Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 45 - 25: Hong Sheng Pays a Visit

In ancient times, the number of festivals throughout the year was not small. Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, there was still the Double Ninth Festival in September. Everywhere in the streets were osmanthus and chrysanthemums. Baskets of crabs from Poyang Lake were being sent to the mansion. Even before the festival, Susu and the others had eaten so many crabs that they felt dizzy just looking at them, which brought quite some laughter from the Old Madam.

However, the chrysanthemum cakes and osmanthus dew improved by Susu were very much appreciated by everyone. There was also a mung bean dessert scented with chrysanthemum leaves and osmanthus stamens, modeled after Dream of the Red Chamber, which drew admiration from everyone in the Song Family, master and servant alike, saying, "Truly magnificent!"

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Susu wore an off-white jacket embroidered with chrysanthemums in gold thread, with a pleated skirt of violet embroidered with entwined osmanthus. Her hair was styled in a simple chignon, adorned with a pair of delicate red gold chrysanthemum hairpins. Her ears, shaped like ingots, had small red jade crab earrings, and on her wrist was a matching red jade bracelet. On her left hand’s middle finger, she wore a chrysanthemum-pattern ring of red gold inlaid with crushed rubies, exuding the elegance of a noble lady.

Early in the morning, the Third Master’s family came to pay their respects. After a brief conversation, the Third Master took the Fifth Young Master and Sixth Young Master to the outer courtyard, leaving the ladies behind to chat and mingle.

The Third Madam looked around at this room full of girls as fresh as flowers. Susu wasn’t the most extravagantly dressed among them, but she was undoubtedly the most dazzling. When she didn’t smile, she was like a gardenia blooming quietly under the moonlight. But with just a light smile, it felt as if all flowers were in full bloom, vividly splendid. Her beauty was one thing, but what was truly admirable was her good character; her knowledge, grace, and gentle demeanor made others unable to feel jealousy. No wonder her aunt truly adored her, raising her like her own daughter.

Susu was speaking with the Sixth Miss when she felt a gaze resting on her. She looked up and saw it was the Third Madam, at which she smiled.

Yang Liu was sitting by the side peeling pine nuts. Upon looking up inadvertently and seeing the scene, she burst into laughter, drawing attention from everybody. Covering her mouth, she said, "I always wondered who the Sixth Miss got her love for beauty from? Turns out the root is right here. Our Third Madam can’t stop staring at Susu!"

The Third Madam was quite embarrassed, saying, "Oh, you little rascal, making fun of the masters. But who can blame you? Susu is truly so lovely that one can hardly look enough!"

Susu wasn’t shy at all upon hearing this and, instead, boldly walked over to the Old Madam, facing the Third Madam, and said earnestly, "Third Madam, please feel free to stare, I can’t help being so good-looking!"

The flower hall suddenly fell silent, then everyone burst into laughter, forgetting all decorum.

The Sixth Miss rolled straight into the Old Madam’s arms, who laughed and hugged her while patting her back gently. The Fifth Miss, who was drinking tea, sprayed a mouthful onto her maid. Yang Liu dropped the small gold hammer she was using to crack pine nuts onto her foot, exclaiming "Ouch!" as she held her foot. Ning Cui and Bisi laughed so hard they kept saying, "Our stomachs hurt."

The Third Madam was left speechless by Susu’s audacity, pointing at her without words, seeing Susu’s mischievous expression, and finally said after a long time, "I admit, I’m impressed!"

Amidst the laughter, a maid from the outer courtyard came in to deliver a message: "Mr. Hong Sheng from Hongshan Village has come to deliver New Year’s gifts. The Third Master has invited him over, and they are talking now. Mr. Sheng said he would come to pay respects to the Old Madam if it’s convenient."

The Old Madam replied, "There’s no need for Brother Sheng to feel so formal, invite him in when he arrives."

Hong Sheng wasn’t someone who didn’t understand matters. Even though he wasn’t after the wealth of the Song family, he understood the importance of social exchanges. Every year, he would reciprocate the Song family’s gifts appropriately. Being the Old Madam’s savior, he had met the three masters several times, especially the Third Master, who admired Hong Sheng greatly and wanted him to help with the family’s business. However, Hong Sheng kindly declined.

Hong Sheng joined the most famous Yangwei Escort Agency in Yangzhou at the age of fifteen. Now, after less than two years, he was already a renowned chief escort master. The Third Master never raised the matter again. While others might not know the background of the Yangwei Escort Agency, the Song family, as a local force, certainly knew the master behind it.

Prince Ke, the fourth son of the current emperor. In recent years, several grown-up princes have been bestowed titles, yet the emperor hasn’t appointed a Crown Prince. The winner hasn’t emerged yet. Although Consort Xi only bore a princess, she enjoyed much favor, and certainly, the Song family caught the eyes of several princes, becoming an object of secret alliances.

The Song family, if it wanted to advance further, could only do so by supporting the successful dragon once again. And Consort Xi and Shun’an Earl favored Prince Ke as the candidate. Hong Sheng was talented, and like gold, he would naturally shine. Prince Ke couldn’t possibly fail to notice him.