Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 266 - 18: Kindred Spirits at First Sight (Second Update)

"Hongmen Su pays respects to Mrs. Qin!" These words echoed in Qin’s ears like the sound of heaven, finally allowing her to give Aunt Su a proper account.

Qin wasn’t sure if Susu recognized her or if she knew she was in the Northwest beforehand.

But recognizing her at this moment was indeed not a good idea. Suppressing her excitement, Qin personally helped Susu up and said with a smile, "Don’t be so formal! I always thought my niece was one of the most notable figures under the heavens, but seeing you, I realized there are always greater heights. It’s just that we’re inexperienced."

Susu stood up with the momentum and said with a smile after hearing this, "Is Mrs. Qin’s niece the legitimate daughter of the Governor Qin’s family? Such a noble person, how could someone as ordinary as me compare? Your praise is too generous!"

Qin held Susu by her side, scrutinizing her carefully, "If you are ordinary, then this world surely has no elegant people."

Today Susu wore a snow-white gauze shirt underneath, tied with a matching color floor-length gauze skirt, and only draped a lilac embroidered wisteria pattern satin cross-collar small standing collar overshirt outside.

This robe had wide sleeves and a waist that fitted, reaching the top of her feet, revealing only a hem of the gauze skirt, embroidered with silver thread and water wave patterns using millet beads and crystals, as if water flowed underfoot when she moved.

Paired with a celestial coiffure, adorned with a set of Purple Jade headpieces, coupled with that kingdom-toppling beauty, truly a floating fairy, free and easy.

Experienced as she was, Qin saw Susu’s appearance and knew she was living well now. However, thinking about the hardships and sufferings Susu endured growing up as a servant, Qin couldn’t help but feel heartache.

If she didn’t know Grandma Hong was Susu, Qin would have only found a laugh, just like Commander Liu said, if she’s good, she’ll give some respect, if not, then just avoid contact.

But now the hurtful rumors outside were actually about Susu, Qin was infuriated and laughed bitterly, such despicable people; they can’t handle Hong Sheng, so they viciously target innocent women, simply detestable.

Thinking this, Qin looked at Susu’s "gentle and weak" appearance, and made a decision, just waiting for her husband to return for discussion.

Yet, on the surface, she displayed the affection of being familiar with Susu, lamenting, "Seeing you feels close as if I’ve met you in a dream. Though knowing you’d come to Hami early, thinking newly arrived must be busy and chaotic, haven’t invited you sooner. If only I’d known you were such a charming person, I would’ve rushed to cherish you first!"

Then, remembering a matter, she said, "Go invite the girls to pay respects to the guest, then fetch the young master from the outer courtyard, inform the teacher, we have distant guests and grant young master a day off." A maid promptly went to invite them.

At this moment, tea and snacks were served.

Speaking of the two girls from the Liu family, Susu remembered she had a letter from Ruan Qiniang to Qin, and knowing they would interact in the future, if strangers were overly intimate, it might raise suspicion. But, if Ruan Qiniang acted as a bridge, it would make sense.

"Mrs. Qin is indeed as Sister Ruan described, warm and kind!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent, wondering if "Sister Ruan" in Susu’s words was her?

The maids and ladies serving knew Mrs. Qin was remarried; she had a daughter from her previous marriage who was now quite grown, already a mother, heard to be a legitimate daughter of the former Duke Li.

Upon hearing Susu’s words, Qin was momentarily stunned, then realized, somewhat nervously glancing at Susu, wondering if they had really recognized one another?

Mrs. Sun was also surprised, Miss Thirteen going from official slave to personal slave, now married was shock enough, how could she also recognize Miss Seven, wasn’t there enough drama, shouldn’t the situation remain calm for a while?

Susu could discern what they were thinking at a glance, her smile unchanged, yet inwardly sighed, knowing this identity might have to remain concealed forever.

"Mrs. Qin must have heard, I was the Maid to the Old Madam at Shun’an Earl Mansion, favored by the Old Madam, frequently in and out of noble circles. It was during such a visit at Prince Ke Mansion that I met Sister Ruan. Sister Ruan said I looked so familiar as if from somewhere else. After we got to know each other, a probe revealed I had an aunt who was an aunt in the Ruan Family, and I share some similarities with her."

Susu’s words not only explained how she got acquainted with Ruan Qiniang but also rounded off Qin’s words of "familiar at first sight" and "as if seen in a dream."

The maids present suddenly understood: Wasn’t the Ruan Family aunt previously under Madam’s employ? Susu and that aunt had familial resemblance, no wonder Madam felt she looked familiar and comfortable.

"Knowing I was coming to the Northwest, Sister Ruan specifically asked me to bring a cart of specialties from the Capital and many things for the young masters and girls. Here’s the letter Sister Ruan wrote for you, she’s doing well, please rest assured."

As she spoke, Susu pulled out the letter wrapped in brown paper from her sleeve; Qin received it and only held it tightly without opening to read, murmuring softly, "Does she blame me?"

It was unclear if this was addressed to Susu or self-talk, seeing Mrs. Sun’s worried look.

At this time, the curtain outside lifted, and the greeting voice from the maid came, as the two Liu sisters arrived.

Leading the way was an eleven or twelve-year-old girl in a pink-purple small Eight Treasures embroidered gauze shirt, paired with moon-white full-length pine bamboo gauze skirt, slim figure and quite good-looking.

Following was a six or seven-year-old girl in a shoulder-length yellow bat pattern satin blouse, matched with three blue embroidered lotus red gauze pants, showing a pair of green embroidered bat red shoes, with two lotus-sized pale gold eastern pearls on the shoe tips, truly luxurious.

This young girl bore some resemblance to Qin, partly resembling Ruan Qiniang, and in the remaining features exuded an inherent boldness.

This boldness wasn’t the kind Sister Fang enhanced through makeup; it was naturally spirited.

The former should be the daughter left behind by Commander Liu’s previous wife, and the latter was likely the girl among Qin’s phoenix twins.

At this moment, Susu had stood up, Qin held the eleven or twelve-year-old girl and said with a smile, "This is our elder daughter, Sister An!" and pointed at the other girl with a resigned expression, "This is the little trouble-maker born to me, you’ll get to know her with regular visits, she’s the most mischievous, called Sister Zhen." Though her words hinted at complaints, the amusement in her tone surely couldn’t be concealed.

Then, addressing the two girls, she said, "This is Lady Su, also a friend of your Sister Ruan, call her Sister Su!"

Both girls looked curiously at Susu, but unlike the servants, they didn’t gape, respectfully greeting, "Greetings, Sister Su!"

Upon hearing "Sister Ruan" from Qin, Susu felt mixed emotions, a proper elder sister unexpectedly becoming the named "Sister Ruan," no wonder Miss Seven felt disgruntled.

Thinking this, her actions didn’t stall, returning the courtesy and said with a smile, "Let me be bold, and call you sisters!"