He had already made one regrettable mistake by keeping his cousin here; now, he couldn't make another — letting her go!
Shi Fengju thought over and over but couldn't come up with a comprehensive solution, suddenly feeling the room oppressively hot and stuffy, which inexplicably irritated him, so he rose and left without a word.
Sang Wan went to Mrs. Wang's first as though nothing had happened, reported the results of the punishment, and after Mrs. Wang nodded in agreement, she proceeded to Third Madam Shi. She repeatedly apologized to Third Madam Shi and explained the punishment for the servant girls. Third Madam Shi was never lenient with servants; upon hearing it, she felt the punishment Sang Wan meted out was rather light. In her view, servants who disregarded their masters were the most despicable, and deserved nothing less than death!
