Free Web NovelChapter 4: BRIDAL EXAMINATION
The atmosphere inside the main hall became heavier after Su Yueqing’s slap landed across the maid’s face.
At first, the silence had only come from shock.
But now, the silence was becoming something else entirely.
No one in the hall understood what was happening, yet every single member of the Xi family knew one thing clearly—
They could hear Su Yueqing’s thoughts.
Not guesses, expressions, not even assumptions.
Her actual thoughts.
And the most terrifying part was that Su Yueqing herself seemed completely unaware of it.
She still stood calmly in the center of the hall in her luxurious red wedding robes, her posture straight and elegant beneath the bridal veil, looking every bit like a proud noble young madam entering her husband’s household for the first time.
Only the Xi family knew the truth.
Inside that calm and graceful appearance was a woman whose thoughts jumped wildly between insults, complaints, sarcasm, and shocking information every few seconds.
The kneeling maid still trembled on the floor while holding her swollen cheek, too afraid to even cry loudly.
Finally, Old Madam Zhao Rui slowly placed her teacup onto the table beside her.
The soft sound instantly broke the strange silence filling the hall.
"Enough," she said coldly, her sharp eyes sweeping over everyone present. "Today is a wedding day. Causing noise over a servant only embarrasses the Xi family."
The maid immediately lowered her head harder against the floor.
"This servant deserves punishment!"
Su Yueqing quietly lowered her hand as though the slap had meant nothing at all.
But inside her mind—
[As expected.]
[Old Madam Xi looks exactly like the type who values reputation more than people.]
[Even if someone dies in front of her, she’ll probably ask whether the blood stained the carpet first.]
Zhao Rui’s fingers stiffened slightly around her teacup.
Xi Yunchen immediately lowered his head to hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Xi Qianqian looked horrified.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing remained perfectly calm.
She did not notice a single strange expression around her.
Lin Meiyun finally spoke softly to the servants nearby.
"Help the maid outside."
"Yes, Duchess."
The servants quickly helped the frightened maid away before anyone else could speak.
Only after the hall settled again did Zhao Rui continue calmly.
"Since the bride has officially entered the Xi family, the family traditions should naturally begin."
The moment those words were spoken, several younger members of the family immediately looked interested.
Xi Qianqian sat straighter.
Xi Yunchen raised a brow lazily.
Even Xi Ronghua looked entertained.
Meanwhile—
Su Yueqing instantly felt irritated.
[Ah.]
[Here it comes.]
[Ancient family traditions.]
[The greatest enemy of every transmigrator.]
Xi Yunchen nearly laughed again.
Xi Yunhao elbowed him immediately.
"Behave."
"But she’s funny..."
At the front of the hall, Zhao Rui calmly motioned toward the servants.
A maid quickly stepped forward carrying an expensive jade tray filled with several small cups of dark herbal tea.
The bitter smell spread lightly through the air.
Su Yueqing lowered her gaze toward the tray.
And the moment she smelled the tea—
Her thoughts paused.
[Oh?]
[So this is the famous obedient bride tea.]
[Sleeping herbs mixed with calming medicine.]
[How thoughtful.]
The entire hall froze.
Xi Lanyin’s eyes widened slightly.
Xi Qianqian almost dropped the pastry in her hand.
Even Zhao Rui’s cold expression stiffened for half a second.
Because Su Yueqing was completely correct.
The tea truly contained calming herbs.
It was an old Xi family custom used on newly married brides to "settle their temperament" before entering married life properly.
Nobody outside the direct family should have known.
Yet Su Yueqing identified it instantly.
Inside her mind, Su Yueqing sounded deeply unimpressed.
[Honestly, ancient noble families are terrifying.]
[Drugging daughters-in-law on the first day and calling it family tradition.]
[At least modern companies only destroy your mental health.]
Xi Yunchen immediately coughed loudly to cover his laughter.
Xi Yunhao glared at him.
Lin Meiyun quietly observed Su Yueqing from her seat.
For the first time, her calm eyes carried a trace of seriousness.
This girl...
Was not simple.
Meanwhile, Zhao Rui coldly said, "The bride should drink."
Su Yueqing slowly lifted her head before speaking in a soft and respectful voice.
"My apologies, Grandmother, but before leaving my family residence today, the physician specially prepared medicine for my body."
She lightly lowered her gaze.
"He warned me not to consume unfamiliar herbal mixtures tonight. Otherwise, my body may react badly."
Her tone was gentle.
Respectful.
Without a single openly offensive word.
Yet in only one sentence—
She completely escaped the situation.
Xi Qianqian blinked. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Xi Yunhao’s expression changed slightly. frёeωebɳovel.com
Even Zhao Rui paused for a brief moment.
Inside her mind, however—
Su Yueqing sounded extremely satisfied with herself.
[Thank you, nine worlds of experience.]
[No way am I drinking suspicious ceremonial tea again.]
[Last time I trusted a family banquet soup, I woke up buried alive.]
Xi Yunchen immediately bent his head lower against the table, shoulders shaking violently.
Gu Yue stared at him in confusion.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Nothing," he answered weakly. "I just suddenly remembered something funny."
Nobody believed him.
The atmosphere inside the hall became stranger and stranger.
Lin Meiyun quietly studied Su Yueqing again.
This girl was clearly arrogant.
Clearly difficult and troublesome.
But she was also intelligent enough to avoid traps without openly offending anyone.
And somehow—
That made her even more dangerous.
Then suddenly—
Su Yueqing’s gaze casually swept across the hall before landing briefly on Lin Meiyun.
Inside her mind, her thoughts slowed slightly.
[Hm?]
[Wait a minute.]
Lin Meiyun’s fingers tightened unconsciously.
[Why is the Duchess covering even her fingertips with foundation?]
The hall instantly became silent again.
Xi Lanyin immediately turned toward her mother.
Xi Yunhao frowned deeply.
Su Yueqing continued thinking calmly.
[That amount of makeup is abnormal.]
[Unless...]
There was a short pause.
Then—
[Oh.]
[The poison already started spreading.]
Lin Meiyun’s breathing stopped.
Zhao Rui’s sharp eyes instantly narrowed.
Xi Qianqian looked completely stunned.
Inside her thoughts, Su Yueqing continued casually as though discussing the weather.
[Hair loss.]
[Weak body.]
[Pale skin.]
[Damaged blood circulation.]
[Darkening beneath the fingernails.]
[At this stage she’s probably hiding marks under her sleeves too.]
[The heroine really started poisoning her early.]
Lin Meiyun’s face lost color instantly.
Because every single word was correct.
For weeks now, her body had been getting weaker little by little.
Dark marks had started appearing beneath her skin.
Her fingertips had slowly begun changing color.
Even the physicians could not properly explain what was happening to her.
That was why she had begun covering herself heavily with powder and makeup every single day.
But nobody knew.
Not even most of the Xi family.
Yet somehow—
This new bride had exposed everything within seconds.
And the worst part was that Su Yueqing herself still looked completely unaware.
The hall fell into dead silence.
Lin Meiyun immediately pulled her sleeves lower to hide her hands.
For the first time since Su Yueqing entered the manor, genuine panic flashed across her composed face.
Zhao Rui noticed it immediately.
And that alone was enough to confirm the truth.
The Duchess truly had been poisoned.
Lin Meiyun suddenly stood up.
"There is no need for the bridal herb ceremony anymore," she said quickly, her voice calmer than her expression. "The bride must be tired after the journey."
Everyone looked toward her in surprise.
"Meiyun—" Zhao Rui began.
But Lin Meiyun interrupted softly.
"Mother, the wedding ceremonies have already taken enough time. It is better to let the young madam rest first."
As she spoke, her eyes unconsciously glanced toward Su Yueqing again.
This girl...
Who exactly was she?
Lin Meiyun immediately called toward the servants nearby.
"You two. Escort the young madam to the Eastern Courtyard."
"Yes, Duchess."
The maids quickly stepped forward respectfully.
Meanwhile, Su Yueqing could not have cared less about the strange atmosphere around her.
Inside her mind—
[Finally.]
[If they continued this family bonding session any longer, I might actually fall asleep standing.]
[This hall is full of future tragedy anyway.]
[One poisoned mother.]
[One dead father.]
[Several emotionally damaged children.]
[And one future crippled husband.]
[What a cheerful household.]
The Xi family froze once again.
Xi Qianqian’s face slowly turned pale.
Xi Yunhao stiffened completely.
Even Zhao Rui’s grip on her cane tightened.
But Su Yueqing simply turned calmly and followed the servants toward the exit.
The red wedding robes dragged softly across the floor behind her as she walked away elegantly beneath the lantern light.
Inside her mind, however—
[Still...]
[This mission might actually become interesting.]
