After Mr. and Mrs. Chen, along with their entourage, were out of sight, the steward of the Chen mansion bowed and respectfully invited the group into the main hall.
The Chen mansion, as expected of the wealthiest family in Fenshui Town, was not only luxurious and spacious but also exquisitely decorated.
With meticulously arranged rock gardens and pavilions, the environment exuded refinement and elegance. Despite being built with immense wealth, it managed to avoid any sense of vulgarity.
Su Muqing had always favored ancient, elegant settings. The Imperial City in Huaxia was a project she had personally overseen based on blueprints. She had initially intended to build a truly ancient city.
However, having lived in modern times for an extended period, she inadvertently incorporated modern elements during the modifications.
The mixed style, while beautiful, somewhat disrupted the pure classical aesthetic.
Fortunately, the overall grandeur and vastness of the Imperial City, stretching for thousands of miles, presented a magnificent spectacle. Otherwise, it would have surely felt jarringly out of place.
As the group settled into the main hall, beautiful maids entered in procession, carrying tea. Even though they were merchants, the servants of the Chen mansion were impeccably trained.
The comely maids maintained a demure demeanor, their gazes fixed on their hands and feet, devoid of the kind of alluring behavior seen in novels or dramas where maids used their beauty to tempt guests.
Before long, Mr. Chen arrived in the hall with hearty laughter. His future son-in-law possessed an excellent physique; lean when clothed, muscular when undressed.
He had personally witnessed Leng Ren remove his upper garment, revealing bulging muscles on his arms and chest that exuded great strength, a sight that filled the slightly plump Mr. Chen with envy.
If not for the concern of causing Leng Ren embarrassment by lingering too long, Mr. Chen would have gladly watched him change his trousers. After all, his beloved daughter's lifelong happiness was at stake. What if he had chosen a handsome but useless partner?
However, he quickly dismissed this thought. His son-in-law's robust build assured him that such a possibility was unlikely. Moreover, he was described by the elder as his daughter's only destined match!
"My apologies for keeping everyone waiting. It is truly my fault!" Mr. Chen said with a smile, politely cupping his hands towards Huo Qiyuan and the others in apology.
Leng Ren's decision to marry, and especially to a woman who had transmigrated from modern times, made Su Muqing genuinely happy for him. The Chen family would be Leng Ren's family from now on, so they naturally treated them with even more courtesy.
"Mr. Chen, you are too kind. Leng Ren is like family to us. Now that he is your son-in-law, we are all family. There's no need for such formality among family."
Su Muqing's words were well-received by Mr. Chen, subtly fostering a closer bond between the two families. "Yes, yes! Young Master Su is absolutely right. We are all family from now on!"
After sipping tea and enjoying some pastries, Chen Wenyi and Leng Ren soon arrived in the main hall from different directions. As they met at the entrance, they were both struck by each other's appearance.
Chen Wenyi was adorned in a white ceremonial gown with exquisite embroidery, a garment typically worn by affluent families when performing ancestral rites during significant events.
The pristine white attire and the solemn atmosphere lent Chen Wenyi an air of maturity, diminishing her usual vivacity.
Although Leng Ren's attire was hastily made, it fit him rather well. He had shed his usual black clothes and donned a male version of the same ceremonial gown as Chen Wenyi.
Against his healthy, sun-kissed complexion, his usual aura of lethality was softened, and the white robe imbued him with a noble, cool demeanor reminiscent of a gentle breeze.
Observing the pair dressed in white, Su Muqing raised an eyebrow and cast a questioning glance at Huo Qiyuan beside her.
Weren't ancient people superstitious about the color white? Especially for auspicious occasions like weddings or birthdays! Or was it that weddings in the capital were unique, featuring white ceremonial attire?
Although Huo Qiyuan had spent considerable time in the military, he was familiar with the rituals of prominent families. He recalled needing to perform ancestral rites upon returning to the capital after a victorious campaign.
However, in noble families, only the legitimate heir or successor typically participated. It was indeed uncommon for a daughter to perform such rites, as was the case with the Chen family. Huo Qiyuan could only recall one instance: his mother, Leng Muran, who had performed rites as the matriarch.
Ordinarily, this segment of the ceremony in large families would be held by the bride's side the day before the wedding. However, the Chen family's situation was peculiar. With no son to inherit their vast estate, they had only a single daughter, and her intended husband was a stranger from a "heavenly marriage."
Although no explicit mention of the groom entering the family was made, for such a family, while the estate was passed to the daughter, it was customary for the wife to follow her husband. In the eyes of others, the future head of the Chen family would likely be this son-in-law.
During the preparation of the ceremonial attire, there had been considerable commotion. Ultimately, Mr. Chen, following Chen Wenyi's suggestion, overruled objections and had the attire prepared for the future son-in-law as well.
Initially, many members of the Chen family strongly opposed this, advocating for them to adopt a son from the clan to inherit the family business and prevent the vast enterprise from falling into other hands.
If the original Chen Wenyi were still present, she would have likely found the elders' proposal reasonable and acting accordingly as a daughter of the Chen family to be her duty. As a woman, she could not inherit the ancestral temple; at least, the Chen family had no precedent for it!
Furthermore, her mother having no son had already subjected her father to much criticism. If she refused to adopt a son, the elders' gossip would have overwhelmed her.
However, the modern Chen Wenyi, who had transmigrated later, was unwilling to comply when she learned of the clan elders' intentions, especially since the original host had foolishly agreed.
Those people were truly shameless. Without contributing any effort, they sought to seize someone else's fortune simply because they had a few unruly sons. Their avarice was palpable.
After much effort, she managed to convince them to hold the bridal bouquet ceremony. Later, Chen Wenyi created a huge uproar at home regarding the adoption matter.
Mr. Chen, doting on his daughter, was at a loss and could only temporarily postpone the adoption issue.
This, however, infringed upon the interests of many. They had believed the matter was settled, and those with sons were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to have their sons adopted into the Chen family.
Although the Chen family was a large clan, only Mr. Chen's lineage was the most prosperous. It could be said that over eighty percent of the Chen family's wealth had been painstakingly accumulated by Mr. Chen's father and Mr. Chen himself.
With her modern mindset, Chen Wenyi, who had managed businesses in her past life, never believed that women were incapable of inheriting family fortunes. Therefore, after learning about the heavenly marriage, she had been telling stories to Mr. Chen, subtly influencing his preconceived notions.
The clan members continued to pressure Mr. Chen every few days, arguing that Chen Wenyi inheriting the family business as a woman violated ancestral laws.
Seeing their persistence and Mr. Chen's hesitation to outright refuse the adoption, Chen Wenyi pondered for a long time and finally devised a brilliant plan!