Shen Da ordered Shen San to step forward, wearing a ingratiating smile: “This third brother of mine has always been rash in his actions! He once offended your wife before, fortunately your wife didn’t hold it against him. Who would have thought that in the past two days, he caused another disturbance. The day before yesterday was our elderly mother’s sixtieth birthday celebration, and my sister sent a garment as a gift—originally a good deed. But my third brother here, because he’s always been at odds with his brother-in-law, actually vented his anger on our sister and ordered the garment to be sent back. The servants were also foolish and misinterpreted my third brother’s meaning. When returning the garment, there must have been harsh words, and they carelessly damaged my brother-in-law’s gate. I originally knew nothing about this matter! Only moments ago did I learn the full story, and I was extremely shocked and furious! I immediately brought my third brother here to apologize and earnestly beg for your wife’s forgiveness!”
After he finished speaking, Shen San beside him repeatedly apologized, claiming his original intention wasn’t like this—it was entirely the servants’ fault—and hoped to gain Lady Li’s understanding.
While the Shen brothers were explaining themselves, county residents who had followed to watch the excitement nearby revealed that Li Mu’s newly wed wife, Lady Gao, had sent people to smash the Shen family’s gates.
Soon, everyone knew about it.
Amid the buzzing discussion, someone whispered the story into Li Mu’s ear, repeating it once more.
Li Mu was obviously stunned for a moment, then his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Sun Fangzhi, Dai Yuan, and others behind him, upon hearing such news, after their initial shock, all burst into hearty laughter in unison—their laughter filled with immense satisfaction.
“Who would have thought! Sister-in-law is such a straightforward person!”
“She’s even more decisive in seeking swift revenge than us seven-foot-tall men! She accomplished what we failed to do!”
“Admirable! Admirable!”
“Satisfying! Satisfying!”
Everyone chattered excitedly, one after another.
The Shen brothers’ faces flushed red, and they remained silent—where was even half their usual arrogant demeanor?
Amid the rising and falling waves of laughter behind him, Li Mu turned around and looked expressionlessly at his brothers who were laughing wildly.
Sun Fangzhi and Dai Yuan were startled, then noticed Guo Zhan nearby secretly giving them meaningful looks, and finally had some realization.
Although sister-in-law’s action was deeply satisfying, it was precisely what they had wanted to do but were stopped from doing by Li Mu—this might seem to undermine his authority. Moreover, their public celebration seemed somewhat inappropriate.
The two men exchanged glances and quickly stopped laughing.
The laughter and commotion behind gradually ceased.
Li Mu turned back with a serious expression: “If we’re talking about offenses, your brother offended the Jiang couple most severely. If you want to apologize, apologize to that couple. Why do you need to see my wife?”
Shen Da wiped the sweat from his forehead: “What General Li says is absolutely right! We several brothers came together precisely to apologize to my brother-in-law and sister. Not only that, we also want to take our sister to visit our elderly mother. It’s just that we fear your wife might misunderstand, so we also need to apologize to her together. We’ve come with sincere hearts and earnestly request General Li to convey our message. We brothers would be eternally grateful! After apologizing to your wife, we’ll immediately take our sister back!”
Every time Shen Da spoke a sentence, the men from Jingkou opposite would sneer.
Yet the brothers acted as if they hadn’t heard, only looking at Li Mu with pleading expressions.
Shen Da suddenly spotted Jiang Tao in the crowd, his eyes lighting up, and he gave Shen San a meaningful look.
Shen San also abandoned all dignity, rushing to Jiang Tao’s side and bowing: “Brother-in-law, everything before was my fault! I shouldn’t have treated you both this way. I know I was wrong and earnestly beg brother-in-law’s forgiveness!”
Jiang Tao replied: “Why should I need you Shen family people to apologize to me? The one your brothers wronged is my wife. If she forgives you, what words do I have?”
Shen Er quickly said: “General Li, you don’t know—when our elderly mother learned the news, she wept bitterly and severely scolded us brothers. She desperately hopes to see our sister’s face. If not for being bedridden, the old lady would have come here with us just now! We already know our mistakes and won’t dare again. We earnestly request General Li to pass along our words—if our elderly mother knew, she would surely be eternally grateful!”
Li Mu’s gaze swept over the three Shen brothers like lightning, cold and penetrating: “Whether my wife sees you or not is for her to decide. I don’t know.” After speaking, he mounted his horse and left.
The Shen brothers breathed a sigh of relief and quickly mounted their horses, hurriedly chasing after him.
The street leading to the Li residence from the City God Temple was now packed with people, as lively as a temple fair—all were residents from far and near who had heard the news and come to watch the excitement.
The three brothers, fearing to offend the Gao family, couldn’t care about face anymore. With shame on their faces, amid the pointing and gesturing of people on both sides, they quickly arrived at the Li family’s front gate. Watching Li Mu enter, they waited for a long time but saw no movement from inside. Not daring to press for an answer, they waited anxiously until finally hearing footsteps from within.
A sturdy girl of twelve or thirteen emerged from the threshold, hands on her hips, nose in the air, looking at them sideways: “Are you the brothers of Sister-in-law from the Jiang family?”
Facing this young girl, the three men didn’t dare show any negligence and nodded.
The girl snorted arrogantly: “Follow me!”
The three men sighed in relief and quickly followed her inside. Turning past a spirit screen, entering through a hanging flower gate, and crossing through a corridor on the right, they reached a reception hall. Looking up, they saw a folding screen inside, behind which several human figures seemed to be sitting—they guessed this must be Li Mu’s newly wed wife, Lady Gao. Not daring to enter, they stood outside the threshold, bowing toward the screen, respectfully calling out their greetings to the lady.
Luoshen glanced at Shen Shi beside her, seeing her staring intently at the figures behind the screen, her hands tightly clenched into fists, nails almost digging into her flesh. Her anger grew even more, and she immediately scolded: “Shen San! That day at the town entrance, did I or did I not tell you that Sister-in-law Jiang is my sister-in-law! You wouldn’t let sister-in-law visit her mother—that was one thing—but today you actually had people attack her door! You smashed sister-in-law’s door, which is the same as smashing my Gao family’s door! I didn’t do much—just had people go tear down your Shen family’s door! What of it? Are you dissatisfied and here to demand an explanation?”
Shen San really couldn’t remember Lady Li saying such words to him that day, but since she was saying it now, how could he dare to argue? Seeing his two brothers glaring at him hatefully, he fell to his knees with a thud and begged for mercy: “It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have treated my sister this way, much less offended your ladyship! Never mind tearing down one door—even if you stripped the roof off my house, I would deserve it! I already know my mistake and earnestly beg your ladyship’s mercy to spare me this once! From now on, I’ll never again prevent my sister from seeing our mother! Heaven can witness—if there’s even half a lie in my words, may I be struck by five thunderbolts!”
Shen Da and Shen Er also pleaded together.
Shen Da was even more heartbroken: “After our late father passed, I became the head of the family, yet I was so confused, turning a blind eye to the filth in our household, allowing our family’s moral standards to decline, leading to today’s mistakes! It’s all my fault! Originally I had no face to come here, but our elderly mother misses our sister and has been ill for a long time. I earnestly beg your ladyship’s understanding, so that we brothers might still have a chance to make amends for our errors!”
When Shen Er was young, he originally had deep affection with his siblings, but later when Shen Shi married beneath her station, Shen Er became fixated on aspiring to higher social circles, and the siblings gradually grew distant. Seeing another figure behind the screen who seemed to be his sister, he quickly pleaded: “Sister, your second brother was black-hearted before, treating you this way! Second brother regrets it beyond measure! I earnestly beg sister, for the sake of our childhood bond, to be magnanimous and ask the lady for mercy on our behalf. From now on, second brother will definitely treat you well!”
Shen Shi had remained silent, but hearing her brothers first invoke their elderly mother, then appeal to childhood sibling affection, she could bear it no longer. She rose from behind the screen and walked out, weeping: “I ask for nothing else—only that from now on, you’ll let me see mother’s face and allow me to fulfill some filial duties. That would be worthy of our bond as siblings sharing the same surname!”
The three men continuously agreed, being extremely affectionate.
Shen Er added: “Sister, when I came just now, I’ve already sent for carpenters to go to your house, having them use the finest wood to make your door! Please calm your anger—it won’t take until tomorrow before you’ll have a new door!”
The capital Jiankang and its surroundings in the Dayu Dynasty were filled with cruel political and military struggles.
But for these sixteen years, Luoshen had always remained high above, untouched by worldly concerns.
Although she was pure-hearted and kind, people like the Shen brothers were originally nothing in her eyes.
She had also grown accustomed to seeing those who followed the wind and flattered others, but honestly speaking, this was the first time she had witnessed such extreme opportunism and sycophancy. She couldn’t help but curse their shamelessness in her heart.
But things had reached this point, and her earlier anger had mostly dissipated. Moreover, since Shen Shi had spoken thus, she rose and said coldly: “Your behavior is despicable and has greatly angered my foster mother! For me to forgive you is simple enough—as long as foster mother agrees, I won’t hold it against you.”
The three men felt as if they’d received a great pardon and urgently begged to see Lu Shi.
A’Ting smugly hummed and only then went to help Lu Shi out.
Lu Shi was still outside the door when the three men, more affectionate than if they’d seen their own mother, called out “Mother!” in unison and rushed over, surrounding her as they knelt before her, kowtowing and begging forgiveness, swearing to heaven they would never dare act this way again.
Lu Shi shook her head and sighed: “Why are you kneeling before a blind old woman like me! Good deeds bring good fortune, evil deeds bring misfortune. In the future, don’t let social prejudices make you speak harshly to your sister. Let her fulfill her filial duties beside your elderly mother—that would be better than saying a hundred words here to me.”
The three men prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping bitterly—whether truly or falsely, no one could tell.
Luoshen watched with wide eyes, finding it both amusing and infuriating, and could only once again marvel at this eye-opening experience.
She knew that having people smash the Shen family’s door, treating them as they had treated others, would certainly have consequences.
But she hadn’t expected that a casual command would bring about such a spectacular follow-up drama.
Shen Shi was deeply concerned about her elderly mother. Seeing her brothers make such commitments, she let the matter rest, tearfully thanking Luoshen and Lu Shi repeatedly. She called her husband, took her two children, brought some food, and immediately boarded the carriage her brothers had brought to visit her natal home.
Luoshen thought for a moment and summoned A’Ju, giving her instructions.
A’Ju nodded and followed Shen Shi together.
The three Shen brothers respectfully accompanied them on the side. Under the gaze of passersby, they escorted their brother-in-law’s family out of Jingkou, leaving the crowd of onlookers still discussing among themselves.
Their words were filled with praise for the newly married Lady Gao of the Li family.
The two places weren’t far apart, so they arrived quickly. The Shen family’s two front doors hadn’t been replaced yet and remained empty, but the area inside and outside the gate was full of people.
Inside were Shen Shi’s sisters-in-law and Shen family servants all waiting to welcome them, while outside were naturally the watching county residents again.
Shen Shi got out of the carriage, and her sisters-in-law came to greet her warmly, also praising the two children.
Shen Shi had no mind to waste words with these sisters-in-law, responding perfunctorily to a few sentences before taking her husband and children to visit her elderly mother.
Mother and daughter hadn’t seen each other for many years, and today finally being able to meet, they embraced and wept. After crying, Shen’s mother saw her daughter bringing over her grandchildren who had grown so much she almost didn’t recognize them, and she again wept with joy.
This scene of family reunion moved even A’Ju to tears.
Shen Shi gradually calmed her emotions. Having not seen her mother for so long, she wanted to stay the night with her two children.
Jiang Tao immediately nodded. Since evening was approaching, he bid farewell to Shen’s mother, instructed the two children to be obedient, and left first.
A’Ju also returned together.
The Shen family knew she was a close companion of Lady Gao and that she was the one who had led people to smash their gate during the day. Knowing she was a formidable character, when they saw her arrival, Shen Shi’s sisters-in-law were terrified in her presence and served her attentively.
After A’Ju came out from Shen’s mother’s room, she spent the entire afternoon sitting coldly without saying a word, not even touching the tea and refreshments that were served.
The Shen family servants didn’t dare approach, only standing far away with their hands hanging at their sides, watching from a distance, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Not until Jiang Tao came out and Shen Shi was seeing him off did she finally rise. Walking to the doorway, she addressed the Shen family members who were respectfully seeing them off, saying indifferently: “My young lady says that seeing you are truly repentant and not beyond redemption, you still have some potential for improvement. She will write to her elder brother, and for next spring’s Shangsi Floating Cups gathering in Jiankang, she’ll have an invitation sent to your Shen family. You should attend when the time comes.”
Every year in early spring during the third month’s Shangsi festival, there would be a grand Floating Cups gathering among Jiankang’s high-ranking aristocratic families. Those attending included not only aristocratic families and contemporary famous scholars, but also the disciples of various families who were considered worthy of patronage.
Receiving an invitation was an absolutely excellent opportunity that countless secondary aristocratic families and ordinary humble families dreamed of to enhance their reputation.
Even if they still couldn’t enter Jiankang’s aristocratic social circles, just going once and returning would greatly increase their local prestige.
The Shen brothers initially thought they had misheard. When they realized what was said, they could hardly believe it and were overjoyed, continuously thanking A’Ju and even weeping with gratitude.
One must know that under the current strict social hierarchy system, not only did humble families have no upward path, but even local minor aristocratic families like the Shens found it harder than ascending to heaven to advance even one level.
Years of seeking connections everywhere and scheming had not only failed to bring improvement but had actually led to family decline.
The Shen sisters-in-law had originally only been politely courteous to Shen Shi due to pressure, while actually harboring resentment in their hearts.
Only upon hearing these words did they wake up as if from a dream, realizing this heavenly fortune had descended, and no longer dared to harbor even the slightest contempt for the Jiang Tao and Shen Shi couple.
They practically wanted to worship them.
“The young lady also said that if she learns you dare to abuse the Gao family’s name to prey upon the local people or commit improper acts, she who can elevate you can also ensure you never rise again. Consider this carefully.”
A’Ju added coldly.
The three Shen brothers immediately swore to heaven.
Shen Shi stood nearby, deeply moved by what she heard.
She never would have imagined that this Lady Gao who had recently married into the Li family would not only be warm-hearted but also so thoughtful, specially making such arrangements.
Elevating her natal family was clearly a way of elevating herself.
This was to ensure that from now on, she truly wouldn’t be looked down upon by her natal family.
She suppressed the surging excitement in her heart and approached A’Ju to thank her, but her throat seemed choked by something—she couldn’t say a word, and tears glistened in her eyes again.
A’Ju’s face, which rarely showed expression to outsiders, finally revealed a rare trace of a smile. She gently patted Shen Shi’s hand, turned to board the carriage, and returned to Jingkou under the respectful escort of the Shen family.
…
The Li residence, which had been bustling for most of the day, finally gradually quieted down as the neighbors left in high spirits.
When A’Ju returned, Luoshen was still accompanying Lu Shi, with A’Ting and Li Mu also present.
Lu Shi asked about Shen Shi’s situation returning to the Shen family and was very pleased to learn that Shen’s mother was in good spirits.
A’Ju mentioned what Luoshen had instructed her to do at the end.
Lu Shi initially seemed somewhat surprised, reaching for Luoshen’s hand and grasping it, sighing.
“Foster mother really didn’t expect you, A’Mi, to be so thoroughly considerate. This is excellent. With your arrangements, the Shen family presumably won’t dare look down on people anymore. But this has been difficult for you.”
“It’s merely a small effort,” Luoshen smiled.
“Now the Shen family knows how formidable my sister-in-law is! Let’s see if they dare bully people again! I just went out for a walk, and everyone is speaking well of sister-in-law!”
A’Ting looked at Luoshen with eyes full of admiration.
Lu Shi smiled and nodded: “Exactly! Exactly!”
Luoshen couldn’t help but glance at Li Mu.
He hadn’t gone out all afternoon.
When A’Ju hadn’t returned and she was talking with Lu Shi and A’Ting, he had sat nearby accompanying them, but remained silent throughout—she didn’t know what he was thinking about.
Seeing him also looking toward her, before their eyes could meet, she immediately turned her face back to Lu Shi, speaking sincerely: “A’Mi also knows that today’s events created quite a commotion. Originally it only started because I was momentarily angry, but fortunately we managed to resolve it. If it was inappropriate, please feel free to scold me, foster mother—A’Mi will definitely remember and won’t dare cause such trouble again.”
Lu Shi immediately waved her hand: “What talk of causing trouble? If anyone’s to blame, it’s the Shen brothers for their inhuman behavior! Not just you—even I was angered by them! A warm heart like yours is truly precious! Why would foster mother scold you?”
Luoshen said: “I’m fortunate to have met such a good foster mother who protects me in every way.”
Lu Shi smiled and gently squeezed her soft hands, then turned to her son: “So many things happened today—A’Mi must be tired. After dinner, if you have nothing urgent, don’t go out. Stay and keep her company!”
Li Mu agreed.
…
Darkness gradually fell, and lamps were lit in the room.
Li Mu and Luoshen accompanied Lu Shi for dinner. Jiang Tao came with some gifts to sincerely thank Luoshen.
Luoshen declined politely. After exchanging courtesies, Li Mu saw Jiang Tao out, and Luoshen returned to her room first to bathe.
The weather had turned somewhat cold. This dowry bathtub made of fine century-old oak had a delicate texture and slight elasticity that could maintain water temperature well.
Under A’Ju’s attendance, Luoshen soaked comfortably in the scented bathwater, her entire body immersed.
“Nanny Ju, do you think if Father knew about today’s events, would he scold me for causing trouble?”
Luoshen suddenly remembered and turned over in the water toward A’Ju, asking, the bathwater making a pleasant splashing sound.
Since Mother would certainly not say anything to her if she knew, Luoshen automatically ignored her.
“How could he!” A’Ju immediately shook her head.
“In this world, where could there be a girl as good as my young lady? If the master knew, he’d probably feel heartache that you married into such a place, dealing with such messy people every day!”
Luoshen sighed: “Nanny Ju, please don’t say such things anymore! Foster mother, A’Ting, Sister-in-law Jiang… and many neighbors—they’re all good people.”
A’Ju also sighed: “As long as you’re happy and well, young lady.”
She took a large towel and helped Luoshen out of the water, wrapping her body and gently absorbing the water droplets on her skin, then skillfully helped her dress.
Luoshen held an absorbent hair towel, tilting her head to one side while wiping her long hair as she went outside, and saw Li Mu had returned at some point and was standing there.
She couldn’t help but suspect he had overheard her conversation with A’Ju. She stared at him briefly, walked past him, and sat at her dressing table with her back to him, gathering her long hair to one side of her chest and continuing to dry it with her head lowered, exposing a stretch of snow-white neck.
“In the future, when you encounter situations like today’s, if I’m home, remember to discuss it with me first. If I’m not here, don’t act on your own like today—have someone send me word first.”
“Do you remember or not?”
After a moment, his voice came from behind her.
Luoshen turned her head and looked at him.
He was standing right behind her, his gaze falling on her back.
A’Ju had been about to call for Qiongshu and the others to come serve, but hearing this, she stopped and turned her head as well.
Luoshen pursed her lips, turned back around, lifted her chin, and snorted: “Why should I discuss it with you first?”
There seemed to be a sudden increase in pressure behind her.
Luoshen turned her head again and saw he had actually come up behind her, bending down and extending a hand to take the hair towel from her hands.
“I am your husband. If you don’t discuss it with me first, who would you discuss it with?”
Perhaps due to the candlelight in the room, his eyes flickered with gently dancing dark light.
His tone sounded even stranger.
It seemed like he was teasing her, yet also seemed to contain some warning.
After speaking, he actually raised his hand and, in front of A’Ju, casually helped her wipe away several crystal water droplets on the skin of her neck.
Luoshen’s face instantly flushed hot. She tried to snatch back her hair towel but he held it firmly and she couldn’t retrieve it. She turned toward A’Ju, who was staring wide-eyed, and called out: “Nanny Ju, call them in!”
A’Ju snapped back to reality, said “Oh,” and hurried to the door. Just as she opened it, she saw Qiongshu rushing over urgently, saying: “Is Li Langjun in the room? An imperial edict has arrived from Jiankang—the messenger is right outside!”
Luoshen was stunned and exchanged a glance with Li Mu behind her. She saw a flicker in his eyes, but he wasn’t hurried. He only slowly straightened up, saying with emphasis: “Remember my words.”
After speaking, he gently placed the half-wet hair towel back in her hands, smiled at her, then turned and left the room, disappearing from sight.