Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 40 - 22: Illness (Part 2)

Susu listened to this and quickly said, "Old Madam, I know you care for me, but this is something the household shouldn’t involve itself in. Even if I were to be more foolish, I would know how many families in the Capital went through confiscation, beheadings, and exile back then. I haven’t even met this cousin, so how could I bring even the slightest risk upon our house for him! It’s just that I remember that there is still such a relative in this world. If you care for me, Old Madam, please wait until you free me from my servitude, so I can go and see for myself and put my mind at ease!"

The Old Madam looked at this young girl who understood everything so well with a complicated expression. No wonder people often say, "Deep feelings do not last, and extreme wisdom leads to injury." She lightly patted her hand and said nothing, but felt very comforted in her heart, as she had not doted on her in vain, and this girl had never let her down.

Feeling the atmosphere was a bit heavy, the Old Madam laughed and said, "Rest assured, when the time comes, not only will I free you, but I’ll also prepare a dowry for you and find you a good husband!"

Susu’s face didn’t blush, nor her heart race. Looking at the other three who were snickering, she said, "I’m not in a hurry, it’s these three who are anxious!"

After a bit of laughter and teasing, Susu’s stomach protested again. Ning Cui and Yang Liu helped the Old Madam back to rest. It was almost ten o’clock, and if the Old Madam hadn’t been worried about Susu and insisted on coming to see her herself, she would have gone to bed long ago.

After the Old Madam left, Susu ate a bowl of bird’s nest porridge with a few small pastries to comfort her protesting stomach. She persuaded Bisi to go rest, and only when there was no one left in the room did she finally breathe a sigh of relief and bitterly smiled repeatedly.

From the moment she assumed Su He’s identity, she anticipated that telling one lie would require countless lies to cover it up. Now, putting her brother in the open was indeed a risk, but it wasn’t without benefits. At the very least, it explained her illness, and she would have a reason to go to the Northwest to find him once she was freed.

Now, Susu was grateful that she was just a small maid. When it came to sensitive words like "the Emperor’s ascension" and "confiscation and exile," no matter how much the Old Madam cared for her, she wouldn’t risk the future of the Song Family. And a cousin of a small maid, hinted to be illegitimate, even if he were a descendant of a high-ranking family, now would only be a member of a military household, with no need to waste time investigating.

This illness of Susu’s kept her bedridden for half a month, during which she drank bitter medicinal soup for half a month, seeming as if she had some incurable disease, causing her to dread the sight of the old doctor who came to check her pulse.

The Old Madam was also aware that Susu’s constitution was indeed too weak. Bird’s nest, spirit plants, fish maw, and ginseng were given out as if they were free, asking the small kitchen to make them in various ways for Susu to eat. This made Susu gain a circle of weight in half a month. Until the old doctor declared she was mostly recovered and only needed to be cared for gradually, the medicinal soup stopped, causing Susu to smile at everyone she saw in her happiness, which bewildered many onlookers.

Susu was beautiful, even though she had seen many artificial beauties in her past life, she couldn’t help but narcissistically admire her devastating beauty. However, normally in front of people, Susu rarely showed such a bright smile, usually maintaining a gentle smile and speaking softly like a fairy. But now, in her happiness, she instantly transformed into a sprite!

Fortunately, Susu knew herself well and was only happy for a moment before returning to her serene fairy-like demeanor. The thick bangs she deliberately kept covered three parts of her beauty. Yet, the Old Madam sighed inwardly: so-called beauty consists of having a floral appearance, a bird-like voice, moon-like spirit, jade-like bones, ice and snow-like skin, autumn water-like posture, and a poetic heart. This child, I’m afraid, can’t be hidden even if she tries.

After recovering from her illness, it was already nearing the fifteenth of July, the Ghost Festival. The Song family began preparing to worship the ancestors and served porridge again at each city gate.

Susu and a few others accompanied the Old Madam in copying one hundred volumes of scriptures to be sent to the temple with flourishing incense.

During this period, Susu also promoted two little maids to her side, one being Wu Tong, and the other Ning Cui’s younger sister, Ning Xiang. Although Ning Cui’s parents were still managing the Old Madam’s estate, at the orders of the Old Madam, they and Ning Cui’s brother had been freed from servitude. Otherwise, Ning Xiang wouldn’t have been able to follow Susu.

Ning Xiang, at seven years old and just beginning her duties, had excellent manners, indicating that Aunt Ning had put effort into her training at home. Unlike the clever and adaptive Ning Cui, Ning Xiang was a bit shy, resembling Bisi’s sister in temperament, being gentle and meticulous. She and Wu Tong, following Susu, quickly became friends who shared everything. Though the third-class servant spots were now filled, they remained rough maids, somewhat out of place compared to others.

Yang Liu, who managed these little maids, understood these situations very well and said, "Except for Susu, any of us had worked a year or two in the rough service quotas, which is not without its advantages—it tempers one’s character. Moreover, in the rough service room, eight people sleep in a large communal bed; it’s the most chatty and information-intensive place. Just warn the kids not to be led astray and change their disposition!"

Though they followed Susu, she did not restrict them much; however, an hour a day of literacy and arithmetic was a must, and both knew the preciousness of this opportunity, striving hard to outdo one another.

Due to Ning Cui’s connection, Ning Xiang was naturally more familiar with Susu. "My mom said that the calligraphy of the sisters in the courtyard was all taught by Sister Susu, whose scholarship even surpasses many gentlemen at the town’s school!"

This made the little maid Wu Tong admire Susu even more. Their village also had a school, with an old scholar as the teacher, but reading and literacy had nothing to do with girls. Wu Tong never expected that after being sold by her stepmother, she would be able to read and write. At this moment, Wu Tong even felt somewhat grateful to her stepmother.

Hearing these childish words, Susu laughed and said, "I dare not compare with the gentlemen. However, for teaching you, it’s sufficient. Following me, reading and writing are secondary; the most important thing is loyalty. The Old Madam is kind-hearted, and serving her well will bring benefits in the future."