Chapter 228 - Finding Fault
Chapter 228: Finding Fault
“Sang Wan, you have to believe me. If not, you can ask Sang Yan. She was the one who happened to hear it before running to tell me! Ah Yan has never told a lie!” When Li Shi saw Sang Wan remain quiet, she hurriedly explained.
“I never would’ve expected such a thing.” Sang Wan smiled faintly and responded, “Second Aunt, don’t worry. When Sister Sang Rou gets married, you will definitely not be embarrassed! It’s about time she finds someone to settle down with and you should be helping her with it!”
Otherwise, trouble might brew in the future.
“You’re right. When I go back, I’ll see if there is anyone suitable for her!” Seeing Sang Wan speaking for Sang Rou, Li Shi could not help but look at her in disdain as she said quietly to herself: I’ve never seen anyone like you. You’re helping that vixen even though she had planned to snatch your man away!
Sang Wan was no longer in the mood to carry on. There was no way she could reason with a person like Li Shi, so as long as she understood not to stir up any trouble, it was good enough.
“It’s getting late now. I’ll have Liu Ya to lead you and Sister Sang Yan to have some rest.” Sang Wan told her.
Li Shi still had more to say. However, when Sang Yan heard that, she suddenly felt as if the torture was finally lifted. Without feeling shy and embarrassed, she quickly pulled Li Shi’s sleeve, “Mother, I’m tired. Let’s go back and rest. Sister Sang Wan must be feeling tired too after a long day. She still has to wake up early in the morning to greet the Shi family’s Old Mistress tomorrow…”
Sang Wan could not help but look at Sang Yan and said to herself: Second Aunt and Second Uncle are such single-minded people but Third Sister seems pure and likeable. She is much better than her parents.
“Then we’ll go ahead first.” Li Shi could not bear to refuse when she saw her daughter looking at her pathetically. At the thought of the things that Sang Wan had allowed her to take back the next day, as well as the sight of Sang Wan looking indifferent and not wanting to speak anymore, she pulled on Liu Ya as she left before asking, “Didn’t Sang Wan say she will let us bring back some things? Send them to me later and I will pack them up. Don’t forget to pack the snacks that you mentioned into a box for me to bring them back to eat…”
“Mother…” Sang Yan’s face immediately turned red.
Feeling helpless and not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Liu Ya could only say with a smile, “Second Old Mistress, you don’t have to worry. I will pack them up later on and wrap them properly before giving them to you tomorrow morning. I assure you there won’t be any mistakes!”
When Li Shi heard that, she left her be.
In the warm room, Sang Wan was still feeling dejected in her heart, as if she had swallowed a fly and felt extremely uncomfortable. She stared at the lantern by the side for a moment before calling the servants to prepare pen and ink. She was going to write a letter to her eldest brother and sister-in-law.
She had never expected Li Shi to come over today. As such, what had happened today must not happen for the second time. She had to inform her big brother and sister-in-law about it so that they could be more vigilant against them in the future.
Early the next morning, Sang Wan personally sent Li Shi and Sang Yan off. When the horse carriage finally disappeared from her sight, she felt relieved.
After Sang Wan returned to Ning Garden1, she washed her face, rinsed her mouth, and ate breakfast before heading to Wang Shi’s place to pay respects when it was almost time. She coincidentally met Gu Fangzi at the entrance and the two of them went in together.
As usual, after paying their respects, they would stay and talk with Wang Shi.
Gu Fangzi glanced at Sang Wan and spoke with a smile, “Sister Sang Wan, I met your second aunt and cousin yesterday in the garden. Why didn’t you bring them to meet Aunt Wang?”
Sang Wan tightened her fists. Luckily, she had sent Li Shi back early. Otherwise, there would be no way to shake it off.
“Oh?” Wang Shi was astonished and she said to Sang Wan with a smile, “Second Old Mistress Sang came yesterday? Sang Wan, why didn’t you tell me yesterday? Quickly invite them here and let me have a look at them!”
Wang Shi had met the Sang family’s brothers as well as Fang Shi. As such, she had a good impression of the Sang family. Now that Sang Wan’s family was here, she naturally would not neglect them.
“That’s right.” Gu Fangzi added with a smile, “When I saw them in the garden yesterday, I was only able to greet them. I wasn’t able to formally pay my respects to her!”
Sang Wan hurriedly stood up and replied to Wang Shi with a smile, “I was about to tell Mother about it but Sister Fangzi ended up mentioning it first! My second aunt and third cousin happened to pass by yesterday. Because they had things to settle, they left early in the morning today. Yesterday, I wanted to let Mother know they were here, but I was afraid that you must be tired after the banquet so I did not. There will still be a chance to meet them in the future so there isn’t any need to hurry.”
When Wang Shi heard that Li Shi had already left, she let out a regretful sigh before saying with a smile, “She’s your elder after all, how can I not meet them on their first visit here? We’ll just be sitting down to talk in the end but you had too many considerations! Don’t do that next time. Otherwise, others might say that I neglect them!”
“I understand. I’ll bear that in mind! Because they are not outsiders, I did not think so thoroughly.” Sang Wan hurriedly answered with a smile.
Wang Shi smiled and nodded, hinting for her to return to her seat.
Gu Fangzi also smiled but could not help but look hatefully at Sang Wan. Without even needing to think, she was already expecting the scenario where Second Old Mistress Sang meets Old Mistress Shi and she would speak to her heart’s content to make the well-composed Sang Wan lose her standing! Unfortunately, that foolish woman had left unexpectedly. Needless to say, it must have been Sang Wan’s doing.
Deep down, Gu Fangzi could not help but be angry. If she had known that they would be leaving, she would have informed her aunt about their arrival last night. She did not think that Sang Wan would be so ruthless.
After sitting for a while, Sang Wan took her leave.
She did not walk far before she heard someone calling her from behind. Not too long later, Gu Fangzi caught up with her.
Sang Wan stopped in her tracks and turned around to glance behind.
Gu Fangzi went up to her and dismissed the servants around her. She snorted at Sang Wan before she said faintly, “Sister Sang Wan, you’re so quick to send them away, could it be that Second Old Mistress Sang isn’t fit to meet with my aunt? After all, you sent them back so early in the morning. I find her quite amusing so I’m sure my aunt will like her. It’s too bad that she wasn’t able to meet her. You should really let her know how out of the ordinary your family is!”
Sang Wan replied with a smile, “My second aunt really has some things to settle so she ended up leaving in a hurry, so why must you say it in such a way? I never knew you hit off well with her. This must be what others call ‘birds of a feather flock together’! If I knew how reluctant you were to part with her, I would have asked you to see her off!”
Gu Fangzi immediately pulled a face and said with a cold smile, ”Sister Sang Wan, you’ve become better at acting. She is your Second Aunt, so what does she have to do with me? As for categorizing into groups, shouldn’t she and Sister Sang Wan be grouped together? No wonder you’re so anxious to send them back. If my aunt were to see them, your face would be lost. Not just that, she might even assume your personality to be similar to hers!”
Sang Wan replied coldly, “It’s not up to you to shoot your mouth about my family. If you have such thoughts, you might as well pay more attention to people from your Gu family! Those are your true relatives! Gu Fangzi, let me warn you. I’m well aware of what you were trying to do yesterday. If you do that again, don’t blame me for being impolite!”“So what?” Gu Fangzi’s expression sank and she answered back coldly, “Sang Wan, you’ve played the innocent one and snatched my Big Cousin away. Now, you strut around and pressure him with your status. You even urged him to chase me away! When have you been polite to me? Sang Wan, you have to know when to be content! I’ll say the same back to you. If you dare to chase me away, don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Sang Wan shook her head. “I really have nothing more to say to you! You’ve grown up with him and know him better than me. If there is really any love between the two of you, what can I do to influence his decision? You’re the one who’s misjudged him! I’m sure you were clear about our engagement, yet you still got close to him. If you want someone to blame, you only have yourself to do so. No matter what the outcome is, you have reaped what you sow! By blaming everything on me, Gu Fangzi, aren’t you just embarrassing yourself?”
Gu Fangzi was taken aback as she looked at Sang Wan. There was a buzzing in her head and she could not retort.
Sang Wan could not be bothered about her anymore and left.
Gu Fangzi stood in a daze and her tightly clenched fists trembled slightly. In the quiet environment, she could clearly hear her own heartbeat and slightly uneven breathing.
The sun shone brightly above her head and the cool breeze blew lightly against her. The faint shadow on the ground could not help but sway slightly. Even though the sun was shining warmly, Gu Fangzi felt ice-cold and her eyes were in a daze, almost as if the world in her eyes had changed.
“Was I really in the wrong? That’s right, I got close to Big Cousin intentionally, but what’s wrong with that? He’s outstanding and wealthy. Am I wrong for admiring and wanting him? He used to care about me, surely that’s because he likes me… Since when did that start to change? Unless… he has never liked me at all!”
Gu Fangzi mumbled to herself. The more she thought, the more confused and discouraged she got. Her heart ached so much that tears gradually welled up in her eyes.
“No! That can’t be!” Gu Fangzi shook her head and wiped the tears in her eyes with her handkerchief. She clenched her teeth and said hatefully, “Sang Wan, you’re the one spouting nonsense! If not for you, things wouldn’t have become like this…”
“Missy, we should go back!” Lan Xiang, who was at the side, witnessed the drastic changes in her expression. She saw grief, indignation, sadness, and anger. As such, she could not help worrying and stepped forward to support Gu Fangzi by the arm.
“Let go!” Gu Fangzi shook her off with all her might and said coldly, “I don’t need you to help me! I can walk on my own!’
All along, she had believed that the only reliable person in this world was herself. Whatever she wanted, she had to fight for it on her own because nobody would give way to her!
Sang Wan thought that after the confrontation, her days after would at least be somewhat peaceful. However, little did she know that in the afternoon when she was about to have her lunch, Xiu Chun suddenly barged in. She was anxious and panicky, and her face was pale. Without waiting for Sang Wan to ask, Xiu Chun said, “Young Mistress, not good, not good! Please hurry over to Old Mistress’s place. Something happened to Young Master!”