Wei Changying and Shen Cangfeng had a pleasant conversation with Wei Zhengyin in the third branch. It was at noon when Old Madam Deng had servants call them to have lunch, so they stopped talking and then headed for the courtyard of Old Madam Deng.

They didn’t know that Su Pingzhan had come back home about ten minutes ago until they reached the hall.

As a Family Head of the Su Family in Qingzhou, Su Pingzhan was as old as Wei Huan. He was strong and handsome, with a dignified manner.

When Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying arrived at the hall, Su Pingzhan had changed his official’s formal robe with a green round-collar garment embroidered with Ruyi patterns. His hair was coiled with a suet jade bamboo-shape hairpin. His dressing looked casual now. Sitting straight on his seat, he chatted with Old Madam Deng across the table with a laugh. He was in good spirits and the atmosphere relaxing.

After entering the hall, the young generation paid their respects to the elder one. Su Pingzhan asked them to stand up with a smile. Greeted by his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Su Pingzhan touched his beard and ordered servants to fetch a pair of famous ink sticks inherited from the previous dynasty as a present to them and also encouraged them with a few words. He explained for his sons and grandsons, “Your uncles and cousins are on duty now. You might see them next time.”

Shen Cangfeng returned his smile and said, “We visit you so suddenly that we feel sorry for disturbing grandmother and grandfather.”

Old Madam Deng was displeased to say, “It doesn’t matter. It is a good thing that you visit me with your wife.” She also added, “We are not far from each other, so if you often pay a visit to us, you will see them.”

Shen Cangfeng expressed his apology again. Old Madam Deng joked about him, “Do you want to accompany your wife rather than come to see us in the future?”

“How dare I do so?” Shen Cangfeng was a little shy and secretly turned to his grandfather for help. However, Su Pingzhan beamed, “Why do you look at me, Cangfeng? You have annoyed your grandmother, as a man, so you should solve it by yourself. Do you want me to help you comfort her?”

Shen Cangfeng was a little embarrassed and said, “Yes, you are right.” So, he begged forgiveness from his grandmother. After this interruption, Old Madam Deng asked servants to start serving the dishes.

In usual, when Old Madam Deng invited her grandson and her granddaughter-in-law to have lunch, daughters-in-law were supposed to join it. Today, however, Su Pingzhan went back home, so Madam Qian and Madam Zhang were absent with a pretext after they knew it. Because Wei Zhengyin talked with Wei Changying so happily that she did not get the news in time, she also came to the hall. Now, it was not proper for her to leave, so she had to stand by Old Madam Deng to serve her.

Wei Changying felt a little embarrassed that she sat while her aunt stood. Fortunately, Old Madam Deng was so considerate that she said to Wei Zhengyin, “Changying is your niece, so you can take a seat.”

After declining it for twice, Old Madam still invited her to take a seat. Therefore, Wei Zhengyin thanked her and sat on the right seat.

Because Su Pingzhan was here, only Shen Cangfeng chatted with him about something trial in the work. Old Madam Deng could cut in with a few words while others could not understand but kept silent. Therefore, during the lunchtime, it was a little quiet.

After lunch, Shen Cangfeng told her grandparents that he should be on duty in the palace because he only asked for a half-day leave. Su Pingzhan and Old Madam Deng naturally permitted it. Wei Zhengyin said that she hadn’t seen her niece for many years, so she wanted to talk with Wei Changying and then she would send her back to the Shen mansion.

Old Madam Deng said with a smile, “Although Changying is your niece, now she is Cangfeng’s wife. If you want to chat with her, you should ask Cangfeng first. They are a lovely couple. If Cangfeng said no but I forced her to stay, he might discuss me privately that I prefer my sister-in-law to my grandson.”

Shen Cangfeng beamed, “I have been given a plate of water chestnuts cakes by third aunt. I have gotten something good, so how could I reject her?” He also told her third aunt that she needn’t send Changying back home because he would pick up his wife to return home after he was off duty.

Old Madam Deng was delighted that this couple was in harmony, so she said with a big smile, “Look, how lovely they are!” She praised that Wei Huan and Shen Xuan had been insightful.

Touching his beard, Su Pingzhan said with a laugh, “We are also insightful. Now, look at this affectionate couple.”

People smiled and admired that Su Pingzhan and Old Madam Deng were perspective. However, Wei Changying noticed that Su Pingzhan’s words had made Wei Zhengyin slightly embarrassed. It seemed that she had grasped the true meaning of his words.

After they talked for a while, Shen Cangfeng left, and Wei Changying went back to the third branch with Wei Zhengyin.

Shen Cangfeng had gone off, so Wei Zhengyin did not pretend to be polite anymore. She asked her children and servants to leave the room, and then directly inquired Wei Changying, “After one month of your marriage, Cangfeng asked for a leave to visit us with you. Is your mother-in-law’s suggestion?”

“Aunt, you are right,” Wei Changying acknowledged it. “You have given mom a jade mandarin duck hairpin before. Today, mom asked me to return it to you.” She fetched the hairpin from her sleeve.

Wei Zhengyin caught a glimpse of the hairpin and sigh, “I didn’t know whether I should receive it or not. However, after hearing your grandfather’s words, I have to accept it.” She took and put the hairpin on the table, looking a little upset.

Wei Changying gingerly asked, “Aunt, what has happened?”

“It is our first meeting after you grew up. We are families, so I will honestly tell it to you,” said Wei Zhengyin, frowning. “Since your second cousin died of illness, your grandfather has always compared Yuliang with Yuwu. He prefers Yuwu and thinks that he is more determined. Because of his attitude, your first aunt hates the third branch.”

Wei Changying knew this, so she chimed with her aunt, “First aunt is not sensible. It is human nature for her to be sad about second cousin’s death. Because Yuwu works harder, grandfather likes more Yuwu than Yuliang. However, it is not reasonable for first aunt to blame you.”

Wei Zhengyin snorted and said, “Madam Qian is more stupid than you imagined. Shen Cangzhu, your second sister-in-law, is also Cangfeng’s first cousin. Do you know why did she live in her mother’s home for a long time after her husband passed away? Madam Qian was to blame for it. At the funeral of your second cousin, she denounced Shen Cangzhu that because she hadn’t carefully attended to her husband, he finally died. How could she speak out these vicious words? Shen Cangzhu is childless, let alone a child of the concubine. Young as she was, she has been alone after she lost her husband. For her, what is the point of living a wealthy life? When Yuxian was ill, it was she who always worried about him and looked after him most carefully. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law blamed her for her husband’s death. At that time, you didn’t get married to Cangfeng, so you didn’t know that Shen Cangzhu had been so angry that she hit the coffin with her head. People beside her pulled her in time, otherwise she would have been dead.”

Madam Qian not only lost her intelligent eldest son, but also found that the other son was not better than the one of the third branch. In the view of Wei Changying, it was understandable that she would be angry. However, after she knew that Madam Qian almost forced her daughter-in-law to be dead in order to show innocence, she was disappointed at Madam Qian. Therefore, she said, “First aunt is quite malicious.”

“Shen Cangzhu’s mother is Madam Qian’s cousin, but she passed away for a long period. When Count Xiangning got married, Mrs. Qian and the Qian Family became increasingly powerful. However, as the Empress Qian and the Crown Prince were abolished, the Qian Family accordingly declined. Count Xiangning and his wife were devoted to each other. Before she died, she told him to protect their children. Count Xiangning originally wanted to have his first lineal daughter marry the son of the Su Family, because Madam Qian, your first aunt, is Shen Cangzhu’s aunt and might not maltreat her. Unexpectedly, Madam Qian, as a mother-in-law, bullied Shen Cangzhu so much that she was then in a miserable situation.”

Wei Zhengyin said with a sneer, “After Count Xiangning knew what had happened to his daughter, he was so furious that he went to the first branch of the Su family with guards. Without any face, he smashed everything in the first branch and even slapped Madam Qian for many times. Later, he not only insisted on bringing Shen Cangzhu who was lying on the bed back home but also withdrew all her dowries. Finally, he claimed that the worst thing he had done was to have her daughter marry the son of the Su Family. It is the reason why your mother-in-law wants Shen Cangning to marry Yuwu, not Yuliang. For one thing, Madam Qian treated her daughter-in-law unfairly; for another thing, your mother-in-law also contributed to the marriage between Shen Cangzhu and Su Yuxian, your second cousin. Because of this, your father-in-law criticized his wife that she neither cared for her niece nor clearly knew how Madam Qian was like before that marriage. The result was that the girl of the Shen Family had suffered a lot from this marriage.”

The truth was so unexpected.

Apparently, Madam Su didn’t discuss the relatives of her mother’s home. Last time, because Madam Duanmu talked about something bad about the Su Family, she was criticized by Madam Su. She claimed that wives of the Su Family were in harmony, but privately she must hate Madam Qian. Shen Zhou was the only brother of Shen Xuan. He used to come to Fengzhou for two times, arranging the marriage of Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying. Moreover, according to Mrs. Wan, Shen Zhou’s wife passed away for many years, so his two sons, the lineal one and the common one, were raised by Madam Su, his first sister-in-law. Obviously, these brothers were pretty close. Madam Su had taken many efforts to bring up her two nephews, treating them as carefully as her own son. However, because Madam Qian accused her daughter-in-law of the death of her son, Madam Su not only felt sorry for Shen Zhou, but also was complained by her husband, Shen Xuan.

According to Wei Zhengyin, Shen Zhou once went to the eldest branch of the Su family with servants, smashing things and beating Madam Qian. Now, the Su family didn’t dive up, so what Shen Zhou had done made Su Pingzhan and Old Madam Deng lose their face. It was not impossible for the Su Family to trouble Shen Xuan because of this. However, Shen Xuan was close to his younger brother, and cared for his niece. He might argue it for his brother. It was likely that there would be conflicts between the Shen family and the Su Family.

Madam Su was in a dilemma when she faced the conflicts between her husband’s family and her mother’s one.

As with her husband’s family, Madam Su had raised sons for Shen Zhou, but she didn’t expect any return from him. However, her merit was cleared out and even she owed Shen Zhou a favor because she introduced Shen Cangzhu a possible mate whose mother was narrow-minded. As with her mother’s family, Madam Su arranged a marriage between her husband’s lineal niece and her own nephew. She did so because two families were familiar and matched. Moreover, the marriage could strengthen the relation between two families. However, what Madam Qian had done caused disputes among Madam Su, Shen Xuan and Shen Zhou. Wei Changying thought that her mother-in-law must be wronged.

So, if Madam Su were to have her youngest daughter marry her nephew in the Su Family, Su Yuliang would not be the proper husband. He was less appreciated by his grandfather than Su Yuwu. Besides, even if he was better, Madam Su would not consider him as a son-in-law because of Shen Cangzhu’s experience.

After knowing why Madam Su chose Su Yuwu, Wei Changying thought for a while and said, “Fourth sister killed cousin’s parrot, and is it relative to first aunt?”

On the basis of the conversation between Shen Cangning and Shen Cangfeng Wei Changying last time overheard, naughty as Shen Cangning was, she was from a great family and not stupid. Obviously, Su Yuwu’s rare parrot was raised by him for over ten years, and how could she ask the servants in the kitchen to cook its merely for its tongue?

According to Madam Su, Shen Cangning had caused troubles before she put away the jade mandarin duck hairpin given by Wei Zhengyin. Wei Changying speculated that Shen Cangning had already known that her mother planned to ask her to marry Su Yuwu. However, she didn’t agree with the marriage, so she tried to destroy it.

Wei Zhengyin’s ambiguous words seemed to reveal that Madam Qian was to blame.