Volume One, Chapter 10: Neglecting the Duties of a Wife

"No, I oppose this marriage."

"My Ye family has fallen to such a state all because of the trouble caused by your Chen family. Now, you actually have the nerve to come and propose?"

"Chen, if you’re smart, get lost immediately. Don't force us to take action."

Ever since their patriarch passed away, the Ye family had been suppressed for years, and everyone in the family had long been harboring a bellyful of suppressed anger with nowhere to vent. The root cause of all this was the Chen family. Now that Chen Fan had the audacity to come to their door to speak of marriage, he was practically walking straight into the line of fire.

"Xiao Fan," Ye Qianshan sighed, "for these past years, there have been rumors that the Chen family's heirloom treasure is in my Ye family's possession. Various forces have been suppressing us because of this, causing my family to decline day by day. Everyone here has a grudge against you; don't blame them."

Chen Fan was stunned. An heirloom treasure? How was he unaware of this? However, this realization helped him understand why the Ye family's influence had been waning—it turned out it was all due to their association with the Chen family. The anger of the crowd was unmistakable. At this moment, Chen Fan concluded that the Ye family had not been involved in the massacre of his family back then.

Thinking of this, he spoke up: "The marriage can be annulled, but I hope you can return the jade pendant that my parents gave to their future daughter-in-law!"

Chen Fan didn't care about the marriage at all; if the Ye family didn't want to honor it, so be it. Over the years, the rumors had made life difficult for the Ye family, and in the end, the Chen family owed them. However, the jade pendant had to be returned. It was the last memento his parents had left him.

"That’s not..." Ye Qianshan was about to agree, but the Matriarch interrupted: "The marriage was settled by both families back then. Even if the Chen family is gone, the engagement still stands."

"Matriarch, you cannot!"

"Mother, how could you..."

The members of the Ye family were dumbfounded, and even Ye Qianshan could not understand what his mother was thinking. Knowing full well that this man was an imposter, why would she agree? He found it incomprehensible.

"This matter is settled." The Matriarch struck her dragon-headed cane hard against the floor, her gaze sweeping over the younger generation. Her formidable aura silenced everyone instantly.

Now it was Chen Fan's turn to be stunned. He had never intended to actually get married; he only wanted the jade pendant back. But since he had initiated the proposal, how could he back out now?

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree. The Matriarch made the final decision and then said, "Qianshan, arrange for your son-in-law to stay in the West Wing."

Chen Fan followed his future father-in-law to the West Wing. "Xiao Fan, if you need anything, just let me know. Treat this place as your own home; don't stand on ceremony with your uncle."

"Understood, Uncle Ye!"

After Ye Qianshan left, he hurried to see the Matriarch. "Mother, you know he’s an imposter. Why agree to this marriage and let him stay in our house? Isn't this inviting a wolf into the fold?"

The Matriarch said in a deep voice, "We could drive him away today, but tomorrow the enemy would just scheme again. Rather than being constantly on guard, it is better to play along with their wishes. By keeping him under our noses, we can save ourselves some trouble."

"But we can't push Mengmeng into a pit of fire!"

"It's just an engagement, not a wedding. What are you worried about?"

Ye Qianshan realized she was right. Ginger really is spicier when it's old!

...

After Ye Qianshan left, Chen Fan received a call from Liu Xiong: "Young Master, what is the Ye family's attitude?"

"They agreed to the marriage," Chen Fan said helplessly. "However, the Ye family's attitude toward me is far from friendly. They have been suppressed for years because of my Chen family, so there is a lot of resentment."

"I have been lying low all these years and haven't investigated much, but it is true that the Ye family was implicated because of the Chen family affairs. However, on that night ten years ago, the Ye family was indeed at the scene, which is why I couldn't be certain whether they were loyal or treacherous."

"By the way, Uncle An, does my Chen family possess a treasure?"

"There are rumors that it was because your family had a great treasure that you suffered such a disaster," Liu Xiong analyzed. "But as for what this treasure is, I do not know, and I have never heard your father mention it. However, there is no smoke without fire. The rumor that the treasure is in the Ye family’s hands has persisted..."

After hanging up, Chen Fan fell into deep thought. Liu Xiong's words made sense. Perhaps the Ye family, along with other families, had participated in the tragedy ten years ago, and it was the Ye family that ended up with the treasure. It was precisely because of this item that they were ostracized and suppressed. But why would the Matriarch agree to the marriage? Was it to keep him steady?

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

The door creaked open.

"You are?"

A woman entered the room, and the moment she came into view, Chen Fan was struck by her beauty.

So beautiful, yet so cold! She possessed an angelic face, yet the aura she exuded made it impossible for anyone to approach her. At that moment, four words appeared in Chen Fan's mind: "Iceberg Beauty."

The woman spoke: "I am Ye Qingcheng."

"You are little Qingcheng?" Chen Fan smiled. "I didn't expect you to grow up so beautiful. I still remember when you were a child and came to my house, crying and asking me to take you..."

He had intended to bridge the gap between them, but before he could finish, Ye Qingcheng interrupted: "I have forgotten childhood matters. I came to see you regarding the marriage contract between our families."

"Speak."

As far as Chen Fan was concerned, Ye Qingcheng must have come to call off the engagement. However, the result was unexpected: she did not object to the marriage, but instead presented him with a list of demands.

First, the marriage could proceed, but she would not fulfill the duties of a wife. Second, Chen Fan was not allowed to interfere with her private life, and in turn, she would not restrict his. Third...

"If there are no problems, sign the contract."

"Wait, if you don't want to get married, we can just call off the engagement. Is pulling this stunt meant to humiliate me?" Chen Fan was annoyed; he wasn't a fool. He couldn't accept the first two conditions. Not fulfilling wifely duties and not interfering with private lives—in other words, even if she went to rendezvous with other men, he would just have to endure it?

"If you want to annul the engagement, that is also fine. I will compensate you with five million," Ye Qingcheng said. "With this money, you can start a small business, find an ordinary woman, and settle down..."

What a family the Ye clan was, and what a Matriarch! They agreed on the surface, but were pulling this behind his back.

"I don't want the money, but you must return the jade pendant my parents gave you."

"Very well."

Ye Qingcheng returned the jade pendant to Chen Fan, feeling a sense of relief herself. Afterward, she went to find the Matriarch to report the matter. Upon hearing this, the Matriarch slapped Ye Qingcheng across the face.

"Who gave you permission to go to Chen Fan? And you even gave him the jade pendant? Do you want to be the death of me?"

"Do you know what that pendant means to the Ye family?"

"If anything happens to that pendant, you will be the sinner of our Ye family!"