Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 268 - 20: Whispered Conversations (2)

Susu didn’t expect that Qin and Aunt Su, one being the legitimate wife and the other a beautiful concubine, could forge such a deep friendship. It’s undeniable that scumbag dad failed as a husband. Without love, there would be no harm!

"How can these affairs be blamed on you? History is written by the victors. It was at your behest that the message was passed on, sparing us women from being utterly ruined."

Reflecting upon this, Susu sighed, especially when thinking of Longjie, who was sent to Shu by Sister Seven with a fabricated identity, awaiting the Ruan family’s restoration. She was conveniently of marrying age upon her return.

Qin sensed the hardship and wistfulness in Susu’s tone and sighed, "Tell me about your past years!"

Susu didn’t expect that Qin truly hadn’t heard any news, despite Susu’s current status bearing the mark of Third Madam Qin Zhao.

Qin recognized Susu’s confusion and smiled bitterly, "Sister-in-law assured me not to worry, yet with no news from you, I believed she was merely comforting me."

Susu gently patted Qin’s hand, "Aunt Qin, my thanks are due to Third Madam Qin for my current situation!"

She had recounted her story to Ruan Qiniang, though time was limited and many details were glossed over. Now, discussing with Qin, who asked in-depth about every matter, Susu felt soothed, gladly sharing every detail.

From Mrs. Zhao’s benevolence to Old Madam Song’s kindness, meeting Hong Sheng for the first time, Fifth Miss Song’s disdain, to her return to the capital before the Princely Heir’s wedding, meeting Sister Seven, catching Prince Gong’s eye, and escaping her fate... and more.

If Susu hadn’t experienced these events herself, she’d assume they were written in a drama script.

Speaking of Susu’s current husband elicited a sigh from Qin, "A match made in heaven!"

Naturally, the subject of Ruan Qiniang and Ruan Shiniang came up. Qin read Ruan Qiniang’s letter, tears streaming as she concluded, "As a mother, the blame must fall on me. Her resentment is justified."

Susu took the letter, reading words of politeness, with the plea for Qin to care for Susu stiffly expressed. Even Susu perceives Ruan Qiniang’s bitterness; how much more Qin?

In knowing her daughter, she realized the depth of the hurt caused.

Qin rambled on a bit, revealing she hadn’t returned to the capital since arriving in the Northwest.

Sister Seven’s marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth were occasions only Third Madam Qin attended. Qin merely sent Nanny Wang with gifts a few times.

Tears sparkled in Qin’s eyes, "I’m a grandmother now, yet I’ve never seen what my grandson looks like!"

Susu dared not remark she hadn’t seen him either, simply reassuring that the child was well.

The Qin she remembered was never this prone to tears; now it seems only women cherished have the liberty to cry.

Amidst their conversation, she refrained from displaying emotions in front of Susu, a junior, and chose not to elaborate on her neglect of Qiniang, instead shifting the topic to Shiniang.

Susu recounted Shiniang’s perilous delivery day and Princess Ke’s malice, eliciting a sarcastic smile from Qin, "Can wicked bamboo produce fine shoots? Her mother with outward grace but inward cruelty reflects the same."

This was rooted in feuds from their youth, but best left unsaid, leading to a question, "Is Little Master better now? His nickname being Big Cat, does it hold any meaning?"

"From the scents Aunt shared, I found a formula to nourish Qi and spirit, left with Sister Ten before leaving. Given Prince Ke’s scarce offspring, he wouldn’t neglect them. Further, with the selection yet to start, Prince Ke Mansion has gained two noble concubines. Once more concubines join post-selection, Princess may lack time to trouble them further."

Pausing, Susu smiled speaking of Big Cat, "As for Big Cat, I heard Sister Ten speak of it. Big Cat is synonymous with tiger, and cats have nine lives; she hopes for a son robust as a tiger, and long-lived like a cat."

Susu had more to convey, typically unbelieving in fate as a transmigrated heroine, yet for her son, she trusted divine omens, embracing sayings like "humble names survive better."

Given his noble status, he couldn’t be named "Er Gouzi" or "Frozen Kitty," hence Big Cat became a meaningful, memorable name.

Later, Susu elaborated on the fabricated relationship between Susu and Ruan Sixth Son while discussing with Ruan Qiniang, yearning for recognition. She couldn’t hide this from Qin, fearing uninformed revelations would expose them.

Thus, during her lengthy visit, this was Susu’s discussion of Ruan Sixth Son.

Qin gripped Susu’s hand, "Thirteenth Lady, you and Sister Seven think too simply! Why do you suppose I neglected you? With Sixth Son under my watch, why couldn’t I care for him? Is it truly self-serving neglecting you?"

Susu shook her head, "Aunt Qin, we never thought that!"

Qin scoffed, "That tyrant above tolerated sparing Duke Li’s Mansion due to founding nobles’ pressure. Holding Saint Martial Emperor’s decree foretold Duke Li’s title restoration, yet alive, he spared no effort to torment the Ruan family."

While the Northwest stands as Duke Zhen’s domain, the emperor dictated, wielding spite. Even founding nobles couldn’t overtly oppose him, relying on Third Master Qin discreetly to safeguard Ruan Sixth Son’s life.

Through tears, Qin continued, "Thirteenth Lady, they’ve suffered immensely! Despite flawless identity forgery, abandon hope of recognition. Many await exploiting them to curry favor with the emperor, this risk is great!"

Susu froze, imagining her heart pierced, bleeding profusely.

As she despaired over blood loss, Qin’s startled cries broke through, "Susu, Susu, are you okay? Breathe, breathe, silly child!"

Susu gasped, realizing she nearly suffocated herself. Facing Qin’s panic and Mrs. Sun’s swift entrance, she faintly smiled, "Aunt Qin, I’m fine; I’m living to await his demise."

Unbeknownst, her smile proved more haunting than tears.

Qin clutched pale Susu to her chest, "Are you trying to scare your mother?"

Qin thought of Sister Seven’s unwavering support in the capital, her own daughter, finally voicing her anguish.

Mrs. Sun wiped tears, wondering when these days would end.

Susu squeezed Qin’s waist, "Don’t fear, don’t fear, soon it’ll be over!"

Qin and Mrs. Sun assumed comfort in Susu’s words, unaware of her truth; the emperor had not long to live, and Prince Ke’s reign was short-lived too. When Ruan Shiniang becomes Empress Dowager, what will they fear?