Wen Family.
When Su Yi returned, he saw a bustling scene outside the Wen Family mansion, with carriages and servants filling the area.
Today was the 80th birthday of the family's matriarch, and the Wen Family had been preparing for this event for several days.
Not only would numerous members of the Wen Family attend, but also many influential figures and dignitaries who had a good relationship with the family would come to offer their birthday wishes.
News of this event had spread throughout the city of Guangling, attracting attention from all directions.
However, Su Yi didn't pay it any mind.
As an unimportant son-in-law, whether he attended or not was destined to be of no concern to anyone.
"Brother-in-law!"
As soon as Su Yi returned, he saw a lively and graceful figure waving at him. A bright and beautiful smile adorned her delicate and lovely face.
Wen Lingxue, a girl in her twenties, exuded purity and beauty.
"Why are you standing here?"
Su Yi smiled.
"Naturally, I was waiting for you."
Wen Lingxue approached and affectionately linked her arm with Su Yi's, her voice tender, "Brother-in-law, my mother said that when you came back, she wanted you to attend the birthday feast as well."
"Me?"
Su Yi was taken aback.
Wen Lingxue explained, "My mother said it was my grandmother's command."
Su Yi narrowed his eyes.
Wen Lingxue's grandmother was Wen Wenbi, the Wen Family's matriarch, a revered old lady with unrivaled status in the family. Even the clan leader, Wen Changjing, dared not defy her orders.
Back then, the marriage between him and Wen Lingzhao was decided by Wen Wenbi herself, regardless of the objections raised by Wen Lingzhao's parents and other clan members. Their opposition was futile!
"Let's go."
Su Yi nodded.
After awakening his memories of his past life, he had also considered finding an opportunity to meet the Wen Family's matriarch and inquire about certain matters from the past.
The Wen Family's magnificent mansion was even more lively and bustling. Guests coming to offer birthday wishes arrived in a continuous stream.
In Guangling City, the Wen Family was one of the three major clans and possessed considerable influence. The current clan leader was Wen Changjing, and he had two younger brothers, Wen Changqing and Wen Changtai.
In addition, the Wen family had several collateral branches that had branched out over the years, and now the entire family, including all its members, numbered in the thousands.
Today, with the gathering of numerous family members and guests, the scene was extraordinary and incomparable.
In the area where the ancestral hall of the clan was located, a sumptuous banquet had already been prepared.
"Lingxue has arrived."
As Su Yi and Wen Lingxue arrived outside the ancestral hall, many young boys and girls who had been waiting there greeted Wen Lingxue.
They were all the younger generation of the Wen family, many of whom were around the same age as Wen Lingxue.
However, when anyone saw Su Yi, their brows furrowed, and they pretended not to see him.
One well-dressed youth spoke displeasedly, "Su Yi, who do you think you are? There's no place for you here. Leave immediately and don't disturb our enjoyment!"
Wen Shaobei.
A handsome young man of the younger generation of the Wen family.
However, he came from a collateral branch of the Wen family and his status was inferior to Wen Lingxue, who belonged to the main branch.
When Wen Shaobei spoke, others followed suit with smiles and agreement.
Throughout this year in the Wen family, Su Yi, as a son-in-law, had always been looked down upon. They regarded him as useless, and even the servants dared to ridicule him.
Wen Lingxue was annoyed and said, "Wen Shaobei, listen carefully. It was my grandmother who ordered my brother-in-law to attend the feast. If you want to drive my brother-in-law away now, are you defying my grandmother?"
"Well..." Wen Shaobei was at a loss for words.
The others also fell silent, realizing they dared not defy the command of the matriarch.
Wen Shaobei tried to act casual and said, "Let's just mind our own business. Let's pretend this guy doesn't exist."
From that moment on, the younger generation of the Wen family formed a small circle, isolating Su Yi and disregarding him completely.
Even Wen Lingxue, who stood by Su Yi's side, was being ignored.
Su Yi naturally didn't care about all this. He called Wen Lingxue aside and whispered, "Lingxue, come to my courtyard after the feast. I have something to give you."
"Ah? What is it?" Wen Lingxue asked curiously.
Su Yi smiled and said, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Just as he said that, a cry sounded out, "Brother Juanyuan from the Jueyuan Hall has arrived!"
Wen Shaobei and the other young boys and girls turned their gazes in that direction.
Even some nearby guests and elders couldn't help but focus their eyes there.
They saw a young man in white robes walking over from a distance. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and his appearance was quite outstanding.
"Wen Juanyuan, the most remarkable young talent of this generation in the Wen family!"
Someone exclaimed with emotion.
"So it's Brother Juanyuan."
Wen Lingxue's pretty face also showed admiration.
Wen Juanyuan, the son of the clan leader, Wen Changjing. He entered the Songyun Sword Mansion for cultivation at the age of nine and became an outer disciple of the Qinghe Sword Mansion at the age of thirteen. In just four years, he was selected as an inner disciple of the Qinghe Sword Mansion.
His cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Blood Moving Realm, the "Bone Refining" level!
Such martial achievements were enough to make some prominent figures in Guangling City sigh with admiration!
Among the younger generation of the Wen family, Wen Juanyuan was like a leader-like presence.
"On Grandma's birthday today, all of you should behave well and not make our Wen family a laughingstock in front of outsiders."
After Wen Juanyuan walked over, he glanced at Wen Lingxue, Wen Shaobei, and the others, and kindly reminded them.
As for Su Yi, he was completely ignored by Wen Juanyuan as well.
"Yes."
Everyone quickly responded.
Wen Juanyuan nodded and didn't say much. He went straight into the ancestral hall and took his seat.
Only the high-ranking elders or the top individuals of the younger generation were qualified to sit in the ancestral hall during this feast!
As for people like Wen Lingxue and Wen Shaobei, they didn't have enough qualifications yet.
This made them look at Wen Juanyuan with a hint of envy, wondering when they would be able to achieve the same level.
"If Sister were here, she would definitely be able to."
Wen Lingxue said with some regret.
No one refuted this statement.
In the present, Wen Lingzhao is a disciple of the Tianyuan Academy!
Just this status alone is enough for her to sit on an equal footing with the prominent figures in the clan.
"From what I know, this birthday feast is not ordinary. It is particularly important for our Wen family," a woman beside Wen Shaobei whispered.
"I've heard from my father that in recent years, there have been rumors circulating in Guangling City that are unfavorable to our Wen family. They say that within ten years, our Wen family will be removed from the ranks of the three major clans in Guangling," another young man mused. "And this birthday feast is meant to address this issue. The more influential figures attending the feast today, the more advantageous it is for our Wen family. The criticisms and rumors in the city will also be dispelled."
Wen Shaobei said, "It all depends on the abilities of Uncle Changjing and Second Uncle Changqing. As for Third Uncle Changtai, heh...," he glanced at Wen Lingxue not far away and didn't continue.
In the main branch of the Wen family, Wen Changjing, as the clan leader, held great power and had a wide network of connections. He had interactions with many distinguished guests.
Wen Changqing was the second elder of the main branch and was in charge of overseeing the various industries under the Wen family. He also had extensive connections.
Only Wen Changtai, despite being the third elder of the main branch, had a mild and mediocre temperament. Moreover, his cultivation was average, and he had very little social interaction. His position in the Wen family was not high.
If he were not the younger brother of Wen Changjing and Wen Changqing, he would probably be even more looked down upon.
Although Wen Shaobei didn't continue his words, how could Wen Lingxue not understand the implication?
Her pretty face darkened. This guy had previously mocked Su Yi, and now he was talking about her father, Wen Changtai. How could she not be angry?
But unfortunately, she couldn't retort.
She knew very well that her father... was indeed somewhat mediocre...
Thinking of this, Wen Lingxue felt a surge of frustration filling her chest, and her mood became heavy.
A big hand gently patted her shoulder, and Su Yi's voice sounded in her ear, "Lingxue, in life, it's inevitable to encounter cold eyes and ridicule. If you're not as strong as others, it's fine to let it go. But if you have the ability to fight back, blindly tolerating and retreating will only fuel the arrogance of others."
After a brief thought, Wen Lingxue took a deep breath and said, "Brother-in-law, I understand."
With that, she stepped forward to Wen Shaobei and said coldly, "Apologize."
The young girl had a cold and icy expression, making Wen Shaobei and the others who were whispering to each other stunned.
"Lingxue, what do you mean by this? We were just chatting casually. How did I offend you?" Wen Shaobei frowned.
At this moment, Wen Lingxue appeared extremely dominant. Her clear eyes locked onto Wen Shaobei like lightning as she spoke slowly and deliberately, "If you don't apologize, I will repeat everything you just said to Uncle Changjing and the others, word for word. I want to see if they will spare you!"
"I..." Wen Shaobei's face changed uncertainly.
The people beside him all closed their mouths and dared not interfere.
In any case, Wen Lingxue was a member of the main branch!
Her father was the third elder of the main branch, the younger brother of Clan Leader Wen Changjing. In terms of status, they, as collateral branch members, couldn't compare at all.
And Wen Lingzhao, her sister, was now a disciple of the Tianyuan Academy, highly valued even by the clan leaders!
In this situation, if Wen Lingxue were to expose the matter, there was no doubt that Wen Shaobei would be the one to suffer.
"I'll say it again. Apologize!"
Seeing Wen Shaobei's changing expression and long silence, Wen Lingxue's demeanor grew even colder. As a sixteen-year-old girl, once she became angry, she exerted immense pressure on others.
Wen Shaobei reluctantly lowered his head, his voice as small as a mosquito, "I... I was wrong..."
Wen Lingxue felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction surging in her heart, but she still maintained a cold tone, "Speak louder, I didn't hear you."
Wen Shaobei seemed utterly defeated, his expression dejected, his voice bitter, "Lingxue, I was wrong. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Looking at the others, they all fell silent.
Observing everything, Su Yi couldn't help but nod silently.
People need to grow up.