CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 26 STUFFY_2

Liu Ya and Hong Ye felt somewhat reassured by this and did not take the matter to heart.

When Sang Wan and her two servants came out, Shi Fengju had already changed his clothes and left. Xingzhi called out "Madam," looking somewhat at a loss.

Sang Wan sighed quietly and instructed, "Go check if the meals are still warm. If they are, pack them in the food box and bring it up. Xingzhi will accompany me to the study later. Liu Ya and Hong Ye, prepare the hot water."

Shi Fengju was indeed displeased, and both Liu Ya and she could feel it. Although she did not know the reason, Sang Wan felt it largely had something to do with herself. Shi Fengju was her ally and support within the Shi Mansion, and naturally, she could not ignore or feign ignorance of his displeasure.

Xingzhi and the others understood that Sang Wan was planning to bring dinner to the young master. When the masters got along well, the servants also had better days. Influenced by the subtle atmosphere, they were delighted to hear that Sang Wan was willing to take the initiative to mend ties, and they quickly complied.

Soon, Xingzhi brought up the food box.

Sang Wan opened it and saw the food still steaming hot and aromatic, bright and colorful. She covered it back up and gestured for Xingzhi to carry it along with her.

Actually, Shi Fengju had no reason to return to the study. Suddenly arriving there, he did not expect that the servants assigned to the study, thinking he wouldn’t return, had gone out early to meet friends and laze around. Upon entering with Chang Huan, he found no incense burning, no fresh pastries or fruits prepared, and even the tea was cold, leaving the room stark and uninviting.

"These servants, getting more and more audacious!" Shi Fengju slammed the table in anger. After a busy day, he hadn’t even wiped his face or had a sip of hot tea, not to mention he was hungry. It would take a saint not to lose temper in his position.

And he, Shi Fengju, was certainly no saint.

"Don’t be upset, Master. Those rascally kids, I’ll skin them tomorrow! I’ll go fetch the tea right away!" Chang Huan instinctively shrank his neck and said with a forced smile.

"Go quickly!" Shi Fengju said, holding back his anger, "Fetch water first, I need to wash my face! And see if there is anything to eat and bring it over!"

"Yes! Yes!" Chang Huan glanced strangely at his master, wondering internally what was wrong with him. If there was nothing important to do, why didn’t he just go back to Ningyuan instead of insisting on staying here to eat? Could it be that he had had a quarrel with Madam? Impossible! The master had just returned to the mansion and besides, Madam, with her gentle and compliant nature and being a new bride, there should be no issue...

While agreeing, Chang Huan pondered and then turned back with a smile, asking, "What would you like to eat, sir? I’ll—" Seeing Shi Fengju glaring coldly at him, Chang Huan hurriedly corrected himself: "I’ll go check the kitchen!"

With that, he ran off hastily.

Soon after, Qian He and Qian Xiang, two servants, came in slowly, one carrying tea and the other with water for washing faces, both a bit guilty not expecting the young master to visit.

Shi Fengju felt somewhat relieved. He directed Qian Xiang to place the washbasin on the stand. Seeing him just standing there dazed after placing it, Shi Fengju resignedly sighed silently, took the towel hanging on the basin himself, and dipped it into the water.

Unexpectedly, the water was a bit too hot. Shi Fengju’s hands, unprepared, dipped into it and he jumped up with a yelp from the heat, startling Qian Xiang who jumped up and hastily apologized, "It’s all my fault, I’ll fetch some cool water now!"

"Never mind, no need!" Shi Fengju said, suppressing his anger and coldly stated, the water wasn’t as carefully prepared as usual by Xingzhi and Hong Ye but wasn’t outrageously hot either. He was too lazy to fuss over it and carefully tested dipping the towel, carefully wrung it out, and wiped his face.

The warm steam hit his face, opening the tight pores and dissipating fatigue. Shi Fengju closed his eyes and sighed in relief.

Just washing his face was sufficient, the water was clear, without the addition of floral water or prepared fragrances – he did not expect such refinements from these crude people. Fortunately, he traveled for business often and was used to roughing it; expectations were few, so it was not worth losing his temper over.

Shortly, the initially too-hot water cooled slightly. Shi Fengju washed his face and hands thoroughly, feeling even more refreshed, then leaned back on the armchair and motioned for Qian He to bring the tea forward.

Qian He hurriedly carried the tray up doggedly.

Shi Fengju picked up the tea cup, unlidded it to find the tea leaves hadn’t unfurled, crinkled half-curled in the water, neither floating nor sinking properly, and the water seemed not hot enough to steep properly.

Shi Fengju instantly lost the desire to drink, with a "snap" closed the tea cup lid back down, set it aside, and waved dismissively, "Leave! All of you, leave!"

Qian He glanced regretfully at the neglected tea cup, thinking it was such a waste of good tea leaves.

Soon after Qian He and Qian Xiang withdrew, Sang Wan arrived with Xingzhi.

Shi Fengju’s mood soured further at the sight of her, remembering his cold, deserted surroundings and the unreliable, inattentive servants, he frowned and said, "Why have you come? Is there something you need?"

Sang Wan internally rolled her eyes, thinking was all this fuss really over not having dinner ready when he returned? If that was an issue, he just had to mention it, and she would comply.

For a man who could give his bride the cold shoulder on their wedding night, Sang Wan didn’t believe there was anything he would hesitate to speak aloud.

"Even if you are busy with official duties, young master, you mustn’t neglect your health. Please have your dinner first before anything else!" Sang Wan said, her voice soft and smiling. She instructed Xingzhi to set the food box down and began opening it, smiling, "It’s all your favorite foods, young master: pine nut smoked meat, eight treasure tofu, hibiscus chicken slices, fried whitebait, and three delicacies soup with spring bamboo shoots. Eat while it’s hot, the flavor won’t be as good once it cools!"