Shaoshang changed into a soft and fitting half-worn curved-hem garment, first having someone go notify Lady Xiao that she would be over shortly, then unhurriedly lifted her feet to go. Walking halfway there, she thought for a moment, then told Lian Fang to go find a few of her brothers for help, telling her she might as well describe the situation more seriously—in case things escalated, she’d better have the fire brigade ready.

Arriving at Jiuzhui Hall, she saw the Cheng Shi couple sitting high in the seats of honor, while Cheng Zhi and Sang Shi sat to one side, each person’s expression different.

Lady Xiao was solemn and holding her breath, clearly displaying an expression of wanting to ‘reason properly’ with her. Sang Shi smiled at her teasingly, giving her an eye signal of ‘I’ve come to save you.’ Shaoshang was deeply moved in her heart.

Cheng Zhi was forcibly suppressing a yawn. He had originally been about to take his afternoon nap, who knew his wife would insist on coming over to watch mother and daughter clash. He had no choice but to follow along.

Only Cheng Shi, upon seeing Shaoshang, though he had known early what had happened, still cried out in alarm: “Niaoniao, didn’t they say it was just a scuffle? That Miss Yin actually beat you like this! My child, does it hurt…”

Great-grandfather Cheng had stunning beauty throughout the land, yet as the eldest son, he hadn’t inherited even half of it. Heaven knows how regretful he was in his childhood. Finally having a beautiful child, was it easy for him? That Miss Yin actually came to cause destruction—could it be jealousy?!

Lady Xiao had originally held a breath of serious righteousness, but hearing these words, her composure broke with a puff. She helplessly turned to look at Cheng Shi: “Miss Yin was also beaten and injured, don’t only care about your own child!”

Cheng Shi was puzzled: “Was Miss Yin’s face also beaten like this?” He pointed at Shaoshang’s face swollen like a pig’s head.

Lady Xiao choked, and only after a long while said: “She, she was injured in other places.”

“When young ladies fight, with their flowery fists and embroidered legs they can’t cause serious injuries. Can they break ribs or break arms and legs? What could be more important than the face?!” Cheng Shi’s large palm slapped the table, pained to the core. “Niaoniao isn’t even betrothed yet! If this face doesn’t heal, I’m not done with that Yin family!” Thus the hall only heard Cheng Shi’s loud roaring, and moreover it sounded quite reasonable.

Lady Xiao was speechless: she had forgotten what she wanted to say.

Actually, with her capable way of handling matters, how could she not guard against this. Not to mention her personal martial maid was skilled in treating external injuries and had already declared there was no major problem. Before sending Shaoshang home, she also made a detour to a reliable medical shop, and the physician also said her face wouldn’t scar after healing.

As for beneath the clothes, A’Zhu had already come to report.

Sang Shi lowered her head to suppress her laughter. Cheng Zhi glanced at his wife—he had said early on, with the eldest brother present, how could their niece suffer a loss!

Lady Xiao ignored her husband’s derailment. After organizing her emotions, she directly asked her daughter: “Shaoshang, I ask you, do you know your error today?”

“…She’s already been beaten like this, and you still want to ask if she’s wrong?”

“Daughter knows her error.”

Cheng Shi and Shaoshang spoke simultaneously, then father and daughter glared at each other.

Lady Xiao’s head ached badly. She forcefully pushed her husband farther away, signaling him to shut up, then said: “Good, Shaoshang, then you tell me, where was your error?”

Shaoshang raised her head and chest: “No matter how others humiliate and treat daughter harshly, daughter should not have struck them. Father and Mother rest assured, from now on unless it’s self-defense, otherwise daughter will not fight with people again.”

Lady Xiao hadn’t expected her to admit her error so readily. After hesitating a while, she said again: “Then how do you plan to make amends?”

“How to make amends?” Shaoshang curled her lip. “There’s no need to change. Anyway, in the future daughter probably won’t have much dealings with them, won’t see them many more times. Nodding acquaintances will be fine.”

Everyone in the hall was stunned. Lady Xiao frowned: “What do you mean by this.”

Shaoshang had long wanted to lay her cards on the table with her parents about the future. Now the timing was just right, so she said frankly: “With the Yin family’s background, Sister E’e will certainly marry into a comparable household in the capital in the future. But daughter will either return to the countryside or marry into a mountain forest scholarly family. How many times could we meet in the future?”

Simply put, her future husband’s family would either be a rural prominent household like the Ge family—having money, power, and reputation in the countryside, but far from the imperial court; or it would be a wealthy household that passed down farming and studying. If their studies were successful, they might perhaps rise to the level of Sang Shi’s natal family, writing books and establishing doctrines, opening mountains and teaching disciples. If their studies were ordinary… then they’d live an ordinary life.

At these words, Lady Xiao first froze, her first reaction was to look at her husband. Who knew Cheng Shi also had a completely dazed expression. Seeing his wife’s burning gaze coming his way, he hastily waved his hands: “…I didn’t say anything at all!” He was also very shocked, alright? This was clearly a discussion between him and his wife in private. How did their daughter know about it?!

“Elder brother, did you let something slip.” Cheng Zhi smilingly tore down Cheng Shi’s wall.

Cheng Shi glared angrily: “Brat, shut up! Whether I should or shouldn’t say something, would I not know!”

Shaoshang with a slightly mocking air smiled: “So Father and Mother were also planning this, what a coincidence in thinking.” She had known it would be like this.

Lady Xiao turned her head without speaking. Cheng Shi was embarrassed. Cheng Zhi knew he had let something slip and didn’t dare look at his elder brother.

Only Sang Shi said gently: “Niaoniao, how did you guess?”

At this time the social customs were enlightened and didn’t prohibit girls from discussing marriage wishes with relatives and friends.

“How is this hard to guess.”

Shaoshang smiled faintly. “Within this year I’ll come of age. Mother always has a plan and must already have made calculations. Mother doesn’t teach me to pacify troops or cultivate family dependents, that’s because in the future my husband’s family won’t have troops. Mother doesn’t teach me about aristocratic genealogies, the etiquette of interacting with noble and distinguished families, that’s because I won’t have much dealings with these people in the future. However, these past days Mother has shown me several volumes of estate account books, even brought a few estate managers to discuss field and common affairs with me, and has been constantly supervising my reading and writing… All these things together, isn’t it just like this?”

After the girl finished this long discourse, the two couples in the hall looked at each other. After a long while, seeing the elder brother and sister-in-law both silent, Cheng Zhi carefully asked: “Niaoniao, then what do you think of this plan…?”

Shaoshang said briskly: “I think Father and Mother’s plan is very good.” Actually she had long thought about this problem, of course, considering it as part of her future management plan.

Cheng Shi mumbled, very much wanting to say ‘this isn’t my plan,’ but finally still held back.

Who knew Shaoshang had a completely serious face, speaking earnestly to Cheng Shi: “Father, you know me—I won’t accept losses and I have strong opinions. When you pick a son-in-law for me in the future, you must look carefully at the whole family’s temperament. Pick someone with a good temper who’s easygoing. Don’t get me someone who’ll control my hands and feet and bind me in seven or eight ways, otherwise I’ll definitely fight them to the point of breaking heads! As for how to live life in the future, I have my own plans.”

With stable property and social relationships, she could freely experiment with her ideas on the estate. Whether agricultural tools and grain varieties or luxury goods, give her five years, she was confident she could greatly improve the family’s economic situation.

Anyway, she was also sick of seeing those foul-mouthed young ladies, with nothing to do but pointlessly chatter, either about hair ornaments or clothes, pastries, hair accessories, cosmetics, and young men—not a bit of constructiveness. Relying on them, how could prosperity and strength be achieved!

Having said this much, it seemed nothing more needed to be said. Lady Xiao looked at her daughter’s determined expression, feeling extremely stifled inside.

She felt that adding up all four sons didn’t make her as aggravated as this one daughter. The problem was, when Shaoshang said something wrong she would naturally be angry, but when Shaoshang got everything right, she was still angry. And she didn’t even know what she was angry about.

“…Then what if I order you to go apologize to Miss Yin?” Lady Xiao suddenly said, her hands braced on her knees.

“I won’t go.” Shaoshang said crisply. “Yin E’e spoke hurtfully, she deserved to be beaten. I shouldn’t have struck her, at most I’ll avoid her in the future. But if she still comes seeking a beating, you can’t blame me!”

Looking at her daughter’s unruly air, Lady Xiao rose abruptly and said coldly: “What boldness! I want to see whether you know your error or not. Someone come…”

Before her words finished, the three Cheng sons who had just arrived at Jiuzhui Hall heard this sentence and hurriedly rushed in. Cheng Song and Cheng Yong each hugged one of Lady Xiao’s legs, both repeatedly saying ‘Mother calm your anger,’ ‘Niaoniao just got beaten and can’t be punished again,’ and so on.

Cheng Shaogong without a second word grabbed Shaoshang and ran outside. Before Lady Xiao could say a word, the two disappeared in a flash.

Lady Xiao shook with anger all over, kicking away her sons one foot each: “All of you get lost! Who said I was going to beat her?!”

Cheng Yong and Cheng Song were stunned. They had just heard Lian Fang’s message and thought the fire was already on the roof and the stick on the body.

Cheng Shi, sitting cross-legged to one side, patted the two boys, saying leisurely: “Rest assured, your mother indeed didn’t intend to punish Niaoniao with beating today. However, she had A’Qing prepare some wooden slips, probably planning to punish Niaoniao by making her write characters.”

As Cheng Shi spoke, he glanced at his wife. Lady Xiao glared back unkindly.

“You all better scram! Are you waiting to receive punishment?!” With one loud roar from Cheng Shi, the two sons hurriedly retreated from the hall.

Cheng Shi looked again at his youngest brother and sister-in-law to the side who were suppressing laughter with their shoulders shaking. Suddenly an idea formed in his mind, but he didn’t speak of it now, only saying with his mouth: “How much longer do you two want to watch the show? Hurry up and go back!”

Sang Shi suppressed her laughter. She had originally feared Shaoshang would receive Lady Xiao’s punishment and wanted to help smooth things over. Who knew she’d instead watched a good show. Seeing the show had concluded, she quickly pulled her husband to bow and take their leave.

Just before stepping out the door, Sang Shi suddenly turned back: “Shaoshang is still too naive.”

Lady Xiao and Cheng Shi didn’t understand her meaning at first. Sang Shi didn’t add any explanation and went straight out the door with her husband.

Only the husband and wife remained in Jiuzhui Hall.

Lady Xiao’s chest still heaved violently. Cheng Shi pressed his wife’s shoulders to slowly sit her down, saying with a placating smile: “What did I tell you? I told you not to come ask for trouble, but you wouldn’t listen. After so many days haven’t you seen that Niaoniao had already thought up her arguments before taking action! You can’t beat her, so aside from getting angry for nothing, what good can come of it?” Though he was consoling his wife, his words couldn’t hide his pride.

Lady Xiao complained: “It’s all because you father and sons favor her, blocking left and right, afraid I’ll eat her! If it were like when Yong and the others were small, letting me bring out the rod punishment, not really hitting, even just frightening her would be good, see if she’s afraid or not!”

“How can a daughter be punished the same as sons? Niaoniao’s small frame can withstand how many strokes.” Cheng Shi disagreed with this. “Back then you also said sons and daughters are different. Sons might cause great disasters, daughters can just be married off. Since it’s like this, punishments also can’t be the same.”

Lady Xiao angrily brushed away her husband’s hand, glaring: “Good! You’re waiting here to block me! It’s me who owes our daughter, and you plan to use this to excuse her for the rest of your life, don’t you!”

“…Alright, alright, won’t say anymore, won’t say anymore, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have gone early to find Brother Wan. If it weren’t for the two families walking together, if we’d gone to the Yin residence later, when the banquet had started and the entertainers had come on, with elders nearby, how could a group of young ladies stir up all this trouble!” Seeing his wife truly angered, Cheng Shi hurried forward to coax and persuade.

After exhausting all good words and coaxing for a long time, Cheng Shi smiled again: “Actually, I thought today you were going to blame Niaoniao for publicly rebuking Miss Yin. Who knew you didn’t mention it even once. How about it, you also think Niaoniao rebuked her well…”

Though her husband had hit upon her thoughts, Lady Xiao still refused to concede: “That’s because you father and sons came to disrupt things, otherwise I would also have questioned her about being so aggressive and pressing, isn’t she afraid of causing trouble for the Cheng family?! Can’t she swallow one breath of anger?”

“Stop pretending. Decades of marriage, don’t I know you?! If you were willing to swallow your anger, that year you wouldn’t have had me go block the Huan River in the middle of the night and flood half of that Dou fellow’s private accounts.” Cheng Shi said with a smile.

Lady Xiao chided: “You heartless thing, that Dou fellow humiliated you at the banquet, yet you were willing to endure it! His uncle valued you, but he was resentfully indignant, the incompetent thing, even implicating his uncle!”

“But that Miss Yin didn’t humiliate Niaoniao, she humiliated Yangyang.” Cheng Shi slapped his leg with a laugh, then drew close to his wife’s face. “You’ve always felt Niaoniao’s temperament isn’t good, but at the critical moment, she’s willing to protect her own cousin, absolutely not letting others bully her! If she kept silent, that would show no loyalty!”

Lady Xiao sulked without speaking. After a long time she stubbornly said: “Our family’s people have always been mindful of sibling affection. That wretched creature at least hasn’t gone completely astray.” Pausing, she sighed again, “I later pulled Qiqi aside and asked her carefully about what happened. Alas, Yangyang is still too weak-spirited. Even if she couldn’t retort on the spot, she should have said a few proper words afterward, to avoid being looked down upon. However, Niaoniao’s words were also too sharp, aren’t you afraid of provoking enemies…”

“Afraid of what? Am I afraid of Yin Zhi? Or are we the ones currying favor with the Yin family?”

Cheng Shi said proudly: “With so many children in the Yin family, there must be some who don’t love studying but love military garb. Our two families have mutual needs, both are well—why should we be inferior to them! If Niaoniao hadn’t retorted face-to-face today, when that crowd of young ladies goes home and tells their elders, would I, Cheng Shi, still be able to hold my head up in the future?”

Lady Xiao sighed, worrying: “This time can be let go. We can still afford to offend the Yin family, and moreover they’re magnanimous. But what about in the future if it’s a family we can’t afford to offend? If Niaoniao also charges straight ahead like this, what can be done then?”

Cheng Shi was very optimistic and deliberately teased his wife: “If it’s a family we can’t afford to offend, Niaoniao won’t go. Have Yangyang go to the banquet instead, anyway she knows how to swallow her anger. What does my lady think?”

Who knew this time Lady Xiao didn’t respond to her husband’s jest. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said: “In the previous dynasty there was an aristocratic young man from an influential family who later also married an imperial princess. Who knew the husband and wife’s temperaments were incompatible, they quarreled every day. Finally that prince consort couldn’t endure the princess’s humiliation and killed the princess with one stroke. The emperor was furious, that prince consort along with his parents were all given death together.”

Cheng Shi was puzzled: “What are you trying to say?”

Lady Xiao looked toward the door, saying in a low voice: “I once said I could rest assured marrying Yangyang into any family, and you said I was biased. Actually in my heart I know this was a heart-wrenching statement that wronged Second Brother. To speak unpleasantly, after Yangyang marries, at worst she’ll just be bullied without daring to fight back. If one day she can’t endure it anymore, she can just divorce and return home. But what about Niaoniao? She’s the type to fight to the death. Disasters are often provoked like this!”

Cheng Shi could no longer refute. Finally helplessly said: “How about we truly do as Niaoniao said, find in-laws with good tempers who are easygoing? However, Niaoniao has already promised us she won’t fight anymore in the future.”

Lady Xiao’s tone actually produced a few parts of powerlessness: “I truly never thought that I, Xiao Yuanyi, in my lifetime would actually worry about my daughter fighting… By the way, where did they take Niaoniao? Outside it seems to be snowing. Tell her to return to her own room. I won’t eat her. Also Shunhua, alas, I understand her meaning now…”

Her daughter was indeed clever and sharp, also not greedy for vanity. The Yin residence was full of flowers and brocade, yet she showed not a bit of envious feeling, and moreover knew how to love her siblings. But she was also indeed very naive, hadn’t seen what true power and influence was like—overwhelming heaven and earth, impossible to avoid. Before absolute power and influence, life and death, honor and disgrace were all a matter of one sentence.

Contrary to her husband, for the first time in her life Lady Xiao gave birth to hesitation about her own decision.