Meeting Her 'Mother-in-law'.

Meng Xi sauntered down the hallway, she could not help but notice every of art on the wall, she had to admit that the man had a good taste in paintings when her gaze fell on a popular but expensive painting from the Tang dynasty.

The painting was the masterpiece of a famous painter, it was a scene from a mountainous landscape accompanied by the evening afterglow. The flowers and butterflies surrounding the meadow in the painting were made so realistic and life-like.

Meng Xi's lips curled up a bit as she looked away. Just as she raised her leg to continue walking, her stomach grumbled and she blinked.

Ah!

She looked down as realization donned on her that she had bit eaten since the day before. She was quite hungry this time, she quickened her steps and hurried towards the dining hall.

"Where are you hiding her?!"

Just as Meng Xi arrived in the dining hall, she heard a demanding voice say, she froze and lifted her face.

Sitting at the head of the table was Lu Jingze, he appeared just as natural and cool as usual only that a slight hint of frustration and helplessness was spread on his face. His smooth brows twitched and arched.

Meng Xi's brow raised and formed a perfect question mark. Her eyes lingered further into the room until she saw an elderly woman sitting beside Lu Jingze, the woman's back was facing her so she could not tell who she was but, she had a hunch.

As though Lu Jingze had noticed her presence, he raised his head and their eyes met, Meng Xi stopped and pursed her lips. She was trying to decide in her heart if she should stay or leave. The decision was just too hard to make at the moment.

In the end, Meng Xi decided to walk over. Her stomach matters after all. She had almost reached the table when the woman's voice reached her ears again.

"Jing, I am asking you, how much more are you hiding from us? Let me tell you, you cannot hide this time. You must show her to me else, I will not leave today!" The woman threatened.

Meng Xi's lips twitched when she heard the woman's threat, if she guessed right, the 'her' the woman talked about was probably referring to her, right?

She took the initiative and walked to Lu Jingze's side, she looked at the woman and bowed politely.

"Hello, good morning..." she greeted and her voice trailed halfway through, she had no idea how to address the woman so she looked at Lu Jingze for clues.

Meeting her curious gaze, Lu Jingze's lips lifted and were covered with mirth, he shifted his gaze and looked at the woman.

"This is her, mother" He parted his lips and said, "your daughter-in-law has acknowledged you" he added to the woman who was now staring at Meng Xi in a daze.

"You... you are my daughter-in-law?" Madam Lu stuttered as she looked closely at Meng Xi, she looked at her from head to toe until her eyes lingered on her face.

Being stared at like that, Meng Xi was flustered, a pink shade crept to her face and she looked down. Not knowing how to answer the woman, she nodded. She had not expected to meet her 'mother-in-law' so soon. She was in a bit of a dilemma.

"Ah! You are so bad, you have a beautiful girl like this beside you and you have hidden her from us! We all thought that you were... forget it, forget it, this one is good! But, you are still as stingy as ever! You should have told us about this earlier so that your grandma will stop nagging. Just look at you, you were so angry with us that you refused to visit the old house, the old folks have been so worried about you! Now, you even got yourself a wife and refused to tell us!" Madam Lu ranted.

Lu Jingze leaned back in his chair and pinched the space between his brows.

"Speak less, mother" he uttered.

Madam Lu rolled her eyes and looked away from Lu Jingze.

"Aiyoo! Child, come here let me take a good look at you" Madam Lu turned to Meng Xi and voiced with eagerness.

Meng Xi found herself in a tough and unusual situation, nonetheless, she nodded calmly and took a step closer to the woman.

"You are so good-looking, tell me, what is your name?" Madam Lu inquired.

"Meng Xi" She answered politely.

"Ah! A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. You must be from the Meng family. Why do I recall that the young lady of the Meng family is a bit older? Does the Meng family have another lady?" Madam Lu expressed, her voice carrying a tinge of bewilderment.

"Mom..." Lu Jingze called abruptly and gave his mother a look. He didn't want his mother to go too far digging up information from Meng Xi.

Meng Xi did not seem to mind this, she smiled lightly and gazed at the elderly woman, she parted her lips and started speaking.

"I am indeed from the Meng family, the other lady, she is my..." Meng Xi dropped her lashes and paused before continuing. "Sister" she added softly. Her emotions were deeply contained in her soft voice.

"Ah... I see, I see... whichever family you are from, we don't mind at all. As long as you are fine married to our Lu family. If this boy ever wronged you, don't hesitate to come to the old mansion and report him. The old folks will definitely deal with him. You must also try to return to the old house with him soon, you guys are married already when without us knowing, you must try to visit us so that the elders can acknowledge you into the family." She said and then turned away from Meng Xi.

"And you, the old ones have been missing you since you left. Come back and bring your wife back home. Come and introduce your wife to the family properly. Your father too is waiting for you. Xiao Xi, come over and sit beside me!" Madam Lu finished speaking to Lu Jingze, she tugged at Meng Xi's arm and urged her to sit down.

Meng Xi's lips twitched, the woman called her 'Xiao Xi' so naturally!

"Yes," She answered with a smile. She naturally sat beside the woman who smiled back at her happily. It was obvious that Madam Lu was pleased with Meng Xi even without her doing anything and Meng Xi also felt an unfamiliar warmth from the woman, it reminded her of Jiang Li.

Her mother...