Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 116: Back To The Mo Residence 2

In front of the big gate of the Mo residence, everyone stood waiting. Grandma Mo sat on a chair nearby, looking tired but calm. Beside her were Madame Mo, Uncle Mo, and Aunt Mo. Not far behind stood Mo Lan, Mo An, Mo Ting, Mo Zen, San Na, and Mo Qing.

Mo Qing leaned closer to her mother, Aunt Mo, and whispered quietly, "Mother, who exactly are we waiting for? I heard it’s Miss Chu Ming. Why do we all have to stand here just because of her?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Aunt Mo sighed softly and replied, "Because Miss Chu Ming is the Emperor’s beloved niece. That’s why she’s being shown such great respect. No one dares make her wait."

Mo Lan, who had been listening, suddenly spoke loudly on purpose so everyone could hear. "So we’re all standing here just to welcome a concubine?" she said with a mocking laugh.

Her voice drew several stares, but she didn’t stop. Turning her eyes toward San Na, she added with a smirk, "Even the main wife is here waiting for a concubine. How pitiful. And her husband isn’t even here to welcome her himself."

The words made the air tense. Some of the servants lowered their heads, afraid to look up.

San Na, however, only smiled calmly. "At least I have the right to stand here as the main wife," she said softly but clearly. "Unlike some people who only know how to talk but hold no real place in the family."

Aunt Mo tried to hide a laugh, while Madame Mo’s lips curved slightly in amusement.

Mo Lan’s face darkened. She glared at San Na but said nothing more. After all, she was indeed just a guest in this family, not married and still living with her parents even when her brother was now the head of the house.

Grandma Mo sighed and shook her head. "You girls never stop arguing," she muttered. "Can’t we at least stay quiet until our guest arrives?"

Just then, a servant came running out from the gate and bowed deeply.

"Miss Chu Ming has arrived!" he announced loudly.

Everyone straightened up at once. Grandma Mo nodded slowly, and the rest of the family followed her as they stepped outside the main gate to welcome her.

Soon, a grand carriage stopped in front of the residence. It was beautifully decorated with gold and red silk, the wheels shining bright. The horses were tall and strong, covered in fine cloth. Behind the carriage followed a long line of servants and guards so many that it almost looked like a small army.

Mo Qing’s eyes widened a little. "She really came in style," she whispered.

A man in fine robes stepped forward, Chu Ming’s personal eunuch. He gave a proud look at everyone before speaking loudly, "The General’s wife has arrived. Please call the General out to welcome his lady."

The family exchanged confused looks.

Mo Ting leaned close to his younger brother, Mo Zen, and whispered, "How can we call Mo Ying when he’s not even here?"

Mo Zen shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea. He left days ago."

The whispers spread among them, everyone quietly wondering what to do. But before anyone could answer, San Na stepped forward. Her face was calm as always, her tone steady but firm.

"The ceremony for a concubine’s entry into the household does not require the husband to be present," she said clearly, looking straight at the eunuch. "We came out to welcome her as a sign of respect to His Majesty, but any other request that goes beyond proper tradition will not be accepted."

The eunuch frowned at her words. He didn’t like her tone but said nothing. Instead, he turned around and went back to the carriage to report to Chu Ming.

Everyone waited in silence. Even the guards stood still, their eyes shifting between the Mo family and the grand carriage.

After a few minutes, the eunuch came down again and bowed slightly. "My lady says she understands," he said stiffly. "Since the General is not present, she will enter without him."

A faint murmur ran through the family members, some relieved, others uneasy. But just when it seemed things would go smoothly, San Na spoke again. Her calm, clear voice cut through the air.

"Since Miss Chu Ming is entering as a concubine," she said, her tone polite but cold, "she will have to enter through the second door, not the main gate. The main gate is reserved for the official wife of the house."

Her words hit everyone like a slap. The servants gasped quietly. Aunt Mo’s eyes went wide, while Mo Lan covered her mouth, trying not to laugh too loudly.

"Finally, some drama is about to take place. I’ve been waiting for this," she whispered with a grin.

The eunuch froze, his face turning red with anger and embarrassment. Even Grandma Mo’s eyes widened slightly at San Na’s boldness.

Mo Ting whispered to Mo Zen, "She actually said it."

San Na stood tall and unbothered, not caring about the rising murmurs around her.

"Sister-in-law really has a huge backbone, Grandmother," Mo An said to Grandma Mo, and they both nodded in unison.

The silence hung heavy in the air as everyone turned toward the carriage. The eunuch’s face darkened, his hands tightening around the small fan he held. For a moment, no one moved even the horses snorted and shuffled impatiently.

Then, the curtain of the carriage slowly lifted. From inside, a soft but proud voice came, "So this is how the Mo family welcomes their new family member?"

Everyone’s heads turned. Chu Ming stepped out, her hand resting gracefully on the eunuch’s arm. She was dressed in a beautiful red and gold dress, her hair pinned with jade and pearls. Her makeup was light but perfect, giving her an air of both grace and pride.

A faint smirk sat on her lips as she looked at San Na. "I see," she said slowly, "the main wife of the Mo family must be quite bold."

San Na didn’t move. Her expression stayed calm. "I’m only following the household rules," she said simply. "The main gate is used only by the head of the family and his legal wife. That’s how it’s always been."

Chu Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Rules," she said with a small laugh. "How funny. I came here on the Emperor’s orders to join this household, yet I am stopped at the gate like some common woman."

Her words made the servants whisper among themselves. Mo Lan, who had been holding back her laughter, stepped forward with an innocent smile. "Sister Chu Ming," she said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "please don’t mind. Our sister-in-law San Na can be a bit too strict sometimes. You know how she is with rules. Even though she’s just the wife, she acts like the Empress herself."

Her tone was full of fake kindness, but her eyes glimmered with amusement. Madame Mo frowned slightly but said nothing.

San Na turned to Mo Lan, her face still calm. "Better to be known for following rules than for breaking them every day," she said softly, "or for speaking where one shouldn’t."

Mo Lan froze, her smile fading.

Chu Ming watched the exchange quietly, her fan flicking open with a soft snap. "It’s fine," she said coldly. "Since the main wife insists, I’ll use the side door. But remember—" her eyes met San Na’s sharply, "—the Emperor’s favor doesn’t fade easily. Let’s see how long your rules can stand."

With that, she turned and began walking toward the second gate, her servants quickly following behind her like a wave.

Everyone stood silent as her group passed by. Even Grandma Mo said nothing for a long moment. Finally, she let out a slow sigh.

"This house is about to get noisy again," Grandma Mo muttered.

Mo An nodded quietly beside her. "I wonder what brother would think. His first wife is calm and smart, the second is sickly, and the third? She’s going to be a troublemaker. I wonder how his fourth will be like." Mo An shook her head.

Chu Ming stepped through the second gate and into the grand courtyard of the Mo residence. Her sharp eyes swept over the place from top to bottom the tall stone walls, the trimmed trees, the wide yard. She paused, her red silk gown brushing against the marble floor as she looked around with a faint smirk.

"So this is the famous Mo residence?" she said loudly, her tone filled with mockery so everyone nearby could hear. "Hmm... smaller than I expected. For a general’s house, it’s quite simple."

A few servants lowered their heads, pretending not to hear, though their faces tightened.

Her personal maid, Lian, quickly nodded and smiled. "Yes, Madam, you’re right. I also thought it would be bigger. It doesn’t even compare to the homes near the palace."

Chu Ming chuckled, her fan snapping open as she looked around again. "Indeed. The Emperor’s niece arrives, and this is what greets her. How humble of them."

Aunt Mo forced a polite smile, keeping her tone calm. "Lady Chu, the General made sure everything was well-prepared for your arrival. Please don’t mind the simplicity—"

Chu Ming cut her off with a wave of her hand. "Enough. Where is the General? Surely he wouldn’t let his wife arrive without greeting her himself. What could possibly be more important than welcoming me?"

The air grew tense. Everyone glanced at one another, unsure how to answer.

Uncle Mo cleared his throat gently. "The General had to attend to urgent matters, Lady Chu. He will return soon."

Chu Ming raised an eyebrow. "Urgent matters?" she repeated, her tone sharp and cold. "How strange. He seemed quite eager when the marriage was arranged. And now, when I arrive, he’s suddenly too busy to appear?"

Silence followed. No one dared to speak until Mo Lan decided to stir the quiet.

She leaned slightly toward her mother but made sure her voice was just loud enough for everyone, especially Chu Ming, to hear. "Maybe he went out to bring home his fourth wife," she said with a sneaky smile.

Chu Ming’s head turned sharply toward her, her smile fading. "Fourth wife?" she asked, her tone slow and icy. "Did I hear that correctly?"

Before anyone could respond, a guard came running through the gate and bowed deeply. "The General has arrived!" he shouted.

But he didn’t come alone.