Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 147 - 2: Susu Leaves the Residence (2)

Susu walked out of the room and went straight to the upper room. The maids and older women saw her and respectfully greeted her as "Miss Su," a stark contrast to the playful interactions of the past. Only Ning Xiang and Yun Tong, whom Susu had taught personally, dared to take Susu’s arm, their faces full of reluctance and confusion.

Although they had been promoted to second-class maids, they were still young, one nine and the other eight. They had previously relied on Susu for support and guidance. Now that Susu was leaving the residence, their relationship with the Old Madam was not the same as with Susu, so it was understandable for them to feel afraid.

Susu worried that she wouldn’t have time to speak to them later, so while no one had called to serve her in the room, she spoke softly, "I’ve taught you both everything I could. As the saying goes, ’A master leads you to the door, but the practice is your own.’ You are both exceptionally clever. As long as you remember the word ’loyalty’ and know who your master is, the Old Madam will surely treat you well."

Seeing that the two young girls were still a bit sullen, Susu gently patted their heads, "When you have a break, you can visit me in Tongzhou. I will also occasionally return to see the Old Madam and you both. If anything becomes too hard for you to handle, ask Nanny Qin. You are still too young."

Susu was indeed saddened, but no matter how sad, life had to go on. Susu never hid from reality because if she did not face it, she wouldn’t have survived till today.

There was noise coming from the bedroom; the Old Madam had risen. Seeing that the two young girls were feeling a bit better, Susu rubbed her face and managed to muster a seventy-percent smile. As she entered the room, she looked up to see the Old Madam eagerly looking towards the door. Seeing Susu, the Old Madam smiled, "You’re here?"

At that moment, Susu almost said, "Old Madam, I’m not leaving," but after all, Susu was Susu. Raising in restraint since her childhood, she blinked hard, fearing her tears might fall, and she also smiled, "I’m here!"

The mistress and maid were in harmony, yet others around them found it hard to bear. Nanny Qin excused herself to check on breakfast in the small kitchen, taking the teary-eyed Ming Yu with her, and in the outer room, she stopped Yun Duo and Ming Xiang who were about to enter to serve.

Only the Old Madam and Susu remained in the room, exchanging looks without words, noting the blue shadows under each other’s eyes. In this silence, Susu helped the Old Madam wash her face, rinse her mouth, change clothes, and comb her hair.

Susu styled the Old Madam’s hair into the only bun she could do well, a round knot, fixing it with pins and hairpins, and selected a white jade lotus blossom brooch with red gemstones to pin to the collar of the Old Madam’s dignified robe. Seeing the graceful and noble reflection of the Old Madam in the mirror, Susu bowed deeply from behind, "May the Old Madam always smile and may fortune be with you."

Old Madam Song, looking at the girl she had raised like a granddaughter, also held back tears. She turned and helped Susu up herself, "May Susu meet a good person and live a happy life." After saying this, the mistress and maid exchanged a knowing smile. They both understood that moving forward was necessary, even if it required letting go.

On this day, as Susu was leaving the residence, she was one of the Old Madam’s most cherished people, and even away from her, her influence was significant. On this day, besides the First Madam and the Second Madam, all the other Song Family ladies came to bid farewell.

Especially the Sixth Miss, who held Susu’s hand and couldn’t let go. She rarely cried, but the thought of not being able to see Sister Su anytime she wanted made her heart feel shattered. Sometimes she would say, "Dear sister, I’ll come to see you first thing tomorrow." Other times, she’d change her mind and insist on leaving with Susu today. Seeing this, the Third Madam couldn’t help but twitch her eye corners, wishing that this "foolish for love" girl wasn’t her daughter, as it was too embarrassing.

With the Sixth Miss causing such a commotion, the melancholic occasion turned into one of mixed emotions. Seeing the Third Madam about to lose it, Susu, unable to be sad any longer, quickly took the Sixth Miss’s hand, promising to return soon and bring lots of delicious food and fun things, finally calming this little troublemaker.

The time spent together always seemed fleeting, and Susu, before she could feel the passage of time, realized it was already past ten. If she didn’t leave soon, the Old Madam would ask her to stay for lunch. Knowing she couldn’t stay any longer, Susu got up to say her goodbyes to each one. As she went out, she couldn’t help but look back at the Old Madam, and the tears she had held back for so long finally rolled down her cheeks.

Susu turned and knelt respectfully on the ground, bowing deeply to the Old Madam before rising to leave, leaving behind a room full of weeping women. Zhao Lanxi watched as the once-vibrant great-grandmother suddenly seemed much older, feeling incredibly conflicted. Yet, she knew time couldn’t turn back, and she absolutely couldn’t have any regrets.