Chapter 64: Invitation |
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Lu Fengmian’s brows twitched slightly.
“Young Master, please take a look—are you satisfied? If there’s anything lacking, please do tell me.”
Lu Fengmian stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.
It was obvious that much care had gone into the design of this chamber.
The bed was made of sandalwood, crafted from fine materials with exquisite carvings. Brand-new bedding lay neatly arranged upon it, embroidered with dark patterns.
By the window stood a writing desk, complete with the four treasures of the study: a newly made wolf-hair brush, a high-quality green stone inkstone, and an ink stick still bearing faint paper fibers from its first use.
On the other side was a round table with four chairs, upon which sat a tea set and a plate of pastries.
The nanny wore a smile, though a trace of barely concealed nervousness lingered in her expression.
“These were all newly purchased,” she said. “The master instructed us that the Young Master is a distinguished guest and must not be slighted.”
“I am very satisfied. Please thank Uncle Xiao on my behalf.”
The nanny immediately relaxed, bowing repeatedly.
“Then please rest well. If you need anything, just call out—someone is stationed outside.”
She withdrew and gently closed the door.
Lu Fengmian walked to the window and pushed half of it open.
A cool night breeze drifted in. A half-moon hung in the sky, its light spilling onto the stone slabs of the courtyard, bright and clear.
He sat at the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping against its surface. Suddenly recalling something, he reached for his spatial ring.
The Chaos Sky Crystal lay quietly within, emanating an ancient aura.
He had originally planned to give it to Xiao Jin after they returned to the sect.
But now, this seemed like a good opportunity.
Within the sect, Xiao Jin was merely an inconspicuous outer disciple. Yet here, in the Xiao Family, he was dearly missed and cherished.
Perhaps giving it to him here was more appropriate than in the sect.
Early the next morning.
With few sect affairs to occupy him, Lu Fengmian had slept well.
Outside the window came the crisp chirping of birds. Sunlight filtered through the bed curtains, casting soft shadows across the floor.
Lu Fengmian stretched and slowly rose.
No sooner had he stepped out of the courtyard than he heard a burst of animated chatter from the front yard.
“I’m so furious! Absolutely furious!”
“The Bai Family has gone too far!”
“I’ve never seen such shameless people!”
Several young maids huddled together, indignantly discussing something, their faces flushed with anger.
Lu Fengmian approached. Hearing footsteps, they lifted their heads and immediately composed themselves, bowing respectfully.
“Young Master Lu.”
Lu Fengmian waved his hand lightly and asked with a smile, “What’s all this commotion so early in the morning?”
The maids exchanged glances. At last, an older maid stepped forward to speak.
“Young Master Lu, you don’t know—the Bai Family…”
She had barely begun when the others could not help but chime in, talking over one another.
“The Bai Family are tyrants!”
“What kind of invitation is this? In my opinion, it’s pure provocation!”
“They’re clearly trying to disgust our Young Master on purpose!”
Listening to them, Lu Fengmian pieced together the gist of the matter.
Early this morning, the Bai Family had sent an invitation—most sincerely inviting the Xiao Family to attend the engagement ceremony of the Bai Family’s young lady.
Most sincere indeed.
Even Lu Fengmian felt surprised.
What sort of respectable person would invite a former fiancé to their own engagement ceremony?
Was that not akin to stabbing someone directly?
If even the maids were so outraged, one could imagine the feelings of the others in the Xiao Family.
He walked toward the main hall. Before he even stepped inside, voices could already be heard.
Bang!
The sound of a table being struck.
“The Bai Family are truly something!”
Father Xiao’s voice was low, but the anger within it was unmistakable. “If the Old Ancestor were still alive, how could he have allowed them to be so insolent!”
Mother Xiao’s voice followed, tinged with sobs. “Poor Jin’er. We should never have agreed to that marriage with the Bai Family in the first place. You suffered so much for nothing…”
Lu Fengmian looked inside.
Father Xiao stood beside the table, his face flushed red. Mother Xiao sat to the side, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Grandfather Xiao sat at the head of the table, his face dark as storm clouds, saying nothing.
As the person concerned, Xiao Jin was in fact the calmest.
His face was expressionless, his gaze fixed upon the bright red invitation lying on the table.
Perhaps after experiencing life and death, the matter of the broken engagement no longer weighed heavily on him.
Yet the Bai Family’s actions were clearly intended as humiliation. His fists clenched at his sides, his desire to grow stronger surging even more fiercely.
When they noticed Lu Fengmian enter, everyone quickly composed themselves.
Father Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and stood up. “Young Master Lu, did you rest well last night? Our home is humble—please forgive any shortcomings.”
Lu Fengmian nodded. “I rested well. Thank you for your hospitality.”
His gaze fell upon the invitation.
The bright red cover and gilded lettering were particularly ostentatious.
With measured tone, he asked, “Uncle Xiao, this invitation is…?”
Father Xiao’s expression darkened briefly before he forced a smile. “Merely a joke left by some shameless people. Not worth mentioning.”
However, Xiao Jin stepped forward and quietly explained, “Senior Brother, it was sent by the Bai Family, inviting us to attend their young lady’s engagement ceremony.”
Lu Fengmian looked at him.
“What do you think?”
Xiao Jin pressed his lips together and fell silent for a moment.
“The Bai Family’s actions are clearly meant to humiliate us,” he said. “But if we ignore it, people will inevitably say that the Xiao Family is narrow-minded and cannot accept defeat.”
Beside him, Father Xiao could not help but speak indignantly, as if pouring out long-suppressed fury:
“Young Master Lu may not know—our Xiao Family was once a prominent household in Linzhou. When the Old Ancestor was alive, the Bai Family was but an insignificant clan. Every year they sent gifts to curry favor, seeking a marriage alliance. Seeing their sincerity, the Old Ancestor agreed to Jin’er’s betrothal to the Bai Family’s daughter.”
He slammed the table again.
“And what happened? The moment the Old Ancestor passed away, the Bai Family were the first to turn their backs! They claimed the Xiao Family had declined and was unworthy of them, and came directly to dissolve the engagement! That attitude, those expressions…”
Father Xiao could go no further, left only with heavy breaths.
Mother Xiao took up the thread, her voice trembling. “If it had ended there, so be it. The engagement was broken, and our Xiao Family accepted it. But now they stage this engagement ceremony and even invite us? Isn’t that another public humiliation of the Xiao Family!”
Xiao Jin still stood straight, his face composed. Yet his lowered hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Mother Xiao’s eyes were red, and Grandfather Xiao’s face remained grim.
Lu Fengmian took it all in.
He did not speak immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, picked up the invitation, and opened it.
Gilded characters, courteous phrasing—an invitation dripping with hypocrisy.
He closed it and set it back down.
“Do you want to go?” he asked.
Xiao Jin looked up at him.
Lu Fengmian stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a cloud-patterned brocade robe, his figure tall and straight, his features refined as jade.
The face that usually carried a gentle smile now bore a trace of solemnity, a hint of the dignity belonging to the Senior Brother of Lingyun Sect showing between his brows.
“The First Disciple of Grandmaster Lingyun personally accompanying the Xiao Family—how does that sound?”
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