The Cursed Portrait of Chen’s Wife

In the serene town of Lingyuan, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Jiangsu province, there stood an old, ramshackle mansion known to the locals as the Chen Residence. The house had seen better days, its once grand facade now weathered by time, but it was the portrait that hung in the drawing room that held the real secret. This was the portrait of Chen’s wife, a woman known for her beauty and grace, whose smile was said to be as enchanting as the flowers in her garden.

The story of the cursed portrait began many years ago when the Chen family moved into the mansion. Mr. Chen, a successful merchant, and his wife, a woman of delicate beauty, had everything one could desire. But their happiness was short-lived. One fateful night, a fire ravaged the mansion, and in the chaos, Mrs. Chen was lost. Mr. Chen was the only one to survive, and with him, the portrait.

The portrait, once a symbol of the couple’s love, now became a silent witness to the tragedy. It was said that the portrait itself had absorbed the sorrow and anger of Mrs. Chen, and it would one day seek retribution.

Years passed, and the portrait remained untouched, its frame collecting dust in the drawing room. The Chen family, however, was not oblivious to the legends surrounding the portrait. They spoke of it in hushed tones, as if the very mention could summon its spirit. But they were too afraid to confront the truth, too afraid to let it go.

Then came the day when a new family moved into the mansion, the Li family. They were young and in love, and they saw the portrait as a beautiful piece of art, not as a cursed relic. They hung it on the wall of their guest room, a place where it would be seen and admired.

One evening, as Mr. Li sat in the drawing room, he couldn’t help but be drawn to the portrait. The woman in the frame seemed to be staring right at him, her eyes filled with a strange, intense gaze. He shivered, but brushed it off as just a trick of the light.

The next day, strange things began to happen. Mrs. Li found her wedding ring missing, and the keys to the car had vanished. They were frantic, but nothing they tried could find the items. The family was on edge, and Mr. Li decided to confront the portrait, hoping to put an end to the madness.

He approached the portrait, his voice steady but trembling, “I know you’re here. We’re not afraid of you. But please, just leave us in peace.” He turned to leave, but as he did, he felt a cold hand grip his shoulder.

Without turning around, he spoke, “What do you want from us?” The hand vanished, and he spun around to see nothing but the portrait, still smiling.

Days turned into weeks, and the hauntings grew worse. Mrs. Li would see Mrs. Chen in her dreams, calling out for help. Mr. Li found himself haunted by a sense of dread, as if he was being watched at all times.

One night, Mr. Li decided to investigate the portrait. He carefully removed it from the wall, and beneath it, he found a hidden compartment. Inside was a letter, written in Mrs. Chen’s hand. It spoke of a dark secret, a betrayal that had driven her to her death. It was then that Mr. Li realized that the portrait was not a spirit seeking retribution, but a piece of history that needed to be uncovered.

With the help of his wife, he began to unravel the mystery. They discovered that Mrs. Chen had been betrayed by her own family, who had sought to control the wealth she had inherited. In a fit of despair, she had thrown herself into the fire, and her spirit had been trapped in the portrait ever since.

With the truth out in the open, Mr. Li and his wife decided to honor Mrs. Chen’s memory by telling her story. They restored the portrait to its rightful place in the drawing room, and the hauntings ceased.

The Chen Residence was once again a place of peace, but the portrait of Chen’s wife remained, a silent reminder of the past, a symbol of love and betrayal, and a testament to the power of truth.

In the end, the portrait was no longer cursed. It was a piece of history, a story that had been hidden for far too long. And in uncovering it, Mr. Li and his wife had freed the spirit of Mrs. Chen, allowing her to rest in peace.