"How can you say that! How can you say that!" Mrs. Mi quivered with anger and said with hate, "Young master is also my son; on what grounds do you forbid searching for him! Yes, you're not worried; you have other sons, of course you wouldn't worry about him! I knew it, you've always been disgusted by the two of us! You heartless man!"
"Enough already! What nonsensical ranting is this, what does it mean to say such things in front of so many people! I really have nothing to say to you!" Second Master Shi suddenly stood up, muttered "What a disgrace" under his breath, and hastily said goodbye to Mrs. Wang before leaving straight away.
Mrs. Mi, humiliated into rage, also stood up, stomped her feet, and chased after him, whining and complaining along the way, leaving the house silent as a graveyard.
"All right, everyone disperse! Young master, take your wife back with you. Miss Wan, you must be tired from yesterday too; go back and rest. I'll send someone to call you for dinner later!" Mrs. Wang, exhausted, clenched her fists and softly patted her own shoulders, telling her son and daughter-in-law.
"Yes, mother!" Sang Wan curtsied, looking at Shi Fengju earnestly. In her past life, this turmoil with the second house didn't exist. But because of the tea ceremony, she made her mother-in-law and husband displeased, and Shi Fengju would leave with an excuse. She returned to Ningyuan alone, under the strange gazes of maids and old women, then hid away and wept secretly. In this life, she didn't want to be under those gazes anymore.
Feeling as if sitting on pins and needles, as if there's a sword hanging over one's head, once is already enough!
Shi Fengju subconsciously glanced at Gu Fangzi and quickly looked away, nodded, and left with Sang Wan.
Just as they exited the main courtyard gate, Shi Fengju's pace slowed down, "I—"
"Young master," Sang Wan interrupted him before he could finish, gently calling him with a faint gaze filled with timidness and pitiful appeal, the implication of her unfinished words was clear to see.
She wanted him to escort her back to Ningyuan.
Shi Fengju was taken aback, and the half-spoken words couldn't be said, he silently sighed, raised his hand and said, "Let's go, we—shall return."
"Yes!" Sang Wan meekly nodded, secretly relieved. She knew what Shi Fengju wanted to do; in the main hall, his parting gaze with Gu Fangzi might have gone unnoticed by others, but Sang Wan saw it quite clearly. He must be eager to have a private talk with Gu Fangzi now.
Their love affair was none of her business, she had the status, but not the power to interfere. But if Shi Fengju were to leave her behind and walk away now, where would that leave the face of this new bride? No need to continue living in this mansion then! Wasn't it just like in her past life?
The two made their way back to Ningyuan, one after the other, with Shi Fengju walking a bit faster, his robe fluttering, making a slight rustling noise, betraying a hint of anxiousness in his absent-mindedness. Sang Wan silently followed behind him, watching as the man who was her husband in name was so concerned over another woman, not knowing what to feel inside.
However, it was still much better than her past life! Sang Wan comforted herself thinking so.
Her gaze shifted, and she saw a trace of mockery flashing over the face of the maid following her. Sang Wan stiffened and suddenly twisted her foot and cried out "Ouch".
"What's wrong!" Shi Fengju, who was walking ahead, finally stopped his own pace and turned back to reach out and help her. His hand hesitated in the air for two seconds before finally making up his mind to help support her arm, "Did you twist it?"
"It's nothing, I just wasn't careful and tripped over some pebbles, I'm fine!" Sang Wan smiled apologetically.
"Why aren't you coming over to help—Madam!" Shi Fengju nodded and retracted his hand, calling towards Liu Ya and others behind Sang Wan.
"Yes! Young master!" Liu Ya quickly responded and stepped forward to support Sang Wan. It wasn't Liu Ya's fault for not taking the initiative; back in the Sang family, Sang Wan often did housework herself, and there was no need for someone to help her with walking!
Seeing the young master being so protective of Madam, another maid quickly stepped forward to lend a hand as well. Sang Wan recognized her; she was called Hong Ye, a second-class maid from Ningyuan.
Shi Fengju no longer hurried his steps but slowed down to accompany Sang Wan back to Ningyuan.
Seeing the two masters returning, all maids and grannies in attendance came up to greet them. Quick-witted ones had already prepared tea and daily clothes, busying themselves with various tasks.
Before Shi Fengju could speak, Sang Wan gently said with a smile, "These past few days have really exhausted me, I want to rest a bit first, young master—if you have things to do, go ahead! As for the people in this courtyard, shall I meet them later as well?"
Instead of waiting for him to speak, it was better for her to take the initiative and save some face. Anyway, given his anxious look, he couldn't stay here for long.
Shi Fengju's heart was occupied with Gu Fangzi. Hearing Sang Wan's words was just what he wished for, so he nodded and said with a smile, "Then you rest first, I will go out! Don't wait for me for lunch, we'll go to mother's place together for dinner! Mrs. Li is not here, you might as well call everyone in the courtyard to meet up later!" Saying so, he hurriedly changed his clothes and left without even drinking his tea.
Sang Wan nodded in agreement and watched him go out, then scanned the house and asked, "Who is in charge of this house?"
All the maids lowered their heads and were silent, and there was an awkward silence for a moment.
"Replying to Madam, it's Mrs. Li." Finally, someone spoke up. Sang Wan followed the voice and saw it was the chief maid of this courtyard, named Xingzhi. This maid was mature and reliable in her duties, and most importantly, she had never sought to climb into her master's bed. Sang Wan remembered that in her past life, it seemed she had married the son of a steward in the Shi Mansion. Of course, back then, Sang Wan didn't have much interaction with Xingzhi. Xingzhi kept to her duties without talking too much; one could say she was indifferent, or that she knew how to protect herself wisely. It was no easy feat to maintain such a stance in a large household—it showed that she was a clever woman.