In contrast, she did not want her daughter-in-law to be by her side at all times, else she would feel uncomfortable. It would be as good as if the maidservants had become unruly and served with no scruple, especially towards her who holds the position as an elder of the Shi family!
While on the topic, the position as an elder of the Shi family sure is difficult and tiring to hold.
Sang Wan was slightly surprised. It seems, her mother-in-law truly disliked having her daughter-in-law serve her, and it was not an act in her past life when her mother-in-law was wholly disgusted when her daughter-in-law served her. At this moment, Sang Wan finally understood.
“Yes, your daughter-in-law shall head back now!” Sang Wan bowed before retiring. But as she did so, she raised her head and smiled gently and added, “mother-in-law, have someone call for me whenever you feel listless. Your daughter-in-law shall help dispel that listlessness!”
“Yes, yes!” Feeling cared for, Wang Shi grinned and nodded.
“Nanny Jiang, what do you say of my daughter-in-law?” After seeing Sang Wan leave, Wang Shi sat comfortably on the couch before asking Nanny Jiang.
“This old servant thinks that she’s not bad! Old Sir’s arrangement for the marriage was right; Mistress, you’re truly blessed!” Nanny Jiang smiled as she praised.
“That is true! I couldn’t bare to say this but I have to admit, a member of the scholar family sure is different! Truly a blessing to have!” Wang Shi smiled but suddenly began to sigh. “Both are good, both aren’t bad, eh, not bad…”
“Go, take a look at what my niece is doing and invite her here!” Wang Shi’s brow raised and she instructed a young maidservant while feeling slightly satisfied at herself.
Gu Fangzi had been waiting at the Peony Park restlessly. Upon hearing that her aunt had summoned for her, she briskly went over. Just arriving at the courtyard, Gu Fangzi stopped in her tracks. Adjusting her expression, clothes, and complexion, she entered the parlor gracefully.
“Aunt ——”
“Come! Come! Have a seat! We’re a family so no need for the ceremony!” Wang Shi cut the greeting short and gestured with a smile.
Gu Fangzi smiled and agreed before sitting next to Wang Shi.
Wang Shi held Gu Fangzi’s hand and spoke, “I’ve spoken to Sang Wan; the management will still be in your care, Sang Wan has no objections! In the future, I’ll leave them to you! Aunt trusts in the way you manage the household!”
“That ——” The edges of Gu Fangzi’s lips unconsciously hooked a grin. Though her appearance was like a beautiful flower and her heart as sweet as nectar, her mouth questioned with doubt, “That shouldn’t be good, right? After all, she’s the Ma’am of this household… is she alright with this arrangement?”
“Rest assured!” Wang Shi smiled, “Though your aunt may be old and is no longer managing this household, my words still contain power and is the final say! Since she has agreed to it, it means she has fully accepted it! In the future, other than the vicinity of the small garden, everything will be managed by you. I hope your management won’t disappoint me.”
“The small garden?” Gu Fangzi’s smiling face slightly stiffened.
“Yes. The vicinity of the small garden is where she lives, so that place is naturally given to her to care for. Also, that’s to save you from embarrassment. What’s important now is that you do not act out of line.” Without knowing, Wang Shi had gotten closer to Gu Fangzi and spoke with an intimidating voice. That evidently showed that she cares for Gu Fangzi as if she was part of her immediate family.
Gu Fangzi nodded gently before agreeing softly. Smiling, she spoke, “Aunt truly is considerate towards me! Maybe more intimate compared to my own biological mother!”
Deep down, she could not help but feel slightly frustrated. The small garden may be where Sang Wan lives, but her cousin also lives there. She had originally wanted to put all her focus on the small garden and obtain information of her cousin’s whereabouts. But because of a sentence from her aunt, that plan shattered into pieces!
But wait a second! Gu Fangzi was suddenly struck by a thought: Aunt is used to being idle now, so coming up with such an idea should not be possible. This must have been thought out by that vile woman, Sang Wan! Well, I can affirm my guess by just asking a maidservant who was present during their conversation, and if that were so, that vile woman sure is clever!
“Your biological mother is my biological younger sister. Doesn’t that make you just like a daughter to me? Silly child!” Wang Shi smiled and glanced at Gu Fangzi intimately.
Gu Fangzi forced a smile in return. The word ‘daughter’ made her felt somewhat uncomfortable; what she’d wanted to become wasn’t her aunt’s daughter, but her daughter-in-law!
“Aunt, I’ve something I’d like to say, but isn’t sure if it’s proper. If what I said offended you, I hope you’ll not put it to heart!”
“Keke, your words are always reasonable. When have you ever said anything improper? Speak! Your aunt will listen!”
Gu Fangzi then let out a laugh. “Although aunt values me, and cousin-in-law made no objections, cousin already has an official wife! If I were to still be the one managing the household, then isn’t that unmethodical? What I fear is that the servants may not obey me, I ——, I might end up disappointing Aunt!” Looking at Wang Shi pitifully, Gu Fangzi’s voice gradually softened.
As if that thought had never come to her, Wang Shi’s face immediately darkened. But soon after, she groaned, “Let’s see who would dare to do so! This is the Shi family household and those on the sidelines have no say to this! If anyone ever bickers with you over this, I’ll show them what I’m capable of!”
“How can that be possible? To have Aunt make an appearance over such a small matter; all the more would portray me as being unfilial! Still, I’m not the Ma’am of this house, thus they cannot be blamed for not obeying me! Though aunt’s words against those unruly servants are effective, their hearts may not be intimidated and they might even go around gossiping. I’m afraid aunt might even be pulled into it!”
In that moment, Wang Shi was brought back to senses. Gloomily, she nodded gently and agreed, “What you said truly is reasonable! If only you married into the family first, then that wouldn’t have happened!”
“Aunt!” Gu Fangzi’s face was flushed and she lowered her head in embarrassment. Hurriedly, she replied, “I, I wasn’t trying to imply that, really! I just didn’t want others to cause chaos in the household, but what I said had seemed to have directed to another path! Still, cousin-in-law has just recently married into the family, if I were to do so —— wouldn’t cousin-in-law be humiliated? Her future here may, as a result, be awkward!”
After hearing the words Gu Fangzi had wanted to say, Wang Shi couldn’t help but feel a little apologetic towards Sang Wan for she was a sensible daughter-in-law. However, being aware of the fact that she was sensible, Wang Shi spoke, “Why would she be awkward in the Shi family? She is the official wife of Fengju, who dares to embarrass her? Unless she is incompetent, saying that she’ll be humiliated isn’t right! If I may add, which young master has never had any concubines? It is already considered good that our Fengju never had any before the marriage! From every aspect, we’ve given her face!”
Gu Fangzi was discreetly delighted. But on the surface, she spoke hesitantly, “That, I’m afraid that might ——”
“Enough, enough! I call the shots for this! No need for your care! When Fengju returns, I’ll inform him regarding the arrangement! As for you, just wait for the good news! Keke!” Wang Shi glanced at Gu Fangzi. Seeing that she was hesitant, Wang Shi deliberately said disappointedly, “What’s the matter? Do you have an objection?”
“Aunt!” Gu Fangzi unconsciously stood up and said bashfully, “We’ve spoke enough. I, I have things to attend to so I’ll head off first!”
“Go then!” Wang Shi said with a big grin and laughed. In the midst of the laughter, Gu Fangzi had already turned and left.
Sang Wan was in deep thoughts as she returned to the small garden. She was puzzled as to why her mother-in-law even began the conversation with her in the first place.
Recalling what had happened carefully of the three days since she had stepped foot into the household, there did not seem to be any breach of etiquette. As such, her mother-in-law should not have any reason to sweep the floor with her face.
Property of © Fantasy-Books.live; outside of it, it is stolen.If so, what had truly happened?
In the evening when no one was around, Liu Ya informed Sang Wan of what information she had managed to gather from the kitchen. From there, Sang Wan understood. It seems that yesterday, when Shi Fengju followed her back to her paternal home, two servants of the household were in the wrong and were punished by Gu Fangzi in the courtyard. Unhappy, the two complained before Gu Fangzi’s back, saying that the household now has Ma’am so an outsider like her should not be arrogant To actually have said that to someone who is considered part of the family!
Gu Fangzi got wind of it. Feeling wronged, she returned to her chamber and let her tears flow. Sometime later, Wang Shi also got wind of it. Furious, the two servants were sentenced to twenty hits of the large board and were sent to the outer courtyard to do intensive manual labour. Wang Shi even went to comfort Gu Fangzi personally.
No wonder! Sang Wan nodded slightly. No wonder her mother-in-law was in a hurry to have that conversation with her. It was all to provide support for Gu Fangzi!
Sang Wan sighed. In her past life, Gu Fangzi taking control of the management was a matter of course, and because of that, her nightmare in the household began! But who would’ve thought that in this life, she was not able to change it! In the end, the result was still the same.
Sang Wan stiffened her heart. Since things had ended up the way they were now, then so be it. What she feared now is Gu Fangzi’s resilience. If Gu Fangzi were to marry into the family, how will Sang Wan continue to survive? Still, she believed that she could still cling onto the hope that Shi Fengju will not go back on the promise! Her presence in the household was still light which was simply not enough to create a change.
And it seems what Sang Wan had expected became true. Being led by Gu Fangzi, Wang Shi conveyed the idea to Shi Fengju.
“You and Fangzi grew up together and have known each other well. Since this is something that would have happened sooner or later, having her marry into the family soon shouldn’t be too much of a problem. What do you say?” Wang Shi grinned with her face expressing her interest in the idea since her son also liked his cousin!
Shi Fengju smiled bitterly and said, “Mother, I’ve just returned home and was called here immediately by you just to discuss this?” What’s there to hurry about for my marriage with Fang’er?
“Then what else do you think I’ll be discussing with you about?” Wang Shi waited no longer for her son to express his joy; the sight of her son not being pleased with the idea was actually very surprising to her. Glaring at Shi Fengju, she added, “Fangzi is no longer young anymore; shouldn’t you be more considerate towards her? From what I see, daughter-in-law Sang Wan isn’t unreasonable; I’m sure she’ll agree! Fangzi will first marry into the family as a concubine. Once she bares a son, her position will naturally be elevated. When that happens, we’ll hold a lavish wedding! With that, we’ve actually given Sang Wan enough face!”
“Mother, that is what you think, or —— is this Fangzi’s idea?” Shi Fengju paused before blurting out.
“What difference does it make?” Wang Shi frowned. “What’s wrong? Do you not wish for this to happen? My son, you shouldn’t do something that would betray your heart and cause unhappiness to those around you! Sang Wan is virtuous and gentle in temperament; Fangzi is clever and capable; I’m sure they’ll be able to get along well. That, my son, is also your blessing!”
“I have my own thoughts regarding this, so Mother, no need to worry.” Shi Fengju frowned; a year, he can wait a year and he believes she can too! He wanted to give his most beloved woman a grand and complete wedding, so how is that wrong? Why make her suffer now?
“Rubbish!” Wang Shi couldn’t help but become furious. She grunted, “If not me, who then would worry about her? This isn’t something that you alone have the final say for I do not want that child, Fangzi, to become upset! Though you may be able to bare it, I can’t!” With that, she spoke of the incident that had happened to Gu Fangzi yesterday and added, “What do you say now, can this still wait?”