Chapter 2, The Abduction of a Bride

One person bent down while the other lay back, their noses touching. The second young lady was so frightened that she nearly fainted, her delicate neck turning a deep shade of red. Moreover, in order to prevent her from moving, Liu Chengfeng pressed his chest heavily against her soft bosom, which made her feel even more humiliated and angry. She exclaimed, "I will call for help! Quickly, let me go! You scoundrel, I knew you were not a good person from the start"

At this moment, Wen Chenruo also became obedient, knowing that further stubbornness would provoke Liu Chengfeng into making even more excessive moves. The gaze she cast at Liu Chengfeng contained both a hint of hatred and a touch of fear. It was only now that she realized this arrogant scholar was not easily bullied. With a pitiful tone, she said: "My sister has fallen ill with a strange disease, and we consulted a sorcerer. The sorcerer said we need to find a husband to counteract the bad luck. My sister loves to read, and only a knowledgeable and reasonable man would be worthy of her. However, she is ill and her appearance has suffered. What scholar with a reputation would be willing to marry her?" With a pitiful tone, she continued: "My sister has fallen ill with a strange disease, and we consulted a sorcerer. The sorcerer said we need to find a husband to counteract the bad luck. My sister loves to read, and only a knowledgeable and reasonable man would be worthy of her. However, she is ill and her appearance has suffered. What scholar with a reputation would be willing to marry her?" Later, my father sent someone to search everywhere and inquire, and only then did we discover... you are the most suitable match.

Liu Chengfeng smiled without answering, which could be taken as an implicit agreement. At that moment, Liu Chengfeng felt a strange bitterness coursing through him; despite having a knife held to his throat, he stubbornly refused. Yet, with just a soft plea from the other party, he found himself volunteering instead. Indeed, the thoughts of a scholar are even more difficult to decipher than those of a young girl

The second young lady said: "Rest assured, my sister is very gentle and refined"

At this moment, Liu Chengfeng thought: "To listen to her words, one must interpret them in reverse; when she speaks of being gentle and graceful, she is most likely a shrew."

Wen Chen nodded like a chick pecking at grains

Liu Chengfeng understood that this was a form of bride-snatching, and a rather blatant one at that. In the past, Liu Chengfeng had heard of such customs, but he never expected to encounter it in the Ming Dynasty, right under the feet of the emperor in the capital. However, did the Han people have such a custom? Shen Ao recalled that only certain ethnic minorities practiced this.

Wen Chen was momentarily taken aback, her misty eyes revealing confusion, and she exclaimed in astonishment: "You agreed to this marriage proposal?"

Liu Chengfeng continued to think to himself: "This is serious; it might even lead to violence."

The second young lady spoke a great deal of praise and finally concluded with a gentle remark: "Such a good sister, if it weren't for the fact that Young Master Liu and she are somewhat compatible, I wouldn't let you off so easily. Rest assured, although you are merely a poor scholar, my father has said that the marriage will be arranged by the Wen family. All you need to do is nod your head, and you will be considered our Wen family's son-in-law."

What a world it is, even a poor scholar resorts to theft. Liu Chengfeng and Tu Buxin could not help but curse inwardly.

Liu Chengfeng lowered his head, his lips almost touching the translucent cheek of the second young lady, which startled her and instantly erased her fierce expression. She immediately closed her eyes and wrinkled her nose, saying: "Alright, alright, I won't tear you to pieces."

Liu Chengfeng also scrutinized her carefully and truly felt that the expression on the second young lady's face clearly conveyed the six characters: "I am the law"

as beautiful as a flower

Liu Chengfeng then said: "No, it is only women and petty people that are difficult to nurture. Your words cannot be trusted, just in case..." Liu Chengfeng leaned down and fiercely sucked on Wen Chenruo's earlobe, to which Wen Chenruo immediately exclaimed: "Are you crazy? You scoundrel..."

The second young lady chuckled and said, "I have added poison to this tea. You may leave if you wish, but this is a specially formulated poison, and there is no antidote. No one can save you."

Liu Chengfeng was instantly dumbfounded, thinking to himself: even if I were to take a step back and admit that I truly wronged you two sisters, it was you who bound me and led to this situation.

Liu Chengfeng's nose seemed to detect a strong scent of agarwood, gently awakening him. He felt a throbbing pain at the back of his head and slowly opened his eyes, discovering that he was in an elegant side hall. He was sitting askew on a pearwood chair, and it appeared to be noon, with a golden sunlight streaming through the paper window and illuminating the room.

Liu Chengfeng finally regained his awareness and said with a stern face: "I will let you go, but you must not seek revenge."

Your sister! How can she still be so incredibly ugly...

The second young lady seemed to have discerned Liu Chengfeng's intentions and spat, "How could I possibly take a liking to you? It is my elder sister who has taken a liking to you. You should nod your head quickly; once you do, we will be married immediately"

Miss Er saw Liu Chengfeng looking hesitant and quickly said: "My sister, such a beautiful person, marrying you is already a great favor to you. If you hesitate any longer, do not blame me for getting angry"

Liu Chengfeng had no choice but to shout, "Do you even know that there are laws in this world with your reckless behavior?"

Miss Er continued, "In addition, her demeanor is very appropriate..."

Liu Chengfeng let out a cold snort, his face filled with disbelief

Liu Chengfeng was truly angry; she hadn't settled the accounts of those who had taken her place, and now she was unwilling to let anyone leave. She exclaimed, "What if I insist on leaving?"

Oh dear..." Liu Chengfeng began to clutch his stomach in pain, pointing at the second young lady and saying, "You are so malicious." After saying this, he fell back, lying on the ground, holding his breath.

Upon hearing Liu Chengfeng's words, the second young lady became calm instead. If everyone in the residence rushed in and saw this scene, how could she continue to maintain her dignity? She immediately put on a pitiful expression and said, "Good scholar, good student, please do not be so fierce towards me. Let me go, and I will let you leave right away."

After a warning, Liu Chengfeng reluctantly got up from Wen Chenruo's delicate body. Wen Chenruo hurriedly climbed up, her heart racing as she looked around, fearing that someone might see the unusual situation. She dusted off the dirt from her dress and then glared angrily, saying, "You have ruined me, and I will make sure to tear you to pieces."

At this moment, Liu Chengfeng found himself in a difficult position. If he let her go, he might face trouble later; yet, if he did not release her, it would not be a solution. Although the warm body beneath him was quite tempting, Liu Chengfeng considered himself neither a moral gentleman nor a wicked villain. Seeing the second young lady pleading for mercy, he had no choice but to ease his grip a little, distancing his face from hers, and asked her, "What is your name?"

Wen Chenruo, upon seeing his fluctuating moods, tearfully said: "You pressed my wrist too hard."

The second young lady displayed a look of doubt on her face, and could only crouch down, extending her delicate hand to check Liu Chengfeng's breath. She felt that there was not a trace of warmth beneath Liu Chengfeng's nostrils, which frightened her so much that her face turned pale. She murmured, "I... I did not administer any drugs. Could it be that the maid who served the tea misunderstood my intentions?"

When his lips touched that smooth skin, the tip of his nose sensed the fragrance of the young girl, and a fire seemed to ignite within Liu Chengfeng's heart. However, he quickly regained his composure, suppressing the restlessness within him. Raising his eyes, he noticed a faint kiss mark appearing beneath Wen Chenruo's ear, and he said: "This is evidence. If you dare to seek revenge, I will call people to watch you. You know I am a scholar; I may not be skilled in physical confrontations, but when it comes to words, your entire household cannot match me. At that time, I will say a few words to tarnish your reputation, and when others scrutinize you and discover this mark, you will not be able to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River."

So it turns out to be my sister

Liu Chengfeng's expression suddenly darkened, and he could only continue, "Regardless of whether there is fame or fortune, what I read are the teachings of sages. I would not accept such wealth even if it were given freely. Do not say more; just take me back immediately, and that will suffice. If you continue to pressure me, then you might as well kill me. I absolutely refuse to accept this marriage."

The second young lady immediately interjected sarcastically: "A scholar who has lost his reputation."

Liu Chengfeng thought to himself, he had seen shamelessness before, but never to this extent, binding oneself and still expecting benefits, does he really think that Liu Qian, the scholar, is a fool?

Liu Chengfeng shouted, "I do not want the benefits; I want to go back to my stall."

Liu Chengfeng said with a smile, "You just said that you treat your sister well, yet now you are plotting to murder your brother-in-law. What is the reasoning behind this?"

A glimmer of murderous intent flashed in the second young lady's eyes, but after a moment's hesitation, she softened again and said in a delicate tone: "You are my future brother-in-law. If I were to kill you, how would I explain it to my sister in the future? Think it over again; there's no need to rush to refuse. How about this: let's have a cup of tea first and then talk?"

This sudden turn of events startled the second young lady. She walked over to Liu Chengfeng's side and playfully nudged his body with her foot, saying: "Hey, stop pretending to be dead. I know you did it on purpose; there is no poison in this tea."

The second young lady indeed changed to a fierce expression again, saying: "If you do not let go, I will definitely tear you to pieces."

The second young lady saw Liu Chengfeng drinking tea, a trace of joy flickering in her eyes, but she quickly straightened her face and said: "If you want to leave, it won't be that easy."

Liu Chengfeng had made up his mind and coldly laughed to himself: "Do you think you can scare me? I will scare you instead"

The second young lady is wearing a pink fitted puff-sleeve top and a flowing green floral skirt, her complexion as fair as snow. Her hair, resembling dark clouds, cascades down her back. At this moment, she is wide-eyed, displaying a quirky expression as she giggles at Liu Chengfeng, seemingly finding greater joy in his increasing anger.

Liu Chengfeng is not a novice just starting out; how could he possibly listen to such nonsense? With a look of disdain, he declared, "I am a scholar..."

Liu Chengfeng was accustomed to her sometimes capricious and sometimes fierce demeanor, so he naturally would not be deceived by her, saying: "No, I do not believe you"

The second young lady added, "If you are unwilling, I will have no choice but to beat you to death and drag you out to feed the dogs"

Liu Chengfeng sneered as he looked at the second young lady below, coldly saying: "Little girl, let's see if you dare to bully others again"

Liu Chengfeng remained unresponsive, completely still.

Liu Chengfeng was initially startled, but soon his mood calmed down. As a doctor, he was well aware of the symptoms following poisoning. After examining himself, he found that there were no issues with his body in any aspect, and his breathing was also not irregular, indicating that he should not be poisoned. He glanced at the cunning second young lady and thought to himself, this young lady is quite whimsical; could it be that she came to scare me?

Liu Chengfeng let out a cold snort, implying that this young master truly holds a grudge

Before Liu Chengfeng could begin to contemplate an escape plan, the door was suddenly pushed open, and the person who entered was none other than the Second Miss, who had turned into ash and whom Liu Chengfeng recognized as the one who had knocked him unconscious

Wen Chenruo first expressed joy, but then immediately spoke with a hint of sorrow: "You have already mistreated me, and now you want to mistreat my sister... I... I..."

It is indeed forgivable to be illiterate in large characters

Tears welled up in the second young lady's eyes as she bit her lip and said, "Wen Chenruo"

Liu Chengfeng's mouth was dry, so he picked up the teacup beside the table, blew away the tea foam, took a sip, and then said: "After drinking this cup of tea, I will leave"

She plays both the role of the red-faced and the white-faced, which is indeed quite challenging. However, the ultimate purpose of all this talk is singular: this marriage proposal, which Liu Chengfeng must agree to.

to be knowledgeable and sensible

Liu Chengfeng was speechless; indeed, feudal superstition kills. He wondered which sorcerer had been spouting nonsense, otherwise how could he have encountered so many bizarre events? In his previous life, he was a doctor, and a doctor has the heart of a parent. Hearing about the strange illness at this moment, he was momentarily taken aback, thinking: "The young girl hit me, and I have bullied her enough; it would be better to stay and see how her sister's illness is. If it can be treated, then it should be treated; if it cannot be treated, then at least it can serve as a form of consolation."

Liu Chengfeng asked again: "Why did you tie me up, to make your sister marry me?"

What infuriated Liu Chengfeng was not that this young girl had hit someone, but rather that her technique was so poor; she had struck dozens of times yet failed to deliver a satisfying blow to herself

Liu Chengfeng fell silent and could only say: "Alright, you first tell me what benefits you can offer, and I will think it over before responding"

The second young lady transformed her anger into joy, her furious expression softened, and she replaced it with a cheerful demeanor. She obediently sat down and said: "Our Wen family is here to invite you to be our son-in-law. By becoming a son-in-law of the Wen family, you will not only enjoy a life of luxury but also reap various benefits."

Liu Chengfeng thought for a moment and immediately came up with a reason: the second young lady's sister must be the eldest young lady. The eldest young lady must be unable to marry, otherwise, with so many talented individuals in the capital, it would be as if they were more numerous than dogs. Even if one were to rely on ancestral blessings, they would still not be able to secure a place in line.

Although this young lady was quite violent, she became flustered when the moment arrived. At that moment, Liu Chengfeng suddenly opened his eyes wide, firmly grasped her hand, and pulled her into his embrace. The second young lady, who was squatting to the side, lost her balance and leaned toward Liu Chengfeng's chest in a daze. Liu Chengfeng wrapped his arms around her waist and performed a roll, in an instant pinning the second young lady beneath him.

Liu Chengfeng suddenly remembered that he had been kidnapped, and moreover, by a young girl. The thought of that girl viciously striking his head with a wooden stick made Liu Chengfeng involuntarily shiver.

The second young lady's face revealed a hint of embarrassment, and after a dry laugh for a moment, her eyes shifted, and her expression turned as cold as frost. With a lively demeanor, she raised her fists, making them clash together, her brows furrowing in anger, and said: "You better not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I have plenty of ways to deal with a bookworm like you. If it weren't for my father's teaching to win people over with virtue, I would have skinned you alive and fed you to the dogs"

The second young lady, however, was holding her hands, pursing her lips, and seriously scrutinizing Liu Chengfeng, saying slowly and deliberately: "My family is the law."

Liu Chengfeng's eyes nearly popped out upon hearing the words "marriage proposal". He couldn't help but glance at the second young lady, thinking to himself: No wonder this girl is so anxious and agitated; it turns out she is desperate for a husband. This won't do, this won't do. To marry such a fierce woman would be unbearable. Being hit with a few blunt objects every day would be better than being killed by her.

This time, she adopted a demure demeanor, curtsied to Liu Chengfeng, and said: "Young Master Liu, please do not take offense. It is only through conflict that we can reach an understanding. You are magnanimous and would not truly hold a grudge, would you?"

The second young lady looked at him with a broad smile, her eyes wide open, and said: "It is said that a real man can laugh away grievances; how can you be so petty? Good Master Liu, be good, do not be angry. In fact, I invited you here because I have something beneficial for you."

Liu Chengfeng thought to himself, "Back then, I was also shouting like this on the street, and you, you little brat, didn't you just swing that stick and hit me on the head?" A sense of pleasure from the revenge made Liu Chengfeng feel delighted, and he said, "You shout, the louder the better, call everyone over."

So fierce! Liu Chengfeng was a doctor in his previous life, and in this life, he is merely a petty scholar. He lacks the arrogance of a turtle, but he does know a couple of turtle-style punches. However, looking at the second young lady's fierce expression, there are certainly a few imposing figures appearing behind that door. If a fight were to break out, he might end up at a disadvantage.

Liu Chengfeng was immediately enraged, slamming the table and pointing at the newcomer, saying: "Female thief..."