Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 277 - 29: Across Thousands of Mountains and Rivers, We Finally Meet (Part 2)

Chapter 277: Chapter 29: Across Thousands of Mountains and Rivers, We Finally Meet (Part 2)

Susu had already heard the commotion outside. With her excellent hearing, she naturally caught the malicious teasing as well. She shook her head, wondering who gave them the guts. They truly didn’t know how to court death.

"Drag them out. Right at the kitchen entrance, give them ten lashes each. Do they think my Fourth Rank title is fake?"

Such people weren’t worth Susu’s anger; they were merely pawns. It was a good chance to make an example of them.

Someone was suppressing Hong Sheng. Though Susu felt distressed, it wasn’t something she could manage. Hong Sheng was indeed too eye-catching. But if it involved her, that was just too despicable.

Do they think she’s a soft target?

The trusted aides outside, upon hearing this, immediately took action. The other fellow soldiers who came with them didn’t expect Hong Laoda’s wife to be so fierce, and the four trusted aides surprisingly followed her instructions obediently.

Since someone took the lead, they naturally wouldn’t show weakness either, quickly taking down those few soldiers. Someone went to inform Hong Sheng and Commander Liu, exclaiming how Hong Commander’s wife truly lived up to the name of "Rouge Tiger"! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ruan Ninth Son cleverly found some hemp rope and handed it to Yang Xiaoshan. Yang Xiaoshan patted his head approvingly, "Smart!" After saying this, he took the rope and tied up the few men still cursing on the ground. Leng Xiao casually grabbed two rags from the kitchen and stuffed them into their mouths.

Then they dragged the men outside the kitchen courtyard, found some military sticks, and started beating them one by one, pausing between strikes, making sure everyone in the garrison came to watch.

Behind these troublemakers were naturally others. But those with some sense knew the tall trees catch the wind first. Seeing these "rotten logs" now, they shivered inside—this was a lesson to set an example!

Even Hong Sheng hadn’t expected his wife to be so fierce. Before he had a chance to deal with them, his wife had already set an example. However, when it came to his wife, dragging them out for execution wouldn’t be excessive.

Thinking this, he commanded, "Time to eat, quick march!"

Commander Liu also received the news, feeling some people were truly pig-headed. If you wanted to secretly hinder Hong Sheng, he would have just turned a blind eye.

Hong Sheng was too young; it seemed as though he was suddenly in a high position. He should indeed be tempered a bit.

But handling things this way wasn’t savvy. Why make things difficult for the womenfolk? Now it’s backfired, you’ve handed them the leverage. Aren’t you just asking for trouble?

Yet one couldn’t tell that Hong Sheng’s wife was so fierce; after all, she came from the Capital and had seen the big world.

Commander Liu, while discussing with the two deputies, said: "Let’s go and have a look. Hong Sheng’s wife has some ties with your sister-in-law, and she holds her in high regard. Let me introduce you to your niece, so you can take care of her in the future. Maybe your sister-in-law will bring out those few jars of 30-40 years old Nu’er Hong for you to drink."

These two deputies were lifelong friends of Commander Liu. Upon hearing this, they knew their friend was not only angry but also decided to support Hong Sheng.

Sharing a glance, they were quite curious about this "niece." Wasn’t it said she’s from the big household maid background? How come she has some ties with Mrs. Qin?

Commander Liu, seeing his friends’ confusion, explained: "Do you really believe those gossipy old women outside? Hong Sheng’s wife, said to be from a maid background, is actually a daughter of a good family. Due to some circumstances, she was sent to Old Lady Shun’an’s side. Though a maid in public, she’s actually raised like a granddaughter, with connections to many nobilities, even praised by my mother-in-law for her Wei-Jin elegance! Otherwise, why would a Fourth Rank officer like Hong Sheng, young and promising, marry just any maid?"

The two deputies, both dispatched by the Ministry of Revenue, knew one of them was originally from Yangzhou, naturally aware that the Shun’an Earl Mansion was the Song Family in Yangzhou.

The mother-in-law mentioned by Commander Liu wasn’t the former one but the current Old Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Being raised by the Old Lady Shun’an, and even praised by the Old Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, such a girl was indeed exceptional.

Even if she’s a maid from such a family, her network would surpass theirs by far.

They sighed in their hearts how extremely fortunate Hong Sheng was.

What Commander Liu said was the narrative Old Madam Song had prepared for Susu before her marriage. It was how they explained it to the outsiders. Of course, Mrs. Qin knew the details but relayed the same story to her husband, showing her affection for Susu!

Commander Liu arrived slightly later than Hong Sheng. When he got there, there were still two thugs yet to be beaten. Five others lay on the side, having already been whipped. Judging by the rawness on their buttocks, severe strength had been used. Even if it didn’t cause major injuries, recovery would take at least ten days to half a month.

Most distressing was some troublemaker having inexplicably informed the families of those punished soldiers. A group of women knelt on the ground, though not daring to create a scene, they wailed and begged Susu for mercy.

When Commander Liu arrived, there were several hundred people watching, layer upon layer. A trusted aide went ahead to disperse the crowd and invited Commander Liu in. However, a soldier pushed him aside, impatiently saying: "Why push, is it your mother or wife inside?"

Commander Liu sneered, "Beat him for me!" The trusted aides all stepped forward, wielding their spears. Using the wooden handles, they beat down mercilessly, and soon there were cries of pain: "Who the hell, uh, greetings to the Commander!" Then came the thud-thud of kneeling, "Greetings to the Commander!"

With a cold expression, Commander Liu walked down the path cleared by the crowd, ignoring the kneeling figures, and looked at Hong Sheng who, now well-behaved, saluted with eyes downcast, amusing him.

"You punk, organizing a brawl in the barracks, you’re even better than I was back then!"

Not daring to accept such a charge, Hong Sheng hastily shook his head, "Commander, you misunderstand. Everyone heard my wife was going to give my troops extra food; they came drawn by the aroma. Those brothers got so hungry they fainted themselves; just look at how they landed!"

These words left everyone around, including Commander Liu, in shock. Is it really alright to talk such blatant nonsense?

Commander Liu, with a face that said "I believe none of it," pointed at the dozen or so women aside, "And what about them? Did your wife’s cooking aroma bring them to tears with its deliciousness?"

Hong Sheng shook his head, "They haven’t tasted it yet; how could they cry from deliciousness? It’s because they long to eat it so much, they’re begging my wife for a meal!"

Everyone around took a sharp breath, clutching their jaws as if in pain from this sharp remark. If it was concluded that they shamelessly cried just for food, what reputation could these women have left?

Inside, Susu couldn’t help but laugh at Hong Sheng’s blatant lies, but upon hearing this, she frowned. It was too harsh, so she quickly stood up and came out, "Husband, don’t joke in front of Uncle. These women came to greet me upon knowing I arrived and it’s my lack of hospitality."

The previously bustling hillock was now so quiet, nothing but the sound of bird chirping remained.

What a fairy is like, ordinary people don’t know. They can only imagine based on myths, or ascribe noble morals, exceptional wisdom, or both, to them. Often likened to Chang’e or Zhen Mi.

But now, everyone present felt they saw a living fairy. A sigh escaped sincerely: A fairy had descended!

Ruan Yu, who had been enquiring with his brother and nephew to ensure they weren’t victimized, heard Ling Ge’er chuckle gently, "Sixth Uncle, I saw her; she’s even more likable than you described."

Ruan Yu was stunned, then looked at his nephew, speaking as if sleepwalking, "Ling Ge’er, did you say you saw who?"

Ruan Qilin lifted his chin, looking at Susu who was lifting the curtain, his Thirteenth Aunt.

Following Ling Ge’er’s gaze, Ruan Yu saw that young girl whose presence eclipsed the world itself. His ears couldn’t hear a word she was saying.

The immense terror made him want to hide, yet the intense joy kept him standing straight, staring fixedly ahead, fearing that she might be a mirage, a wisp of smoke that would vanish the moment he blinked.

Then he saw the girl’s gaze pass through the crowd, landing on him with a gentle smile. Her eyes sparkled, akin to the New Year’s fireworks seen only in the Capital.

He knew, she had arrived. His sister, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, finally came!