The great elder’s initial instructions to Su Liumeng already implied acceptance of Si Xinyan’s origins.
Su Liumeng immediately understood, changed her form of address accordingly, and accepted the olive branch offered by the great elder.
What happened after was a psychological battle neither of us could fully comprehend.
This was probably a kind of political strategy I would never understand in my lifetime.
Had I been the one to handle it, I would have stumbled at the very first hint and obediently bowed to the portrait, triggering disaster and likely getting kicked out of the Su family immediately.
After lighting the three incense sticks, the great elder’s eyes grew even more affectionate as he smiled, “With these incense offerings, you’ve officially brought your child to recognize the ancestors. Little Su, the Su family cannot tolerate scornful women. Now that you have a child, you mustn’t be fickle. The marriage must be arranged soon. Find a time and hold the ceremony as soon as possible. It will give the girl her rightful status.”
The Su family was probably the largest clan that cared least about blood relations, or they wouldn’t keep selecting promising youngsters from the common folk and granting them the Su surname after trials.
Within the Su family, many members had blood ties, but more importantly, it was a coalition of interests.
That was the fundamental reason the Su family remained undefeated for a thousand years.
Su Liumeng respectfully responded, “Yu Xi will not disappoint the great elder.”
Yu Xi was Su Liumeng’s courtesy name, just like mine was Zi Yan.
In great families, everyone had a surname, given name, and courtesy name.
In most formal occasions, the courtesy name was used; the given name was for family use.
Though in modern times, such customs had faded, even in the Su family, it was enough to know who was being addressed without strictly adhering to ancient rules.
Their conversation left me confused.
Su Liumeng’s reply didn’t quite match the great elder’s words, yet the old man only smiled more contentedly, as if satisfied.
The great elder stroked his white beard and suddenly raised a pale brow, mock-scolding, “The incense is finished, so why are you still standing here? Don’t be rude. With that big belly, standing here so long must be hard. Hurry and take her to rest.”
“Yu Xi, it’s not that the great elder doesn’t think you can handle things. You’re nearly thirty weeks along, right? Less than two months to go. In such a lively occasion, you shouldn’t be brought out. Crowded places are hard to manage, and if you have an accident, wouldn’t that mean the Su family’s dragon seed is lost too soon?”
Su Liumeng replied respectfully, “Yu Xi understands. The great elder’s advice is well taken. She won’t be brought to such occasions anymore.”
Su Liumeng held my little hand and led me to the most prominent table at the front of the banquet hall.
Several middle-aged men were already conversing there.
Among them was Su Qinghe, seated in a central but not head position.
The seat at the head of the round table remained empty for now.
That seat was reserved for the highest-ranking person in the Su family.
Su Liumeng sat opposite Su Qinghe.
Because it was my first time attending, the attendants surprisingly added a luxurious chair beside Su Liumeng’s seat, inlaid with a golden dragon, which caught me off guard.
Meanwhile, in my mind, a certain little bundle was about to explode in anger.
“Shameless old thing, who said we’re the Su family’s dragon seed!”
“I’m the ghost king surnamed Si, who’s going to take the Su family name?”
“I’m so angry! If mother hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve rushed out and torn their mouths apart by now.”
Listening to the voice inside my head, I felt helpless but cautious.
“Baby, those are just words to save face. They won’t change the facts.”
“You’re only my daughter; no one can take you away.”
Hearing my comfort, Si Zhiruo was less angry, but still sulking with arms crossed beneath the tree.
After a moment, she suddenly said, “Mommy, at the front of this banquet, the three major round tables—aside from those few young people, the lowest realm of everyone else is the Unity Realm. There are seventeen top-tier strength cultivators.”
“Hmph, but none of them can beat me.”
“Got it, little Zhi Zhi is amazing!”
While I replied, Si Zhiruo even managed to add a barrier for me.
She seemed stronger, able to prevent others from seeing my lip movements or hearing my voice.
To be able to perform such secret maneuvers under the watchful eyes of over a dozen Unity Realm experts was not the first time I was shocked by her abilities.
Without a direct comparison, it was hard to know who was stronger.
Just how powerful was Zhi Zhi?
Could she still be a Unity Realm cultivator?
At that moment—
Voices from outside interrupted my thoughts.
“Niece Su, haven’t heard you introduce this young lady to us yet.”
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a scarred face, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, standing out from the well-dressed crowd.
He was seated relatively forward among those present.
Su Liumeng was about to stand when the scarred man interrupted, “No need, no need. The young lady is pregnant and moves with difficulty, so we understand if she skips the ceremony today.”
Su Liumeng smiled and introduced him, “This is the Su family’s second elder, a highly respected senior.”
“Junior pays respects to the great elder.”
Then, Su Liumeng introduced others present—mostly branch heads and senior elders closest to the center of power.
They were essentially the core authority figures of the Su family.
After some small talk, the second elder suddenly said to Su Qinghe, “Qinghe, what’s going on? The girl Yu Xi likes is already pregnant with the Su family’s dragon seed, and she’s due in a few months. Yet you haven’t let anyone know. You’ve kept this a real secret.”
Su Qinghe smiled awkwardly.
Even this experienced old fox didn’t know how to answer.
He hadn’t heard of the Su family’s dragon seed and hope thing—he was the child’s “grandfather” after all.
He really wanted to say that he hadn’t known earlier either.
He only found out in the hall together with everyone else.
Su Qinghe was a seasoned man; after a second of daze, he replied candidly, “Who doesn’t know how precious my Jiujiu is? She’s nearly ready to give birth. I thought if we didn’t bring her out for everyone to see, it might seem a bit off. It’s understandable. We’re all experienced and can understand Jiujiu’s feelings. It’s her first child, and being cautious is normal. Going out always carries risk, so it’s not really rude.”
The second elder, a man with sparse eyelashes, smiled and added, “Su Liumeng is the Su family’s little phoenix this generation. This young lady must be a peerless talent. Such a union will only produce stronger heirs, worthy of the title ‘future dragon seed’ of the Su family. When the baby is born, I’ll personally present a gift to celebrate the arrival of the Su family’s future prodigy.”
A grand bridal sedan, carried by thousands.
Today was Su Liumeng’s celebration banquet.
Su Liumeng was the sole star.
I had already heard countless praises until my ears nearly formed calluses.
As the banquet officially began, the great elder and family head took their seats.
Now it was Su Liumeng’s turn to speak, though the head seat at the round table remained empty.
Others seemed used to this, no one objected.
I lowered my gaze slightly, making a mental note of this detail.
Soon, many more came to toast us.
Praises like before numbed my ears.
Many older women gently took my hand to share pregnancy tips, what to prepare before delivery, and their own secret remedies.
I listened carefully, learning quite a bit.
The warm-hearted crowd and the glittering hall.
I no longer felt like an outsider.
Because of one person’s existence, I was fully integrated.
Was this what Su Liumeng meant by declaring my existence to the world?
It actually… wasn’t bad.
There was none of the gossip or malicious words I had imagined.
It seemed that when someone was strong, only kindness surrounded them.
It was my first time experiencing this feeling.
Because of Su Liumeng, many things I once only dreamed of were now mine.
Whether it was Su Qinghe’s acceptance or the recognition of the Su family.
With a new identity, all these things were placed before me by Su Liumeng.
At this moment—
I suddenly understood why Su Liumeng insisted on giving me an official status.
To bring the one she loved before the world and accept everyone’s praise was truly different from hiding in a dark rented room.
How could someone who loved another let her suffer grievances?
So Su Liumeng gambled with her life to make one last push.
And in the end, she succeeded.
What happened, I never heard Su Liumeng explain.
No matter how many times I asked, she would brush it off lightly.
That day, the panic of a near-broken bond was unmistakably genuine.
I always knew the risks of the secret realm and the dangerous moves Su Liumeng made.
Because of that, I would cherish it even more deeply.
I looked at the bright young lady beside me, watching her beautiful profile as she chatted with others, stirring ripples in my heart.
At this moment, there seemed to be something different in the air.
My small hand under the table secretly grasped hers.
Su Liumeng paused her conversation and suddenly glanced at me.
She tenderly pinched my cheek with her other hand, “Baby, what’s wrong? Is today’s food not to your liking? Or did something upset you?”
I felt warmth inside, warmer than ever before.
“Nothing, I’m very happy.”
Su Liumeng resumed talking with the elders about topics I couldn’t understand.
My gaze moved through the crowd, as if searching for that figure who tried to seduce Su Liumeng.
That distinctive scent—
Since arriving at the banquet hall, I hadn’t smelled it anywhere.
She—
Had she not come to the celebration banquet?
I pursed my lips slightly, then bit them softly, lowering my head to look at my small belly.