Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 93 - 19: Consort Xi

Susu only saw a beautiful young lady dressed in apricot yellow leading a little girl in a big red jacket and skirt out of the sedan chair. Without taking a closer look, she quickly lowered her head.

Seeing her own mother, Song Yunning’s eyes turned red as she tried hard to hold back her tears. Seeing that she was about to salute, she quickly let go of her daughter’s hand, walked a few steps quickly, and supported her mother: "On such a joyous day, Mother, you’re doing this on purpose to make me cry! Now that we’re home, please let me relax a bit."

After speaking, Consort Xi hurriedly supported Old Mrs. Li, who was about to salute, and laughed: "Auntie, it’s been almost twenty years, and you haven’t changed a bit!" Old Mrs. Li laughed and said: "Our Ning girl is now a mother herself; how could I have not changed? I’ve gotten old! This must be our Princess Anning!"

Only then did Consort Xi turn around and say, "Qiwu, come over and greet your grandmother and grand-aunt!" Li Qiwu, who was exchanging glances with Susu, then came back to his senses, thinking, "Such a beauty in Grandmother’s family," and prepared to greet the two elderly ladies. They quickly stopped him; after all, even for a legitimate granddaughter, how could they dare let a princess salute them.

Yang Liu saw this scene and laughed: "Old Madam, it’s best to quickly invite Lady and the Princess inside!"

Once inside, Susu and Yang Liu formally kneeled and saluted Consort Xi. Consort Xi accepted the salute and said, "Please rise, Yang Liu I’ve seen a few days ago, and I didn’t expect Housekeeper Qiao’s granddaughter to have grown so much. This must be Susu; I thought all the beauties under heaven were in the palace, but who would have thought our family had one hidden away. No wonder mother you wouldn’t let her enter the palace, always thinking about her! Having seen her today, she truly is remarkable. I came out in a hurry today and didn’t bring anything; I’ll reward you next time."

Susu quickly said, "It is the Old Madam’s kindness; I don’t deserve Lady’s reward."

Old Madam laughed and said, "Why is everyone so polite today? Neglecting our little princess would not do!"

Even though Princess Anning was young, she was very intelligent. Although she hadn’t seen the old lady many times, she knew she was her legitimate grandmother, who sent her various fun and beautiful things from Yangzhou every year, so she was naturally very close. Hearing this, she replied sweetly, "Seeing Grandmother and Grand-aunt makes me too happy to feel neglected." Her lovely manner won everyone’s hearts.

Old Madam quickly had Susu bring out many newly made candies and snacks, and Yang Liu served tea to Consort Xi, so pleased when they had another bite.

Seeing her mother so at ease compared to the palace, Consort Xi felt her visit had been the right choice!

Consort Xi chatted about home affairs with her mother and aunt, remembering the deceased Old Master Song and Old Mr. Li, she couldn’t help but shed tears!

Seeing her mother cry, Princess Anning quickly snuggled into her arms, "Mother, don’t cry. Where does it hurt? Qiwu will blow on it for you." The child’s words made everyone laugh.

Susu also said, "It’s rare for Lady to visit home, please don’t be sad, be careful about your red eyes worrying the Emperor and Princess." She then personally fetched water and, together with Yang Liu, helped the three ladies refresh and change their attire.

Only then did Susu closely observe Consort Xi, who truly was naturally blessed. In theory, Consort Xi should be about the same age as the First Madam, but today, she appeared without a single wrinkle, looking no more than twenty. No wonder she had enjoyed imperial favor for nearly twenty years and was able to conceive at her age in the thirties.

Judging by words from Old Madam and the Elder Master, Consort Xi was said to be someone with a great heart and wisdom. Susu originally thought she must be a bright, straightforward beauty like Fourth Miss, but upon seeing her today, she found her to be innocently charming. Her large almond-shaped eyes were misty, making one instinctively want to care for her. This truly was a master among masters!

After washing her face, Xi Fei casually applied some rouge and powder from the pouch she carried with her, instantly appearing more mature and noble than when she was bare-faced, which filled Susu with envy, for tomboys who don’t know makeup have it tough!

Seeing Susu staring blankly at her, Consort Xi knew she was a simpleton and laughed, "If you like it, I’ll give this to you!" Then she untied the pouch she carried with her.

In the palace, obtaining something personally used by the master was a huge honor, so Susu smiled and thanked her for the reward.

Old Madam laughed and said, "Giving her this is a waste! Let Susu do her makeup, and she looks just like a Peking Opera mask; let’s not even go there!"

Susu also laughed, "What Lady rewards, I can’t bear to use. It will be better as a family heirloom in the future." Her miserly demeanor made Consort Xi laugh non-stop!

Upon entering, Princess Anning wanted to talk to Susu, knowing from her grandmother’s letters that she was the playful one in the family, good at playing and eating, and had long wanted to meet her.

"I really liked the set of twelve flower fragrances Grandmother sent to the palace the other day. I heard you made them; here’s a reward. Take good care of Grandmother, and it’d be great to make more good-smelling incense." Anning said as she took out a large red gold-embroidered pouch from her sleeve.

In the morning, Consort Xi wondered why her daughter wanted such a fine pouch filled with pearls and gemstones. It turned out she had been thinking about Susu’s incense all along, knowing they would come to Grandmother’s house.

On her birthday, Old Madam had sent a set of twelve flower immortal fragrances to Lingxiu Palace, choosing twelve representative flower fragrances of the twelve months. Not only did they taste the same, but their shapes also resembled real flowers, earning them the Emperor’s praise.

Anning invited other little princesses from the palace to admire them, gaining much admiration, and gave some as gifts, earning praise from the Emperor for "filial respect," receiving many precious gifts in return.

Seeing her daughter hadn’t forgotten Susu, who made everything, and acting so comprehensive, delighted Consort Xi. She said to Susu, "Since it’s a reward from the Princess, you should take it." She then told Old Madam what the Emperor had complimented Princess Anning on, making the Old Madam feel proud.

They also discussed the Princely Heir’s marriage; Lady Consort Xi looked at the wall clock in the room, it was almost eleven o’clock, and suppressing her tears, she said, "It’s time to go back!"

The old people knew how long their daughter must have petitioned the Emperor to be able to come back this time, so they couldn’t keep her too long and walked her and their granddaughter back to the sedan chair.

Princess Anning sweetly smiled at Old Madam, "Grandmother, visit me again next month, okay!" Old Madam nodded, placing a big package of newly made snacks and candies in the sedan chair.

Susu closed the sedan curtain, Yang Liu opened the courtyard door, and the old women carried the sedan out the same way they brought it in.

When the sedan chair was out of sight, only then did Old Madam shed tears. Old Mrs. Li hurriedly comforted, "On such a joyous day, please don’t be sad. Today, Qing He is getting married, and the Emperor brought Lady and the Princess back, Ah Ning’s good days are still ahead!"

Susu and Yang Liu went to the back courtyard to call back the servants; Sui’an Hall had always had the rule, "Don’t ask what you shouldn’t," everyone was curious, but no one dared make a sound.

Susu first returned the pouches rewarded by Lady and the Princess to her room and upon opening them found that although the pouch that Consort Xi carried personally wasn’t large, it was full of things, like small boxes carved with a daytime motif as large as a thumbnail, including rouge, face powder, scented paste, lip balm, gold-covered screw-shaped ink, and so on, more than a dozen items scattered around.

The scented paste Susu used, like the other girls, couldn’t compare to this. Moreover, the Princess’s rewards were even more generous, with six plum blossom gold ingots weighing about eight qian each, and six gemstones the size of Dragon Eyes, two each in red, green, and blue, along with an eighteen-bead East Pearl bracelet the size of lotus seeds, even more precious than the South Sea black pearl bracelet Susu had once received at the Duke Li’s Mansion.

Susu put everything away and locked them in the cabinet. Looking at the cabinet full to the brim, Susu felt like she had taken another big step toward being a wealthy landlady! Over the years, Susu had saved every silver note rewarded by the masters, planning to ask Grandpa Qiao to find someone to buy some land and properties after the Princely Heir married, so she could collect some rent. Susu didn’t have any big ambitions, and given her intelligence, becoming a landlord seemed more promising.