Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 86 A Showdown! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
The inner courtyard of the Lin residence is quiet and secluded, filled with the embroidery room.

Madam Yang sat alone by the window, her fingertips gently stroking a plain white handkerchief.

A blood-red plum blossom quietly bloomed on the handkerchief, its color dark red, as if carrying something secret.

Looking at the blood-red plum blossoms, Madam Yang's brows furrowed with a hint of realization and reminiscence. As her gaze shifted, a faint but genuine smile would unconsciously appear on her lips.

Several days have passed since that day.

Chen Sheng had not yet come to find her as she had expected, but for some reason, a firm trust lingered in her heart, as if some intuition was telling her that he would definitely come.

This quietly growing anticipation diluted the slight sorrow in her brows. Even her personal maid, Lüxiu, noticed the change in her, often saying in private that the lady's complexion had become increasingly radiant and her eyes had regained their sparkle.

To this, Madam Yang simply smiled and remained silent, never offering any explanation.

Because only she herself knew where this transformation, like a withered tree coming back to life, came from. For a woman confined to her chambers, what could be more revitalizing than receiving a man's love and care?
Just as Madam Yang was lost in thought, a slightly hurried knocking sound came from outside the room, accompanied by Green Embroidery's somewhat flustered call:
"Ma'am, ma'am!"

Madam Yang frowned slightly, quickly and carefully folded the plum blossom handkerchief in her hand, and tucked it deep into her sleeve. She took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and waited until her expression returned to its usual gentle and dignified state before getting up and opening the door.

"What's the matter that you're in such a panic?" she asked softly, looking at the panting Green Embroidery.

"Madam...it seems something has happened outside."

Green Embroidery clutched her chest and explained incoherently, "I heard the servants in the front yard say that it's Chen Sheng from the military camp... Commander Chen has arrived with a lot of soldiers, and they're blocking the gate right now!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang's expression changed slightly.

Chen Sheng is here?

And why did they come so openly and openly, with their own people?

Could it be...

A thought, like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippled through her heart, carrying a hint of subconscious longing, but was quickly replaced by a deeper worry.

This is, after all, the residence of Magistrate Lin Shou. His actions are far too risky. No matter how weak Lin Shou is, he is still a seventh-rank magistrate in name only.

Fearing trouble might arise, she immediately ordered, "Come on, take me to the front quickly."

“Yes, Madam…” Green Embroidery quickly responded and led the way.
-
The atmosphere in front of the Lin residence was somber.

Chen Sheng, dressed in a brand-new eighth-rank military officer's robe, stood with his hands behind his back at the foot of the stone steps, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

Although he only brought a dozen or so personal guards with him, his awe-inspiring aura of seasoned warriors and decisive ruthlessness made it seem as if a thousand troops were following him, pressing heavily on the entire gate of the Lin residence.

The old steward of the manor was pale, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. He and a group of guards stood trembling at the door, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The lingering fear of the Gao family's destruction and Gao Yuanfeng's beheading still lingers, and now Commander Chen's fearsome reputation in Changshan County is enough to stop children from crying at night.

Everyone knows that he and his master have a long-standing feud.

They had even suffered a setback in front of him when the Gao family was wiped out, so how could they, as servants, dare to act recklessly in the slightest?

"What? Does it take so long to send a message? Is Magistrate Lin so busy that he doesn't even have time to see me?"

Chen Sheng spoke indifferently, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the old butler.

He came here today to confront Lin Shou openly and honestly, without resorting to any more clandestine schemes.

Once his position as commander-in-chief of the military battalion was confirmed and the word "acting" was removed, he no longer needed to worry too much about Lin Shou's feelings.

He wanted everyone to see clearly that from now on, in Changshan County, whose words carry more weight!

"Lord Chen, please calm down, please calm down! Master... Master will be here soon, very soon!" The old steward hurriedly bowed and smiled apologetically, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

Before he finished speaking, a series of slightly disordered footsteps came from inside the mansion.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw County Magistrate Lin Shou walking out of the inner courtyard with a gloomy expression. His gaze swept over Chen Sheng outside the door and the menacing soldiers behind him, and his brows instantly filled with shock and anger.

"Chen Sheng, what do you mean by this? In broad daylight, you've led troops to besiege my residence. Are you perhaps planning a rebellion?!"

Lin Shouqiang tried to remain calm and asked sternly.

He had just received the reprimanding document from the prefectural government, and was already filled with shock and anger. Now, seeing Chen Sheng being so aggressive, he was even more furious.

Chen Sheng's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was calm and even:
“Magistrate Lin, you flatter me. I have only found some clues related to the remnants of the Gao family, which seem to be connected to you. Therefore, I have come to investigate and clarify the matter.”

"My officer?"

Lin Shou seemed to be stung by these words, and his voice suddenly rose: "It's one thing for you to act arrogantly in front of your subordinates, but how dare you overstep your bounds in front of me?!"

He had long known that Chen Sheng was arrogant, but he never expected that the other party would dare to disregard him so much so soon after officially taking office. This made him feel extremely humiliated and threatened.

Chen Sheng's lips curled slightly, a hint of barely perceptible mockery flashing across his face:

"Why not? Does Magistrate Lin have any objections to this?"

"you……"

Lin Shou was speechless for a moment, his finger pointing at Chen Sheng trembling slightly with extreme anger.

Everyone around, whether servants of the Lin family or soldiers brought by Chen Sheng, held their breath and remained silent in the face of this scene.

The people of the Lin family were filled with fear, but the personal guards behind Chen Sheng unconsciously straightened their backs, their eyes shining with pride—their commander was just that tough!

"Chen Sheng, don't forget your place."

Lin Shou suppressed his anger and tried to intimidate him with his official rank: "I am a seventh-rank official of the imperial court, and you are just an eighth-rank military battalion commander. What right do you have to investigate me?!"

"Oh?"

Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone remaining calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"Since Magistrate Lin believes that I have no right to investigate, that is fine. I will now compile the relevant 'evidence' I have collected and submit it to the Ning'an Prefecture government for Your Excellency and your superiors to make a clear judgment."

But Magistrate Lin should be careful not to regret it later.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shou's expression changed instantly.

Because he had indeed received a lot of "tribute" from the Gao family, he might have been able to handle it under normal circumstances, but now that he had just been reprimanded by the government, it was a sensitive time.

If Chen Sheng truly possessed solid evidence and reported it to higher authorities, his official position would likely be in jeopardy. A mix of guilt and panic overwhelmed him, causing his composure to falter.

But under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could not easily back down, so he could only stare intently at Chen Sheng, maintaining a tense standoff with a fierce but inwardly weak expression.

Just as the atmosphere was about to break down, a gentle voice, tinged with urgency, rang out:
"Commander Chen, please calm down. Is there... perhaps some misunderstanding?"

Madam Yang, accompanied by her maid Luxiu, hurried over from the inner courtyard.

She first glanced quickly at Chen Sheng, and seeing that he was unharmed, she felt a little relieved. Then she stepped forward and tried to ease the tense atmosphere.

Her words, seemingly meant to reconcile, were actually laced with sarcasm—she knew Chen Sheng well; if he truly had irrefutable evidence, he wouldn't waste his breath on this. He was either bluffing or leaving room for maneuver, unwilling to completely sever ties.

When Lin Shou saw Madam Yang step forward, a faint warmth inexplicably arose in his heart.

Although he disliked this nominal wife, it was indeed more appropriate for her to step in and mediate than for him to stand his ground.

Chen Sheng's gaze fell on Madam Yang, scrutinizing her closely.

After a few days apart, Madam Yang seemed to have become even more beautiful and charming, her figure as graceful as ever, and the gentle charm between her brows, now less melancholy than before, was replaced by a brighter glow.

I wonder if it was the nourishment of that one night of spring breeze that made her radiate such a glow from the inside out.

He hesitated for a few moments, then followed her words:

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we need to ask clearly and investigate thoroughly before we can draw a conclusion."

Madam Yang, being quick-witted, immediately grasped the implied meaning, and smiled, suggesting:
"Commander Chen is right. In that case, blocking the doorway is not a proper way to treat guests, nor is it easy to distinguish right from wrong. Why don't you and the master move to the study to discuss this matter in detail?"

"What is Magistrate Lin's opinion?"

Chen Sheng turned his gaze to Lin Shou, his tone carrying an air of unyielding inquiries.

Lin Shou's mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons.

He figured that no matter how audacious Chen Sheng was, he wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him, an official of the court, in broad daylight and in front of everyone. Perhaps a private talk in the study would allow him to probe the truth and save face.

"Humph!"

Lin Shou snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying, "I'd like to see what 'evidence' you can produce!"

The people around looked at each other, puzzled, as the three entered the mansion one after the other, and felt that the situation was becoming more and more confusing.
-
In the study, the scent of sandalwood is wafting.

Lin Shou walked straight behind the desk and sat down in the mahogany armchair, attempting to gain the home-field advantage.

He then fixed his sharp gaze on the composed Chen Sheng and asked in a deep voice:
"Chen Sheng, there are no outsiders here. What exactly do you intend to do?"

"What do you want?"

Chen Sheng chuckled lightly, but did not answer directly. Instead, he turned his head and gave Madam Yang, who was standing to the side, a meaningful look.

Madam Yang understood immediately, pursed her lips, and gently closed and bolted the study door.

Lin Shou frowned as he watched this scene, his doubts deepening. He couldn't figure out what Chen Sheng was up to at all.

However, what happened next struck him like a thunderbolt, and his eyes widened instantly!

Chen Sheng sat down on a guest chair nearby as if no one else was there, and then casually waved to Madam Yang.

Madam Yang received the signal and gave Chen Sheng a reproachful look, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of questioning and shyness—Lin Shou is still here!
Seeing Chen Sheng nod slightly to her with a firm gaze, Madam Yang felt reassured. She gritted her teeth and made no further hesitation.

She immediately took light yet firm steps and walked straight to Chen Sheng's side. Then, under Lin Shou's almost fiery gaze, she obediently nestled into Chen Sheng's arms.

But her slender hand, hidden in her sleeve, subtly pinched Chen Sheng's waist, seemingly both annoyed and resentful, as if blaming him for revealing his true feelings in such a direct and embarrassing way.

"Now, Magistrate Lin, do you understand why I have come here today?"

Chen Sheng naturally put his arm around Madam Yang's slender waist, calmly met Lin Shou's shocked and distorted face, and asked clearly, word by word.

Lin Shou froze, his mind blank, as if he couldn't comprehend the absurd scene before him.

What did he see?
His lawfully wedded wife, in name only, was now throwing herself into the arms of another man right before his eyes, and that man was none other than Chen Sheng, whom he hated to the core!
After the extreme shock came a surge of rage.

Lin Shou suddenly sprang up from his armchair, his finger trembling as he pointed at Chen Sheng in extreme rage, his voice distorted: "Chen Sheng, you...you have such audacity!!"

He never imagined that Chen Sheng's arrogance and conceit would reach such a lawless level!

If he behaves like this to his face, what must he do behind his back...? He simply couldn't imagine.

"I have never been a small man."

The mocking smile on Chen Sheng's lips grew even more pronounced: "So, Magistrate Lin, it's only today that you've truly learned your lesson?"

"You...you...you've gone too far!"

Lin Shou trembled with rage, his words incoherent. He then turned his anger towards Madam Yang, roaring with a ferocious expression, "And you shameless slut, you disobey your wifely duties and dare to commit such a despicable act, disgracing my family! I will make your Yang family pay the price! I will make sure you, you slut, die without a burial place!!"

After the initial fear subsided, nestled in Chen Sheng's strong and warm embrace, feeling that reassuring strength, Madam Yang suddenly felt an unprecedented surge of courage.

Faced with Lin Shou's vicious curses, she not only showed no fear, but instead raised her head, let out a cold laugh, her voice clear and sharp, each word piercing to the heart:

"I am not a virtuous woman? It is you, Lin Shou, who has truly disgraced your family and lost all face. A dignified seventh-rank county magistrate, instead of serving the court and comforting the people, you willingly become someone else's plaything and engage in those despicable acts of homosexuality!"

He even wanted to give away his wife like a commodity to curry favor. Lin Shou, I've tolerated you long enough all these years. In the past, I didn't dare to break ties with you because of the Yang family, but now…”

Madam Yang paused, glanced tenderly at Chen Sheng, then stared intently at Lin Shou, her voice carrying a resolute elation:
"Now that I have Chen Lang protecting me, why should I fear your threats in the slightest? We have been married for several years, but in reality we are like strangers, and I have suffered all kinds of cold treatment and humiliation!"
All these years of torment are nothing compared to one night of pleasure with Chen Lang. Lin Shou, ask yourself honestly, what are you if not a piece of trash?!

This pent-up resentment and grievance, accumulated over several years, burst forth like a flood bursting its banks.

Every word he uttered was like a sharp dagger, piercing deeply into Lin Shou's most hypocritical and unbearable vulnerabilities.

Lin Shou's face turned from red to green, then from green to white as he was scolded. His arm, which was pointing at Madam Yang, trembled violently, his chest heaved, and his throat made a "hoarse" sound. He couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Only that murderous gaze remained, fixed intently on the two embracing figures.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)