Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 249 - 1: Sisterly Courtesy (First Update)

Upon entering Hami County, Hong Sheng rode ahead to lead the way, while Susu sat inside the carriage, not stopping Fen Dai and the others from lifting the curtain to look around, as she had long noticed that outside the customs, women were less restricted than inside.

In the towns along the way, Susu even saw girls running businesses with their fathers and brothers, not to mention young ladies and wives hawking their wares on the street. Even the noble ladies could leisurely stroll the streets with only maids and elder women in tow, without needing chaperones.

Beforehand, Susu had learned that Hami County has a very bustling commercial street located at the town center, splitting the entire Hami County into East City and West City. East City was a Han settlement, while West City was the domain of ethnic minorities.

It was a hundred years ago when the then Duke, while leading the army in Hami in his youth, made this division.

Back then, different ethnic groups cohabited, though they were all citizens of Great Chu, yet with differing ethnicities, beliefs, customs, and even cuisines, inevitably leading to many conflicts.

Often, trivial matters would escalate into ethnic disputes. Therefore, the then Duke ordered the rearrangement of the settlements, respecting each ethnicity’s customs.

And since Hami was a crucial link on the Silk Road, major construction was undertaken to build the commercial street.

The commercial street between the two parts became a bond for intercultural interactions, resulting in a more harmonious coexistence than before.

Now, after a hundred years, this decree is still being steadfastly implemented by the authorities.

When Susu and the group entered the town, they happened to pass through the commercial street.

At this time, around eight or nine in the morning, the breakfast stalls and small vendors of the early market had already closed, but the major shops were just starting their business, as traders passed by in horse-drawn carriages or organized camel caravans.

Fen Dai and the others, due to their young age, exclaimed constantly at the sight of foreigners with red hair, blonde hair, green eyes, and blue eyes.

Of course, there were constant exchanges in the Capital with traders from various countries, but they seldom went out, and the strict division of marketplaces in the Capital was another factor, where such lively scenes were rare.

The four young maids chattered away, and seeing Susu didn’t mind them, they even pulled Susu along, asking her to explain the buildings on both sides to broaden their knowledge.

The styles in the East City were alright, but the buildings on the West City side were truly diverse.

There were spired buildings inlaid with large panes of colored glass, Arabian-style residences, Hui houses similar to the Han, and Baroque buildings introduced from Europe—truly a miniature representation of the world.

It was only when the carriage turned into the East City that the four young maids felt unfulfilled. Susu sighed, saying, "This isn’t the Capital, wandering around would take most of the day, with many concerns. In the future, if you want to go out and play, just a few steps out the door and you’ll get your fill."

According to Susu’s rules, the servants had three days off each month, either taken consecutively or divided, as long as they arranged their duties well. If the household was busy and they couldn’t rest, there would be extra pay.

Hearing this, the four little maids finally calmed down and began to serve Susu, redoing her hairstyle, accessories, clothes, and covering her with a veil.

Soon, the carriage stopped, and Hong Sheng called out in a loud voice, "My lady, we’re home!"

The four young maids got off the vehicle first, lifted the carriage curtain, and Hong Sheng stepped forward to personally assist Susu down.

Susu looked up to see the red-painted large door wide open, with a dozen or so people dressed as servants standing on either side, though they seemed quite elderly.

Among them, Susu noticed a few servants who appeared to have disabilities, coupled with an aura that distinguished them from ordinary servants, Susu quickly surmised that they were likely veterans from the battlefield.

But who was that girl standing at the front?

The girl appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen, with an oval face, bright eyes and shapely eyebrows, a slender figure, quite striking, though her demeanor lacked a certain quality.

She wore a complex Baihua hairstyle, adorned with four or five solid gold hairpins, and a pair of red gemstone earrings the size of soybeans, her makeup was rather heavy, which Susu felt marred her face.

She was dressed in a pomegranate-red blouse embroidered with double-flying butterflies frolicking among a hundred flowers, cinched at the waist and shoulders, accentuating her prominent bust and willow-like slender waist, paired with a pomegranate skirt.

Compared to Susu’s outfit, it was hard to tell who was the newlywed.

Judging by her attire, she didn’t seem like a maid. But if she were a relative, Hong Sheng had never mentioned her; could it be...

With a sudden thought, Susu felt a slight, fleeting pain that disappeared as swiftly as it came, leaving even Susu herself no time to comprehend it.

She was Ruan Susu, the rational, accepting reality was what she had to do. Thus, Susu composed herself, thinking: where could one find such an extravagant concubine in a red dress?

Surely not of such a status, but Susu’s female intuition warned her that the visitor was not friendly.

Hong Sheng followed Susu’s gaze, immediately inwardly cursing for not mentioning it to his wife earlier; it must not lead to misunderstandings.

Just as he was about to speak, the girl, dressed like a red pepper, approached with a worried look, examining him up and down, making Hong Sheng uneasy.

She then said, "Brother Hong has returned, I’ve been calculating the days, should have arrived much earlier, but there’s been no word from Brother Hong, it’s been worrying me sleepless."

Without waiting for Hong Sheng to speak, the girl familiarly reached to hold Susu’s hand: "This is Sister Su, isn’t it? Bai You pays respect to Sister."

Though simple-minded, Hong Sheng knew there was something off about Miss Yue today, and hearing her call Susu "sister" instead of "sister-in-law" made him slightly uncomfortable.

Susu had already sidestepped, avoiding the girl’s courtesy, while Fen Dai, Shuimo, and the other maids quickly positioned themselves in front of Susu.

Glancing at Hong Sheng, seeing his unease, Susu knew this incident wasn’t pre-orchestrated.

Having spent time together on the journey, Susu had come to trust Hong Sheng, and since he never mentioned this girl, she likely wasn’t important.

And for her to stage such a display at her doorstep, towards her as the mistress, was utterly presumptuous.

Susu casually took out a handkerchief, wiping the hand touched by the girl. Her hand was sweat-stained, revealing her inner unease contrary to her outward calm.

Moreover, Susu noticed the disdain and ridicule flashing in the eyes of the onlooking servants behind, emotions likely not directed at her but rather at the girl.

"Although my husband never mentioned you, you call him brother, logically, you should address me as sister-in-law."

The girl, blocked by Susu’s maids, was struggling to maintain her smile, and upon hearing Susu, looked even more helpless and aggrieved.

"Secondly, I am an only daughter. My parents passed early, apart from my sworn sisters, I have no younger siblings."

Without giving the girl a chance to speak, Susu continued, "Thirdly, you appear to be about seventeen or eighteen, though I’m married, I’m only fifteen, unworthy of being called sister by you."

Her words were like a resounding slap, leaving the red-dressed girl on the verge of tears, looking at Hong Sheng, but he was too busy with explanations.

Given his understanding of the time spent with her, he sensed that his wife might be upset, though her demeanor only made her more endearing!

Hong Sheng’s demeanor nearly caused the red-dressed girl to faint in exasperation—ouch, that was a deep cut, old friend!