Chapter 218 - Incoming Letters (1/2)
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 goosebumps 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 gratitude!”
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 Shi 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 buttoned 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 tassel hairpin. The end of that silver tassel was not uniform in length, with every three strands stitched 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 appetite 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 Wang Shi’s place together with her.
Wang Shi 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. Wang Shi was treating them both as ‘Sisters’! What a joke! If she were to raise the old subject again when Shi Fengju returned, wouldn’t Wang Shi 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 Shi Fengju decided to do about this in the future, no one would blame her at the very least.