After Wei Changying had a bath, she walked into the inner room and found that Shen Cangfeng had not been here. She guessed that he might still have a bath.

It was a busy day for her. She was tired now. Touching her hair, she found it a little wet. However, it would not wet the quilt, so she ordered Mrs. Huang and maids to make the bed. After letting them leave the room, Wei Changying directly went to sleep.

When she fell asleep, she sensed that the quilt on her was put aside. Someone bent over her. She mumbled a few unknown words and then was kissed.

The following steps were natural. When she was thrust, she was uncomfortable and awoken suddenly, in shock. After she opened her eyes, she found that Shen Cangfeng who was naked lay on her. What was more, her clothes were all taken off and crumpled beside her.

Shen Cangfeng noticed that Wei Changying had lightly groaned. He raised his head, kissed her on the face, chuckling, and said, “Hug me more tightly.”

The hook of the tent was slightly shaken. Outside the window, raindrops beat the iron horses. The noise in the room was covered by the clatter of summer raindrops outside.

After sex, Shen Cangfeng kissed Wei Changying on the neck for a long time. When he found that Wei Changying had been tired, he got up and ordered servants. As he sat on the bed edge, Wei Changying saw crossed and visible scratches on his back. Although being cleaned, wounds were still bloody. Some of them even festered. In particular, there were bruises around the teeth marks on his shoulder.

Wei Changying always wanted to domesticate her husband, but now she was stunned by the serious wounds. She asked, “Why don’t you apply the ointment?” If he had applied it, the wounds would have begun to scab. Now, it was obvious that the wounds had not been cured in time so that they became worse.

“It will be fine two days later.” Shen Cangfeng picked up her clothes beside the bed and wore them. Back to Wei Changying, he said in a casual tone, but his face was crafty. According to her words, he knew that his wife had been reluctant to see his pain.

As he expected, when he was about to stand up, Wei Changying unconsciously pulled his sleeves. Shen Cangfeng deliberately asked, “What’s up?”

Biting her lip, Wei Changying said, “You had better dab the ointment. Your bloody clothes are sticking to your body. If you took off them, you would feel the pain.” She remembered that Mrs. Huang had told her that the ointment had a strong smell. Shen Cangfeng had many wounds. If he had applied the ointment, people close to him would have scented it. If so, people would have laughed at him that after the wedding night, he had used the ointment, no matter where he had done.

Wei Changying was sure to be gossiped by people. What was more, people would have laughed at her in a sharper tone. Wei Changying thought that the reason why Shen Cangfeng had not rubbed the ointment was that he did not want to be sneered or he considered for her.

Shen Cangfeng thought in mind, “If I directly agreed with your suggestion, I would be a fool.” Therefore, he smiled and said, “It is nothing serious.”

However, when he turned around his head, he unconsciously frowned. It seemed that he had borne the painful and festered wounds. Of course, this scene should be caught by Wei Changying.

Wei Changying stared at the bloody clothes on his back and bit her lip. Her following words were expected by Shen Cangfeng, “Where do you place the ointment grannies have offered? Fetch it and I will dab it for you.”

The light green ointment void of medical smell made Shen Cangfeng feel cool. Wei Changying did not rub the ointment softly. Her action was so awkward that her fingers pressed the wounds from time to time. Shen Cangfeng had gotten injured for many times since childhood, so he did not care about it. When he knew that his wife’s soft fingers had softly rubbed his back, he could not help curling his lip and said gently, “Thank you.”

A few minutes later, Wei Changying did not apply the ointment on all his wounds. Now she realized that how violent she was at that night. Her feelings were complicated now. She felt guilty but did not want to recognize it. Therefore, she was silent.

Shen Cangfeng guessed her feelings and wanted to tease her again. However, when he thought that she would greet mom tomorrow, he feared that she would be exhausted if they stayed up late. So, Shen Cangfeng said nothing.

There was a silence. Wei Changying finished applying the ointment and said, “You are supposed not to sleep on your back in case the ointment would stain the quilt.”

As she finished her words, Shen Cangfeng glimpsed at her with a faint smile. Wei Changying immediately recalled what he had done as she slept just now. She suddenly blushed, cast the ointment box toward him and angrily said, “As for your sleeping position, it is none of my business. I am sleepy.”

Shen Cangfeng put away the jade ointment box. He saw that Wei Changying had gotten into the bed and wrapped herself in quilt. She did not seem to get out of the quilt tonight. Shen Cangfeng beamed at her and asked, “Don’t you need servants now?”

Wei Changying thought in mind, “I need them now. Otherwise, I would be uncomfortable tonight.”

After serving them, servants left the room. Wei Changying slipped into the bed again and wrapped herself in quilt. However, she was hugged from behind by Shen Cangfeng. She pushed his arms and said furiously, “I want to sleep.”

“I know.” Shen Cangfeng put his chin over her head and said with a smile, “Me too.”

Wei Changying was nervous now. A few seconds later, she heard that Shen Cangfeng had breathed calmly. It seemed that he had been asleep. Now, she relaxed and nestled against his breast, deeply falling into sleep.

They did not sleep well at night. It rained more heavily. The iron horses under the eave seemed to jump because of raindrops. Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying were haunted by the clatter of raindrops the whole night. Even if they were exhausted, they were awoken by raindrops for many times.

At night, Shen Cangfeng seemed to wake once. He touched Wei Changying, but was pinched on the arms by her. The dawn came. When Mrs. Huang and servants came to the room, masters and servants all looked tired.

Wei Changying gathered her energy to clean up and change her clothes. After having breakfast briskly, she said to Shen Cangfeng, “I am going to present my respects to mom now.”

Shen Cangfeng said, “I am idle now and I will come with you.”

When they ordered servants to fetch clogs and changed them in the corridor, Shen Ju ran from the west side of the corridor, saluted and said, “Grand Preceptor asked young master to come to the study.”

“What is up?” Shen Cangfeng asked.

Shen Ju shook his head and answered, “The servant did not tell me. He just said that young master should come to the study as quickly as possible.”

Shen Cangfeng thought for a while. Wei Changying said, “Father wants to see you, come to find him. I can see mother by myself.” And then she sneered in mind, “It is not an accident that Shen Cangfeng has timely been asked by father. It could not tell whether the eldest branch or the second branch came up with the idea.”

“Mother-in-law was also likely to do so.”

With doubt and suspicion, Wei Changying came to the eldest branch.

The maid in the door saw Wei Changying and said to her politely, “Third young madam came here. Wait a moment, I’m going to report Madam Su.”

A moment later, the maid ushered Wei Changying into the hall.

It was rainy now. After entering into the courtyard, they walked toward the west side of the corridor. The luxuriant but well-spaced plants in the courtyard were destroyed by raindrops. There were several bird cages hung in the corridor. There was one singing Huamei bird in each cage. Their chirps were mixed with the clatter of raindrops beating the iron horses. It was a noisy scene.

In the doorway of the hall, four or five maids wearing colorful clothes stood in a row, looking straight ahead. When Wei Changying approached, they saluted her together.

Wei Changying politely answered them and then entered into the door. There was a mica screen. Mountains, flowers and trees were pictured on it. Walking past the screen, Wei Changying saw a scarlet woolen carpet in the style of mandala on the ground. At the end of the carpet, Madam Su sat straight on a low colored glazed couch. Today she wore an ultramarine upper shirt embroidered with a pair of ducks. Its sleeves were broad. Her dress was white. She wore a bun decorated with two oblate jade hairpins. She looked poised, without revealing any trace of anger or happiness.

The first lower seat was empty. Madame Duanmu and three girls of the second branch had arrived. Shen Shurou, the eldest lineal daughter and Shen Shuyue, the second common one politely stood by their lineal mother on each side. Shen Shuyan, the youngest daughter was held in the arms of Madam Duanmu.

Wei Changying saluted Madam Su and Madam Duanmu in turns. In front of Madam Su, Madam Duanmu was polite to Wei Changying and said to her in a hurry, “You are too polite. Yesterday, Shuyan came to disturb you. I did not make my apology to you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Shuyan is lovely, and I like her.” Wei Changying said with a smile, “She merely came to Jintong Courtyard, why did she make troubles? Is it wrong for a nephew to visit sister-in-law? What is more, I did not express my thanks to you for your cherries.”

When Madam Duanmu was about to reply her, Madam Su interrupted their conversation. She frowned and said, “Yesterday, I heard that it was Cangning who had persuaded Shuyan to go to the Jintong Courtyard.”

Wei Changying immediately answered with a smile, “Fourth sister also came to visit me, but....” According to the tone of Madam Su, Wei Changying knew that she would scold her own daughter. Wei Changying did not want to be mistaken by Shen Cangning that she had spoken out her errors.

“How impolite she is!” Madam Su was irritated. She stopped Wei Changying from finishing her words and said, “I have told her not to disturb you. Granny Tao, come to bring her there.”

An old maid behind Madam Su saluted and answered, “Yes.” The maid dressed well. It seemed that she had been trusted by Madam Su.

Madam Duanmu and Wei Changying persuaded, “Fourth sister is young and naive. She came to the Jintong Courtyard merely for fun. Mother, don’t be serious about it.”

Madam Duanmu added, “Third sister-in-law is generous, isn’t it?”

“You are right.” Wei Changying said, smiling, “Yesterday, when fourth sister came, I heard Granny Wan say that something in Jintong Courtyard had not been arranged orderly. Fourth sister could give me some advice.”

Madam Su snorted, “Cangning is spoiled by you all. She is fourteen now, not a child. However, she is not good at needlework. She is so defiant that she dare do anything. How would she be if she didn’t change her character?”

Madam Duanmu said, smiling, “Fourth sister’s boldness is rare.”

“Fourth sister...” When Wei Changying wanted to say something, Mrs. Liu and Shen Cangning entered into the hall together.

Clutching Mrs. Liu’s sleeves, Shen Cangning tried to hide behind her and mumbled, “What have I done something wrong? Why did mom call me there again?”

Wei Changying caught a glimpse of Shen Cangning. She wore a green high-waisted full skirt. Her clothes were light green but her makeup was pretty heavy. Particularly, the rouge as red as blood was in the shape of tears on her face. It was horrible at first sight.

Why did a child wear such a heavy makeup? Now it was not the occasion when a new woman served the tea, so Madam Su did not save her daughter’s face. She grabbed a golden spoon beside her and threw it toward Shen Cangning, but she eschewed it agilely. Madam snarled, “Why did you wear such a heavy makeup? Where are you going?”

After Shen Cangning succeeded in avoiding the spoon, she curled her lips and said, “I will go to grandfather’s home. The day after tomorrow is cousin Yufei’s birthday.”

“You know that her birthday is coming, why do you wear such a heavy makeup? Do you want to lose my face or destroy her pleasure?” Madam Su was so furious that she ordered servant to seize Shen Cangning and bring her in front of her. Madam Su touched Shen Cangning’s face and a deep layer of rouge and powder stained her hand. She wiped them with a handkerchief disgustedly for a few seconds. She growled, “You are so young that you don’t need a heavy makeup now. You can wear a light one if you want. There is so much powder on your face, and it seems that your face is a wall decorated with powder.”

Shen Cangning felt wronged and retorted, “It is a popular makeup among the girls in the Capital City recently. It is called Blood Tear Makeup. Mom, you don’t appreciate it, why should I follow your taste?”

Madam Su snarled, “Am I the only one to dislike your makeup? You can ask your sisters-in-law, what do they think of your makeup? It is terrible in the daytime, let alone at night. You are rather scared. Why do you like your heavy makeup?”

“It is a fashion here.” Shen Cangning curled her lips and said. “Mom, you don’t like it, but the young favor it.”

“Your third sister-in-law is a little older than you. You can ask her. Does she like your makeup?” Madam Su growled and beat the table with her hand.