This Chu Chen is too foolish! To give up wealth and status for a woman, isn't that stupid? Yet he plunged headfirst into it, his mind completely addled.
Chu Chen stayed at the Chu manor for three days, not stepping out of his room once. It wasn't until the sixth day that he finally opened his door.
The sun was bright, the scenery pleasant. He stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering.
"Young Master Chu," Xiao Lan ran up quickly, her small face flushed. "Master is calling you to the main hall for a meeting."
"A meeting?" Chu Chen frowned.
He had lived in the Qin family for several years, never attending any banquets, nor had he heard of any other guests at the Chu manor.
However, Chu Chen smoothed his brows and walked towards the main hall.
The moment Chu Chen arrived at the main hall, Madam Chu was already standing before him.
She seemed to have expected Chu Chen's arrival and showed little surprise, smiling and instructing a maid to serve tea.
"Chen'er, what have you been doing lately? I heard the Qin family sent a marriage proposal, which is a good thing. You are twenty-four, it's time to get married.
Your father has also been hoping for you to marry. This time, the Qin manor sent word, hoping you will marry the Qin family's daughter soon."
Chu Chen's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with anger.
He was a stranger to the Prime Minister's daughter. Just because he had saved the Prime Minister's daughter, he was to be forcibly married? On what grounds?
"Father," Chu Chen looked up at Chu Yuntian, who was seated in the main seat, and sneered, "I disagree!"
Chu Yuntian's face changed drastically. He slammed the table and roared, "Bastard! Who allowed you to disobey your father?"
"Heh!" Chu Chen curled his lips sarcastically. "Don't you just want me to marry Miss Qin soon?
I will do as you wish, but I will not marry the Prime Minister's daughter. Unless it's a death threat, I will never step out of the Chu family gates!"
"Scoundrel!" Chu Yuntian was furious. "If you are unwilling to marry Miss Qin, don't blame your father for using torture to force you!"
Chu Chen chuckled, "Do you think I'm still a five-year-old child you can manipulate as you please? If you want to use torture, try it!"
"Slap—" A harsh slap landed on Chu Chen's face. The man's expression was chilling.
"Chu Chen, do you think you are still yourself? You have no strength now, no ability to fight back. Do you think you are still a member of my Chu family?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Chu Chen's mouth, his eyes filled with deep mockery.
This feeling was like when he was surrounded by enemies on the battlefield, their methods cruel and merciless.
If he hadn't escaped in time, he might have already been buried there.
"Chen'er, you should know that there are many people in this world superior to my Chu family. You cannot stay in the Chu family forever. Your father is not asking for your opinion.
I am merely informing you," Chu Yuntian rose and glared at Chu Chen, who was kneeling on the ground, "From now on, you are forbidden to step out of the Chu family."
He uttered these words and left, clearly not holding his son in high regard.
"Chen'er." Seeing the blood on Chu Chen's lips, Liu Cuiyan's heart ached.
Chu Chen wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve, his eyes cold. "Mother, I'm tired. I'll go back to my room to rest."
Liu Cuiyan opened her mouth but could not persuade her stubborn son.
"Chen'er, you really don't plan to return to the Chu family?"
Chu Chen paused, continuing towards his wing room without looking back, his voice indifferent, yet tinged with helplessness and sorrow.
"I'm used to being here. I don't want to move again."
His legs were completely crippled. Even if he returned, it would be useless.
Liu Cuiyan bit her lip. "You are the only male heir of the Chu family. Wouldn't this make the outside world mock our Chu family?"
Chu Chen stopped. Yes, he was the only male heir of the Chu family. Without the Chu family's name, he would be unable to move freely in the capital.
After a moment of thought, Chu Chen moved again. His resolute voice came from behind, "I will consider moving back. For now, I want a peaceful environment to rest."
With that, the man pushed open the door and slowly entered. At this moment, in the Qin family's main hall, Qin Rong's face was filled with anxiety.
"Mother," she grabbed Liu Cuiyan's arm and shook it, asking anxiously, "What should we do? Chu Chen refused."
Liu Cuiyan frowned, "Don't panic. Mother will make him agree."
"But..." Qin Rong's heart pounded rapidly, her face slightly pale. "The Chu family is not an ordinary noble family.
Although Chu Chen is a bit of a dandy, he is the legitimate eldest son. If he is unwilling, I'm afraid even Old Master Chu cannot force him..."
The next day, Chu Chen was ordered by the Emperor to go to Jiangnan to suppress bandits. This came as a surprise to Chu Chen, but he had no choice.
He could not drag the entire Chu family down. Those grievances, he would one day avenge!
Upon disembarking from the carriage in Jiangnan, Chu Chen was hit by a wave of heat. Jiangnan was in the south, with high humidity.
Therefore, the temperature in Jiangnan was always hot, even in spring.
He had traveled all the way to Jiangnan. He had already shed his thin brocade robe and changed into coarse linen clothes, yet it still couldn't conceal his handsome and refined appearance.
"Young Master Chu," a guard blocked Chu Chen's path, saying apologetically, "The Prince said we are to follow Young Master Chen."
"Mm." Chu Chen glanced indifferently at the guard and ignored him, walking straight towards the street ahead.
In his memory, Jiangnan was a prosperous city. But the Jiangnan of today was dilapidated and desolate, exuding barrenness everywhere.
"Brother, please, where is the Jiangnan prefectural office?" Chu Chen looked up and asked a man in a hurry.
The man paused and pointed southwest. "Go straight that way, it'll take about half an hour."
"Thank you." Chu Chen nodded and headed southwest. In a short while, he arrived near the prefectural office.
In front of the prefectural office, many yamen runners gathered, their expressions solemn and serious.
"Chu Chen!" a surprised voice suddenly called from behind, making Chu Chen pause.
Chu Yichen's expression was joyous, as if he had encountered something exciting.
He strode towards Chu Chen, placing his hand on the young man's shoulder, his face beaming. "Chen'er, I didn't expect to meet you here. Why are you in Jiangnan?"
Chu Chen turned his head, glanced at him indifferently, and said impatiently, "His Majesty sent me to suppress bandits."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yichen's smile froze. He awkwardly withdrew his hand. "You mean, the Emperor assigned you a mission?
I remember you just returned from Dongling, how were you immediately reassigned?"
"It is the Emperor's decree," Chu Chen's tone was flat. He did not wish to explain further and turned to walk towards the prefectural office.