Madam Wu is in charge of personnel, rules, and punishments at the Shi Mansion. At her sudden appearance, Mrs. Liu panicked but feigned calmness and asked with a smile: "May I know what Madam Sang Wan is looking for Madam Wu for?"
Sang Wan coldly glanced at her and said nothing. Seeing this, Xingzhi sternly rebuked Mrs. Liu, "How dare you! Does Madam Sang Wan need to explain her actions to you?"
At a loss for words, Mrs. Liu chuckled nervously, "Well then, I won’t disturb Madam Sang Wan anymore. I have other matters to attend to, I shall take my leave!"
"Stop right there!" Sang Wan spoke coldly.
"May I know if Madam Sang Wan has any instructions?" Mrs. Liu was startled.
Sang Wan ignored her and walked toward Baoxia Hall.
Xingzhi shouted at Mrs. Liu, "Just do as Madam Sang Wan says, cut the chatter! Hurry up and follow!" Saying this, she quickly stepped forward to support Sang Wan.
Mrs. Liu had no choice but to gently slap her own mouth, anxiously following them.
Soon after, Madam Wu arrived, greeted them properly, and urgently asked what the matter was.
Sang Wan motioned to Xingzhi with her mouth, "You tell Madam Wu what happened."
"Yes, Madam Sang Wan!" Xingzhi promptly related the incident in detail.
The complexion of Madam Wu changed slightly, and she glanced at Mrs. Liu.
A single casual remark from Madam Wu could mean a lot of trouble for Mrs. Liu, who instantly became frantic. In her desperation, she blurted out without thinking, "This slave deserves to die!" and hurriedly knelt down to plead for mercy, saying: "It wasn’t this slave’s fault, it was Young Miss who instructed to give five taels of silver to second uncle, saying there was no need to inform Madam Sang Wan—"
"How dare you!" Sang Wan sharply interrupted her, sneering, "You fabricate lies without even drafting them! When my natal family visits, naturally they come to see me. What does Young Miss have to do with this? Young Miss is not a fool; why would she give such an unreliable instruction? Even if she had, it would have been to order you to report to me at Ningyuan!"
"This slave didn’t lie, it’s the absolute truth!" Mrs. Liu cried out in defense.
"Still arguing back!" Sang Wan angrily pointed at her, "I think you’ve gone senile! Do you want me to summon Young Miss here so you can confront her face-to-face? Huh?"
The word "okay" almost slipped out, but Mrs. Liu forcibly suppressed it, her face turning deathly pale.
She eventually realized that even if Gu Fangzi came, she would never admit to it. Besides, with no evidence and offending Gu Fangzi, how could she continue living in the Shi Mansion? Not only would she suffer, but her entire family would have to endure hardship!
"This slave is foolish! This slave was blinded by folly to commit such folly and speak nonsense! Madam Sang Wan, you are magnanimous, please spare this slave! I dare not anymore, I dare not!" Mrs. Liu slapped her own face left and right, incessantly crying and begging for mercy.
Sang Wan frowned slightly and gave Xingzhi a look.
Xingzhi’s pretty face hardened as she scolded, "Shut your mouth! What kind of behavior is this in front of Madam Sang Wan! Are there no rules left in this mansion!"
Mrs. Liu instinctively shrank her shoulders, lying on the ground, no longer daring to speak, only her eyes pleadingly looking at Sang Wan.
A generally good temper does not mean Sang Wan lacks temper. Having been provoked by someone coming to her doorstep, she could not let it slide easily; she might as well give up on peaceful days ahead! She still kept a stern face, coldly glancing at Madam Wu.
Madam Wu hurriedly responded, "It’s all because I haven’t disciplined the servants well enough, allowing them to offend Madam Sang Wan!"
Madam Wu generally had a good relationship with Mrs. Li and knew that Sang Wan would soon take over the household. Seeing that Sang Wan did not speak of forgiveness, and knowing she wanted to make an example out of Mrs. Liu, she took the initiative to sell her favor, continuing: "This old woman is muddled, challenges authority, and sows discord between masters. According to the rules, she should be punished with twenty strokes, fined half a year’s wages, and sent to the manor to do hard labor!"
"Madam Sang Wan!" Mrs. Liu cried out in alarm, collapsing to the ground.
Sang Wan’s expression softened slightly, showing no intention of speaking up for Mrs. Liu, but instead asked indifferently: "How many people are in their family? What do they all do in the mansion?"
Madam Wu’s heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself how formidable Madam Sang Wan is!
She hurriedly replied: "There are four in the old woman’s family, her and her husband, plus a son and a daughter, none of whom hold important positions in the mansion. It would be best to send the whole family to the manor to be together!"
"Then let it be so, handle it according to the rules," Sang Wan nodded, dropped a sentence and walked away with Xingzhi without giving another glance at Mrs. Liu.