Chapter 10: Chapter Su Yueqing lowered herself into a proper bow.
"This daughter-in-law greets Grandmother, Mother, Father, and Husband."
Her voice sounded respectful and smooth.
Completely different from the chaos inside her head.
Then she lifted her head slightly again before speaking calmly.
"My apologies for arriving late. I became unfamiliar with the manor pathways and delayed everyone."
The moment she finished speaking, several people inside the hall exchanged strange looks.
Because for the first time since meeting her—
Su Yueqing actually sounded polite.
Xi Qianqian immediately narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Xi Yunchen looked deeply unconvinced.
Even Zhao Rui’s fingers paused slightly around her teacup.
Meanwhile, inside Su Yueqing’s mind—
[Of course I’m lying.]
[I absolutely knew where the dining hall was.]
[I just didn’t want to come.]
Xi Yunchen instantly bent his head downward.
His shoulders began shaking violently again.
Gu Xing stared at him in disbelief.
"What is wrong with you tonight?"
Xi Yunchen grabbed the table while trying to hold himself together.
"Nothing."
Xi Qianqian looked exhausted already.
"She’s doing this on purpose..."
Meanwhile, Lin Meiyun calmly gestured toward Xi Jianyu.
"Since you have entered the manor, greet your father-in-law properly."
Su Yueqing obediently turned toward the head seat.
Only then did she properly look at the Grand Duke for the first time tonight.
Xi Jianyu sat tall and straight even while resting, his dark robes still carrying traces of dust and blood from outside. His face looked cold and stern beneath the lantern light, carrying the pressure of someone who had spent years standing above battlefields and death.
Beside him sat Xi Wenzhe.
Even sitting still, he carried a dangerous feeling around him.
Su Yueqing calmly lowered her eyes again.
"This daughter-in-law greets Father."
Then she turned toward Xi Wenzhe.
"And greets Husband."
Xi Wenzhe watched her quietly without speaking.
But the moment Su Yueqing looked at the two of them—
Her thoughts immediately started wandering again.
[Hm.]
[From the smell of blood and dust on their clothes, they probably just returned from killing people.]
Xi Yunhao instantly stiffened.
Xi Ronghua slowly exchanged a look with Zhao Rui.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing continued calmly bowing outside while casually destroying everyone’s peace inside her head.
[Most likely mountain bandits.]
[Judging by the dirt on the boots, probably western forest routes.]
[Though honestly calling them "bandits" is generous.]
[More like disposable bait.]
Xi Wenzhe’s eyes narrowed slightly for the first time.
Xi Jianyu’s fingers slowly tapped once against the armrest.
The hall became quieter.