Chapter 279 - 140: Trying to Help (2)
"You all make a good point!" Mrs. Wang naturally favored her son a bit more, so she was pleased that Gu Fangzi was helping ease her son’s burden, and she smiled, "In that case, you can bring it up with Fengju tonight!"
"Auntie," Gu Fangzi hesitated slightly, and with a smile said, "Could you perhaps speak with my cousin about this? I’m afraid—"
"Yes, mother!" Shi Yumei also said, "Otherwise, those who don’t know might think Fangzi is trying to curry favor, spreading rumors about ’disrespect during the mourning period’ and such, wouldn’t that damage her reputation? It would be a tragedy to wrong her kind intentions!"
Mrs. Wang ignored Shi Yumei’s comment and simply nodded, "Alright, I’ll talk to Fengju when he returns!"
"Thank you, Auntie!" Gu Fangzi joyfully stood up to thank her, and with grateful glance at Shi Yumei, they exchanged a smile.
With her wish fulfilled, Gu Fangzi was naturally delighted, and Shi Yumei was eager to see Shi Fengju neglect Sang Wan, both feeling even more jubilant inside, which made their alliance unbreakable.
Seeing the situation was in her favor, Gu Fangzi made small talk a little longer with Mrs. Wang before politely claiming she needed to go back "to fulfill her filial duties," to which Mrs. Wang nodded with a smile.
As evening approached and Shi Fengju was about to return, Gu Fangzi went over to Mrs. Wang’s place. Initially, she wanted to play it cool and wait in the peony garden for news, waiting for Shi Fengju to come and invite her. But upon reconsideration, a sense of unease crept in her heart: her cousin was now blinded by that vile woman Sang Wan, no longer as rational or as kind to her as before. Being present might add weight to her words; if she were absent, her too-easily persuaded aunt might just let her cousin dismiss the matter.
Gu Fangzi failed to realize that deep down, she had already understood that Shi Fengju’s heart was not with her, hence all her elaborate schemes.
"Oh, you impatient child! Fengju hasn’t returned yet—don’t worry; when he does, I will surely talk to him!" Mrs. Wang saw her coming at this time and couldn’t help but joke warmly.