The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

"I'm coming." I took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in my heart. Zhan Yu stood at the door, wearing a well-tailored black suit, which made his face look even more handsome. Feeling my gaze, he smiled slightly, and his eyes seemed to twinkle with stars.

I turned my head to avoid his gaze, suppressed the strange feeling in my heart, and said, "Let's go."

Zhan Yu didn't say anything, but just gently took my hand and led me downstairs.

As soon as I got downstairs, I saw Granny Sun sitting in the living room, teacup in hand, her eyes fixed on me, as if she wanted to bore holes into me. I walked past her without even glancing at her, pretending not to notice the scrutiny in her eyes.

"You're dressed up so flashy, aren't you afraid of attracting other people's attention?" Grandma Sun's sarcastic voice came from behind, her tone full of disdain and warning.

I paused, my grip on Zhan Yu's hand subconsciously tightening. Zhan Yu took my hand in his, squeezed it gently, and told me to ignore it. I took a deep breath and continued walking forward, not looking back.

Arriving at the ball, I finally understood what Grandma Sun meant. In the magnificent hall, elegantly dressed people, clinking glasses, and nearly everyone's gaze was scrutinizing and inquiring. I felt like a little white rabbit straying into a pack of wolves, lost and bewildered.

"Don't be nervous, I'll take care of everything." Zhan Yu whispered in my ear, his voice gentle and reassuring.

I gave him a grateful look and tried to relax.

The dance soon began. Melodic music filled the air, and couples danced gracefully. Zhan Yu took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. His steps were steady and graceful, and he spun me around like the only two people in the world.

After the dance, I was just looking for an excuse to rest when I saw several elegantly dressed ladies approaching us. The one walking in front was a tall, elegant woman with a proper smile on her face. She walked straight up to Zhan Yu, extended her hand, and said, "Mr. Zhan, long time no see."

I recognized her; she was Mrs. Wang, a socialite and said to be very influential in the social circle. I silently stepped back, giving them space.

"Mrs. Wang, nice to meet you." Zhan Yu shook hands with her politely, but there was not much enthusiasm on his face.

Mrs. Wang didn't seem to notice Zhan Yu's indifference and continued, "Mr. Zhan, it's been a while since I've seen you take your wife out for social events. This is..."

As she spoke, her eyes fell on me, and a subtle glint of contempt flashed in them. Mrs. Wang's gaze was like a sharp knife, scrutinizing me, making me feel uncomfortable. I tried to keep a smile and nodded slightly. Zhan Yu introduced calmly, "This is my wife, surnamed Bai."

The simple phrase "Surname Bai"—no mention of my given name or my family background—immediately made me feel like a nameless appendage. Mrs. Wang smiled knowingly, a smile that clearly etched with contempt, "So you're from a humble background."

I suppressed my displeasure and nodded to several prominent ladies nearby, hoping to get to know them. However, they simply glanced at me and continued chatting and laughing with the people around them, as if I were an insignificant passerby. I knew that the rumors about my willfulness and unruliness had already taken root in their minds, and changing their minds would be difficult.

Just when I felt isolated and helpless, I suddenly heard a whisper. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw Grandma Sun surrounded by a group of noble ladies. She was talking animatedly, occasionally giggling, her eyes glancing in my direction intentionally or unintentionally.

My heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding washing over me. Sure enough, before long, the way people looked at me changed. The initial curiosity and scrutiny gave way to contempt and ridicule. Some even pointed and whispered at me.

I suppressed my anger, walked over to Grandma Sun, and asked in a low voice, "What are you talking about?"

When Granny Sun saw me, instead of calming down, she became even more arrogant. She glanced at me and said in a sarcastic tone, "Hey, isn't this Madam Zhan? What? Are you afraid that I'll say something bad about you?"

I took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the urge to tear her mouth apart, and said coldly, "I'm warning you, you'd better keep your mouth shut, otherwise..."

"What else?" Granny Sun looked at me provocatively, her eyes full of malice. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you married into the Zhan family. You are just..."

Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by a deep voice: "What are you talking about? Why is it so lively?"

I turned around and saw it was… I turned around and saw it was Zhan Yu. He had stood at the edge of the crowd without me noticing. His deep gaze swept across the room, finally landing on me, a playful smile playing on his lips.

Granny Sun was clearly startled by Zhan Yu's sudden appearance. Her previously arrogant demeanor suddenly softened, and she stammered, unable to utter a single word. Seeing this, the other noble ladies around her also shut up, their faces filled with embarrassment and guilt.

"My wife is new here and doesn't know the rules. Aunts and grandmothers, please bear with me." Zhan Yu said, holding my shoulders and leading me away from the troubled place, "Let's go sit over there."

I glanced at him gratefully, but he looked nonchalant, as if his rescue was a simple task. I felt a mixture of emotions. Could it be that he really, as the rumors said, ignored me?

Zhan Yu took me to a secluded corner beside the dance floor, where a middle-aged man with extraordinary demeanor was sitting, tasting red wine alone.

"Ms. Bai, this is Mr. Lu from the Lu Group." After a brief introduction, Zhan Yu said no more, as if he was just fulfilling the basic obligations of a husband.

I suppressed my disappointment and took the initiative to greet Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu nodded slightly, his eyes lingering on me for a few seconds, a bit of scrutiny.

I knew it wouldn't be easy to change other people's opinions of me in a short period of time, so I decided to put aside the hypocritical politeness and get straight to the point.

"I've heard for a long time that Mr. Lu has a unique vision and has invested in many emerging industries. I've also been studying the field of artificial intelligence recently. I wonder what Mr. Lu thinks of this industry?" I asked straight to the point.

Mr. Lu was obviously a little surprised by my opening remarks. He raised his eyebrows and asked with interest, "Oh? Miss Bai is also interested in artificial intelligence?"

I smiled and recounted my recent observations and reflections on the AI ​​industry. I didn't try to conform to Mr. Lu's views, but rather offered my own unique insights, even pointing out the shortcomings of some popular projects.

My candor and confidence gradually piqued Mr. Lu's interest. He put down his glass and listened intently to my analysis. Our conversation ranged from AI's application scenarios to future development trends, from the domestic and international market landscape to core technological breakthroughs. Before we knew it, our initial pleasantries had escalated into a lively conversation.

At this moment, the lights in the center of the dance floor suddenly dimmed, and the spotlight shone on a woman in a red dress. She held a microphone and announced that tonight's dance party would have a special segment - a talent show.

"To liven up the atmosphere, we've specially prepared some small games. We hope everyone will actively participate." The woman in red said, her eyes sweeping across the room, finally landing on me. "I heard that Madam Zhan is very talented. Why don't you perform for us first?"

I sneered inwardly, thinking someone was deliberately trying to embarrass me. I looked around and saw Mrs. Wang and Granny Sun sitting in the crowd, grins of glee on their faces.

I took a deep breath and was about to refuse when I heard the woman in red continue, "To increase the difficulty, we have prepared a special prop..."

She clapped her hands, and two waiters came up carrying a tray covered with a red cloth. When the red cloth was lifted, my pupils suddenly constricted—on the tray, there was actually a set...

"This is a Qing Dynasty imperial headpiece with kingfisher feathers. It's exquisitely crafted and priceless. I hope Madam Zhan can use it to complete your performance." The woman in red smiled at me, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't know how to use it. Just think of it as a display of your dowry."

Everyone was in an uproar, their eyes fixed on me, filled with curiosity, anticipation, and... a hint of ridicule. I knew that if I didn't show some real skill today, I would have a hard time leaving this banquet hall.

I slowly walked to the tray, my eyes falling on the exquisite kingfisher feather headdress...

The cool, delicate touch of the kingfisher feathers, the craftsmanship so exquisite, would be enough to evoke a moment of admiration even in a museum. I took a deep breath, memories of ancient rituals from my family's annals emerging in my mind. My fingertips lightly touched the exquisite headdress, a feeling that spanned centuries.

"This kingfisher feather headdress is exquisitely crafted and made from precious materials. It's truly a rare treasure." I spoke in a steady tone, my gaze sweeping across the room before settling on the woman in red. "However, this isn't a prop for performance; it's a symbol of family heritage."

I picked up the kingfisher feather headpiece and slowly placed it on my head. Every movement was imbued with a sense of ritual, as if I were performing a sacred ceremony. "The beauty of kingfisher feather headpieces lies in the exquisite craftsmanship, but even more so in the historical and cultural heritage behind them. Although I am not talented, I know that such treasures should be respected, not carelessly desecrated."

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the banquet hall. The whispers gradually quieted down, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.

"Well said!" a deep voice boomed from the crowd. I turned and saw it was Zhan Yu. He had walked to the center of the crowd without me noticing. His deep gaze swept across the room, finally landing on me, a smile of approval playing on his lips.

"My wife is right. The kingfisher feather headdress is a symbol of the family and shouldn't be used as a tool for entertainment." Zhan Yu said, walking over to me and gently holding my hand. "We are sorry that our Zhan family didn't entertain you well tonight. We've made you all laugh."

His words were resounding and carried an undeniable authority. Mrs. Wang and Granny Sun looked grim, but dared not say anything more. The woman in red was even more embarrassed, and could only hastily end the farce.

Zhan Yu's defense warmed my heart. This was the first time he had publicly expressed his support for me. Although I knew that this was partly to save the Zhan family's reputation, at least he didn't let me face the difficulties alone.

After the dance, I returned to my room and found my mother-in-law sitting in the living room with a sullen face.

"Your performance tonight really opened my eyes!" The mother-in-law said in a cold tone, her eyes full of anger. "Who do you think you are to teach me a lesson?"

"I'm just telling the truth," I replied calmly. "The kingfisher feather headpiece is a symbol of the family and shouldn't be desecrated."

"You..." The mother-in-law was shaking with anger. "Are you blaming me? Don't forget, you are the daughter-in-law of the Zhan family now, and you should abide by the rules of the Zhan family!"

"I know I'm the daughter-in-law of the Zhan family, but I'm also the daughter of the Bai family. I have my dignity and my bottom line." I fought back without showing any weakness, "I married into the Zhan family to shoulder responsibilities with Zhan Yu, not to be manipulated by others!"

"You..." My mother-in-law was so angry that she was speechless. She pointed at me with a trembling finger, "Okay, very good! I want to see how long you can keep your stubbornness!"

I took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in my heart, turned around and prepared to leave.

"Stop!" Grandma suddenly called me. "Tomorrow morning, come to the study to see me!"

I paused, said nothing, and walked straight out of the living room. I knew this was just the beginning... The next morning, feeling apprehensive, I knocked on the study door...