A Simple Wedding

It was understandable for others to call Su Yuexi ugly, but that Mei Xiaofang was her own mother made it impossible for Sikong Jing to comprehend.

At this moment, Su Yuexi tugged at his hand and pleaded, "Sikong Jing, please, don't say any more."

"You, you, you..."

Mei Xiaofang's chest heaved with rage, and she suddenly threw a tantrum. "I do think she's ugly! I will call her a jinx, and I will call her a monster! Is that any of your business?"

"Fine, Su Yuexi! You've grown quite capable now, haven't you? You've found yourself a criminal for a husband and now you want to worry me to death, is that it?"

Hearing this, Su Yuexi quickly stood up and said, "Mother, it's not like that, I..."

"Get out of my way! You're going to be the death of me. I don't want to see your ugly face right now." With that, Mei Xiaofang slammed the door and stormed off.

"Mother..." Su Yuexi called out, ready to chase after her.

But just then, a coughing fit rang out—it was the sickly Su Zhenglong.

He said, "Yuexi, don't chase her."

Stopping in her tracks, Su Yuexi asked, "Father, Mother is so angry, will she be alright?"

Su Zhenglong shook his head and chuckled. "Heh, the fact that she didn't hit you proves she's perfectly fine."

He then looked toward Sikong Jing and asked casually, "Ah Jing, I can call you that, right?"

"Don't blame Yuexi's mother. She's mostly worried about my health. Now that she knows Yuexi was nearly beaten to death, she's heartbroken, but she's too stubborn to admit it."

Sikong Jing stood frozen, watching the direction in which Mei Xiaofang had left, and nodded thoughtfully.

Su Zhenglong then gave another instruction: "Yuexi, take Ah Jing to see his room."

Su Yuexi's expression stiffened. She glanced at Sikong Jing subconsciously and gently twisted the corner of her sleeve, looking quite shy.

Thus, Su Yuexi led Sikong Jing to her room, which would also be his room from now on.

It was a dilapidated hut, and the furnishings inside were nothing like what a young lady of the Su Clan should have.

"Is it just as I said? It's not much better than a pigsty, is it?" Su Yuexi asked with a smile, revealing a hint of helplessness.

Sikong Jing looked around and frowned. "The head of the Su Clan is your grandfather, right? It's understandable that he dislikes you for your appearance or for marrying a criminal like me, but why is your father living in such conditions?"

He found it baffling that the head of the Su Clan would treat his own son this way.

"I can't figure out why my grandfather is so heartless either. Perhaps it's because Father no longer has any value."

Su Yuexi's voice carried pain and grievance.

Her family had lived here for ten full years, ever since her father was severely injured and became useless to the Su Clan.

Sikong Jing fell silent, took a deep breath, and said, "I will help you all escape this predicament."

Su Yuexi smiled, not taking his words to heart. Sikong Jing was a disgraced exile; what ability did he have to change their situation?

"I will also restore your appearance," Sikong Jing emphasized.

Su Yuexi stood stunned at his words, then gave a bitter smile. That was even more impossible; she had long since despaired of such a thing.

Sikong Jing said nothing more. This would be the greatest surprise he could give to Su Yuexi.

After a while, a servant came to call them for dinner.

The two returned to the courtyard hall, where, to their surprise, a lavish spread of food and wine was laid out.

Su Zhenglong sat weakly in a large chair, wrapped tightly in layers of clothing. He smiled and said, "Sit down quickly. Your mother prepared this with great care; consider it your wedding feast."

Su Yuexi covered her mouth in disbelief and asked, "Mother, she..."

"Nonsense! I clearly made this to nourish your body. It would just be thrown away if you didn't finish it anyway. This criminal and this monster are just eating the leftovers," Mei Xiaofang said, walking out with a tray, her face cold as she retorted.

Su Zhenglong chuckled and said nothing more.

Sikong Jing gradually felt a sense of relief; it seemed he had misunderstood his mother-in-law, Mei Xiaofang, earlier.

Just as the two were about to sit down, Mei Xiaofang suddenly added, "Wait a moment. Both of you, kneel."

Su Yuexi panicked and asked nervously, "Mother, what did I do wrong this time?"

She then looked at Sikong Jing, fearing that his foul temper would lead him to refuse, which would only cause another argument with her mother.

But to Su Yuexi's utter surprise, Sikong Jing performed an unexpected action: he knelt down.

After her initial shock, Su Yuexi quickly knelt beside him.

"Kowtow to me three times to apologize for offending me," Mei Xiaofang commanded.

Sikong Jing looked at his mother-in-law and found it somewhat amusing.

She was truly too stubborn. This was clearly a wedding ceremony she had prepared for him and Su Yuexi; they were bowing to heaven and earth to become husband and wife.

Having realized Mei Xiaofang's true nature, Sikong Jing certainly did not expose her.

Beside him, Su Yuexi was still dazed. Why had Sikong Jing suddenly changed his tune?

Just as they were about to kowtow, Mei Xiaofang suddenly produced a piece of red cloth and threw it over Su Yuexi's head, grumbling, "You're still ugly even with a veil, use this to cover your face."

Suddenly, Su Yuexi's entire world turned red, and she finally understood... her eyes blurred with tears.

Thud, thud, thud...

After three kowtows, Sikong Jing pulled Su Yuexi to her feet and picked up the wine set out on the table.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please accept this toast; your son-in-law will finish his cup first as a sign of respect."

After drinking the wine with Su Yuexi, this incredibly simple wedding ceremony was complete. Sikong Jing gently lifted the red veil from Su Yuexi's head, only to see tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.

Sikong Jing swore silently in his heart, From this day forward, I, Sikong Jing, will protect her for the rest of my life!

The family of four sat down to eat.

After a while, Mei Xiaofang asked with deep concern, "Husband, it was that old geezer's order that Yuexi live at the pig farm. How do you plan to explain bringing them back like this?"

The "old geezer" she referred to was none other than Su Yuexi's grandfather, Su Xuefeng.

This was no small matter, especially with Su Zhengtao's family stirring up trouble in the middle of it.

After a moment of contemplation, Su Zhenglong said coldly, "I have already decided. If Father insists on blaming us, I will cripple Su Zhengtao."

No sooner had the words left his lips than a man's laughter suddenly drifted in from outside. "Uncle, there is no need to worry. My father has already pleaded with Grandfather on your behalf; he will no longer hold it against Su Yuexi for leaving the pig farm with a criminal."

Su Zhenglong and Mei Xiaofang looked up abruptly and whispered, "Su Yang!"

A man and a woman strode in through the doorway. The woman was Su Yun, and the man was her second older brother, Su Yang.