Jiang Yuxi stepped out of the sleek black car, her gaze landing on the elegant tea house before her. The architecture was delicate yet imposing, a place reserved for the wealthiest and most influential women in the city. This was her first time attending such an event as Madam Gu's daughter-in-law, and she knew every move she made today would be scrutinized.
Madam Gu and Jiang Roulan led the way, their presence exuding confidence as they ascended the steps. Yuxi followed a step behind them, already feeling the subtle power dynamic being established. She wasn't being introduced as an equal but as an afterthought, a woman who had married into wealth rather than been born into it.
The doors were opened by uniformed attendants, and as soon as they entered, a hush fell over the room. The women seated around the lavishly decorated tables turned to observe them, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright disdain.
Yuxi's fingers curled slightly. She had expected this.
"Madame Gu, Miss Roulan, welcome," the host, Madame Xu, greeted them warmly before barely sparing Yuxi a glance. "And you must be… the new daughter-in-law?"
The word daughter-in-law carried a heavy implication, as though Yuxi had somehow stolen her place rather than rightfully earned it.
Yuxi smiled politely. "Jiang Yuxi. It's a pleasure."
Madame Xu gave a thin smile in return but said nothing more. Instead, she turned back to Madam Gu and gestured for them to take their seats. Yuxi quickly noticed that her assigned seat was at the farthest end of the table, away from Madam Gu and the central figures of the group. Jiang Roulan, on the other hand, was seated beside Madam Gu, her expression smug as she elegantly folded her hands on the table.
Yuxi's heart tightened, but she refused to let her discomfort show.
The tea party proceeded with polite conversation, the women discussing high society events, luxury fashion, and charity galas. Yuxi remained mostly ignored, her presence acknowledged only when necessary.
Then, Lady Zhao, a sharp-eyed woman in her late forties, suddenly turned to her.
"Madam Gu, your new daughter-in-law must have refined taste," she said smoothly. "Tell me, Madam Jiang, which designers do you favor?"
It was a trap.
Yuxi knew they expected her to fumble, to prove that she was an outsider.
She placed her teacup down calmly. "It depends on the occasion," she replied. "For formal events, I prefer something timeless—perhaps a custom piece from Shen Liyu's latest collection. But for everyday elegance, Jiayi's seasonal line is quite versatile."
A flicker of surprise passed over Lady Zhao's face.
Jiang Roulan quickly leaned forward, laughing softly. "Oh? I didn't know you were such a connoisseur of fashion, sister. That's new."
The implication was clear—Yuxi was only pretending to know about these things after marrying Gu Zeyan.
Yuxi met her gaze with a slight smile. "One must always continue learning, don't you think?"
Jiang Roulan's smirk faltered slightly, but before she could respond, another woman chuckled. "I see the young Madam has some knowledge after all."
Yuxi didn't miss the amusement in the woman's voice—it was a test, and though she had passed, she was still being treated as an amusing novelty.
Just as Yuxi thought she had maneuvered through the conversation, Lady Liu, another member of the social circle, suddenly leaned forward with a gasp.
"Oh my! I'm so clumsy."
Tea splashed onto Yuxi's expensive dress, dark stains spreading across the delicate fabric. Gasps echoed around the table, and Lady Liu covered her mouth in false distress.
"I hope that fabric isn't ruined," she said sweetly. "It must be difficult when you're not used to wearing high-end clothing."
Jiang Roulan covered her smirk with a hand, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Yuxi glanced down at her dress, then back up, her expression unreadable. She reached for a napkin and calmly dabbed at the stain.
"It's fine," she said lightly. "Quality fabric won't stain so easily."
A few women exchanged glances. They had expected her to panic or lash out, but her composed reaction left them without further ammunition.
Lady Liu let out an awkward laugh, realizing her attempt at humiliation had failed.
Madam Gu, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Since the tea has been spilled, we should get fresh cups."
Her tone was neutral, neither condemning nor defending Yuxi.
Jiang Roulan, however, leaned closer to Yuxi and whispered, "Enjoying your welcome into high society, dear sister?"
Yuxi met her gaze evenly. "Immensely."
As the tea party continued, Yuxi noticed that one woman, in particular, was watching her with interest.
Lady Song, a well-respected socialite known for her sharp wit and influence, had remained silent throughout most of the gathering. Now, she finally addressed Yuxi directly.
"You handled that quite well," she remarked. "Tell me, Madam Gu's daughter-in-law, what is your opinion on the upcoming charity event?"
The question was different from the others—it wasn't designed to trap her but to test her intelligence.
Yuxi straightened slightly. "Charity events should be about more than just appearances," she said. "I believe focusing on long-term initiatives rather than one-time donations would be more impactful."
Lady Song's lips curved slightly, as though pleased by the answer.
"You're an interesting one," she mused.
Madam Gu glanced at Lady Song, her expression unreadable.
Just as the tea party was winding down, Jiang Roulan made her final move.
With a sweet smile, Jiang Roulan said, "By the way, ladies, did you know my elder sister was disowned by our father?"
A murmur of interest swept through the group.
Yuxi remained still, keeping her expression neutral.
Jiang Roulan sighed dramatically. "It must have been a terrible mistake for Father to take such drastic action. A daughter cast aside from her own home… What a pity."
Gasps and quiet laughter spread among the women, the intended humiliation clear.
Yuxi let the moment hang in the air before she responded.
"That's an interesting claim, sister," she said smoothly. "You seem to know a lot about our family's affairs. Would you like me to share what I know about you?"
Jiang Roulan's smirk faltered slightly, her face paling as the implication settled over the group.
Yuxi continued, her voice steady but sharp. "Of course, I wouldn't want to say anything inappropriate at such a respectable gathering."
Jiang Roulan's face paled slightly.
Yuxi continued, her voice calm. "I wouldn't want to say anything inappropriate at such a respectable gathering."
A few women exchanged glances, sensing the shift in power. Jiang Roulan had tried to humiliate her, but Yuxi had turned the tables with a single implication.
As the party ended, Madam Gu walked ahead, her expression unreadable.
Finally, she spoke. "You didn't embarrass me, but you didn't impress me either."
Yuxi said nothing, but she noticed Lady Song watching her with interest.
As they reached the car, Jiang Roulan whispered, "You may have gotten lucky today, but this is far from over."
Yuxi smiled faintly. "Then I'll just have to keep winning."
And with that, she stepped into the car, knowing that today had been just the beginning.