"Madam! Madam!" Mrs. Li was at her wit’s end with Sang Wan clinging to her, unable to push her away on seeing her deep affection, heart softening, she gently hugged Sang Wan and patted her back: "Madam, don’t cry, please don’t cry! What exactly happened? Take your time to tell me, stop crying, ah!"
While patting Sang Wan and comforting her, Mrs. Li signaled Liu Ya and others with her eyes to leave. Liu Ya’s face also looked terrible, believing that the young master had bullied her Master, she couldn’t help but feel resentful and stood there in a daze. Xingzhi pulled her out, "Let’s go fetch water!"
Mrs. Li through her glance praised them, signaling to come in slowly, as she was busy comforting Sang Wan.
After a while, Sang Wan gradually stopped crying, the shame and annoyance on her face also slowly faded. She let go of Mrs. Li, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and forced a smile: "It was my loss of composure, you must be amused, Mrs. Li!"
"Madam..." Mrs. Li didn’t know what to say, helped her rearrange her hair bun, pulled her wrinkled clothes, and advised gently: "You and the young master are husband and wife, if there’s something just talk it over, why get so agitated! You’re only upsetting yourself by getting . Madam, you’ve always been very gentle, what happened today is—"
Recalling the incident that just happened, Sang Wan didn’t even want to mention it, reluctantly said: "It was my fault for saying a few wrong words that angered the young master, I realize it now! Don’t worry, it won’t happen again next time!"
A sudden searing pain in her hand made Sang Wan gasp softly.
Mrs. Li naturally heard that she wasn’t telling the whole truth, and found it inconvenient to probe further. On seeing her hand, she was startled, "My heavens, how did this happen!" She quickly took some ointment and carefully applied it anew.
"Quickly fetch the water to come in and serve!" Mrs. Li called out loudly, and on hearing this, Xingzhi and Liu Ya then lifted the curtain and came inside.
Seeing that things were well handled here with the two of them, Mrs. Li quietly left, sternly instructing the maids: "If half a word about today’s events leaks out from this room, don’t blame this old woman for turning ruthless when I find out! Mind your own tongues! Don’t speak of what you shouldn’t, and forget what you don’t need to remember!"
The young maids shuddered, duly bowing their heads in agreement.
"Mrs. Li, it’s time to serve dinner now, what should we do about this—" Hong Ye said softly.
"What dinner!" Mrs. Li glared at Hong Ye impatiently, sighed, and after a moment’s thought added: "Quick, go find out where the young master has gone and ask him to come back for dinner, tell the kitchen to keep the food warm for now!"
"Yes, Mrs. Li!" Hong Ye, relieved to have a task, hurriedly left the scene.
Mrs. Li returned to the warm pavilion, noticing that Sang Wan had changed clothes, washed her face, and combed her hair, she approached with a warm smile: "It’s almost dark, are you hungry, madam? I’ll send someone to call the young master, so we can serve dinner!"
On hearing Shi Fengju’s name, Sang Wan’s expression changed immediately, frowning she said: "Let the maids serve the young master; I don’t have an appetite and want to rest a while. You all go out, don’t let anyone come in and disturb me. Everyone leave!"
"Madam, you didn’t eat much for lunch either, why not get up and eat a little?" Mrs. Li gently urged.
Sang Wan gestured with her hand, "I really have no appetite, you all go out! I want to be alone for a while!"
Mrs. Li, finding no alternative, reluctantly left.
Liu Ya hesitated to speak, full of concern and worry, to which Sang Wan gave a forced smile, "You go out too! Do whatever you need to do, I will be alright after resting for a bit."
"Then rest well, madam! The maids guarantee not to let anyone come in to disturb you! Whenever you’re hungry just call, and we’ll ask the kitchen to cook for you!"
Liu Ya said crisply, her protectiveness clearly evident. Mrs. Li, amused and exasperated, scolded her in a low voice: "Always you with the extra words, now go out quickly!"
Which made Sang Wan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Soon Hong Ye returned and reported: "Mrs. Li, the young master is in the study, he said there’s no need to disturb him as he’s fine, he’s not hungry, and won’t be coming to eat."
"What’s with this couple—" Mrs. Li sighed, checked the kitchen for tonight’s prepared dishes, ordered the foods such as oily meat, crispy bamboo shoots with three delicacies ham, chicken tofu, tri-colored steamed eggs, and a large bowl of gleaming clear rice to be packed in a food box kept warm with hot water. She instructed Liu Ya to take it to Shi Fengju, and to keep boneless fish, young ginger rabbit meat, stir-fried tofu, and dried scallops three delicacies soup warm in the kitchen, to be served whenever the madam wished to eat.