Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 358 - 38: Spring Arrives (3 Updates)

The winter in Hami lasts a long time, possibly from early November to the end of March, but after March, with the arrival of spring, the temperature rises rapidly.

However, this season is also the most frustrating for Susu, who was planning a spring outing, as the strong winds, cold snap, and sandstorms kept Susu at home.

The young ladies from the Capital, like Fen Dai, didn’t heed Linlang and Defu’s wife’s advice once spring arrived. They couldn’t wait to take off their heavy fur clothes and put on spring attire.

Susu, dressed in a cashmere-lined jacket, watched their antics and stopped Liu Niuniu, who wanted to say a few more words, jokingly, "Let them be, they are not children anymore—they shouldn’t need constant reminders."

"Anyway, the fur clothes haven’t been put away yet. If they feel cold, they’ll put on more clothes themselves."

Liu Niuniu, Wei Defu’s wife, smiled helplessly and helped Susu sit down, "The weather has been bad lately, and my father fears this year’s late cold snap might be colder than usual."

"Madam hasn’t experienced our Hami’s late cold snap yet. It’s already cold, but if there are snowflakes mixed with rain, it will be quite miserable."

"Some of the sisters are wearing so little, they might catch a cold. Madam, being pregnant, they might have to move to the manor to recover before they can return!"

Upon hearing Defu’s wife’s words, even Fen Dai, who loved beauty the most, changed out of her thin spring top and put on a jacket again.

Susu looked at Liu Niuniu, who appeared so ’honest’ yet was actually cunning.

But Defu’s wife wasn’t lying. The late cold snap is indeed cold, with several days of howling winds, and the sky so gloomy it seemed like the last sun had been shot down by Hou Yi.

It wasn’t until five or six days later that we saw the sun’s smiling face.

During those days, Fen Dai and the others looked like cabbages soaked in a pickle jar for days, wilting and refusing to leave their rooms, afraid they might catch a cold—a sight that made Susu amused and yet a bit heartbroken.

When the weather cleared up, seeing the maids almost ready to set off firecrackers to celebrate, Susu laughed, "Now you can wear those beautiful tops of yours."

"I remember there are still many spring clothes that I’ve outgrown stored away. All made of nice material, still seven or eight-tenths new. Shuimo, go find some that fit you and pick out two sets each."

"Also, take out a few bolts of fabric for your sisters-in-law and older sisters to make clothes. And a bolt each of royal blue and pale blue Lu Cloth for Mothers Jiang and Ding."

The room was filled with happy gratitude for the gifts, especially Fen Dai and the others, thrilled for such fine material from their master’s clothes.

Besides, they had previously received many clothes from their master, which were only worn for a season and almost new except having been washed once.

Having just received the clothes in the morning, after some quick planning, the young maids changed into their new attire after lunch, all twelve or thirteen years old, looking youthful and vibrant.

Following Susu, living well, eating well, they even made the robust Linlang look charming and much cuter once Fen Dai dressed her up.

The room full of exquisite beauties made Pig Sister hidden in the beams incredibly envious.

Seeing the little maids’ clothes and accessories, she lamented that not only couldn’t she wear them as a Hidden Guard, but they were also unaffordable for her family at their most dolled-up times. Pig Sister, pouting, wished she could be the master’s maid.

This wave of resentment was not missed by Susu, for anyone being stared at with burning eyes couldn’t remain ignorant, let alone Susu, with her keen senses!

Susu helplessly glanced at the beams and then gestured, making Pig Sister beam with joy—her master hadn’t forgotten her.

Linlang was the only one to notice this, at a loss for words regarding the childish Hidden Guard, and even more helpless toward the master who pampered her subordinates—then again, she herself was just another indulged one!

By evening, looking at the three sets of exquisite clothes and accessories, Pig Sister almost screamed, covering her mouth and whispering, "Are these for me?"

Susu nodded, seeing her joyful expression, which eased her own guilt a bit.

The mission of their ancestors was already an unfair burden, so Susu wanted to compensate them in her own way.

Upon returning from a task, Shu Xin saw ten fifty-tael silver ingots and ten ten-tael gold ingots, along with a box of pearls.

He almost popped his eyes out and wiped away the drool before looking at the man in front of him with a cold face, painfully saying, "Long Jiao, I really don’t like men!"

Long Jiao’s forehead twitched, inwardly beating the unscrupulous Shu Xin mentally, dropping the box and looking as Shu Xin fumbled to catch it, saying, "Rest assured, you’re not worth that much silver. These are rewards from the master for the Rat Guards, you can send it home."

Upon hearing this, Shu Xin bit down hard on the yellow-orange gold ingot, saw the teeth marks, and didn’t care about Long Jiao’s dark expression, laughing hysterically, "Haha, I earned this fair and square, see how you’re going to confiscate the loot now, Long Jiao!"

Long Jiao glanced at Shu Xin like he had a mental illness, then elegantly flew out of the private residence Susu set up for the Youye Guards. After hearing Shu Xin shout "share the money," and watching the Rat Guards dart out from various parts of the residence, a smile tugged at his lips.

Recalling the stories passed down through generations about Lady Linlang, he thought perhaps she was just like Master Su!

...

The people of Hami had long since lost the tension of war. If not for the constant good news being delivered, they might have forgotten a war was happening.

The people at the Northwest Border admired the current Emperor’s determination to defend the nation, almost worshiping him.

With Prince Ke’s operations, many places were setting up longevity plaques for the current Emperor!

A people’s umbrella was sent to the Capital by fast horse courtesy of Prince Ke, and the rewards from the Emperor to Prince Ke Mansion soon after were a testament to his satisfaction.

Since the current Emperor’s ascent to the throne wasn’t done gloriously, though called to purge the court, who truly killed the Crown Prince and previous Emperor remains unproven with the Late King Liang’s death.

The people setting up longevity plaques for him now was an affirmation of his achievements.

Come April, with even more frequent good news, by mid-month the army had reached the roots of the Tartar King City.

Susu finally received a letter from Hong Sheng.

The letter was filled with longing for Susu, and mentioned that he was about to return, and would soon be home.

With a smile filled with cheer, Susu savored the words "coming home," but suddenly burst into tears under the watchful eyes of the maids and matrons, startling everyone.

Susu, half-smiling and half-crying, waved to the anxious servants indicating, "This is tears of joy! Notify the entire residence, there will be a feast, your master is on his way home."

Susu tenderly stroked her belly, "Baby, daddy is coming back soon!"