Liu Ya couldn’t help but laugh and say, "It’s only because you, the eldest madam, aren’t focusing on this, otherwise you’d certainly be better than a slave like me!"
"Look at you with your honeyed words—still rambling on, hurry up and steep a bowl of that top-notch Da Hong Pao tea for Aunt Fang!" Sang Wan gently chided Liu Ya with a smile and then turned to Aunt Fang with a smile and said, "I’m not sure what kind of tea Auntie typically enjoys. This Da Hong Pao is a new batch from this year, and I myself haven’t had it many times. I’m not sure if it will suit your taste!"
"This concubine isn’t picky, anything is fine! I’m making the eldest madam go to all this trouble!" Aunt Fang had no choice but to smile and say.
"Aunt Fang is far too polite! This tea is meant to be enjoyed by people anyway. It’s not a ’trouble’ at all!" Sang Wan said with a slight smile.
Liu Ya poured the tea and handed it to Aunt Fang, while Sang Wan smiled and said, "Auntie, please have a taste and see how it is?"
Seeing Sang Wan’s earnest face, Aunt Fang smiled and took a few sips. She didn’t know anything about the art of tea and felt that no matter how exquisite the tea was, once it reached her mouth, it tasted the same. However, she couldn’t let Sang Wan down, so she pretended to savor the taste and, with a beaming smile, praised, "Indeed a good tea! It’s even more fragrant than the tea I usually drink!"
"As long as Auntie likes it, that’s wonderful!" Sang Wan smiled and said, "This tea has a rich aroma, mellow yet not weak—I also find it quite good! If Auntie likes it, take some with you when you leave! There’s only a little, so I hope you don’t mind!"
Aunt Fang was ecstatic and quickly smiled, "Oh, how can I accept this! I thank the eldest madam in advance!"
"Hehe, no need to be so courteous, Auntie!" Sang Wan smiled warmly and kept discussing the tea with Aunt Fang. Aunt Fang tried to interject several times but couldn’t find the right opportunity and had to hold back.
Just as she was pondering how to seize the chance to speak, Xingzhi came in from outside, whispering something in Sang Wan’s ear.
Sang Wan’s expression changed slightly, and she frowned, "I understand, tell them to wait for now, I’ll be there shortly! I’m occupied at the moment, please go and tell them not to fret!"
"Yes," Xingzhi bent her knees with a smile, "Then I shall convey the message first, but the housekeeper madams are all quite impatient, you should hurry over, or I won’t be able to handle them!"
"Alright, I know!" Sang Wan chuckled.
Hearing this, Aunt Fang knew it wouldn’t be courteous for her to stay longer and thus stood up smiling and said, "If the eldest madam has matters to attend to, please go ahead. This concubine wouldn’t dare delay you from your work!"
Sang Wan made a show of reluctance and then softly said with a smile, "Actually, there is a little matter I must see to, so I won’t hold you up any longer! Auntie, please come for a visit another time when you’re free! Hong Ye, see Aunt Fang and Mrs. Yin out!"
"Yes, eldest madam!" Hong Ye stepped forward, lifted her hand, and gestured invitingly, "Please, Auntie; Mrs. Yin, please!"
"This concubine takes her leave!"
"This servant retires!"
Aunt Fang and Mrs. Yin could only laugh and make their way out, but Liu Ya did not forget to pack a small canister of the Da Hong Pao tea to give them. Mrs. Yin hurriedly laughed and accepted it, "Thank you for your trouble, young lady!"
"No wonder everyone in the mansion says the eldest madam is kind-hearted and amiable—it’s really true! If it were someone else, who would be this courteous?" Mrs. Yin said to Aunt Fang with a smile shining in her eyes.
Aunt Fang instinctively thought of Gu Fangzi and nodded in agreement, "You’re right, the eldest madam is truly kind-hearted. If it were someone else, they would have put on airs a long time ago! Who else would invite us to sit and even give us tea leaves?" Aunt Fang said and then sighed a bit disheartenedly, "It’s just a pity I couldn’t say what I meant to say!"
"That’s not a problem at all!" Mrs. Yin said cheerily, "We can come again tomorrow!"
"Nonsense!" Aunt Fang glanced at her irritably, "We’ll talk about it in a few days, we can’t just come back tomorrow!"
"What’s wrong with that? Didn’t the eldest madam invite you to come and sit whenever you’re free? I don’t think the eldest madam was just being polite!" Mrs. Yin disagreed.
Aunt Fang gave her a sidelong glance, feeling no need to explain. "You wouldn’t understand even if I told you!"
She was the Master’s concubine from the second house, while the eldest madam was the legitimate wife from the main family who was also in charge of managing the household. How could a concubine from the second house visit the eldest madam every two or three days? What would that turn into? Moreover, she had just taken tea leaves from their house today, and if she came again tomorrow, who knows what the slaves might say!
Additionally, if she visited too frequently and Madam from the second house became suspicious and asked about it, how would she answer? If Madam from the second house found out that she was negotiating a marriage for the fifth young miss without consulting her, she would certainly sabotage the match! Aunt Fang felt a tightness in her heart. It seemed that in the coming days, even if she had to shamelessly find an excuse, she would have to visit Ningyuan again before Madam from the second house found out and settle the matter, otherwise—