Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 77

In August, the osmanthus bloomed, filling the courtyard with a golden fragrance that drifted down like scattered sunlight.

Xue Qing was chatting and laughing with Shen Tangning. “Our son-in-law must have been really restless lately. Look at him—these past couple of days, he’s been running out all day, only coming home after dark. Surely off somewhere having fun again.”

Shen Tangning raised an eyebrow with a subtle smile. “I don’t think so. When he came back, there was no trace of alcohol on him, and he didn’t bring his precious cricket either.”

No wild parties with friends, no cockfighting at the Four Treasures Pavilion — that was a bit unusual.

Shen Tangning had tried gently probing, but Chi Yan always dodged the topic, acting mysteriously.

Well, he had his reasons. She didn’t have to pry into everything.

Xue Qing murmured in surprise, “That is strange.”

—

“Why did you drag me out? Looking for a fight?”

Xiao Yu scowled at the man in front of him. When Chi Yan had invited him out alone—no friends allowed—Xiao Yu had immediately taken it as a challenge.

Chi Yan glanced at him with a look of disdain. “As if you could actually beat me.”

Xiao Yu’s face exploded with anger. Rolling up his sleeves, he stepped forward ready to fight. “Who do you think you’re looking down on?!”

Chi Yan stepped forward, hooking an arm around Xiao Yu’s neck and dragging him along. “No fighting today. I’m taking you to see something interesting.”

His movements were smooth and effortless.

Xiao Yu was caught off guard, stunned. Wait… when did we get along this well?

Realizing this, he suddenly felt like a firecracker about to explode, goosebumps spreading all over him as he shouted, “Just talk, don’t get all touchy-feely with me! Let go of my arm!”

Where did Chi Yan learn these tactics? He had to admit, it was kinda gross.

Seeing Xiao Yu’s red, furious face gave Chi Yan some amusement. Just as he was about to tease him, an indignant voice rang out behind them.

“Chi Yan! What are you doing behind my sister’s back again?”

“Oh, little brother-in-law?”

Chi Yan turned, surprised to see a young man in fine clothes striding over angrily—Shen Ci, whose bright eyes were full of fury.

From afar, he had seen Chi Yan linking arms with a flamboyantly dressed man and immediately got furious. He always knew Chi Yan was a headache!

But upon closer look, his anger stalled.

“…”

Oh, so the flashy guy was Xiao Yu — who normally dressed like a peacock. Quite the questionable taste.

What had started as a catching-cheating scene turned into a farce, and Shen Ci felt a bit awkward. Then he thought, guys shouldn’t be grabbing each other like that anyway!

Knowing Xiao Yu and Chi Yan were usually at odds, Shen Ci hesitated before asking, “What’s really going on between you two?”

Chi Yan raised an eyebrow. “Can’t you tell? We just can’t stand each other.”

Shen Ci: “…”

He honestly couldn’t see it.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu had finally shaken off Chi Yan’s grip and smoothed his clothes with a scowl. “Chi Yan, if you don’t explain yourself today, I’ll rip your head off and use it as a football!”

“Hey, Big Young Master, calm down.” Chi Yan gave him a lazy sideways glance. “What’s the rush? Just follow me and you’ll find out.”

With that, Chi Yan walked ahead.

Xiao Yu hesitated but followed.

Shen Ci, worried Chi Yan might stir up trouble again, decided to tag along.

…

And so the three of them crouched suspiciously behind a street vendor’s stall, peeking around nervously.

Shen Ci grumbled, “Do we really have to be so sneaky?”

Xiao Yu held up a gaudy red fake flower in front of his face, equally frustrated. “What exactly are we doing?”

Chi Yan toyed with a folding fan, glancing over with a smirk. “When have you ever seen anyone tail someone openly?”

“That’s fair…” Xiao Yu bit his lip. “But why are we following Tang Xu? Isn’t he your friend?”

Xiao Yu had figured it out: this whole setup was probably a trap Chi Yan made for him!

He realized he’d been foolish to believe Chi Yan and come alone.

Chi Yan’s eyes darkened as he said quietly, “You’ll see soon enough.”

The stall owner wasn’t happy anymore. “Are you buying or not, gentlemen?”

Chi Yan stood his ground. “Can’t we just watch without buying?”

Shen Ci nodded in agreement. “Yeah, who says you have to buy after looking?”

Xiao Yu’s eyes darted between them, shocked at their shamelessness.

The vendor was upset. “I’m selling things for ladies, and you three grown men acting all weird, who’d dare come near?”

The three were speechless.

Xiao Yu stepped up, pulling out his money first. “Here, shut up!”

Chi Yan hesitated, then also paid, picking out a hairpin.

Shen Ci… had no money.

The vendor brightened. “Alright, just look around then!”

Tang Xu paused at a bookstall for a moment, then moved on.

Chi Yan whispered, “He’s leaving, follow him.”

The three followed stealthily until Tang Xu met someone on the street.

Before Chi Yan could speak, Xiao Yu erupted. “Since when did Tang Xu get so close with Sun Er? They’re even laughing together!”

Sun Er, or Sun Siyen, was one of Xiao Yu’s shady friends. Knowing Xiao Yu and Chi Yan were enemies, meeting Chi Yan’s friend behind Xiao Yu’s back was pure betrayal.

Xiao Yu grabbed the nearest thing and crushed it hard, glaring at Chi Yan. “Did you set this up? Did you bribe him? Chi Yan, I knew you had bad intentions when you called me here!”

The vendor gasped and snatched back his crumpled lantern. “Please, sir, have mercy! We’re just a small business!”

Xiao Yu glared back. “I’ve got money to burn, don’t worry about that.”

Chi Yan looked at him puzzled, his tone complicated. “Did you have a high fever as a child?”

Xiao Yu blinked, suspicious. “How do you know that?”

Chi Yan nodded. “Then it all makes sense.”

Xiao Yu growled, “What do you mean by that? Don’t change the subject!”

Shen Ci, loving the drama, laughed. “Can’t you tell? He’s saying your brain got fried.”

Chi Yan gave him a warning glance. “Little brother-in-law, next time don’t be so blunt.”

“Not only hurtful, but also easy to get beaten for,” he added.

Xiao Yu: “…”