vstars Chapter 3 Shen Qingci
Chapter 3 Shen Qingci
The next day, at the first light of dawn, in Chen Xuan's courtyard.
He was slowly finishing his practice, the harmonious and unhindered aura around him gradually settling into stillness. Last night's experience had deepened his control over his own power. Just then, the old steward Zhao Fu's voice rang out from outside the courtyard, carrying a barely perceptible tension:
"Young Master, Master requests your presence in the front hall. Miss Shen Qingci from the Shen family will be visiting soon."
Shen Qingci?
Chen Xuan opened his eyes, and the vague marriage agreement and the equally vague figure of a proud young girl from the original owner's memories surfaced. Many years ago, before the Chen family fell into such decline, they had formed a close relationship with another powerful family, the Shen family, and arranged a marriage between their young children. He never expected her to show up at this time.
"Understood." He replied calmly, stood up, casually straightened his blue cloth robe, and walked towards the front hall. His steps were steady, showing no sign of urgency.
The main hall had been rearranged; the bloodstains and damage were gone, and a faint scent of sandalwood incense had dispelled any remaining lingering odor. Old Master Chen sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a more formal dark gray robe, looking remarkably spry. Chen Xuan stepped into the hall, his footsteps breaking the silence.
"Sit down." Chen Zhan gestured to the chair beside him, a half-smile on his face. "Xuan'er, your fiancée is here. You and she... were betrothed when you were young. Although our families have become less connected in recent years, the betrothal still exists. I originally planned for you to spend more time with the Shen family, but now that they're visiting, you should take the opportunity to cultivate your relationship."
Seeing the old man's teasing expression, Chen Xuan felt somewhat helpless.
After so many years apart, who knows what she looks like now? Having gone through countless arranged marriages in his past life, he doesn't really have any expectations for this kind of arranged marriage, let alone the fact that the Chen family is currently in decline and girls of this age have a lot on their minds.
But he didn't say anything. Since the guests had come from afar, the proper etiquette had to be observed. The grandfather and grandson chatted intermittently as they waited quietly.
After noon that day, the expected commotion finally came from outside the Chen family's gate.
It wasn't a large entourage, just a seemingly simple but actually well-made black lacquered carriage, escorted by four guards on sturdy horses, dressed in light blue outfits, and with sharp eyes, that came to a steady stop in front of the Chen residence. The carriage curtain was lifted, and a pretty maid in a light green dress stepped out first, deftly setting down a footstool.
Then, a foot clad in a moon-white embroidered shoe emerged and gently touched the stool. Immediately afterwards, the slender figure of a young woman appeared before the Chen family.
Shen Qingci.
She wore a light turquoise long dress with flowing cloud patterns, over which was a matching light gauze overlay, and a brocade belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender figure. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, loosely tied up with a single jade hairpin, the rest flowing smoothly over her shoulders. Her face was beautiful, her skin fair, her eyebrows like distant mountains, and her eyes like autumn water, yet those eyes held an unyielding coolness and aloofness. Her every glance exuded the poise and pride of someone from a distinguished family and possessing profound cultivation. However, in those almond-shaped eyes, a barely concealed, condescending detachment was now clearly revealed.
Her gaze swept over Zhao Fu, the old steward of the Chen family, who came forward to greet her, and the servants behind him. It then briefly swept over the slightly old but clean entrance hall, and her beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly before returning to their calm state.
"Miss Shen, it is an honor to have you here. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner. The master and young master are already waiting in the hall. Please come in." Zhao Fu bowed respectfully and led the way.
Shen Qingci nodded slightly, saying nothing. She didn't bring many servants, only the bright-eyed, green-clad maid, who also slightly raised her chin. Accompanied by the maid, she calmly stepped into the Su family's gate. The four guards remained silently outside, forming a subtle standoff with the Su family's guards, creating a delicate atmosphere.
Shen Qingci entered the hall, her gaze first falling on Chen Zhan, who sat at the head of the table. She curtsied and spoke in a clear, melodious voice: "Qingci greets Grandpa Chen. It's been many years, but you still look as dashing as ever."
Then Shen Qingci's gaze immediately fell on Chen Xuan like a searchlight, scanning him from head to toe. Her gaze lingered briefly on his simple clothes, and then a barely perceptible disappointment and a knowing "I knew it" flashed in her eyes.
The Chen Xuan before her, apart from having a rosier complexion and a more upright posture than rumored, seemed no different from the unremarkable, even somewhat timid, boy she remembered. He was worlds apart from the true young talents and sect prodigies she had met in the capital.
"Brother Chen." Shen Qingci nodded slightly as a greeting, his voice clear but lacking warmth, merely going through the motions of politeness.
"Miss Shen." Chen Xuan nodded in return, his tone calm and his demeanor natural, as if he were just an ordinary guest.
"My dear niece, you've come from afar, thank you for your hard work. Please take a seat. Zhao Fu, serve tea."
Under the warm welcome of Grandpa Chen, Shen Qingci gracefully took her seat.
"It's been a few years since I last saw you. My dear niece has become even more beautiful, hahaha---" Old Master Chen laughed heartily.
Zhao Fu and his servants had already prepared tea.
The young woman said politely, "Grandpa Chen, you flatter me..."
His words carried a hint of hesitation. But Old Master Chen, overjoyed at not seeing his old friend for so long, remained oblivious, lost in his own reminiscences of the past:
"Back in the day, your grandfather and I were sworn brothers. Later, we each started our own families and got busy with our own lives, and since we lived far apart, we saw each other less often. Fortunately, we still have you younger generations to continue the bond between our two families..."
The girl was restless as she listened, hesitating several times before finally settling down to listen attentively.
"...Speaking of which, how has old man Shen been lately?"
Finally, in the end, Grandpa Su asked about his old friend's recent situation.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandpa Chen. My grandfather is doing well," the young woman replied gracefully.
"That's good, that's good." Chen Zhan nodded, then changed the subject, "So... what brings my dear niece here today?"
Even if he was slow to notice, he could tell that the other person was distracted.
Given that there was no prior notice of this trip, Old Master Su had some vague suspicions in his mind.
"This..." The girl lowered her eyes. "Grandpa Chen, your niece has come because she has something to say. But she doesn't know where to begin."
Chen Zhan's bad premonition grew stronger, but he still smiled on the surface:
"Please speak freely, my dear niece. With the relationship between our two families, what is there that cannot be said?"
But the more he said that, the more difficult it became for the girl to speak.
Finally, it was the petite maid who spoke up:
"Miss, what's so hard to say? It was decided a long time ago."
Chen Zhan turned his gaze to her, wanting to see what was wrong that made his beloved niece so troubled.
Seeing that her mistress did not object, the maidservant went straight to the point:
"We've come to annul the engagement. The engagement between Miss and your family was imposed on her by you, not of her own volition. We hope that Master Chen will grant our request!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
The warm greetings from just moments ago seemed to be instantly frozen in place.
"Niece Shen." Old Master Chen looked at the aloof young woman again, his form of address changed. "Is what this young friend said true?"
The girl nodded slightly.
"Hmph!" Old Master Chen slammed his hand on the table. "A marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers! How can marriage be treated so lightly? If you want to call off the engagement, let Old Man Shen come in person! I want to see what face he has to say such things!"
The old man was truly furious.
In recent years, the Chen family has been targeted by a mysterious force, and to say they have gradually declined is an understatement—they have long since fallen into ruin. And now, this old friend of many years has taken advantage of their misfortune, showing no regard for the relationship between the two families, and has come to annul the engagement!
This is absolutely outrageous!
Chen Xuan, who was standing to the side, was also taken aback.
Annulment of the engagement? Although I was mentally prepared.
But I never imagined that something like this would actually happen to me one day.
Should he say something like, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river"?
—No. Why wait thirty years? Now that he has mastered the Yi Jin Jing, where in the world can he not go? Who can't stop him?
However, Chen Xuan didn't speak for the time being, just watching like a spectator, wanting to see what kind of plan his "fiancée" was going to follow.