Yao Shi’s face flushed red with shame at her mother’s scolding, and for a moment she didn’t know how to retort.

In her anger, Ma Shi’s words poured out like spilled beans, bringing up all the old grievances from the past.

“You girl, you think you’re so clever that everyone else must be fools! You’ve never listened to mother’s words even once! I told you not to go work as a maid in a wealthy household – our family wasn’t so poor that we couldn’t support you, but you insisted on going to ‘see the world.’ And what came of it? Your whole life was ruined!

“Just days ago you were boasting about how you’d seen enough of those tasteless old ladies in the Pang Mansion, and that you would absolutely never become a wicked mother-in-law yourself. But look at what you’re doing!

“Our Dafu may have high position and great authority, but think about it – how many good families would marry their daughters off for power?

“Minister Qin is a figure comparable to Zhuge Liang. The reason he chose our family wasn’t for Dafu’s power. If he wanted power, he’s destined to enter the cabinet as prime minister in the future – would he trade away his precious daughter for that?

“You don’t look at the mess of troubles your son carries! Dafu is a good child, yes, but who could marry him without living in constant fear?

“When Dafu went on campaign, didn’t you spend every day at home terrified, afraid something would happen to him? Have you forgotten that bitter taste? There are so many enemies watching Dafu from the shadows – the Emperor is one of them! Have you also forgotten when we were taken as hostages?

“Look at what happened now – on just the second day after the wedding, she went to the palace to pay respects and went in standing but came back lying down. Yining said it was anemia, and you actually believe it’s anemia? The child is being considerate, not wanting us elders to worry!

“Your son’s circumstances are so difficult, and Yining has suffered such grievances coming into our family. Instead of treating her well, you compete with her. You’re already in your forties – when will you finally grow up? When will you finally become sensible?”

Ma Shi scolded so much in one breath, and thinking of those past years, she truly felt both angry and bitter.

She had lived her whole life as an upright and straightforward person, never harming others, so naturally she looked down on those with scheming hearts. But her own daughter had turned out to have such a character. To say she was bad – she wasn’t truly evil. But to say she was kind – she had those twisted thoughts that she’d brought back from the wealthy household, and her way of thinking about everything had changed from before.

Yao Shi listened to her mother’s scolding, and from the moment she mentioned the time when she went to work as a maid in the Pang family, she began to silently shed tears.

By the end, she was crying like rain.

“Mother, even if daughter was wrong back then, daughter had no choice. I’ll tell you the truth – I simply liked Pang Zhongzheng. But our family was just common people. Besides becoming a maid in the Pang household, what other way did I have? And although I didn’t receive a proper title, I had Dafu – he’s my son with Pang Zhongzheng.”

“You still think you’re in the right?” Ma Shi was dumbfounded by Yao Shi’s words.

“Because you liked him, you went to be a servant by his side? You were willing to be a chambermaid?” Ma Shi nearly slapped her.

Yao Chenggu was quick-eyed and quick-handed, stopping his wife. “Enough, it’s been so many years. Besides, with Dafu here, our lives have hope – there’s nothing wrong with that. Now aren’t we talking about Yining’s matter?”

Ma Shi glared at Yao Shi, panting with anger. “What more is there to say about Yining’s matter? The poor girl married into our family and suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck, ending up with such a mother-in-law. No wonder your son turned his back on you! Even I get angry looking at you!”

Yao Shi was scolded until she hung her head and wiped away tears.

Ma Shi couldn’t stand it even more. In her anger, she got up and went to the courtyard, found a staff as tall as her eyebrows and began practicing with it, swinging the staff with vigor and power.

Only Yao Chenggu and his daughter Yao Shi remained in the room. Only then did Yao Shi sob and say: “Father, you judge for yourself – is everything mother said about me correct? Setting aside Dafu’s troubles, regarding the Qin family girl, did I not give her food or clothing?

“I never said I wouldn’t give her those ceremonial tablets either. It’s just that she’s just entered the family – surely I should have time to observe her character? But Dafu turned out well – with just one sentence, he practically threatened to split the household! He brought home a beauty and became like King Zhou of Shang. Father, how can I not be angry?”

Yao Chenggu puffed on his pipe, then shook his head. “You can’t say it all like that. You also did things wrong. Yining has entered our family’s door, so she’s family now. You know Dafu’s judgment – if that girl wasn’t truly good-natured, would our clever Dafu have fallen for her?

“Besides, didn’t you hear what Xu Weizhi and the others said? Yining is intelligent. Even without advisors by her side, she can accomplish great things with her own mind. When she gave Dafu counsel that day, she was even more outstanding than the staff advisors. With such a virtuous helper, why do you always make things difficult for her?”

Hearing this, Yao Shi felt as wronged as could be: “Father, how can you also side with outsiders and not care about your daughter’s pain?”

“Outsiders?” Yao Chenggu knocked his brass pipe against the edge of the kang. “Once she’s married in, she’s family. You must treat her like your own child from the bottom of your heart. You don’t have a daughter yourself – isn’t it good to think of it as raising an extra daughter? Besides, Yining isn’t a child who doesn’t deserve affection.

“If you always keep thinking this way in the future, treating Yining as an outsider, then I think Dafu will treat you as an outsider sooner or later too.”

Yao Shi’s tears fell like rain: “That’s exactly why I’m heartbroken! For the sake of a woman, he treats me this way. He doesn’t even remember how much I’ve sacrificed for him all these years. He’s forgotten how I protected him and kept him alive back then!”

Yao Chenggu looked at his sobbing daughter, feeling both angry and heartbroken.

“Enough, stop crying. Just follow Dafu’s way for now. I’ll discuss with your mother later and see what to do going forward.”

What else could Yao Shi do but nod?

She knew that Yao Chenggu’s words were still gentle. If she repeated her tearful complaints to Ma Shi, she would definitely end up being scolded again.

On Qin Yining’s side, she held Pang Xiao’s hand as they walked toward Jinhua Garden, saying softly: “You shouldn’t have done that. Mother hasn’t had it easy. All these years, she hasn’t looked for another suitable family for your sake. You should be even more filially devoted to her.”

“I know.” Pang Xiao sighed. “I will be properly filial to mother, but I won’t allow her to make you suffer. I can see that mother still likes to be in control – she enjoys managing the household, so let her manage it. From now on, we’ll just close our door and live our own little life. I’ll put you in charge of everything in Jinhua Garden, from top to bottom.”

At this point, Pang Xiao looked somewhat apologetic. “Yining, I’ve wronged you. I’d like to put the entire prince’s mansion under your management, but that’s still my mother after all. I’m afraid of making her ill with anger.”

“I understand. I don’t care whether I manage one courtyard or one mansion. What I hope for is just that our whole family can live together peacefully and harmoniously. Mother treasures you in her heart, which is why she’s examining me so carefully. You should understand mother’s good intentions. She’s not deliberately targeting me – she’s just concerned about you.”

Hearing Qin Yining say this, Pang Xiao felt both joy and emotion in his heart, and couldn’t help but embrace Qin Yining’s slender waist.

Seeing that he was about to lean down, Qin Yining immediately understood what he wanted to do. Her face flushed red as she pushed him away: “What are you doing? In broad daylight, we’re outside!”

Pang Xiao had only wanted to hold her, but seeing that she’d misunderstood, and with her soft, delicate body nestled in his arms, remembering the bone-deep, soul-melting pleasure of the previous night, he immediately became excited: “You’re right, outside won’t do. Let’s go back to our room first.”

Qin Yining’s face turned red with anger at his deliberate misinterpretation.

“You’re simply too wicked! I never realized you were so bad before!”

“I’m bad? I have even worse in me.” Pang Xiao breathed on his fingertips and went to tickle Qin Yining.

Qin Yining was most afraid of being tickled. Being chased by him, she ran straight back to their room and shut the door, not letting Pang Xiao in.

Pang Xiao leaned against the door panel, looking through the crack at the situation inside while saying: “If you don’t let me in, then I’m really leaving – I’ll go find another little beauty!”

Qin Yining heard him say this and couldn’t help but laugh: “Go ahead if you have the ability.”

“Fine, you wait.” Pang Xiao actually turned and walked away.

Qin Yining heard the footsteps walking away from behind the door and became a bit anxious. Even knowing he was teasing her, she couldn’t help but open the door to look outside.

She came face to face with Pang Xiao’s smiling countenance.

“You – didn’t you leave?”

“Yes, I did. But I came back when I heard you open the door.” His large hands grasped her waist, and he leaned down to capture her rosy lips. Using his foot and back to close the door, he carried Qin Yining straight to the inner chamber.

Qin Yining’s flushed and flustered resistance was completely ineffective. The result was that she couldn’t even eat dinner, just lay sprawled in the middle of the soft silk bed sleeping heavily.

Even when Steward Zhao’s wife came to deliver the ceremonial tablets, it was Ji Yun and Bingtang who received them.

Steward Zhao’s wife knew that Pang Xiao and Yao Shi had had a small conflict, and she craned her neck trying to spy on the situation inside the room. Bingtang didn’t like such people, so she said: “The Prince and Princess are discussing court matters and are busy right now. Nanny Zhao, if you have any instructions, please tell me and I’ll relay them to the Princess later.”

“Oh my, I won’t trouble you, miss. I’ll leave first then.” Steward Zhao’s wife slunk away dejectedly.

Bingtang and Ji Yun looked at each other, both their faces somewhat red, but they both burst into giggles.

On the day of the third-day return visit, Qin Yining still rose early to pay her respects to Ma Shi and Yao Shi first.

Qin Yining smiled and said: “Today we’ll return home for a brief visit, and I’ll also introduce the Prince to the people in my family. We’ll return in the evening.”

Yao Shi maintained her usual dignified appearance, as if those unpleasant incidents had never occurred.

“Send our regards to your parents when you return, and don’t forget to take the gifts we’ve prepared.”

Qin Yining smiled and said: “Yes, thank you, mother.”

Ma Shi smiled: “We’re family – why the thanks? I heard that early this morning you arranged work for the servants in Jinhua Garden?”

“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled: “Your granddaughter-in-law is slow-witted. Just managing Jinhua Garden took me quite a while to figure out. Fortunately, there are few people in the courtyard, so it’s not that difficult to handle.”

“You’re just being modest. I heard that the rules you set for the servant women in the courtyard sound very well-organized.”