17: Chapter 17 Third Life, Reborn as the Boss of the Opponent's Family (Part 4)

After a moment, Chen Shi closed the file and set it aside.

He then randomly pulled a few more books from the shelf, flipped through them casually, and slowly walked out of the library.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Xiao Cui, the maid by his mother's side, waiting at the entrance of the library.

Sure enough, when Xiao Cui saw Chen Shi emerge, her eyes lit up as she hurried over, bowing to pay her respects.

"Greetings, Second Young Master. The Madam sent me to find you and asks that you come to the main room in the back courtyard."

"Oh, Mother is looking for me?"

Chen Shi was slightly taken aback. *Huh? What could be so urgent that Mother had to send a maid to the library to find him?*

*Forget it, forget it. I'll know when I get there.*

*Maybe it really is something important... right?*

Chen Shi shook off his thoughts and said to Xiao Cui, "Understood. Lead the way."

With his hands behind his back, he followed Xiao Cui at a leisurely pace as they walked toward the main room.

The warm spring sun shone upon the blue bricks and dark tiles of the Chen Clan mansion. Under the veranda, the begonias were in full bloom, scattering tiny petals across the ground.

Chen Shi looked around as he walked, still pondering the matter. He wasn't in the slightest bit worried; after all, this was his biological mother, and she had always doted on him. It couldn't be anything bad.

Before long, the two arrived at the main room. As soon as he stepped inside, he caught the faint scent of calming incense.

Inside the main hall, Madam Chen was sitting on a pear-wood chair cushioned with soft padding, fingering a string of prayer beads.

Seeing him enter, a gentle smile immediately appeared on her face, and she beckoned him over. "Shi'er, come, sit down."

Chen Shi didn't stand on ceremony. He walked forward, bowed slightly to his mother, and sat down in a nearby chair.

A maid quickly brought out tea and refreshments. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and asked, "Mother, you summoned me—is there some urgent matter?"

Madam Chen set down her prayer beads and looked at her youngest son, her eyes filled with maternal love.

Although she and Patriarch Chen Lie had a marriage arranged by their families, they were deeply compatible and exceptionally affectionate, having only these two children over the years.

Chen Shi was thirteen this year, handsome in appearance and gentle in nature.

Although he was not as naturally gifted in cultivation as his elder brother, he was steady and diligent, and had always been a source of comfort to her.

She didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "A-Shi, you aren't young anymore. Your father and I only have you and your elder brother as children. You know that the future of the Chen Clan is destined to be handed over to you. Therefore, your father and I have discussed it and found a marriage match for you."

Chen Shi's hand holding the teacup paused, and he was momentarily stunned. *Mother, you're being way too hasty! I'm only thirteen! I'm not even an adult yet! This is absolutely absurd!*

However, this was how it was for children of noble families. He quickly calmed down and asked, "May I ask, Mother, which family is the young lady from?"

"It is the legitimate daughter of the Yun Clan in the neighboring Yunshui City, Yun Qingxue," Madam Chen said with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction.

"This girl is excellent. She is only one year older than you, with a very proper background—the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun Clan. She is currently cultivating at the Spirit Sword Sect, and her aptitude is even a bit better than yours; she has already reached the Stone Skin Realm."

Chen Shi was slightly startled. Yunshui City, the Yun Clan? That sounded like the number one family. Furthermore, she was a legitimate eldest daughter with better aptitude than him. Could there be a catch? For instance, what if she looked absolutely hideous? That wouldn't do. If that were the case, he would rather die than comply—this was a matter of principle!

Before he could speak, Madam Chen continued, "I know what you are thinking. Rest assured, there is no problem. This marriage is happening mostly because of your elder brother."

Speaking of this, the smile on Madam Chen's face deepened. "Your elder brother is currently quite prominent in the Spirit Sword Sect. Not long ago, during the inner sect competition, he was spotted by the Grand Elder and taken in as a nominal disciple. Once he breaks through to the Copper Bone Realm, he will officially become a personal disciple. The Yun Clan's ancestor, who is an inner sect elder, possesses cultivation at the middle stage of the Copper Bone Realm—a small realm higher than your grandfather. Having witnessed your brother's brilliance at the inner sect competition, he had long wanted to befriend and invest in him, but couldn't find a suitable reason. And so, he inquired about you, his own younger brother. It just so happens that although you are the second son, you are destined to inherit the family. And while the Yun Clan's legitimate eldest daughter has slightly better aptitude than you, she is far from being a match for your elder brother. It is a perfect match of social status—it couldn't be better."

Chen Shi still struggled with this. Wasn't this just using him as a stepping stone to cling to his elder brother? He still had some self-respect. Besides, they had talked for so long without hitting the main point! They only mentioned her background, aptitude, and the reason for the match—what about her appearance? That was the most important part! Of course, this wasn't him being superficial; he was doing this for the sake of the Chen Clan. After all, he was the man who would become the head of the Chen Clan. If the Madam of the household wasn't beautiful enough, wouldn't the next generation of clan heads be doomed? This was a major matter affecting the future inheritance of the Chen Clan; he couldn't be careless.

Madam Chen observed his expression and added another sentence, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. "Oh, right, I also had people inquire. This Miss Yun is extremely beautiful—the number one beauty of the younger generation in Yunshui City. Her temperament is also gentle and refined, not the type to be arrogant or unreasonable."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi immediately put on a solemn expression. He straightened his posture and said seriously, "Mother, what are you saying? Marriage is a major life event, dictated by the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. I will leave everything to Mother's arrangements. Besides, I am a loyal person by nature; as long as the young lady has good character, nothing else matters. It is absolutely not because I heard she is a great beauty that I agreed—I am naturally face-blind."

He said this with such righteous indignation that he almost believed it himself.

Madam Chen looked at him like this and couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head and said, "Alright, alright, I know. Since you have no objections, shall I finalize this marriage arrangement with your father and the Yun Clan?"

"I leave it entirely to Mother's decision." Chen Shi nodded slightly, his reply firm and decisive.

The marriage was thus settled.

In the days that followed, Chen Shi cultivated even more diligently, while also not neglecting the sword technique he had chosen. After all, his fiancée was already in the Stone Skin Realm, and he was still spinning his wheels in the Ox-Skin Realm. If they met, it would be too embarrassing.

Soon, he was tempering his body to improve his realm while practicing the "Cold Star Sword Technique."

While practicing the sword, he also went to his father and had that old thing, Chen Ping, transferred over to serve as his head of guards. His excuse was that when he went to the library to choose a sword technique, he had accidentally come across his name in the files and remembered him.

Originally, given his status, he was not qualified to have an Iron Skin Realm guard by his side. Although his parents doted on him, the old fogies in the clan would not agree. However, he had a good elder brother; as his brother soared, he naturally rose with the tide.

When that old thing Chen Ping heard that he had been transferred to serve as the head of guards for the Second Young Master, he was naturally overjoyed and came rushing over as soon as he resigned.

Chen Shi, under the guise of valuing him, didn't spare him from being tossed around doing this and that throughout the year, finally venting the pent-up frustration he had been holding in.

Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the year.