"Big Sister Sang Wan, just wait! Once she enters our doors, she’ll be nothing but a concubine! As the legitimate wife, you can manipulate and control her however you wish. I’d like to see her dare to utter a word of refusal!" In Ningyuan, Mrs. Li spoke with a fighting spirit surging high.
Having heard the news that Gu Fangzi would soon be joining the family, Mrs. Li was initially shocked and furious, but after calming down, she appeared confident and composed as if the dust had settled.
When she was just a favored young lady, no one except Mrs. Wang could do anything against her, but once she becomes a concubine, there will be no one to protect her!
Realizing this, Mrs. Li was even eager for Gu Fangzi to enter the family sooner so that she could use Sang Wan’s position to properly discipline her and see if she dare act coquettishly and put on airs then!
Understanding Mrs. Li’s thoughts, Sang Wan did not utter a word about her own grievances regarding this matter to Mrs. Li, nor did she ask Mrs. Li to help stop or ruin it.
Because she knew Mrs. Li would not only refuse, but she would also take offense.
Even if Mrs. Li did not like Gu Fangzi, as long as Shi Fengju liked her, Mrs. Li would not object to her joining the family. It was just that she disliked Gu Fangzi for not being compliant and obedient and not serving Shi Fengju as if he were heaven itself!
All Mrs. Li wanted to do was to help her own Master discipline Gu Fangzi into being obedient, nothing more.
Sang Wan sighed secretly; Mrs. Li gravely underestimated Gu Fangzi’s position in Shi Fengju’s heart! Moreover, what right did she herself have to discipline Gu Fangzi? Fengju would not agree to it either.
In the main courtyard, Mrs. Wang was ramblingly instructing Gu Fangzi, telling her to be patient when she went back home, to bring more silver with her, take her personal maidservant back as well, and to avoid conflicts with her father, etc. Gu Fangzi nodded obediently, reluctant to part.
"Auntie, I really can’t bear to leave you! Without me by your side, you must take good care of yourself! Nowadays, each day is hotter than the last, and you should not be fond of the cold, don’t use too many cold things! Don’t go out when the sun is high at noon, and don’t stay cooped up in the house all day long. Taking a walk in the early morning and evening is good for your health..."
Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but feel reluctant as well, holding her hand and laughing, "Alright, alright, Auntie knows! Hehe, really, you are the closest to your Auntie! Go back home and don’t worry, Auntie will not let you be aggrieved!" She continued with a laugh, "Next time we meet, you’ll be calling me ’Mother’!"
Mrs. Jiang off to the side lifted her eyelids, opened her mouth to speak, but uttered no sound.
However, Gu Fangzi’s eyes lit up, bashfully nodding and saying, "Yes, Fangzi is also looking forward to that day!" With a big blush, she hurriedly took her leave amidst Mrs. Wang’s delighted laughter.
Having returned to the peony garden, two or three housekeepers were waiting for her. Upon seeing her, they hurriedly came forward to pay their respects and pleasantries, each with matters to report or requesting tokens to retrieve items.
Gu Fangzi summoned her energy and dealt with each in turn.
The housekeepers, eager to flatter the soon-to-be powerful future Auntie, were even more generous with their flattering words than usual. Normally, Gu Fangzi would have been smiling from ear to ear, triumphant, with every pore on her body feeling content.
But the thought of soon having to hand over the power in her hands made all these words sound exceedingly irritating to her ears! Imagining the faces of these housekeepers after her power was gone sent a chill down Gu Fangzi’s spine.
No! She would not so easily step down!
Gu Fangzi made excuses to delay, dragging it out for four or five more days. Sang Wan, not wishing to rush her too much, sent Mrs. Li to speak to her, clearly telling her that without handing over the authority, it wouldn’t be possible to arrange and prepare for her entry into the family and if there were a delay, she would have to take responsibility for herself!
Gu Fangzi was conflicted and resentful, yet she knew that what Sang Wan said was true. Since Mrs. Wang had left the arrangements to Sang Wan, it could only be Sang Wan who gave the orders and made the arrangements; after all, she couldn’t command the Shi family’s servants to prepare her own wedding—it would be a laughing stock!
Left with no choice, Gu Fangzi reluctantly stated that there were just a few minor matters left to settle and that everything would be handed over to Sang Wan within two days at the latest. Receiving this promise, Sang Wan let the matter rest for the time being.
It just so happened that a doorman came to report: Sang Wan’s natal family’s brothers had arrived!
Gu Fangzi, harboring hatred for Sang Wan, said displeasedly upon hearing that the Sang family had come, "What is it this time? What did they say?"
The doorman replied with a smile, "They said they were passing by and came to visit Big Sister Sang Wan!"
"How nicely put! I suppose they’ve come to reap some benefits! Our Miss is busy right now; Mother, just draw some silver from the account and send them away!" Lan Xiang echoed her Master’s sentiment with a cold laugh.