Chapter 194 - Scolding Her Daughter-in-law (1/2)

Chapter 194: Scolding Her Daughter-in-law

Nanny Jiang had been waiting for her to ask, and quickly smiled, “Young Mistress has been properly waiting outside! Would you like this old servant to call her in?”

“Hmph!” Wang Shi sneered and said, “Properly? Who knows whether she’s what she appears to be! Alright, call her in!”

Nanny Jiang understood that Wang Shi was associating her with Gu Fangzi, and knowing that she was no longer rational, she remained silent and went out to call Sang Wan in.

Sang Wan had already made the necessary mental preparation to wait outside for the entire day. As such, even though she stood outside the room for quite a while, she did not feel weary or impatient. When Nanny Jiang came out to deliver the message, she thanked her calmly without expressing any sense of relief on her face. That was something Nanny Jiang admired: Young Mistress’s self-discipline was really exceptional! If it were Eldest Missy in her shoes, she would have complained right away!

“Mother! Your daughter-in-law is here, is there anything Mother needs me for?” Sang Wan went forward and greeted Wang Shi with her hands placed together on the left side of her waist.

Wang Shi squinted her eyes as she examined her daughter-in-law from top to bottom. She was wearing an orange sleeved overcoat, a silvery blue-collared robe buttoned with a ruby shaped like a plum blossom flower at the collar. Beneath, she wore an ivory-white pleated silk skirt with floral embroidery. She had her hair tied up into a neat bun and wore a headdress decorated with ruby and sapphire. She had a slender body and a narrow waist, and her attire was simple and elegant yet rich at the same time. As she stood in front of Wang Shi, it wasn’t hard to tell that she was a gentle and meek beauty.

Just from her attire, no one would think that she was a woman who appeared virtuous while shrewish enough to torment her husband when no one was looking.

How would Sang Wan know what her mother-in-law was thinking? The gaze on her felt uncomfortable, but she did not dare to comment on it. Instead, she stood to the side quietly, hoping that her mother-in-law would be generous and not pick on her faults.

“Wait outside first!” Wang Shi exclaimed all of a sudden.

Sang Wan thought those words were for her and she looked up, only to see Nanny Jiang take her leave. Sang Wan quickly lowered her gaze again and stood up straight.

“Come a little closer, I won’t have to use too much energy that way!” Wang Shi leaned against her bed and said plainly.

“Yes, Mother!” Sang Wan smiled and went forward.

Wang Shi looked at her again and asked, “Have you read “Lessons for Women” at home?”

Wang Shi’s words were no different than a slap on her face; she was questioning her female virtues right to her face. Sang Wan’s face immediately turned red and she lowered her head, “I have, and I have never dared to forget it!”

“That better be so! Then you don’t need me to tell you about the Three Obedience and Four Virtues, do you?” Wang Shi asked again.

“Mother!” Sang Wan went on her knees and cried, “I… Yesterday night wasn’t done on purpose, I know that I was wrong, please forgive me, Mother!”

Wang Shi’s rage was fueled again when she heard Sang Wan mention about the previous night, and she spoke coldly, “Answer me honestly! Has that ever happened before? Answer me! If I ever find anything that refutes your answer, I will be merciless to you then! Our family cannot tolerate a tyrannical daughter-in-law! Is your husband for you to torment?”

“Absolutely never!” Sang Wan quickly answered, “Mother can go ahead and investigate! Last night, I was feeling a little dizzy and almost fell when I got off the carriage, added to the fact that I’ve helped my husband raise his reputation in front of his friends and made him happy, which was why he… Mother, is this daughter-in-law not able to differentiate good from the bad? Do I not know that women should obey their husbands unconditionally? Would I be willing to behave so impertinently in the household? If the servants saw, not only would this daughter-in-law be humiliated, even my husband would too!”

Wang Shi had always been credulous, and she found Sang Wan’s words reasonable as well. She was the Young Mistress of the Shi family; if the servants saw her actions, she would be left with no face as her husband’s wife. Where would she have the stateliness to control the servants? She wasn’t like concubines who were meant to entertain men where making a mistake once or twice was harmless!

“It’s good that you’re clear about it! Otherwise, I would have been favoring you for nothing!” Wang Shi’s face finally eased up and she nodded, “Since this has never happened before, we’ll put it aside! But keep in mind that there should be no more of such behavior in the future, understand? If I ever catch the two of you again, hmph, you should know what will happen then!”

“This daughter-in-law will put Mother-in-law’s words to heart and never dare to do so again!” Sang Wan was secretly relieved.

“Alright, you may go back! Old Mistress Hu won’t be able to be here today so there won’t be any need for you to come back again. Be on your way now! And before I forget, you don’t have to come and greet me so early in the morning tomorrow, go now!” Wang Shi nodded and waved.

“Understood, then this daughter-in-law will take my leave!” Sang Wan curtseyed and left.