Sang Wan was both shocked and angry after listening and her expression immediately sunk. It was not surprising that Gu Fangzi would call her “sister” intimately in front of Wang Shi but stab her behind her back again! Sang Wan laughed silently at herself. Gu Fangzi had always been good at plotting against others, what a fool she must be for not putting up her guard even after being at the receiving end so many times.
“Third Aunt, thank you for telling me this!” Sang Wan said with gratitude, “The household has many servants who just don’t watch their mouths. I wonder which ignorant servants said such nonsense to make Third Aunt unhappy! Luckily Third Aunt is an understanding person, if not, I would not be able to explain myself even if I had more than one mouth!
“Don’t worry, you’ve always been reliable, and definitely not someone who would gossip behind peoples’ back, of course I would not believe those words! However, if someone else heard this, I can’t promise whether they would believe it or not!” Third Old Mistress Shi smiled gently before leaving her with those words.
After seeing Shi Third Old Mistress off, Sang Wan called Nanny Li over and ordered her to investigate what happened around the wall of flowers that grew on the fence that day. After Nanny Li heard Sang Wan’s story, she was infuriated too, “Young Mistress, you are so kind that others are starting to step all over you! Not just this, the case with the pastries as well, that was obviously a plot to breed disharmony between you and Old Mistress. It is even worse this time, even Third Mistress was dragged into it!” Then she added, “Luckily, Third Mistress is understanding, if it were Second Old Mistress Shi…”
Without even completing her sentence, Sang Wan understood what she meant and said coldly, “Nanny, you have to find out who those two instigators are!”
“Young Mistress, don’t worry. That isn’t actually difficult, just that it’ll be a little troublesome!” Nanny Li instantly perked up and said, “If I find out who those two are, I’ll definitely skin them alive!”
Even though there were many servants in the household, they were all responsible for their own duties. Who was in charge, what they were doing, and at what time, all could be easily identified. After a meticulous check, five servants were picked out. And after a series of careful questioning, only two servants were left.
The two servants, Liu Shun and Wu Chunfang were brought to Ning Garden1Ning GardenSang Wan & Shi Fengju's place of residence, in front of Sang Wan. Before they knew what was going on, Nanny Li popped the question, “Where were the both of you at during 3 to 5pm on the 23rd of March?” This caught them by surprise.
They did not remember the exact date. However, the acts that they had committed still made them feel guilty and their expressions twitched slightly.
Not just them, but the expression on Gu Fangzi, who was invited to be behind a screen, also changed slightly.
“You don’t remember?” Nanny Li laughed coldly, “Then let me help you recall. Have the both of you been to the wall of flowers, east of the flower garden?”
Both of them were dumbfounded and they looked at one another in a daze.
“Yes, yes. We did go there,” Liu Shun smiled, “That day, us old sisters were doing our duty there, clearing away the fallen leaves. Why is Nanny Li asking us about this all of a sudden? Did we do something wrong?
“Yes, Yes,” Wu Chunfang nodded, “We went there to sweep.”
Nanny Li said coldly, “Were you only sweeping and didn’t say anything else? Are the both of you even in a position to speak about Third Old Mistress Shi and Young Mistress?”
Li Shun and Wu Chunfang immediately claimed their innocence when they heard this, and they stubbornly refused to admit to their actions.
“Quiet, all of you!” Nanny Li said coldly, “Don’t be in a hurry to claim your innocence, listen to me first!” Nanny Li began explaining from the start. How many people were on duty that day, who were doing what, and where they were assigned to. Only the two servants were left who happened to be at the wall of flowers, “What more do you have to add? Unless there are servants that I do not know of now?”
Wu Chunfang’s face turned pale and she quickly explained herself, “I remember now, I was sweeping at Fu Rong Pavillion. I wasn’t at the wall of flowers, I was only there in the early afternoon!”
“Stop with this nonsense!” Nanny Li snorted, “If there is no evidence, why would I bring the two of you here? In the morning, both of you were in Plum Flower Garden, and after that you were at the purple vine structure and stayed there until lunch. After lunch, the both of you went to talk with the servants in the kitchen for a while before going on with your task to clean all the way from the northeast corner of the garden to the wall of flowers. Am I correct? I even have people to support my words. If you continue to lie, then I’ll bring the both of you to reflect on yourself while kneeling in the courtyard. Once you’ve finished, you may come back in and we’ll continue with this!”
Li Shun and Wu Chunfang were both taken aback. Even Gu Fangzi began to feel a little uneasy. Who knew that Sang Wan would be so detailed!
Li Shun and Wu Chunfang did not think of today when they did what they had that day. They merely did not let Third Old Mistress Shi’s maidservants recognise them, but did not avoid the other servants who were in the garden. Everyone had their duties, would Nanny Li not know if she had already investigated it beforehand?
Both of them looked at each other before turning towards Sang Wan and kowtowed, “Young Mistress, please forgive us! We were wronged! Where would we have the guts to speak badly behind our masters’ backs? Young Mistress, please check thoroughly to clear our names!”
The two people kowtowed and begged loudly. Sang Wan was always gentle and had a soft-heart; so long as they were able to seek Sang Wan’s help, Nanny Li wouldn’t be able to badger them about this since she was just a servant after all!
But what they did not know was that Nanny Li was ordered by Sang Wan.
“Looks like I’ve been too kind!” Sang Wan said coldly, “So one and two of you now have the guts to step over me! In front of Old Mistress, do both of you dare to cry and beg for mercy too?”
Sang Wan’s tone was imposing. Li Shun and Wu Chunfang’s expressions froze. Even though their faces were flowing with tears, they did not dare to kowtow anymore.
“Do you treat me as a fool?” Sang Wan said coldly, “Whether or not Nanny Li accused you, I’m sure you know best. If you don’t admit to your mistakes, then don’t blame me for taking action! Who gave you the guts to sow discord between your masters? If you still refuse to speak when I ask you, do you want me to hand the two of you to Head Servant Jin and tell him about everything and have him do another thorough investigation? As for your families, since the adults are not being a good role model and do not know how to admit to their mistakes, then they shall be punished with you!”
Li Shun and Wu Chunfang’s expressions changed entirely. Before, they were capitalising on the fact that Sang Wan was soft-hearted. Now that Sang Wan was being serious, how would they dare to remain firm in their stand? Nanny Li already found out their entire day’s activity, there was nowhere to push their blame to and they quickly kowtowed to seek for mercy while slapping their mouths to scold themselves.
Sang Wan pursed her lips and sat coldly without speaking. Nanny Li understood what she was expecting and smiled coldly, “I see that the two of you are normally not this gossipy, who was the one who prompted you? Tell the truth now!”
Gu Fangzi’s pupils contracted and her fists were clenched tightly.
Li Shun’s mind was simple, and just as she was about to open her mouth, Wu Chunfang hurriedly kowtowed and said, “Nobody ordered us to do it, it was a moment of foolishness that made us speak such nonsense! We beg Young Mistress to let us off, we would not dare to do it next time!”
Li Shun caught on, and kowtowed, “Yes, we were the fools!” How would they dare to betray Miss Gu after benefitting from this ? With that temper of hers, she was not someone who could be messed with!
Nanny Li asked again and again, but the two refused to loosen their mouths. Sang Wan said, “Since both of you are still so stubborn, Sister Fangzi, you can come out now!”
Sang Wan knew she would not get an answer, and even if she did find out, there was nothing she could do if Gu Fangzi denied the claim completely! If she pushed this matter too hard, and Gu Fangzi started to cry, then she would seem like the one who was petty. What she was about to do today was to warn them that she was no fool!
Gu Fangzi walked out from behind the screen. As soon as Li Shun and Wu Chunfang raised their heads, their faces turned pale and cold sweat formed on their backs. They both let out a soft sigh of relief. If they had confessed that it was Miss Gu who made them do it, then a worse consequence would be waiting for them!
Gu Fangzi’s heart was filled with hatred, anger, and shock. She said unhappily, “Sister Sang Wan, you purposely invited me here to observe such a nonsensical show? Sister Sang Wan, what is the meaning of this!”
“Why would Sister Fangzi think this is a show!” Sang Wan said with a straight face,”These servants do not know how to hold their tongues and their hearts are despicable. Brewing conflicts behind others’ backs, if they are not severely punished, then who knows what they would do in the future! If there comes another time and the household is made into a mess where there is conflict within the family, how is this not a big deal? How can you say that this is just a show?”
Gu Fangzi grunted and said, “Sister is in charge of managing the household, you decide what to do with those who have made a mistake, why do you have to drag me here to hear this? Unless Sister Sang Wan thinks that this has something to do with me? I won’t hide what I’m thinking, so you don’t have to hide and give such subtle hints as well. If you’re suspecting me, then tell me straight up!”
“There are some things that we’re all well aware of, how can it be deemed as suspicions! But Sister Fangzi, you shouldn’t be thinking too much!” Sang Wan smiled mockingly, “The reason why I invited you over is to hear your opinion. What do you think should be done with them?”
“How should I know! Everything’s up to you!” Gu Fangzi rebutted.
Sang Wan said, “How can you say that! Even though there are rules in the household, I feel that they’re not enough to be used to manage such behaviors. No matter which household, sowing discord among masters is a huge offence! Which is why I wanted to ask for your opinion. After all, you’ve also managed this household before, so you must have some good ideas!”
Gu Fangzi said coldly, “Sister Sang Wan, you think too highly of me. Such a matter has never happened when I was managing the household in the past, so I don’t know!”
“Miss Gu, that’s incorrect!” Nanny Li quickly cut in and said, “I remember when Young Mistress first arrived, there were already maidservants gossiping about the relationship between Young Mistress and you. Didn’t you go to Old Mistress’ place to cry in resentment? How can you say this never happened before? Your memory is worse than an old woman like me!”
Gu Fangzi was instantly put out of words and her face turned red from shame.
