After offering tea and incense, and bowing his head, Xie Jingchen finally led Su Jin out of the ancestral hall.
The ancestral hall was secluded and quiet, but the sunlight on their bodies felt particularly warm.
Su Jin was in a good mood. Xie Jingchen held her as they walked forward. He sensed Su Jin's gaze fleetingly sweep across his face, so he slightly turned his head, catching a glimpse of the sparkling amusement in her eyes, like sunlight dancing on the water's surface, a pond of fragmented gold, shimmering brightly.
He found himself inexplicably light-hearted and smiled, "Is there something you want to say?"
Su Jin's voice was crisp and clear, "I have no doubt that you survived this long by relying on your wits. If it weren't for my involvement, you could easily live another year or two without issue."
Relying on wits to survive?
Xie Jingchen savored those words and laughed, "Your way of giving compliments is truly unique."
Previously, she praised his acting skills; now she praised his intelligence. It sounded fresh and was quite eye-opening.
"I'm just speaking the plain truth," Su Jin laughed.
"I know," he replied.
"…."
No modesty at all.
Arrogance is not good; it's better to be humble.
Clearing her throat lightly, Su Jin asked, "Tell me how you were poisoned, so I can help detoxify you."
If it were an ordinary poison, Su Jin could detect it from his pulse, but Xie Jingchen's poison was too complex. It was the first time she treated someone whose condition didn't align with her expectations. Although she couldn't obtain a divorce letter, she couldn't just watch him die.
Xie Jingchen was slightly surprised, "I haven't agreed to give you a divorce letter yet, and you're sure you want to help detoxify me?"
You seem aware of your limitations. Go ahead and give me a divorce letter. Dragging your feet and not giving it is one thing, but you won't even give me a verbal promise. Su Jin grinned, "Because I'm kind-hearted and easygoing by nature, I'll save you first. If I'm not satisfied one day, I'll poison you again."
Xie Jingchen, "…."
Having choked, Xie Jingchen coughed twice and, seeing Su Jin watching him, said, "If you're any nicer, I might not be able to handle it."
Su Jin's eyes widened.
Over there, a maid ran over from behind and said, "Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Madam, Third Madam wants you to go to Qihao Hall to offer tea."
Some people rush to offer tea indifferently, but if you don't go, they send someone to invite you again.
After offering tea to the Xie family's ancestors and ancestors, Xie Jingchen had no intention of returning to Qihao Hall. Now that the maid had come to invite them, it showed that everyone was present, so he led Su Jin back.
What was an empty room earlier was now packed with people.
Su Jin roughly glanced around; except for the Duke and the eldest master, everyone who should have been present was there.
The Old Madam sat on the Arhat couch, her gaze clear, her brows kind, and her hair neatly combed, perhaps because she rarely worried, as she showed few white hairs. Upon seeing Xie Jingchen leading Su Jin into the room, a slight sternness flickered in her kind eyes, but it quickly returned to its original calm state.
Su Jin only had time to quickly observe the Old Madam when a voice came from nearby, "The maid said she saw Chenchen carrying the Eldest Young Madam to Qihao Hall. I wouldn't believe it. Now seeing them all lovey-dovey, sweet as honey, I really believe it. Eldest Sister-in-law should be relieved. When the Duke and Big Brother return to the Capital, they won't blame you for making the decision to marry Chenchen to a female bandit as the legitimate wife."
From where she was seated, Su Jin guessed she was likely the Third Madam of Duke Zhen Country Mansion. Listening to her words, especially how she bit down on the words "female bandit" so clearly, not missing any opportunity to mock her, it was clear she wasn't easy to deal with and should be treated with caution.
Princess Nanzhang sat down to the Old Madam's right hand, smiling warmly, "I heard that marrying a bride can ward off ill luck, that's why I went to the palace to ask the Emperor to bestow the marriage. Even if it fails, the Duke and Eldest Master can blame me, but I have no regrets."
"We all see your care for Chenchen," Third Madam laughed.
Second Madam sat opposite Princess Nanzhang, eyeing Su Jin up and down, exclaiming, "The Eldest Young Madam has such fine looks, there's hardly anyone among the pampered noble ladies in the Capital who can match."
Su Jin blushed slightly from the compliment.
But then the conversation turned, "To say that Duke Zhen Country Mansion and your Feihu Village truly have a connection, this time, if it weren't for the trouble in the Northern Desert that hurried the Duke to quell the rebellion, he would have taken the army to flatten your Feihu Village. The Duke probably never dreamed that the bandits he didn't have time to eradicate would turn into his granddaughter-in-law."
Su Jin managed an awkward but polite smile.
Fate is indeed strange and ineffable, so peculiar it makes one want to hit someone.
Without responding, Su Jin noticed Second Madam staring at Xie Jingchen and asked, "You haven't paid respects to the Old Madam; how could you first go to offer tea to your mother?"
Princess Nanzhang's face darkened slightly.
Xie Jingchen looked at Second Madam and spoke indifferently, "We offered tea to the ancestors of the Xie family. Without the protection of our ancestors, I probably wouldn't have survived. I've been unconscious these past days, dreaming of them, and they told me to treat the newlywed Eldest Young Madam well. Since you weren't there when I took her to offer tea, I took her to the ancestral hall to offer tea first, respecting our ancestors above all."
Su Jin was stunned.
The man standing beside her, not only had exceptional looks but intellect that seemed almost magical.
Kidnapped in broad daylight and publicly humiliated, he showed her kindness and civility, which, in others' eyes, could only mean he was out of his mind. But if the Xie family's ancestors recognized her and admonished him to be good to her, he was simply being exceedingly filial, and who would have any criticisms then? Who would dare question the judgment of the Xie family's ancestors?
With the ancestors invoked, not only would Xie Jingchen have to treat her well, but everyone in that house had to comply.
Second Master and Third Master exchanged glances, both frowning, finding Xie Jingchen's words both believable and unbelievable. Without the protection of the ancestors, how else could someone the Imperial Physicians had told to prepare for funeral arrangements be standing and talking with them here?
But to say the ancestors accepted this female bandit was something they absolutely couldn't believe.
"Let's offer tea first," the Old Madam instructed.
The maid brought two prayer mats, placing them before the Old Madam.
Su Jin and Xie Jingchen knelt together. The maid brought the tea over. Su Jin reached to pick up the cup, but as soon as she did, the scalding heat on her fingers made her instinctively release it.
With a crash, the teacup shattered on the ground, the sound exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Immediately after, a mocking voice was heard, "They say bandits don't know rules; can't you even carry a cup of tea?"
Her fingertips were burnt numb. Anger boiled in Su Jin's heart. Such a lowly trick to scheme against her was truly an underestimation.
To accuse her of not knowing the rules, does that mean they intended to teach this female bandit some manners next?
Eager to be sent up to make a statement for her as the female bandit, there was no reason not to accept.
Without rebutting, Su Jin took a handkerchief and picked up the tea saucer from the floor, then stood up.
She walked to the maid who handed her the tea, grabbed her hand, placed the tea saucer back on it, and held it tightly so the maid couldn't escape no matter what.
The maid's face turned pale, suppressing her cries in silence.
If she didn't cry out, Su Jin wouldn't let go.
Eventually, tears of pain welled in the maid's eyes, unable to bear it any longer, she cried out, "Hot, hot…."
Only then did Su Jin release her grip.
With a crash, the tea saucer shattered on the ground, breaking into pieces.
The sound was like a huge boulder crashing into a heart lake, creating a wall of water and chills down everyone's spine.
Indeed a female bandit!
This ferocious!
Xie Jingchen took Su Jin's hand, seeing her fingertips red, he expressed concern, "Are you alright?"
Su Jin replied, "It hurts a bit. Luckily, my skin isn't that thick and I could feel the heat. If I had handed it to the Old Madam, it would've burned her."
Marquis Dongxiang and Mrs. Tang advised her not to anger the Old Madam, but the first person she managed to anger was her.
Seeing everyone looking at her in fear, Su Jin wrinkled her nose and asked, "Husband, was I too fierce just now?"
"...A little bit."
Su Jin lowered her eyes and said, "My parents taught me to be broad-minded and not hold grudges. Take care of any grievances right away to avoid stewing over them, which affects one's mood."
Xie Jingchen, "…."
"Husband, you won't dislike me for having a bad temper, will you?" Su Jin asked cautiously, her face full of expectation.
Xie Jingchen looked indulgent, "No."
"Husband is so good."
"…."
Xie Jingchen's ears turned slightly red.
This woman!
They were already like two grasshoppers on the same string, tightly bound, and yet she insisted on tying another death knot. Wasn't he trustworthy enough?