Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 54 - 6: Growth (Part 2)

Ning Cui feared she would overthink things and bring unnecessary gloom, so she hurriedly placed the food box on the outer room table, saying, "You don’t need the little maids to serve you; Old Madam and the three of us can’t be at ease. Ning Xiang was supposed to bring you food, but there’s the soup and medicine she shouldn’t deliver. She’s too young and might reveal something. Old Madam has someone else make a blood swallow and red date porridge for you. Drink it while it’s hot!"

Susu got out of bed. There were eight dishes and two soups on the table; it seemed Ning Cui had brought her own portion of food over.

Since childhood, Susu, Ning Cui, Yang Liu, and Bisi lived together and ate together without the rule of ’no talking during meals.’ Ning Cui handed a bowl of blood swallow and red date porridge to Susu, filled a bowl of ham and bamboo shoot soup for herself, took a sip, and remarked, "Ever since becoming the maid, I haven’t had a meal at mealtime. Today, I’m benefiting from your light."

Susu glared at her, lamenting, "I don’t want you to always have such benefits." Her pout amused Ning Cui so much that she almost spilled her soup, then she sighed, "One day, I’ll ask Old Madam for permission for just the four of us to have a meal together at a tavern. Days like these are getting fewer."

Susu, finding her words odd, asked, "Is something happening that I don’t know?" Ning Cui answered solemnly, "We’ve received a letter from the Capital. Eldest Young Master’s marriage rites, including the proposal, name inquiry, and betrothal gifts, have passed. First Master wrote that the family needs to prepare dowries for Wenchang Marquis Mansion and Eldest Young Master has his exams to prepare for. After that, there are the wedding and the dowries for Second Miss, lots of matters that require Old Madam to go to the Capital early. By the calculations, she’ll be there by September at the latest."

Ning Cui took a breath and continued, "First Master also said Second Young Master, Third Young Master, and Fourth Young Master aren’t young anymore. Third Miss and Fourth Miss are the same; their weddings require Old Madam’s attention. Implicitly, he’s urging Old Madam to move to the Capital and not return to Yangzhou. I think Old Madam seems inclined. If she truly plans to settle in the Capital, you and Yang Liu will certainly follow her. Although my parents and brother are no longer officially bonded, they still manage the old woman’s estate. I, along with my sister, would also have to follow Old Madam to the Capital. But since Bisi’s family is serving Third Master, Third Master and Third Madam will stay in Yangzhou. It would be cruel for Bisi to be separated from her family, and Old Madam surely wouldn’t want that. Alternatively, if Old Madam decides against moving to the Capital, the one separating from us would be Yang Liu, diminishing the days the four of us can spend together!"

Susu thought for a moment and spoke in a deep voice, "I suspect Old Madam will certainly move to the Capital." Ning Cui quickly asked, "Why do you say this?"

Susu explained slowly, "Firstly, Old Madam will have to go to the Capital eventually, whether it’s this year or later years. Third Master holds neither the position nor the title; there’s no reason for a younger son’s family to serve the legitimate mother if the legitimate eldest brother is still alive. That would be disrespectful to First Master and Second Master."

"Secondly, Old Madam stayed in Yangzhou initially because she feared both First Master and Second Master would leave, and Third Master couldn’t handle things. Yangzhou is the Song Family’s foundation and cannot afford any mishaps. But now, Third Master is capable, and last year, the maternal family’s status rose to imperial merchants, with mutual assistance between the two families in Yangzhou. There’s also help from second and third aunts, so Old Madam’s influence isn’t needed as much, making the Capital where she is more urgently required."

Ning Cui listened intently, looking at Susu, "Is there a third reason?"

Susu smiled, "The next point is about First Madam and Second Madam. They’re of no help in the family’s social engagements, and might even be a hindrance. Even though Eldest Young Madam will enter the family, she is a noble lady from Wenchang Marquis Mansion, and her rank is below an elder’s. She appears too young, and young people are often seen as ineffective. So, given this, wouldn’t Old Madam need to move to the Capital?"

Ning Cui looked at her with an expression of seeing a ’monster’ but said something completely unrelated, "How come I never noticed you are so good at reasoning?" And then, she slammed the table, "No wonder Mr. Zhao said you worry too much. What are you thinking about all day? You’re both beautiful and intelligent. How can anyone compete?"

Susu chuckled, casually saying, "It doesn’t take much intelligence; anyone who reads a bit knows how to analyze and summarize." Ning Cui, unable to find words, wore an ’ignorance is scary’ expression, saying such emotionally hurtful things, truly sounding arrogant.

Meanwhile, at Old Madam’s place, a similar topic was being discussed, although the audience was Third Master and Third Madam. Let’s return to half an hour earlier.

For secrecy, Susu’s medicine was directly decocted by the household doctor and handed to Ning Cui, bypassing any third-party involvement. The dregs were discreetly disposed of by the doctor’s assistant.

No one anticipated a maid, driven by curiosity or another motive, would hide upon seeing Nanny Qin, then emerging after she left, coincidentally discovering the assistant burying the medicine dregs beneath a flowering tree.

This maid had quite a mind; she waited until the assistant buried the dregs before digging some out and wrapped them in a handkerchief, sneaking back to Yayun Pavilion to Rouyi Hall. This maid was none other than Bisha, the main maid beside Fifth Miss.

Fifth Miss had a light cough and sent her for some herbal cough syrup from the household doctor, unexpectedly stumbling upon such an odd matter. Susu and Nanny Qin wouldn’t have imagined, something seemingly straightforward would later stir waves.

Susu’s first ’visit’ from her ’relative’ lasted only three days, after which she regained her vitality and felt much brighter. Old Madam saw Susu’s rosy complexion, no longer pale, and was quite pleased, teasing, "Our Susu is a grown young lady now." In her heart, she fretted over Susu’s health.

Susu’s cold condition was serious, but discovered in time and promptly attended to. Thus, privately she gave strict advice to ’be cautious and take your medicine’ and other instructions, which Susu tearfully agreed to.

The other young ladies were delighted at Susu’s recovery from her ’illness.’ Sixth Miss clung to Susu, claiming, "One day without seeing you feels like three autumns apart," causing Third Madam to lose her usual composed demeanor. Her sons weren’t rebellious, but her daughter was so unruly.

Third Madam glanced at Susu again, feeling fortunate that Susu was well-mannered. She never approached the men who visited Old Madam, or else who could resist such beauty? Observing closely, Susu seemed even more beautiful after just a few days. Previously, Susu was a budding flower; now she seemed ready to bloom.

Sui’an Hall bustled with laughter and noise, as always, none noticing Fifth Miss’s peculiar gaze at Susu and fleeting sly smile. All happened in a blink; Fifth Miss remained poised, sitting quietly among her sisters, pleasantly watching Sixth Miss’s antics, from entrance to exit, unchanged.