Chapter 5: Sang Wan Teaches the Servant

For instance, at this moment, if it were Gu Fangzi asking the question, there would already be maids rushing to answer it, eager to make themselves noticed. Xingzhi, of course, would not compete for such an opportunity. But since it was Sang Wan asking the question, not a single person answered. Xingzhi, as the head maid, naturally had to respond. Her answer was simple; she didn't mention who Mrs. Li was or where she had gone since Sang Wan didn't ask.

"Mrs. Li?" Sang Wan knew who she was but feigned confusion and asked, her gentle and clear gaze looking at Xingzhi, indicating her to answer.

Xingzhi had no choice but to explain, "Mrs. Li is young master's wet nurse. She has been managing Ningyuan for a long time. She went back home for rest and recovery due to a waist and leg pain a few days ago, and she might not be back for a while."

"I see!" Sang Wan nodded with a smile and asked, "Did Mrs. Li discuss with the young master who would be in charge of Ningyuan's affairs during her absence?"

Xingzhi replied, "Please give your orders, madam! This slave is called Xingzhi."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work!" Sang Wan smiled and said, "I'll go in and rest for a while. Call me for lunch. After lunch, I'd like to meet the servants in Ningyuan. There is nothing important; I just want to get familiar with them!"

"Yes!" Xingzhi slightly bent her knee and agreed, stealing a quick glance at Sang Wan with a hint of surprise in her heart. She didn't expect that the new madam, despite her modest family background, was so generous and courteous in her conduct, truly worthy of being a scholar's daughter!

"Madam, please rest. I'll give the order later." Thinking to herself, Xingzhi couldn't help but add voluntarily before instructing the young maids to fetch water for Sang Wan to wash her face.

The maids were all experienced in serving others and began working quickly and methodically. One of them held a large towel to cover Sang Wan's clothes, another gently pulled up her sleeves, one knelt in front of her holding a carved copper basin, while another first washed her hands in a basin held by a small maid beside her. She then picked up a clean, soft towel from a red lacquer tray held by another maid, soaked it in warm water, wrung it half dry, and carefully handed it to Sang Wan. Finally, she was given fragrant face wash and cream to use in sequence.

After washing her face, Sang Wan took off her head ornaments and jewelry, brushed her hair, and changed into casual clothes. It took quite a while before she lay down on the imperial concubine couch in the east side room. Leaving only Liu Ya to serve her, the rest were all dismissed.

The room immediately became quiet. Through the golden silk begonia red gauze curtain in front of the round window, a little smoke wafted from the incense burner on the tall table near the window, filling the room with a sweet fragrance. Fresh flowers in treasure vases and exquisite gold jade ornaments filled the elegantly furnished room, each item worth a fortune. The richness of the Shi family was something the Sang family couldn't catch up to even in ten years!

With no one else in the room, the feeling of congestion gradually disappeared. Liu Ya, with her natural curiosity, couldn't help but open her eyes wide and examine the room. The changing emotions in her eyes were enough to show the depth of the shock all this brought to her.

She couldn't help but sigh with admiration.

"Young Mistress, oh no, Madam, the Shi family is really wealthy! These things must be worth a lot, right?" Liu Ya stared at a large vase with a phoenix dancing among peonies on the shelf across the room, her voice soft and low, her eyes shining.

Sang Wan smiled faintly and glanced at her, "How do you know these things are worth a lot?"

Liu Ya exclaimed, "It looks so expensive! How can something so beautiful not be valuable! Madam, is it really valuable?"

Seeing Liu Ya's shining eyes staring at her, expecting a definite answer, Sang Wan couldn't help but laugh and nodded, "Yes, they are indeed valuable!"

"Then, how much are they worth?" Liu Ya's eyes brightened with interest, "How many eggs do we need to sell for one item? Two hundred, no, three hundred? Four hundred?"

Suppressing a laugh, Sang Wan's gaze swept toward the incense burner with the curling smoke and said, "That one alone is worth at least dozens of cows! The others are probably worth even more. I really don't know how many eggs they are worth."

"Ah! So, so much!" Liu Ya widened her eyes in amazement, her mouth agape. Seeing her young mistress' serious demeanor, she couldn't help but twist her hands and stutter, "Even if, if I were sold, it wouldn't be enough to buy an item like this! Young mi—Madam, in the future, I'll be careful—"