Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 74 - 4: The Little Performers

Susu arrived at the back garden. The stage was behind the garden, and the girls were strolling in groups, admiring the flowers in the garden. Among them, a few rose bushes were high-priced horticultural plants, cultivated through grafting, rooting, pruning, and other horticultural techniques. They were truly rare!

After Susu greeted the girls, she went to the stage behind the garden, leaving a group of young girls buzzing with gossip.

Except for the Second Miss, who was already betrothed, the oldest among them was only fourteen years old. In modern times, they would still be considered as minors who hadn’t even finished elementary or middle school. On the surface, they appeared graceful, poised, and charming, but privately, they competed over family background, looks, and talents, creating subtle class divisions!

Didn’t you see how the two girls from the Sun Family were somewhat isolated? If it weren’t for the girls from the Song Family and the Wenchang Marquis Mansion occasionally chatting with them, the atmosphere would have turned cold long ago.

Even the Fifth Miss, who loved to play the part of the Holy Mother White Lotus, didn’t pay much attention to that cousin of similar ilk, showing that women are prone to repel like charges under certain circumstances!

The girl from the Song Family was well-born, good-looking, and not lacking in talent. Now, even a maid overshadowed them in appearance, leaving some girls with a less generous nature feeling a bit frustrated!

Miss Zhao Nine was about the same age as Sixth Miss and was the most favored at home by the Old Madam Wenchang Marquis. She was the full sister of the Heir’s wife, who was about to marry into the Shun’an Earl Mansion. Due to a congenial temperament, she quickly became good friends with Sixth Miss upon meeting.

At this moment, she held Sixth Miss’s hand and said, "What was the name of that sister just now, and what is her background? She’s really quite beautiful!"

Everyone present, being astute, fell silent upon hearing this.

Sixth Miss blinked and said, "That’s my grandmother’s chief maid, Sister Susu. She’s most favored by my grandmother and came to our house when she was seven. It’s said she was originally the daughter of a scholar’s family. She’s not only literate and pretty but also has a good temper and is very considerate!"

Miss Zhao Nine was about to ask more when Fourth Miss laughed and said, "Zhao Jiu, don’t be like our Sixth Sister, who gets so caught up with beauties that she forgets to eat. Once grandmother is not busy, I’ll bring Susu for you to have a good look. But for now, let’s go enjoy the lotus and have tea! If we send you girls home hungry, we really won’t be able to show our faces."

The crowd laughed at her words, and Fourth Miss from the Zhao Family also laughed, "Whatever delicious food and drink you have, bring it over quickly. If you send us home hungry, we’ll lodge a complaint with Old Madam Song!"

The girls chatted and laughed as they came to the scenic waterside pavilion by the small lake.

Meanwhile, Susu also arrived at the stage behind the garden. Nanny Qin was overseeing the final preparations of the dining utensils, which included a chair and a square table for each person, with a tall stand in the middle holding tea cups, fresh fruits, dried fruits, and preserves.

Seeing Susu arrive, Nanny Qin wiped her sweat with a handkerchief and said, "I’m really getting old, my memory isn’t as good as before!"

Susu laughed and said, "An old person at home is like a treasure, Nanny, please rest a bit, don’t tire our treasure out!"

Nanny Qin laughed and pinched her cheek, "Oh, you mischievous one! Are Old Madam and the guests on their way over?"

Susu nodded, and Nanny Qin said hastily, "Go check on the stage to make sure they’re ready. When the ladies arrive, there must be no mistakes."

Susu said, "Those young performers have been with us for over half a year now. They’ve sung at the banquets hosted by the masters at the front and have been praised."

Susu went over to the stage, where the junior maids and serving women stopped their work to greet her, "The young lady is here!" Susu gestured for them to continue their work. Hearing the noise, a group of performers came out, led by a woman in her thirties. Although she wasn’t particularly striking, she was captivating on stage in her green robe performance, earning the nickname "Green Robe Lady". She no longer performed, having been hired by the elder master at a high price to teach the young performers due to her age. Her surname was Jin, hence the nickname "Aunt Jin".

Susu had only known her for a few days, initially tasked by Old Madam to prepare some gifts for Aunt Jin and the young performers.

"Why has Miss Susu come over?" Susu scanned the girls behind Aunt Jin and only smiled when she saw Fang Guan. "Old Madam and the guests are arriving soon. I’m here to check. Aunt Jin, are you all prepared?"

Aunt Jin quickly replied, "Yes, we’re ready and waiting for the esteemed guests to request a performance!"

As they were speaking, Yang Liu entered, holding a list of performance requests, and said to Aunt Jin and Susu, "These are the shows the ladies requested. Once the guests are seated, we can begin. The first performance is ’Peony Pavilion’ requested by Old Madam, followed by ’She Taijun’s Selection of Generals’ requested by the Old Madam of the Wenchang Marquis Mansion. Please be careful."

Aunt Jin took the list and smiled, "Don’t worry, Miss. Let the Old Madam know. It’s busy now, so I won’t keep you. I’ll treat you to tea another day!" Susu and Yang Liu smiled and agreed before leaving.

Underneath the stage, a striking thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl waited for them to leave before snorting, "Mei Xiang’s sworn sisters act like masters themselves! Master, you’re not even a bonded servant, why be so polite to them?"

Aunt Jin gave her a look and coldly sneered, "I think I’ve been too kind to you all, so much that you don’t know your place! Even within servants, there are distinctions. She’s a chief maid favored by Old Madam, almost like a vice-lady, who can marry into a good family in the future and leave the register. You’re low-status performers and cannot compare!"

She continued, "Don’t be upset with me for saying this. Instead of being jealous, you’d better hone your skills. Perform well to entertain the masters, and maybe they’ll remove your slave register, saving you from being matched with another servant and stopping your children from following in your footsteps!"

Aunt Jin’s words turned the thoughts of the girls upside down, especially He Guan’er, who initially spoke. She was beautiful, sweet-tongued, had a great voice, and was often favored by Aunt Jin, who had no children herself, inevitably leading to vanity. With underlying ambitions, upon seeing the wealth of the Song Family, she grew even more envious!

Susu and Yang Liu were unaware of the commotion on the stage. After leaving, Yang Liu said to Susu, "These girls are really pitiful! I heard from my father that among them are official slaves, daughters of disgraced officials from the emperor’s ascension purge, who were once noble girls, and now have fallen into a life of servitude."

Susu was startled and asked, "Who are the official slaves, and what’s their background? I noticed some with exceptional elegance and wondered why they’re performers!"

"I’m not sure. I’ll ask my father someday. Fang Guan’er resembles you by three or four parts. If she’s trustworthy, we can look after her more." Yang Liu then slapped her forehead, "Look at my brain, I almost forgot the important task. Just now, Fourth Miss sent someone to say they have the delicious food, scenic view, and fine wine, but they’re just missing a beauty. Old Madam agreed to let you go over, instructing you to be bold and not tarnish her reputation, while also supervising the other girls."

Susu sighed, and Yang Liu looked at her sympathetically, thinking that being too beautiful is sometimes more of a curse than a blessing!