Having been disturbed in the middle of the night, after calming the two of them down and returning to her own place, Wei Changying had no desire to sleep at all. She called Mrs. Huang, who couldn't sleep either, to discuss things, "Things in Mingpei Hall will probably stay like this. What do you think we should do next, Granny?"

Mrs. Huang said, "Since you arrived in Western Liang, you haven't met all the branches of the Shen Family. Of course, it cannot be done now. Firstly, our young master is still bedridden. Secondly, there are still some small things to be settled. Thirdly, when you had just arrived, you hadn't mentioned that you would be doing it. Now there is no proper reason, either. If our young master could host the banquet on New Year's Eve this year, why don't we make it a big affair and ask every branch to come?"

Wei Changying nodded, saying, "You are right. But Cangfeng doesn't need to host the banquet personally. Isn't Canghui here? By then, we will let Cangfeng put in an appearance and let Canghui take care of people in the front courtyard. We'll do the rear courtyard."

She mused, "But how should we make the invitations? We must invite everyone from the close branches. However, if there are talented people in distant branches, it won't be good to neglect them."

"How about we ask some people to find out about it now?" Mrs. Huang knew that Wei Changying intended to take advantage of giving out the invitations to warn those who had complained about her recently and to praise those who had behaved well. The most important thing was to build a reliable and competent team for Shen Cangfeng.

Wei Changying said, "It's the last month now. I don't know if it's too late. By the way, Cangfeng said that there is a talented person at Diecui Pass. Last time, when Cangfeng was almost assassinated, he was trying to recruit him. I don't know if I will be able to invite him this time."

Although this was someone whom Shen Cangfeng had chosen, and Wei Changying and Mrs. Huang didn't know much about Western Liang, Wei Changying resisted the impulse to tell Mrs. Huang to ask around about him. She said, "Tomorrow I will ask Cangfeng. After all, he was here first. Can you think about the wording of the invitation, Granny?"

The next day, having dealt with the work of the day, Wei Changying went to keep her husband company. She told him about the decision, "I sent someone over to ask Xinmiao, and she said you should be fine to get up and walk around by the time of New Year's Eve, but you can't drink."

On hearing that, Shen Cangfeng breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "No drinking is fine. I will drink tea instead then. It's good that I will be able to get up. Actually, I think I can walk now already."

"Don't tear your wounds open. You had better stay lying down to recover." As he had expected, Wei Changying disagreed. She said, "If you feel uncomfortable lying down for a long time, get someone to massage you."

"I want you to massage me." Shen Cangfeng reached out his hand to touch the back of her hand, smiling faintly.

Wei Changying glared at him, but she actually put the handkerchief in her hand around her bracelet and raised her hand to massage his arm. While massaging him, she said, "Do you have a plan as to whom you want to invite on New Year's Eve?"

Shen Cangfeng thought by New Year's Eve there would be chaos in the western tribes. Whether he could have food in Western Liang would even be a question. However, this plan was confidential military information. He didn't intend to tell his wife, so he smiled, saying, "You do what you like. We will invite people from all the close branches anyway."

"They have already been considered. I mean, is there anyone in the distant branches I should pay attention to? And those who are not from our family?" Wei Changying explained, "For example, the officials and gentry of Western Liang whose surnames aren't Shen. And the talented person at Diecui Pass you mentioned before. Should we use this opportunity to invite them over so as to get acquainted with them?"

Shen Cangfeng mused, "In terms of officials and gentry here, you should discuss who to invite with the reasonable seniors. Although I arrived here before you, for over a year I have spent my time on the battlefield. I lived in Western Liang City for a few days, but it was to confuse the people from the western tribes. Indulging myself in banquets with friends, I didn't pay attention to any capable person in the family. Even if I had paid attention, I wouldn't have known any better about those people than the seniors who have grown old here."

Halfway through his words, he felt Wei Changying's hand massaging his arm stop. Her almond-shaped eyes stared at him.

Surprised, Shen Cangfeng smiled, saying, "What's the matter?"

Wei Changying stared at him for a moment but saw that he was still confused, so she pulled up her sleeve and reached her hand out to pinch his ear. She shouted, "You indulged yourself in banquets with friends? How did you indulge yourself? Did you only drink and eat? Or did you also screw the pretty prostitutes and maidservants?"

Shen Cangfeng said awkwardly, "No such thing! It was just a manner of speaking. I actually just lived in a building in the city for a few days. Youjia used the opportunity to get people to spread tales about me being ignorant and overambitious."

"Stayed in those places for a few days?" Wei Changying gnashed her teeth and held him by his ear, saying, "What kind of building did you live in? With your status and wealth, I guess all the women in the building clustered around you, didn't they? Were you happy about all the women around? Wasn't it wonderful with warm delicate bodies in your arms? That is why the maidservant in the past was named Ruanyu! Was it because you had to leave and had to deal with military affairs, not being able to enjoy the warmth and the delicacy, you lovingly gave her this name? Tell me what you mean! Otherwise, just see how I beat you!"

Being held by her, Shen Cangfeng kept begging for mercy, not knowing whether to cry or laugh, saying, "Changying, I'm injured now. Your beating me brings no honor to the victor! No honor!"

"What's wrong with having 'no honor'?" Wei Changying said angrily, "I should beat you up while you are still unwell so that you won't dare to behave badly. Why wait until you get better and fight back?"

Smiling, Shen Cangfeng was about to speak, but he suddenly seemed to think of something. His face looked serious and he muttered, "That's right. Although he was badly hurt, he is very calculating. He may be able to get through this difficult time! Now waiting for their infighting, we might be giving him a chance to breathe!"

Wei Changying was totally confused, but she noticed that he seemed to be talking about military things. In terms of this topic, she had been advised by her two aunts and Mrs. Huang before she left. It was that after she came to Western Liang, she could make as many changes as she wanted in the rear courtyard. To assist her husband, even if she did something out of line, they could afford it because she could rely on her maternal family and the fact that she had given birth to the lineal eldest son, Shen Shuguang. However, as for military affairs, unless Shen Cangfeng took the initiative to talk about it to her, she should never say too much.

Military affairs weren't child's play, so this wasn't something a woman could interfere in.

At this moment, she slowly loosened her grip so as not to interrupt Shen Cangfeng's thoughts.

Shen Cangfeng looked like he was deep in thought. He muttered softly to himself from time to time, saying things like "this person", "the infighting", "opportunity", and so on. Staying silent, with her chin in her hands, Wei Changying looked at a bunch of newly-cut plum blossoms in a porcelain vase not far away, trying to remember these words and speculating.

Just as she had counted most of the flowers of the plum blossom in the vase, Shen Cangfeng suddenly took her into his arms and kissed her on the side of her neck. While kissing her, he laughed, saying, "You are indeed the better half. I was waiting for the infighting within the western tribes to take advantage of it, but I almost made a big mistake with that plan! No wonder the news from the spies is inconsistent and confusing! If you hadn't made me see the light, Muxiuer would have been able to get through this!"

Wei Changying had been practicing martial arts since she was young, so she had developed the instincts of a martial artist. After the sudden attack, she had instinctively wanted to fight back, but she realized it in time and stopped her movements, speaking to her husband in a panic, "Your injury!"

She thought, "Isn't this guy crazy? The most serious wounds are on his chest! Holding me in his arms like this... Isn't he worried about tearing open the wounds that have just healed again?"

Wei Changying didn't dare to move, worrying that she would hurt him more if she moved. Shen Cangfeng didn't care at all. He kissed her on the cheek again, saying with a smile, "Changying, you get someone to get Youjia to come here first. Later, I will explain to you what happened earlier, so you won't be angry about it again."

"We had been talking, but you suddenly thought about your military thing. I am very angry now!" Wei Changying deliberately straightened her face, snapping.

Though she had said that, Wei Changying knew how important it was. She stood up immediately and was about to go out to get someone.

Shen Cangfeng said, "Then when I feel better, I will... Apologize to you sincerely?"

"Stupid!" Wei Changying spat out. She turned around, raised her finger, poked him hard on the forehead, straightened her skirt, and went out to call someone to give the order.

It would take some time for the servant outside to call Shen Youjia and for Shen Youjia to come over. So Wei Changying came back to the room and said, "Okay, I got someone to call for him. How do you explain what happened before? First of all, if you can give me a good explanation, you could be spared from the punishment! If you can't..."

Wei Changying raised her small fist and waved it in front of him, sneering, "Let's see if I can beat you up so much that you won't be able to get out of bed even for the Lantern Festival, let alone for New Year's Eve!"

Shen Cangfeng rubbed his chin and looked at her, smiling.

"Don't you get clever with me!" Wei Changying sat by the side of the bed and pinched his nose hard, saying, "Okay, tell me how you made Muxiuer believe that you were a paper tiger? Did you indulge yourself in banquets and women, or the banquets and women, or the banquets and women? Hmm?"

Having said these words, she slid her hand onto Shen Cangfeng's ear. It seemed that If there was an answer which dissatisfied her, she would instantly pinch Shen Cangfeng's ear.

Shen Cangfeng begged pitifully, "Changying, my love for you is witnessed by God. Don't you remember the words I said to you when we were in Jintong Courtyard in the capital?"

"So what?" Wei Changying snorted, "Don't change the subject! Tell me how you cheated on me after you arrived in Western Liang!"

"I just found a place and told others to do things ostentatiously, while Youjia, I, and the other officials shut ourselves in a small and quiet courtyard to think about strategies." Shen Cangfeng sighed, "After all, I was the bait. I was busy remembering the terrain, doing martial arts, and remembering people. Where could I find time to do anything else? If you don't believe me, ask Shen Die. During those days, after I finished the work,I always lay on the bed and even missed dinner."

Wei Changying asked skeptically, "Remembering people? What kind of people?"

"Of course, they were the people sent to protect me from 'Thorn Hedge'. Who do you think they would be?" Shen Cangfeng saw her alert look, feeling angry but finding it funny. He reached out his finger to touch her cheek, shook his head, and smiled. He said, "Such a jealous girl. How can I dare to have any other intentions? Look at your serious beautiful face. If I don't give you a good answer, my queen, you will have people drag me out and turn me into human flesh soup?"

His calling her "my queen" stirred up memories for her. Wei Changying thought of the moment when Shen Cangfeng had teased her, calling her "my queen". At that time, they had been newly married and she had been reprimanded by her mother-in-law because of the problem when Pei Meiniang had served tea. She had dejectedly returned to Jintong Courtyard, and her husband had noticed it and had offered to take her to Spring Grass Lake. On the way, they had been having fun. Thinking of that, Wei Changying was happy, gently pushing her husband but still pretending to look serious. She said, "I know you don't have the guts! Otherwise, not only would you be turned into soup, but you would also be finely chopped and turned into dumpling stuffing! Begging would be of no use!"

"What a mighty, terrifying, powerful, and brutal queen!" Shen Cangfeng pretended to be frightened. He pulled up the corner of the duvet towards his face, acting like a beauty with tears in his eyes. He spoke with a high-pitched voice, "In the future, within Western Liang, as long as your title of 'the Queen' is spoken of, it will frighten everyone, let alone stop a child from crying at night. Poor me, a humble servant with a difficult life. How did I meet the Queen?"

Wei Changying looked at her handsome and imposing husband pretending to be a delicate little beauty at the age of sixteen. It amused her so much that she couldn't help but laugh out loud. She gently pointed to her husband's forehead, "You behave, so your queen will love you! And keep you safe and happy!"