang Chen!" Zhang Chen smiled wryly.
"You’re Zhang Chen?" Shen Ling’s face turned even darker upon hearing this: "Just as I imagined, despicable and filthy, indeed the kind of trash from the border region, only knowing how to do shameful, dirty things. Wanting me to marry a nobody like you is complete wishful thinking!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen immediately understood—the red-clad girl in front of him was his fiancée?
At this time Zhang Chen carefully observed the lady and saw that she had eyebrows like distant ink, resembling the spring mountains embodying green, wonderfully balanced; eyes like autumn waters containing stars, sparkling and brilliant, hiding endless spirit. A refined nose, akin to a finely crafted jade sculpture, small and delicate. Lips like cherries, naturally red without paint, slightly upturned, as if brushed by a spring breeze, pleasing to the heart.
Her cloud-like hair was lightly arranged, with some strands falling beside her snow-white neck, accentuating her snowy, fine and smooth skin. She wore a red dress, with embroidered flowers on the hem that swayed gently with her movements, like butterflies fluttering among flowers.
But the arrogance between her brows, and her condescending demeanor, marred that beauty.
"She’s indeed quite pretty, a rare beauty, but lacks the ethereal presence and commanding aura of Xie Lingyun, and the gentleness of Jiang Nan. She only carries the boldness typical of a tomboy." Zhang Chen secretly noted to himself.
But now Zhang Chen also recalled the scene he saw in the forest that day, thinking to himself: "So my fiancée is involved with another man, am I being cuckolded?"
"Zhang Gaoqiu and Shen Ling, how did those two get tangled together?" Zhang Chen’s eyes showed contemplation as he listened to the girl’s cursing and came back to his senses, furrowing his brow: "I say, speak properly if you’re going to speak. A good young lady, but speaking this way doesn’t befit the supposed education of a lady from a prominent family like the Shen Family, it’s rather vulgar!"
"You scoundrel, how dare you call me vulgar!!" Shen Ling was enraged upon hearing this, and without a word, she drew her treasure sword and fiercely attacked Zhang Chen, but was pulled back by Jiang Nan at the side: "Dear sister, don’t resort to blades and guns. Let’s talk it over calmly, if something happens causing harm, that wouldn’t be good. You wouldn’t be able to explain to the matriarch!"
Shen Ling reluctantly halted, pointing her sword at Zhang Chen, her voice full of arrogance and anger: "You little bumpkin, I ask if you’ll break off the engagement?"
Hearing the name-calling, Zhang Chen was not angered, his cultivator’s demeanor, coupled with his experiences over two lifetimes, couldn’t be shaken by mere profanity.
Listening carefully, Zhang Chen simply observed Shen Ling: "I don’t know if I’m a bumpkin, but your screaming and shouting like a shrew, looking no different from those hags who curse in the street, is quite unbecoming of your upbringing."
"You called me a shrew!!!" Shen Ling was incited to anger by Zhang Chen’s words, eyes aflame, her sword ready to strike again, held back firmly by Jiang Nan: "Dear sister, stop! Let us aretreat home, our elders will decide everything; let’s not cause a scene here."
Saying this, she helplessly pointed at Zhang Chen: "You, you really have an unyielding mouth!"
With those words, she pulled the furious Shen Ling away, leaving Zhang Chen silently standing in the courtyard. "Well, a bird flying from the hand. The marriage bestowed by the family might be called off." Zhang Chen shook his head and chuckled to himself. What kind of woman couldn’t he find, merely Shen Ling, even though she was fair and busty, for Zhang Chen... she really was quite good-looking.
"But the matter here may not be simple, involving various intricate issues." Zhang Chen scratched his head: "Let me retrieve the items left by my mother, then extract myself from this quagmire with the Shen Family; I am too lazy to adhere to parental mandates and matchmaking."
"Elder brother, who was making noise in the courtyard?" At this moment Zhang Tuowei emerged from the house and inquired of Zhang Chen.
"Just an ignorant shrew." Zhang Chen replied casually.
Outside the large gate
Shen Ling, who hadn’t gone far, clutched her treasure sword again, biting her lip and rushing back.
PS: This Chapter sponsored by an alliance master, expecting five more updates for ’Bamboo Leaf Seed Crisps,’ this being the first. Let’s see if there’s time this afternoon.