Shen Cangfeng returned to Jintong Courtyard earlier than Wei Changying. After changing red summer clothes which were not new, he leaned on the soft bed beside the window to read a poetry book written by an ancient poet. As the door creaked open, he beamed, “Welcome back home.”

Wei Changying, in the blue, replied to him. Shen Cangfeng noticed that she was unhappy, so he asked in astonishment, “What has happened to you? Why are you so gloomy?”

In the past two weeks, Wei Changying and her sisters-in-law were busy with the marriage of their cousin. However, his wife was so ungrateful that sisters-in-law were anxious to revenge her. Finally, they were scolded by their mother-in-law. As Wei Changying came to the Shen Family, she lived a peaceful life. However, now she was criticized by her mother-in-law for the first time. Moreover, her words were severe, so Wei Changying was upset. On her way to her room, she retorted Mrs. Huang, but she still felt annoyed. After hearing Shen Cangfeng’s inquiry, she walked over to him and nestled against his breast, gloomily said, “It doesn’t matter. Perhaps I felt tired recently.”

It was normal that a daughter-in-law had been criticized by her mother-in-law. Besides, Madam Su’s words were reasonable. She was Shen Cangfeng’s mother. Should Wei Changying tell her husband what had happened and then have him discuss his mother?

Therefore, Wei Changying did tell him the whole cause perfunctorily.

Shen Cangfeng was a little surprised. After putting aside his book, he embraced her in his arms, touching her hair, and said with a smile, “What about going out for fun?”

Now, Wei Changying didn’t want to do anything, so she refused, “It is so hot. Forget it.”

“There is a pleasantly cool place,” said Shen Cangfeng, smiling. “On the Spring Grass Lake outside the city, you will be comfortable if we go boating as a breeze ruffles the lake.”

In the palace, Wei Changying recalled someone had mentioned that lake, so she asked, “Is it the lake of the Ode to the Spring Grass Lake?”

“Yes, it is,” answered Shen Cangfeng, touching her face with his fingers. “I have two days off, so if I don’t go there for a rest now, I will have no chance as I have an errand.”

After knowing that he would be busy in the future, Wei Changying was a little reluctant to leave him after marriage, so she said, “Mom has ordered me to learn how to manage domestic things from first sister-in-law and second sister-in-law. If I tell her that I want to go out for fun...”

“It is not urgent, and I will ask for a leave from mom later,” said Shen Cangfeng. He continued to comfort his wife, “In summer, Spring Grass Lake is teeming with lotuses. Instead of a big boat, we will take a small one. It is pretty interesting that the lotuses will be above us as we take a small boat.”

After hearing his description of the lake, Wei Changying became less upset, and said, “I heard my cousin, Song Zaishui, mention this beautiful scene in Jiangnan. However, in the past, when I was in Fengzhou, my grandmother was concerned about me, so she didn’t allow me to have fun on the lake.”

Shen Cangfeng said with a laugh, “It is safe to go boating with me. I’m good at swimming, and I often practice it there.”

Wei Changying got delighted and then teased him, “Did you really swim in the lake? Didn’t you drink water there? My cousin, Song Zaishui, told me that when someone learns to swim, he drinks so much water that he floats on the lake.”

“How dare you make fun of me?” said Shen Cangfeng, flicking her forehead with his fingers. “Kiss me. Otherwise, I will not ask mom for permission to take you out, and you have to do it by yourself.”

Wei Changying threw herself into his arms and said shamelessly, “I won’t kiss you, and you should go to plead with mom. If you don’t go boating on the lake with me, you will feel bored.” She shook his sleeves, which made him heavily breathe. Therefore, he whispered with a smile, “It will be OK if you don’t kiss me. However, let’s do something for fun, then I will take you out.”

After this couple played for a while, Shen Cangfeng was satisfied to get up to arrange his collar, bowing to kiss his wife. He ordered maids to serve her and whispered in her ear, “I’m going to have a bath, and then I will tell it to mom.”

Wei Changying pretended to be angry to push him, “Leave me alone, and do anything you like.”

Shen Cangfeng pinched her face and then left with a smile. When he arrived at the bathroom, he asked servants to fetch water to have a bath. After he finished this, he went to seek her mother in the first branch. He informed his mother of his purpose that he would go boating with Changying in Spring Grass Lake. The lake was outside the city, so he feared that they would not go home in time. He asked two days off for his wife.

After hearing his requirement, Madam Su was a little unhappy to say, “Now, as a daughter-in-law, she is spoiled. After being rebuked by me, she asked you to go boating outside the city for relaxing? And even for two days? Cangning is my daughter, and she is most loved by your father. When she makes a mistake, I always scold at or beat her to teach. I never beat my daughter-in-law.”

Shen Cangfeng was astounded, and then answered with a smile, “Mom, did you criticize Changying? But I don’t know that, because she didn’t tell me anything just now.”

Madam Su didn’t believe his words, so she said with a sneer, “If so, why do you want to go boating with her out of nowhere?” She was concerned about her son. “The wedding of Canghui has just been over. Recently, you were busy with it. Yesterday, you not only drank for him but also entertained colleagues on his behalf. Chief Gu gave you two days off in order to let you have a rest. I know that you always consider for Wei Changying because her reputation was ruined before marriage and you fear that she would be mistaken. However, does she ever think of you?”

Shen Cangfeng got to his feet to walk over to Madam Su. He rolled up his sleeves to gently pound her legs and said with an apologetic smile, “Mom, you have mistaken her. She didn’t ask me to go boating. I have two days off, and it is boring to stay at home. I haven’t watched the blooming lotuses in Spring Grass Lake this year yet, so I think that it will be interesting if I go there with my wife after marriage.”

He anxiously added, “When did I tell a lie to you?”

Madam Su responded to him, “Last year, you secretly headed for Fengzhou.”

“I merely took French leave, so I didn’t lie to you,” explained Shen Cangfeng. “Changying often tells me that you carefully treat her as if she were your daughter, and even more carefully than fourth sister. But for what you have said just now, I would not have expected that you have denounced her.”

Among her children, Shen Cangji, the youngest son, was most beloved by Madam Su. Also, Shen Cangfeng, valued most by the Shen Family, was loved by her. Shen Cangfeng explained for many times that Wei Changying had not complained before him, but knew that Madam Su had treated her as carefully as a daughter. After hearing this, Madam Su gradually cooled down, and said, “She exaggerated it. She is not my daughter, after all. I treat her as a daughter-in-law like others. If she does something good, I will praise her. If not, I must teach her.”

Shen Cangfeng said with a smile, “It is said that a child would be selfish if his or her mother were merciful. Mom, you are so fair and consider for her, which shows that you treat her as carefully as a daughter. I know that you are strict but kind and warm.”

“You are my son, so don’t trick me like this,” said Madam Su, lifting up her leg. “You bastard, after you finished arguing for Wei Changying, you gently pound my leg more slowly. Do you plan to stop pounding and then leave away?”

“No, I don’t,” said Shen Cangfeng, immediately gently pounding her legs for twice and asked with a flattering smile, “Mom, why did you criticize Changying? Recently she helped you and first sister-in-law deal with the affair of second uncle. So she didn’t have time to handle trivia on Jintong Courtyard. Perhaps is it because servants who did something without reporting it to their master?”

A smile on Madam Su’s lips disappeared. After hearing this, she was so annoyed that she clenched her fists to punch him on the head and snarled, “I thought that what you have said is honest, but how dare you be so ungrateful after marriage? In your view, I misunderstood your wife?” Mothers didn’t believe that their own sons were not good, so was Madam Su. She was skeptical to say as she beat him, “Did Wei Changying say so? Do you deceive me? How ungrateful you are! Wei Changying has not been here for a long time, and have you already been enticed by her to think that I abuse her? Damn it!”

“Mom, calm down please!” said Shen Cangfeng, awkwardly avoiding her fists. “I don’t know what exactly has happened, so I thought that Changying didn’t have time to deal with the matter in Jintong Courtyard. I’m afraid that someone would sow discord between you and Changying, and then you would quarrel with her. Ouch.”

Shen Cangfeng cried out with pain and held his hands on his head, which made Madam Su feel a little guilty. Hence, she stopped beating him with a faint smile, and said, “Is it because of Jintong Courtyard? Do you think that I am as bad as your first aunt who insults her daughter-in-law? To be honest, although I don’t regard my daughter-in-law as a daughter, I don’t abuse her.”

Shen Cangfeng said with an apologetic smile, “Mom, you are always kind-hearted.”

“Shut up!” Madam Su loudly shouted to interrupt him, pointing at him, and said furiously, “How long have you been married with your wife? If there is something wrong with her, will I be so impatient to scold at her and even drive her out? Don’t you remember how I taught your first sister-in-law to manage domestic things? Your second brother is not my son, but did I criticize his wife because of this? You are my son, and will I treat your first sister-in-law better than your wife?”

Shen Cangfeng apologized to her mother, massaging her legs and shoulders. As he noticed that her teacup had almost been emptied, he filled it with water. After Shen Cangfeng served his mother for a while, Madam Su was mollified. She explained in detail as she glared at him, “Wei Changying didn’t meddle in conflicts, but she didn’t want to help deal with it. Your grandparents passed away early, so your father and your uncle depended on each other to succeed in taking over Mingpei Hall after dealing with lots of troubles. Your uncle was determined to support your father and was never sowed discord by his family. He didn’t compete with your father, but assisted him despite he was second to him. Thanks to him, your father ended up successfully managing Mingpei Hall. Now you have seven brothers, which is better than your father and uncle at that time. Since your childhood, the elders have taught you to be in harmony with your brothers. When you and your brothers married your own wives, it is normal that they may have their own plans, because they are not our children.”

“It is said that if water is too clear, there will be no fish. I’m not serious about their petty niggling. Your two sisters-in-law meddled in the matters of your fourth brother because Mrs. Pei was not respectful to them. How could I allow such things to happen again? Therefore, I renounced them. Wei Changying was also present, but she didn’t persuade her sisters-in-law but watched their argument. I criticized her in case she would make a serious mistake in the future. Am I wrong?”

After pounding the table, Madam Su snarled, “Am I wrong?”

Shen Cangfeng immediately lifted his lower hem of his robe to kneel down and said honestly, “I apologized.”

“Hum!” Madam Su wanted to say more, but she felt a little tired after criticizing him for a long time. After all, her first granddaughter was ten years old. She only said unhappily, “Go back to Jintong Courtyard. I am tired now, and ask Granny Tao to serve me. As I see you, an ungrateful son, I get angry.”

Shen Cangfeng said, smiling apologetically, “It is my fault. I don’t expect that Changying was not sensible enough. I thought that it is because after marriage, she didn’t manage the servants in Jintong Court who have made mistakes. Mom, you are kind, so forgive me, please.”

“Piss off! Come on!” snarled Madam Su, beating the bed. “Don’t appear in front of me.”

Shen Cangfeng said quickly, “I’m going to ask Granny Tao on your behalf.”

Madam Su snorted. As soon as Shen Cangfeng went out of the door, he poked out his head behind the door and inquired gingerly, “Mom, you agree that I can go to Lake Spring Grass with Changying, right?”

“You only care about your wife, and do you forget your mother?” said Madam Su angrily, beating the bed, “You bastard, piss off! If you appear before me again, I will ask someone to fetch a ferule to beat you.”

“Thanks, mom,” said Shen Cangfeng with a loud laugh. He didn’t care about his mother’s angry words, but directly asked Granny Tao to serve his mother. He thought that his mother had accepted his requirement.