Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 42 - 23: Mid-Autumn Turmoil (Part 1)

Song Qinghe hurriedly knelt down, "Grandmother, please don’t be angry. It is my fault. I will immediately go back and bring my two sisters back. As for Second Uncle, he is an external official and cannot leave his post without the emperor’s summons. As for Second Aunt, please consider Second Sister and Seventh Brother and be lenient!"

The Old Madam, with her worldly experience, realized she had lost her temper. The Shun’an Earl Mansion was currently under scrutiny. Since coming to the Capital, having a concubine and an illegitimate son in the mansion had already made them the subject of ridicule, even causing the Consort Xi embarrassment for quite a while.

The bunch of Imperial Censors had nothing better to do than gossip all day, picking faults in everything. If a divorce were to happen now, neither the eldest nor the second sons could escape the blame for failing to manage the household.

After some thought, the Old Madam said, "You may return after the fifteenth. Also, convey a message to your father: I can’t control Second Sister, but there’s no way Third Sister, a well-raised girl, should become a second wife. Break off Third Sister’s engagement. Bring back your two sisters to me without a single hair missing. As for your Second Aunt, I will write to your Second Uncle personally. If a father can’t even protect his children, he shouldn’t hold office anymore!" Song Qinghe naturally could not refuse.

Susu then presented a list of gifts, saying, "Old Madam, please take a look. Even without mentioning the First and Second Masters, the Consort in the palace and the Little Princess have been very thoughtful. A large cart of items was sent for Dragon Boat Festival, and now for Mid-Autumn Festival, a boatload has come. It’s overwhelming for a servant to see. Among them is a set of soup molds said to be sent by the Eldest Princess to the grandmother. They are only an inch square, a foot long, carved with tiny designs of chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, lotus pods, and water chestnuts—thirty or forty in total, all exquisitely made. Aside from those made inside the palace, just the thoughtfulness from the Consort and Little Princess to think of you while having soup is touching!"

The Old Madam took the gift list. Indeed, the first item on the first page was written in her daughter’s handwriting, which made her smile widely. Nanny Qin was also on the side, praising how considerate the Consort and the Little Princess were. Song Qinghe discreetly wiped his brow and gestured thanks to Susu.

The Old Madam knew that Susu and Nanny Qin were trying to cheer her up, fearing her health might suffer from the anger. Knowing that at her age, stubbornness wasn’t a solution, she decided to let it go for now.

She sent her grandson off to rest, summoned a few senior maids, and said with a smile, "The Consort in the palace is most generous, and the fifteenth is also the Little Princess’s birthday. Today I want you all to share in her joy. The palace rewarded us with many fine materials, which is quite respectable. Susu, each of you four gets two bolts of satin, two bolts of gauze, two pouches, two palace fans, and two strings of red agate prayer beads. The second-class maids get half of what you receive, and the third-class ones receive no fans or beads, and the rough workers get two pouches."

The Old Madam was never stingy in usual times, and this time she was even more generous, making those serving in the room very happy and thankful for the reward.

Though the birthday gifts for the Little Princess had long been sent over, now the Old Madam instructed Susu to find a few items for the Princely Heir to bring to the Little Princess upon his return to the Capital.

Susu thought for a moment and said, "I have kept the items that arrived before May from the trade caravan. There is a set of Russian nesting dolls, very novel with twelve pieces big and small; an exquisite music box; also, in the warehouse is a set of twelve zodiac figurines made from top-grade Mutton Fat Jade, each half a fist in size, with eyes inlaid with various gemstones, vivid and lively. I think the Little Princess will like them. Additionally, a few bolts of newly woven and dyed gauze from the Qiao织 Pavilion came in, peach pink with a pearl-like luster called ’pearl powder.’ Such gauze is perfect for a young girl, and apart from our mansion, it’s not available elsewhere for now, just right to give to the Princess."

The Old Madam nodded in satisfaction and said, "There is nothing that the palace lacks; our gifts are only for novelty and intentions."

Then she laughed and said, "That Manager Dong is quite the schemer!" Seeing Susu somewhat puzzled, she explained, "In this season, gauze fabric won’t be worn for many more days. This new gauze was prepared for next summer. Our family has a princess, who always sends new and interesting things to the palace first. Manager Dong calculated this beforehand, hence sending it to the mansion early. By next year, this gauze would likely be in high demand in the Capital!"

Susu tapped her forehead several times, "I didn’t think of these things. Manager Dong truly deserves to be personally selected by the Old Madam, with such a sharp mind, one can’t help but admire!"

The Old Madam smiled and said, "You’re still young and have much to learn!" Then continued, "Send four bolts of new gauze to the Princess, give two bolts to Fifth Girl and Sixth Girl, and save the remaining for Third Girl and Fourth Girl. I remember there are a few bolts of rosy clouds gauze in the warehouse, with vibrant colors. It would be a pity for them to mold and spoil unused, so take out two bolts for you four to share, they make excellent clothes and curtains!"

Yang Liu chimed in with a smile, "The Old Madam has given out so many good things today, I’m quite worried about not having seven or eight more hands; two hands can’t carry it all!"

Susu laughed and said, "Sister, if you can’t carry them all, I’ll help you with half. I can definitely take it all back!" Yang Liu pinched Susu, "Pff, will they end up in your room or mine? Once they’re in your hands, could I ever get them back?" The two intentionally pretended to be greedy, making the Old Madam laugh non-stop.

Susu was very busy, and after some fun, she returned to the storeroom. The maids and servants in the courtyard had all received the news, knowing that the Old Madam had given out a lot. They looked at Susu as if she were the God of Wealth, with even brighter smiles.

Susu returned to the storeroom with Ning Xiang and Wu Tong, sorted out the rewards for the servants, and instructed the maids and matrons to come and collect them when not on duty. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Susu placed four bolts of pearl powder fabric into a large sandalwood box and set aside various exquisite items, neatly packed them in boxes with the new gauze, and labeled them for the Little Princess. Looking back, she saw the two little maids working tirelessly and sweating, but didn’t complain of fatigue. Susu took two pouches, each containing a silver ingot weighing six qian, and handed them over, saying, "Here, take these and have some fun!"

The two had grown familiar with Susu in these days, accepting with cheerful smiles. Susu couldn’t help but advise them: "You two are well aware of the rewards given to the maids and servants in the courtyard today. You should understand clearly that by serving the Old Madam well and doing your own duties properly, what good things could you not receive? Even the rough workers got two pouches made internally. Not mentioning the gold and silver ingots inside, just the pouches are worth one or two taels of silver, equivalent to your monthly salary for several months?"

The two nodded obediently, "What Sister said is right, we will certainly do our best in our duties!"