Chapter 269: Take Away the Documents
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
On the first day of her arrival at the Marquis’s Manor, she had already familiarized herself with the people there.
When Su Yingxue went to the parlor for breakfast, Liu Shulan had already prepared a sumptuous table, waiting for her.
Upon seeing her, Liu Shulan immediately greeted her respectfully. “Greetings, Eldest Young Miss. Please take a seat.”
Su Yingxue raised an eyebrow. She thought to herself that Liu Shulan was indeed capable. Despite being the Marquis’s concubine, she was still so deferential in front of her.
Su Yingxue didn’t rebuke her immediately, and Su Dingheng felt sorry for Liu Shulan. “Lan’er, what are you doing? You’re older than Yingxue, and you’re making her uncomfortable.”
“Am I causing any discomfort? The Eldest Young Miss of the Marquis’s Manor is of such high status. 1 am just a concubine, so it’s only right for me to show respect to the Eldest Young Miss,” Liu Shulan spoke tactfully as if she wanted to elevate Su Yingxue.
Her words were technically correct, but Su Dingheng looked at Su Yingxue with a trace of displeasure.
Su Yingxue sneered and took a seat beside Su Dingheng. She picked up her chopsticks and said, “Lady Liu’s status is still unclear, so there’s nothing wrong with me accepting her courtesy.”
“You, what are you saying!” Su Dingheng’s face stiffened. “I married your aunt yesterday. You should address her as ‘Aunt’ now. How can you accept her courtesy so casually?”
“Isn’t it a bit too early to call her ‘Aunt’ now?” Su Yingxue replied casually.
Liu Shulan was pleased. The worse Su Yingxue’s attitude towards her, the more sympathy she could gain from Su Dingheng.
She quickly followed Su Yingxue’s lead and said, “Yes, if the Eldest Young Miss doesn’t want to address me as ‘Aunt’, I can also serve as a servant and attend to the Eldest Young Miss!”
“Lan’er, what are you doing as a servant!” Su Dingheng scolded. “Yingxue, quickly apologize to your aunt! I thought you had become more obedient yesterday, but 1 didn’t expect you to be today!”
Su Yingxue took a bite of a silver silk roll and looked at Su Dingheng innocently. “Father, what I meant was that you haven’t submitted the documents for taking a concubine to the Ministry of Rites yet. Lady Liu hasn’t been officially recognized. According to etiquette, 1 really can’t address her as ‘Aunt’ yet. It’s because you were slow. How can you blame me?”
There was a hint of grievance in her tone, which left Liu Shulan stunned.
Su Dingheng suddenly realized. “That’s right, I still need to go to the Ministry of Rites to submit the documents. Yingxue, it’s Father’s fault for not thinking it through!”
Su Yingxue was right. As the Marquis, he had to go through the proper process when taking a concubine. This included visiting the ancestral hall and submitting documents to the Ministry of Rites. These steps were essential.
“So, Father, after breakfast, you should hurry to the Ministry of Rites. When you’re done and return, I’ll personally pour tea and address her differently,” Su Yingxue said graciously and thoughtfully.
Su Dingheng was deeply relieved. “You are indeed a good child. It was me who didn’t treat you well before. 1 understand your intentions now.”
Su Yingxue smiled gently, but there was a coldness hidden in her eyes.
Of course, he understood her intentions. She had already planned everything for him!
Su Yingxue continued to eat her breakfast as if nothing had happened. Since Su Dingheng had praised her, Liu Shulan couldn’t help but flatter her.
Liu Shulan was extremely puzzled, but she couldn’t decipher Su Yingxue’s intentions. She could only take it step by step.
After being away from the Marquis’s Manor for so many years, her understanding of courtly customs was not as thorough as Su Yingxue’s, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis.
She felt a sense of unease as if she were crossing a river by feeling the stones.
However, despite Su Yingxue’s seemingly casual demeanor, Liu Shulan’s vigilance towards her continued to rise.
She was too enigmatic!