Chapter 27

"Grandma," Jing Liyuan said politely. He continued holding on to Yin Xiaoxiao's hand and this simple act of hand-holding comforted her. However, the next words out of his mouth caused the smile to freeze on her face. "I've brought your granddaughter-in-law home."

Jing Liyuan had completely cut off all her routes of escape with those words!

After he announced that she was his, there was no way she could get rid of this title!

The matriarch of the Jing family wore a pair of reading glasses and there was a golden chain attached to the ends of them to prevent her from losing them. Her short, graying hair was styled into curls that gave her a mature look. This friendly woman looked nothing like the formidable Old Madame of the Jing family that Yin Xiaoxiao had imagined her to be.

"Grandma," Yin Xiaoxiao greeted the elderly woman with a polite smile that belied her unease.

The legendary Old Madame of the Jing family was known to be ruthless and a true visionary!

The legendary Old Madame of the Jing family was known to be autocratic and strong-willed!

...

Yin Xiaoxiao knew that a woman like the legendary Old Madame of the Jing family was not one to be trifled with. This was why she immediately regretted her decision when she realized that Jing Liyuan was from the Jing family. She hadn't expected that the Old Madame would welcome her into the family so readily!

"Hello, that's good, good, good," Granny Jing said and quickly walked up to Yin Xiaoxiao. She took Yin Xiaoxiao's hands in hers, her expression inscrutable, and said, "You're gorgeous. I can see why my grandson has fallen for you."

Jing Liyuan wrapped his arm around Yin Xiaoxiao's waist and was about to introduce her formally as his wife when a middle-aged couple walked down the winding spiral staircase. Yin Xiaoxiao noticed that Jing Liyuan's eyes resembled those of the middle-aged couple, so she guessed that they were his parents.

The next moment, she saw Jing Liyuan turn around to greet the middle-aged couple who looked at them from the staircase and said, "Dad, mom, I've brought your daughter-in-law home."

He immediately introduced her as his wife and his voice brooked no room for argument.

He spun her to face his family and introduced her formally for the first time, "Dad, mom, grandma, this is my wife, the eldest young lady of the Yin family, Yin Xiaoxiao."

Silence immediately fell upon the room and Yin Xiaoxiao's breath hitched in her throat due to nervousness but she smiled in spite of the pressure and said gently, "Dad, mom, grandma, hello, I'm Yin Xiaoxiao."

The eldest daughter of the Yin family?

The middle-aged couple and the elderly woman raised their brows and looked speculatively at Yin Xiaoxiao. Yin Xiaoxiao didn't dare to meet their gaze.

The Jing family was nothing like the Yin family. In fact, the Jing family could be likened to an imperial lineage while the Yin family was ordinary in comparison. However, since she was Jing Liyuan's wife, she knew that there was no going back the moment she stepped past the threshold! She was even more aware of this after officially meeting his family!

"The eldest daughter of the Yin family?" Granny Jing asked as she subtly let go of Yin Xiaoxiao's hand after she heard Jing Liyuan's introduction which made Yin Xiaoaxiao even more worried. "Are you Yin Xiaoxiao, the eldest young lady of the Yin family, who is known to be of poor conduct and loose morals?"

Yin Xiaoxiao didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when she heard those words. She wasn't sure if she should be happy or worried that the Jing family was aware of her fabled reputation. This was the perfect example of how good news would never get beyond the gate while bad news would spread far and wide!

Everyone expected Yin Xiaoxiao to come out with a denial or think of an excuse to deflect blame, but no one expected her to acknowledge that it was her in such a calm manner. She was well aware that she had to gain his family's approval if she wanted to marry into the Jing family. Thus, she said, "Yes, that is correct."

She didn't even blush when she said those words and looked up to meet Granny Jing's speculative look. She held herself well and didn't try to shy away from her reputation.

Granny Jing's brows arched slightly and she reached up to adjust her reading glasses.

A barely perceptible look of admiration flickered in her eyes for she was of the opinion that it was better for Jing Liyuan to marry a bold and capable woman rather than a beautiful lady who had nothing but her looks.

"Oh? Are you not going to explain yourself?" Granny Jing asked. She didn't even give Jing Liyuan's parents the chance to interrupt, so they could only stand in a corner after they reached the foot of the staircase. They looked quietly at Yin Xiaoxiao, with clear dissatisfaction in their eyes.

No one, not even an ordinary family, would be willing to welcome a daughter-in-law like Yin Xiaoxiao who had such a bad name into their family, right?

Yin Xiaoxiao smiled and asked, "Granny Jing, you're known to be ruthless and authoritarian, so will you try to explain your actions as well?"

She was so focused on answering Granny Jing's question that she didn't notice the looks of admiration that had appeared on Jing Yuanfeng's and Jing Liyuan's faces. The father and son watched the exchange quietly.

Granny Jing thought for a brief moment before she said, "I don't need to explain myself!"