Madam Song's a.s.sistance on her children had proved non-rewarding more than once or twice. And this time apparently they still hadn't proved themselves worthy— As Wei Changfeng walked in the door listlessly, he responded a few sloppy good words, almost as if waiting for his Madam Song to send someone out and hurriedly call Wei Changying up. Of course, to prove that she was still a strict, good mother, Madam Song had to make up a straight face, put up a cold voice and slap the desk, "Let that little devil go back to the Xianshuang Court to reflect on her behaviors!"

As for the little devil, after returning to Xianshuang Court, whether she would be truly reflecting or just dispatching someone to get frozen cheese for her to eat, or even to learn martial art from Uncle Jiang... Well, no one would dare to tell on her to Madam Song. Therefore, Madam Song would consider her daughter as obedient, and that she actually went back to the yard to reflect on herself, feeling aggrieved.

As a result, Madam Song felt that she still managed to discipline her daughter strictly... A daughter who was disciplined harshly would turn out disciplined as one would expect.

Seeing this, Wei Changfeng couldn't help but ask, "Mother, why are you being so indulgent of big sister?"

"You think I don't want to discipline her?" Hearing his son's words, madam Song felt sad and started to shed tears. "I should blame myself. I wanted my own children so bad then, and now I finally have you two. Your big sister was my first child. Back then... I loved her no matter what she did. Not even speaking of hitting her, scolding her or disciplining her, just by standing in front of her cradle I would order my servants to get rid of all the thorns and made the cradle soft for her. I was scared that she would get hurt! Now that she had turned into such a feisty temperament, it was all my fault!"

Two things that bothered Wei Changfeng the most were that big sister Wei Changying never listened to any reason and when Madam song was crying. Right now, he regretted his guts, thinking that he must have been out of his mind. Why would he say that extra thing now that nothing bad had happened? If mother would be able to discipline big sister, would it be necessary for him to persuade her?

The poor fifth young master Wei had to comfort and coax her mother that Madam Song was able to hold back her tears for now. She told him, "Your big sister's temperament has been fixed, and what she said was reasonable too. There are no more than ten months away from her wedding, and even if I asked her to learn something else, she wouldn't fix her mind to it. I would rather give her more capable servants as her dowry... So Changfeng, you need to prove yourself worthy. You need to put in good effort!"

How was it about me now?

Wei Changfeng was stunned and couldn't say anything!

And here he heard Madam Song spoke softly, "Your grandparents are getting old now, and I am a lady. Your father hasn't been in good health all along... None of us could do anything to help your big sister. From now on, the only person your big sister can count on is you!"

Wei Changfeng sighed and said, "Don't worry, mother. I sure will help big sister and we should support each other. I would never let her be taken any advantage of!"

Nevertheless, she was his sister. Although in Wei Changfeng's eyes his sister had nothing to do with the good virtues of a lady, and she had always been arrogant and domineering. After getting married she would sure to be taking down the road of becoming an envious bad woman, which was true to the saying that marring a daughter was like getting rid of trouble—but it would be only a matter within the family. If someone from the outside would dare to say something like that about Wei Changying, even if it had been Shen Cangfeng, Wei Changfeng would have been the first to stand out and support his sister. Although Wei Changfeng was young, he was not empty headed, and he knew the first thing about relations.h.i.+ps.

Hearing him make a guarantee like this, Madam Song nodded in relief, but she still couldn't completely put her mind off it. She said solemnly, "The Shen Family's status is not below our family, and Shen Cangfeng is the best among the sons of the gentlefolk! Although he has one elder and one younger brothers from his mother, and another elder brother from his father's concubine, the position of the senior commander and the family head of the Shen family have always been pa.s.sed to the worthy and not the elder! It is almost certain that, in the future, the Mingpei Hall of the Shen Family would be inherited to Shen Cangfeng's hands— So my son, you have to prove yourself worthy, and not let others take Ruiyu Hall away from you! Otherwise, your big sister... What would it be like for your big sister if that were to happen in the future?"

Thinking of how this troublesome firstborn would be viewed and treated in the future after marrying out granting her temperament, Madam Song became even sadder, and her tears started raining down again..."

Now Wei Changfeng just wanted to raise his head and sigh to the sky!

Speaking of which, shouldn't mother be forcing big sister Wei Changying to work hard and prove herself? It was Wei Changying that was going to marry after all, and how come speaking now and then, the one that had to put in effort and prove themselves... was me?

Granny s.h.i.+ and all these others were paying attention carefully, and they were all staying very still in a dignified manner. But in fact, all of them were about to burst out into laughter!

Poor fifth young master, it couldn't be helped since First Miss had such a difficult temperament to deal with. But fifth young master, you were so gentle, so modest, so courteous— and so filial and obedient?

Madam, fearing that First Miss would be mistreated after marrying out, thought back and forth and couldn't figure anything out for her daughter. She could only count on her son who was sensible and filial, and hurried him in the hope that Wei Changfeng would soon take control of Ruiyu hall and inherit the n.o.ble t.i.tle from Wei Huan, so that Wei Changying could count on him and that her daughter wouldn't be treated unfairly in her husband's house.

In a word, Madam Song was trying to pick the more flexible between her pair of son and daughter to urge.

Therefore, it should have been First Miss Wei Changying's time to learn hard and train diligently. But because of Wei Changying's lack of effort, now the one demanded to work hard became the fifth young master Wei Changfeng, who was, in fact, extraneous to the circ.u.mstance.

Now this had just pa.s.sed to the ears of Wei Changying, who was following Jiang Zheng to practice post standing. Wei Changying laughed out of happiness and her stance immediately became unstable. Seeing this, Jiang Zheng immediately stared at her and yelled sternly, "Watch your stance! Don't laugh!"

Jiang Zheng was now almost fifty years old. He had been practicing martial arts for a long time, and the Wei Family had always been generous in treating its servants. After starting to teach Wei Changying martial arts, he had had another subsidy from Wei Changying, which had led to a satisfying life. Even at this age, he still had sleek black hair and a ruddy face. Although he had quite a normal look, he still possessed a natural aura exemplifying the dignity and power of a warrior.

Wei Changying had long been accustomed to his yelling and harsh manner when teaching martial arts. Hearing him yell, Wei Changying was not scared at all. She retook her stance grinningly. But the maidservant Zhu Lan who went to deliver the news had not spent days and nights accompanying Wei Changying to practice martial arts in the yard like the chief maid Lv, who was accustomed to everything— Jiang Zheng's sudden yell was nothing to himself, but in Zhu Lan's ears, it was absolutely thunderclaps coming out from the tongue!

At once the maidservant who was accustomed to the soft speaking in the inner courtyard was scared to take a step back. The tears tumbling in her eyes almost fell out!

Seeing this, Lvbin, who was standing in the corridor getting ready for tea handkerchief, promptly went over and helped Zhu Lan up. She comforted her in a low voice and asked Zhu Lan to return to Xianshuang Court so that she wouldn't be scared staying here.

Zhu Lan was the Wei Family's loyal servant who came from generations of serving the family. Her father was one of Madam Song's best managers. He was very fond of her and even asked specifically for the opportunity for her to serve Wei Changying. Although she was a maid, she had some status among the servants. Ever since she was old enough to serve Wei Changying, because Wei Changying had spent all her time on practicing martial arts and let Mrs. He managed all others, she thought that excluding her master, in the Wei Family there was only Mrs. He to fear. No one else was worth fearing, let alone Jiang Zheng, a servant who had been scolded by Mrs. He every now and then?

She was scared and felt that she had lost her face in front of First Miss, Lvbin and other chief maids. After returning to Xianshuang Court, she was annoyed and scared, so she told Mrs. He about the situation and dramatized the event. "... You wouldn't know it, Granny. Jiang Zheng was so rude to First Miss! First Miss is such a n.o.ble lady. Even madam would not scold her a word. But look at Jiang Zheng! Hadn't he let First Miss do a post standing for more than an hour? I went to deliver words to First Miss. After hearing that the fifth young master had been edified by madam, she laughed a bit. Even that was scolded by Jiang Zheng in front of everyone! His yelling was so scary that my legs were trembling! Poor First Miss, has she been mistreated like this by Jiang Zheng all this time?"

Mrs. He had always had trouble with Jiang Zheng. Earlier while Wei Changying was practicing martial arts with Jiang Zheng, she would also go and watch them. However, within an hour, she was forced to leave the courtyard by Jiang Zheng impatiently— It was either Mrs. He should leave or he would. All these years she could only vent on Jiang Zheng at Xianshuang Hall, and now hearing what Zhu Lan was saying, she was so mad that she raised her slender eyebrow and stared her round almond eyes out. She claimed fiercely, "This old man! How dare he treated our First Miss like this! Who does he think he is?!"

And right then Mrs. He slapped the desk angrily, not even having the time to change, she went straight to the courtyard where Wei Changying was practicing martial arts. But when she had just arrived outside of the courtyard before she could even start to forestall while yelling on her way in, she was quick to notice that there outside the courtyard wall stood a young master and two servants, who were sneaking at the foot of the wall, eavesdropping,

Mrs. He got angry instantly seeing this. She was about to approach and reproach them that they didn't have any manner, but then she decided to stay silent after staring close at them: The three standing were none others but Song Zaishui with her maids Chunjing and Xiajing.

Under the wall half covered with climbing fig, the lady who wore an aqucolored narrow-sleeved s.h.i.+rt with embroidered branches and mandala and an ultrmarine blue pleated skirt was Song Zaishui, who that none of her outfit and gesture wasn't exemplary of a lady from an eminent family. She held an ivory round silk fan, and under the fan tied an emerald green jade cicada that dragged a two-inch long crimson red Gong tao belt. At this moment, the round silk fan was barely touching her chin, and her lips slightly curled up into a gentle smile that unveiled her delicate dimples. Accompanying the green climbing fig, no embellishment was needed to make the scene a copy of a glimpse of a stunning, graceful beauty in the midsummer.

But what this fabulous beauty had been doing was not something she would be proud of. She was clearly eavesdropping carefully for the conversation behind the wall, and she didn't even make an effort to conceal her intentions.

But even if Song Zaishui didn't cover up, she had her reason not to do so. Even Mrs. He, who was beloved by Wei Changying in the back courtyard, and who could slap an ordinary maid when she was in the mood and forbidding the maid to cry, immediately became silent when she saw her. This delicate lady was the daughter of the wife of Song of Jiangnan, and the future Crown Princess, even potentially the Empress. Not even the elderly in the Wei family would dare to speak harshly to Miss Song, let alone Mrs. He. Although Mrs. He had raised Wei Changying up by herself, she would not dare to offend her.

While she was hesitating, Song Zaishui saw her on the other side as well. After all, she was taught by the old madam of the Song Family as an example of posterity all over the world. Song Zaishui appeared as if nothing had happened after being found out she had been eavesdropping. Her face didn't even blush, and she came greeting Mrs. He while smiling, "Granny He, have you come to look for Changying?"

Mrs. He would surely not be so ignorant to ask what Song Zaishui was eavesdropping on. She at once advanced a few steps, saluted and fawned upon her, "Yes, just now I heard something from the maidservant, and I have come here to see what is happening. Has Miss Song also come to see Frist Miss? Is it inconvenient to come inside at the moment?" Now she was purposely finding a way out for Song Zaishui.

Song Zaishui raised her round silk fan to slightly cover her lips and spoke smilingly, "I just happened to pa.s.s by and only stopped because I heard Changying speaking inside. I didn't intend to bother her. "

And she continued, "Have you come to find Changying? I should be returning to Mingse House now since today I haven't practiced zither yet!" While speaking, she composedly led her maidservants and walked away, unruffled. She was calm and brisk, and you couldn't see any fl.u.s.ter and embarra.s.sment on her.

Mrs. He turned her head around and glanced at her composed figure, calm and unfl.u.s.tered all the way. She instinctively felt envious for Wei Changying who she had been serving. She thought to herself, "If First Miss could cultivate such a dignified bearing, she would surely be recognized by Madam Su."

Not knowing while just leaving her sight, the lady who was so dignified, elegant and generous, who could hold up a complicated circ.u.mstance was mocked by her close maidservant Chunjing, who said, "Mrs. He hadn't said nothing and yet you just ran away. If Miss Wei were to find out about it, she would laugh at you even more. "

Serious and dignified, Song Zaishui spoke with awe-inspiring righteousness, "I didn't run away. Have you forgotten about the books that I taught you back in the days? This is called taking the opportunity to retreat!"

"They weren't saying anything important anyway. If miss you wanted to hear about their conversation, why didn't you simply come inside to listen? We just stood outside like we were doing something wrong, no wonder Granny He was suspicious seeing us." Xia Jing normally wouldn't talk so much, but this time she decided to say something, and she grumbled about it. "If this was to spread out, that wouldn't bring us a good reputation in any way!"

"What good would a good reputation do? Being filled with flowers and flattered as a heaven-made match so I could be carried into the Imperial Palace?" Song Zaishui's face suddenly turned murky, and she sneered, "All these past decades, had Changle Palace been a nice place to live? I earnestly prefer that my reputation be swept into notoriety than being sent into Weiyang Palace and trampled to death there!"

"..." The two confidant maidservants looked at each other and stopped talking in a sensible manor. Song Zaishui had been hoping that the Empress and the Crown Prince would lose their power so that her engagement would be broken. She had been so desperate for this to happen that she almost seemed to be possessed by the devil. Any remotely unrelated topic would somehow lead to her bringing up the engagement.