The two daughters-in-law of the minister of the public Song Yuwang happened to make a sharp contrast in the Grand Preceptor mansion. The first daughter-in-law Mrs. Huo was virtuous to the summit, and the second daughter-in-law Duanmu Wuse was vicious to the extreme.

Duanmu Wuse also got Pei Meiniang, the newly married first daughter-in-law of Count Xiangning Shen Zhou, into trouble. In the eyes of Su Xiuman, the Madam of Grand Preceptor, Pei Meiniang was virtuous, gentle, and considerate, born in an aristocratic family. Then provoked by Duanmu Wuse, she became so suspicious that she made her aunt, who raised her husband to grow up, fall ill because of anger in a misunderstanding. Mingpei Hall was known for favoritism and it was well-known that Count Xiangning Shen Zhou tended to guard his children. For the eldest daughter Shen Cangzhu, he almost smashed the house of the Su Family in Qingzhou, whose influence was as eminent as theirs.

Now, it was his lineal eldest son and first daughter-in-law who were deceived. The status of Jinxiu Duanmu's family was not higher than that of the Su Family in Qingzhou.

Since His Majesty was not fond of governing, there were not many meetings in the dynasty. However, Duanmu Huang, the father of Duanmu Wuse, was unfortunate to work with Shen Zhou in the Ministry of War. Shen Zhou did not show respect to his colleagues at all. Since the Shen Family was famous for the martial arts, the Shen Family men had been practicing martial arts since childhood. Although he was a little old, he was still strong enough to punch Duanmu Huang, a weak scholar. It was said that the fighting was so fierce that even the manservant who was responsible for serving tea went to mediate. Duanmu Huang was punched black and blue, who was supported to leave the scene, weeping.

In the Song Family, on the day when Mrs. Huo was taken back, Song Zaijiang saw the dying sister-in-law, who had always cared for him like a mother, being carried out of the carriage. But she still persuaded him not to blame his wife after she returned to her room. Song Zaijiang was famous for his good-temperament in gentry families. He turned away silently, returned to the second branch with a stern face, wrote the divorcement, and sent Duanmu Wuse, who was screaming to be wronged, back to her family.

Early the next morning, because the first sister-in-law was ill, and the second-in-law was sent home, Song Zaishui, the First Miss of the Song Family, who had been idle in the family, had to take charge of the family affairs temporarily. The first thing Song Zaishui did was to count all of Duanmu Wuse's dowry and send them to The Duanmu Family in carriages.

This time, Duanmu Wuse's parents were helpless even if they spoiled their daughter. Because the thing was going viral throughout the capital, even the people of Jinxiu Duanmu’s clan could not tolerate it and forced them to clear the clan.

Madam Min slapped Pei Meiniang in front of Mrs. Liu because she should consider other girls besides her daughter Pei Meiniang. Similarly, the couples of the Duanmu Family, besides the couple of Duanmu Huang, all spoiled their daughters, who would be negatively affected by Duanmu Wuse.

In the Shen Family, Shen Zhou beat Duanmu Huang, who taught her daughter badly. However, Pei Meiniang couldn’t be blameless. She knelt outside Madam Su’s main room for three days, no matter how Madam Su persuaded her. Then, she requested to be divorced. Shen Canghui, who was reluctant to divorce her, knelt down with her.

All in all, Madam Su finally forgave her nephew and niece-in-law in the Grand Preceptor mansion.

After the couple returned to the Count Xiangning mansion, Shen Zhou didn’t want to listen to their explanation. He directly pushed Shen Canghui down and beat him with a stick thirty times. He kept beating Shen Canghui with scars and blood until Shen Cangzhu, who loved his brother, rushed in to stop and sent people to inform Grand Preceptor mansion. Shen Xuan went to persuade and Shen Zhou stopped.

For his daughter-in-law Pei Meiniang, although Shen Zhou did not beat her, he asked his eldest daughter to continue to instruct the women. In response to what Pei Meiniang said that Madam Su looked down upon her for her birth, Shen Zhou directly addressed Shen Cangzhu in public, "Do you think that you can free yourself from the family affairs after your sister-in-law married here? To think about Mrs. Pei's family, she is just a daughter of an aristocratic family, and how can she preside over the family affairs as the Family Mother as soon as she got married? You think too much of her! You are still the Family Mother. You are my daughter, the linear daughter, and it's your responsibility to instruct your siblings and sisters-in-law. Whoever doesn't accept it, you can report to me! My son doesn't need to worry about marrying a wife!"

When these words were spread to the Grand Preceptor mansion, Madam Su couldn't help crying again. She was not sad but pleased to say to Granny Tao in private, "I have to tolerate Mrs. Pei. The second brother-in-law always compromises with my husband since childhood. He is willing to assist him, and he even refused to let Canghui, his lineal eldest son, marry the daughter of gentlefolks! He has given way to such a degree that both my husband and I are grateful. For his kindness, although his eldest son and first daughter-in-law are ignorant, I can't be angry with them!"

Granny Tao sighed, "The Second Old Master has a good heart and is friendly with his brother. The fourth master is really confused. Since he is brought up by Madam, he should know your kindness."

Madam Su felt painful. She thought she treated Shen Canghui really well. As the outsiders said, she treated the sons of concubines like Shen Lianshi equally. However, they were delivered by the concubines of her husband. Although they called her the mother, she had her own sons, so how could she regard them as her sons?

However, she treated her nephew differently. Because he was her brother-in-law's son, Madam Su was not jealous. Besides, she was grateful for her brother-in-law's humility and support for her husband over the years, so Madam Su was cautious when raising Shen Canghui, for fear that he would suffer grievance. Shen Canghui was one year younger than Shen Cangfeng. Madam Su had always favored her nephew whenever there was any dispute or disagreement between them since they were young.

But her nephew, who grew up with her love, should forget her after marrying his wife. Although Madam Su was not his biological mother, she felt so angry when she thought about it!

After a long pause, Madam Su said, "Canghui is too young. I was afraid that he would become rebellious so that I kept him from going to entertainment venues and prohibited the pretty girls to seduce him. At first sight of Pei Meiniang, she looks a little bit charming. Besides, she may act coquettishly, so a young man like him will be attracted to follow her opinions." These remarks were the same as that of Honored Consort Deng, who commented on her nephew Deng Zongqi who had a crush on Wei Changying. But their moods were totally different.

Granny Tao pondered for a moment and said, "The fourth son is the lineal eldest son of the second Old Master. He shouldn't be confused for beauty." Seeing that Madam Su didn't speak, Granny Tao continued, "According to my opinion, the Fourth Young Master has been married now, so it’s reasonable to take in some concubines to serve him..."

"Forget it!" Madam Su hesitated for a moment, but shook her head and sighed, "The second brother-in-law has beaten Canghui violently. He has also removed the power of Mrs. Pei and scolded her with the words that she said to me. As an elder, if I make a fuss about it, even if there will be no rumors, my husband will think that I have pulled my second brother-in-law too much."

Granny Tao hurriedly said, "Yes, Madam, I understand."

Madam Su rubbed her forehead and asked, "What did Lianshi do to Mrs. Duanmu? Why did she get sick in the past two days?"

"After the second young master heard about Duanmu Wuse's behaviors, he remembered that the second young madam used to interact with Duanmu Wuse, so he suspected that the second young madam had concealed the matter of Lvqiao..." Granny Tao sighed, "The second young madam felt wronged and took the third young Madam as an excuse. The second young master got angry, so his tone was unfriendly. Perhaps the second young madam could not bear it and got ill."

Madam Su said unpleasantly, "It's not a big deal to quarrel between husbands and wives! As long as it is not escalated, I won't ask my daughter-in-law to come and scold her every time. But Mrs. Duanmu is the second branch, and why did she mention the third branch? How did the third branch provoke her?" she asked, "What did she say?"

"The second young madam said that this time she was implicated by her cousin of the maternal family, but the second young master couldn’t forgive her. At the time, the third young madam had a bad reputation, but the third young master insisted on marrying the third young madam. He even worried that the third young madam would not be respected by his concubines, so he dismissed them, who had been serving him for many years. And he still has no intention of accepting other concubines. The second young master said she was not virtuous, so she asked how virtuous the third young madam was, and she would learn it." Granny Tao muttered, "The second young madam said she was also curious about why she and the third young madam had different fates?"

Madam Su didn't want to hear about Wei Changying’s loss of virtue before marriage. After all, Wei Changying married her son Shen Cangfeng, who was most respected in the clan, and he would be the most disgraced.

Then she turned serious and said coldly, "It has been forgotten by others, but she still remembers it. How is Mrs. Wei more virtuous than her? On the day when Duanmu Xinmiao came here, Mrs. Wei looks more virtuous than her in every way! I haven't made a fuss about it, and how dare she claim to be reasonable! She said that she was implicated by her cousin in the maternal family, but if she behaves well in ordinary times, Xushi will not be suspicious of her because of her cousin. Even though Duanmu Wuse was divorced and sent home, other daughters of the Duanmu Family won't be rejected by their husbands."

Madam Su said resentfully, "Since she is not in good health now, she should not be in charge of family affairs, in case that she will get tired. Tell her, I feel sorry for her inconvenience to go out, so I ask her to turn over her business to Mrs. Wei!"

Granny Tao said yes and sneered in her heart, "She said that she felt sorry for her inconvenience to go out, which sounds considerate but is actually very hurtful. It seems that since the Duanmu Family has an evil woman like Duanmu Wuse, Madam Su also thinks that Duanmu Yanyu should not go out these days to avoid shame."

After just a few days, Mingpei Hall had changed much. Because of the fourth young madam Pei Meiniang, a series of things happened. Madam Su fell ill, and the two madams of the Song Family were involved. Duanmu Wuse was divorced, and Pei Meiniang struggled to keep the first daughter-in-law of Count Xiangning mansion. Duanmu Yanyu was implicated. In the end, except for Mrs. Huo, the first madam of the Song Family who had endured Duanmu Wuse for a long time, Wei Changying also benefited from it.

Mrs. Huo paid the price of patience for many years, being pushed down in public and still lying sick on the bed. However, Wei Changying did nothing and got the power that once belonged to Duanmu Yanyu.

Granny Tao came to inform her that all the family affairs that were once in charge of Duanmu Yanyu would be handed over to her from now on and that it was likely to be the same even when Duanmu Yanyu recovered. Granny Tao said with a touch of complex meaning, "The third young madam, you have such a good fortune!"

Wei Changying greeted Granny Tao with a smile and graciously entertained her. When Granny Tao left, there was no joy on Wei Changying’s face. She glanced at the things sent by Granny Tao, including an account book, keys, etc., which were the symbols of the power of management once belonging to Duanmu Yanyu.