Chapter 1 V2 : Reborn on a Sedan Chair (2/2)
The noisy hustle and bustle of the world outside had finally quietened down, but Sang Wan’s heart could not help but skip a beat; the further one tries to escape from reality, the more nervous one will become.
Recognizing reality and accepting reality was one thing. Integrating them into reality was another. Her husband, someone she knew well, yet remains unknown… that unknown man whom she knew very well, how would she be able to get along with him?
Sang Wan felt a headache.
The heavy coronet became heavier and heavier, adding pressure to her neck. It felt like her neck could snap at any moment.
Sang Wan took in a few deep breaths and slowly lifted up her veil. She then carefully took the coronet off and placed it on an embroidered cross-necked mandarin duck. The red silk veil was then used to cover the duck.
“Missy. Missy. No… you can’t do that. That is against the custom. It is best to put the coronet back on.” Liu Ya, Sang Wan’s dowry maidservant who came with her, was shocked by Sang Wan’s actions and stammered.
The Shi family’s eldest son’s lavish wedding had burdened Liu Ya with stress for half the day which made her dizzy and clumsy. Upon seeing her missy lift her veil inside the chamber made Liu Ya startled.
“What’s wrong? No one else will know. My neck feels sore as if it’s going to break. I’ll rest a while before putting it back on my head. Don’t worry.” Sang Wan rubbed her neck and it sure felt a lot better. She couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.
“But…but this… this is ominous!”
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“No matter.” Ominous? In the past, she would follow the custom stiffly. Even when she had to sit for half a day, she wouldn’t dare to move a finger. And the result? Was it auspicious? No matter how ominous it may be, nothing can be as ominous as what she had experienced in her past life.
“But… this… is against the custom. The Shi family will become a laughing matter…”
“Only I, you, and heaven knows. As long as a word isn’t leaked, who else will know.” Sang Wan winked and hooked a smile.
“Missy, how could you…” Growing up in the countryside, the rules were not very strict. Seeing Sang Wan so lax, she couldn’t help but return a grin and her nervousness calmed down a little.
“Tired today? Hungry?” Sang Wan asked with a smile.
Liu Ya quickly nodded but shook after. “Oh right, I almost forgot.” She took out a pink napkin from her blouse. Wrapped inside the napkin were two cakes. Liu Ya held the cakes to Sang Wan and said, “Missy, when heading here, Mistress Sang handed me these and said that you can eat these if you are hungry. Servant Liu Ya almost forgot.”
The mistress Liu Ya mentioned was Sang Wan’s elder brother’s spouse.
“That’s thoughtful of her!” Sang Wan’s nose twitched. In her previous life, because of her ignorance, she brought her elder brother and his spouse to the Shi house as guests which brought about great grievance. After being treated poorly, and seeing the luxurious treatment Sang Wan received within the Shi family, her elder brother’s spouse complained. She then broke all ties with him and their children in pursuit of finding a better husband who can bring about the same luxurious treatment Sang Wan received within the Shi family. From that day onwards, Sang Wan’s elder brother’s spouse was never heard of again. But because of that incident, Sang Wan became the laughing stock of the family. Her mother-in-law and husband were also displeased about the incident.
“That’s true. Mistress Sang always treats Missy very well. She may have a sharp tongue, but she means well.” Liu Yan stared at the cakes as Sang Wan took them from her hands and started to imagine herself taking a bite from the cake.
Being kind-hearted, Sang Wan took one for herself and handed the other to Liu Ya. “Here, let’s each enjoy a cake.”
“Ay! Thank you, Missy!” Liu Ya received the cake gleefully and opened her mouth to eat the cake.
“Missy,” Liu Ya stopped all of a sudden. She looked at Sang Wan, and laughed, “This family is so rich. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of nice food. Missy sure is blessed! Following Missy, maybe Servant Liu Ya can receive a little of the blessing.”
Liu Ya’s lively eyes shone vibrantly, and her pretty oval-shaped face looked both innocent and craving. Her face also carried a smile she had previously.
Sang Wan’s heart sank but she could not tell the truth to Liu Ya.
“Liu Ya,” Sang Wan contemplated but continued, “We grew up together and I see you as a younger sister, so I’ll tell you something. This missy in front of you isn’t from a wealthy origin but is now married into the Shi family. With my husband being the eldest son of the Shi family, I’m afraid the life we’ll be experiencing will not be as easy as you think.”
“Why?” Liu Ya was startled, “You are now the spouse of the eldest son, and your marriage was arranged by both parents and a matchmaker!”
“That is why the life we’ll be experiencing in the future will not be as easy as you think!” Sang Wan explained, more precisely this time. “The Sang family is now in a state where it cannot even be compared with a Shi family’s decent servant’s family background. Think about it… by claiming this high position, people will not be convinced that I am suitable for this position. If so, what can I do to prove that I am suitable?”
Liu Ya remained startled and stared at Sang Wan foolishly. She reluctantly smiled and shook her head, “Servant…Servant Liu Ya still doesn’t understand.”
Sang Wan smiled bitterly. Liu Ya’s rural life was simple. Her not understanding was not a surprise.
“It’s alright. Liu Ya, listen to only me. In this house, do not do more than you are told to do; do not utter a single word. Understand?”
“Yes. Understood! I just have to listen to Missy!” Liu Ya heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. Thus a relationship between them formed.
It was getting dark already. Sang Wan had once again placed the coronet on her head and covered her face with the veil. Hearing the heavy footsteps accompanied by the pleasant jokes approaching gradually, Sang Wan clenched her fist, and her body became tense.