On this day, Su Nansheng accompanied Chen Wanrong to a banquet at the Prince Qing's Mansion.
After a brief greeting, Chen Wanrong stayed to chat with the Princess of Prince Qing, while Su Nansheng followed the crowd to the courtyard to enjoy the flowers.
It was just the beginning of autumn. The osmanthus trees in the courtyard were in full bloom. The golden flowers were so abundant that it seemed as if the sun had been spread all over the branches, dazzlingly brilliant.
Seeing that Su Nansheng had been staring at the osmanthus for a long time without moving, Bi Tao reminded her:
"Mistress, there seem to be some familiar young ladies over there. Do you want to go over and have a chat?"
It was so boring to enjoy the flowers alone.
Su Nansheng looked in the direction Bi Tao was pointing and then said:
"We're just nodding acquaintances. There's no need to go over and make small talk deliberately. It's tiring."
It was tiring for her, and it would be tiring for them too. She had come here today sincerely to enjoy the flowers and the scenery. She didn't want to do anything else.
Just as she was speaking, Su Nansheng felt a gentle bump on her shoulder. Then a delicate voice called out before she could react:
"Oh, I'm really sorry, mistress. I didn't do it on purpose, but your standing here is a bit in the way."
Su Nansheng turned her head. A little maid who was half a head shorter than her with thin eyebrows and eyes perfunctorily curtsied and tried to slip away.
Before Su Nansheng could respond, Bi Tao stepped forward and blocked the maid. With a cold face, she said:
"Whose maid are you? You're so rude. You bumped into my mistress and now you want to just leave?"
Seeing Bi Tao getting angry, the maid showed no sign of fear. Instead, she said proudly:
"My name is Xi Rui. Sister, please forgive me. I was in a hurry to serve my young mistress, so I was a bit hasty. Oh, I almost forgot to say that my mistress is Cui Xueying, the eldest daughter of the Duke An's Mansion."
With that, the maid bypassed Bi Tao, a faint smile on her face.
Bi Tao looked at Su Nansheng angrily, waiting for just a look from her to immediately grab Xi Rui.
But Su Nansheng just frowned and stared at the maid, looking solemn as if she was thinking about something.
"Mistress?"
Bi Tao was also staring at Xi Rui. If they didn't act quickly, the maid would be out of reach.
Hearing this, Su Nansheng looked at her reassuringly:
"Don't bother with her. We're in someone else's mansion now. It's better to keep a low profile."
After saying that, she took another look in the direction where Xi Rui had disappeared.
At this time, Du Huijun, whom she had met at the banquet before, came over and said:
"She was just as arrogant with us. If a little maid is like this, I can't imagine how arrogant that Miss Cui must be."
Du Huijun's father held a fourth - rank official position, which was not a low rank, but compared with the Duke's Mansion, it was nothing.
Therefore, she didn't want to, and didn't dare to, have any conflict with the people from the Duke's Mansion.
But Su Nansheng was different. Her husband was the famous General Zhenbei, with the strength to take on that maid.
So when Xi Rui bumped into Su Nansheng just now, Du Huijun noticed.
She originally wanted to fan the flames and let Su Nansheng teach that overbearing maid a good lesson, but unexpectedly, Su Nansheng just let the maid go.
Du Huijun was both disappointed and unwilling, so she came to Su Nansheng to stir things up.
"That's right. I heard that she used to be in seclusion at the Wanfo Temple for two years, saying that she was praying for her mother. She just came back recently, but look at the way her maid acts. Where does she look like someone who has been in seclusion?"
Another young lady came over, her tone full of dissatisfaction. It seemed that she had had the same experience as them.
Seeing that both of them were looking at her eagerly, Su Nansheng smiled and said:
"It seems that the banquet is about to start. Let's go back. Don't keep the host waiting."
Seeing that Su Nansheng didn't take the bait, the two of them pouted and left together.
Su Nansheng lagged behind them by a few steps, her expression a bit cold.
Just now, she had felt that the name Cui Xueying was a bit familiar. After being reminded by the two of them, she immediately remembered why the name was familiar.
In her previous life, this Cui Xueying had disappeared. The Duke An's Mansion had gone to great lengths to search for her for several years. They offered rewards and used their official power, but they never found any trace of her, neither alive nor dead.
She remembered...
Just as she was thinking, Su Nansheng heard Bi Tao snort.
Following Bi Tao's gaze, she saw Xi Rui following a woman, presumably her mistress, Cui Xueying.
Su Nansheng couldn't help but smile. It was really a narrow path for enemies.
She hadn't planned to pursue the matter anyway, so she didn't react when she saw them.
She originally wanted to go straight back to the side hall, but unexpectedly, Cui Xueying glanced in her direction and then walked over.
"Aunt Su."
Cui Xueying smiled at her. Her eyes were as clear as autumn water, and her eyebrows were as delicate as spring mountains.
Su Nansheng just smiled and nodded, not saying a word.
Su Nansheng's attitude was cold, but Cui Xueying didn't mind. She continued:
"Aunt Su may not know me, but I've heard a lot about you. I admire you very much."
Su Nansheng glanced at her and slowed down.
If there was something to say, please just come to the point. Su Nansheng was scared when Cui Xueying talked like this.
"It doesn't matter that Aunt Su and I are not familiar. My elder brother is acquainted with your husband, and my mother often visits the Marquis's Mansion. Next time I'll go with her. Then we'll get to know each other."
Seeing that Cui Xueying was just beating around the bush and saying polite words, Su Nansheng got impatient and said directly:
"Miss Cui, do you have something to tell me?"
Cui Xueying was stunned: "No."
Seeing that Su Nansheng still looked cold, Cui Xueying smiled again:
"I just simply admire you and want to be your friend. It's nothing else."
Su Nansheng looked back, feeling a bit nervous.
It would be better if she just beat around the bush. She was even more scared like this.
"Miss, she's just an aunt."
Xi Rui muttered in a low voice behind Cui Xueying.
Bi Tao immediately glared at her, but before her angry look could reach the maid, she heard Cui Xueying say in a low voice:
"It seems that the fifth younger sister didn't teach you well. There are many people here, so I won't argue with you now. But when we get back, I'll ask the nanny to beat you with a board. Remember to accept the punishment."
Hearing this, Xi Rui didn't say anything else. She just quickly lowered her head.
Although her movement was fast, Su Nansheng still saw the hatred on her face.
"She's not your maid?"
Su Nansheng took back her gaze and looked at Cui Xueying. The latter apologized with a smile:
"My maid is very good at embroidery. Today, my fifth younger sister insisted on pestering her to embroider some patterns, so she lent Xi Rui to me. I didn't expect her to be so rude.
Aunt Su, don't be angry. I'll come to your place in person to apologize later."
Su Nansheng shook her head with a smile:
"Miss Cui, there's no need for this. She's just a little maid. She's not worth getting angry about."
"I knew Aunt Su was magnanimous. But I'll still visit you another day. Then Aunt Su must tell me all your interesting stories."
Cui Xueying playfully winked at Su Nansheng and then stepped into the hall.
Su Nansheng gave Xi Rui a meaningful look and then whispered to Bi Tao:
"Keep a close eye on Miss Cui during the banquet later. If you notice any strange behavior on her part, tell me immediately."