In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

"two!"

Su Zhen's sharp shout, tinged with the final syllable of Meishan, startled two gray sparrows under the eaves, causing them to flutter away. Su Shi and Su Zhe, who had been chasing butterflies deep in the garden, abruptly stopped as if frozen in place—

Su Shi stood frozen in place, the butterfly net in his hand still hanging in mid-air, while Su Zhe's shoes were stuck in the moss and he couldn't pull them out.

A hint of panic flashed across Su Zhe's face. He tugged at Su Shi's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, it seems like my sister is really about to get angry. Let's go out quickly."

"three!"

Su Shi pursed his lips and helped Su Zhe pull his foot out. Reluctantly, but not daring to disobey Su Zhen's order, Su Zhe could only hang his head and slowly lead Su Zhe out from behind the flower bushes.

The two stood in front of Su Zhen, heads bowed, looking like two little dogs who had done something wrong. Su Shi secretly glanced at Su Zhen and muttered softly, "Brother, we weren't fooling around. We just think this house is so interesting that we want to look around more."

Su Zhen, holding her belly, glared at them, feigning anger: "Even if you're having fun, you can't run around like that. This is a house bestowed by the Emperor; you have to know the rules. What if you get hurt? Your mother is so worried."

As he spoke, Su Zhen reached out and tapped Su Shi on the head, saying, "Look at yourselves, you're all filthy—you look exactly like little monkeys with stubble heads!"

Su Shi was tapped on the head, but he dared not cry out in pain, in case he cried out and his ear was pulled again.

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Madam Cheng quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Eighth Sister, you're pregnant, don't get angry."

Su Xun stroked his beard and stepped forward with a smile: "Eighth Sister, don't be too harsh on them. Back when I was about Shi'er's age, I used to run around in the mountains of Meishan all day long, and I didn't know anything about rules."

Upon hearing this, Su Shi's eyes lit up instantly, and he looked up at Su Xun expectantly, as if seeking an ally. But quite the opposite, Su Xun's expression turned serious, and he then turned to Su Shi and Su Zhe, saying:

"However, you must also give face to your brother-in-law. This is a residence bestowed by the emperor, representing the emperor's favor. From now on, you must be careful in everything you do, lest you embarrass your brother-in-law."

Upon hearing this, Su Shi and Su Zhe nodded hurriedly.

Han Zhi heard the commotion outside the door and turned around to see that it was the servants who had brought the luggage. A dozen or so servants carried in camphor wood chests in single file, and he gave them his orders:

&34; First, place the mother-in-law's dowry in the east wing, and move the father-in-law's book trunk to the study. The rest should be placed in the main courtyard; how they are moved later is entirely up to the father-in-law and mother-in-law. &34;

The servants responded and began making arrangements.

Su Shi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Brother-in-law, I'll help you move the books!"

As she reached for the box, Su Zhen grabbed her by the back of her collar, feigning anger. "You little monkey, you just said you'd follow the rules, and now you're being clumsy again. This box is heavy, can you even lift it? Don't try to be brave, or I won't be responsible if you get hurt."

Su Shi was grabbed, his neck shrank back, but he still had that smiling look on his face, and he muttered, "Brother-in-law, I have plenty of strength, and I just want to help my brother-in-law."

Su Zhe tugged at Su Shi's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, sister is right, let's not make things worse."

Seeing this, Han Zhi quickly tried to smooth things over: "Eighth Sister, why don't you let Brother Shi give it a try?"

He turned and winked at Su Shi, "But if you're going to move it, move this box of *Zuo Zhuan*. If you lose it along the way... I, your brother-in-law, will have to help your sister-in-law carry the ruler."

Brother-in-law, don't worry!

He crouched down, mimicking the servants' stance, while Su Zhe also held onto the other corner in a similar manner. The two brothers lifted the box with a "heave-ho!" but stumbled a couple of steps due to excessive force, causing the box to swing like a pendulum between them.

Su Zhen covered her mouth and chuckled, shaking her head as she said, "You two little monkeys, all you know how to do is show off. Later, I'll personally check your homework, and if you can't answer even the slightest question, or if I find out you haven't listened to your mother..."

"I'm really about to lose my temper!"

Upon hearing that their homework would be checked, Su Shi and Su Zhe's playful expressions instantly faded. They exchanged a glance, a hint of nervousness flashing in their eyes. Su Shi, dragging his book bag, forced a dry laugh and said:

"Brother, don't worry, my brother and I have been working hard lately, and we will definitely not let you down."

Su Zhe nodded quickly and said, "Brother, I have been studying hard every day and haven't missed a single time memorizing."

Su Zhen looked at them with feigned seriousness: "Hmph, that had better. If I find out you're slacking off, this ruler won't stand in your way."

As she spoke, she glanced at the ruler in Han Zhi's hand—she had specifically asked Han Zhi to bring it before leaving the house. As the older sister, she knew her two younger brothers' personalities all too well.

Su Shi and Su Zhe followed her gaze and trembled involuntarily—although the Su brothers had been taught and educated by their mother, Madam Cheng, from childhood to adulthood, it was always their eldest sister who carried out the punishments.

Seeing the children's expressions, Madam Cheng couldn't help but chuckle softly. She stepped forward, gently took Su Zhen's hand, and said tenderly, "Eighth Sister, don't scare them too much. Children are always a bit playful."

Su Zhen smiled and nodded, saying, "Mother, I understand. I just want them to learn a lesson."

Turning around, they could see the two little brothers already carrying their book boxes and walking some distance away. Han Zhi smiled, then helped Su Zhen, leading Su Xun and Madam Cheng towards the master bedroom.

The group entered the master bedroom, a spacious and bright room containing the Jun ware vase they had bought earlier. The flowers were arranged in the same way Wei Wan had arranged them.

Madam Cheng walked up and admired the vase. Su Xun, on the other hand, looked at a traditional Chinese ink painting hanging on the wall and asked, "My good son-in-law, this painting looks magnificent and grand, it seems to be the work of a famous artist. May I ask where you obtained it?"

Han Zhi and Su Zhen followed Su Xun's gaze. After thinking for a moment, Su Zhen replied, "Lord Fu, this painting wasn't found anywhere; it was a congratulatory gift from Prince Consort Li."

"At the time, it was said that the house was bestowed by the Emperor and was sent over. My husband and I, naturally, also hung it here."

As Su Zhen explained, he suddenly frowned, seemingly feeling unwell. Su Xun and Madam Cheng noticed this and came closer, asking with concern:

"What's wrong, Eighth Sister?"

However, Su Zhen simply shook his head, revealing a somewhat forced smile, and said, "It's alright, sir, mother, there's no need to worry, it's nothing serious. Um... my husband and I will go and check out the other rooms to arrange rooms for our two younger brothers."

As she spoke, she gave Han Zhi a look, and he obediently leaned closer. Su Zhen whispered a few words in his ear, and Han Zhi was taken aback at first, then quickly picked up Su Zhen and ran out.

"Oh! Eighth Sister! What a good son-in-law..."

Seeing their hurried manner, Madam Cheng wanted to call out to them, but before she could, Han Zhi had already carried Su Zhen and run far away.