Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The next day, Mengyu did indeed take great care with her appearance.

Her emerald-green dress made her skin appear even fairer, and a touch of rouge at the corners of her eyes breathed life into her otherwise cold and distant gaze.

She followed behind Yilian with a serious expression, looking unapproachable. Yet, with every step she took, a fragrant breeze wafted from her, as if she were deliberately enticing people to look her way.

Luo Ruizhi stared at her, mesmerized. Forgetting all etiquette, he blurted out, “‘A lotus emerging from clear water, natural and without adornment’… Little Sister, you are truly like a celestial being.”

Yilian hadn’t expected Mengyu to win Luo Ruizhi’s favor so easily. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to be happy or distressed.

Mengyu gave Luo Ruizhi a sidelong glance but did not respond.

Accustomed to playing the sycophant and fearing Luo Ruizhi might take offense, Yilian gave Mengyu a nudge, signaling her to reply.

Luo Ruizhi, however, was not grateful. He glared at Yilian with resentment. “Why are you being so crude?”

Bitterness welled up in Yilian’s heart. She felt that, to her husband, she was nothing more than a dull, dead fish eye; even trying to read his mood was considered an offense.

Only then did Mengyu speak. “It was just a bit of playfulness between sisters. Brother-in-law, your words are a bit harsh.”

Luo Ruizhi’s face immediately broke into a wide smile. “Sister is right. Come, let me lead you to your seats.”

As he spoke, he began leading them toward the main table.

Old Madam Luo looked down on the Gu Family’s tactic of sending sisters to climb the social ladder, and she looked down even more on this grandson whose head was filled with nothing but wine and women.

She let out a cough. “There’s no more room. Move Ruizhi’s seat to a side table. Find an empty one with more space so it’s easier for him to look after the sisters.”

Luo Ruizhi’s parents said nothing. Not only did their son lack any sense of self-restraint at his age, but he was becoming increasingly indulgent. He seemed utterly useless. Since they couldn’t steer him back to the right path anyway, they no longer bothered to try, content to let him just exist.

Mengyu silently took everything in.

The Luo Family prided themselves on being a prestigious clan and looked down on everyone and everything, yet the most disgraceful thing among them happened to be one of their own.

Without waiting for the Luo Family to make arrangements, she took Yilian by the hand and headed toward the table for female relatives to sit down.

Yilian panicked. When had she ever been so disobedient?

Mengyu, however, asked with a look of innocence, “Are there thorns on the Luo Family’s chairs? They’re clearly empty, so why can’t we sit?”

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Yilian immediately dropped to her knees to beg Old Madam Luo for forgiveness.

Old Madam Luo slammed her chopsticks down. After spitting out the word “Stupid!” she stood up and left the banquet.

The Second Branch Couple looked at their foolish daughter-in-law and let out a heavy sigh. Too exhausted to even bother teaching her, they also flicked their sleeves and walked away.

A family banquet, ruined over such a scene.

Yilian thought it was Mengyu’s improper behavior that caused the trouble and was about to scold her sister. However, the Eldest Branch Sister-in-law couldn’t bear to watch any longer and pointed out, “The Old Madam wasn’t scolding your sister; she was scolding you! Go on back. Once you’re behind closed doors, let your sister give you a proper lesson.”

Yilian held back her tears all the way until the servant Qianfan closed the courtyard gates. Only then did she break into a sorrowful wail.

“I truly don’t know what I did wrong!”

Mengyu instructed Xiaowu to boil some water, then wrung out a handkerchief to wipe her sister’s tears.

“Your mistake, Sister, is taking things too seriously.

“This was a family banquet. Even if there’s friction, as long as appearances are maintained, it’s fine. Who’s right or wrong, or who’s breaking the rules-these aren’t matters worth taking to a courtroom. You should have just laughed it off.

“Old Madam Luo dislikes us and wanted to humiliate us, but she punished Brother-in-law along with us. This shows she didn’t want to gain a reputation for mistreating her grandson’s wife in front of everyone. Yet, the moment you saw her, you acted like a startled bird. Wasn’t that a slap to her face?

“I’ve just arrived; I am a guest. If they treat me poorly, it’s only right for me to have an outburst. You should have followed my lead and just sat down with me. But you insisted on kneeling and begging for forgiveness. You turned a small matter into a major incident and a festive banquet into a courtroom. How could Old Madam Luo not be angry?

“You must understand that in a large family with many branches like this, it’s normal for uncles and brothers to fight over money and status. Where is the harmony? The one in charge sees everything clearly but prefers to keep the accounts ‘blurry.’ Whoever can turn big problems into small ones and small ones into nothing-whoever can smooth things over-is the one who will be held in high regard. Whoever takes things too seriously is the fool.”

Yilian felt as if she were waking from a dream. She gripped Mengyu’s hand and pleaded through tear-filled eyes, “Sister, stay and be with me, alright?”

She was like a dodder flower, gently and skillfully coiling herself around Mengyu.

Mengyu had originally thought that if Yilian had considered her feelings even once, she wouldn’t have pushed things to the extreme.

Unfortunately, she never had. Not even once.

Mengyu curled her lips into a smile. “Does Sister want to sleep with me tonight?”