"How can this be troublesome!" Mrs. Li said with a smile: "The young master has taken the initiative to return, and as his wife, it is proper for you to show your stance, isn’t it? I know you are reserved and may not speak your mind, but by bringing the young master’s clothes back, he will surely understand your intentions!"
Sang Wan was at a loss for words, thinking to herself how had it come to represent her intentions? Yet she couldn’t tell Mrs. Li, "You’ve misunderstood, this really wasn’t my intention!" Since Shi Fengju had today unconditionally helped her out and showed such earnest concern, if Sang Wan were to bring up past grievances, she would seem petty. She even felt slightly dazed, as if he truly cared about her.
She also realized that people like Shi Yumei are truly capricious and domineering to the extreme, indifferent to context and persons, solely driven by their own moods! To seriously quarrel with such a person would just be inviting frustration upon oneself!
Seeing Sang Wan remain silent, Mrs. Li resolutely decided on her own: "I will instruct them right away! Hehe, seeing you and the young master reconciled, I feel as if a great weight has lifted from my heart, and I’m truly relieved!"
Though maids like Xingzhi and Liu Ya didn’t verbalize it, the faint smiles on their faces all indicated their agreement. Sang Wan couldn’t help but chuckle to herself, thinking she had assumed that only she and Shi Fengju knew about the undercurrents between them, yet it seemed they all sensed it as well.
In fact, even if Mrs. Li hadn’t sent someone to the study for the clothes, Shi Fengju had planned to move back tonight. Now that Sang Wan was no longer angry, why should he stay alone in the study bleakly? Even if nothing else, it’s better to have someone to talk to, right?
Of course, hearing that someone from Ningyuan had come for his clothes made him even happier.
The next day, when Sang Wan went to pay respects to Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Wang asked about Shi Lian, "I heard you got hit by a carriage yesterday? What happened?"
Shi Yumei was also present at the time and upon hearing these words, she glanced at Sang Wan with an imperceptible smirk.
Sang Wan was somewhat astonished; she had thought that Shi Yumei had already complained to Mrs. Wang and was waiting for her to question her, but Mrs. Wang seemed unaware—Sang Wan knew her mother-in-law was not the type to feign ignorance for the sake of entrapment.
"It all happened in the blink of an eye. Miss Wan did not see clearly, somehow her foot was run over by the wheel. The doctor said she needs to rest in bed for two months. During this time, your youngest daughter probably can’t come to pay her respects! When it comes down to it, it’s my fault for not taking good care of her!"
Mrs. Wang’s brow slightly furrowed, "Whether she comes to pay respects is not important, just let her rest well, and you must look after her! You don’t need to blame yourself; I don’t see it as something related to you. She’s grown enough to look after herself, isn’t she? This third girl appears quiet and reliable on the surface, but it turns out she’s also quite careless!"
Sang Wan forced a smile in thanks, promised readily and did not engage in further discussion. Internally she couldn’t help but reflect somberly, it’s truly only a mother who cares deeply for her own flesh and blood! If the injured one had been Shi Yumei, Mrs. Wang would have brought her over for a scolding long ago, wouldn’t she have waited till now? Regarding Shi Yumei’s overbearing action driving the carriage away, Mrs. Wang did not say a word!
In Fuqu Pavilion, Shi Lian seemed utterly unconcerned, lying on the bed playing with embroidery stitches to pass the time, occasionally exchanging a joke with Cai Yun. After all, the doctor said there would be no lasting damage to her legs and feet, and that was all that mattered. Being immobile even provided the perfect excuse for legitimate indolence, more comfortable than her usual days!
"Hehe, cousin, you seem quite at ease! You’re really good at finding enjoyment!" Unexpectedly, Gu Fangzi and Shi Yumei appeared hand in hand without being announced, stepping into the room, causing Shi Lian and Cai Yun to notice them only then.
"Great aunt, Miss!" Cai Yun was sitting on the edge of the bed happily discussing color coordination for the embroidery with her mistress. Both were in the middle of a joyful conversation when they got startled and hurriedly stood up to greet them.
"Big sister! Cousin!" Shi Lian also quickly sat up straight and nodded her head with a smile in greeting.
Seeing Shi Lian in good spirits and not at all a picture of misery as Gu Fangzi had remarked, Shi Yumei couldn’t be more assured, and her heart was now free from sympathy. Instead, she suspected that Shi Lian’s foot injury might be feigned and looked at her scrutinizingly for a few moments.
"Cousin, no need for such formality! Be careful not to aggravate the injury!" Gu Fangzi said with a laugh while moving forward to sit on the bed’s edge, gently patting Shi Lian’s hand.
Cai Yun, seeing Shi Yumei standing to the side, hurriedly brought over a chair for her to sit and quickly went out to pour tea.