Chapter 2: Tea ceremony (A Chinese custom where the bride is formally introduced to and accepted into the groom’s family.)
Lin Xiao Ci followed the servant girl and walked for about 7-8mins to reach the main hall.
At the center of the inner most part of the hall was the altar for the Gods and ancestors. On the wall hung a portrait of Confucius and some verses on both sides.
Below seated a middle aged couple dressed luxuriously.
The mustached man had an educated appearance.
The woman still looked attractive despite her age, retaining her graceful bearing. By her side stood a servant girl.
On the bottom left, a beautiful man was seated. He has an elegant and graceful bearing, around the age of 10+.
Beside him was a refined young lady, dressed plainly, accentuating her charms even more.
All of them gave her a disgusted and judging look.
The servant girl softly reminded “Miss, don’t look at Second Young Master, Eldest Young Master is on this side. You have to first greet Old Master and Madam.”
Lin Xiao Ci: “….”
She turned her eyes away, and a tall man with a cold and handsome face entered her sight.
His entire body aura screams ‘Do not come close’.
So he’s that violent guy. Someone who looks upright on the outside, but in reality is a beast who hits women.
It’s no wonder the original owner loved the Second Young Master. Even if she was paid to have this man given to her, she rejects!
Unconsciously, a look of despise was shown on her face. The cold man’s facial expression got even uglier.
Ye Shao Qing spoke in a reproachful tone: “Dilly dally, don’t you know today you’ve to do the tea ceremony?”
Lin Xiao Ci thought: the reason why she woke late, wasn’t it because he doesn’t know how to restrain? Hurting the original owner’s delicate body so badly.
At this thought, her eyes got sour. Last night, the original owner must not have slept a wink.
Beast!
But this is not the time to argue with him. Thinking back to the past historical dramas that she had watched, she copied the movements. “Daughter-in-law greets Father and Mother.”
Pang Shi said with an unkind face: “No need, we can’t afford that. Xiao Ju, bring the tea over, just go through the motions in front of the ancestors will do.”
Xiao Ju: “Yes.”
Lin Xiao Ci was publicly refuted, her facial expression was unchanged. Her back was still straight, humbly waiting.
Everybody was secretly shocked. Just one night and she was like a different person, her temper has become calm.
After Xiao Ju served the tea, Lin Xiao Ci saw that the cold face man kneeling, she followed.
After the tea ceremony, she received two red packets from the elders. Full of smiles, she thanked them and slipped them into the pockets in her wide sleeves.
Pang Shi saw that her actions were appropriate and finally removed her cool expression. In a warning tone, she said: “Qing Ci ah, though you are the precious daughter of the General, your identity honorable, you have already married into the Ye family, your Father and I also drank your daughter-in-law tea (TL: from the tea ceremony). You need to rid of those thoughts that you’re not supposed to have. If you create trouble again in the future, no matter how powerful is the General, I will let Shao Qing divorce you, do you understand?” She was respectful at the start, but became threatening at the end.
Lin Xiao Ci mumbled inwardly, Qing Ci? General? Shao Qing?
So familiar.
Pressing down her curiosity, she obediently answered: “Daughter-in-law understands Mother’s teachings.”
These words made everybody looked at each other, Lin Qing Ci has always been arrogant.
Her actions today were unfathomable, making people unable to believe.
Pang Shi nodded: “It’s good if that’s so.” She glanced at Ye Shao Qing: “You may leave.”
Lin Xiao Ci relaxed, she waited for the elders to leave and waved her servant over and started off in the direction of her wedding chamber.
She was very tired, had not eaten breakfast.
She hurriedly went back to find some food to fill her stomach and take a nap to replenish her energy. Then she would find some ways to get some information from her servant girl, to further understand the situation she’s in.
Behind her suddenly came a crisp and pleasant female voice: “Eldest sister in law, you should walk with Elder brother.”
Lin Xiao Ci looked back, it was the refined lady seated beside Second Young Master, the Second Young Madam.
Calmly looking at her, she said: “I have just arrived and do not know the rules, thanks for reminding.”
She stopped in her tracks and waited for Ye Shao Qing.
Her sight moving over to him.
The two brothers, no matter it was the appearance or temperament, were very different.
Second Young Master has a tall slender body, looking graceful and kind.
While Eldest Young Master stood uprightly and majestically (TL: Author used 挺拔如松, I don’t really know how to translate this), cold as an ice mountain, unbearable to look at.
At this point, he was being pulled by Second Young Master. From the shape of his lips, Second Young Master seemed to be reminding him to beware of her.
Because she has been focusing on Second Young Master’s lips, her line of sight was fixed.
Chen Qiu Rong’s servant girl cleared her throat, intentionally reminding her to mind her actions.
Lin Xiao Ci turned away, plainly said: “I wasn’t looking at Second Young Master, I was looking at my husband.”
The servant girl muttered: “A dog can change its habits to eat shit? You married over, wasn’t it because you want to get close to our Second… AH!”
Her mutterings were stopped halfway as Lin Xiao Ci’s servant girl gave that servant girl a resounding slap. She coldly said: “Dog servant! Our family’s miss is someone you can scold?”
Lin Xiao Ci: “…”
Is this servant that intrepid? Didn’t she just reminded herself to endure?
“Miss.” The servant girl who was slapped looked at Chen Qiu Rong grievously.
Chen Qiu Rong frowned: “Ah Meng, you were being disrespectful. Do not do it again.” She looked apologetic: “Dasao, please be forgiving. This servant still has many things she doesn’t know.”
Dasao 大嫂 – Elder sister in law
Lin Xiao Ci’s servant girl roared: “Forgive? Then our family’s Miss got scolded for nothing? Where’s the logic in this? Also, servants being disrespectful, isn’t that because the master’s pampering? Rumors in the capital have it that Second Young Madam has a strict upbringing, is kind-hearted and very knowledgeable, but it looks like that’s not true.”
Chen Qiu Rong’s face flushed and paled: “Dasao, I didn’t teach well, please do not blame. Younger sister in law is willing to receive whatever punishment you give.”
Lin Xiao Ci felt that this line was strangely familiar, but could not remember where she heard it.
But this woman really has the potential to be a white lotus, what is if she wants to blame? Clearly it was them to scold others first.
Though her servant girl was bold and rude when protecting her master, it wasn’t wrong?
But as a family who would see each other frequently, it’s not good to argue further.
Just as she was going to put the matter to a rest, Ye Shao Qing appeared beside her, coldly said: “Go back.”
Lin Xiao Ci wasn’t feeling happy, appearing at this time was obviously helping Chen Qiu Rong out of the situation.
Damn it! Was she really this detestable?
Grinding her teeth, forcing her anger down, she made a sound of acknowledgement and looked at Chen Qiu Rong: “Hope that you discipline your servant well, today I will let her off, but if she ever angered me again, things would not be easy as it is today.
Also, I’m not concerned about your man, no matter if you believe me or not, this is a fact. “
Lin Xiao Ci turned to Ye Wei Jun: “Also, Second Young Master, I am now your Dasao. Don’t egg on your elder brother to sort me out behind my back. Maybe you felt that in the past my actions were absurd and need discipline, but this is not something you should be concerned of.”
Ye Wei Jun face reddened: “Dasao misunderstood, I didn’t ask elder brother to sort you out. If you don’t believe, you can ask him.”
Lin Xiao Ci coldly harrumphed, didn’t spare Ye Shao Qing a glance and walked before him.
“Elder brother, Dasao she…”
Ye Shao Qing gloomy eyes swept across Lin Xiao Ci’s seductive back, cutting off Ye Wei Jun words: “It was indeed your servant girl who was wrong in the first place. As for her past, I do not want to look into it. In the future, if she’s ill-disciplined, I will handle it myself! Second brother do not have to remind,” and left.
Ye Wei Jun’s well intentions were considered as being nosy, his expression cryptic. He tightened his fist in his sleeves and towards Chen Qiu Rong: “Big brother couldn’t have been bewitched by that evil woman?”
End of Chapter 2