Chapter 193 - 97: Wife and Concubine Should Never Be Equated_2

Words : 1221 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Chapter 193: Chapter 97: Wife and Concubine Should Never Be Equated_2 Sang Wan’s heart churned with mixed feelings; it seemed that his attitude towards her had truly changed—she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it wasn’t loathsome or repulsive, just somewhat unsettling. She sighed inwardly: What does it matter how nice you are to me? Gu Fangzi, Aunt Gu, they’re still living peacefully in the peony garden! With such a person right in the Shi Mansion, even if she wanted to delude herself, it would be very difficult. As Xingzhi came in, Sang Wan glanced at her clearly nervous demeanor and couldn’t help but joke: "Young master said, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to go, even if you did, it wouldn’t be acceptable! How can the girls from Ningyuan be given away so easily! You can rest easy now, right?" Indeed, Xingzhi couldn’t contain her joy, her eyes sparkling. She knelt down and kowtowed to Shi Fengju, "This humble servant thanks the young master for his grace! Thanks to madam for her grace! I will certainly serve master and madam well from now on!" "All right, off you go! Just devote yourself to lessening your mistress’s worries in the future, don’t make all your mistress’s concern for you be in vain!" Shi Fengju said with a smile. "Yes, this servant will heed young master’s words to the letter!" Xingzhi kowtowed again, then got up and retreated. Sang Wan naturally pretended to know nothing about the matter. The next day, Shi Fengju went to find his sister, and whatever he said to Shi Yumei, in the end, she stopped coming to bother Sang Wan and Xingzhi. The following day, a slave trader brought over a well-trained maid for Ren Zhixian and Shi Yumei to choose for themselves. Though Ren Zhixian was reluctant to part with Xingzhi, he dared not provoke Shi Fengju’s anger and quietly chose a maid with coy eyebrows and an openly clever and beautiful demeanor, whom Shi Yumei renamed Cui Bao to serve in the study. Then, Shi Fengju called Shi Ming back as well. Shi Ming felt immensely relieved, briefly explained the matters at hand, and left the banana garden without looking back. The weather was beautiful that day, and Shi Fengju took Sang Wan to pay respects to the husband’s family, intending to take her to a manor outside the city for a couple of days to unwind. Shi Yumei was chatting with Mrs. Wang and saw Sang Wan elegantly dressed in a red and silvery white apricot-leaf patterned outer coat with cinnabar edges and a long skirt, and a hairpin with a sparrow head clutching a pearl in her hairdo, glowing with poised elegance next to Shi Fengju in his moon-white brocade robe—a perfect match in talent and grace. Shi Yumei couldn’t help but recall Gu Fangzi in her plain white attire in the peony garden, and suddenly felt uneasy, she remarked with a hint of sourness: "Little brother, you really know how to spoil your wife! Taking only her out and not even thinking about taking your own sister for a stroll! Honestly, your brother-in-law spends his days studying and should go out to relax more often as well!" Sang Wan’s palm tensed subconsciously. If this sister joined them, she feared she would not have a moment of peace; instead of relaxing, she would be worrying. Shi Fengju chuckled—a mix of jest and earnest: "It would be better for the big sister to stay at the Shi Mansion to look after the brother-in-law and keep mother company! The next time, I’ll invite big sister specifically. Big sister is right, brother-in-law should indeed get out and relax a bit. However, I’m too much of a layperson, without a hint of elegance; I’m afraid brother-in-law would find it unpleasant to have nothing to talk about with me." "What are you saying!" Shi Yumei couldn’t help but laugh, but had to agree somewhat with Shi Fengju’s words. Her husband often showed that disdainful look towards the Shi family’s mercantile background, which she knew all too well. Shi Yumei suddenly felt a little uncomfortable and laughed: "I’m just teasing you! How could I be so cheeky to actually intrude on you two? Unless I intend to court resentment! Little brother, go ahead, just don’t forget the old when you get the new! It’s said that clothes are not as precious as new ones, and people, not as dear as the old!" "Yumei! There you go again!" Mrs. Wang scolded her with a smile, saying to Sang Wan: "Your big sister simply cannot control her mouth, she’s always joking. Go on, hurry along!" Sang Wan smiled, nodded slightly with a "Hmm" without debating Shi Yumei’s words, while Shi Fengju laughed and said: "Big sister is right! Big sister, you better keep a close eye, so your brother-in-law doesn’t forget the old for the new! Otherwise, you’ll have nowhere to cry!" Cui Bao had just entered the Shi Mansion two days ago, and Ren Zhixian took her into his room that very night. These past few days, he put her in charge of serving him constantly; what could happen in the mansion that Shi Fengju wouldn’t know if he wished? "How can you say such things! You’re becoming more and more disrespectful!" Shi Yumei glared at him indignantly, unwilling to let Mrs. Wang decide for her. Mrs. Wang laughed and said: "Are you blaming him? It’s you who provoked him with your words!" She added, "However, I dare not say anything else with certainty, but this one thing I can guarantee — your son-in-law is not a man without principles or limits, he would never do something as deplorable as favoring a concubine over a wife!" "Exactly!" Shi Yumei snorted and tilted her chin towards Shi Fengju, disdainfully saying: "He’s nothing but a chatterbox who knows how to eat. Keeping him at home is no different from keeping a pet cat or dog! Why would I lower myself to her level? That would be giving her too much credit!" "Sister understands," Shi Fengju laughed: "A wife is a wife, a concubine is a concubine, the two should never be mentioned in the same breath! Not to mention any new person or old person!" Saying this, he glanced meaningfully at Sang Wan, but continued smiling at his sister: "If he dares to do something so outrageous, it’s not just sister who won’t let him off—I won’t either!" "You and your words!" Shi Yumei was both pleased and unsure if she should be pleased after hearing this, she sighed and laughed: "Never mind, I can never win an argument with you! Hurry along then, don’t linger here and be an eyesore!" As everyone laughed, Shi Fengju smiled and took Sang Wan away. The couple boarded the carriage, and amidst the rumbling sound, they headed out towards the east side of the city. Separated by the thin gauze curtain, the bright sunshine cast gentle circles of light inside the carriage. Through the curtain, they could vaguely see the vast sky and towering mountains. Sang Wan’s mood inexplicably improved, and her lips curved into a slight smile. It was rather pitiful; aside from returning to her natal family, this was her very first time leaving the Shi Mansion’s gates.

Chapter 193 - 97: Wife and Concubine Should Never Be Equated_2

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