A few days later, it was unknown whether Duanmu Xinmiao was impatient at always being called in by the Su Family, or was it that Ji Qubing, stung by his conscience, no longer cared about curing one more person, which was Old Madam Deng— Madam Su, who became thinner all over, finally took back home good news that Old Madam Deng's condition had been stabilized and she only needed to rest quietly to recuperate in the future.

Wei Changying, who had enjoyed getting up at dawn or later for almost half a month and been laid back every day, also officially began her life under the hands of her mother-in-law.

On the day when Madam Su came back, of course the three daughters-in-law should welcome her in person. Seeing that Madam Su, who was getting out of the carriage, was obviously pining away a lot, Mrs. Liu was the first to shed tears, "How could mother work so hard? And you don't ask your daughters-in-law to wait on!"

Mrs. Duanmu also immediately inquired after Old Madam Deng's health, "Mother had been very tired these days, and we'd better hurry into the house and sit!" It seemed that Mrs. Duanmu's words were showing her consideration following Mrs. Liu's words, but Mrs. Duanmu actually stamped on Mrs. Liu— "You had seen that mother-in-law was so tired and so sleepy, but you still stopped her to talk by the carriage. Why didn't you ask mother-in-law to come in and sit down first? It could be seen that you just wanted to show your filial piety. I was different from you because I really cared about her," thought Mrs. Duanmu.

Mrs. Liu’s face stiffened and she immediately stepped forward to help Madam Su, "Second younger sibling is right. I was so distressed for mother that I forgot to help you get in first."

As a bride who was also the youngest daughter-in-law, it was not good for Wei Changying to contend with her sisters-in-law to help Madam Su. She could only concentrate herself, without distractions, and respectfully stand by with her hands down. Then, she said softly, "Mother, please take a seat in the house. I had asked someone to prepare the ginseng tea, which was just fried. Man Lou said that mother loved to add some honey to the ginseng tea, so I had added a spoonful of honey and didn't know if it was more or less."

Madam Su was not surprised to see the performance of the eldest daughter-in-law and the second daughter-in-law— After all, these two daughters-in-law had been married for so many years. She was well aware of their advantages and disadvantages. Madam Su herself used to be a daughter-in-law. The two daughters-in-law were emulous and always strove for her favor. As long as it was not excessive, she also pretended to be confused. Wasn't it said that one could not be others' father-in-law or mother-in-law if he or she didn't play dumb.

So what Madam Su paid most attention to this time was the newly-entered third daughter-in-law Wei Changying. Seeing that Wei Changying didn't compete with her two sisters-in-law to greet her, she thought that Wei Changying did well in keeping calm. Later, when Mrs. Liu held one of Madam Su's arm, Madam Su deliberately took two steps forward and leaned over, making Wei Changying keep the same distance as Mrs. Duanmu kept with Madam Su. However, Wei Changying humbly let her second sister-in-law approach her mother-in-law, without any intention of contention.

Anyway, Wei Changying had more or less a heart of humbleness.

Madam Su nodded secretly in her heart. The newly-entered daughters-in-law were generally eager to show themselves. It was just that if they were so anxious that they even compete with their sisters-in-law, it would be too ambitious and not modest enough.

Now Madam Su heard that Wei Changying, following Mrs. Liu's words of helping her to enter the house, said these thoughtful words appropriately. It seemed that Wei Changying had made a great coup without attracting notice. Madam Su couldn't help smiling inside. She thought that the third daughter-in-law would make a show of herself after entering the room. Unexpectedly, Wei Changying already had words prepared for her.

Moreover, these words were also thoughtful. The ginseng tea could refresh oneself and encourage one's spirit, which showed the thoughtfulness of Wei Changying. What was more considerate was that she had heard from the chief maid Man Lou, who was staying behind in the main branch, that Madam Su had the habit of drinking the ginseng tea.

This also implied that Wei Changying had been recognized by Man Lou. Therefore, a chief maid like Man Lou, who rarely dropped a word, had told her straight the usual small habits of Madam Su. While expressing that she did not know how much honey to add, Wei Changying tried to imply that she only inquired about Madam Su's little habits out of filial piety, and did not go in depth to ask some questions that should not be asked.

Whether it was the guidance of a granny around her, or it was Wei Changying's own dexterity, it was said that Wei Changying was the single daughter of her parents, and she was born after her parents had been married for ten years. Thus, she was deeply loved by elders and had been favored by the whole family since childhood— Wei Changying, as a beloved daughter of an eminent family, could do things to this extent after getting married. In Madam Su's eyes, Wei Changying also reached the standard.

Madam Su just felt a slight imperceptible rigidity in the hands of her eldest and second daughter-in-law, and she smiled inconspicuously. The third daughter-in-law could reach the standard of Madam Su, but it was unknown how Wei Changying would deal with her two sisters-in-law. Neither Mrs. Liu nor Mrs. Duanmu was easy to get along with...

Shen Cangfeng, the heir of the Shen Family, was now cultivated as the next Family Head. His wife would also be cultivated by Madam Su according to the requirements of being a future Family Mother of the Shen Family. Although Madam Su knew that eldest and second daughter-in-law would pay back to this younger sibling, she did not intend to intervene. In the future, it was inevitable that Wei Changying would have to deal with such secret provocations, and now she should practice more. After all, Madam Su would pay attention to everything. There was always a bottom line, so she was not afraid of their getting out of control.

When Madam Su was sent to the house with many attendants crowding round, Wei Changying personally served the tea in humble reverence. Madam Su took a sip and nodded approvingly. Before Wei Changying showed her smile, Madam Su said lightly, "The honey is a little bit more than I expected. Change a smaller spoon next time."

Wei Changying took a salute immediately and said, "Yes, it was my fault that I didn't ask carefully. How about I get you a new cup of tea, mother?"

"It's Okay." Madam Su saw that Wei Changying's attitude was not bad, and she didn't show any grievances. So Madam Su gave the latter an out and said, "I had been worried and busy these days, almost feeling bitter in my mouth. It is fine to be sweet. You can put less honey next time you make this tea. This one is just right for me to drink."

Mrs. Liu's face was full of smiles and she started to talk, "When mother sent someone to present the pair of hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks to third younger sibling in Fengzhou, second younger sibling and I were a bit jealous. I didn't mean anything else. Mother had treated us like her lineal daughters since we entered the door of the Shen Family. It was just that we didn't get mother's things before we got married. I'm not afraid of being blamed by mother. I was much envious of third younger sibling at that time! Now seeing that third younger sibling treated mother with great thoughtfulness, even second younger sibling and I, who had been in the Shen Family for some years, were not as considerate as her. Only just now did I realize that mother's favor to third younger sibling had paid off, third younger sibling's virtuousness and considerate were much better than those of me and second younger sibling!"

Mrs. Duanmu had been hiding in the Wuhua Courtyard for several days, and finally wounds on her face were healed. At the moment, she smiled quietly and followed, "When did mother's eyes go wrong?"

The two sisters-in-law sang to each other's tune, revealing the connotation within their words. They deemed that Wei Changying was eagerly attentive now because she was favored by Madam Su, especially for the fact that she had received the pair of hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks.

Madam Su didn't speak a word. She only smiled calmly and slowly tasted the ginseng tea.

Wei Changying turned to look at the two sisters-in-law, and smiled generously, "How could mother's eyes be bad? Just take the matter first sister-in-law had talked about as an example. If I was married to another family and the mother-in-law loved me so much, I would be frightened as the elder sisters-in-law were superior to me. However, my first and second sister-in-law were open-minded and going easy on me. It was all attributed to mother's good vision for mother had chosen two good sisters-in-law for me! To be honest, when I got out of my natal home, my mother said to me that if I were married to someone else far away from home, my mother would have to worry about my relationship with my sisters-in-law. But because I was going to be a daughter-in-law of the Shen Family, my mother told me that mother-in-law had attached much importance to rules and had a high vision. Therefore, my sisters-in-law and future younger siblings must be virtuous and kind to get along with! Now aren't my mother’s words confirmed?"

Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu were stunned— being frightened?

This word Wei Changying used was very debatable. She first said that Madam Su loved her, and then pointed out that Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu were both superior to her. So she felt a bit frightened... What did it mean? It actually meant that Madam Su, as the mother-in-law, ignoring her two daughters-in-law who had been married to the Shen Family for many years and had plenty of children, deliberately passed on her precious hairpins of her dowry to Wei Changying, who had not entered the door at that time— Hadn't first and second daughter-in-law ever thought that it was because what they did was not good enough, so they had enjoyed undeserved fame of superior elders. In that way, mother-in-law would rather hand down the hairpins to a daughter-in-law who didn't enter the door of the Shen Family instead of them!

"Didn't you feel frightened???"

"Shouldn’t you feel frightened?" thought Wei Changying.

So it seemed that Wei Changying's later words of "being open-mindedness and going easy on others" were praising Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu. In fact, her words were ironic!

Now Wei Changying's words were more than ridiculing the two of them. "Did you still have the nerve to mention the hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks? If it was not that you didn't do well enough, this pair of hairpins should not be in my hands. You failed to live up to mother's expectations. How could you still talk about your grievances?" thought Wei Changying.

When Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu figured this out, their faces changed!

It was just that they couldn't find a word to refute Wei Changying on the basis of their wittiness. Wei Changying had put Madam Su ahead in her words. The pair of hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks was sent to Wei Changying by Madam Su. As daughters-in-law, they could not speak out that Madam Su showed partiality to Wei Changying. Thus, Madam Su must be fair!

Why didn't the impartial Madam Su pass such precious hairpins to her first and second daughters-in-law, but passed them to her third daughter-in-law who didn't enter the door of Shen Family at the time? So it could be inferred that Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu did not do well enough, or even did something bad, which made Madam Su disappointed and she could only count on her third daughter-in-law!

Madam Su slowly sipped the tea and glanced at Granny Tao with a knowing smile. None of her three daughters-in-law was simple. This third daughter-in-law was said to be an unruly miss spoiled by her grandmother and she loved martial arts very much. What Madam Su was most worried about before was that this daughter-in-law would be much too reckless and lacked the wisdom. Now it seemed that the girl, who was brought up by Old Madam Song personally, was by no means a person who had no idea about the rules of the rear yard.

Wei Changying's counterattack today was really neat and clear, which completely perished others' thought of finding fault in her receiving the hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks before she got married— Later, whoever taking that incident as a topic again would be alluding to the idea that Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu was not virtuous enough that they made their mother-in-law disappointed. Then he would be deliberately setting the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law of the Shen Family against each other.

However, although Wei Changying might feel delighted when she did so, she also bred enmity with her two sisters-in-law.

Madam Su thought that after all, the bride was a young woman full of spirit, and she did not know how to achieve her aim slowly. As Madam Su was about to talk to smooth things over for Wei Changying, Mrs. Duanmu had already held the handkerchief and pressed it on the corner of her eyes. Then she sobbed and said, "Third sister-in-law's words couldn't be more right. Mother was virtuous and kind. In the daily life, even if we disappointed mother, mother would endure it without saying a word, and she was afraid of hurting our dignity! As a result, we were spoiled by our mother, like a pearl on the palm. We even gradually became arrogant. Originally, we should wake up to reality when mother sent the hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks to Fengzhou last year. I didn't expect that we didn't understand mother’s pains until third younger sibling pointed it out bluntly!"

Mrs. Liu also apologized humbly, "Mother was too tolerant in ordinary days. We, as the daughter-in-law, couldn't help but slack off. Now I realized that many of mother's care and thoughts were for our good, but we were so stupid that we didn't recognize it! Fortunately, third younger sibling was so clever that she found out our disadvantages as soon as she entered the door. Otherwise, we still didn't know how long mother would still keep being sad!"

The two sisters-in-law knelt down to confess without saying anything. They even repeatedly said that what they had done before was not sufficient. So it made Madam Su sad and disappointed. Madam Su deliberately handed down the hairpins made of bloodstone engraved with a pair of lovebirds perching on twinned trunks to the soon-to-be daughter-in-law to remind them. However, only today did they come to their senses....

Madam Su comforted them softly, and naturally gave a hint with the eyes to Wei Changying. "How would you deal with the troubles that caused by yourself?" thought Madam Su.

Wei Changying also knelt down when the two sisters-in-law asked for punishment. At the moment, she received the expression in Madam Su's eyes and said softly, "It was my fault that I had said something wrong, which made the two sisters-in-law misconstrue the situation." Then she turned to Madam Su and said, "Mother, you should support me. How dare I talk about the faults of my two sisters-in-laws? I had said it clearly that mother couldn't have a bad sight. Two sisters-in-law were all picked up by mother yourself, How could they be bad?"

Of course, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu couldn’t just let Wei Changying go like this. Both of them wiped their tears with the handkerchief and said, "Third younger sibling, don't comfort us. You said that mother had paid most attention to the rules. If it wasn't that we didn't do things well, how come...."

"Two sisters-in-law, you couldn't say things in that way!" Wei Changying squeezed her handkerchief and interrupted them in a panic, "Of course, mother had been serious about the rules, but the rules didn't stipulate that if mother gave me the hairpins instead of you, then it was that mother disliked you. For example, Shujing is older than Shuyan. It is imaginable that when Shuyan still requires a breastfeeding wet nurse, Shujing can already have the meals by herself. At this time, Shuyan still cannot eat meat. As for two daughters, if second sister-in-law doesn't give the meals, which first sister-in-law gives to Shujing, to Shuyan, then does it mean that second sister-in-law dislikes Shuyan or even she treats Shuyan harshly?"

Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu couldn't be angrier after listening to her analogy. In terms of the age, shouldn't they be compared to Shujing? But before Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu started to speak, Wei Changying frowned again and said to Madam Su apologetically, "I was so stupid that I should be blamed. I just wanted to say a few pleasant words to help mother relieve the fatigue. I didn't expect that I had said something wrong, making first sister-in-law and second sister-in-law misunderstand me. On the contrary, mother was forced to be concerned about us as you just returned home!"

As Wei Changying said so, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu had to follow her to show their thoughtfulness toward Madam Su, and they had no time to argue with Wei Changying....