Chapter 18

The Wen Family.

When Su Yi returned, he saw a bustling scene outside the Wen Family’s mansion, with carriages and servants everywhere, a lively and extraordinary sight.

Today was the eightieth birthday of the Old Dowager, and the Wen Family had been preparing for it for several days.

Not only would many branches of the Wen Family participate, but many powerful forces and important figures who were on good terms with the Wen Family would also come to wish her a happy birthday.

This matter had already spread throughout Guangling City, attracting attention from all sides.

However, Su Yi did not take it seriously at all.

He, an unimportant son-in-law, whether he attended or not, was destined to be ignored by everyone.

"Brother-in-law!"

As soon as Su Yi returned, he saw a graceful figure standing there, waving at him with a smile on her clear and beautiful face.

Wen Lingxue, a girl in her prime, was pure and radiant.

"Why are you standing here?"

Su Yi smiled.

"Of course, I'm waiting for you."

Wen Lingxue approached, affectionately holding Su Yi's arm and said crisply, "Brother-in-law, my mother said that when you return, you should also attend the birthday banquet."

"Me?"

Su Yi was taken aback.

Wen Lingxue explained, "My mother said it's my grandmother's order."

Su Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Wen Lingxue's grandmother was the Old Dowager Liang Wenbi, a lady of supreme status in the Wen Family, whose orders even the Clan Chief Wen Changjing dared not disobey.

Back then, his marriage to Wen Lingzhao was personally decided by Liang Wenbi, and no matter how much Wen Lingzhao's parents and other clan members opposed it, it was all in vain!

"Let's go."

Su Yi nodded.

After regaining his past memories, he had also thought about finding an opportunity to meet the Old Dowager of the Wen Family and ask about some matters from the past.

The Wen Family's sprawling mansion was even more bustling, with guests arriving one after another to celebrate the birthday.

In Guangling City, the Wen Family was one of the three major clans, with a profound foundation. The current Clan Chief was Wen Changjing, who had two younger brothers, Wen Changqing and Wen Changtai.

In addition, the Wen Family had other branches, which had grown and branched out over the years. Now, the entire clan numbered over a thousand people.

Today, many clan members gathered, and the scene was naturally extraordinary.

In the area of the clan hall, a grand banquet had already been set up.

"Lingxue has arrived."

When Su Yi and Wen Lingxue arrived, many young men and women waiting outside the clan hall greeted Wen Lingxue.

These were all the younger generation of the Wen Family, many of whom were about the same age as Wen Lingxue.

However, whenever anyone saw Su Yi, they would frown and ignore him.

A young man in fine clothes said unhappily, "Su Yi, what is your status? There is no place for you here. Leave quickly, don't ruin our fun!"

Wen Shaobei, a distinguished young man of the Wen Family's younger generation.

However, he was from a branch of the Wen Family, and his status was not as high as that of the main line descendants like Wen Lingxue.

When Wen Shaobei spoke, the others all laughed and echoed him.

In the Wen Family, Su Yi, as a son-in-law, had always been looked down upon, considered a useless person, and even the servants dared to mock him.

Wen Lingxue was annoyed, "Wen Shaobei, listen carefully. It was my grandmother who asked my brother-in-law to attend the birthday banquet! If you chase him away now, are you going against my grandmother?"

"This..." Wen Shaobei was immediately speechless.

The others were also stunned, and they all fell silent, as they dared not disobey the Old Dowager's orders.

Wen Shaobei pretended to be casual, "Let's chat, just pretend he doesn't exist."

From that moment on, these young people of the Wen Family formed a small circle, isolating Su Yi, ignoring him completely.

Even Wen Lingxue, who stood next to Su Yi, was neglected.

Su Yi naturally did not care about this. He called Wen Lingxue aside and said softly, "Lingxue, after the birthday banquet, come to my courtyard. I have something to give you."

"Ah? What is it?"

Wen Lingxue was curious.

Su Yi smiled, "You'll know when the time comes."

Just as he said this, a voice rang out—

"Brother Jueyuan has arrived!"

Wen Shaobei and the other young people all looked over.

Even some of the guests and elders nearby had their eyes fixed on the scene.

A young man in a white robe walked over from a distance, with a sword-like brow and star-like eyes, looking quite outstanding.

"Wen Jueyuan, the most outstanding young man of the Wen Family's generation!"

Someone sighed.

"Brother Jueyuan, indeed."

Wen Lingxue's face also showed admiration.

Wen Jueyuan, the son of Clan Chief Wen Changjing, entered the Songyun Sword Academy at the age of nine and became an outer disciple of the Qinghe Sword Academy at thirteen. In just four years, he was selected as an inner disciple of the Qinghe Sword Academy.

His cultivation had already reached the fourth level of the Blood Movement Realm, the "Bone Refinement" stage!

Such martial achievements were enough to make some important figures in Guangling City feel inferior!

In the younger generation of the Wen Family, Wen Jueyuan was a leader-like figure.

"Today is Grandmother's birthday, you all should behave well and not let outsiders make a laughingstock of our Wen Family."

After Wen Jueyuan walked over, he glanced at Wen Lingxue, Wen Shaobei, and the others, and gently reminded them.

As for Su Yi, he was ignored as well.

"Yes."

Everyone hurriedly responded.

Wen Jueyuan nodded and did not say more, entering the clan hall directly to take his seat.

Only those in high positions or the top figures of the younger generation were qualified to sit in the clan hall for this birthday banquet!

People like Wen Lingxue and Wen Shaobei were not yet qualified.

This made them look at Wen Jueyuan with a hint of envy. When would they be able to achieve this?

"If my sister were here, she could definitely do it too."

Wen Lingxue said with some regret.

No one contradicted her.

The current Wen Lingzhao was a disciple of the Tianyuan Academy!

Just this identity alone was enough to sit on equal terms with the important figures in the clan.

"From what I know, this birthday banquet is not ordinary and is extremely important for our Wen Family."

Suddenly, a woman beside Wen Shaobei said softly.

"I also heard from my father that in recent years, rumors unfavorable to our Wen Family have been spreading throughout Guangling City, saying that within ten years, our Wen Family will be removed from the list of the three major clans in Guangling City."

Another young man pondered, "This birthday banquet is to resolve this issue. The more important figures who attend the banquet today, the more beneficial it will be for our Wen Family. The rumors and criticisms in the city will be dispelled on their own."

Wen Shaobei said, "That depends on Uncle and Second Uncle. As for Third Uncle, well..."

He glanced at Wen Lingxue, who was not far away, and did not continue.

In the main line of the Wen Family, Wen Changjing, as the Clan Chief, held great power, had the widest network of connections, and his guests included many nobles and celebrities.

Wen Changqing was the second elder of the main line, overseeing all the family's businesses, and also had a deep network of connections.

Only Wen Changtai, although the third elder of the main line, had a simple and mediocre personality, and his cultivation was average, with almost no social connections. His status in the Wen Family was not high.

If he were not the brother of Wen Changjing and Wen Changqing, he would be even more looked down upon.

Although Wen Shaobei did not continue, how could Wen Lingxue not understand the implications?

Her face turned cold. This guy had mocked Su Yi before, and now he was talking about her father, Wen Changtai. How could she not be angry?

But she could not refute it.

She herself knew that her father was indeed too mediocre...

Thinking of this, Wen Lingxue felt a surge of frustration in her chest, and her mood became heavy.

A large hand gently patted her shoulder, and Su Yi's voice sounded in her ear, "Lingxue, in life, you will inevitably encounter cold eyes and ridicule. If you are not strong enough, it's fine to endure. But if you have the ability to fight back, and still choose to endure and retreat, it will only embolden others."

Wen Lingxue thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, "Brother-in-law, I understand."

After speaking, she stepped up to Wen Shaobei and said coldly, "Apologize."

The young girl's expression was cold, her tone icy, making Wen Shaobei and the others, who were chatting quietly, all stunned.

"Lingxue, what do you mean? We were just chatting, how did I offend you?"

Wen Shaobei frowned.

At this moment, Wen Lingxue was incredibly assertive, her clear eyes staring at Wen Shaobei like lightning, and she said firmly, "If you don't apologize, I will tell Uncle and the others every word you just said. I want to see if they will let you off!"

"I..."

Wen Shaobei's face was uncertain.

The others around him all fell silent, not daring to get involved.

No matter what, Wen Lingxue was a main line clan member!

Her father was the third elder of the main line, the younger brother of Clan Chief Wen Changjing. In terms of status, they, the branch line clan members, could not compare.

And Wen Lingxue's sister, Wen Lingzhao, was now a disciple of the Tianyuan Academy, highly regarded even by the Clan Chief and others!

In this situation, if Wen Lingxue exposed the matter, it was certain that Wen Shaobei would suffer the consequences.

"I'll say it again, apologize!"

Seeing Wen Shaobei's changing expression and his long silence, Wen Lingxue's expression grew even colder. At just sixteen, once she was angry, she exuded a great pressure.

Wen Shaobei reluctantly lowered his head, his voice barely audible, "I... was wrong..."

Wen Lingxue felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction, but she still said coldly, "Loudly, I didn't hear you."

Wen Shaobei seemed to be completely defeated, his expression dejected, and his voice bitter, "Lingxue, I was wrong, I hope you won't hold it against me."

The others were all silent, like cicadas in winter.

Seeing all this, Su Yi nodded inwardly.

People need to grow up.

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ps: I noticed that there are many girls leaving comments in the extras section, it feels so prestigious...