Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 296 - 8: Unwelcome Guests Arrive (Third Update)

Chapter 296: Chapter 8: Unwelcome Guests Arrive (Third Update)

When they arrived at Liu Mansion, Mrs. Sun and the maid from Mrs. Qin’s room came out to greet them.

Even though she had seen Susu before, seeing her again still left a striking impression.

After exchanging formalities, Susu had no choice but to introduce Yue Baiyou to Mrs. Sun.

"This is Miss Yue, who is a guest at our mansion. Her elder brother entrusted her to my husband, but he’s just a man and doesn’t consider such details. Miss Yue is already eighteen and has never been a guest anywhere before. I’m not familiar with these matters, so I asked Aunt Qin to teach me today."

Mrs. Sun is the housekeeper beside Mrs. Qin, responsible for hosting female guests, each bearing titles of nobility. Someone of Yue Baiyou’s rank could never reach her, and they hadn’t previously met.

Yue Baiyou had always stayed in Puli, and her reputation was poor among the military households there. Only after climbing up through Hong Sheng did she enter the circle of low-ranking officer’s wives. However, her dishonest nature led her to be covertly resisted and ostracized.

Later, due to Hong Sheng again, she met Bai Lili and became known, yet she was just a gossip topic around dinner tables.

If it weren’t for Susu, mentioning her name would be an embarrassment to Mrs. Sun. But unexpectedly, this girl not only lacks virtue but also has a thick skin and a dark heart.

Seeing her now, she simply nodded slightly at Yue Baiyou and then gestured for Susu to board the sedan chair.

Originally, Yue Baiyou had thought when Susu introduced her, she would have to decide whether to pretend humility or say "No need to bow" with authority when facing the capable housekeeper near Mrs. Qin. What a dilemma!

Who could expect that Mrs. Sun didn’t even glance at her, nodding as if at the air? Was this the etiquette of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, as Susu mentioned?

Yet under the eaves, one must bow their head. Yue Baiyou clenched her fists tightly and lowered her head, sensing discreet scrutiny around her, feeling they surely mocked her and grew darker in mood.

Susu and Mrs. Sun observed Yue Baiyou covertly and saw this. Both couldn’t help but dim their eyes.

Given Yue Baiyou’s displayed persona of getting involved only for gain, her capability now of yielding in all circumstances implies today’s banquet ought to be quite entertaining.

Susu came early specifically today, so other guests hadn’t arrived yet.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Susu noticed Mrs. Sun didn’t lead them directly to the upper room but instead to a flower hall, where a plaque bore the words "Joyful Abode," likely derived from the saying "Isn’t it delightful to have friends come from afar?"

Mrs. Sun ordered the maid to serve snacks and then smiled at Susu, saying, "Madam Susu, please wait for a moment. A distinguished guest arrived earlier this morning, and the lady is accompanying them, let me inform her." With that, she subtly winked at Susu.

Susu pondered, somewhat puzzled, about what guest could arrive even earlier than she did? And required Aunt Qin’s personal accompaniment as a distinguished guest?

But seeing Mrs. Sun’s expression, she assumed it was perhaps an excuse to avoid bringing Yue Baiyou to see Mrs. Qin, quickly saying, "Thank you, Mrs. Sun."

After Mrs. Sun left, Yue Baiyou unintentionally let out a breath, finding the old servant’s gaze too sharp, penetrating her heart, seeming to say, "I see through you," creating immense pressure.

Yet seeing Susu leisurely sipping tea, Yue Baiyou coldly snorted inwardly, "Putting on airs."

Then she said with some schadenfreude, "Isn’t sister-in-law quite esteemed in front of Mrs. Qin? How come now she also sits idle with someone as unwelcome as me? I thought sister-in-law frequently sends gifts to Liu Mansion, even calling Commander Liu uncle, assuming sister-in-law had some kinship with Mrs. Qin!"

Susu thought rather than saying Miss Yue was quite resilient, it might be a masochistic personality.

Despite hitting blocks several times with her, how dare she provoke still?

Who gave her such courage? Bai Lili? Or that Poisonous Fragrance?

Plus, although Susu’s deliveries to Liu Mansion weren’t deliberately concealed, it wasn’t something anyone could just know. Moreover, besides her calling Commander Liu uncle during her first meeting with Aunt Qin, the rest occurred in military camps.

Although somewhat public, the soldiers there generally return home only once every half-month, so this news shouldn’t have spread widely. How did Yue Baiyou find out?

Her information seemed overly accurate.

Susu felt what she saw and heard might not be entirely true, despite Yue Baiyou appearing brainless; Susu’s intuition also alerted her, summarizing that perhaps she isn’t a mere pawn.

With this realization, Susu acted more cautiously.

These thoughts making rounds in her mind took but a few seconds, which outwardly appeared as a pause upon hearing Yue Baiyou’s words before Susu placed her teacup firmly on the table, producing a crisp sound.

This was improper when visiting others, yet Susu seemed unnoticed, merely frowning while staring at Yue Baiyou.

"Whether I’m esteemed before Mrs. Qin, I know myself, no need for Miss’s concern. Miss should care more about herself. After all, you said it yourself, age isn’t young anymore."

Who knew after accusing Susu, Yue Baiyou actually agreed instead of retorting, saying, "Indeed, I’m not young anymore, so sister-in-law must care for me. After all, Brother Hong promised my brother he would take care of me."

Susu inwardly smirked, seemed a deliberate attempt to provoke her!

But just as she intended to feign anger, Mrs. Sun re-entered.

"Madam is inviting Susu over to talk; the esteemed guest also wants to meet Madam."

Susu rose, giving Yue Baiyou a taunting look. She was ready to head out with Mrs. Sun.

Yue Baiyou hurriedly said, "Mrs. Sun, what does this mean? I came with sister-in-law, and Mrs. Qin doesn’t want to see me? What’s the logic of leaving a guest alone here?"

Mrs. Sun hadn’t expected this girl knowing the word "logic" and glanced at her, smirking, saying, "Our mansion also doesn’t have the logic of leaving guests alone. But Miss came as Susu’s plus-one, not directly invited by our mansion."

Without waiting for Yue Baiyou to speak, Mrs. Sung sternly continued, "Other attendants accompanying guests are all treated decently, and nobody has claimed our mansion to be rude."

The "other attendants with guests"? Those are maids and servants. This implies Yue Baiyou overvalued herself!

Yet Mrs. Sun didn’t give her further chance to speak, extending her hand to Susu. "Please, Madam Susu!"

Susu didn’t even glance at Yue Baiyou, saying, "Please forgive any misstep, Mrs. Sun. It’s Miss Yue’s first time as a guest. Should there be any impoliteness, don’t mind her!"

After finishing her words, Susu followed Mrs. Sun out of the flower hall. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

With their back-and-forth exchange, Yue Baiyou was finally frustrated when they left, slamming down her teacup, catching curious eyes from maids and old servant women.

Fen Dai teased, "Miss, have mercy, and refrain from any more improper acts. For us servants to bear punishment is minor; if guests come and see Miss behaving thus, that would be truly troublesome."