江南春意盎然，柳絮飄飛，商府院，五夫人坐在梳妝臺前，眉心微皺，手中握著一縷輕薄的帕，輕輕拭著潤的鼻尖。的聲音輕中帶著一無奈，向著商悅涵傾訴著近日的煩惱。

“那個三公子，簡直是個混世魔王，他給我的任務，恐怕是天上的明月配海底的珍珠，想都別想完。我那幾個妹妹，看我的眼神，如同要將我扔進火坑一般。”

商悅涵lightly coughed, his smile faltering as he watched her vent her frustration. The person in question was not merely a pork butcher, but a demon with a bloodthirsty reputation. He was a dangerous match for the flower-like daughter of a noble family.

Famously, the five madam of the Shang family, born and raised in the water towns of Jiangnan, was a lady of grace and delicacy. Now, even she couldn't help but complain.

“再者，他不過是個江湖草莽之徒，我那幾個妹妹雖是庶出，卻也姓商，怎能讓們低嫁？” The dragon and snake cannot live together; this was an ancient maxim. The five madam of the Shang family was never fond of her brother's methods.

If it had been a pig slaughterer, perhaps the match would have suited them. But this was a demon who killed without blinking an eye.

Not wanting to burden the other, the five madam analyzed the pros and cons of her decision. “Moreover, he is a mere rural thug, and my sisters, though born of lesser stock, carry the surname Shang. How can they be married beneath their station?”

Dragons and snakes cannot coexist—it was an ancient maxim. The five madam of the Shang family was not at all pleased with the son's actions. And if it had been just a matter of her son, she might have tried to sway him. But this was the will of the current head of the family.

The madam laughed softly, “Your uncle likes to write poetry, lament the spring, and drink alcohol. If you go to visit him, he will be overjoyed.”

Her words were filled with affection, and it was clear that the two had known each other since they were young. Though he seemed lackadaisical, he was a good man among his brothers. She was overjoyed when mentioning him, as if she had fallen into a jar of honey.

“Shang Ding, did you visit the main courtyard today?” she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of constraint as her eyes darted to the teacup in her hands, avoiding any potential conflict.

Because of her concern for her daughter, she was always cautious. The understanding was mutual, and Shang Xueyan, though slightly uncomfortable, did not avoid the question.

“I went. It was a real headache. If it weren't a headache, my father wouldn't have sealed off the courtyard.”

The five madam sighed softly. The previous lady of the house had been simple and honest, never greedy for wealth. But this one was a different creature, learning the art of seeing money and greed from the hovels.

Her grandmother had grown tired of her and could no longer control her, so she had no choice but to be cautious. “Your grandmother is too tired to deal with her, so you must be careful.”

The voice was soft, but Shang Xueyan heard the hidden meaning clearly. Her grandmother had been unable to suppress the other, and she would find it even harder. “Uncle Shang has been busy with...poetry, lamenting the spring, and drinking alcohol. If you go to visit him, he will be very pleased.”

Listening to her promise to go and visit, the five madam felt a weight lifted from her heart. Perhaps her son's fears were unfounded. What had happened in the past was something no one wanted, and he had caused a rift between his brothers to support this ward.

When Shang Yige came to ask for information, he was confronted with a verbal lashing from the five madam, leaving him leaving with a somber expression, lost in thought.

“...He...”

“The master has a mind to court the pork butcher! There are many daughters, but only one pork butcher.”

Listening to this, the five madam fell silent, her heart pounding. While she might have been able to reason with her son, she had no say in the matter if it were the will of the head of the family.

——End of Chapter——