Chapter 3: Meeting My In-laws Chapter 3
Entering the Xi Manor
The main hall of the Xi Manor was brightly decorated for the wedding, yet despite the glowing lanterns, expensive silk decorations, and carefully arranged banquet tables, the atmosphere inside the hall felt strangely cold.
Long red silk cloth hung from the tall wooden pillars, swaying gently whenever the evening wind slipped through the open entrance, while golden lanterns illuminated the massive hall with warm light that reflected against polished floors and carved walls. Servants moved in and out quietly with lowered heads, not daring to make unnecessary noise in front of the Xi family members gathered inside.
Everything looked grand.
Like the wedding of a powerful noble household should.
And yet—
Not a single person inside the hall truly looked happy.
Almost the entire Xi family was already seated and waiting for the arrival of the new young madam.
Only the Grand Duke, Xi Jianyu, and the eldest young master, Xi Wenzhe, were absent.
At the front of the hall sat Zhao Rui, the Old Madam of the Xi family, her expression stern and cold as she slowly rotated the jade bracelet around her wrist.
Beside her sat Lin Meiyun, the Duchess of the Xi family, calm and elegant as always, though the slight crease between her brows made it obvious that she was not pleased with this marriage either.
Lower down sat the younger generation.
Xi Lanyin sat quietly beside her mother with graceful posture, her hands folded neatly in her lap while she silently observed the hall.
Next to her, Xi Qianqian already looked annoyed despite the bride not even entering yet.
The twin brothers sat nearby.
Xi Yunhao sat upright with a calm and serious expression, while Xi Yunchen leaned lazily against his chair with obvious disinterest, occasionally spinning the teacup in his hand out of boredom.
Little Xi Anran sat beside her mother, swinging her legs under the chair while repeatedly peeking toward the entrance every few seconds with obvious curiosity.
On the opposite side sat Xi Ronghua and her husband Gu Zhen.
And as expected—
Xi Ronghua was already complaining.
"She has been outside for this long already," she said impatiently while frowning toward the entrance. "Does she think the entire Xi family has nothing better to do than wait for her?"
Gu Zhen calmly took another sip of tea.
"Maybe the carriage was delayed."
Xi Ronghua immediately glared at him.
"You always defend strangers."
"I only said the carriage may have been delayed."
"And I said she is disrespectful."
Gu Zhen sighed helplessly.
Like always—
He chose silence.
Nearby, Gu Yue leaned closer toward Xi Qianqian and lowered her voice carefully.
"I heard this new young madam has a terrible temper."
Xi Qianqian immediately scoffed.
"That much is obvious already. Why else would Elder Brother avoid appearing?"
Xi Yunchen lazily added from the side, "I also heard she once punished a servant because the servant broke her favorite hairpin."
Xi Yunhao frowned slightly.
"Rumors are not always true."
Xi Qianqian crossed her arms immediately.
"Then why does everyone in the capital say she’s arrogant and impossible to deal with?"
Xi Yunchen grinned carelessly.
"Maybe because she really is arrogant and impossible to deal with."
Old Madam Zhao Rui’s expression became colder.
"Before even entering the manor, she has already delayed the wedding ceremony."
Little Xi Anran blinked innocently.
"Grandmother... is Sister-in-law ugly?"
Xi Qianqian burst into laughter immediately.
"Even if she’s pretty, it won’t fix her personality."
Lin Meiyun finally placed her teacup down softly.
"Enough," she said calmly. "Today is still Wenzhe’s wedding day."