Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 196 - 20: Butterfly Wings (Second Update, Asking for Votes)

Soon it was the Double Ninth Festival on September ninth. This time, Susu didn’t need the Old Madam to send someone to fetch her; she came to the Shun’an Earl Mansion a day early on her own.

The chrysanthemum banquet at the Prince Ke Mansion naturally extended an invitation to the ladies of the Shun’an Earl Mansion. The Fourth Miss had already been decided to enter the palace for a selection next spring, and being selected into the Prince Ke Mansion was almost certain.

Of course, she was very reluctant to go to the Prince Ke Mansion to experience the feeling of "distinction between wife and concubine," but she couldn’t resist the "enthusiastic" invitation personally named by Princess Ke to enjoy the flowers. What was the Fourth Miss feeling at the time? Probably something like "a herd of alpacas galloping across the Gobi Desert!"

Aside from the heir’s wife, who was pregnant, all the ladies of the Shun’an Earl Mansion went to the Prince Ke Mansion. The heir’s wife had to return to her parental home due to some matters.

Meanwhile, in Sui’an Hall, only the two cousin misses and Susu were left. To avoid boredom, they, along with the remaining maids and old servants, organized a game of "passing the flower while drumming," where whoever the flower landed on had to share an embarrassing story or moment. They were absolutely having a blast!

At noon, the three of them paid out of their own pockets to have the small kitchen prepare a few tables of dishes, and naturally, everyone ate with great delight.

Although the two cousin misses and Susu had different statuses, they felt a sense of mutual admiration. Previously, as a maid, Susu, managing the affairs like a head maid, interacted with the two cousin misses as if she were the senior.

Now that they spent time together, the two cousin misses found Susu to be quite enjoyable to play with, and they naturally became even closer.

When the Old Madam returned with the other ladies, just reaching Sui’an Hall and barely settling down, Miss Zhao couldn’t hold back her chatter, and when the Sixth Miss heard her, she jumped up and said, "Oh wow, you all had such a good time without me, while I was stuck drinking tea and flower viewing to the point that everything still seems to sparkle now. I don’t think I’ll want to see another chrysanthemum for the next year!"

But Susu noticed that although the Third Miss and Fourth Miss were smiling at the lively Sixth Miss and Miss Zhao, the smiles in their eyes seemed hollow, as if they were forcing something?

Susu glanced at the Old Madam. Although the elder lady appeared very calm and serene, Susu, knowing her well, could tell from her actions that she wasn’t as calm inside as she seemed. She seemed to be holding anger, sadness, and was making decisions!

Susu exchanged a worried look with Nanny Qin. They were too familiar with the Old Madam and knew immediately that something significant had happened.

After the girls retired to rest, and the Old Madam waved the servants away, leaving only Susu and Nanny Qin in the room, Susu ignored Yun Duo’s glare secretly tearing her face apart. Just a clown, not worth mentioning, nowhere near as important as the Old Madam!

"Old Madam, did something happen again at the chrysanthemum banquet of the Prince Ke Mansion?" Susu wondered, was it that Shun’an Earl Mansion and Prince Ke Mansion couldn’t get along? Why did something have to go wrong every time they went, always ending unhappily?

Suddenly, Susu was struck by a thought. Trouble? It must be that Ruan Shiniang had an incident. Could it be that even with Ruan Qiniang personally accompanying her, she still couldn’t prevent the mishap from happening?

Thinking this, Susu felt such heartache that she almost shed a tear, but she restrained herself, not showing the slightest trace.

The Old Madam suddenly placed the tea cup heavily on the table, speaking in a tone filled with frustration and anger, "Does Princess Ke truly think everyone else is a fool? This is simply atrocious! If it weren’t for the Second Young Madam of the Annan Earl Mansion being there today, Fourth Girl would have become the scapegoat for attempting to harm the pregnant concubine of Prince Ke Mansion, being accused of causing harm to the imperial heir’s child. At that point, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name even with the water of the Yellow River. How would the daughter of the Song Family retain any reputation?"

At this point, the Old Madam’s expression tightened, and she said sternly, "If Prince Ke doesn’t give the Shun’an Earl Mansion an explanation for this affair, I will certainly not agree to it. The river hasn’t been crossed yet, and they want to dismantle the bridge? Such a master is not a fit for the Song Family."

After she finished speaking, she thought of Susu and Hong Sheng’s engagement, and Old Madam Song felt overwhelmed. If this couldn’t be resolved peacefully, she would rather Susu blame her, but would still have to annul her engagement with Hong Sheng!

If Prince Ke truly valued adversity over prosperity, how could Hong Sheng end up well? It would simply be a case of "the birds are gone, the bow is hidden!" She didn’t want Susu to become a widow in the future.

Susu and Nanny Qin hurriedly went up, rubbing the Old Madam’s chest and patting her back to soothe her. Nanny Qin said, "The more you speak, the more confused this old servant becomes! How could Fourth Miss get entangled with the pregnant concubine of Prince Ke Mansion?"