CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 29: THE FORMIDABLE WET NURSE

After Shi Fengju had finally filled his stomach and felt comfortable, he washed up and returned to his room. The red and gold curtain embroidered with a hundred sons and thousand grandsons had been gently pulled down, and Sang Wan was already peacefully asleep.

Being alone in the room, Shi Fengju dared to let his imagination run wild, gazing at the sometimes swaying curtain as if blown by a breeze. He subconsciously wondered about the pose and demeanor of the person behind the curtain, feeling a slight heat in his heart. He could not help but wish to lift the curtain and take a glimpse of her true appearance. He laughed silently, shook his head, and tiptoed to the wardrobe to bring out his bedding.

He didn’t know how long he had been staring at the curtain, as Sang Wan had been calmly watching him for the same amount of time. She gently tilted her head to the side, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up slightly.

Within a few days, Mrs. Li had finally recovered and returned to Ningyuan.

Sang Wan was beyond welcoming, and greeted her warmly with a smile. She personally instructed Hong Ye to bring some servants to clean and rearrange Mrs. Li’s room. The beddings and curtains were brand new, the furniture neatly arranged, a few elegant decorations were added, and a window was decorated with a lush spider plant in a blue and white porcelain flowerpot, giving off a refreshing and vibrant atmosphere.

Upon seeing that, Mrs. Li became even more delighted, continuously praising Sang Wan for her thoughtfulness and expressing her gratitude. In return, Sang Wan responded with a humble and friendly smile, which deepened the intimacy between them.

Unexpectedly, once Gu Fangzi heard about how well the two were getting along, she became discontent and secretly annoyed with Mrs. Li.

While Mrs. Li was at home recuperating, Gu Fangzi had intentionally mentioned her to Sang Wan. Gu Fangzi hinted at Mrs. Li’s assertive nature, claiming that she often interfered due to having nursed Fengju before, as if she were the Lord of Ningyuan. Gu Fangzi argued that Mrs. Li should have retired by now and returned to her own home, but remained in Ningyuan because she believed no one could manage things better than herself.

Gu Fangzi then advised Sang Wan, "Now that you are married to my older cousin, you should be the one in charge. It would be better for you to ask Mrs. Wang to send Mrs. Li away and let her enjoy her retirement at home. Otherwise, she will continue to interfere with every aspect of Ningyuan and make things difficult for you. If you follow her ways, you will lose your dignity, but if you don’t, she will throw a tantrum. It’s better to send her away as soon as possible. Moreover, she won’t be suffering in her own home. She would be well-provided for and attended to by maids. If we explain the benefits to her, she will surely understand."

In her past life, Sang Wan had no direct interaction with Mrs. Li, so she wasn’t familiar with her. However, in this life, Sang Wan was sure of one thing: she should not listen to Gu Fangzi’s advice and should act in direct opposition to it.

Thus, as Gu Fangzi was speaking, Sang Wan listened politely and smiled with composure, nodding occasionally in agreement while secretly planning on how to act in complete contrast to her suggestions.

Upon seeing that Sang Wan hadn’t gone to ask Mrs. Wang to send Mrs. Li away, Gu Fangzi became impatient.

Feeling frustrated, she decided to provoke Shi Fengju by implying that Mrs. Li, given her old age, should have retired and stayed at home to enjoy her remaining days. Instead, Sang Wan had brought her back to Ningyuan. Gu Fangzi urged him to speak to Sang Wan about this matter, stating that Mrs. Li might end up overworking herself in Ningyuan, which would harm her health.

Shi Fengju found her words reasonable and nodded accordingly.

This wet nurse was generally good and treated him as her real son, but she was too protective. She would frequently check on him in the middle of the night to see if he had kicked off his blanket. She would even meddle in his meals, clothing, and sleeping schedules. She would also prepare bizarre soups for him, claiming they were "tonics" for his health. He had no choice but to bear with it, unable to protest. If he ever did, she would cry and require soothing, and his mother would scold him for being inconsiderate!