Chương 11: I Feel So Incredibly Loved!

The atmosphere at the front gates of the Su Clan manor was tense. Everyone important had assembled in the cool evening wind. Clan Leader Su Zhongtian stood at the forefront alongside his wife, Liang Shufen, and their two daughters, Su Luoyang and Su Luoyao. Behind them, First Elder Su Zhongyong, Second Elder Su Jiang, and the rest of the council elders lined up respectfully, accompanied by Head Butler Su Shi and a contingent of elite guards. They were all waiting with bated breath.

The heavy, rhythmic clopping of hooves broke the silence. The luxurious Tang House carriage rolled into the courtyard, its rosewood gleaming under the moonlight, before coming to a smooth, dignified stop right in front of the gathered leadership. Second Elder Su Jiang immediately saw an opportunity to curry favor. He took a hurried step forward, bowing so deeply his back was parallel to the ground.

"Esteemed Executive of the Tang House!" he called out.

"The Su Clan is honored by your visit this evening. Please, tell us how we may serve—""Uh… there seems to be a misunderstanding, Elder," the carriage rider interrupted hesitantly from his perch.

"I am just here on my Mistress's orders to drop off the Young Master of the Su House. That is all." Saying so, the rider hopped down and pulled open the carriage door. Hearing the rider's words, a collective wave of confusion washed over the elders. Young Master of the Su House? The main family only had daughters. First Elder Su Zhongyong had a son, but he certainly didn't warrant the title of 'Young Master'. For a brief second, a certain trash son-in-law's face flashed through everyone's minds.

But they instantly dismissed it.

"Is it Brother-in-law?" Su Luoyao whispered loudly. Liang Shufen was just about to scold her daughter to stay quiet when the impossible happened. A well-polished boot stepped out of the VVIP carriage. Xiao Xuan stepped from the carriage, his handsome figure framed by the moonlight. Wei Tu quickly climbed down behind him, standing at attention like a loyal shadow. Xiao Xuan paused, taking in the sight of the entire clan leadership standing at attention just for him.

He clasped his hands to his chest, his eyes shimmering with an exaggerated emotion.

"Oh, my dear in-laws! You all came out here just to welcome me home? I feel so incredibly loved!" Xiao Xuan declared warmly. Su Luoyao beamed from ear to ear, while the rest of the clan collectively felt their jaws detach from their skulls.

"I will take my leave now, Young Master Xuan," the rider said with a respectful bow. Xiao Xuan nodded graciously.

"Please forward my deepest thanks to Miss Zefei." He stepped forward, gently patting the snout of the stallion pulling the carriage.

"You make sure to be a good boy on the way back, alright?" he cooed, sounding like a mother sending her toddler off to school. The fearsome beast snorted and neighed in happy agreement, leaning into his hand. The crowd was stunned. First, the Tang House VIP treatment. Now, taming a high-tier spirit beast like a domestic puppy? Su Luoyang, however, was frozen for a different reason. Her icy gaze narrowed as she latched onto a very specific detail. Miss Zefei?

Who exactly is this 'Miss Zefei,' and what was Xiao Xuan's relation with her? As the carriage finally rolled out of the gates, the silence was shattered by Su Zhongtian.

"What is the meaning of this, Xiao Xuan? Explain yourself!" the Clan Leader demanded, his authoritative voice echoing through the courtyard. The other elders nodded furiously. Before Xiao Xuan could even open his mouth, Wei Tu stepped forward, clasping his hands in a respectful bow.

"Allow me to explain, Patriarch!" With the dramatic flair of a veteran soldier, Wei Tu recounted the entire afternoon. He explained how they were mocked by the Gu clan's Young Master without a carriage. He described the rampage of the blood-red beast, how the marketplace erupted into chaos, and how Gu Tianqi had cowardly watched from a distance. Then, he loudly detailed how Xiao Xuan had fearlessly stood his ground, instantly subduing the beast with a mere raise of his hand.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. He finished by dropping the ultimate bombshell: the beast belonged to Tang Zefei, the new manager of the Tang Auction House, who had personally thanked Xiao Xuan, gifted him a VVIP invitation to the upcoming grand auction, and ordered her personal carriage to escort him home.

"Impossible! This is nonsense!" Second Elder Su Jiang blurted out, his face pale.

"How can a mortal with no cultivation stop a frenzied spirit beast? This is a blatant, fabricated lie!"

"How can this be fabricated when the Tang Clan's carriage dropped him off before our very eyes just moments ago, Elder?" Su Luoyang sneered.

"It's true!" Su Luoyao chimed in cheerfully from the sidelines.

"He even tamed Chubby the same way last night! I had given Chubby a direct order to bite him, but the beast ignored me and started acting all friendly with Brother-in-law!" The elders gasped, staring at the young boy. Was this uncultivated trash hiding a supreme beast-taming physique? But the main family, Su Zhongtian, Liang Shufen, and Su Luoyang turned their heads toward the youngest daughter. Why exactly had Su Luoyao ordered her pet to attack Xiao Xuan in the first place?

Su Luoyao was still laughing proudly at her brother-in-law's achievements. Liang Shufen was the first to act. She had been sitting on a mountain of pent-up fury toward the branch family all afternoon, and she was not letting this golden opportunity slip by.

"Xiao Xuan has done a magnificent service today," Liang Shufen declared, her voice slicing through the courtyard like a frozen blade.

"He has established a direct, favorable connection with the Tang Auction House, and he has shown undeniable martial spirit by subduing a frenzied beast to protect civilians. He is a hero of the Su Clan." She slowly turned her lethal glare toward Second Elder Su Jiang.

"He was judged unfairly this afternoon over his past shortcomings. The council's trial was biased, wholly disregarding his status as a direct son-in-law simply because he lacked traditional cultivation. The martial world favors the strong, yes, but a warrior's character is just as vital. Xiao Xuan's trial is officially ruled as baseless." The courtyard was dead silent. No one dared to breathe under the matriarch's crushing logic. Su Zhongtian stepped up beside his wife, his massive frame towering over the assembly.

"What do you think, Zhongyong?" he asked coldly. First Elder Su Zhongyong swallowed hard, forcing a tight, humble smile.

"Xiao Xuan was indeed judged wrongly. No punishment is warranted. The matter is dismissed."

"There is still the matter of a mere carriage guard abusing the Su Clan's direct son-in-law and further putting him in a humiliating position in front of a rival clan," Su Luoyang interjected, her cold, crystalline voice ringing out. Way in the back by the gates, Guard Li began sweating profusely, his knees knocking together. Su Zhongtian's eyes darkened. Boom. A suffocating pressure erupted from his body.

He was a mighty Qi Huang (Qi Emperor), and earlier today, the branch family's political maneuvering had tied his hands. But right now? He had all the ammunition he needed.

"Arrest Li Tiebin!" Su Zhongtian roared, his voice shaking the cobblestones.

"Throw him in the dungeons! He shall be punished with a thousand whips and permanently demoted to serve as a night watchman at our farthest border outpost! Furthermore, strip twelve months of his cultivation stipend! If he dares to resist, execute him on the spot for treason!" Thud. Guard Li's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fainted out of terror, collapsing onto the stone tiles. The branch elders who had supported him earlier all hurriedly looked away, flinching under the Patriarch's oppressive aura.

The main family: Liang Shufen, Su Luoyang, and even Su Luoyao, all wore matching, highly satisfied smirks. Hidden among the cluster of personal servants standing near the manor doors, Xinyue was shocked to her core. Just hours ago, she had been secretly celebrating, certain that Xiao Xuan would be severely punished in front of the whole clan. But the tides had turned.

Watching the mighty Patriarch casually destroy a cultivating guard's entire life just to avenge his mortal son-in-law's honor, all the blood drained from Xinyue's face. Standing quietly near the carriage tracks, Xiao Xuan stared at the scene in stupor. He hadn't even fully understood the political trial they were having. Yet, as his brain quickly connected the dots, a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through his chest. He let out a long, satisfied sigh.

"Everyone can disperse now," Su Zhongtian commanded, his aura settling back down.

"Xiao Xuan, you go to your chambers and rest. We will talk tomorrow."

"As you say, Father." Xiao Xuan clasped his hands respectfully and turned to leave. Su Luoyang also decided to retreat to her chambers, falling into step beside him. Su Luoyao eagerly tried to follow her brother-in-law to celebrate, but a stern hand from her mother clamped down on her shoulder, pulling her back. Uh oh! Luoyao gulped. As they strolled away from the chaotic courtyard and headed toward their private quarters, Su Luoyang finally spoke.

"So… what exactly did you and Miss Zefei talk about?" she asked, her voice casually indifferent. Xiao Xuan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh? Is that a hint of jealousy I sense?" he teased.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" she replied, her face an unreadable mask.

"As I've said before, I cannot fulfill my traditional duties as a wife to you. If you wish to take in a concubine, I have no objections. It is the least I can allow." Ouch. That stings. Looking at her perfectly straight posture, Xiao Xuan decided to test her.

"Oh! Well, in that case, I can safely tell you that she totally flirted with me at her manor! In fact, the Tang House members mistook us for husband and wife when we first arrived at the manor in her carriage." Xiao Xuan said, putting on a cheerful expression. Su Luoyang's footsteps halted for a fraction of a second. They had just reached the entrance to their chambers. Her face still didn't leak a single speck of emotion, but the temperature in the corridor seemed to drop a few degrees.

"Your relation with the Tang House Manager will definitely come in handy. You did well today," she finally said, her voice slightly clipped.

"You should rest now." Without another word, she turned and strode into her room. Just before she shut the door behind her, Xiao Xuan yelled in amusement.

"Don't worry, my love! I absolutely won't cheat on you!" He didn't know what was going through her mind. But he knew one thing for sure. I am definitely going to melt that ice someday.