Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 181 - 13: Returning to the Residence

Sui’an Hall inquired several times, so when Susu reached the gate of Bo Mansion, an astute person had already reported back to Sui’an Hall. Naturally, they got a reward from the Old Madam. When Susu entered the mansion through the West Corner Gate and sat in a palanquin into Sui’an Hall, all the ladies of the house, except the First Madam and Second Madam, including the Heir’s wife, had already arrived at Sui’an Hall.

Although Susu was born as a maid in the mansion, she was once the Old Madam’s favorite. Her betrothed husband, though a Military Officer, became a Fifth Rank once she married, while the Second Madam, although called "Madam" in her own house, was merely a Sixth Rank Anren due to Second Master’s official position.

Having entered through the Hanging Flower Gate and passed through the passageway, Susu found that the Heir’s wife was personally welcoming her at the main house door. She hurried a few steps, thinking that though she was no longer a servant of the mansion, she should still curtsey to the Heir’s wife as per etiquette. Yet before she could curtsey, the Heir’s wife stopped her, smiling, "It’s been a few days, and you’re treating me like a stranger now?"

Her ability to leave the mansion was in no small part thanks to the efforts of the Heir’s wife. Although Susu was reluctant to leave the Old Madam, it was better than putting her in a difficult position.

Susu held no resentment towards the Heir’s wife. Moreover, her departure from the mansion was made possible by the Heir’s wife’s generous support. In fact, Susu considered herself lucky, so naturally, she smiled and said, "I’m still hoping for a few meals from the Heir’s wife, I don’t dare to act distant."

Just as they were speaking, the Sixth Miss impatiently lifted the curtain and came out, laughing, "Sister-in-law and Sister Su, you’re being overly polite, we’ve been waiting with bated breath." The Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and the two Cousins also came out. The Third Miss laughed, "Finally, you have arrived!"

The Fourth Miss scrutinized Susu, seeing her in good spirits, much brighter than when she was in the mansion. Today she wore a pomegranate red gradient-fronted ruqun with a light purple cross-collar gauze shirt over it. She looked radiant and charming, even with no embroidery on her clothes.

The Fourth Miss held Susu’s hand, "Come inside quickly. Ever since you left the mansion, Grandmother has been eating and sleeping poorly. When you were home, we didn’t feel much, but once you left, it felt like every day passed like a year."

Susu chuckled at the Fourth Miss’s exaggeration, covering her mouth with her handkerchief, "Now you recognize my worth, right? Isn’t it like ’a day apart feels like three years’?"

Before the Fourth Miss could respond, the Sixth Miss jumped over, swaying and singing, "There’s a beauty I can’t forget, seeing her once makes me yearn. A day without seeing her drives me into a frenzy."

The Heir’s wife always knew the younger sisters-in-law got along well with Susu. Seeing this now made her feel a bit unsettled, but before those complex emotions could surface, she heard the Sixth Miss’s words, her mouth twitching uncontrollably.

At that moment, the Heir’s wife couldn’t afford to care about that minor feeling. Thinking about the heartfelt entrustment of the Third Aunt before she left, and looking at the skillful ’flirtatious’ sister-in-law in front of her, Zhao Lanxi felt overwhelmed. "Third Aunt, come back, this child is too tricky, she can’t handle it!"

Upon entering the upper room, the Old Madam sat at the head, dressed solemnly, giving Susu due respect. When Susu met the Old Madam, she realized that although she had been away for just over ten days, it indeed felt as long as the Fourth Miss claimed.

Before the maid beside her could bring the cushion, Susu knelt before the Old Madam, bowing her head to greet, quickly wiping away tears from the corner of her eye. Raising her head, she smiled brightly, "Old Madam, Susu is back!"

Old Madam Song had noticed Susu secretly wiping her tears but pretended not to see. She turned away to wipe her own tears with a handkerchief, personally helping Susu up, and smiled, "It’s good to have you back."

The master and servant acted as if Susu had merely been away for a few days of fun, now returned to the mansion, feeling quite ordinary.

This left everyone, who initially prepared to comfort both in case of emotional outbursts, looking at each other, their heartfelt words stuck inside, nearly causing them internal distress. Nonetheless, it was indeed a joyful reunion.

After catching up with everyone, Susu had her brought items moved in and said, "I know these bits aren’t needed in the mansion, but it’s my token of appreciation. Please don’t refuse." With that, she distributed gifts to the masters.

Apart from those she had previously selected, the Old Madam received an additional incense, two headbands, and two pairs of shoes; the Heir’s wife received two small garments, both new and of excellent Songjiang Fan Cloth made by Susu. The three Misses and two Cousins all received an additional batch of aroma pills made by Susu and a bottle of Lotus Dew, which can be used to moisturize by adding a few drops to water when washing hands or face.