Chapter 177 Coming to Pick Up Sister and Bring Her Back Home
Upon hearing that it was someone from the Earl's Mansion, Su Chengniang's heart skipped a beat, and her first thought was that Madam Zhang had come to visit.
She quickly realized it couldn't be Zhang Shi. That old lady valued face highly in front of her, so how could she possibly lower herself to come and see her?
He quickly formed a guess in his mind, initially intending to ignore it, but not wanting to be laughed at by his neighbors, he said calmly:
"Please invite them to sit in the front hall."
Su Chengniang slowly and deliberately redid her makeup before leading her servants to the front hall.
Qiao and the others were getting impatient waiting in the front hall. The servants of the Su family were no better than those of the Earl's family. Apart from serving tea, they stood there like wooden stakes. When Wu and Gui took the initiative to go up and chat with them, they didn't say a word, just like dead people. It was really infuriating.
But as the matriarch of the family, Madam Qiao, though angry, maintained a composed demeanor and remained seated there without showing the slightest dissatisfaction.
Su Chengniang's figure finally appeared at the door. Qiao put down her teacup, stood up and stepped forward gracefully, saying: "Greetings, sister."
Su Chengniang glanced at her but did not reach out to help her. She calmly walked to the main seat and sat down.
Qiao stood there, half-squatting, frozen in place. Seeing that Su Chengniang did not help her up as she had expected, she could only grit her teeth and stand up on her own.
Su Chengniang ordered, "Serve tea."
The maidservant placed the two cups of tea back on the table, then bowed and left.
With the help of Granny Wu and Granny Gui, Madam Qiao walked to the chair at the lower end and sat down.
After settling down, Mrs. Qiao smiled and began to speak in a gentle, soothing voice:
"I heard long ago that you returned to the capital. I should have come to visit you sooner, but I was busy with one thing after another at home and only managed to find time to come today. Please don't be angry with me, sister."
After all these years, my sister is still as radiant as ever. No wonder the Earl has been so fond of her and protected her all these years.
Su Chengniang stared intently at Qiao Shi, scrutinizing her from head to toe, before finally speaking:
"Mrs. Qiao, please don't say that. My parents only have me as their daughter, and I have no sisters. Your constant calling me 'sister' makes me dizzy. Please just call me Mrs. Su."
She's a straightforward person who hates beating around the bush, so her words are always direct.
Qiao was not deterred by Su Chengniang's lack of respect. Her gentle smile was almost impossible to maintain. She lowered her head, a flash of resentment in her eyes, and when she looked up again, her face was gentle and kind once more.
"Sister, you are joking. In terms of age, I am half a year younger than you. Besides, we share the same husband. As the first wife, it is only right and proper for me to call you sister."
Qiao felt a surge of resentment in her heart. If she had a choice, she would have preferred that Su live outside for the rest of her life and never appear in front of her again.
But Mother was right. Su would return to the manor sooner or later. Rather than being passive, it was better to take the initiative and act magnanimously, which is why she took the initiative to visit. Once Su returned to the Marquis's manor, that would be Qiao's territory, where she would have the final say in many things. There would be plenty of opportunities to deal with this wretched woman later.
Furthermore, this move would allow the Earl to see her gentleness, virtue, and the grievances she had endured, further bringing the couple closer together.
Seeing that Qiao was sitting there with her eyes darting around, and that the two old women behind her seemed to be following the rules but were actually looking around without making a sound, Su Chengniang felt a surge of annoyance.
She didn't want to waste words with Mrs. Qiao, so she asked directly, "Speak, what brings you here? If it's just the same old nonsense about visiting me, then I'm afraid I won't keep you company."
Madam Qiao replied with a smile, "I came here this time naturally to invite my sister back to the manor with me. The Earl said that my sister was living outside to observe mourning for your father and mother. Now that the mourning period is over, it is not appropriate for my sister to live alone outside. It would be better for her to return to the manor as soon as possible."
Su Chengniang glanced at her with a half-smile and said, "Who said I'm all alone? Even when the Lord is busy, he still comes back often, doesn't he?"
Madam Qiao gritted her teeth in anger, but still smiled and said, "That's true, I misspoke. But this isn't Uncle's place after all. It's not proper for Sister to live outside. To outsiders, it might seem like the Lord is the one living outside—"
Qiao: You decide, you decide!
Su Chengniang said dismissively, "They're just some gossipy women deliberately saying things to slander me. I don't take it to heart, so what can anyone do to me?"
Qiao said with a forced smile, "Sister is right, but I came here today with the sincere intention of taking you back to the manor. Please don't misunderstand my good intentions."
Su Chengniang: "You really want me to go back?"
Mr. Qiao nodded: "Of course."
Su Chengniang suddenly laughed: "But if I go back, my sister's status as a secondary wife will be confirmed. Are you really not worried?"
Suddenly, Mrs. Qiao covered her face with a handkerchief and said in a sorrowful voice:
"I know that my sister has had many misunderstandings about me over the years, but in all honesty, I have never had any intention of competing with my sister for favor. It's just that there are many rumors circulating outside, which are really detrimental to the reputation of my family. Some even think that I am the one who is interfering and preventing my sister from returning to the family."
Therefore, I have informed Mother today that I have come personally to take my elder sister back. From now on, in the Earl's mansion, I will always defer to my elder sister. We sisters will live in harmony and serve our husbands and mothers-in-law together, is that alright?"
Su Chengniang sneered, glanced at Liu Mama beside her, and Liu Mama understood and turned to leave.
A moment later, he came in again, carrying a tray with a celadon teacup filled with tea on it.
Granny Liu placed the teacup in front of Madam Qiao and said with a smile, "Madam Qiao, you are a concubine. Now that you are meeting the principal wife, you should offer her tea. As the saying goes, it's better to be lucky than early. So why not offer her this cup of tea today?"
Qiao was stunned by Liu Mama's words. She stared at the tea that was brought to her, somewhat at a loss. Wu Mama and Gui Mama behind her were also sweating profusely with anxiety.
Their lady has lived a life of luxury for so many years. Apart from being subservient to the old lady and the master, who would dare to ask her to serve tea?
But just now, in order to appease this Su Shi, the lady of the house had spoken too confidently, calling her "sister" over and over again. Now, Su Shi was actually taking advantage of the situation and asking the lady of the house to serve her tea. This was a serious matter.
Seeing that Qiao hesitated to take the teacup, Su Chengniang sneered:
"What? Didn't my sister just say that I am the most important person in everything? Let's serve this tea first and then talk about other things."
"you!"
Qiao was so angry that she didn't want to pretend anymore. Just as she was about to point her finger at Su Chengniang and tear off her mask, she heard hurried footsteps outside.
Mrs. Qiao knew exactly who had come, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Nanping Bo strode in, but slowed down upon seeing the scene inside. However, since the two women did not appear to be at odds as he had imagined, he breathed a sigh of relief.
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