"Chengyi," Mrs. Zhou warned unusually.
Her son finally returned home, and she was tearfully happy, but bringing a woman without a matchmaker or betrothal who had a private relationship with a man was a headache for her, someone who always valued family reputation.
Xiao Chengyu said disapprovingly, "Sister-in-law, my brother getting married is a common affair, nothing big. I think the hairpin on your head is really exquisite, give it to me!"
With that, she actually stood up and reached out to take the hairpin from Shen Ruoxi's head.
"Chengyu, sit down," the old lady commanded with unquestionable authority in her voice.
Xiao Chengyu had just turned sixteen this year, the only daughter in the family, raised with care and spoiled from an early age, her temperament was very willful.
She pouted unhappily, her gaze still fixated on the dazzling hairpin on Shen Ruoxi's head, unwillingly sitting back down.
However, she secretly plotted in her heart that she would definitely get the exquisite and luxurious hairpin from Shen Ruoxi.
The old lady glossed over, smiling faintly, "Ruoxi, grandmother knows you are kind-hearted, filial, and considerate, a rare good daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law.
Chengyi's return is really a great joy for the family. He has made remarkable military achievements and has been promoted to a fourth-rank general, with an immeasurable future.
Now that he is back, you two should communicate more and strengthen your relationship."
Shen Ruoxi pressed her lips together and said nothing.
The old lady earnestly advised Xiao Chengyi: "Chengyi, Zhen'er is already pregnant, send more maids and women to take care of her, and you should spend more time with Ruoxi, it's been hard for her all these years."
Xiao Chengyi glanced at Shen Ruoxi, who was looking down and not speaking, and respectfully replied, "Grandson understands."
Ning Zhen bit her lip, a flicker of anger in her eyes, but she quickly regained composure, casting an affectionate gaze at Xiao Chengyi, asking softly, "Brother Yi, does your promise to me still count?"
Xiao Chengyi's eyes were gentle, and he said softly, "Of course."
Ning Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, and with a mischievous and harmless look, she said to Shen Ruoxi, "Shen Ruoxi, can I call you Sister Ruoxi?"
Shen Ruoxi responded with a cold smile, "Sorry, my parents have only me as their daughter, I cannot bear the title of sister."
Hearing this, Xiao Chengyi frowned and said with displeasure, "Shen Ruoxi, what do you mean?"
Ning Zhen put on a grievance expression but spoke aggressively, "Sister Ruoxi, do you not like me? Isn't it that love is supreme since ancient times? Is it not the unloving one who is the intruder and the redundant one?"
Shen Ruoxi suddenly felt exhausted!
Mrs. Zhou looked at her, not understanding what had bewitched her son to fall for this unruly thing.
But she was always weak, with no ideas, only remaining silent.
Xiao Chengyu scoffed through her nose, "Sister-in-law, the new sister-in-law already carries the Xiao family's blood, you're so relentless, how come you don't understand!"
Shen Ruoxi's heart turned cold. When she married into the family, her mother nearly emptied the Loyalty Marquis' treasury.
And she never held back her dowry.
Her father-in-law was only a fifth-rank general in the camp, and having died early, the General Mansion had long become a shell.
All these years, the medicine the old lady used was all self-made by her, but the medicine was genuinely expensive; without her, the General Mansion would have long been unable to make ends meet.
She had been married in for two years, giving whatever the younger sister-in-law wanted, but now that the new sister-in-law entered, not only did she not say a word for her, but also blamed her for being unreasonable!
Shen Ruoxi suddenly felt, what's the point.
"Chengyu, shut up."
The old lady did not necessarily want to help Shen Ruoxi, but the expenses inside and outside the General Mansion depended on her, and she couldn't afford to anger her.
Shen Ruoxi gracefully curtsied, "Grandmother, mother, the General has traveled a long way tirelessly, and Miss Ning is with child, they should rest early, Ruoxi takes leave."
Shen Ruoxi walked straight out, but felt a thorn in her back, involuntarily letting out a cold laugh in her heart again.
Stepping out the door, under the scorching sun, making one dizzy, Shen Ruoxi's back dripped with cold sweat, feeling every joint chilled to the bone.
"Miss, the young master bullies people too much!"
Chuntao followed beside her lady, feeling indignant for her.
Shen Ruoxi exhaled a breath of turbid air, her eyes clear and indifferent, murmuring to herself, "Mother, it's not that your daughter doesn't listen to your words, but he betrayed me. You also know that whatever your daughter wants, she will give her all, but those who betray me, I will also abandon like a worn shoe, don't blame your daughter."
Inside the room, Xiao Chengyi's face was livid, his body exuding a menacing aura after having been through countless battles.
"Brother Yi, does sister dislike me?" Ning Zhen feigned a pitiful appearance, but her heart was sneering repeatedly.
She certainly disdained snatching someone else's man, but Xiao Chengyi was handsome and skilled in martial arts, always looking at her with admiration, and he even said he had never touched Shen Ruoxi, so she got involved with him.
The other woman?
She coldly thought, the unloved one is the other woman.
Just like Shen Ruoxi, a back courtyard woman, revolving around a man every day, weeping bitterly, stuck in old ways, deserved to be abandoned by a man.
Xiao Chengyi wore a sympathetic look, "Don't say such nonsense, besides, this house cannot let her act recklessly!"
The old lady rubbed her temples, "Chengyi, you have made great achievements in the army, winning public acclaim, just returning and lifting a concubine will harm your reputation."
"Big brother, you on the battlefield, which part of the family inside and out doesn't rely on sister-in-law? You return without a word of comfort but bring back a pregnant woman, even giving sister-in-law attitude, you're the top heartless man in the world."
Xiao Chengzhao, the youngest at home, just thirteen this year, a young boy with indignation.
Sister-in-law taught him how to write, trained him in martial arts, devotedly served grandmother and mother, gave everything for the family, and he couldn't hold back any longer; earlier, due to the presence of elders, he remained silent, but now he really had to voice his anger!
"You little brat, what do you know!" Xiao Chengyi shouted angrily.
Xiao Chengzhao did not back down in the slightest, "I may be young, but I understand propriety, righteousness, integrity, and ethics."
Xiao Chengyi's face grew increasingly ugly with anger.
"Chengzhao, have you gone mad? How can you side with an outsider?" Xiao Chengyu angrily questioned.
"An outsider? Xiao Chengyu, you eat sister-in-law's food, use sister-in-law's stuff, call her sister-in-law and treat her as family to get what you want, and now she's an outsider? Where's your face? Your conscience?"
Xiao Chengyu was flushed red, about to retort, when the old lady's authoritative voice rang out, "Shut up, all of you!"
Xiao Chengzhao stood up in anger, letting out a cold snort, "Even a white-eyed wolf is nothing more than this, grandmother, mother, Chengzhao takes leave."
Saying that, he gave Xiao Chengyi a fierce glare and stormed off.
Ning Zhen's eyes brimmed with tears, pitifully saying, "Brother Yi, does the family not like me? Had I known, I wouldn't have come, I will leave now."
Xiao Chengyi's heart ached terribly, gently supporting her, "Of course not, you can rest easy living here, this house is decided by your husband!"
Ning Zhen's eyes flashed with a gleam of success, sweetly saying, "Thank you, husband."
Xiao Chengyu was quick to adapt, "New sister-in-law, don't worry, our whole family supports you, after all, you're carrying the Xiao family's blood, a major contributor to our family."
Madam Shen frowned slightly, she just felt this new daughter-in-law would be trouble, lacking any self-awareness as a back courtyard woman, completely lacking in manners.
Moreover, she knew her daughter-in-law was good to her, but she was used to being weak, having a mother-in-law above her, sons with official rank below her, and with her husband deceased, she couldn't say more than a word against the new daughter-in-law and son.
Let alone stand up for her daughter-in-law!