He never meddles in business affairs. As for the silver allocated to the second house each year, he has never had any objections. Of course, the Shi family’s assets are extremely vast, and the earnings are good, so the amount of money he receives each year is quite considerable.
He desired to take a concubine, with countless women available in the world, all kinds imaginable, yet he set his sights on a maidservant brought along by his wife as her dowry.
"You’re being absurd," Shi Fengju again said to Sang Wan. It wouldn’t be absurd if he hadn’t come up with such a lousy idea.
Sang Wan had thoroughly thought things through before coming and was determined. Hearing his words, she didn’t budge at all and looked straight into Shi Fengju’s eyes, "Young Master, Liu Ya is my dowry maidservant, and she is supposed to leave the Shi family with me in the future. She’s the only one around me who is capable, please grant me this favor! Besides, she herself is unwilling to go with Second Master Shi!"
Shi Fengju was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, they had an agreement; Liu Ya was her person and naturally, she would take her own dowry maidservant when she left.
"About the matter between us, Liu Ya—"
Sang Wan shook her head, "Don’t worry, she doesn’t know. Rest assured, it’s all just an act, she won’t get any wrong ideas. When we leave the Shi family far behind in the future, no one will bring this up again! Young Master, please do me this kindness!"
Shi Fengju let out a long sigh. He was also being absurd! He had actually agreed to such an absurd thing!
Suddenly, Shi Fengju felt that his wife had sides to her he didn’t know about, not as gentle and demure as she appeared.
But at this moment, Shi Fengju no longer had the inclination to ponder on this, because Sang Wan had called Liu Ya in and ordered, "Stay here and serve!" After saying this, she went out, leaving the two of them staring blankly at each other.
Looking at Liu Ya standing there with an indifferent face, not showing the slightest sign of unease, Shi Fengju suddenly felt that he was really—
He couldn’t find a word to describe it! He could only mock himself silently: This girl is indeed straightforward! When she said it’s an act, it truly is, without a hint of awkwardness!
"Sit over there," Shi Fengju gestured with his hand.
"Yes, Young Master!" Liu Ya responded and indeed went to sit side.
A silent night passed, and the next day, when Liu Ya emerged from Shi Fengju’s study, the news spread like a breeze, and those who should know, all knew.
Gu Fangzi’s face was ashen, and the cold gaze from behind made Sang Wan remember her existence. Whether she remembered or not, it was for Shi Fengju to worry about! Sang Wan couldn’t help thinking in a slightly malicious way.
This matter, not being significant, only concerned the relevant parties, while the rest showed little interest. It wasn’t a big deal for the Young Master to take his wife’s dowry maidservant to his quarters; for someone like Mrs. Wang, even the curiosity to inquire further was absent.
An obedient daughter-in-law, a son taking a beauty, what mother wouldn’t be happy?
Second Madam Shi also felt secretly pleased when she learned of it. Her husband was always bringing people left and right into their house, which was definitely not pleasant for Second Madam Shi. But as a woman married and following her husband, she didn’t dare to say a word. Not only could she not speak up, but she also had to help her husband seek new concubines, which showed how stifled she felt.
When Second Madam Shi heard that Liu Ya had been taken into Shi Fengju’s quarters, she secretly thought herself lucky, yet put on a regretful expression and spread her hands towards her husband, "If only I had known, I would have spoken to the niece-in-law yesterday! Who knew Jingyi would be so unreliable, not even capable of this trivial matter!"
It wasn’t that Second Master Shi particularly liked Liu Ya, he barely knew whether she was round or square or if she was tall or short. What he knew was that this girl somehow managed to make Xiao Bai obediently listen to her! What he truly valued was this trait.
Xiao Bai was clever enough to open the locked cage door with his beak and fluttered away. He thought it would never return and was truly distressed. Who knew Xiao Bai would have such affinity with that girl, voluntarily flying into her palm?
If this girl had been a maidservant belonging to the residence, he could have directly assigned her to work in East Hetang, whether to take her as a concubine or not wouldn’t matter. But she was the niece-in-law’s dowry maidservant!
The residence wasn’t short of servants, and to take her away, he needed a suitable pretext, the best excuse being that he fancied her to make her his concubine. He thought his niece-in-law would be unable to refuse if he said this.
However, he did not expect that Fengju would take the girl to his quarters last night!
Second Master Shi felt regretful, but he had to let it go. After sighing and complaining about Second Madam Shi’s "unreliability," he moved past the incident.