Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 58 - 10: Setting Sail

The departure day was set for the sixth day of June, and in the blink of an eye, it had arrived.

A fortnight ago, Nanny Qin had already taken several maids and servants ahead to the Capital to make arrangements. The Old Madam, the young masters and ladies, along with the maids, elderly women, young servants, plus luggage and possessions, had grandly chartered ten large ships. No wonder the Old Madam had transported things to the Capital in two separate shipments beforehand; traveling all together would indeed draw too much attention.

Early this day, the Old Madam, accompanied by two young masters, four ladies, Third Master, and Third Madam, parted reluctantly. Susu, Yang Liu, Ning Cui, and Bisi hugged each other, sobbing uncontrollably, yet were compelled to board the ship.

Until the trumpet signaling the departure sounded, everyone on the ship and on the increasingly distant dock continued waving until they could no longer be seen.

Sixth Miss, who never liked crying since she was small, lay in the Old Madam’s arms with reddened eyes, while Fifth Miss quietly shed tears. Third Madam kindly allowed Fifth Miss’s biological mother, Aunt Gao, to send off her daughter on this journey, though the two exchanged not a word. Despite past grievances with Fifth Miss, Susu always paid extra attention to her.

Through Susu’s insight over the years, she still noticed the ambition and unwillingness that couldn’t be hidden in the eyes of these two, yet there was solely no sadness from parting, which triggered an inexplicable agitation in Susu. The Capital is no Yangzhou; hopefully, Fifth Miss would behave accordingly.

After the ship sailed for a while, Third Miss helped Fifth Miss wipe her tears, and Fourth Miss pulled Sixth Miss from the Old Madam’s embrace and arranged for everyone to freshen up with water.

Fourth Miss teasingly said to Sixth Miss, "Look, you’ve all turned into rabbits, with eyes reddened like those with pinkeye. Third Uncle and Third Aunt will definitely come to the Capital before Eldest Brother’s wedding, so you’ll see them again in less than three months. Even daily, you resent Third Aunt’s nagging, but now you’ve become a clingy child, attached to your mother, isn’t it embarrassing?"

Sixth Miss covered her face with a handkerchief, and upon hearing this, threw it into Fourth Miss’s arms, "For the first time since I’ve grown up, I’m leaving Yangzhou, leaving my father and mother. It’s just unfamiliar, and I’m briefly sentimental. You’re my elder sister and still enjoy exasperating me!"

Upon hearing this justifiable response, the previously worried Old Madam and Susu, along with everyone else, laughed. The Old Madam held her hand, patted it, and said, "Exactly, exactly, it’s just momentary sentimentality, our Sixth Miss isn’t embarrassing!"

While laughing and joking here, Sixth Young Master abandoned his fifth brother and came to the big ship where Grandmother and sisters were. It’s much livelier here!

The ancients said, "Men and women shouldn’t share the same seat after seven years of age." Although Great Chu is not so strict, it’s still inappropriate for women to be in the same room as unrelated men, and Sixth Young Master Song Qingche is now just under seven, being six by Western reckoning. It left Fifth Young Master Song Qingzhen watching helplessly as his brother ordered a small boat to row to the larger ship where women were. Haha, a brother who abandons his brother is not a good brother! How should one guide a naughty brother to love siblings? (Feels like a twisted intrusion, what crept in here?)

Unaware of the impending discipline, Song Qingche cheerfully ran up to the deck of the big ship, dining events couldn’t be any better!

The initial sadness from parting was quickly replaced with novelty and excitement; the girls who had never left Yangzhou or been aboard such a large ship chattered about the scenery outside the window.

Sixth Miss, being restless, soon urged the Old Madam to allow her onto the deck to play.

Seeing others equally tempted, the Old Madam smiled and said, "Let’s do as you wish, and have lunch outside as well!"

Sixth Miss was about to rush out amidst cheers when Susu swiftly pulled her back, helplessly saying, "My dear girl, if the etiquette nanny sees you like this, you can forget about playing. There are not only our family members on this ship, but also numerous crew and guards. Let the elderly women go down to inform them first, so there’s some discretion."

Feeling embarrassed, Sixth Miss glanced at her grandmother and, seeing her stern face, quickly bent to apologize. The Old Madam wasn’t truly angry; amused by her behavior, she playfully tapped her nose and said, "You little troublemaker, we’ll remember this now, but if you’re still this way in the Capital, you’ll face confinement first."

The general-use elderly women went down to the deck to clear the area, leaving several servants guarding the passageways to the deck. Yang Liu, with attendants, arranged things again before inviting the masters to descend.

At this moment, the deck was arranged with low tables and seats, screens and parasols were set up, and the table was laden with melons, fruits, snacks, tea, and fruit juice. When Song Qingche arrived, he saw beautiful people, beautiful scenery, and delicious food, all three delights in one, and couldn’t help but sigh: Indeed, coming to see grandmother and sisters was the best decision.

Song Qingche instructed the maids and attendants who accompanied him to return, saying, "Tell the wet nurse that I’ll be having lunch here with grandmother, so you can all go back."

Among the maids who followed him was the main maid of his courtyard, Qing Tian, who was somewhat unwilling upon hearing this, "If there’s no one left by Young Master’s side, Aunt Yun (the Sixth Young Master’s wet nurse) will scold us again." Song Qingche, slightly impatient, replied, "There’s no need for you to stay and serve at grandmother’s place."

Qing Tian lowered her head and said nothing but was also unwilling to return and face Aunt Yun’s displeasure. The two attendants, both ten years old, knew they wouldn’t be allowed to stay, but were also reluctant to offend the main maid. Another maid, who was of second rank, secretly tugged at Qing Tian’s sleeve, signaling her to look up.

When Qing Tian looked up, she saw someone approaching from a distance. Upon closer inspection, it was Susu, the first-rank maid by the Old Madam’s side. She glanced at her young master and indeed saw him break into a wide grin as the person approached.

Susu walked over and first greeted the Sixth Young Master before saying, "The Old Madam saw the Sixth Young Master from afar. Since you’re here, why not go over?"

The Sixth Young Master grinned and said, "It’s hard to get out. My fifth brother keeps me studying. Dear sister, when we reach grandmother, you must put in a good word for me, so I can have a day to relax."

Susu looked at the little chubby kid, who barely reached her waist, putting on a mature demeanor. The Sixth Young Master was actually just five years old and had already moved to the outer courtyard, spending his days either practicing martial arts or studying, with only one day off a month. Susu felt a pang of sympathy but knew that the Song Family boys were never pampered.

Susu took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty forehead and said, "Once you go to the official school in the Capital, it’s different from home. The Fifth Young Master is doing it for your own good." Hearing this, the little fat child’s face crumpled, but he still nodded in grievance, "I understand. I’ll go back!"

Susu chuckled and couldn’t resist pinching his chubby cheek, smiling, "I’ll let it go for today, but you can’t do this again tomorrow." The Sixth Young Master instantly felt that Sister Susu was like a fairy, and his mood brightened: "Good sister, I promise to study hard tomorrow." Then he waved at the maids and attendants, "You can go back now. With Sister Susu here, there’s no need for your service."

Susu had noticed earlier that they were all awkwardly standing there and understood why when she heard this. She quickly said, "Since you’re here, enjoy some fun with your sisters. Sister Qing Tian is always in the outer courtyard, and we rarely get a chance to meet fondly! Just let the two boys go back to report."

Susu let the Sixth Young Master and the two maids go ahead, leaving the two attendants behind, "You two, wait here!" Then she went into the cabin and brought out a food box. "Take this to the Fifth Young Master, some melons and snacks, a token of affection from the Old Madam and the young ladies. And let your young master know that the Old Madam asked him to stay." After speaking, Susu poured two small silver ingots of about three qian each from her pocket and gave them to the attendants, "Take these to buy some sweets!"

The two attendants cheerfully agreed, took the food box, and boarded a small boat to head back.

The Fifth Miss drank another cup of tea before going back to the cabin to change. When she came out, she saw this scene.

Susu had her hair styled in a simple single spiral bun, adorned with a few small pearl flowers the size of fingernails. At first glance, they seemed ordinary, but the flower centers were set with gemstones the size of green bean grains that gleamed green in the sunlight. Her ears were adorned with bead earrings set with gemstones, and her hands wore matching rings with slender wrists bearing a pair of rich green jade bracelets.

Susu wore a yellow grass cloth top with a slanted front and standing collar, over a pink jacket embroidered with green leaves and white lotus flowers. Below she wore a finely pleated skirt with a jade-white base trimmed in light green, embroidered with pink lotus blossoms rising from water, and pale green embroidered shoes adorned with dragonflies peeking out as she walked.

Even when speaking to lowly attendants, her voice was gentle and considerate, making the Fifth Miss feel uneasy yet secretly relieved: She was just a maid, no matter how fairy-like she appeared, her humble origin couldn’t change.

The maidservant Bisha, serving the Fifth Miss, quietly spat, "Enchantress, just look at her." The Fifth Miss only glanced at her maid but said nothing, as everyone else had already been dismissed, so there was no fear of being overheard.

Just then, Susu turned her head, and the Fifth Miss quickly adjusted her expression, smiling warmly, "Is something missing from the table that you had to make a trip?" Susu also smiled, "The Sixth Young Master just arrived..." The two of them, outwardly affectionate, walked arm in arm toward the deck.