CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 158: THE TURMOIL OVER THIRD MADAM SHI’S FALL (PART 2)

"I don’t know!" Mrs. Gui, seeing that they still dared to talk back, became even angrier and said sternly, "What were you doing just standing there when you saw the Master fall? Why didn’t you go and help? Where are your manners? Eaten by dogs?"

The three maids were also a bit annoyed, and one of them said, "We were sweeping the floor and couldn’t leave! Besides, weren’t you there, mother?"

"Exactly, and we are dirty, how could we help the Master?"

Mrs. Gui, furious, pointed at Yingfang and said, "What about her! Couldn’t you have helped her?"

"Enough, stop talking!" Third Madam Shi sternly silenced Mrs. Gui, also feeling extremely annoyed. They were just a few coarse maids who dared to talk back in front of her! Wasn’t this a slap in her face?

However, it was as if that slap had been wasted! Who asked her to be in a position now where she was neither here nor there as a host or a guest? She really couldn’t put on airs as a Master, otherwise, it would make her appear petty!

In the end, it was Third Madam Shi’s own maids who helped Yingfang back. Third Madam Shi went back to her room as well, too disheartened to go out, and ordered Mrs. Gui to get some ointment from Mrs. Wang and also call a doctor for Yingfang.

Mrs. Gui was only too glad to do so. She briskly made her way to Mrs. Wang’s place, inevitably exaggerating the story in front of Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang was startled upon hearing the news and immediately ordered Mrs. Jiang to fetch a doctor, rushing herself to Third Madam Shi’s place. The couple had just returned when this incident occurred—it was her responsibility as the head of the main family to explain this properly to them.

Third Madam Shi did not expect Mrs. Wang to come personally, feeling somewhat guilty, she got up and greeted her with a smile, repeatedly saying "It’s a small matter" and "Don’t worry." However, when Mrs. Wang saw Third Madam Shi’s scraped hand and Yingfang’s miserable state, she couldn’t maintain her composure. They waited there until the doctor arrived, diagnosed Third Madam Shi and Yingfang, and applied medicine, only then did she leave.

Upon leaving the guest room, Mrs. Wang’s first sentence was, "Call Miss Wan to me!"

The little maid ran to Ningyuan to pass the message, inevitably letting Sang Wan know what had happened. Hearing this, Sang Wan’s complexion changed. She hurriedly asked Mrs. Li to personally check on Third Madam Shi, and told her to wait as she would come over to apologize herself, then ordered Xingzhi to investigate exactly what had happened.

Shi Fengju originally wanted to accompany Sang Wan to Mrs. Wang’s place, but where would Sang Wan dare to bring him along? Fearing that her mother-in-law would be even angrier upon seeing him, she steadfastly refused.

Seeing her insistence, Shi Fengju gave up, smiling and comforting her, "It’s just an accident, don’t take it to heart. Mother won’t blame you, don’t worry!"

"I hope so." Sang Wan managed a strained smile, though her heart did not agree.

As expected, Mrs. Wang’s face darkened upon seeing her, and she sighed, "Miss Wan, I thought you were a cautious and meticulous person. I was content to let you manage the household, and this is not the first day you’ve done this. How could such a thing happen? Do you know that your aunt-in-law’s hand was scraped until it bled, and that maid beside her, her thigh bone is broken, the doctor said it will take half a month of rest! Miss Wan, if your aunt-in-law had been the one injured, where would I put my old face? This morning, Mrs. Gui nearly came at me with her complaints, I am utterly embarrassed!"

"It was my negligence, please punish me, Mother!" Sang Wan quickly knelt down, her head bowed in silence.

How could she explain this? Could she blame the servants? If the servants were at fault, as their supervisor, she was even more at fault. The punishment was inevitable either way!

"Hmph!" Mrs. Wang exclaimed, "What use is punishing you? I just don’t understand—how could such a thing happen at this time! Is it because you are usually too nice and the servants underneath are all slacking off, or did you simply not instruct them clearly?"

Sang Wan shuddered inwardly, not daring to speak.

Not instructing clearly was undoubtedly her responsibility; the servants slacking off was naturally due to her inadequate supervision. In essence, either way, it was her fault.

"It was my negligence! I’m sorry, Mother! I will personally apologize to my aunt-in-law later and explain it to her," Sang Wan said with her head bowed.

Mrs. Wang, with a stern face, did not speak, her expression constantly shifting, leaving everyone clueless as to what she was thinking. Mrs. Jiang, Xiuchun, Xiuli, and others stood by with their heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

"Mother!" At this moment, Shi Fengju came in unhurriedly from outside. Sang Wan glanced at him briefly, feeling a subconscious relief.

"You’re here too!" Mrs. Wang’s expression softened a bit upon seeing her son, asking him to sit down.

"I came to see you, Mother," Shi Fengju said as he sat down, smiling, "Fortunately, Aunt is fine. Don’t be angry anymore!"

Mrs. Wang sighed, "This isn’t about whether I’m angry or not. Your uncle and aunt haven’t been back for many years, and such a thing happened right after they returned. People outside who don’t know better might think I’m intentionally being harsh and making life difficult for them! Even if they don’t think that, they’d still say ’the housekeeper is incompetent.’ Doesn’t sound very nice, does it?"

"There were indeed many issues yesterday, and it’s not Miss Wan’s fault that she couldn’t attend to everything! Fortunately, Aunt is okay today, it was just a scare. We’ll be more careful next time not to let such a thing happen again! Mother, you should quickly let Miss Wan go see Aunt, I’m sure Aunt is also a reasonable person!" Shi Fengju continued to smile and persuade.

Mrs. Wang stared at him for a long while and then snorted, saying, "Your elder sister always says you protect your wife, and I see it’s true!"

"You’re off topic again, Mother!" Shi Fengju chuckled, "Would scolding Miss Wan now be useful? Moreover, Miss Wan is my wife, it’s natural for me to speak a few words for her. Mother, would you really like us not to get along well?"