Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 323 - 3: Father Dead, Mother Remarried (Third Update)
Prince Ke believed that despite the current state of Duke Li’s Mansion, being a century-old noble family, even the reigning emperor could not uproot it completely.
As for those remaining forces, aside from Ruan Qiniang in the Capital, the most likely to take control were the few boys from the Ruan Family.
Now that his brother-in-law was in the Northwest, who else would the Ruan Family help if not him? Once he ascended to the throne, he would restore their title.
If Susu knew this thought of his, she would definitely scoff at him, saying as if only you could restore the Ruan Family’s title.
However, at this moment, Susu’s mind was filled with thoughts of how injured Sister Ten was, and whether the Princess Consort, that vicious woman, could really treat Big Cat as her own.
As for these things never mentioned in the original work, whether they would affect the overall direction, Susu had already given up trying to cure them.
By the afternoon, Hong Sheng rushed back to entertain Uncle Wei. The two of them, despite their rough appearances, were actually thinkers.
Moreover, having been a bodyguard, Hong Sheng was considered a semi-Jianghu figure. After drinking, there was a sense of "brotherly bond," leaving Susu both amused and helpless.
It seemed the two of them were prepared for a candlelit conversation, so Susu simply told Hong Sheng to rest in the outer courtyard.
Of course, Susu also knew that the two were not idle enough to mock each other for fun; it likely still concerned matters of Prince Ke.
Hong Sheng was a disciple of Prince Ke, and the Song Family were supporters of Prince Ke. Simply put, the two sides were still of "common goals."
From Fourth Miss’s perspective, the Song Family naturally was closer to Prince Ke, but Prince Ke was of royal descent. Even Prince Ke’s legitimate in-laws did not dare to act too familiar with him, let alone the Song Family, which was just the family of a concubine.
At this time, the Song Family’s support for Prince Ke could be seen as mutually beneficial. But once Prince Ke ascends the throne, it will become a case of you making me well so I can also make you well.
This gap is like the Milky Way that the Queen Mother drew between the Cowherd and the Weaving Woman. Looking up, it appears as a thin line, but it is a shore that mortals can never reach.
Even if they could reach it, the bridge that Fourth Miss represents isn’t very sturdy; who knows when Prince Ke might turn his back?
But things were different between Susu and Hong Sheng.
Not to mention Susu’s unwavering loyalty to Old Madam Song, always complying with her wishes. Regarding Hong Sheng, he was not only a life-saving benefactor of Old Madam but had also received much care from her since childhood.
The three Masters and several Young Masters of the Song Family were also on good terms with him and never looked down on him.
Plus, having married Susu, he’s considered half a son-in-law of the Song Family in private.
True affection for true affection, although Prince Ke had discovered and appreciated Hong Sheng, in terms of closeness, Hong Sheng was still closer to the Song Family.
Susu accompanied Uncle Wei for a few drinks before taking her leave to return to the inner courtyard. The maids set the table, but thinking of the poisoned Ruan Shiniang, Susu for the first time felt a lack of appetite.
Yet Susu clutched the White Tiger Seal in her waist pocket; whether she wanted to eat or not, she had to—she could not afford to fall ill now.
"Keep this bowl of Rouge Rice porridge and rouge goose breast, and take the rest down for yourselves. Where did you put the gift list Uncle Wei brought today? I’ll take a look after meals!"
The five young maids also noticed that Susu was not in high spirits today, assuming she was just exhausted from the past few days, as she hadn’t been idle in the camp either.
First, she sorted through all the spices in her dowry, picking and selecting, and then had people buy some she didn’t have, concocting a few precious detoxification incense pills targeting snakes, insects, rats, and ants.
She also prepared a fragrance called "Lost and Found," intended to be worn on one’s person to counteract soporifics and knockout incense.
Susu was quite confident in Hong Sheng and her brother’s abilities, but she feared they might fall victim to some underhanded tricks.
Then she spent some time training her disciple, Yang Fang. Although Yang Xiaoshan was a staunch supporter of Hong Sheng, Susu had agreed to this matter herself.
The rest of the time was spent preparing for Hong Sheng and the others’ expedition, thinking of everything Susu could imagine.
Even the underwear, which Susu, usually lazy, made several sets for Hong Sheng.
She also tried to take the opportunity while no one was around to make several sets for her brother and them.
Susu felt that since she transmigrated, she had never been this diligent, more exhausting than tidying up the warehouse for a few days, yet her heart was satisfied.
After accompanying the rouge goose breast with a bowl of porridge and having the table cleared, Susu dismissed the young maids to rest. They too had been busy alongside Susu.
Susu didn’t look at the gift list first; instead, she read through the letters Uncle Wei gave her in the morning, one by one.
Starting with Old Madam’s, even just reading the first few sentences had Susu in tears.
The Old Madam, at such an advanced age, still worried about her; it was her own lack of filial piety.
Regarding the White Tiger Seal, Uncle Wei mentioned both openly and subtly about considering the greater good, but Old Madam only urged her to prioritize her own safety.
"Remember, the Dark Department is the Song Family’s hidden force, meant to prepare for the day when ’the birds are gone and the good bow is put away,’ and to protect the people we care about.
The deal with Prince Ke never included the Dark Department. Your Uncle Wei thinks too much; heed what you should, and what you shouldn’t, just pretend you didn’t hear.
If, by any chance, the worst happens, you and Fourth Miss are the priority to protect. As for the rest, if father dies, mother remarries, everyone should mind their own business!"
Next were letters from Fourth Miss, Sixth Miss, Yang Liu, and even Mrs. Zhao.
Fourth Miss’s letter was brought by Uncle Wei after she reached the Northwest. She mentioned it was fortunate they had an Imperial Physician in the team; otherwise, Sister Ten wouldn’t have been safe.
It’s just that too much blood was lost during detoxification and the residual poison wasn’t completely eliminated; it would take one or two years to fully recover.
Uncle finally breathed a sigh of relief; having no life-threatening concerns was already a great fortune amidst misfortune.
The remaining content didn’t differ much from what Uncle Wei had said.
Big Cat was registered under the Princess Consort’s name and moved to her courtyard on the same day.
Ruan Shiniang neither ate nor drank for two days straight, despite Fourth Miss’s various attempts to persuade her.
It was only when she angrily said, "What good is it if you die? The Princess Consort would love that! Only by living do you have hope of reclaiming your son."
Ruan Shiniang was never a melancholic person; in the modern age, she was considered a strong woman. She never intended to seek death, just really lost her appetite.
After hearing Fourth Miss’s words, she naturally felt invigorated.
Round and round, Ruan Shiniang was back on the aggressive path.
Letters from Sixth Miss, Yang Liu, Ning Cui, Bisi, and Mrs. Zhao were much simpler, more like casual conversations as if Susu were still in the Capital.
Though long-winded, each was over ten pages. Susu didn’t mind at all, reading them again and again, crying and laughing as she went like a madwoman.
Since leaving the Capital, Susu found her tears came as easily as water from a tap.
Uttering a self-mocking laugh, she picked up the Enamel Pearl Inlaid Pocket Watch hanging on her collar with a silver chain, only to find that, unknowingly, an hour had passed.
Susu carefully folded the letters; the other letters were still kept in their envelopes and stored in a Purple Sandalwood Box. Only the ones from Old Madam and Fourth Miss did she cruelly tear apart, drowning them in a water basin.
Until now, Susu still couldn’t understand why in dramas or novels, they must leave behind such blatantly incriminating letters about treason, crime, or revealing secrets, waiting for others to find and use them as evidence.
Were their brains caught in a door?
She thought she should take this as a warning!
