Chapter 12: Caught in the Act

Wang Chongwen had no idea what musk looked like. He hurried upstairs to the main house, not disturbing a soul along the way. He pushed open his own room, searched thoroughly but found nothing, and decided to seek help from his wife. He walked to his wife Chen’s bedside, drew open the bed curtains, and was instantly furious, feeling as if he’d been betrayed.

There lay Fuguan, half-naked beside Chen. Wang Chongwen immediately flung aside the quilt.

Grabbing Fuguan’s hand, Wang Chongwen shouted angrily, “Fuguan!” Then he slapped Fuguan’s face, rousing him from sleep and confusion. Wang Chongwen continued, “You damned servant!” The commotion woke Chen as well.

Chen was terrified, her face drained of color.

Wang Chongwen dragged Fuguan from the bed, roaring in rage, “You beast!” He slapped Fuguan twice more, sending him sprawling to the floor.

Intent on kicking Fuguan in the chest, Wang Chongwen pressed forward. Fuguan, now fully awake, blocked Wang Chongwen’s hands and pleaded, “Young master, please, don’t hit me! I did nothing wrong!”

But Wang Chongwen, blinded by fury, would not listen. He kicked Fuguan aside. The noise drew attention from outside; Ling’er, carrying a fire-lit candle, supported the Old Madam as she hurried in.

“What’s happening? What’s happening?” The Old Madam saw Fuguan emerging, half-naked, but Fuguan ignored her and fled, knowing Wang Chongwen would not listen to reason.

The Old Madam stopped Wang Chongwen and asked, “Wen’er, what’s happened?”

“Mother, Fuguan, he…” Wang Chongwen, seeing his mother, restrained his anger, then pointed at Chen and said, “He was in bed with her.”

The Old Madam was shocked, but her heart still trusted her daughter-in-law. She approached Chen without scolding or striking her.

Chen, seeing the Old Madam arrive, knelt before her, weeping, “Mother-in-law, I am innocent, truly innocent!” On the other bed, Wang Lin had woken, sat up, and watched, unsure of what was happening.

Wang Chongwen heard Chen cry out her innocence and, enraged, strode forward to face her. “I saw it with my own eyes. How dare you deny it?”

“Husband, I didn’t! How could I?” Chen explained in desperation.

“I must have been blind, thinking you virtuous. Turns out you are a shameless woman. Get out!” Wang Chongwen seized Chen’s hand and, furious, dragged her downstairs.

“Wen’er, Wen’er, Wen’er!” The Old Madam followed, shouting.

Wang Lin got out of bed and chased after them, calling, “Mother!” Ling’er, seeing Wang Lin without shoes, picked him up and followed.

Wang Chongwen dragged Chen to the courtyard of the main house, flung her to the ground with force.

“Wen’er!” The Old Madam hurried to restrain Wang Chongwen, who was about to strike Chen.

Wang Lin wriggled free from Ling’er, who set him down. Wang Lin ran to Chen and called, “Mother!”

Chen’s face was streaked with tears as she embraced Wang Lin.

“Wen’er, what are you going to do?” The Old Madam held Wang Chongwen back.

“I will divorce her. I will drive her out!” Wang Chongwen answered without hesitation.

“Wen’er, your wife is not that kind of person. You must be sure!” The Old Madam pleaded upon hearing his intent to divorce Chen.

“I saw it myself. Can that be false?” Wang Chongwen, unwilling to argue further, faced Chen and said angrily, “Don’t pretend. The Wang family will not tolerate a woman like you. Go, get out!”

Chen shook her head, crying, “Husband, I am truly innocent!”

Wang Chongwen, consumed by rage, would hear no more. He lifted Chen from the ground. “Enough. Go.”

Chen knew he would not listen. She took Wang Lin’s hand and was about to leave.

Wang Chongwen snatched Wang Lin away. “He is the Wang family’s flesh and blood. You will not take him.” He handed Wang Lin to Ling’er.

“Lin’er!” Chen cried in agony.

“Mother!” Wang Lin struggled and shouted, but he was no match for an adult.

Wang Chongwen, seeing Chen try to reclaim Wang Lin, grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the main gate, flinging her to the ground. “Get out!” he shouted, slamming the door shut.

Chen rose immediately, tried to break through the door, and cried, “Lin’er, my Lin’er, husband!”

She turned, wandering the street alone in the deep night. Just then, servants from the Li household appeared.

“Madam Wang, my master requests your presence.” The servant approached as Chen emerged, as arranged by Li Xintian, instructed not to enter Wang Chongwen’s residence but to observe its happenings.

“You were the one who came with Scholar Li last time?” Chen grasped the servant’s arm, as if a drowning person had found a lifeline.

“Yes.” The servant hurriedly stepped back. “Madam Wang, please.”

Chen followed, heading to the Li residence.

“Welcome, Madam Wang,” Li Xintian greeted her upon arrival. A maid hurried to prepare tea, though none knew why Li Xintian was awake so late.

“Scholar Li, you must help me!” Chen suddenly knelt before him.

Li Xintian stepped forward, helped her up, and seated her before retreating. “Madam Wang, please tell me slowly, what has happened?”

“Scholar Li, I have no choice but to tell you my family’s shame.”

Chen recounted the night’s events. She explained that she had been exhausted, only retiring late. Deep in the night, Wang Chongwen appeared, found Chen and Fuguan in the same bed, and erupted in fury, refusing to listen. Fuguan usually slept in a small room beside the main courtyard, so how could this happen? Chen had been driven out as a result.

“Madam Wang, let me tell you: there is some unknown spirit in your home. When I visited last time, I sensed it—something has been disturbed, and this is all its doing.” Li Xintian understood: a spirit had moved Fuguan into Chen’s bed, causing the calamity. Reflecting, he added, “Perhaps it’s that person concealed by Brother Wang Sheng.”

“How did you know?” Chen was incredulous.

“Madam Wang, I have practiced martial arts since childhood; I am sensitive to such things.” Li Xintian did not reveal his own righteous energy, and continued, “Madam Wang, you have nowhere to go. Why not stay in my residence? There are many guest rooms, and tomorrow I will send for Brother Wang Sheng.” He knew ancient customs: a woman cast out would have no recourse but to seek death, so he insisted Chen stay.

“How can this be?” Chen refused.

“Brother Wang Sheng and I are classmates and friends. When you are in trouble, I must help. How about this: I invite you to work here in my residence. Would that be acceptable?” Li Xintian considered the customs and offered another way. Chen, with nowhere else to turn, agreed.

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