Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 144 - 1: Susu Leaves the Residence (Part 1)

Old Madam Song and Susu both thought they had more time left. Susu was only fourteen, and according to the custom at Sui’an Hall where maids were matched at eighteen, Susu could stay with Old Madam for at least four more years. Who knew that suddenly there was this issue with Prince Gong.

It was rare to meet a man like Hong Sheng, who was affectionate, righteous, and responsible. After getting engaged, they only waited for Susu to come of age and for Hong Sheng to return to the Capital to marry. Calculating this, Susu could only stay with the Song Family for one more year, but who knew, now there arose this idle gossip, not only involving Fifth Miss but, most importantly, the male and female owners of Qingfeng Pavilion.

Things in this world really are "everything is destiny, not a bit is at your own will."

No matter how reluctant and sad the Old Madam was, she could only keep Susu until her own birthday.

By Old Madam’s birthday in August, Old Madam Song wore the Hundred Blessings Hundred Longevity Cloud Brocade sewn by Susu, sat at the head of the upper room in Sui’an Hall. Below were her three sons and their wives and children, a crowd of several dozen, while outside, Housekeeper Qiao led the whole of Man Mansion servants, truly a scene of descendants filling the household, the door pillars radiant.

But when Old Madam Song thought that after this birthday, Susu, whom she dearly loved like her own granddaughter, would leave the mansion, she carried a smile on her face, but her heart was full of sadness. During the feast, she unknowingly drank several more cups of fruit wine. As night fell and people dispersed, feeling the effects of alcohol, she just held Susu’s hand and would not let go, falling asleep like that.

Susu bit her lips, the tears she had held back for long finally fell. Nanny Qin watched this master and servant so like a real grandmother and granddaughter, feeling a deep sourness in her heart, truly proving the saying, "there is no feast that does not disperse!" Only this cherished person remained by her master’s side, now even she was leaving.

After Old Madam fell asleep, Susu gently tucked her hand into the quilt, "Nanny, if I ruined this face, wouldn’t there be so many disputes and grievances?"

Nanny Qin looked at Susu’s amazingly beautiful and enchanting face, "Silly child, when you reach Nanny’s age, you’ll understand, these things really count for nothing. People often say, ’if you don’t invite jealousy, you’re mediocrity.’ Even if you didn’t have this face, as long as you are yourself, there will always be people who are jealous, inviting disputes."

After speaking, Nanny Qin shook her head. No matter how mature and experienced Susu was in handling affairs, she was still a child, too young, and had experienced too little. She would understand in the future, in this life, even if one is high above like the emperor, there will be all sorts of unavoidable things.

"Go back to sleep! Tomorrow, happily leave the mansion, someday, happily return, so Old Madam can have peace of mind."

Susu bowed to Nanny Qin, "Nanny, from now on, I’ll leave Old Madam in your care!"

After Susu left, the Old Madam, who should have been asleep, opened her eyes, unable to hold back the tears, looked at Nanny Qin, shaking her head with a bitter smile: "Ah Xiang, now it’s just the two of us left!"

Nanny Qin sat before the bed, wiping Old Madam’s tears, "Master, the children have grown up, we must let them go out to see the world. With you protecting them from behind, they will be able to fly higher, so you must take good care of your health, to be their support."

Old Madam shook her head, "Ah Xiang, don’t comfort me anymore. I understand, don’t be deaf, don’t be mute, don’t act like a family elder. Just Susu is still young, I’m worried. Why, such a good child, why can’t she be accepted?"

Nanny Qin did not speak, and the Old Madam seemed not to expect an answer from her, the two sat silently, only the candlelight flickered, as the night gradually deepened.

Meanwhile, Susu returned to the west wing, the maids inside hurriedly came out to greet her.

Previously it was said that after Susu and Hong Sheng got engaged, Old Madam spoke and asked Susu to move to the west wing of Sui’an Hall, treating her as a family relative, like the cousins. But Susu herself feared gossip, refused the maids and old women that Old Madam arranged to serve her.

Since that day Susu pleaded with Old Madam to leave the mansion, although Old Madam agreed, she insisted that Susu only leave after her birthday. However, Old Madam still felt somewhat resentful, saying she had wronged Susu, she insisted that the Heir’s wife buy some more young maids for Susu to choose.

Susu felt both moved and helpless. Seeing Old Madam holding back a breath, being very stubborn, Susu could only agree, but she did not need the Heir’s wife to trouble herself, she did have four rooms of servants in her hand!

It turned out that on that day Old Madam, along with the indenture contracts given to Susu, also gave two hundred acres of good land and a small manor. Housekeeper Qiao thought of everything thoroughly, and conveniently bought four rooms of servants for Susu, all their indenture contracts were in Susu’s hand.