Mrs. Wang hesitated again after hearing this, pondering, "You are right! It’s unreasonable for a young lady from our Shi family to be someone’s concubine! With her mother gone, if someone is nosy and fussy, they’ll think I, as her stepmother, am deliberately being harsh! But the Hong family has been so polite, it seems bad to refuse them, right?" Sang Wan replied, "Matters of marriage should be mutual; even if we politely refuse, it’s fine! Besides, they are asking for a concubine, not a wife! Even if we refuse, surely Mrs. Hong would understand." Mrs. Wang nodded slowly but did not say a word. Sang Wan dared not say more, so she smiled and said, "I’m just lacking in experience, mother; if I said anything wrong, please don’t take it to heart! Otherwise, let’s wait for the young master to return and discuss it with him!" These words pleased Mrs. Wang. Seeing that Sang Wan was considerate of Shi Fengju, Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but smile, "Exactly, such an important matter should indeed hear what Fengju has to say! He knows best about external matters!" "What mother said is true!" Sang Wan smiled and said a few more words before taking her leave. Stepping out of the main courtyard’s gate, Sang Wan let out a deep breath, feeling somewhat low. Mrs. Wang seemed not to reject the marriage proposal; for Shi Lian, a concubine daughter, marrying into an official’s family as a legitimate son’s concubine isn’t really a disgrace after all. But the man had been disrespectful and had harassed her unsuccessfully. With this hiccup, if she were to marry into their family, would Young Master Hong treat her well? Even Shi Lian herself, how could she be at peace with it for her whole life! Having experienced great misfortune in her own marriage, she knew all too well that marrying the wrong person is the greatest sorrow for a woman. Without thinking too much, she instinctively rejected the proposal in front of her mother-in-law, but— Sang Wan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She realized that, while she said what she said, she actually had no idea what Shi Lian herself thought. Maybe Shi Lian herself thought highly of the Hong family and was willing to marry into it? After hesitating for a moment, Sang Wan took her servant and turned towards Fuqu Pavilion. Shi Lian’s heart had just settled down. Hearing that her sister-in-law had come, and knowing she came from her mother’s, she hurried to welcome her personally. After the sisters-in-law entered the room, Sang Wan signaled with her eyes to dismiss the serving maids and gently told Shi Lian about the Hong family’s marriage proposal. Before she could finish, Shi Lian turned pale as if losing her soul, collapsed beside Sang Wan, clutching at her sleeve like a lifeline, "Sister-in-law, I don’t want to! I beg you to help me, please, sister-in-law! I would rather marry into a lesser family, or else remain unmarried for life and become a nun, but I do not want to marry that scoundrel! Sister-in-law, I beg you!" "Get up quickly!" Seeing her so desperate, Sang Wan also felt sad and helped her up, then repeated what she had said in front of Mrs. Wang and sighed, "We’ve always gotten along well, and I somewhat understand your character. I was just concerned that the man, having been rude before, may not have sincere intentions in asking for your hand; hence I discouraged mother a little, without expecting you really feel the same way. But you must understand that it’s mother who has the final say, and if she decides, I can’t say much!" Shi Lian cried non-stop, pleading for her sister-in-law to save her. She naturally understood this, but in this household, the only one willing to speak up for her was Sang Wan. When it came to marriage proposals, where did she have a say! "I know sister-in-law has always been kind to me, and I’m grateful that you’re willing to help! No matter what happens, I won’t blame you, only be grateful! Please, sister-in-law, help me again! I can only pray for the rest of my life, asking the gods to bless you and brother with a long and happy marriage!" "Silly girl, don’t talk like that!" Sang Wan lifted her handkerchief to wipe her tears, forced a smile, and said, "The matter isn’t at that stage yet. Don’t worry so much, silly girl. Isn’t there still your brother? Mother always listens to your brother!" Shi Lian’s eyes brightened, holding Sang Wan’s hand gratefully, "Thank you, sister-in-law!" She naturally couldn’t ask her brother directly for help; she could only hope for Sang Wan to intercede on her behalf. "Don’t worry," Sang Wan gently patted her hand, whispering, "I told you this to understand your feelings and to prepare you. Shi Lian, don’t act rashly to avoid making things worse, understand? Pretend you don’t know anything about it! The rest will be taken care of by your brother!" "Yes!" Shi Lian nodded repeatedly. Sang Wan comforted her a few more words, then got up and left. How could Shi Lian remain calm about her life-long matter? After Sang Wan left, she silently wept for a long time, with her maid Cai Yun also stunned, sharing her sorrow. "Miss," Cai Yun suddenly remembered Sang Yufei and spoke softly, "Why don’t you tell the eldest madam about your situation with Second Uncle Sang? Maybe she will do her best to help you!" "Absolutely not!" Shi Lian’s face changed dramatically, and she couldn’t even bother to cry, speaking sternly to Cai Yun, "This must not be done, you must not act recklessly! My elder sister-in-law has always been kind to me and will help me if she can; if you tell her about this, I’m afraid it will only backfire!" "Miss..." Cai Yun didn’t understand. Shi Lian sighed deeply and said with a wry smile, "What status does Sang Lang have, and I am just a lowly concubine daughter. If my sister-in-law found out about us—, could she still help me?" Cai Yun’s face turned pale as she blurted out, "But what if Uncle changes his mind—" "He won’t!" Shi Lian shook her head, "He won’t change his feelings for me! If he really does, then I can only blame myself for misjudging people!" Cai Yun’s face fell, and she bowed her head in silence. At dusk, Shi Fengju came back from the business office, and Sang Wan hurriedly smiled and greeted him, taking off his cloak and changing his outer robe. She took the comfortable silk cotton robe from the maid’s hand to dress him, then assisted him in washing his hands and face. She settled him down in the warm pavilion and poured him tea. Shi Fengju kept a smile on his lips and let her serve him while engaging in some household small talk, listening to her soft and gentle voice. Now, coming back every day from the business office, what he enjoyed most was spending time with her. During these moments, he truly felt like he had a home, and a wife who tenderly understood his comforts and woes. "Did you miss me, hmm?" After dismissing the servants, Shi Fengju smiled and pulled his wife into his arms for a hug, indulging in some affectionate cuddling. "Can’t you say something fresh? You ask me that every day; don’t you get tired of it!" Sang Wan said with a smile, playfully thumping him. Shi Fengju laughed, holding her delicate and fair fingers and gently kissing them, "How could I tire of it? I just love hearing you say you missed me! Miss Wan, I’m constantly thinking of you!" Sang Wan’s cheeks heated up as she gently spat at him and pulled her hand away, struggling to rise from his embrace, saying with a laugh, "Are you tired? Let me give you a quick massage before dinner time!" Shi Fengju agreed with a laugh and leaned back in the chair behind him. Sang Wan then stood behind him, massaging his shoulders and neck with varying pressure. Shi Fengju let out a comfortable sigh, closed his eyes, and relaxed his body, letting her tend to him. Before long, Liu Ya asked behind the curtain if she should serve dinner, and Sang Wan answered her, smiling as she urged Shi Fengju to get up. Shi Fengju moved his shoulders and neck as he got up, hugging Sang Wan and saying with a smile, "My Wan is the best, my whole body feels relaxed! Should we go to bed early tonight?" As he made the latter suggestion, he drew closer to her with a suggestive air. Sang Wan’s face blushed as she gave him a reproachful look, "Young master, haven’t you finished going through the account books tonight? The business office should be quite busy just after the new year has started!" Shi Fengju laughed, "The shopkeepers are there; not everything needs me! I just want to spend good quality time with my Wan!" Sang Wan said nothing, pulling him out to eat. Shi Fengju’s lips curled into a smile, looking at her with eyes and heart full of affection. After dining, the couple stood under the corridor, admiring the flowers and chatting to aid digestion. Soon, Shi Fengju urged the maids to prepare hot water for a bath. Follow current novᴇls on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net Once both were bathed and their hair dried, the dark of night had already set in. Shi Fengju, claiming exhaustion from the day, tugged his wife into the bedroom to rest. Locking the door behind them, he inevitably pulled her into an affectionate embrace. Sang Wan was so overwhelmed by his kisses that she could hardly resist, half pushing and half allowing, only arousing his interest further. "Miss Wan, are you tired?" After cleaning up and lying down, Shi Fengju drew his wife, still flushed with shyness, into his arms and gently pecked her face, eyes, eyebrows, nose, feeling the incomparable tenderness of the woman beside him. Sang Wan was still concerned about Shi Lian’s affair and had intended to discuss it with him tonight. However, he had quickly pulled her into intimacy, leaving her with no chance to speak. Mentioning such dispiriting matters now seemed out of place, but if she didn’t and her mother-in-law made a decision tomorrow, wouldn’t it be too late? "Ah!" Lost in thought, Sang Wan suddenly felt a slight pain at the tip of her finger and looked down, only to see her bothersome husband had bitten it, now smiling mischievously at her. Sang Wan, slightly annoyed, pulled her hand back and glared at him, scolding, "Are you a dog, biting people like that all the time!" Shi Fengju chuckled softly and kissed her pouting lips aggressively, "It’s because you were lost in thought. What were you thinking about to be so distracted!"