Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 116 - 9: Sisters Reunited

The two sisters didn’t avoid the other ladies; they walked casually, unaware of how they had distanced themselves from the others, at least far enough that their conversation couldn’t be overheard.

As for the maids and old women, the Commandery Princess had long stopped them outside the plum grove. At this moment, there were only a few precious green calyx plum trees around the two of them.

Susu looked at the few flower buds about to bloom on the branches, smiling gently, "Seventh Sister, long time no see."

Though they had met at Prince Ke Mansion, Ruan Qiniang understood what the words meant. At the Prince Mansion, it was the Second Young Madam of Annan Earl Mansion and the maid of Shun’an Earl Mansion who met; today, it was the sisters of the Ruan Family meeting.

Just this one sentence almost brought tears to Ruan Qiniang’s eyes! "Thirteenth Lady."

Susu quickly drew out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to her, "Dear Sister, now that we are mothers, why do you shed golden beads so easily!"

Ruan Qiniang knew her emotions were too exposed, and if someone saw, she wouldn’t know how to explain it. She quickly wiped her tears with the handkerchief and forced a smile, saying, "Thirteenth Lady has grown up too!"

Susu laughed out loud at this, "Seventh Sister is married and a mother now, should I still chase after you for candies!"

Recalling their childhood, Ruan Qiniang also showed a nostalgic smile, then solemnly said, "Thirteenth Lady, you have suffered!"

Susu shook her head, "Seventh Sister, I haven’t suffered. Even though I am a maid in the Song Mansion, the Old Madam treats me like a granddaughter." Then she shared with her sister about being bought by Mrs. Zhao, due to Aunt Su’s favor, had her identity changed at the risk of execution and sold to the Song Family. She also shared how the Old Madam of Song Mansion treated her.

Since Ruan Qiniang dared to privately recognize her as a sister, she sincerely accepted her as an elder sister too, naturally hoping she wouldn’t carry such burdens.

But Ruan Qiniang wasn’t surprised upon hearing this, she seemed to have some understanding of Susu’s life, seeing Susu’s puzzled look, she sighed and said, "Silly sister, while Mrs. Zhao is indeed good-hearted, the reigning emperor detests our family. No tooth woman alone could change your identity so flawlessly; it was Third Aunt who cleared the aftermath for her. Isn’t it said that good deeds are rewarded! Even mother said Aunt Su has great vision, but sadly, being a woman, she had such looks!"

Seeing Susu still somewhat in a fog, as today was meant to clarify things for her sister, Ruan Qiniang told Susu about Aunt Su’s good karma formed by identifying the infertility cause of the Third Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion through fragrance.

Susu widened her eyes, surprised that the delicate and ethereal aunt in her memory was so capable. As Susu sifted through memories again, indeed, there were some medical fragrance recipes stored in the corners of memory, waiting for her to explore. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

At the time, Susu didn’t fully absorb the original owner’s memories. She was accustomed to these triggered memories now, not eager to revisit them, as she had more important questions for Ruan Qiniang.

"Seventh Sister, how is mother? How is Sixth Brother?" Thinking of Ruan Sixth Son exiled to the Northwest at a young age, Susu’s heart ached bitterly.

Ruan Qiniang understood this feeling; Duke Zhen’s Mansion was her maternal home but not her natal home. Although no one dared to belittle her due to Duke Zhen’s Mansion and Third Uncle, privately, there were whispered sour remarks of her, a criminal’s daughter, marrying the legitimate Second Young Master of Annan Earl Mansion as climbing high.

Ruan Qiniang felt distressed but had to endure it until the day the Ruan Family returned.

"Mother is well, she now has a pair of twins, five years old!" Speaking of her mother, Ruan Qiniang’s expression was complex. While understanding mother and father have little affection, with mother mostly alone in the Duke Li’s Mansion, she felt much heartache.

But her mother remarried and had children, as a daughter, her feelings were complicated. It wasn’t the same as having half-siblings; her own mother felt largely taken away. Especially during her marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and Postpartum Confinement, as her young siblings needed care, mother couldn’t leave, heightening this feeling!

Thinking about her mother’s mourning for a year for father, then remarrying to the Northwest with the support of Third Uncle, Ruan Qiniang hadn’t seen her mother for six years due to this. She even somewhat resented her mother and uncle, but having become a wife and mother herself, she understood more, leading to a tangled feeling she rarely wished to discuss.