“I believe you,” she said softly.
Chen Lang smiled faintly and held her tightly in his arms, continuing, “The matter of Li Xianglian cannot be rushed. I still need her for now. As long as she is willing to come back, I will let her understand what it means to obey her husband. I will make her pay the price she deserves.”
Xu Caishan trembled slightly. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill anyone.”
Chen Lang had always suspected that the money in the house had been taken by Li Xianglian. As long as she was willing to return, he would tie her up, interrogate her properly, take back his money, and then divorce her.
He secretly vowed that he would not let Li Xianglian go.
As for Wen Zhile…
He suddenly thought of something and released Xu Caishan. “By the way, that physician also lives in town. Your brother is a county magistrate—can he help investigate this man’s background? If he has no powerful backing, give him a lesson so he knows his place.”
Xu Caishan looked troubled.
“What is it?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to help… you know my brother…”
“What happened to him?”
Xu Caishan finally said, “He doesn’t allow me to associate with you.”
“Why?”
Xu Caishan didn’t dare meet his eyes. Her brother had repeatedly told her that with her appearance and ability, she should marry someone better, so why must it be Chen Lang?
And the promise of becoming a marquis’ heir’s wife was just empty talk to stabilize her.
But Xu Caishan liked Chen Lang. He was connected to a noble household in the capital, and becoming the future heir’s wife would elevate her brother’s career as well.
Still, her brother advised her not to believe Chen Lang, saying that if he truly had hope of becoming heir, the household would not have left him in the countryside.
Xu Caishan explained that Chen Lang had come to the village to avoid going to war, arranged by his mother.
Her brother felt she was completely bewitched and refused to listen to reason.
Chen Lang frowned. “He misunderstands me. I will personally visit him another day to explain.”
“No…” she quickly stopped him.
“Hmm?”
“It’s just that he’s very busy at the yamen recently…”
Chen Lang nodded. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
As it grew late, Xu Caishan prepared to leave. Chen Lang insisted on seeing her off.
Meanwhile, Chen Ke and Chen Xuan were outside talking.
“The relationship between Father and Aunt is really good,” Chen Ke said.
“Yes,” Chen Xuan laughed. “Mother is just not worthy of Father.”
As they spoke, Li Xianglian and the others returned and met them head-on.
Their hands immediately separated upon seeing them.
Li’s father was shocked. “Chen Lang! So you like women and yet secretly cling to a man, acting indecent—”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Chen Lang snapped.
Xu Caishan felt humiliated and turned to leave, but Li’s father blocked her.
“Trying to leave? Not so easy!”
Li’s mother shouted, “Everyone come and see! Chen Lang is shameless!”
Wen Zhile signaled his assistants, and they began calling out loudly as well.
Chen Lang panicked. “Shut up! All of you shut up!”
“Come and see! He is disgraceful!”
People gathered, pointing and discussing.
Suddenly, someone pulled off Xu Caishan’s hair ribbon—her long hair fell loose.
“She’s a woman!”
“She’s actually a woman!”
“What are you doing?” Chen Lang pushed Li’s father away and pulled Xu Caishan into his arms, shielding her face.
He turned furiously toward Li Xianglian. “What do you want?”
Li Xianglian stood calmly, expressionless, watching them.
Wen Zhile looked at her. She appeared calm, without any emotional reaction.
He tightened his fists in anger.
Li’s father shouted, “What kind of shameless woman is this?!”
Villagers cursed and threw mud.
Chaos erupted.
Li Xianglian took a deep breath, walked forward on crutches, and pulled her father up.
“I’ll handle it.”
She raised her crutch and struck them without hesitation.
“I am insane!” she shouted. “Who is this woman? Why destroy my marriage?!”
“Chen Lang, you are not human!” the crowd yelled.
Someone had already gone to call the clan elders.