All of a sudden, the question came to Wei Changying and she felt very depressed. Madam Su, who was her mother-in-law, of course couldn't be offended. However, her sister-in-law Shen Cangning was the lineal daughter of Madam Su, and her husband's sister...Neither of them could afford to be offended. What was the best answer to Madam Su's question?

She couldn't ask Mrs. Huang in the full glare of publicity. After thinking for a while, she could only answer vaguely with a smile, "Dear mother, I just arrived at the capital. It was the first time I saw this Bloody Tear Makeup and it looked really novel."

Shen Cangning said immediately, "Mother, you see, third sister-in-law also said it was novel, and she didn't say it wasn't pretty!"

Wei Changying had a terrible headache and was considering how to smooth things over. However, Madam Su had pounded the table and scolded her daughter, "Your third sister-in-law cared about your feelings, so she said it was something novel! Is it important whether this appearance is good-looking or not? It just can't be seen!"

"My cousins in uncle's house also painted like this. I learned Bloody Tear Makeup from them!" Shen Cangning was dissatisfied and said, "Mother, you didn't say anything about them, but you just scolded me!"

"I just wondered why you made yourself like this in the past few days. It turned out that you learned that from your cousins?" Madam Su pointed at her angrily, "You are not allowed to go to the Su Family anymore. As for the Bloody Tear Makeup, I will write a letter to ask your aunts later! How odd it is! It is still unknown who has created this messy look, and instructed good girls to put on strange makeup!"

Of course, Shen Cangning refused to do so, and made a noise for a while. Then she was dragged to the front of Madam Su and was hit in her hands. Madam Su said resentfully, "Your nieces are all in front of you. Even if you can't set a good example for them, you shouldn't misguide them in such a disgraceful behavior. You may look at Shujing, who is younger than you and has lower seniority than you in this family, but her good manners in speech and behavior are much better than yours! Aren't you ashamed of being her aunt?"

Shen Shujing, who was originally standing quietly behind her mother Mrs. Liu, said immediately, "Grandmother, I was overpraised. I am still young, and I need to seek more advice from my elders. Although fourth aunt loves to wear bizarre makeup, she has a cheerful temperament and she treats me well." She spoke softly in a humble and dignified manner.

Madam Su grabbed her daughter by the ear and shouted, "Listen to her! This is the daughter of an eminent family! Not like you!"

Seeing that her daughter was compared with her sister-in-law by Madam Su, Mrs. Liu was also afraid that this might offend Shen Cangning and said quickly, "Mother, please calm down. As fourth sister said, I reckoned that this was currently the most fashionable makeup. If all the young ladies in the capital put on makeup like this, fourth sister just followed suit and did it for fun. It was not necessarily that she really thought it looked good. If it was out of fashion after a while, surely fourth sister wouldn't do it again."

Shen Cangning said plaintively, "That is true! If it is not popular, why should I paint myself like that? It is also quite uncomfortable to wear those cosmetics on the face...."

Madam Su intended to scold her daughter again, but a young maid lifted her skirt and scurried into the door from outside, and said straightly, "Madam, the Su Family sent a letter, saying that Old Madam had fainted!"

"What?!" Madam Su was greatly frightened and stood up suddenly, "Come on! Get the car ready quickly!"

Shen Cangning was also taken aback, and said, "Grandma? I will follow!"

At the moment, Madam Su had no desire to answer her daughter. She hurriedly said to her daughters-in-law, "Yi'er, you stay at home and take charge. Yanyu, you accompany me on the way to the Su Family... Changying, as you just moved in, you should go back first! If you have any questions, ask for your first sister-in-law's help!"

... Two days ago, Wei Changying still stayed at the courtyard of the Shen Family outside the capital and was waiting for the fixed day to come into the city. Wei Zhengyin, her second aunt, sent Granny Qu to see her. Granny Qu said that Wei Zhengyin originally planned to pay a visit to her lineal niece in person, however, her mother-in-law was ill, so she had to stay in front of the couch and serve the decoction.

Truly, it was hard for Old Madam to avoid having a headache or a fever at such an age, and Wei Changying did not pay much attention to it. She only said that at the turn of spring and summer, when the aged felt a little sick, the juniors wouldn't dare to neglect the elders. Therefore, they had to serve before the couch.

She did not expect that Old Madam would pass out...

"I didn't want to catch up with important events as soon as I entered the door of the Shen Family, did I?" Wei Changying thought so and was unavoidably a bit nervous.

After sending Madam Su, Shen Cangning and Mrs. Duanmu away to the Su Family with Mrs. Liu, Wei Changying circuitously asked Mrs. Liu, "Mrs. Deng... how did grandma feel usually? How come she suddenly passed out? It is also unknown if it is serious or not."

Mrs. Liu's countenance became a bit severe, but she remained calm and said, "Old Madam was usually in good health, but after all, as she was ageing, since the beginning of last year, she had been intermittently ill. I heard that she began to cough in the previous two days, but I didn't expect…." It was dangerous for Old Madam Deng to faint at this age, and Mrs. Liu did not dare to make an assertion, so she changed the topic and said, "Second younger sibling accompanied mother to go to the Su Family. I want to take the children including Shurou to the eldest branch first to take care of them. Third younger sibling, you just got married and you have many things to clean up in the Jintong Courtyard. Let's get busy.”

Wei Changying asked immediately, "It's okay to clean up the yard later. First sister-in-law, do you need my help? After all, the children like Shurou are still young."

Mrs. Liu smiled and said, "Don't bother. My third younger sibling, you may not know that one of my sisters in my family called Ruoyu happened to be picked up by me to stay here for a few days. Now I have to ask her for help.... Second younger sibling taught the girls well. Her girls are well-behaved and we don't need to worry too much."

"It turns out that your younger sister is here." Wei Changying previously had heard about a miss from the Liu Family who had coveted Shen Cangfeng. Wasn't she called Liu Ruoye? Why was this one called Ruoyu? It sounded like that they were sisters. The two sisters of the Liu Family wouldn't both fall in love with Wei Changying's husband, would they? This was really...Wei Changying continued, "I just knew it. I'd better go to your house, my first sister-in-law, to pay a formal visit some other day."

"Third younger sibling, you don't have to be polite with me," Mrs. Liu said with a smile, "Anyway, I will ask Ruoyu to stay and help for a few days. You can come back again when you are free, and don't procrastinate on your own business."

The two of them made more polite conversations and went back to their respective rooms.

When Wei Changying returned to Jintong Courtyard, Shen Cangfeng hadn't come back yet, therefore, she invited Mrs. Wan to "chat" while drinking tea.

Mrs. Wan said repeatedly, "It is impossible for me to sit beside you, my young madam." After being pushed by Mrs. He to take a seat, Mrs. Wan then thanked Wei Changying respectfully and sipped her tea. Wei Changying gave Mrs. Wan a gentle hint and Mrs. Wan understood immediately. She started to talk about the Shen Family, "Madam hadn't been in charge for a few years. Nowadays, it's first young madam who heads the house. Second young madam sometimes gives a hand, but she is indifferent and quiet, therefore, she never interferes unless it is very busy."

"I just heard that a younger sister from first sister-in-law's family is also in our house now. Granny, should I pay a visit to her?" Wei Changying asked and pondered for a moment.

Mrs. Wan smiled and said, "Although Fourteenth Miss of the Liu Family is not a sister from the same branch as first young madam, first young madam takes a fancy to her, and often picks her up to live in the house for a few days. Young madam, now you just moved in, and you'll certainly be familiar with her after a few visits to first young madam's house. In my opinion, there is no need to rush in these two days...We'll have lots of things to do in the yard these two days."

Wei Changying tentatively asked, "As for the name of this Fourteenth Miss, I heard first sister-in-law called her Ruoyu? I wonder how old she is now, so that I can choose appropriate gifts when I go there."

"I heard that she was only one year younger than you, my young madam." Mrs. Wan showed a meaningful smile, and said, "No one else is here now, and I have one more thing to remind you— The mother of Fourteenth Miss died early and the new madam seemed to treat her...This was why our first young madam often picked her up to live here. After all, first young madam is also the daughter of the Liu Family. However, she is married now, and it is not convenient for her to talk about her parents' home."

Wei Changying recognized Mrs. Wan's meaning, which implied that she should not think too much. Mrs. Liu picked Liu Ruoyu up to stay in the eldest branch for some time because she pitied that her sister of the same family was bullied by her stepmother. However, under the circumstance that Mrs. Liu herself had been married and she couldn't criticize the elders, she could only take her sister to reside in her house. On the one hand, this might comfort her younger sister; on the other hand, it implicitly reminded her stepmother of not going too far— if the stepdaughter who often went to the Shen Family was too miserable or looked too terrible, it was inevitable that the stepmother's unkindness would be discussed.

"It turns out that she is about my age, then I know what to send by then." Wei Changying's face was reddish, but her doubts were not all solved— Granny Qu had said that Liu Ruoyu paid great attention to Shen Cangfeng.

She also thought that Liu Ruoyu was also seventeen. At this age, if the girl didn't get married, she would also be ready to marry someone. How could she still have time to visit her elder sister's house? Even if the stepmother treated this girl badly, she would eventually get this daughter married...How could her stepmother detest her so much that she couldn't even bear such short time? How much hatred was this?

It was just that Mrs. Wan was Shen Cangfeng's wet nurse, and she treated Wei Changying with great respect. Mrs. Wan had already politely asked Wei Changying not to suspect Liu Ruoyu. If Wei Changying asked more, Mrs. Wan would feel that she wasn't trusted. Wei Changying smiled in a perfunctory way and decided to let Mrs. Huang privately inquire later.

"By the way, granny, you said that second sister-in-law had an indifferent temperament. But on the day when I moved in, second sister-in-law was talking and laughing all the time. I thought that she was a lively girl who liked to play jokes!" Wei Changying took a sip of the Agarwood drink and said with a slight smile.

Mrs. Wan knew her meaning, pondering for a while, and said, "Second young madam always had a good relationship with the young misses in Zhiben Hall. Among them, Wei Lingzi, Fifth Miss of the Wei Family of Zhiben Hall, got along very well with second young madam and she also taught our second granddaughter miss skills of playing the Chinese zither— After all, they were cousins. Ruiyu Hall and Zhiben Hall were both attached to the Wei Family in Fengzhou. It might be the reason that second young madam had treated you affectionately and made an exception to talk and laugh happily on the day you got married."

The original problem still came from Zhiben Hall.

The influence of Zhiben Hall had been greatly damaged since Wei Qi's retirement on account of age. In particular, Wei Yu, who was from the collateral branch of Ruiyu Hall, took over the vice-premier. Although there were quite a few capable sons of Wei Qi, the Wei Qi couple was now held hostage in Fengzhou by Wei Huan, they were inevitably limited in some aspects. Wei Shengyi, however, intended to realize his potential without Wei Qi's impediment to praising him overtly but suppressing him secretly.

Wei Changying snorted coldly in her heart, and thought that Mrs. Duanmu picked on her not all for the sake of her cousin's words. She was afraid that the biggest dispute still lay with the position of the Family Head.

This contradiction was irrevocable. Wei Changying also didn't like to yield to someone in nature, so she immediately put the second branch on the defense list. Then she continued to ask about other people in the Shen Family.

Mrs. Wan firstly told her about her sisters-in-law, "First Miss and Third Miss were both the daughters of Count Xiangning. First Miss was betrothed to the second young master of the Su Family. It was just that this young master of the Su Family died of illness that year. Therefore, First Miss was extremely sad. She couldn't afford to live in the Su Family anymore, and then she moved back to the mansion of Count Xiangning. The Madam of Count Xiangning died early, after First Miss returned, she could also help with the household affairs. As for Third Miss, her birth mother passed away last year, and Third Miss was still observing her mourning period. Therefore, when you, my young madam, paid a visit to the mansion of Count Xiangning with young master, neither First Miss nor Third Miss came out to welcome."

One was widow and the other one was in the mourning period, so it was really not suitable for them to meet a new couple.

"Second Miss is the lineal eldest daughter of our madam. At that time, she was chosen by His Majesty and was granted a marriage with His Royal Highness King Ji. At present, she is at the fiefdom with King Ji, so you didn't have the chance to see her. Fourth Miss is still young, and you have seen that she is a girl of a bright and cheerful disposition. Grand Preceptor likes her very much." Mrs. Wan smiled and started to talk about Wei Changying's brothers-in-law, "Fourth young master has already been engaged, and the future fourth young madam is the Miss of the Pei Family. She will get married in two months. Fifth young master is the lineal youngest son of our branch, and he has always been intimate with our young master. Of course, he also gets along well with sixth young master and eighth young master. Oh, yes, seventh younger master living with Count Xiangning and fourth young master are the same because both of them were brought up by our madam!"

Wei Changying surprisedly said, "Why is that the case?"

"Because several sons of Count Xiangning died young in his early years. After Madam of Count Xiangning gave birth to fourth young master, she really didn't dare to raise the child by herself, so she asked our madam to raise the son for her. Unexpectedly, the boy really became increasingly robust. Later, when seventh young master was born, Count Xiangning also begged our madam to bring him up." Mrs. Wan smiled and said, "Therefore, in our madam's eyes, fourth young master and seventh young master are the same as her own biological children."

"Mother is really virtuous." Wei Changying echoed with a smile.

Then, they talked about Madam Su's preferences. Mrs. Wan said all she knew and said it without reserve. By the way, she also told Wei Changying some dishes and furnishings that Shen Cangfeng liked...Till noon, Wei Changying wanted to invite her to lunch, but Shen Cangfeng returned at the moment.