Lady Fang was not mad at being blamed. Rather, she lowered her head in acknowledgement, respectful as a junior to a senior.
It looked like this was because of instinct formed over a long period of time.
Instinct to regard this person in front of her as a true senior.
"Be strict on those close to you, because you know the benefits of strictness. Without rules, nothing can be done. No one wants their children to live without rules, otherwise the ones to bear hardship in the future will be them," added Head Shopkeeper Song, his expression grave. "Be lax on those distant from you. Because they have nothing to do with you, you have no need of wasting thought on them. Now, Miss Jun is not an outsider. She is one of you. How could you ignore her because of your personal feelings, not to mention the negligent pampering."
"What Uncle says is right," responded Lady Fang sincerely, thankful.
She had indeed been deliberately indulgent with Jun Zhenzhen, because she didn’t regard Jun Zhenzhen as one of her own.
This could be seen by others, but not said so bluntly by them. Only one of her people could so honestly rebuke her like this.
"Miss Jun does not have a good personality because no one taught her well. She was born to a bureaucratic family, and Son-in-law had a loyalty acknowledged by heaven. Using her status, she could get away with some things," said Head Shopkeeper Song. "You and Old Lady must teach her slowly. We cannot hope that she becomes a great merchant, but at least she can understand some things so that our days will be longer."
Or days will be longer.
For the women of the Fang Family, nothing was more moving then thinking of how long their days would be.
The lonesome nights, protecting an empty room alone, forever not daring to forget about the business, no one to rely on and no way to back out, waking up from every nightmare and saying how the days are really long.
Lady Fang was distressed. She thought of Fang Chengyu and how he was much better these days. It seemed as if Jun Zhenzhen really could cure him.
"How is Chengyu doing?" Head Shopkeeper Song said into her ear.
"Much better," Lady Fang answered, unable to cover up her hope and happiness.
Head Shopkeeper Song made an ‘oh’ sound, and nodded.
A light of embarrassment flashed through Lady Fang’s eyes.
"It seems that the marriage to drive away bad luck was useful," she supplemented.
"How is he better," Concubine Yuan could not stop herself from interrupting. "Lady, the servant girls were just saying that Young Master could not find a servant girl when he wanted to relieve himself and almost soiled himself."
"The servant girls?" Lady Fang started.
Although she promised Jun Zhenzhen that she would be leaving everything up to her, she couldn’t help but hurt at the treatment her son was receiving.
"Two girls were just sold, and the other servant girls are too scared to act freely," Concubine Yuan reported.
Old Lady Fang rested a hand against her knee and squeezed.
Head Shopkeeper Song coughed lightly.
"You cannot hope for other people to immediately show the care they would to birth parents and siblings," he said. "Hearts change slowly. Do not get anxious."
Lady Fang squeezed out a smile for him and made a sound of confirmation.
"I made Uncle mock me," she said, indicating Concubine Yuan not to say anything again.
Concubine Yuan lowered her head and backed away.
Head Shopkeeper Song did not ask anything more. After a bit more of conversing, he left.
Lady Fang went to her inner chambers.
"Did you look over the medicine?" she asked.
This was part of the prior agreement. The prescription that Jun Zhenzhen passed was to not attract people’s attention, so Lady Fang could use it to fool others.
The true needed drugs would be personally bought by Jun Zhenzhen when she used some excuse to go out.
Concubine Yuan nodded.
"I looked over it," she said, hesitation on her face. "It’s just that… these are all made to supplement sex drive. Chengyu’s body is weak, is it appropriate for it?"
She looked at Lady Fang’s expression.
There was no change at all.
"It’s fine, it’s just a supplement medicine," she said, waving a hand. "As long as it’s not poison, it’s fine."
But a supplement can become poison.
Concubine Yuan hesitated to say something. She thought of how there was a rumor passing around that Old Lady and Lady were using medicine so that Chengyu could leave behind an heir. Although Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang denied it flatly, it now seemed likely to be true.
It looked like Jun Zhenzhen was using Fang Chengyu’s sickness as a pretense to dominate the Fang Family, while Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang were feigning belief in her when they actually wanted Fang Chengyu to leave behind an heir. Everybody was engaged in mutual deception. Each had their own intentions.
What could be asked and what couldn’t, Concubine Yuan was very clear on. She lowered her gaze.
"I will go and purchase the drugs and send them to her," she said.
Lady Fang made a sound of confirmation and nodded absent-mindedly.
...
When night fell, a light went on in an isolated room in the corner of the Fang Family’s residence. It was then covered up by people so that the majority of the light was blocked.
The room was still dark and two people’s shadows swayed on the wall.
A piece of paper was pushed under the lantern on the table.
The dancing lantern light illuminated the delicate handwriting on the paper.
This was the prescription that Miss Jun had made LIu’er give to Lady Fang.
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