Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 235 - 13: The Pain of Parting (Part 4)

If it were just in private, it would be alright, but everyone was showing a face full of sorrow. If outsiders saw it, they would think we were dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager’s decree and disrespectful to the Imperial Family, and that would be a disaster.

Everyone here is smart; Susu only hinted, and they all understood what to do.

The Third Miss took her younger sisters to touch up their makeup and hurried to Sui’an Hall. Because of the past events with their eldest aunt, even Grandmother was somewhat considerate. Now that things have reached this point, it would be better to send her off happily.

In the Fourth Miss’s room, Susu was speaking in a low voice about important matters with her.

"When I went with Old Madam to the Prince Ke Mansion for the Princess Qingfu’s full-month banquet, I happened to meet one of Prince Ke’s concubines. Thinking of your future, I maintained some contact with her. This person has some connection with you; she was the concubine who had a difficult childbirth during last year’s Double Ninth Festival. Fortunately, she had some luck, giving birth to the second young master, and is now a concubine."

The Princess Ke appears virtuous and generous but is actually cunning and ruthless; the concubine Leng seems not to fight or compete, yet she is an insincere hypocrite.

Also, Concubine Zhao, who bore the eldest son, managed to give birth before the Main Wife and cannot be a simple character. The inner court of Prince Ke is indeed a veritable den of dragons and tigers.

Susu learned many underworld secrets from Ruan Qiniang and Ruan Shiniang, which made her even more worried for the Fourth Miss. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Although I’ve told you about this path, whether to use it is up to you. I think the mansion won’t let you be too passive. Even though there are girls from the Annan Earl Mansion entering alongside you, due to the Empress Dowager’s favor, together with your looks, and the fact that you unintentionally ruined the Princess Ke’s plans, I fear those women will unite against you. So why not secretly connect with that Ruan Concubine. Though she seems a bit indifferent, she truly has a warm personality."

Susu was indeed conflicted inside; what if both women develop feelings for Prince Ke and become enemies? What would she do? But all of this is hypothetical. She couldn’t let the Fourth Miss give up on such a strong ally as Ruan Shiniang for things that hadn’t happened.

Moreover, Ruan Shiniang also needed help and support, and Fourth Miss was the best candidate. If both could avoid feelings for Prince Ke and assist each other, it would be like adding wings to the tiger.

The Fourth Miss hadn’t expected that Susu had already considered an ally for her from such an early stage.

However, she could accept Susu’s actions because Susu was personally trained by Grandmother. Grandmother’s favorite thing is to plan ahead, not catching up at the last moment. To maintain this relationship, Susu must have exerted a lot of effort.

The Fourth Miss held Susu’s hand, closed her eyes, allowing tears to flow down her cheeks, yet her voice remained calm, "As a daughter of the Song Family, this is my destiny. I do not regret it because without the Song Family, there would be no me. Just let me cry for a moment here."

The Fourth Miss said this, burying her face in Susu’s hand, and Susu felt the warmth and wetness of the tears in her palm, only feeling sorrow surging like a river!

Everyone has their destined fate, unfinished responsibilities, and a future they must walk toward, even if they cry.

On March 12, the Fourth Miss was carried in a bright red bridal sedan into the Prince Ke Mansion. Besides the gifts from the Empress Dowager and Empress, they carried only eight visible trunks of belongings, which could not even be called a dowry.

The sisters cried privately, yet in public, they had to maintain a smile, sing praises to the Emperor, and thank him for his grace!

On March 15, the Fourth Miss returned alone. Although Prince Ke did not accompany the other two concubines who entered the mansion with her, he went to the Annan Earl Mansion in the evening to bring back another concubine.

The Fourth Miss came alone and left alone, leaving gracefully and returning freely.

Susu watched the carriage fade into the distance, whispered "Take care," and knew it was time for her to depart too.

On March 16, barely dawn, the Hong Mansion was already bustling. Two to three dozen mule carts were fully loaded, covered with tarps tightly secured.

There were also seven or eight horse-drawn carriages for passengers, all with specially modified shock-proof cabins.

Apart from that, there were seven or eight well-bred Mongolian horses and native horses, well-fed with fine feed and watered thoroughly with lightly salted water!

Susu and Hong Sheng finished their breakfast, and Hong Sheng went to the front courtyard. Since the number of luggage carts exceeded expectations by half, Hong Sheng needed to discuss with his friends from the Yangwei Escort Agency.