Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 83 - 10: Sisters Reunited

Susu arrived at the back garden, amidst a beautiful scene of blooming flowers and chrysanthemums all around, with a few osmanthus trees scattered among them.

The concubine of the Prince Mansion holds the title of Junior Second Rank, while the secondary consort is Junior Fifth Rank, both enjoying annual stipends from the royal family. The concubines like the ones who share rooms don’t even count.

Today is the full month celebration for the young Commandery Princess. Although the concubines might have a chance to share in the joyous occasion, the food at the feast cannot compare to what is served to the maids and mammy servants favored by the masters!

Favored concubines can naturally request dishes and snacks from the kitchen after the feast, while those who are not favored cannot even hope for that kind of treatment from the kitchen, and it’s considered fortunate not to go hungry.

Ruan Shiniang is one of those not favored now. Even the unsatisfactory food at the feast is much better than her usual meals! The Princess Consort does not overtly mistreat them, but the stewards always know how to act accordingly.

Ruan Shiniang had been ill for a few days, and since the doctor advised her to "eat lightly," the kitchen sent only plain porridge and salted vegetables every day, claiming it was "for the young lady’s benefit!"

Ruan Shiniang has never been one to care about appearances over practicality. Since she crossed over to this world, she has felt the deep malice of the vast universe, and her greatest motivation now is just staying alive!

The other concubines glanced at the guests coming and going, picked at a few dishes just to make a show for the Princess Consort, then, feeling embarrassed, returned to their own courtyards. Ruan Shiniang, on the other hand, ate her fill, then had her maid wrap some snacks and meat, such as elbow and roasted chicken, in oil paper before proudly leaving amidst the shocked gazes of everyone!

The maids and mammy servants dining were all the favored ones from the main courtyard and did not know they were dining with a concubine from the Prince Mansion. Someone wondered aloud: "Whose maid is this? Not only is she dressed plainly, but she even leaves taking stuff with her, how unbecoming!"

Susu, also dining there, thought to herself: Truly befitting the heroine, a bold life needs no explanation!

With that thought, Susu put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said to Ying Yue, the maid beside the Old Madam of the Marquis Wenchang Mansion: "Sister, I’m full; I’ll go wash my hands and be back shortly."

Ying Yue nodded, "There are little maids from Prince Ke Mansion outside to serve, you can have them lead the way."

Susu walked out of the courtyard gate, asked around, and soon a little maid led the way. Ruan Shiniang and her servant weren’t walking fast, and they were headed in the same direction, so Susu soon spotted them and called out: "Sister in front, please wait a moment."

The little maid leading the way was stunned and quickly said: "My lady, that is not some sister..."

Before the little maid could explain further, Ruan Shiniang turned around and, seeing Susu, paused, "Are you calling me, young lady?" This person looked somewhat familiar, but with such a good look, how could she forget once seen?

Susu walked up to Ruan Shiniang, carefully observing her. Although her clothing was bright, it wasn’t of the best quality, nor did she wear many ornaments on her head. Yet, she was so beautiful that even in simple attire, she looked exceptional. However, her face seemed a bit pale, as if she had been ill.

Susu didn’t say much, merely took out a light green pocket from her sleeve and said: "This is the pocket you dropped while dining; I meant to tell you, but you left too quickly." With that, she stuffed it into the somewhat baffled Ruan Shiniang’s hands and winked at her.

Just as Ruan Shiniang was about to say "I wear a pocket," seeing Susu’s gesture, she inexplicably swallowed her words and accepted the pocket, saying: "Thank you, young lady! I didn’t really notice."

Susu smiled: "It was no trouble at all. Now that the pocket is returned, I won’t disturb you any further." She then pulled the little maid from the Prince Ke Mansion along, saying, "Hurry up; your mansion is so big, even the washrooms are so far away."

The little maid, two years younger than Susu, a common servant, said: "You sure are bold, calling everyone ’sister’! That is one of our Prince’s concubines; though not favored, she’s of a different status than us. Which mansion are you from? From your demeanor, you must be favored."

Susu laughed: "I serve beside Old Lady Shun’an; our Old Lady is kind-hearted and very good to the servants."

The little maid said enviously: "Ah, from the Song Family, no wonder! Your outfit is only seen on sisters serving the Princess Consort; no one else has such clothes."

The focus returned to Ruan Shiniang.

Ruan Shiniang, holding the pocket, returned to her small courtyard, consisting of only three rooms. According to the rules, as a concubine, she should have two second-grade maids, four third-grade maids, and several rough handlers, but since she wasn’t favored, those with connections had long found ways to transfer to other courtyards. Apart from the two second-grade maids, Hong Fei and Lv Cui, who Ruan Shiniang had taken under her wing, all that was left were a few kittens scrambling about.