Chapter 44: Madam, I was wrong!

Madam, a mother's love often spoils her children, it often does!

However, you are usually quite harsh with your own son, ready to scold and punish him at any moment.

Why do you suddenly lose your position in front of your son-in-law?

Is it just because he's good-looking? Is it because he's sweet-talking?

Seeing the way Shen Lang looks at his mother-in-law, the Earl is fuming with anger.

You, you little scoundrel, do I really have no way to deal with you?

The Earl said, "From today, Shen Lang, you are once again confined to the house."

What? Shen Lang was surprised. Didn't the confinement just end?

The Earl said, "You can move around the mansion but you're not allowed to leave the Earl's residence. Got it?"

Shen Lang hesitantly asked, "Lord Father-in-law, until when is the confinement?"

The Earl said, "The confinement will last until I feel confident about releasing you."

This condition is too vague.

Shen Lang suggested, "Why don't you set a condition? Once I fulfill it, the confinement can be lifted, like..."

"No conditions, no terms, nothing at all..." the Earl quickly interjected, putting an end to Shen Lang's suggestion.

The moment he heard the word "condition," it triggered some unpleasant memories in the father-in-law's mind.

Then the Earl said, "No matter what tricks you come up with, from today you will stay at home and cultivate your moral character properly. I will release the confinement when I feel assured that you won't cause trouble outside."

Father-in-law, you've changed. You used to be so forthright! Now you're being scheming.

The Earl never forgets a lesson.

Just yesterday, he ordered the confinement and made Shen Lang memorize the "Golden Family Rules," thinking it would keep him at home for a month or two.

However, overnight, Shen Lang completed the memorization. The Earl, gritting his teeth, had to restore his freedom because he couldn't break his word.

He didn't expect that, the very day Shen Lang ventured out, he would cause such a big commotion.

Even though he emerged victorious, and the battle was fought beautifully.

But...

How dangerous that was!

The Earl has always been conservative and can't stand using dangerous tactics.

Moreover, he genuinely worried that Tian Hong might act decisively and directly target Shen Lang.

Yet such concern, he would never speak it aloud.

If that scoundrel Shen Lang found out he cared about him? It would be disastrous!

"Everyone, listen up. From today, the young master is not allowed to leave the Earl's mansion. Whoever sees him trying to leave must stop him and send him back. Understood?" the Earl ordered loudly. "Until I officially lift the confinement."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Then they looked at Shen Lang with strange eyes.

Gloating, absolute gloating.

...

The Crown Prince Jin Mucong was reading military books.

This morning, he had been beaten by his mother, and the Crown Prince felt it must be because he was reading the "Book of Poetry."

Because there were many love poems between men and women in the Book of Poetry.

So, the Crown Prince decided to read military strategy.

It couldn't go wrong.

"Mother and father must want me to inherit the ancestral heritage, so reading military books should win their approval."

Sure enough, before long, his parents came in.

"Mother, father, I'm reading military books. I must uphold the legacy of our ancestors and study military strategy well," the Crown Prince tried to please them.

"Stop reading and lie down!" the Countess said.

Moments later, the chubby prince was skillfully pinned down by a couple who used a whip and a ruler.

Smack, smack, the beating started.

"Why, why? Is it wrong to read military books? Do I deserve to be punished for it?" the prince screamed.

He really didn't do anything wrong, he had been obediently reading military books, even though he didn't understand any of it.

Why was he being beaten again in the evening, after just being beaten in the morning?

"Why, why are you beating me again, mother, father?"

The Earl and the Countess didn't answer; they beat him and then left.

Leaving the Crown Prince speechless.

In fact, the sudden decision of the Earl and the Countess to come and beat their son was purely capricious, as if they were on the same wavelength.

Because Shen Lang's exceptional wit and shrewdness only made their son appear even more foolish.

The Earl intended to give Shen Lang a good lesson but before even starting, found himself blocked by everything and with the Countess taking Shen Lang's side, he felt it was necessary to vent his frustration by mistreating his own son.

...

When Shen Lang returned to the courtyard, Mulan was standing there dressed in armor.

"Husband, you're back. Let's have dinner," Mulan said.

Shen Lang was surprised, "Mulan, why are you still wearing armor at home?"

Mulan said, "In case something happens to my husband in the city, I will lead the troops into the city to rescue him."

Shen Lang was taken aback, feeling a warmth in his heart.

Although Mulan's tone was very plain, Shen Lang was deeply moved by her words.

"Come, let me help you take off your armor, and then we can have dinner," Shen Lang said gently.

Mulan was surprised, then opened her arms, allowing Shen Lang to remove her armor.

"Thank you, my wife, for waiting for me at home and worrying about me," Shen Lang said.

"It's nothing. My husband has achieved complete victory today, which surprised and pleased me very much. However, I hope you will think twice before taking action in the future, and consider how your father, mother, and I would worry about you," Mulan said.

"I understand," Shen Lang was even more moved and lightly embraced Mulan.

Mulan was slightly surprised and her body stiffened a bit, but she did not stop him.

Because Shen Lang's embrace was warm and filled with affection.

"Husband, where are your hands?"

Shen Lang quickly returned his hands to their original position and said seriously, "Wife, it's not my fault. Blame it on your smooth skin. I didn't mean to."

"Alright, let's not make it a habit," Mulan said.

Shen Lang spoke earnestly, "Wife, I swear, if there's a next time, you can break my hands."

Three seconds later, Mulan caught Shen Lang's hands, which were about to slide down, and said seriously, "Husband, a man's word is his bond. You should really cut off these hands."

Shen Lang said, "Wife, I was just speaking casually. How can you believe a man's words? You'd sooner trust a centenarian to be unfaithful than believe a man's words."

Mulan looked helplessly at her husband's incredibly handsome face and found it hard to believe that beneath this handsome face there could be such thick skin.

"Let's eat!" Mulan left Shen Lang's clutches and went to the table to eat.

Mulan was sure that if it weren't for Shen Lang being so handsome, she would have already started beating him.

After dinner, Mulan washed up quickly, cleaned her teeth thoroughly, and took a sip of rose-scented mouthwash.

Suddenly, her mouth was filled with a pleasant fragrance, but she couldn't touch it.

Then, she put on her armor again.

"Wife, where are you going so late at night?" Shen Lang asked.

Mulan replied, "I am going to lead the cavalry to patrol the coastline."

Shen Lang felt distressed.

Mulan said, "Husband, you stay at home and don't cause trouble."

...

In the room of the eldest son, he was receiving a tutoring session.

An arithmetic class.

The imperial examinations did not include arithmetic, so although arithmetic was one of the six arts of the Confucian scholars, most scholars did not study it much. However, noble families placed great emphasis on this subject, especially the old aristocratic families with fiefdoms, as it was indeed very practical and could make people smarter.

The eldest son Jin Mucong sighed, "Teacher Xu, why are my days so hard? Before, my parents had a reason to beat me, but now they don't even look for a reason."

The teacher he called Xu was named Xu Wenzhao, the most famous arithmetic master in Xuanwu City.

Xu Wenzhao held a weighty position in the Count's mansion. He was not only Jin Mulan and Jin Mucong's arithmetic teacher, but also responsible for all the financial calculations and trade affairs of the Count's mansion.

He was one of the Count's chief advisers and had been in charge of the accounting department for more than twenty years.

Xu Wenzhao put down his pen and in his mind appeared the face of Shen Lang, and a shadow flashed across his eyes.

Whoever obstructs my path is an enemy!

After some hesitation, Xu Wenzhao said, "Young master, the Count hits you because of Shen Lang."

The eldest son was surprised, "Why?"

Xu Wenzhao said, "Shen Lang has a bad reputation, stole money and demoralized a servant girl in the Xu family, and was driven out. Then he came to marry into the Count's mansion. Because he was personally selected by Miss Mulan, the Count couldn't refuse. He was upset and blamed you for not being successful, which is why he hit you a few days ago."

Jin Mucong suddenly sat up and said, "I see!"

Xu Wenzhao continued, "Lord Earl hit you again today because Shen Lang created a scandal at the Earl's manor by gambling. But he also won against Tian Hong, and since he is the prospective son-in-law, the Earl couldn't discipline him. So, he took it out on you, the heir."

The heir was furious and stood up abruptly, saying, "Ah, I've found the culprit for my beating. It's all because of this scoundrel."

At that moment, a pageboy next to Xu Wenzhao said, "By the way, young master, I saw Bing Er crying secretly today, but she wouldn't say why when I asked."

The heir became even angrier, saying, "It must be because of Shen Lang. He had previously teased the Xu family's maidservant, and now he's gone to tease our maidservant? A mere countryside ruffian dares to bully me. I will not let it go."

With that, the heir rushed out.

"Shen Lang, I will definitely teach you a lesson."

Then the heir asked, "How skilled is Shen Lang in martial arts?"

Xu Wenzhao replied, "He's not skilled at all, weak and powerless. He gets out of breath after walking a few steps."

The furious heir, filled with courage, shouted, "Men, follow me and take care of this. Punish him."

Then, the angry and frantic heir Jin Mucong, along with a dozen men, stormed towards Shen Lang's courtyard.