Refusing to Give Face
Madam Lou put on the airs of a loving mother, eagerly inviting the young couple to eat. She personally set out bowls and chopsticks for them, then, beaming, picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it on Su Li’s plate. "A-Li, it’s the New Year! Let’s not talk about anything unpleasant—just enjoy the meal. This crispy pork was made by my own hands. Hurry and try it!"
Su Li wore an expression of utter indifference. Even Xiao Zetian didn’t bother with them, so she saw no reason to pay Madam Lou any mind.
She couldn’t even be bothered to put on a polite act—after all, her husband always indulged her.
Su Li merely looked at the piece of meat, not even lifting her arm or bothering to pick up her chopsticks.
Madam Lou was furious at Su Li’s blatant disrespect. How dare this country bumpkin openly snub her! As the mother-in-law, she’d personally picked out the dish, yet her lowly daughter-in-law didn’t know how to appreciate it!
But Madam Lou only dared to think these things; on the surface, she didn’t let a hint of dissatisfaction show.
After all, her son was only home today because they’d invited the Emperor. If she offended Su Li and Su Li so much as frowned, Xiao Zetian would surely take her side and leave at once.
If they left, the scheme that the Marquis and Madam Lou had set up today would be for nothing.
So Madam Lou had no choice but to "swallow her pride," ignoring whether Su Li responded or not, and kept piling food onto Su Li’s plate. She looked just like a servant waiting on a young mistress, making Lou Xiaolu lower her head in embarrassment, unable to bear watching her mother stoop so low.
Soon, a mountain of dishes was piled up in front of Su Li, as tall as a little hill.
Unfortunately, Su Li was already full from eating in the carriage, and even felt a bit bloated. She didn’t want a single bite of the food at the Marquis’s residence.
As for Xiao Zetian, he ate very little too, only occasionally taking a sip of wine.
It was supposed to be a joyful family reunion dinner, yet the atmosphere at the table was anything but harmonious.
Marquis Weiyuan was already suppressing his anger. Now, watching his wife, Madam Lou, serve their daughter-in-law like a servant while Su Li arrogantly ignored her and refused to touch the food, he felt utterly humiliated.
Marquis Weiyuan couldn’t hold back any longer. His face darkened as he said, "A-Li, your mother is giving you food—why won’t you eat even a single bite?"
Su Li looked up at Marquis Weiyuan and replied coolly, "She insists on giving me food, but I don’t want to eat, so I won’t. Marquis, are you going to force me to eat?"
"You—!" Marquis Weiyuan was so angry at Su Li’s words that he nearly choked. He was about to scold her when Xiao Zetian, full of affection, looked at Su Li and said, "If my wife doesn’t want to eat, then she doesn’t have to. Don’t force yourself."
Then Xiao Zetian looked at Marquis Weiyuan with a calm expression. "A-Li’s stomach hasn’t been well lately, Father. Please don’t blame her."
With these words, Xiao Zetian made it clear he was taking Su Li’s side: as her husband, he wouldn’t allow anyone to pressure her, not even his own father.
Marquis Weiyuan was so angry that he was practically steaming, but with his son protecting his wife and needing something from him, he dared not offend Su Li and could only swallow his anger.
"Well then, A-Li’s stomach isn’t feeling well. Maybe these dishes aren’t to her taste. Here, have some sweet fermented rice ball soup instead," Madam Lou persisted, still trying to please Su Li. She placed a bowl of the soup in front of Su Li with both hands.
The sweet aroma of the soup wafted up, warm and inviting. Su Li could smell its delicious fragrance, but for some reason, her stomach churned violently. Unable to hold it in, she covered her mouth and rushed out of the room, vomiting loudly in the courtyard.