“Mother, everything’s alright now, why don’t you go back and rest first!” Sang Wan quickly said.
Wang Shi was not willing to stay another second. She nodded and ordered Sang Wan to handle it properly, and informed her that there was no need to greet her later in the day as she left with Nanny Jiang and Xiu Chun.
“Young Master and Young Mistress, you should go back and rest too! There’s this old servant here to handle this!” After sending Wang Shi away, Nanny Li smiled at Shi Fengju and Sang Wan.
“Then we’ll have to trouble Nanny,” Shi Fengju did not refuse and replied before pulling Sang Wan with him.
It was almost time in the morning when they would usually wake up after the rays of morning light shone in. The couple returned to their chamber but could no longer go back to sleep. They took off their outer robes, and spoke to each other as they covered themselves under the blanket.
Sang Wan’s black eyes widened and glimmered, and she blinked a few times while staring intently at Shi Fengju with a mixture of inquiry and curiosity.
“Why are you staring at me? Have you become half-witted after the big fire? Do you not recognise your husband anymore?” Shi Fengju smiled and pulled her into his embrace, and his finger ran over her smooth and petite nose playfully.
Sang Wan nibbled her lips and laughed lightly, “Tell me honestly, how did the big fire start in Fu Qu Lodge?”
She did not give a second thought about it at first, but when she thought more about it later, she found it strange… Even though Shi Lian was sobbing profusely, Sang Wan sensed that she was a little nervous, and there was too much crying. Furthermore, when Wang Shi subsequently called off the marriage in annoyance, Sang Wan’s suspicion grew.
Shi Fengju heard her curious inquiry but did not twitch a brow; he whispered in her ears with a smile, “I knew I could not keep it from you. But you see, hasn’t it been resolved? The Hong family would not follow through with the marriage again!” After all, Shi Lian was going to get married as a concubine and not as a wife.
“So it was you!” Sang Wan was suddenly somewhat out of words. This person was not a fool, and neither did he blink an eye at starting a fire in his household! Was he not afraid that the fire might go out of control?
“Then the wound on Third Sister’s leg…”
“It’s fake!” Shi Fengju simply answered, “I’ve already told her, if Mother does not call off the marriage today, then she’ll have to act like she was traumatized by the fire and behave like a madwoman and speak nonsensically. When that happens, a priest will have to be invited to take a look at her!”
The priest would naturally have to exorcise the evil. As for what the priest would say, it would be entirely up to Shi Fengju. It was a piece of cake for him to identify the marriage as inauspicious and the couple would not be a blessed pair.
Sang Wan was now completely out of words. She stared at Shi Fengju and did not return to her senses even after a long time.
Shi Fengju raised his chin proudly as if he was waiting for his well-deserved compliment and he nuzzled her face while laughing, “Your husband is very smart, right?”
Sang Wan laughed. She nodded and complimented, “Yes, very smart!”
“Are you very impressed?”
“I am!”
“You can’t just use your lips, you have to express it in some way or another…” Shi Fengju smiled and leaned forward.
When the sky was finally bright, Wang Shi indeed sent Nanny Jiang to deliver her message. For such a thing to happen just a few days before the marriage, the old mistress in the Hong family thought that the girl was indeed an unlucky one who would only bring bad luck. She already had her reservations, and upon hearing how her thigh had a burn, she lost interest completely. Now that the Shi family had taken the initiative to cancel the marriage, it was in her best interest as well. In just a few sentences, the cancellation was settled and never talked about again.
Hong Xi did not mind at all. He told all his good-for-nothing friends that he would not want a disfigured and unlucky girl like her! Not that he could not have her, but she could not match up to him!
Those friends never dared to mock him. Everything he said was for his face, and everything he heard was naturally to flatter him. Hong Xi felt pleased and completely put the marriage behind him! Qingzhou had many other beauties with interesting personalities, which one of them were not better than Shi Lian who only looked good on the outside, but wept constantly and had no charm at all?
When Shi Lian received news that the marriage was cancelled, she heaved a huge sigh of relief, and held onto Sang Wan’s hands as she was overcome with strong emotions.
Sang Wan consoled her for a while before she could not help but sigh to herself. After this incident, she was afraid that it would be a long time before Wang Shi would talk about her marriage again! And who knew whether this would be detrimental for her in the long run.
In a blink of an eye, Gu Fangzi’s mourning period would be over soon, but she was still sick in bed. Sang Wan struggled for a while and took one of the days during her usual morning greetings to ask Wang Shi how she should prepare for Gu Fangzi.
Wang Shi thought for a while and said, “This is Fangzi’s matter, she should make the decision so you should be asking her and prepare accordingly!” After which, she looked at Sang Wan with a peculiar look and paused before saying, “Sang Wan, Fangzi has a good disposition, and she grew up by my side since young. If she were to leave our household, my heart would feel a little empty. I actually find the both of you getting along quite well; would you want her to remain here?”
Sang Wan felt a little upset. Of course she would not want that but she could not say it aloud.
“Mother, this is entirely up to you and Lord, Sang Wan will not say otherwise.”
Wang Shi then said, “Then what if I insist on hearing your answer?”
Sang Wan’s expression stiffened. She knew that without a good word or two, her mother-in-law would not be satisfied. Without a choice, she could only comply with a smile, “Mother dotes on Sister Fangzi a lot, of course Sang Wan hopes that she can stay by your side to take care of you and make you happy!”
Wang Shi’s face finally brightened up, and she smiled while nodding, “This is what I want to hear! This is what our eldest daughter-in-law in our Shi Household ought to be, virtuous and docile, and with a big heart. Since you think so too, then when you return, find an opportunity to convince Fengju not to make Fangzi leave anymore! Don’t worry, you were married into this household in a grand sedan. No one can snatch away your position as the Young Mistress of the Shi Household!”
“This daughter-in-law understands, Mother!” Sang Wan forced a smile before taking her leave.
Sang Wan’s heart sank a little. She had never shown any disrespect ever since she entered the household, served to the best of her ability, placed her mother-in-law first in decision-making, and was never biased when it came to managing the household. Having done everything by the book and never scrooging benefits for herself, why does her mother-in-law only see Gu Fangzi and not her!
“Young Mistress! You’re here!” Sang Wan was really deep in thought, so when Third Old Mistress Shi’s Nanny Gui shouted out to her, it really came out of the blue.
Sang Wan immediately returned to her senses and replied, “Nanny Gui, do you have something for me!”
“Our Old Mistress would like to invite Young Mistress over for a seat and wondered if Young Mistress is free right now!” Nanny Gui grinned.
Sang Wan subconsciously looked past Nanny Gui and saw the budding of flowers and trees not far away. It was spring already so she presumed that Third Old Mistress Shi wanted to push her to get Qing Hui Garden sorted.
She smiled and said, “Right now, Mother-in-law wants me to visit Peony Park2Peony ParkGu Fangzi's place of residence first. How about in the afternoon? Will Third Aunt have the time?”
“Our old mistress usually has nothing in the day, she’ll definitely have the time! Then this old servant will go back and inform Third Old Mistress; please don’t forget to come in the afternoon!” Nanny Gui smiled and said.
“Of course!” Sang Wan smiled again and nodded as Nanny Gui finally took her leave.
Once she arrived at Peony Park to deliver Wang Shi’s message, Gu Fangzi was not reckless and acted with courtesy even though her face was pale and her breathing was heavy. “Sister Sang Wan, thank you for worrying about me! Even though I am feeling a little dizzy and fatigued, it isn’t anything too serious. When the day comes, I will naturally have to go to Guang Ling Temple to do some ritual. I’ll have to trouble Sister Sang Wan to make the arrangements for me ahead of time!”
“Of course, I have already informed Head Servant Jin to make the arrangements! Don’t worry!” Sang Wan smiled. It would be inconvenient for her to make external arrangements directly, so she could only delegate the task to a head servant. Not only that, she was also reluctant to have a hand in Gu Fangzi’s matter.
“Many thanks to Sister Sang Wan!” Gu Fangzi smiled lightly, and intentionally looked at Sang Wan before saying with a smile, “You seemed to have lost much weight, but that can’t be blamed! Sister Sang Wan has to handle so many things in the household, how can you not be exhausted? In a few more days when I am finally better, and my mourning period is over, I’ll definitely help share your burden, so you can take a quick break!”
Sang Wan immediately felt a slow anger building up within her, however, with a good upbringing, she never lost her temper in front of Gu Fangzi. Her expression changed a little before returning to normal. Acting as if she did not hear Gu Fangzi, she smiled, “Sister Fangzi, you should have a good rest! You will only recover quickly if you worry less!” After that, she smiled and instructed Lan Xiang to take good care of her missy and left Peony Park.
Not long after lunch, Sang Wan immediately went to Ji Cui Tower to meet Third Old Mistress Shi.
“Sang Wan, you’re here! Quickly, come in and take a seat!” Third Old Mistress Shi smiled as she went forward to receive her.
“Thank you, Third Aunt!” Sang Wan bowed and entered. These days, Sang Wan instructed people to take good care of the activities in Ji Cui Tower. Third Old Mistress Shi was only sensitive then because she was worried that their arrival would be looked down on within the household. But after seeing how Shi Fengju and Sang Wan treated them with sincerity and cared for her family in every aspect, especially with Sang Wan treating her daughters well, her sensitivity slowly subsided and she began to understand Sang Wan more as she saw the good in her.
After the formal greetings, Sang Wan smiled and said, “Oh right, Third Aunt, it rains more especially between March and April in Qingzhou every year, with ten or more days when rain would fall without rain. The Southern wind also makes the region humid. These few days, I was thinking of cleaning up Qing Hui Garden once the weather becomes better after April, and invite Third Uncle and Third Aunt to move there earliest before 15th August. What does Third Aunt think about it?”
Third Old Mistress Shi smiled and said, “I actually find Ji Cui Tower a good place to stay after being here for quite some time. The house is spacious and bright, and it is dry and comfortable. I can see that much thought has been put into it when you chose this place! You don’t have to rush the cleaning for Qing Hui Garden, just do it at your own pace!”
Sang Wan smiled and said, “Since Third Aunt has put it that way, then I will take your word for it! Thank you, Third Aunt, for the understanding!”
“Why are you being so polite, we are a family!” Third Old Mistress Shi smiled before she sighed, “My brother-in-law really had a good eye for choosing such a wonderful candidate as his eldest daughter-in-law. I’m not made out of wood, why wouldn’t I realize the effort you’ve shown me!”
Nanny Gui grinned and smiled by the side, “Yes, Young Mistress! Our old mistress would only sing praises when speaking about you! But you can’t blame her, your execution of every task really deserves compliments!”
“Listen to what Third Aunt and Nanny said!” Sang Wan smiled, “After you and Third Uncle returned, this is my duty in the family. Oh, before I forget to ask, what’s the matter Third Aunt called me here for today?”
