Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 86 - 12: Apology Gifts

When the room was left with only Fourth Miss, the Old Madam finally put away her smile and pulled Fourth Miss to sit beside her.

"Though you’re not as meticulous as your Third Sister, you have the best perspective. What do you say about today’s events?"

Fourth Miss smiled, showing a mocking expression on her face, "That Miss Qian is a fool, being used by others. The young ladies from Princess Ke’s family are not to be trifled with. As for Nanny Chen, in my opinion, she acted on her own. Princess Ke, apart from not having a legitimate son, is known for her generosity and grace. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to ruin her reputation at her own daughter’s one-month celebration!"

Hearing this, the Old Madam finally smiled and reassuringly patted Fourth Miss’s hand, "It’s good that you all didn’t make a scene today. A girl’s reputation is the most important, though it’s been a grievance for you. But Prince Ke will surely give our family an explanation!"

Fourth Miss lowered her head in silence, only speaking after a long pause, "Grandmother, I understand!"

The Old Madam also felt heartache but had no choice. The Song Family was just a fat sheep in the eyes of the princes. To avoid being devoured to the bones, they had to choose the strongest wolf and make it the head wolf. And Prince Ke was chosen by the Song Family, with large sums of money annually as tribute, and marriage as a bond to strengthen the relationship.

After Fourth Miss also left Sui’an Hall, only the Old Madam and her servants were left in the room. The Old Madam sighed. Nanny Qin hurried over to comfort her, "Our young ladies are all intelligent and clever. I just asked the governesses serving the young ladies, and they all behaved very well today."

The Old Madam said, "Where am I blaming them! I am worried about the second girl. With a few bewildered sisters-in-law, if it weren’t for the fact that the Changle Earl Mansion has no illegitimate children and its offspring, though not very capable, are not of bad character, I would never have agreed to this marriage! That Madam from Changle Earl Mansion seems aloof as a celestial being at the surface, but after several interactions, she’s a calculating one. When it comes to wit, our Second Madam can’t compare to her, yet they consider each other confidants? Such ignorance! Anyway, when the eldest returns, let him come to Sui’an Hall for dinner."

Ning Cui stepped forward to gently massage the Old Madam’s forehead and said, "Old Madam, rest for a while. It’s been enough for today. Let Yang Liu and Susu change their clothes and catch their breath; it was supposed to be a visit, but it feels like they escaped from a disaster."

The Old Madam said with heartache, "Indeed! They are exhausted today. Prince Ke Mansion is much bigger than ours. The distance they walked today is probably more than they walk in a month usually at home, and they stood in the sun for half a day." She waved at Yang Liu and Susu, "You two go rest, you can come back for dinner."

Yang Liu laughed, "Today we followed the Old Madam and really saw the world. Ning Cui is envious! Next time, bring her along for such good things; let her see the world too."

Ning Cui spat, and only then did Susu and Yang Liu leave with smiles.

Back in her room, Susu finally let out a sigh of relief, exhausted both in body and mind, but thinking of having met Ruan Qiniang and Ruan Shiniang made it worth it!

A maid, instructed by Ning Cui, had already prepared water. Susu washed her hands and face, changed into more casual clothes, untied her bun and casually put it up, inserting two gold-inlaid Ruyi Cloud Pattern Long Hairpins; instead of resting, she went to the storeroom.

Ning Xiang and Wu Tong were going through the accounts and practicing calligraphy. Seeing this, Susu smiled with satisfaction, knowing that ambition is a good thing!

The two greeted Susu and then playfully pulled her to sit down, "Sister, why don’t you rest?"

Looking at the two girls she had trained herself, Susu said, "Aren’t I afraid you’d slack off? Just a surprise check."

Ning Xiang poured tea for Susu and laughed, "Is Sister satisfied with the inspection result?" Susu picked up the calligraphy book Wu Tong was practicing and smiled, "Very satisfied!"

Then Susu became serious, "Though you are maids, you two are different from the others. To speak grandly, we manage the Old Madam’s household assets! Since this responsibility is ours, we must do even better, learn even more, and be more loyal to the Old Madam to secure our position. Over the past year, you’ve seen a bit of the world with me. In the past, in Yangzhou, it was all right, but now that we’re all living together, there’s unavoidable scheming and gossip. You both mustn’t learn from those shallow-minded ones."

Ning Xiang and Wu Tong both nodded hurriedly, with Wu Tong softly saying, "Sister, don’t worry. This year hasn’t been for nothing for us. Did you hear any gossip, Sister?"

Susu rubbed her forehead, "Do I hear little gossip? How can I manage to care about everything? It’s not because of that; it’s just a lament. Capable people, even if they poke a hole in the sky, have nothing to fear; they naturally can handle themselves. For those with no ability, it’s better to live straightforwardly."

Some people with no ability still try to reach for things above their means, harming others and themselves! But Susu did not vocalize this last thought.

By dinner time, the Master had received the news, changed into casual clothes, and came to Sui’an Hall to eat with the Old Madam.

Though in the inner courtyard, the Master might be careless, but he has always been filial to the Old Madam. After the meal, hearing about what happened at Prince Ke Mansion today, his face changed a bit. Putting aside Changle Earl Mansion, today’s affairs, whether Prince Ke or Princess Ke knew about them or not, were still somewhat disrespectful to the Song Family.

The Song Family had aligned with Prince Ke, but it was a mutually beneficial matter, not a one-sided pursuit.

The Master first comforted the Old Madam, saying, "Mother, I guess it wasn’t Princess Ke intentionally showing us disrespect; let’s see how things unfold first. But regarding Changle Earl Mansion, tomorrow I’ll have a meal with Changle Earl and discuss it. It’s not like our family is desperate to form this union with them. If not handled properly, we’d be looked down upon. At worst, we annul the engagement for the second girl; it’s not the first time, and I’m not afraid of being laughed at. What’s wrong with being of merchant background? They agreed to this match because they wanted our daughter’s large dowry!"

The more the Master spoke, the more agitated he became, thinking about the gossip he had heard before his mother arrived, wanting to drown the gossipmongers with money.

This time, it was the Old Madam’s turn to comfort her son, "Let people say what they want; we need not concern ourselves. Living well is the best rebuttal to them. When you meet Changle Earl tomorrow, ensure your demeanor reflects that of the senior-in-law. Discuss the children’s upbringing issues. What about ’Yangzhou thin horse’? That’s not language fit for noble ladies! And the reputation of a young lady is too important; behaving like a shrew, which family would dare come forward to propose? Our family may be merchants, but we don’t steal or rob. We still know about propriety and shame!" It’s true, wisdom comes with age!

Let’s not talk,

The Song family, mother and son, were plotting over matters. Over at Prince Ke Mansion, once the guests had left, someone reported the highlights and troubles of the day separately to Prince Ke and Princess Ke. Princess Ke listened to the occurrences with the young ladies, wearing a serious expression as she looked at her wet nurse, "Nanny, you acted recklessly!"

Meanwhile, Prince Ke also came over shortly, dismissing the servants. What the husband and wife discussed remained unknown to outsiders, but the outcomes were evident!

Nanny Wei, who had visited Shun’an Earl Mansion that day, came again, bringing two large chests filled with fabrics, jewelry, and food, claiming that the princess adored the young ladies and specially prepared some gifts for them, encouraging frequent interactions going forward.

The Song family, seeing this gesture from Prince Ke Mansion, took the opportunity to make peace, sending back a variety of fruits from their estates, thus smoothing over the storm on the surface.