Chapter 207: Stealing

“I have never seen an older sister like this!” Cai Yun could not help but scold behind her back, “I’m sure she can’t wait to have everyone end up in an unhappy marriage like hers! Missy, please don’t be sad. This servant thinks that no matter how terrible the young master may be, he’ll still be better than her husband! Funny how Old Mistress went through so much trouble to choose Eldest Missy’s husband, only to pick a candidate that is an embarrassment to the family!”

Before Cai Yun could comment further, Shi Lian quickly stopped her. With her eyebrows creased, she scolded, “Are you tired of living? How can you say such words? If anyone heard you, your tongue will be pulled from your mouth!”

Cai Yun was momentarily taken aback and she whispered softly, “This servant was only feeling mad for Missy! I was only voicing my thoughts out privately to Missy, where would I have the guts to say it outside?”

“Haven’t you heard that walls have ears? You’re not allowed to say such things again, do you understand?”

“Yes, Missy!” Cai Yun agreed disheartenedly. Suddenly, her eyes glimmered and she approached Shi Lian to whisper into her ear, “Missy, do you think that this marriage was arranged in the end because Eldest Missy said something to Old Mistress…”

Shi Lian trembled violently and there was a sudden change in her expression.

Sang Wan had no reasons to lie to her, and such a lie would have been difficult to be kept in the dark for long. If she had done so, wouldn’t she be creating trouble for herself? So it must mean that her mother really wanted to drop the matter. If that was the case, then someone must have influenced her to cause a huge change in her attitude.

Other than her big brother, there were only two other people who were capable enough to do so in this household. One was her cousin, Gu Fangzi, who was now sick in bed, and the other was her oldest sister…

Since her eldest sister had stuck her hand into it, then this marriage had no possibility of changing! Shi Lian’s face immediately turned pale and her eyes lost focus. She had lost all hope already!

When Shi Fengju came back, Sang Wan quickly informed him about it while she was helping him change.

When Shi Fengju heard about it, he immediately became furious, “What is Mother thinking! How could she agree to this so abruptly. This must not happen, I will go and speak to her!”

“Fengju! Sang Wan quickly held him back and said, “Mother has already agreed to the marriage. You have to think of an idea before going there!”

Shi Fengju became deep in thought after being stopped by her, and asked, “Did someone speak to Mother after I left?”

Sang Wan was startled and shook her head, “I’m not sure!” Her eyes glistened as she looked hestitantly at Shi Fengju.

Shi Fengju was also looking at her, and the instant their eyes met, they reckoned that the culprit must have been none other than Shi Yumei!

Shi Fengju suddenly felt uneasy and sighed, “If that’s really the case, then Big Sister really…” Sang Wan did not know of Shi Yumei’s prejudice against Shi Lian, but Shi Fengju was somewhat clear about it.

“Fengju, if Big Sister really said anything, then I don’t think Mother will change her mind so easily anymore!” Sang Wan let out a sigh.

She had wanted to ask Shi Fengju to help Shi Lian until the end but felt that she was not in a position to make the request. After all, the one to make the final decision was Wang Shi.

“I will speak with Mother first. Even though the decision has already been made, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be changed.” Shi Fengju patted her hands softly.

Sang Wan smiled and nodded. The two of them spent some time to talk and have dinner together before Shi Fengju went to Wang Shi’s place by himself.

Not long after, Shi Fengju returned unhappily. Sang Wan’s heart sank when she saw him as she could somewhat guessed that he was not able to convince his mother about it.

Before she could ask, Shi Fengju said angrily, “Mother really did not think things through! To think she’d say that if Third Sister got married into the family, she could assist me and bring up the reputation of our family! What nonsense when the marriage isn’t even a formal one. Even if they want to help me, I won’t dare to accept, not to mention find them for help!”

Shi Fengju did not dare to tell Sang Wan the illogical explanations that his big sister had fed to his mother. If Sang Wan knew about it, there would probably be no way he could lift her spirits up tonight.

“Then won’t Third Sister have to… Fengju, do you have any other ideas that can help her? If Third Sister really ended up in the Hong Household, then her entire life would be ruined!” Sang Wan panicked.

“Third sister is also my father’s flesh and blood. Since I’ve decided to look into this, there is no reason for me to back out. Did you think your husband is such a person? Alright, don’t think too much now. Didn’t Mother ask you to prepare it? Just do everything as you would, and remind Third Sister to be a little more patient and to not make a commotion. If there were any complications, then there would really be no turning back for her marriage!” Shi Fengju advised.

“Does this mean that you have a solution!” Sang Wan’s eyes brightened.

“For now, no. But don’t worry, there will definitely be one!” Shi Fengju said with certainty. He smiled and said, “Do you believe me?”

“Of course I do! Why would I not believe in my Lord’s capability!” Sang Wan nodded a few times and embraced him warmly as she said gently, “Lord, you are the best!”

Shi Fengju could not help but feel a little sour. She was shy on normal occasions when it was just the two of them, and hearing a word of compliment was just as difficult as touching the sky. But right now, she was behaving so coquettishly when he was only lending help to his own sister!

Not that he was not enjoying it, but that was what he felt at this moment.

“Something wrong?” Sang Wan was perturbed.

“No, nothing!” Shi Fengju shook his head unhappily, but could not hold himself back and asked, “I’m only helping my third sister, so why are you so happy about it? You seem more concerned about her than me!”

Sang Wan did not know why he sounded so sour, but she sighed, “I just feel that it would be a pity if she was to marry a good-for-nothing like Young Master Hong. Even if we are not related by blood, I have developed a liking towards her gentle and kind disposition. I don’t want to see her end up with a bad marriage!”

If a woman jumped into that fire pit, then there would be nothing for her to look forward to in her life!

Shi Fengju’s eyes shimmered as he knew she was probably thinking about herself again. He grabbed her shoulders and said with a reassuring smile, “Don’t worry, I am as good as my own words!”

The next day when Sang Wan went to see Wang Shi again, she began to get busy preparing Shi Lian’s wedding. Using the excuse to discuss the dowry, Sang Wan took a trip to Shi Lian’s place to give her some hope.

Shi Lian was in utter despair at first, but after seeing how Sang Wan did not seem to be joking with her, she picked herself up and maintained her composure to continue passing her days as she usually would.

Gu Fangzi had assigned Lan Xiang to keep tabs on Sang Wan the entire time. She thought that there would be a huge episode after Wang Shi and the rest returned from Plum Blossom Temple. According to her plan, Sang Wan should be tangled with Young Master Hong, and it would alarm Wang Shi. Having lost her face over it, Wang Shi would never forgive her and would at the very least forbid her from leaving the household!

Who knew that nothing happened and no one made a big fuss out of it after they came back. Gu Fangzi did not trust the information from Lan Xiang at first, but after seeing how certain Lan Xiang seemed, she changed her mind and thought that maybe her aunt was concerned about her reputation and suppressed the issue!

When Gu Fangzi thought about it, she could not help but feel frustrated: Aunt Wang sure was good at suppressing her emotions!

However, Wang Shi would surely seek another reason to sentence Sang Wan to a heavy punishment, but there was no news of it at all!

Only until today, when the entire household came to know that their third missy was going to become the concubine of Magistrate Hong’s son, with the date arranged on the sixteenth of this month, Gu Fangzi thought things through and realized that something must have gone wrong. That Young Master Hong must have bumped into Shi Lian instead of Sang Wan!

Gu Fangzi immediately lost all interest in the matter and shut herself inside her room to recuperate.

Shi Lian could marry whoever she wanted to for all she cared, be it as a wife or concubine; she would have not the slightest bit of interest in it at all. There was not even the slightest bit of guilt in her, as in her eyes, Shi Lian’s marriage was not an issue at all!

When Wang Shi observed no unwillingness from Shi Lian, she thought that Shi Lian must have agreed to the marriage as well and the little guilt in her dissipated almost immediately. The more Wang Shi thought about it, the more she felt that she had found a heavenly good match for her stepdaughter and she waited with a joyous heart to marry her off to the Hong family.

Who knew that instead of trouble happening at Shi Lian’s side of things, it was Shi Yumei’s side that disrupted the peace in the household again.

Ren Zhixian did not want to stay in the Shi Household anymore and wanted to move back to Mengxian! This matter was immediately brought up to Wang Shi.

After heeding Cui Bao’s words, Ren Zhixian and Cui Bao started eyeing every valuable item in Jiao Garden. As long as the items were not too large and inconvenient to carry, the two would secretly smuggle them out like ants moving to a new nest. Little by little, they brought the items out and stored them in an inn. From items like incense burners, spices, stationery, brush holder, flower vases, writing papers, jade pendants, any gold or silver decorations, exquisite silk table cloths, small pottery, beautiful plates, and many more. None were spared from their thieving hands.

The first room that became their victim was the study room, followed by the other rooms in Jiao Garden. Soon, they were finally left with Shi Yumei’s room.

Shi Yumei was oblivious to their actions at first, but she later came to realize that her favourite decoration, a Buddha hand made from white jade, that she placed in the living hall was also gone. She asked Cui Zhu with a tone of displeasure and concern.

In fact, who else other than Shi Yumei did not know about the despicable actions of Ren Zhixian and Cui Bao? The servants and nannies were all gossiping among themselves. However, this was a matter between their masters and no servant would dare to intervene. Even when they saw it happening with their own eyes, they would act as if they had not seen anything, and Cui Zhu was no exception.

Even when Shi Yumei finally initiated the questioning now, Cui Zhu stuttered and remained hesitant on whether she should answer.

Shi Yumei became more and more suspicious, “Did you keep it for yourself, or did you break it accidentally? Don’t try to hide it from me. Tell me now!”

Without a choice, Cui Zhu kneeled and said, “Eldest Missy, your husband… he took it away!”

Shi Yumei creased her eyebrows and thought Ren Zhixian took it away for fun. Even though she was unhappy, she did not think much about it. She merely mentioned during dinner that the Jade Buddha Hand was a gift from her mother that she cherished a lot before reminding him not to break it.

It was only a small reminder, but Ren Zhixian immediately denied, “What Jade Buddha Hand? I’ve never seen it!”

Shi Yumei’s eyes widened and she exclaimed, “Now this is weird! Cui Zhu told me that you took it away. So stop acting silly? If you didn’t take it, then why don’t I see the Jade Buddha Hand on the long table in front of the window?”

Ren Zhixian slammed the table and said unhappily, “Cui Zhu! Did you see with your own eyes that I took it? Huh? Your things went missing and now you’re asking me, how would I know!”

Cui Zhu was so frightened that her legs almost gave in and her face became pale. She stuttered but was out of words. Shi Yumei knew that Cui Zhu had always been honest and would not lie to her. Seeing how her husband dared to lie so shamelessly in front of her, she was so infuriated that they started to quarrel intensely.

Shi Yumei angrily stomped into Ren Zhixian’s study room and wanted to search for the Jade Buddha Hand! Who knew that not only did she not see the Jade Buddha Hand, but she found the study room somewhat strange. After surveying the room a few times, she finally exclaimed, “Why are so many things gone! Where is the pair of bronze cow paperweight, that phoenix jade plate, exquisite flower vases, jade talisman, white jade lotus sculpture, coral-shaped candelabrum, and the incense burner dusted in gold!”

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