Chapter 218: Incoming Letters

A servant naturally had to accept a master’s reward so Nanny Li accepted it. She was left with no choice but to go to the Peony Park2 to give her thanks in person. Gu Fangzi received her with a smile that was out of the norm and greeted her. Nanny Li got gooseb.u.mps from her greeting as it sounded as if they were close.

Gu Fangzi even wanted to keep Nanny Li to have a meal together but Nanny Li claimed she was busy and left in a hurry.

After pondering, Nanny Li came to feel that Gu Fangzi was solicitous in hiding her ill intentions. She mulled over for a long time and slapped her thigh upon realization. She couldn’t help but clench her teeth silently: That wretch must’ve done so deliberately for Ma’am to see so that she would throw suspicions on her!

Nanny Li could no longer sit still and she immediately took the reward that Gu Fangzi had given her and paid a visit to Sang Wan. She sent everyone around her away before saying, “Young Mistress, this is what Miss Gu has rewarded me. She said that it is a reward for my hard work helping her put her house in order! However, that is what I should do under Young Mistress’ order! I dare not accept this reward, so I would like Young Mistress to take care of it!”

Sang Wan laughed slightly and got up before pulling Nanny Li firmly to a seat. She said with a smile, “Nanny Li, there isn’t any need to do that. Nanny Li is Young Master’s nanny and has always taken care of me. All that is worth mentioning. I can’t be any clearer on what kind of person Nanny Li is! Since Cousin Fangzi has rewarded you, you should keep it without any worries! You’ve helped her, so it’s normal for her to express her grat.i.tude!”

Nanny Li was relieved and hurriedly said, “I’m glad that Young Mistress understands. I will only have Young Mistress deep down in my heart! No evil-doers or vixens should think about it! When Young Master left, he had told me that I have to serve Young Mistress well and not let you suffer any grievances!”

“I don’t know how to repay your kindness,” Sang Wan felt a warmth in her heart and smiled gratefully, “If she had succeeded in driving a wedge so superficially, I have let Nanny Li’s care towards me go in vain! Nanny Li, you don’t have to worry too much!” She then cast a glance at the high quality silk fabric and said with a smile, “Since it is her kind intention to give it to you, it is only right and proper for you to accept it!”

“Since Young Mistress says so, then I will be at ease!” Nanny Li was delighted and said with a smile, “Young Mistress is right. There’s nothing we have to be scared about if we don’t do anything against our conscience. I will accept this reward since she has given it to me!”

“That’s right!” Both of them looked at each other and laughed.

Early the next day, Sang Wan got up. Her hair was combed, and her face was washed, and she was about to have her breakfast. However, a servant entered and reported, “Young Mistress, Miss Gu is here to pay respects to you!”

The concubines usually had to pay their respects to the first wife early in the morning. If they met a harsh first wife, they would even have to serve her, help her get changed, and wash up as quickly as possible. After that, they would pay their respects to the elders in their household under the lead of the first wife. Those lowly concubines would not be given a chance to pay respects to the elders and could only accompany the first wife before waiting outside.

Upon hearing that, Sang Wan could not help but be in a daze as she subconsciously knitted her eyebrows. She knew that Gu Fangzi was not here to give her respect, and neither was she here to win her favor. However, Gu Fangzi was now here with the status of a concubine!

Sang Wan started to feel uneasy. She knew that when s.h.i.+ Fengju was not around, Gu Fangzi would definitely be up to no good.

“Young Mistress, we should let her come in since she is already here! Otherwise, it won’t look good on us! We can’t keep her waiting at the entrance,” Nanny Li stepped forward and said.

Sang Wan nodded her head reluctantly.

Gu Fangzi came in with Lan Xiang holding onto her arm. She wore a b.u.t.toned yellow-green embroidered bamboo-patterned outer coat and a beige pleated skirt with tangled plum flower patterns. Her hair was combed neatly and secured with a jasper-embedded pearl ta.s.sel hairpin. The end of that silver ta.s.sel was not uniform in length, with every three strands st.i.tched with a finger-sized red jewel. Her fresh, simple, and elegant look was indeed gorgeous.

“My greetings to Sister Sang Wan!” Gu Fangzi stepped forward with a smile and greeted Sang Wan. Her slim waist was stiff like a branch that would not bend no matter what.

It was ear-piercing for Sang Wan to hear her call ‘Sister’. She lifted her hands and said, “You don’t have to come so early from now on. Come after you have your breakfast and we will pay our respects to Mother together afterward!”

Gu Fangzi hated that arrogance. When Sang Wan was instructing her, she quietly scolded her pretentious posture but responded submissively. She said with a tender smile, “It’s my blessing that Sister Sang Wan can be so empathic! Since you have said so, I will naturally do as you say!”

Sang Wan nodded her head. If she had her breakfast now, she could not do without keeping her to have it together. Sang Wan simply had a loss of appet.i.te and did not want to eat anymore. She told Gu Fangzi to have a seat before indicating that she had some matters to attend to and went into her room. When the time was almost up, she went to w.a.n.g s.h.i.+’s place together with her.

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ was very happy to see both of them arriving together and she said a few kind words to Sang Wan.

Sang Wan silently grumbled to herself. w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ was treating them both as ‘Sisters’! What a joke! If she were to raise the old subject again when s.h.i.+ Fengju returned, wouldn’t w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ upset her to the very end!

Sang Wan thought for a while and said with a smile, “Mother, your daughter-in-law doesn’t pay particular attention to Sister Fangzi coming over to my place to pay her respect. It would be better for her to come here directly! Since Mother is fond of Sister Fangzi, she should accompany you more!”

After some thoughts, Sang Wan still felt that it would be best if Gu Fangzi was to stay as far away from her as possible, even better if they never had to meet! Regardless of what s.h.i.+ Fengju decided to do about this in the future, no one would blame her at the very least.

Why would w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ not go along with the suggestion after hearing it from Sang Wan? She naturally agreed with a smile. Gu Fangzi was never willing to pay respects to her and once was already more than enough. After some hesitation, she agreed to it as well.

In a blink of an eye, half a month went by. The rich smell of spring lingered under the bright sun. The flowers bloomed and the swallows flew above them. Everything beneath the sky was vivid, and the air was filled with a strong floral fragrance.

s.h.i.+ Fengju’s letter finally arrived in Sang Wan’s hands. There were two letters. One was written ‘To Mother’ which was meant for w.a.n.g s.h.i.+, and the other was written ‘To My Dear Wife’ which was naturally for Sang Wan.

After receiving the two letters, Sang Wan’s heavily frustrated heart day after day finally turned cheerful in an instant. She kept the letter meant for her carefully to herself. She carried the other letter to the courtyard where w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ was and reported to her, not daring to delay another second.

“Mother! Young Master has sent a letter! He must’ve arrived in Dezhou!”

Gu Fangzi was having a conversation with w.a.n.g s.h.i.+. Upon hearing Sang Wan, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ was pleasantly surprised and she raised her eyebrows in delight, “Amitabha, what a relief, what a relief! Quickly, read it to me!”

Sang Wan nodded with a smile and opened the letter to read it. He had indeed arrived in Dezhou. In his letter, he mentioned that after asking around he was able to confirm that s.h.i.+ Fengming did appear in Dezhou. However, he was nowhere to be found and s.h.i.+ Fengju had already sent people to search for him. Perhaps there would be an outcome soon, so he would like everyone at home to wait patiently and take good care of their health, and so on.

Upon hearing that, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ nodded her head and said with a sigh, “Since Fengming did appear in Dezhou, the information this time is definitely reliable and I’m sure they’ll be able to find him soon! Even if they can’t, at least we still know that he is safe and sound today. This piece of news is finally a good one! Later on, pay a visit to your second aunt and let her know about this!”

“Yes, Mother!” Sang Wan replied and kept the letter before handing over to w.a.n.g s.h.i.+. This was w.a.n.g s.h.i.+’s letter so she shouldn’t be the one keeping it. She then asked with a smile, “Mother, I will be writing a letter back to Lord when I go back. Is there anything Mother would like to tell him?”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ glanced at her and chuckled. “Tell him to take care of his body outside. Even though the weather is warm now, it would turn cold sooner or later, so he has to remember to wear more clothes to avoid catching a cold. Also, remind him to take note of his safety and leave the search to the servants. He mustn’t get too worn out! We are all waiting for him to return soon!”

Sang Wan smiled and agreed.

Gu Fangzi was unhappy when she heard that she was not mentioned once in s.h.i.+ Fengju’s letter and she said with a smile. “Sister Sang Wan, can I say a few words to him too?”

Sang Wan was naturally unhappy but could only nod with a smile in front of w.a.n.g s.h.i.+. “You can tell me what you want to tell him.”

Gu Fangzi thought for a while before answering, “Nevermind. I don’t want to trouble Sister Sang Wan! I will write one later on. I’ll have to trouble Sister Sang Wan to send it out for me!”

Her big cousin had not gone to see her for a very long time. Perhaps he had forgotten that her mourning period was over. He may not care, but she still cared about him and wanted to let him know her feelings towards him!

“It’ll be better that way too. I will send the letters early in the morning the following day. Sister Fangzi will have to pa.s.s it to me at Ning Garden1, latest by tomorrow night!” Sang Wan said with a smile.

Sang Wan’s mind was on the other letter addressed to her. She said a few words and quickly returned to Ning Garden. After going into her room, she sent everyone away before taking the letter out. She could feel her heart beating wildly as her hands trembled slightly, and she became frenetic all of a sudden.

Sang Wan opened the envelope before revealing a plain white letter folded inside. She gently unfolded it and was greeted by his graceful handwriting.

After a quick look, she suddenly closed the letter. Her hands that pinched onto the letter unconsciously moved to her chest as her cheeks turned red. She could clearly feel her heart thumping wildly.

She knew he would write intimately to her in secret and it made her face red and her heartbeat uncontrollably… He had gotten more and more brazen.

Sang Wan was already feeling embarra.s.sed, happy, and sweet. Even though there was n.o.body around, she could still feel as if countless eyes were staring at her and felt somewhat embarra.s.sed. The letter in her hands gave her a dilemma as she wanted to give it a read but somewhat did not dare to.

However, she was unaware that while she was blus.h.i.+ng, her eyes twinkled and the corners of her lips were slightly raised into an intoxicated smile, enough to be alluring and charming. She was gorgeous, like a blooming hibiscus flower.

Sang Wan could not hold herself back and took a deep breath before unfolding the letter gently to read from the beginning until the end. The smile at the corners of her lips remained and she could not help but scold that shameless lecher from time to time.

She was in a daze when she reached the end of the letter. Her face turned bright red in an instant and she threw the letter as if it were a hot sweet potato as she scolded, “This scoundrel, this scoundrel!”