Rebirth: Contract Husband Falls in Love with Me-Chapter 432 - 221: Relatives_2

"Mother!" Sang Yan felt extremely embarrassed and couldn’t help but gently tug at Mrs. Li’s sleeve.

Mrs. Li, oblivious, kept clamoring for Liu Ya to call for the sedan chair.

You must know that Mrs. Li, unwilling to waste money on carriage fare, had been dropped off by the coachman upon entering Qingzhou. Mrs. Li had thought, since the Shi family was located within Qingzhou City and could surely be found with a few inquiries, why waste the money? However, the inquiries did lead them to the information, but Qingzhou City was so vast that by the time they reached the Shi family from the city gate, the mother and daughter felt their legs would break! It was bearable at first while they were running on adrenaline, but as soon as they reached their destination and their rush of energy dissipated, how could they endure any longer?

Liu Ya found herself in an awkward situation, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Calling for the sedan chair? The second madam really had the nerve to demand such things! Even on regular days within the mansion, not even the eldest lady could easily call for the sedan chair, it was a privilege reserved solely for the first madam. And here she was, so shamelessly giving orders.

Liu Ya couldn’t help but frown slightly, feeling a twinge of displeasure in her heart.

Mrs. Li, relying on her status as "Master," didn’t even bother to consider Liu Ya, and seeing Liu Ya’s expression, her anger flared. Spotting a stone nearby, she plopped down on it, rubbing her arms and legs as she shouted, "I can’t walk anymore, I’m utterly exhausted! Liu Ya, quickly call the sedan chair, will you!"

"Mother! What are you doing!" Sang Yan, ever since entering the Shi Mansion, had been feeling constricted everywhere, uncomfortable in every way. Seeing her mother behave so crudely, her face flushed with shame in an instant.

"Stand aside and keep silent! Is it your place to speak!" Mrs. Li, seeing that her daughter was not siding with her, shot her an angry glare.

Liu Ya was so anxious she could burst into flames, and with a bitter smile, she said: "Second Madam, please get up! This is not a place to sit; such casual behavior is for servants! It’s not that I won’t call the sedan chair for you, but there are rules in the mansion, on normal days apart from the first madam, not even the eldest lady can easily call the sedan chair! If you’re tired, we can walk slowly! This isn’t the place to speak out loud!"

"There’s such a rule?" Mrs. Li did not believe it.

"Why would I lie to you! If you don’t believe me, you can ask the eldest lady when she returns!" Liu Ya hurriedly spoke.

"Mother, let’s get up quickly! It can’t be much farther now!" Sang Yan also hastily pulled on Mrs. Li.

"Fine then!" Mrs. Li finally got up, patting her buttocks and muttering: "You girl, don’t forget yourself once you enter the city! Hmph, later I will ask Miss Wan, and if you’ve lied to me, I’ll settle the score with you!"

"Yes, yes, as if I would dare to deceive you!" Liu Ya sighed in relief and quickly smiled, leading the way, hoping they wouldn’t encounter anyone else on the road and could swiftly bring them back to Ningyuan.

However, whatever you fear will come, and they hadn’t walked far when they saw Gu Fangzi with Lan Xiang slowly approaching.

Liu Ya felt as if she had been struck by lightning on a clear day, and her expression changed dramatically. She had no choice but to kneel and greet her, "Cousin Miss!"

Gu Fangzi, having nothing better to do, was just strolling around the garden when she unexpectedly ran into Liu Ya.

She hadn’t paid much attention at first, thinking they would just pass by with a nod. However, she noticed that the middle-aged woman following Liu Ya was eyeing her with a gleaming gaze, filled with an all-too-familiar greed and amazement.

Gu Fangzi was naturally quite attractive and having been pampered in the Shi family since she was young, she looked every bit the noble maiden. She was wearing a goose-yellow outer coat with floral borders, a silver-blue satin inner wear with a slanted stand collar, and a pink-white shiny satin pleated skirt below, the hem adorned with a two-inch-wide border of gold and silver thread. Tied around her waist was a phoenix belt with a sachet, revealing narrow embroidered begonia shoe tips with each step. The pearl and jade on her delicate updo sparkled brilliantly, making her look extremely exquisite and opulent. Mrs. Li loved these sights and couldn’t help but eye Gu Fangzi openly for a moment.

Gu Fangzi noticed and gave her a slight smile.

Lan Xiang, on the other hand, couldn’t stand it any longer. Seeing Mrs. Li and Sang Yan dressed plainly, with not even a decent piece of jewelry in their hair, and perceiving one to be uncouth and the other timid, she assumed they were slaves that Sang Wan had brought up from the manor to attend to her needs. She frowned and scolded, "How daring! Is Cousin Miss someone you can stare at? Make an apology to Cousin Miss right away!"

Liu Ya then realized the situation and, annoyed by Mrs. Li’s shallow behavior, was about to smooth things over, but Mrs. Li placed her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, and angrily said to Lan Xiang: "How dare you! Such a bold little girl! Do you know who I am? I am the direct aunt of your eldest lady!"

Liu Ya’s head spun, and she glared at Mrs. Li covertly. She had been vague on purpose in front of the doorman and Mrs. Zhang trying not to reveal her relationship with Mrs. Li. As if fate would have it, they happened to run into Gu Fangzi and her maid.

"What!" Lan Xiang exclaimed with wide eyes. Her exclamation wasn’t intentional, but genuine surprise and shock.

Gu Fangzi was also taken aback momentarily, then suddenly let out a laugh, swiftly raising her handkerchief to cover her mouth to hold back her amusement.

"What, what!" Mrs. Li, seeing Lan Xiang’s reaction, was very annoyed and huffed at her: "Don’t you believe me? Ask Liu Ya if you think I’m lying to you!"

There was no need to ask. Liu Ya’s expression, caught between the desire to cry and the inability to laugh, along with her awkward demeanor, already said it all.

"So it is our relative, the second madam!" Gu Fangzi stepped forward with a smile, bending her knees slightly to salute Mrs. Li, and kindly said: "This girl is inexperienced and doesn’t understand her place, Second Madam, please do not lower yourself to her level and tarnish your esteemed status through a quarrel with her!"

Mrs. Li, seeing someone as beautiful as a blooming flower bowing to her and speaking so warmly and politely, immediately took a liking to her and chuckled, "Are you Cousin Miss? Oh, you’re so polite but also so stunningly beautiful at first sight, it’s no wonder everyone likes you! It’s normal for the girls not to understand, I wouldn’t make a fuss over it!"