Chapter 72 - 36 Second Master Shi’s Thoughts_2

Words : 1147 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 72: Chapter 36 Second Master Shi’s Thoughts_2 Second Madam Shi listened obediently with all due respect and humility, yet inwardly she rolled her eyes, thinking: Who knows who is unreliable in their conduct! To reach into a nephew’s room, aren’t they afraid of people talking! Who would have expected that Aunt Shui felt unwell again? Having fought with Aunt Fang for many years and recently falling behind, Aunt Shui longed for a new concubine of equal status to steal Aunt Fang’s thunder. Thus, she was even more eager than Second Master Shi to have Liu Ya enter the household. To her disappointment, it all ended in vain. Aunt Shui felt dejected and intentionally sought trouble. Her eyes spinning, she turned to Second Madam Shi and said, "This matter seems rather odd! Just think about it, Madam, young master could have taken Liu Ya as his maid and concubine at any time, yet he chose last night. Isn’t this clearly aiming at our Master and intending to stop you from speaking up?" Second Madam Shi was not foolish and surely had considered this. However, she had no objection and even secretly hoped for it. Thus, she found Aunt Shui’s words extremely irritating and scolded her fiercely, "Shut your mouth! Do not instigate trouble! Liu Ya is the head wife’s accompanying maid, and she’ll allow young master to take her when she deems fit. Is it your place to interfere? How is this targeting Master? And how does it stop me from speaking up? Even the second wife has not mentioned this to the head wife, so who of you spoke out of turn?" After speaking, Second Madam Shi suspiciously fixed her gaze on Aunt Shui. "Not at all, not at all! I absolutely did not!" Aunt Shui immediately became flustered and frantically waved her hands. If she was blamed for indiscretion before the head wife and caused the head wife to become guarded, thus ruining Master’s plans, and the matter was investigated by Master and Madam, wouldn’t it all become her own fault? "Oh?" Second Madam Shi pressed on aggressively, "If not you, then why would you say such things? It shows that even if it wasn’t you, you are in the know! Speak up, who leaked the information?" "I don’t know, I really don’t know!" Aunt Shui lamented her bad luck, swearing by heaven and earth. Had she known it would bring trouble, she would never have opened her mouth. Second Madam Shi sneered inwardly, thinking to herself, a lowly servant like you dares to stir up trouble in my presence? You’re courting death! After severely chastising her, Second Madam Shi let her go. Like a defeated rooster, Aunt Shui left Second Madam Shi’s presence and happened to run into Aunt Fang in the corridor. Seeing the mocking smile on Aunt Fang’s face, Aunt Shui felt so dizzy with anger that she stomped her feet, turned her back, and recounted the same words to Second Master Shi. Second Master Shi had not thought much of the situation initially, but after hearing Aunt Shui’s words, he couldn’t help but feel slightly discomforted. Influenced by Aunt Shui’s incitement, Second Master Shi couldn’t hold back and complained to Second Madam Shi again. Upon hearing this, Second Madam Shi knew it must have been Aunt Shui’s meddling and felt furious inside. Yet, not daring to displease her husband, she said with a forced smile, "To speak unpleasantly, Master just wants to ask how the girl managed to tame little Bai, right? This is easy, I’ll have our niece’s wife bring the girl over for questioning and relay the answers to Master later, alright?" Second Master Shi’s eyes lit up, indeed! It isn’t appropriate for him to communicate with his nephew’s maid and concubine, but to send a woman to inquire would serve the same purpose. "Then it’s settled?" Second Madam Shi eagerly said upon seeing her husband interested. "Your memory isn’t reliable; just invite the person over, and have Rou’er serve by the side!" said Second Master Shi as he glanced at her. Rou’er was Second Master Shi’s newly favored maid and concubine. "Yes, Master!" Second Madam Shi reluctantly agreed, holding deep resentment towards Aunt Shui in her heart and finding a pretext later to severely deal with her. Second Madam Shi was well aware of her husband’s obsession with his fish and birds, and took care not to neglect them. Within a few days, she sent her most trusted serving woman to invite Sang Wan over, subtly hinting the reason for the invitation. Sang Wan couldn’t help but laugh and cry. She thought to herself that it was no wonder Second Master Shi was so troublesome; with a completely supportive virtuous wife, what would he have to worry about? Sang Wan knew that Liu Ya was proficient in this area from her family teachings and indeed had a unique skill. She instructed her thoroughly to teach her expertise, to avoid endless troubles in the future. Liu Ya, surprised and somewhat proud, wondered when she would ever have the chance to teach others? She readily nodded in agreement without hesitation. The front yard of the main living quarters in East Hetang was exceptionally spacious, with handrails and stroll galleries on both sides, and a stone path in the center leading straight inside. Along both sides of the path, at the foot of the steps, stood four large pots about half a person’s height, each containing goldfish carefully bred by Second Master Shi for decades. Each pot held distinct varieties, colorful and varied, dazzling to the eye. Sang Wan did not know all their names. Sang Wan had learned from Mrs. Li about Second Master Shi’s temper. This Master placed his goldfish at the front yard, not the back, hoping relatives, guests, and servants would see them and praise them with a "Well done!" However, since the goldfish were delicate and easily startled, visitors were cautioned to walk lightly and not speak loudly, lest they displease him; afterwards, he’d often disparagingly call someone a "crude and vulgar person!" Along the stroll galleries, there were rows of trees, from which hung various sized bird cages. Inside the cages, birds like hwameis, starlings, orioles, parrots, and cockatoos flitted and chirped. Their feathers shone brightly and their song was melodious, one can imagine how delightful the scene would be as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the branches and the chorus of birds sang. Following the stone path, Sang Wan and Liu Ya walked behind their guide, both mistress and servant maintaining composure, neither sparing an extra glance at the beautiful goldfish or the precious birds, let alone voicing inquiries or exclamations of admiration. After all, Sang Wan had no desire to appear interested and become an "intimate friend" of Second Master Shi; she’d rather never return to this place again.

Chapter 72 - 36 Second Master Shi’s Thoughts_2

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