Free Web NovelChapter 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."
The hall quieted slightly after she spoke.
But the atmosphere remained uncomfortable.
Nobody truly welcomed this marriage.
Most of them had already decided they disliked Su Yueqing before even meeting her.
Then—
Footsteps finally sounded from outside the hall.
The servants immediately straightened their backs.
"The young madam has arrived!"
At once, everyone turned toward the entrance.
A slender figure dressed in bright red wedding robes slowly walked into the hall.
The golden phoenix embroidery on her robes shimmered softly beneath the lantern light as her long sleeves brushed elegantly against the floor with every step she took. Her posture was straight, calm, and proud beneath the red bridal veil covering her face.
The entire hall fell silent for a brief moment.
Xi Qianqian narrowed her eyes slightly.
"She already walks around like she owns the manor."
Gu Yue whispered quietly, "At least she looks graceful..."
Xi Ronghua snorted immediately.
"Pretty faces are useless if the personality is rotten."
Meanwhile—
Su Yueqing calmly walked toward the center of the hall while silently observing everything around her beneath the veil.
[Hmm.]
[The family lineup is complete.]
[Old Madam Xi looks exactly like the type who secretly controls the household finances.]
[The Duchess looks elegant, but she definitely has the aura of someone who can slap people without blinking.]
[The second sister already looks like she hates me.]
[And the lazy twin brother looks like comic relief.]
The Xi family froze.
Xi Yunchen slowly stopped spinning his teacup.
"...What?"
Xi Qianqian blinked.
"...Did someone speak?"
Gu Yue looked around in confusion.
But before anyone could react properly—
Su Yueqing continued walking calmly as though nothing had happened.
[Ah, right.]
[This should be the part where the villainous wife makes a terrible first impression.]
[Probably an accidental trip scene or tea-spilling scene.]
[These novels love overused openings.]
At that exact moment—
A maid suddenly stepped on the long flowing robe behind Su Yueqing.
The fabric pulled sharply.
Su Yueqing lost balance slightly and stumbled half a step forward.
Gasps immediately sounded throughout the hall.
The maid’s face turned deathly pale before she instantly dropped to her knees.
"This servant deserves punishment! This servant did not do it intentionally!"
The hall instantly became silent.
Su Yueqing slowly steadied herself before turning around.
Beneath the bridal veil, her expression remained cold and unreadable.
Then—
Smack!
The sound of the slap echoed loudly throughout the hall.
The maid fell sideways onto the floor while clutching her swollen cheek in shock.
"You nearly ruined my wedding robes," Su Yueqing said coldly.
Her voice was soft.
But the chill hidden beneath it immediately made the surrounding servants lower their heads in fear. freewebnσvel.cѳm
The kneeling maid trembled violently.
"This servant was wrong! Please forgive this servant!"
Inside her mind, however, Su Yueqing sounded completely different.
[Sorry about that.]
[But I need villain points.]
[Besides, she obviously did that on purpose.]
[Classic opening scene.]
[Someone probably wanted me embarrassed the moment I entered the manor.]
The entire Xi family froze again.
Xi Yunhao’s eyes narrowed slowly.
Xi Ronghua stopped frowning for the first time.
Even Lin Meiyun’s calm expression changed slightly.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing remained completely unaware.
[Honestly, if this were my eighth mission, I would’ve dragged out the drama longer.]
[Maybe break a teacup.]
[Or accuse three innocent people randomly.]
[But I’m tired today.]
Xi Yunchen slowly straightened from his chair.
"...I heard that again."
Xi Qianqian looked disturbed now.
"No... I heard it too..."
Gu Yue stared at Su Yueqing with widened eyes.
"But her mouth didn’t move..."
Little Xi Anran tugged nervously at Lin Meiyun’s sleeve.
"Mother... why is Sister-in-law talking inside my head?"
The hall went completely still.
Only Su Yueqing continued standing there elegantly in the center of the hall like a perfect noble villainess.
Completely unaware—
That every single thought in her mind was being heard clearly by the entire Xi family..
Additional information
Xi Jianyu – Grand Duke, head of the Xi family
Lin Meiyun – Duchess of the Xi family, wife of Xi Jianyu
Xi Wenzhe – Eldest son, male lead, future heir of the Xi family
Xi Lanyin – Eldest daughter, 17
Xi Qianqian – Second daughter, 16
Xi Anran – Youngest daughter, 8
Xi Yunhao – Second son, twin brother, 16
Xi Yunchen – Third son, twin brother, 16
Xi Mingyu – Youngest son, 7
Zhao Rui – Grandmother of the Xi family (Old Madam Xi)
Gu Xing – Son of Xi Ronghua and Gu Zhen, Xi Wenzhe’s cousin, 17
Gu Yue – Daughter of Xi Ronghua and Gu Zhen, Xi Wenzhe’s cousin, 17
Xi Ronghua – Younger sister of Xi Jianyu (Aunt of the family, very dominant personality)
Gu Zhen– Husband of Xi Ronghua (he always listens to her, chaotic couple dynamic)
Li Mei – Maid, original heroine (new name replacing Li Manman)
Su Yueqing – Transmigrated female lead, Xi Wenzhe’s wife (villain wife role), enters same day as Li Mian (concubine role)
System – Su Yueqing’s mission system companion
