Because Madam Su had promised Wei Changying, after the morning greetings and asking the first and second daughters-in-law about their family affairs, Madam Su said, "Changying has to visit her cousin at the minister's mansion of the public. You can go now, but remember to come back before curfew."

Wei Changying stood up and made a curtsey as she said, "Yes, mother!"

Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu were both at the scene, so they said satirically that Madam Su was so nice to Wei Changying that she allowed her to hang around as soon as the one-month's stay-at-home period was over.

Wei Changying smiled and replied, "Of course. If not, why everyone says that we have a good fortune? Who doesn't envy us to have an elder like our mother, who doted on us the most? To be honest, yesterday when I visited our maternal grandmother, my husband said that he was jealous because mother likes me so much."

Since Wei Changying had turned the topic onto Madam Su, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu could say nothing but praise how generous Madam Su was, and say that it was their fortune to be her daughters-in-law. Madam Su looked lazily at her daughters-in-law and watched them verbal battle. She then said to Wei Changying, "If you have any other relatives to visit, just visit them these days. We have a big family, and your sisters-in-law have children to take care of, so they have no time to manage the whole family. I'm afraid you will be very busy in the near future."

Although Madam Su spoke lightly, her words shocked her three daughters-in-law. There was no sound in the hall for a while before Wei Changying eventually said, "Mother, I have just got married, and I am the youngest among all the wives. I am still at the period of learning from you and the two sisters, how am I able to manage the whole family? Please revoke this command."

Mrs. Liu smiled unnaturally. Her fingers were a bit blue because she held her handkerchief too tightly. But now she could only say, "Changying, don’t say that. Everyone has such a period. What's more, since you are so clever, you will definitely be competent for managing the family soon."

Shen Cangfeng's status in the Shen Family had nailed that his wife would manage the family after getting married. Yesterday was the end of the first month of Wei Changying's marriage, and Madam Su didn't mention this, so Mrs. Liu thought that Madam Su intended to make it slow. She didn't expect that Madam Su would announce to let Wei Changying manage the family today.

Mrs. Liu, who had been managing the Shen family for more than ten years soon after she got married, had already known that Wei Changying would take over her authority one day. But when the day came, Mrs. Liu still felt upset. When she finished her words, she couldn't even keep her smile.

Mrs. Duanmu coughed and said, "We have just said that mother dotes on Changying, and now we are doted by her too. I was about to ask whether I can take care of fewer affairs so that I have time to educate Shuyan."

Although Mrs. Duanmu had been struggling with Wei Changying since Wei Changying came to the Shen Family, the impact of letting Wei Changying manage the Shen Family was much less effective on her than Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Duanmu didn't have much authority anyway, and she was only assisting Mrs. Liu. After all, Shen Lianshi was not Madam Su's lineal son, so she wouldn't be fully trusted by Madam Su even if she had a good relationship with her.

Therefore, she was quite calm to say those.

Madam Su noticed every expression on their faces. She then said, "It's settled then. I didn't ask you to immediately take all the responsibilities, and your sisters-in-law can also teach you. If you don't know what to do, just ask them."

Since her mother-in-law had said that, Wei Changying could only bow and said, "Yes, mother!" She then said to Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu that she was still young and naive, so she still needed their help in the future.

Because Madam Su was at the scene, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Duanmu could only speak kindly and tell Wei Changying not to worry.

After leaving the mansion, the weather became so hot that Wei Changying's inner shirt was soaked. Having confirmed that there were only her servants around her, Wei Changying sighed and said, "It's hard to have a peaceful day!"

Mrs. Huang smiled and said, "If you didn't say so, your days here would be truly unpeaceful! Since Shen Cangfeng was highly considered in the Shen Family, you should manage the Shen Family in a month after you get married. Even if the first and second young madams are unhappy about this, they can do nothing."

Wei Changying said, "I'm not afraid of them. I just feel boring scheming against each other."

"That's how the sisters-in-law get along in the big families," Mrs. Huang said, "Don't feel bothered. It is Madam Su who has asked you to manage the Shen Family. Just as Madam Su said, the first and second branches have to take care of their children, and you are newly married. Since there's nothing to worry about in your own yard, you should make use of this opportunity and make some rules for the whole family in order to make others obedient, so that no one can take over your power after you have your own children."

Hearing the topic about children, Wei Changying blushed and said, "What are you talking about!? I'm too young to have children.... Did you prepare my presents for my cousin?"

Mrs. Huang smiled and said, "You have been talking about this soon after you got Madam Su's permission yesterday. We have prepared already."

"Good. I didn't expect that mother would command me to manage the Shen Family today. We are running out of time. If any other things slow us down, I'm afraid I can only have a brief talk with my cousin," said Wei Changying. She then sighed and said, "I think mother meant that she only allows me a few days to visit."

Mrs. Huang comforted, "Anyway, now that you are in the capital, even if you are too busy managing the Shen Family in the future and have no time to visit Miss Song, you still can meet her during festivals and on other occasions."

They returned to Jintong Courtyard as they chatted, and then changed their clothes quickly and took the presents prepared for Song Zaishui. After they got on the carriage, they ordered the coachman drive as quickly as possible.

The carriage sped as Wei Changying urged. Although the roads were smooth in the capital, they still felt bumpy because of the fast speed. When they arrived at the mansion of the minister of the public, they all looked ill.

Song Zaishui, who came out to welcome them, was smiling until she saw her cousin, who used to be over energetic, get down the carriage with the help of the servants. She was shocked and asked, "What happened?"

Wei Changying looked at Song Zaishui feebly. She found that Song Zaishui was wearing a curtained hat, maybe it was for covering her scar. The front half of the brim had a piece of yarn that could cover half of Song Zaishui's face, leaving her red lips which had no rouge being seen and revealing her fresh complextion.

It seemed that Ni Hao was right. Song Zaishui was not as unfortunate as the rumors said. Instead, she was living a comfortable life.

"I want to see you as soon as possible, so I urged the coachman to drive fast," said Wei Changying. The coachman then immediately apologized. Wei Changying waved and said to him, "It's not your fault."

Because the sisters were used to being casual in Fengzhou, Wei Changying said without thinking, "Take me to your yard and let me rest. I didn't expect the road paved with blue stones would be so bumpy."

"Stupid you!" Song Zaishui covered her mouth with her sleeve, but she couldn't cover up her delight expression. She said, "No matter how smooth the road is, you will feel bumpy when driving fast. Also, you are in the capital now, so you can see me whenever you want. Why are you in such a hurry?" Song Zaishui then held Wei Changying and asked with care, "Are you alright?"

Before Wei Changying answered, the person on the corridor who was ignored by the sisters couldn't bear any more. She coughed hard and said, "Is cousin Wei uncomfortable? Come in quickly and have a rest."

Her voice was sweet but full of complaint....

Wei Changying followed the voice. She then saw a pretty lady in yellow, standing beside the fence with some maids around her. Obviously, the lady was angry because she was ignored by Wei Changying and Song Zaishui.

Actually, Song Zaishui ignored the lady deliberately, but Wei Changying didn't. She didn't see the lady because there were roses outside the fence which had the same color as the lady's dress. What's more, Song Zaishui took her four maidservants with her along with a number of maids. With so many people at the scene, it was difficult for Wei Changying to notice the pretty lady.

Now she found that the lady was about 20 years old and dressed more like a married woman rather than a young lady. But ladies from eminent families always seemed younger than their true age, so Wei Changying didn't know whether the lady was her first cousin-in-law Mrs. Huo, or her second cousin-in-law Mrs. Duanmu.

So she asked with hesitation, "This is...?"

As the lady in yellow was about to speak, Song Zaishui replied without looking, "Oh, this is my second sister-in-law." She then said, "You said you have a headache this morning, and my second brother has told you to stay in your room. Why did you follow me here? You are quiet indeed, I didn't even notice you."

Hearing this, Mrs. Duanmu, the second madam of the Song Family, looked unhappy immediately. She tightly held her handkerchief and said, "You mean you dislike me to welcome Wei Changying with you?"

"Of course not," Song Zaishui said as she turned around and gave her a cold glance. She then said without emotion, "I'm worrying that my second brother will blame me for not caring for your condition."

The second madam puckered her lips. Song Zaishui then said, "What's more, my first sister-in-law doesn't feel well these days, and she can't even meet my cousin. Therefore, you should take charge of our family. My cousin is not an outsider, so you don't need to worry about us. I can take care of her." She then left without looking at the second madam's expression, and said to Wei Changying, "I have ten parrots, eight tanks of fish and a fluffy cat like a snowball.... Now my yard is really crowded! Come and have a look! If there's anything you like, just take it away!"

After they went far from the second madam, Wei Changying asked Song Zaishui, "What's going on with you two?"

Song Zaishui sneered and said, "Just ignore her. Last time when Ni Hao came, I heard about your two sisters-in-law, and your second sister-in-law, Duanmu Yanyu, is also from the Duanmu Family. I heard that she troubled you soon after you got married. Well, it seems that the daughters from the Duanmu Family are all the same. Yesterday, my second brother said that he must have been blinded that he married such a woman! If my first sister-in-law hadn’t miscarried yesterday, which messed the whole family up, I really wouldn’t have wanted to persuade my brother to keep his wife here!"

Wei Changying was surprised and said, "Well, well, it's rare to see you so angry. You used to be an easy-going person. What did she do to make you so annoyed?"

"It's about the piece of jade carved with siskin...Oh, I mean, the Red-crowned Crane Holds the Lucid Ganoderma jade. After my second brother knew it from my eldest brother, he blamed my second sister-in-law for being too reckless. However, she then began to hate me!" Song Zaishui said as she sneered and picked a flower by the road. She wrapped the flower around her wrist and said, "Those days when I was healing, she visited me three times a day, and every time she came, she would say, 'What a pity that such a pretty face is ruined. The Royal Family won't accept you anymore.' Or, 'Things would be better if you hurt somewhere else instead of your face. I'm afraid common families won't accept a disfigured lady. My poor sister, you will be alone for the rest of your life.' I think she really hoped that I could commit suicide!"

Hearing this, Wei Changying became angry and said, "What a wicked woman! Thank goodness you have a strong spirit. If anyone else was treated like this, she would commit suicide for sure!" She then thought Song Yuwang, Song Zaitian, and Song Zaijiang were so heartless that they had let Song Zaishui undergo this. She said, "Did uncle Song and my two cousins let your second sister-in-law bully you as she likes? They are so mean!"

Seeing that Wei Changying was angry, Song Zaishui felt happy because she knew that Wei Changying cared about her. She smiled and said, "Calm down. You know that I'm not a lady who allows others to bully me." She smiled triumphantly as she continued, "If anyone dares to cold-shoulder me, I will revenge! My sisters-in-law are not my real sisters, so why do I have to tolerate them?"

She then glared at Wei Changying and put the flower on Wei Changying's hair as she said, "For me, I suffered the most from you. Every time you piss me off, I can't do anything to you. This is because you are my lineal cousin. If you were other people, you'd know how I bully you."

Knowing that Song Zaishui was alright, Wei Changying calmed down a bit. She then blamed, "Although I sometimes piss you off, I will also help you! Tell me how you made revenge on her. If I still think that you have been screwed, I will go and find your second sister-in-law Duanmu Wuse, and help you get even with her!"