Shi Fengju looked at her helplessly before he shook his head and got up. One old and one young woman were enough already. He was uncertain whether he would still have the energy left to deal with a third one in his life.
When Zhide saw that her Young Master had come out while draping on his clothes and grumbling, she suddenly recalled the goblet and hurriedly said with a smile, “I must have been muddled, to even forget such a huge matter!” Having said that, she went to the small kitchen and brought out the goblet of bird’s nest together with a bowl and spoon before serving him.
Shi Fengju finished it with a few mouthfuls and rinsed his mouth before returning to the chamber. Sang Wan was lying on the bed waiting for him. When she saw him, she was flabbergasted and said, “So fast! You should’ve eaten it slowly. Wolfing the food down will only make your stomach uncomfortable!”
Shi Fengju did not say anything. He held onto her and gave her a firm kiss before he gasped for breath and said, “You’re so naggy. Be careful or I’ll sort you out!”
“Stop fooling around!” Sang’s Wan cheeks turned red from the kiss and she scolded, “You have many things to handle tomorrow! Go to sleep quickly!”
Shi Fengju smiled. He pulled her onto his arm and said some nice words before going to sleep. After returning back today, many things had happened. At this moment, he did not have the mood to make a din.
The next day, Shi Fengju went to meet the supervisors of his family’s sea freight business and he listened to their reports one by one. Of course, a few of them asked why it wasn’t Gu Fangzi who came. Shi Fengju arbitrarily found an excuse and didn’t say more.
He secretly ensured that all of the sea freight’s operations were in order and remained the same as they were before he had left. In other words, he erased every trace of Gu Fangzi’s intervention. Shi Fengju did not trust Gu Fangzi now. He did not believe that she would do nothing after beating around the bush with his mother in order to get herself involved. This was too strange!
For the time being, he would have to hold back his doubts. After Sang Wan returned from greeting Wang Shi, she picked a pair of jeweled bottles, a set of gold-embedded head ornaments, a white jade scepter, and two red and golden silk-wrapped embroidery. She went together with Nanny Li to Fu Qu Lodge to pay Shi Lian a visit and give them to her.
Nanny Li joked with a smile, “It’ll be so lively here! Young Mistress, she’s going to be your younger sister-in-law as well as your older brother’s wife. When the two of you meet in the future, it’ll be interesting!”
Sang Wan could not help but chuckle and said with a smile before letting out a sigh, “That’s not true! She will still be my younger sister-in-law. But when I return home in the future and meet her, I don’t know whether to call her my younger sister-in-law or my older sister-in-law!”
Nanny Li said with a smile, “I heard that Second Young Master Sang will be taking up a new post in the capital soon. I’m afraid that it will be hard to meet him in the future.”
Sang Wan felt a little reluctant after hearing that but she said with a smile, “Yes, just like Third Uncle, he won’t be coming back for many years after being a government official! It will be difficult to meet them in the future!”
Her second brother had passed his imperial examinations brilliantly. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion as the Sang family could finally hold their heads high. However, upon hearing that, Sang Wan’s joyous feeling became greatly dampened.
Upon seeing Sang Wan feel slightly emotional, Nanny Li hurriedly smiled and changed the topic. Sang Wan knew of her good intentions and also smiled without saying a word.
Although Fu Qu Lodge was still the same as before, the atmosphere was clearly different. The gate had been decorated with many bright-colored blooming flowers to give it a vibrant look.
The furniture in the house had been replaced, even the hanging curtains and many others had been changed to a rose-tinted color. In addition to that, there were also four more pretty servants who were the dowry that Old Mistress had chosen for Shi Lian.
Hearing that Sang Wan was coming, Shi Lian was likewise a bit embarrassed. As a bride who was about to be married, she was more shy than Sang Wan, but she had to greet her personally. Upon seeing Sang Wan, she lowered her head, seemingly not daring to look at her in the eyes as she greeted, “Eldest Sister-in-law!”
“Third Sister, you’re too polite!” Sang Wan helped her up with a smile. She wore a lilac pink embroidered outer coat, a round neck blouse, and a red-plum fish scales pleated skirt that was white at the bottom. Her waist was tied around with a silver-blue band, and a white-jade double-fished girdle ornament hung on it. She combed two loops in her hair and a gem-embedded hairpin with flowers, as well as many delicate rose ornaments, was inserted. The way she dressed was much better than the way she usually did and it made her brighter and cheerier.
“Sister Sang Wan, you went out of your way to come and see me after taking care of my elder brother. How can I not feel apologetic!” When the two of them sat down together, Shi Lian said with a smile.
“You’re being too polite. When I heard about such a joyous occasion after coming back, I ought to congratulate you! Congratulations, Third Sister. In the future, we’ll be even closer to each other! I didn’t expect you to have such a fate with our Sang family!” Sang Wan exclaimed with a smile. With that, Nanny Li and the others presented the gifts.
Shi Lian’s face flushed red from the embarrassment and she hurriedly thanked her with a smile. Then, she instructed Cai Yun and others to receive the gifts and put them away before she instructed a servant to serve tea and leave after she signalled them with a look.
Shi Lian said to Sang Wan, “Ever since you married into our family, you’ve been taking care of me. I’ve always been very grateful towards you! To be able to marry into the Sang family is my blessing.” As she said that, she was about to get up to thank Sang Wan with a bow.
“No need for that!” Sang Wan quickly pulled her back to her seat before she said half-jokingly, “Soon, I will have to call you ‘Second Sister-in-law’. If you’re so courteous to me like this, how can I live with that!’
“Sister Sang Wan!” Shi Lian could not face her teasing and her face immediately turned red. She then whispered, “To me, you’re forever my eldest sister-in-law. You didn’t despise me for being a concubine’s daughter and that is my blessing.”
Sang Wan suddenly had an urge to pamper her and said softly, “Don’t think that way! Our Sang family is from the countryside. Even though my second brother passed the examinations brilliantly, he is still new to the officialdom. We don’t know what his future will be like! He’s a good person and I only hope that you will go through thick and thin with him. He will definitely live up to your expectations! There’s also my eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law.” Sang Wan slightly muttered, “My eldest brother is an honest and sincere person while my eldest sister-in-law is very straightforward and quite stubborn. After you get married into the family, I hope you can get along well with them.”
Shi Lian nodded. “Sister Sang Wan, don’t worry. I will! Since I’ll be marrying into the Sang family and becoming a daughter-in-law, it is my duty to go through thick and thin with my husband. I will also respect the both of them!”
Sang Wan replied with a smile, “You have always been gentle and kind. Cai Yun has followed you for many years and is well-informed. As for those few… servants that belong to wealthier families, they may be a little more arrogant. Since they’ll be following you as your servants in the future, I’m afraid you’ll have to be more strict with them! Our Sang household isn’t as extravagant as the Shi household and doesn’t pay any particular attention to everything. Some things to take note about my eldest sister-in-law: she cannot tolerate pretentious acts! I shouldn’t be saying this to you, but I would like to remind you because I don’t want you to have any hostility towards her. If you cannot understand my intention, then take it as I didn’t say anything!”
“Sister Sang Wan!” Shi Lian’s eyes turned red and she held onto Sang Wan’s hand, “Only you will tell me all these! How can I not understand your intentions and blame you? I also found those servants given to me unpleasant. By word of mouth, it is said that Mother picked them for me, but they are actually picked by the one in Peony Park2 instead! I am fine if they’re honest, but if they dare to be disrespectful towards any of their masters, I will get rid of them even before we go to the capital!”
Sang Wan was relieved upon hearing that and said with a smile, “I was worried for nothing! It’s good that you think this way! My eldest sister-in-law is very easy to get along with, so don’t worry!”
Shi Lian quickly seized the opportunity to ask Sang Wan about many things regarding the Sang family. Sang Wan told her that in order for her to get along well with her brother and his wife in the future, it was more important not to create any trouble—Heaven knows what Sang Pingliang and his wife would do to incite disharmony? If she were to face a problem with her eldest-sister-in-law because of them, it would be difficult to resolve in the future! And so, whatever she said, Shi Lian remembered carefully.
Since Sang Wan had returned, and this upcoming marriage was related to the Sang family, this matter should be handed over to her. Perhaps Gu Fangzi had received a blow by Shi Fengju last night. Thus, she fell ill today. At noon, Wang Shi called Sang Wan over and ordered her to take over the marriage arrangements. She also glanced at her meaningfully, but said nothing afterwards.
Sang Wan remained calm and unafraid of what she would say. That little hope in her was not willing to perish because of Shi Fengju’s words. As for herself, she had already let it go. Even if she did not wish to, what can she do?
When Gu Fangzi previously made the arrangements, she initially wanted Nanny Li to help as well. But would Nanny Li comply with her? She used Ning Garden1 as an excuse, saying that she could not leave because her Young Master and Young Mistress were not present so she had to look after the place. However, she would follow the matter closely in the dark.
“Young Mistress, there may be acts of misbehavior that I believe can be investigated without much trouble. Why don’t I conduct an investigation to uncover the greed present in the arrangement? Otherwise, we’ll be easily letting off that fox as a good person!” Nanny Li was eager to try.
During the preparations for festivals or huge events, the servants and nannies would strive to gain benefits, and that was the norm. As long as they did not go overboard, the one in-charge of making the decisions had the choice to turn a blind eye to that.
Sang Wan slightly muttered to herself and shook her head, “Hasn’t that been the case all along? Forget it! It’ll only be making more trouble for us!”
Unresigned to that, Nanny Li said, “That would mean letting that fox off easily even after she took the household’s money to gain favors and bribe them! Young Mistress, if you don’t say something about it, I’m afraid that they might secretly laugh at you for being clueless!”
That is true too!
After pondering, Sang Wan said, “Let those few people know that we are aware of their deeds! They won’t have to return the benefits they’ve received. Nanny Li, even though Cousin Fangzi might have secretly given them some benefits, if we take them back, won’t they hate us for that?”
Nanny Li knocked her forehead and said with a smile, “That is my bad! I almost got played by that fox! If Young Mistress says so, then so be it! Leave this to me!”
Sang Wan smiled and nodded her head.
When Shi Fengju came back in the afternoon, Wang Shi called for him.
