Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 564 Questioning

An hour later, Lian Qiao came in angrily and reported, "Madam, our kindness has been taken for granted. That idiot is not willing to give in, and even insists that our young master and Miss Yuan's horoscopes will hinder their ability to have children."

Snapped!

The teacup smashed against the blue bricks, sending shards flying everywhere. Mrs. Chen's chest heaved violently. The Buddhist beads on her wrist had been torn apart at some point, and the sandalwood beads tumbled to the ground with a crackling sound.

"What a Qingfeng Temple!" Her voice trembled. "Do you really think my Chen family is easy to bully? Go call Feng Qi in!"

"Madam, this doesn't seem right!" Aunt Zhang frowned and looked at Lian Qiao. "Did Wang'er mention that we found someone else to match our horoscopes?"

Lian Qiao nodded, "Yes, and he even recited the results and comments of their collaboration to that idiot."

"That doesn't make sense," Nanny Zhang looked at Madam Chen. "Logically, if someone's lack of skill is exposed, they should be ashamed. Even if they shamelessly accept our donation, they should be submissive and grateful.

Besides, we didn't tell him about it, which would have damaged the reputation of Qingfeng Temple. Even those who care about their reputation wouldn't continue to be stubborn."

The most important thing is that the person he was being tough with was not an ordinary person, but a county official.

Mrs. Chen's breath hitched. "You're saying that his comments were correct, and the other three were wrong?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant," Nanny Zhang waved her hands repeatedly. "I was wondering if someone bribed him to say that on purpose."

"Bribed?" Mrs. Chen's eyes narrowed, a hint of doubt flashing in them. "Are you saying... someone doesn't want this marriage to happen?"

Aunt Zhang nodded and lowered her voice, saying, "Madam, think about it, our two families have already reached an agreement. Miss Yuan is not destined to be unlucky. Logically speaking, even if our horoscopes are not the best match, we should be able to live in peace.

What's more, the abbot of Lingguan Temple, the Yin-Yang scholar, and Blind Wang all said that these two characters were a perfect match.

But the old Taoist priest at Qingfeng Temple bit me to death because it would harm my offspring, and he didn’t even want the merit money…”

Mrs. Chen's fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the couch, her thoughts churning.

"Go check," she suddenly said, her voice as cold as ice, "check who the old Taoist has met recently and what gifts he has received."

After a pause, he continued, "Send another unfamiliar person to Rongshu Village to investigate Yuan Shan's words and deeds."

She came to her senses and realized that their two families had already reached an agreement, and Yuan Shan was not a very popular woman. The person who most likely did not want this marriage to happen was Yuan Shan.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Chen's eyes became even colder, and her heart ached terribly.

Her son, who was as precious as a jewel and was avoided by all the ladies, now even despises a peasant girl who can only read and write and has a pretty appearance.

What qualifications does she have?

If it weren't for her brother's potential, she wouldn't even be worthy of being Nan'er's concubine!

The more Mrs. Chen thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. She felt as if there was a fire in her heart, burning and stewing her internal organs, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Mrs!"

"Mrs……"

The voices of Nanny Zhang and others became distant and hazy, and the vision seemed to be foggy and blurry.

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it also seemed like only a brief moment had passed before the vision became clear again, and what came into view was the beautifully decorated beams above the head.

"Madam, how do you feel?" Nanny Zhang was very worried.

Lian Qiao said, "I will go and get Doctor Song right away."

"I'm fine." Mrs. Chen lifted the blanket. "Change my clothes. I've changed my mind. I'm going to Qingfeng Temple right now. I want to ask in person how my son's horoscope affects his ability to have children!"

Nanny Zhang and Lian Qiao tried to persuade her, but Mrs. Chen was too angry and was determined to go, so they had no choice but to help her wash and change her clothes.

After a lot of trouble, it was already late in the afternoon when they arrived at Qingfeng Temple. It was sunny today, so it wasn't that cold, but Aunt Zhang and others couldn't help but worry.

When the new Taoist priest who was there to greet guests saw that it was the sedan chair from the Chen Mansion, he hurried over to greet it, but was frozen in place by a look from Nanny Zhang.

Mrs. Chen stepped straight over the threshold, her embroidered shoes rolling over the stone plaque engraved with "Tao follows nature" on the ground. The wind created by her skirt startled the gray sparrow beside the incense burner.

"Where is Taoist Priest Yuanrong?" Her voice was not loud, but it startled everyone in the hall and made them stop talking. The pilgrims looked over one after another, and some of them recognized Mrs. Chen, their faces filled with surprise.

Those who did not recognize Mrs. Chen knew that she was from a prominent family by the way she was dressed.

Taoist Priest Yuanrong came out of the Sanqing Hall and flicked his whisk: "May you be blessed with infinite blessings, Madam Chen—"

"My son's horoscope," Mrs. Chen interrupted him, throwing out several rolls of red paper, "Yuan Shan's horoscope, the comments from the Lingguan Temple master, the comments from the Yin-Yang scholar, and the comments from the blind man Wang in the south of the city are all here.

I don't understand numerology or the theory of yin and yang and the five elements. So, today, can you explain to me why their horoscopes hinder their ability to have children? And what's wrong with the other three people's comments?

The other pilgrims looked at each other in bewilderment. Was the magistrate's son seeking a marriage? Whose daughter was Yuan Shan? There didn't seem to be anyone with the surname Yuan among the officials in Qingshui County and Shunqing Prefecture.

Is the Magistrate's wife here to call for justice? Taoist Yuanrong's horoscope analysis results differ from those of the Lingguan Temple's abbot...

Everyone was confused by the huge amount of information.

Taoist Master Yuanrong bowed to Mrs. Chen and said gently, "You may have misheard. I never said there was any problem with Master Chen and Miss Yuan's horoscopes. I said it would hinder offspring, referring to my son's illness.

He was born with a disability, it's congenital, and there's a high probability that the next generation will also have the same condition, so I don't recommend having an offspring."

boom--

Mrs. Chen's mind went blank. What did they mean by "the next generation will be like this too?" What did they mean by "not recommending having children"?

Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she didn't feel any pain. She stared at Taoist Yuanrong's wrinkled face, and suddenly felt that the eyes under his white eyebrows were like two deep wells, in which were hidden monsters that would devour people's hopes.

After a while, her dizziness finally subsided, and she heard the surprised voices of nearby pilgrims.

"The County Magistrate was born with a disability?! Missing arms and legs?"

"How did I not hear it being said?"

"Hey, don't tell me, the sons of officials in Qingshui County and Shunqing Prefecture basically all study at Jiahu Academy. I haven't heard that Master Chen went there..."

These whispers drilled into Mrs. Chen's ears like poisonous snakes. Her vision went dark and she could hardly stand. Taoist Yuanrong's white eyebrows twisted into two wriggling maggots in her sight, and the smoke rising from the incense burner turned into countless sarcastic grimaces.

"Madam!" Nanny Zhang hurriedly supported her shaky body, but was pushed away.

Mrs. Chen turned around abruptly, and her scarlet eyes swept over the pilgrims who were whispering to each other. Those people immediately fell silent, but after she turned around, they covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and exchanged meaningful glances.