In marriage, one seeks virtue in a wife and beauty in a concubine.

When she chose a wife for her son, of course she had to select someone with both virtue and talent. How could she choose based on appearance alone?

Yuan Shi felt she was not wrong!

She quickly suppressed that slight confusion in her heart and said to the wet nurse attending her, “I’m ill. Let them pack their own luggage!”

The Ministry of Personnel had already officially issued the document—Cheng Xu must assume his post by the tenth of June. They still planned to attend Cheng Shao’s celebratory banquet before leaving, which meant the journey would be quite rushed. The Min family was very surprised to hear the news. Min Jianxing even came in person and talked with Cheng Xu in the study for a long time. When departure day came, they would still need to bid farewell to the Min family. They had to arrange which servants to take, hire several secretaries, plan the route, determine which places to pass through, identify which old friends to visit, and prepare suitable local gifts… The tasks were as numerous as cow hairs. Both Cheng Xu and Min Shi were inexperienced and needed their parents-in-law’s guidance at this very moment, yet Yuan Shi said she was ill… This, this was truly adding fuel to the fire!

Yuan Shi’s wet nurse hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Yuan Shi simply lay down and closed her eyes.

Her wet nurse couldn’t say anything and could only sigh softly before withdrawing.

Yuan Shi then opened her eyes.

Didn’t Cheng Jiashan feel she was managing him at every turn, that he wasn’t free, that he wanted to escape her control? Fine! Then she simply wouldn’t manage anything and let him flounder on his own. Let’s see if he still says she meddles too much.

Yuan Shi thought this but still felt somewhat indignant.

This was the fine son she had raised.

Grown up, an adult, yet he had learned to defy her.

She remembered how obedient and sensible her son had been as a child.

When did her son change into this… She thought of how Cheng Xu had blushed while asking her to arrange his marriage to Zhou Shaojin… It was from that time that her son gradually changed.

It was all that Zhou Shaojin.

She was the one who corrupted Jiashan.

If not for Zhou Shaojin, how would her son have come to this state?

Yuan Shi’s teeth ground audibly. She wanted to do something about it but didn’t know where to start.

Cheng Chi and the old madam clearly knew about Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin’s affair, yet Cheng Chi had married Zhou Shaojin and protected her like a precious treasure. Whatever she said would probably be useless.

She could only wait for a future opportunity.

Yuan Shi simply closed her eyes again and called loudly for a maid to fetch a physician, saying she felt unwell.

When Min Shi received the news, she was so angry her chest felt blocked.

Knowing they were frantically busy here, yet her mother-in-law still pretended to be ill and wanted her to attend to her… Before marrying in, she had heard her mother describe the Cheng family’s situation, and she had secretly rejoiced that her mother-in-law was the daughter of a Grand Secretary’s family with no troublesome matters in the rear courtyard. Her virtue and character should both be excellent. Only now did she realize this was such a troublesome person.

But what could she, a daughter-in-law, say?

Not only could she say nothing, she couldn’t even let it show on her face.

She handed the household matters over to a capable nanny, changed clothes, and went to Yuan Shi’s room to attend to her.

Yuan Shi only said her heart felt uncomfortable, her whole body weak, and had Min Shi sit by the bed to recite Buddhist scriptures for her.

Min Shi saw through it—Yuan Shi just wanted to torment her.

She wasn’t a pushover either. She sat there quietly and composedly reciting scriptures for Yuan Shi while asking Second Madam Qiu Shi to come help pack the luggage.

Qiu Shi didn’t know Yuan Shi was faking illness—also because Yuan Shi had never before deigned to pretend.

Not only did she come, she brought Xie Shi along to help, quietly instructing Xie Shi, “You’re young, a newly married daughter-in-law. Take opportunities to help your eldest sister-in-law. Just treat it like helping sisters at your natal home, and you can learn more things. After some time, when you’ve adapted, gradually take over managing our household affairs. Then I can enjoy the blessings of being a mother-in-law!”

These words made Xie Shi’s face flush completely red.

Yuan Shi was so angry her lips trembled. She called Second Madam Qiu Shi over to talk: “You’re an aunt, and you still have Abao and Aren to look after. Coming over to help your nephew’s wife pack luggage—what kind of situation is this? You’re the wife of a third-rank official after all, not some household pozi or nanny. Just because someone calls, you jump!”

Qiu Shi smiled, “It’s not somewhere else—it’s my eldest nephew’s wife asking me for help.” She didn’t take offense and even smiled at Yuan Shi, “If you really think it’s inappropriate, just get better quickly. That way I can also be less tired!”

Yuan Shi was angry at her lack of pride and glared with frustration. Seeing Min Jia made her eyes hurt, so she ordered her to go make tea.

Min Jia respectfully replied “Yes.” Xie Shi, standing to the side, quickly said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, eldest sister-in-law has lost weight caring for you these days. Let me go help eldest sister-in-law!” Without realizing this was Yuan Shi deliberately making things difficult for Min Jia, thinking she was actually helping them, she smiled warmly and took Min Jia’s arm as they withdrew.

Yuan Shi nearly rolled her eyes.

Qiu Shi was foolish, and the daughter-in-law she married was also foolish. Two fools together—it was truly exhausting even to criticize them.

Yuan Shi just went along with Qiu Shi, finding different ways each day to order Min Jia about.

Min Jia thought that at most she only had to endure her for twenty-some days before following Cheng Xu to his post. She had no temper at all. Whatever Yuan Shi said was fine. When she felt tired, she would push a maid out to shield her. She remained calm and composed, not looking like someone attending to an illness but rather like someone paying a social call.

Yuan Shi grew even more displeased and couldn’t help complaining to Cheng Jing when she encountered him.

The Emperor had been unwell these days, finding everyone disagreeable. Not a single close attendant or eunuch had escaped being scolded. The Grand Secretaries’ days were equally difficult.

Cheng Jing practiced calligraphy for an hour each day after returning home, telling himself “Endure, endure.”

Hearing Yuan Shi’s incessant complaints, he felt she was making a mountain out of a molehill and said, “You’re the mother-in-law. If your daughter-in-law does something wrong, just teach her directly. Didn’t you say before the marriage that she had a small reputation for cleverness? She’s probably a smart person who should learn quickly. Will saying these things about her make her improve?”

Yuan Shi was so choked she couldn’t speak for a long time.

Cheng Jing didn’t notice any of this and asked Yuan Shi, “Have you been back to your natal home these days? The Xuantong Commander-in-Chief is about to retire. I want to recommend my former examination classmate Han Zongmei and have already discussed it with eldest brother-in-law. If you’re feeling better, help me deliver some things over there.”

It should be offerings of gratitude from this Han Zongmei.

But Cheng Jing was wealthy and never took these things seriously. If it was something he could handle himself, at most he would accept a meal. If he had to ask someone for help, he would give everything he received to the person doing the favor. Over time, he had gained quite a reputation in official circles. Many people liked asking him for help, and his connections grew better and better.

Yuan Shi was exasperated and said, “Can’t you see I’m still ill?”

Wasn’t she taking the nourishing Rongyang Pills to strengthen her spleen?

Cheng Jing frowned slightly and said, “Then let Min Shi make the trip! She’s Jiashan’s wife and also eldest brother-in-law’s nephew’s wife. She handles matters reliably and steadily…”

Yuan Shi was so angry she couldn’t speak.

Was Min Shi really that good?

Letting Min Shi handle all household matters big and small—what was she, the mother-in-law, for?

“The master has become muddled!” Yuan Shi said angrily. “Such an important matter, and you’re having your daughter-in-law go! Those who know will say you value your daughter-in-law highly. Those who don’t know will think we’re not taking Han Zongmei’s matter seriously and looking down on him! Is this how you handle affairs? I think you’re simply creating enmity!”

Cheng Jing said, “The matter isn’t as serious as you make it! It’s just delivering a gift, nothing needs to be said. Eldest brother-in-law understands everything.” Then, fearing Yuan Shi would worry, he added, “Besides, even if you went, could you say anything to eldest brother-in-law? Wouldn’t you just chat with your sister-in-law and present the items? You can’t very well say whose gift this is for eldest brother-in-law—such things are tacitly understood. Perhaps Jiashan’s wife going would be less conspicuous and more appropriate!”

“You…” Yuan Shi pointed at Cheng Jing, nearly choking on her breath.

Seeing her displeasure, Cheng Jing stopped pressing the issue and changed the topic: “The second is almost here. Second brother’s wife and Fourth brother’s wife are both at Shuangyu Alley helping. From time to time, wives of Second Uncle’s colleagues and friends come to deliver congratulatory gifts. Even if you’re unwell, you should pull yourself together and show your face. Otherwise, people will think you’re slacking off!”

Yuan Shi was furious: “Jiashan is leaving soon, and Second Uncle’s wedding is still four or five days away! Can’t I finish packing Jiashan’s luggage first before going over to help? Besides, Mother is personally overseeing things there—what could possibly go wrong?”

Cheng Jing’s gaze grew cold as he said, “Mother is widowed at home, afraid of causing trouble for others. She didn’t even attend Jiashan’s wedding. If there weren’t a capable person at her side to help this time, would she personally preside over the situation? When I went over just now, Mother asked about your illness and was preparing to come see you. Fortunately, I stopped her. If Mother asked me to show her your prescription, tell me, where would that leave my face as your husband? What would Mother think?”

Yuan Shi knew where Cheng Jing’s bottom line was.

She quickly bowed her head to admit her fault, though her heart was full of resentment.

How would Cheng Jing know? Seeing her admit fault, he reviewed his own behavior, saying a long string about how he was also at fault, that knowing she was unhappy about Cheng Xu not taking the Hanlin examination, he should have been more tactful in his speech earlier.

Yuan Shi swallowed her broken teeth along with the blood.

The next morning she rose early with Cheng Jing, and after seeing him off to court, she took a sedan chair to Shuangyu Alley. The sedan had just stopped at the decorative gate when she heard a voice full of laughter heartily directing the household servants: “…Put this pomegranate tree here… Place the large fish tank under the grape arbor… Quickly get some goldfish, not koi—this tank is small, koi are hard to raise. But if there are good koi, might as well buy a few and raise them in the small lake in back… Right now there’s no one managing it, but once the new madam comes through the gate it’ll be different. That’s why they say whether you have money or not, marrying a wife makes for a good New Year… You there, yes you, walk carefully! That brush washer you’re holding is Jun ware—be careful not to bump it, or even selling you wouldn’t cover the cost…”

Who was this?

Speaking like an uncultured farm woman who’d never seen the world!

Yuan Shi wrinkled her lips in distaste, but looking up, she saw the Duchess of Pengcheng wearing bright red robes embroidered with gold throughout.

Like a household manager, she was standing on the corridor of the main hall supervising the servants as they arranged the furnishings.

No wonder she spoke that way!

Yuan Shi wrinkled her lips again.