Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 78 - 8: Letter from Hong Sheng (Part 2)

Upon hearing the Old Madam’s words, Mrs. Wei also smiled slightly, "Exactly! Mr. Hong was already both intelligent and brave. Moreover, he was recommended by our Prince. Going to the Northwest and becoming a Hundred Households with repeated merits, rising to the Fifth Rank is not so surprising."

The Old Madam chuckled, "Our family also has a caravan going to the Northwest, yet it’s not good to have too much interaction with the army. Originally, I didn’t know how long it would take to hear from Brother Sheng, but thanks to the Prince, I am not worried about the ceremonial gifts; his intention is what matters. It’s best to save good items for getting a wife soon!"

After the matters were settled, the two senior maids were about to take their leave. The Old Madam quickly gave Susu a look, and Susu had already brought out two large red Shu brocade pockets with gold silk embroidered with auspicious patterns from the inner room. Inside were four golden jujubes, each weighing eight coins. The Old Madam smiled, "It’s troublesome for you two to make a trip, I know you don’t lack this, take it for a cup of tea!"

At the status of these two senior maids, they indeed didn’t lack such worldly items, so they accepted them with grace. They took a good look at Susu, praised her, and then took their leave.

After the senior maids left, a couple of stout servant women brought in two large elm chests, which were the ceremonial gifts sent by Hong Sheng, along with some fabrics and pastries prepared by the Prince and Princess Consort.

Except for the Old Madam and Susu, the others were unaware of Hong Sheng’s connection with Prince Ke, and they were quite surprised.

Yang Liu marveled, "Hong Sheng seems so inconspicuous, who would have thought he was under Prince Ke." Ning Cui laughed, "Our Old Madam has always had an eye for people! Over the years, treating him like her own nephew, with sincerity in return, Hong Sheng did not forget about our household after going to the Northwest."

The Old Madam sighed, "He not only saved me and Susu, but his character is also good, naturally deserving of extra care. Who knew he’d have such fortune! There are many specialties in the Northwest, I forgot to ask which part Brother Sheng went to, Susu, open the chest and see what Brother Sheng sent, and we’ll distribute some to the family later."

Susu opened the chests, two half-human high elm chests, one filled with local specialties and foods, the other surprisingly filled with various sizes of jade stones, estimated to have four to five hundred catties. These were not raw stones but pure jade that had been cut out. With just a glance, Susu recognized there was Nephrite Jade, Purple Jade, Dongling Jade, Turquoise, Agate, Hibiscus Stone, Jasper, etc. Although not polished, the colors were vivid and beautiful!

Even the experienced Old Madam was astonished, "These ceremonial gifts are too overwhelming." These jade stones might not be highly valued in Xinjiang, but in the Capital, they would be worth tens of thousands of silver with just a flip!

Inside the jade chest were three small boxes, each bearing a label in bold, majestic calligraphy, which Susu silently praised upon seeing. One contained a letter, another was full of exquisitely carved small jade accessories, thirty or forty pieces in total, with extraordinary materials, even the simplest jade pendant would be worth dozens of silver in the Capital. The other box contained an entire Mutton Fat Jade headpiece set.

Which woman doesn’t love jewelry? A few maids didn’t have much feeling towards the jade stones worth tens of thousands of silver, but they kept looking and praising those two boxes of jewelry!

The Old Madam felt that Hong Sheng was not the kind of person who would be arrogant in success. This ceremonial gift was unusually lavish, the chest of local specialties would be more appropriate as a ceremonial gift!

Old Madam Song took the letter, broke the seal, and read it carefully, her expression indescribably strange, a mix of joy and anger, yet not exactly anger. She glanced at Susu interacting like a child with the chest of specialties, and the Old Madam sighed inwardly, truly heroes cannot overcome the hurdle of beauties.

In the letter, Hong Sheng first offered his regards to the Old Madam, then mentioned hearing of the Princely Heir’s upcoming wedding. Although he couldn’t return, he sent a headpiece set as a wedding gift. The Old Madam glanced briefly at the headpiece, made of top-grade Mutton Fat Jade, including 18 pieces such as rings, bracelets, and earrings. The craftsmanship, filigree, and gemstone inlay were all excellent. Such a set, in the famous jewelry store of the Capital, —— Treasure Pavilion, would cost at least ten thousand silver, truly a generous gift.

But what Hong Sheng wrote next left the Old Madam not knowing what to say.

This young man, Hong Sheng, actually proposed to Old Madam Song to marry Susu in the letter. He admitted it was inappropriate but explained he had grown up without parents, regarded the Old Madam as his own grandmother, and now that he had gained some standing, he dared to profess this!

He knew Susu was to stay by the Old Madam’s side for another five years, so he’d wait for her for five years.