A surge of intense anger welled up in Chen Nan's heart.
He had initially planned to stay at the Chen family's residence for a few days, intending to move out after purchasing his own house.
But he had never expected.
To witness his mother being driven out.
Without a second thought, he rushed forward, helping his mother Wang Mengqing to her feet. "Mother, are you hurt?"
Wang Mengqing forced a smile. "Mother is fine. How come you haven't come to see me all this time?"
She didn't seek great wealth or status.
She only wished for her son's safety and happiness.
Of course.
It would be even better if she could see him often.
A feeling of guilt arose in Chen Nan's heart.
He had inherited the host's body for so long, yet he had never visited his elder.
In truth, it couldn't entirely be blamed on him.
He had considered too many things.
Previously, he had feared retaliation from the remnants of the Fan Tian Cult, so he had only returned to the Chen family once.
After the Fan Tian Cult remnants died, a fox demon appeared.
After the fox demon died, his father-in-law passed away.
He truly felt stretched too thin.
At this moment.
Song Ziwei's furious voice rang out. "Have you gone mad? Why would you drive the madam out?"
Guan Yan Yue emerged with a cold expression, accompanied by a group of servants and maids. "I ordered her to be driven out. Do you have a problem with that?"
"I knew it was you, you witch, causing trouble!" Chen Nan exclaimed, his face contorted with anger. "Where is Father? Aren't you afraid of Father's wrath doing this?"
"Pah!" Chen Fan spat viciously, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Chen Nan, do you think we would drive your mother out of the house without your father's consent?"
Chen Nan's face changed drastically. "What do you mean?"
Chen Fan burst into laughter. "What do I mean? Don't you know you've lost your influence? You previously relied on City Lord Yuan's backing, acting arrogantly and without regard for us."
"You even forced Father to depose the main wife's status, allowing your mother, that slut, to become the eldest branch of the Chen family."
"But you didn't expect City Lord Yuan to be transferred out of Tongcheng, did you?"
"What? City Lord Yuan is being transferred out of Tongcheng?" Chen Nan's face was filled with disbelief. Yuan Zun had only just taken office less than a month ago, and he was already being transferred?
Even though he didn't know why this was happening.
He understood one thing.
Such as why Leng Qingmei had divorced him.
It was all due to Yuan Zun's transfer out of Tongcheng.
In everyone's eyes.
Yuan Zun was his patron.
Once Yuan Zun left Tongcheng, he would once again be that useless wretch.
At this point, who needed to show him respect?
Who needed to give him a good face?
"During Old Master Leng's funeral, Miss Leng had proposed dissolving the engagement between the two families," Chen Bohan said, hands clasped behind his back, walking out with a cold expression. "I have agreed to this."
Chen Nan felt a surge of intense anger. "You didn't consult my opinion when I got married, and now you're dissolving the engagement with the Leng family without informing me beforehand. Do you even have me in your eyes?"
Chen Bohan snorted coldly. "You are merely an unaccomplished good-for-nothing. If the Chen family hadn't needed you for the marriage alliance with the Leng family, do you think I would have allowed you to acknowledge your ancestors and return to the Chen family?"
Chen Nan's face was filled with ferocity. "So, you are now expelling me from the family, correct?"
Chen Bohan sneered. "It's not that I want to expel you from the family, but that you are not worthy of staying in the Chen family. From this day forward, you are forbidden from causing trouble outside under the guise of being a Chen family member."
"Of course, if you achieve something in the future, we will not try to cling to you."
Chen Nan clenched his fists. "I hope you will keep your word."
Guan Yan Yue chuckled lightly. "With him, what kind of achievements can he possibly have?"
"Son, since this place doesn't welcome us, let's leave!" Wang Mengqing said with a helpless expression. She had thought they would consider their past affections.
But she never expected them to be so heartless.
Seeing her son fall from grace, they turned their backs on him.
"Alright."
Even though Chen Nan was seething with anger, he had nowhere to vent it at the moment.
He didn't want to lose his temper in front of his mother.
"Wait!"
Chen Fan's voice suddenly rang out. "You mother and son can leave, but this maid by your side must stay. I find this girl quite appealing. Now that the weather is cold, she can completely warm my bed." He then grinned maliciously.
"Of course, I won't mistreat you."
"I'll give you ten taels of silver each month."
Song Ziwei directly gave him a dismissive look. "Idiot, do you really think you're so great just because you have a few coins?"
Ten taels of silver was a considerable sum.
But she now had tens of thousands of taels in banknotes.
Moreover, Bai Yu's book was currently being printed and published in installments, so they were not lacking money at all.
"Let's go!" Chen Nan picked up his current luggage, slung it over his shoulder, and then helped his mother leave the Chen family.
Chen Bohan's voice echoed again. "I plan to raise pigs in the mansion in the west of the city. You will not be allowed to live there from now on."
Chen Nan flashed a brilliant smile. "That is your property, and you have the right to do whatever you wish there. Of course, we never intended to return to that mansion."
Whether in the mortal world or the netherworld.
Money brought a sense of security.
Even though Chen Nan and his mother had been driven out of the Chen family at this moment, he was not flustered.
Watching Chen Nan's retreating back.
Chen Bohan couldn't help but frown.
He had expected Chen Nan to be furious after being expelled from the family.
Perhaps even causing a scene at the Chen family.
But he had behaved with unusual calmness.
This gave him an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
He had a feeling Chen Nan had some tricks up his sleeve.
------
Finding an inn.
After temporarily settling his mother there.
Chen Nan immediately went to the county yamen.
He met Yuan Zun and Uncle Tian.
He asked, "Your Excellency, I heard you are being transferred out of Tongcheng?"
"Sit," Yuan Zun said with a smile. After Chen Nan sat down, he continued, "I only found out about this yesterday. I intended to notify you immediately, but you were busy with the funeral arrangements, so I couldn't inform you in time."
Chen Nan couldn't help but ask, "There's something I don't understand. Why are you being transferred after just taking office in Tongcheng?"
"It's very simple!" Yuan Zun said. "Lord Bi Cang is being transferred to Dongning Prefecture, and there is an opening in Fengdu. This position must be filled by someone."
Chen Nan rubbed his head. "It couldn't be you, could it?"
Yuan Zun gave a wry smile. "If I could directly enter Fengdu City, wouldn't that be equivalent to soaring to the heavens?"
"Prefect Cai of Guangling Prefecture has taken over Lord Bi Cang's position."
"And I will be taking over Prefect Cai's official position, becoming the Prefect of Guangling Prefecture."
Chen Nan understood.
Yuan Zun poured him a cup of water. "Normally, this matter wouldn't fall to me, as I had only recently taken office in Tongcheng."
"However, I happened to become a level six Yin Messenger."
"Coupled with the contributions from the green-eyed zombie and Yue Shan that you gave me."
"Therefore, the court made an exception and appointed me Prefect of Guangling Prefecture."
"Speaking of which, all of this is thanks to you."
A wry smile appeared on Chen Nan's face. "Your promotion is fantastic, but it's brought me misery! Before you even left, I was divorced by the Leng family and expelled from the Chen family."
Yuan Zun's face was filled with anger. "Is it because I'm being transferred that they treated you like this?"