"Yes, Miss!" Mrs. Li replied and withdrew as instructed. Her words were not out of personal motives to throw Gu Fangzi under the bus in front of Mrs. Wang but out of genuine concern. What if Gu Fangzi’s fate really were so overpowering that everything she touched turned awry? What would beco of her young master then? Isn’t the world full of good won? The young master could freely choose anyone if he wished to take a concubine; who said it must be Gu Fangzi?
Sang Wan, seeing this, also excused herself and left.
"Oh, and," Mrs. Wang called after them, "send a letter to Fengju too. Tell him, tell him not to handle this matter for now, and that there’s no need for him to hurry back; just to take his ti and finish up what he’s handling! And also, don’t tell him about Gu Family’s situation just yet! It’s not like he can be of any help even if he knew!"
Both Sang Wan and Mrs. Li quickly agreed, thinking to themselves: Look at the ss this has beco!
Unexpectedly, just as the letter was sent on its way, presumably still en route, a letter from Shi Fengju arrived first!
Shi Fengju didn’t send a letter, but a verbal ssage; Qian He reported back saying the young master had rushed off to visit a cousin’s family and would not return for a few days.
Mrs. Wang’s expression soured upon hearing this, and after a long silence, she asked unhappily, "How did the young master find out about the Gu Family’s affairs?"
Seeing Mrs. Wang’s displeasure, Qian He stood up straight and, braving it out, forced a smile and said, "Well, uh, the young master had soone waiting for him at Qingzhou Wharf. After reading the cousin’s letter, he hurriedly hired a carriage and rushed over, and asked this slave to co back and report to you, Madam..."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang gave Qian He a fierce glare and scolded irritably, "He thinks he’s so capable now! He couldn’t even bother to co see first after arriving ho! If he won’t co, what are you sticking around for? Away from ! Scram!"
Qian He was frightened and did not dare complain, quickly kowtowing before scrambling out of there.
"Mother, please calm down," Sang Wan hurriedly said with a smile, trying to console her: "After all, Master Gu is a relative, and since the young master has encountered this, it’s only right for him to attend the funeral! There’s ti for this matter, it’s not that he intentionally didn’t co back! Look, he even sent Qian He back to bring news of his safety! You are his biological mother; if he doesn’t worry about you, who would he worry about?"
These words slightly soothed Mrs. Wang’s anger, and she couldn’t help but look at Sang Wan and sigh, "Miss Wan, you are truly good, and I’m thankful you are here. Otherwise, this unfilial son might truly infuriate to death!"
"Mother, don’t say that!" Sang Wan laughed, "Miss Wan has always been under your care and has never done anything for you. With you saying this, Miss Wan feels ashad!"
Mrs. Wang chuckled, "I just like your gentle and agreeable nature, it’s always so comforting to see! Alright, I’m not upset anymore! With such a good daughter-in-law, what else is there to be angry about! Okay, you can go back now, I just need so quiet!"
Sang Wan then said with a smile: "You should rest well, Mother! I have to ask soone to move the young master’s luggage in and get it settled, so that it’s ready when he returns for dealing with!"
A virtuous wife indeed! Mrs. Wang smiled even more contentedly and hurriedly instructed again with a laugh: "You shouldn’t tire yourself out either, let the servants handle it!"
Sang Wan promised with a smile and then went on her way.
anwhile, Shi Fengju’s return fleet had made a stop in Jinling to attend to so matters, when unexpectedly they received a letter from Mrs. Wang ordering them to rush back before the 6th of August to take Gu Fangzi as a concubine into the family.
Shi Fengju couldn’t help but stamp his feet and exclaim, "This is ridiculous!" His first thought was not of Gu Fangzi, but of Sang Wan. He wondered what Sang Wan must be thinking, how she must be feeling!
He had clearly promised her, he had a year-long agreent with her, but now his mother was asking her cousin to enter the household. How could he face Sang Wan?
Anxious and flustered, Shi Fengju imdiately took charge, giving instructions to the accompanying shop manager and arranging things before setting off lightly with a few Xiaosi, rushing back to Qingzhou ahead of the fleet.
The thought of Sang Wan’s current state of mind left him restless and unable to sit still, wishing he could grow wings and fly straight ho.
However, halfway through the journey, they encountered an official fleet passing through, and unavoidably had to wait another two days. After the official fleet had passed, the rest of the civilian vessels had to line up to cross one by one.
The delays made his anxiety and restlessness even worse.
When the ship finally docked at Qingzhou Wharf, Shi Fengju’s anxiety cald down as he began to ponder how to speak to Sang Wan and how to address the situation.
Yet, as fate would have it, the circumstances proved to be full of drama and surprises!
Shi Fengju could never have imagined that Gu Fangzi would have soone waiting for him at the wharf, much less that the content of Gu Fangzi’s letter would be such a matter!
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