Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 96 - 21: Laying Down the Law (Part 2)

After quickly finishing her meal, Susu and Yang Liu divided their tasks, and Susu went to the Qingfeng Pavilion.

The two housekeepers of the Qingfeng Pavilion had long been invited to accompany the esteemed housekeepers from various mansions, leaving only the lower-ranked servants unable to reach the Eldest Young Madam’s presence. Surprisingly, no one was in sight now, and outside the second gate, only two coarse female servants were guarding the area.

"The housekeeper maids are not here, and the mansion’s servants must not embarrass the Princely Heir. Where has everyone gone?"

The two women forced a smile, "Don’t be upset, Miss. The Eldest Young Madam showed mercy. She said it’s been a tiring day and allowed everyone to relax a bit and go to the front to join the banquet. Even the housekeepers were called, leaving only a few maids close by. They just called for some water from the small kitchen, likely preparing to refresh themselves and change clothes."

Only then did Susu nod, "Thank you for your hard work, mamas. The Old Madam asked me to come and have a look." Entering the second gate, Susu saw several little maids standing at the main entrance while three to four women were carrying out water, unfamiliar to her, likely the Eldest Young Madam’s housekeepers.

The young maid holding the curtain, no more than eight or nine years old, had seen Susu while making the bed and quickly walked over. "Greetings to Miss Susu. Please be careful, Miss, the road is slippery in the dark. Why didn’t you have someone hold a lantern?"

Susu replied with a smile: "The Old Madam asked me to come and see if everything is well with the Eldest Young Madam. I hurried over and forgot to bring a lantern. Thank you, little sister, for your concern."

The little maid gave Susu a hand, "Miss, please wait a moment, I will go and announce your arrival!" This was Susu’s first time being left outside the door since serving the Old Madam as a maid. She wasn’t angry, just somewhat confused in her heart. She hadn’t met the Eldest Young Madam yet, but she heard she was generous and gentle. It shouldn’t be that on the first day of entering the door, the Eldest Young Madam would show the Old Madam’s maid who’s in charge. That would be difficult to handle...

Susu was just bowing her head, pondering over what the Eldest Young Madam meant, when she heard the sound of the curtain being lifted at the door. Looking up, she saw several second-class maids she recognized from the day before and another girl, who appeared to be a senior maidservant, hurriedly coming out.

The senior maid said with a smile, "The young maid is ignorant and treated the Miss rudely, please come in quickly!" The second-class maids pushed out the little maid who had just reported, saying, "Apologize to Miss Susu at once, how could you make her wait outside!"

The young maid was about to bow and apologize when Susu quickly stopped her, "On such a joyful day, what is this about? This young girl behaves well. I should praise her after all, being from the Founding Marquis Mansion."

The senior maid then said, "The young Miss is kind to forgive you, but don’t let it happen again next time!"

Susu smiled bitterly in her heart, wondering what this was all about, and was then ushered inside by the maids.

Most of the furnishings in the room were naturally part of the heir’s wife’s dowry, exuding an understated luxury. Passing the outer flower hall, there was a large screen depicting "Proud Snow Red Plum Blossoms" embroidered on huanghuali wood. Beyond the screen was the inner room: a large kang by the window, a huanghuali round table in the center of the floor, a thousand-work bed shielded by a partition, and a dressing table beside it, all exquisitely crafted.

Susu lowered her head and modestly greeted the Eldest Young Madam, who was sitting on the large kang by the window, attending to her hair. "Servant Susu greets the Eldest Young Madam. The Old Madam is accompanying the esteemed guests to Pear Fragrance Garden to watch a play and instructed me to come to see if you are well and if you’ve had your meal."

Zhao Lanxi smiled upon seeing Susu kneeling gracefully without hesitation, "Quickly help the Miss to sit down. My hands are tied, and you all show no insight at all!"

The maids then brought a stool for Susu to sit down.

The behavior of the Eldest Young Madam was clearly not what rumors suggested. Susu certainly didn’t want the Old Madam to have two frustrating daughters-in-law and also a frustrating granddaughter-in-law. Thanking for the blessing, she sat down directly.

This action surprised Zhao Lanxi, who then beckoned the maid attending to her hair to take away the fumigation basket, saying, "Everything is fine here, please thank Grandmother on my behalf for her concern! I’ve heard Miss is exceptionally beautiful, and seeing you today, it is indeed true! In the future, Miss should come to Qingfeng Pavilion whenever you have the time, let me enjoy your company."

Susu smiled and replied, "I don’t dare to accept such praise from the Eldest Young Madam. When I saw your sisters around here the other day, I felt ashamed. I can’t compare!"

"Please don’t praise them; people by Grandmother’s side are praised by both Princess Changlong and the Old Princess Consort Gong. How could my few maids compare to that! In the future, let them stay close to Miss, and hope Miss doesn’t mind them hanging around!"

Susu pretended to be embarrassed, lowered her head, and said nothing. Zhao Lanxi’s expression was enigmatic when a stewardess asked if the meal should be served. Only then did Zhao Lanxi regain her composure and say, "Serve it."