"First Madam Luo, what brings you here today?"
For someone you donât get along with, thereâs really no need to engage too much.
Seeing the First Madam Luo only brought a few maidservants with her, there was also a girl in pink by her side, who seemed unfamiliar, as if she wasnât from the Luo family.
"Is your younger sister here?" She didnât answer Yang Chuxiaâs question but asked about Yang Xiayun instead.
This made Yang Chuxia raise her eyebrows slightly.
"Yunyun? What does the First Madam want with Yunyun?"
First Madam Luo smiled, "Madam Ye, this is my niece Susu from my maternal family. She just reached adulthood this year. There arenât many girls in the Li Residence. Susu either embroiders or plays the zither when sheâs at home. Itâs not good for a young girl to be cooped up inside all day. So, I thought Susu is about the same age as your younger sister. Since weâll all be one family in the future anyway, itâs better for them to get acquainted early, play music together, compose poetry, become familiar with one another so that when they join the residence, they can manage the harem together."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia looked directly at the young lady named Susu.
She had phoenix eyes, willow-leaf eyebrows, an oval face, thin lips adorned with a pearly luster â not as striking as Luo Linfei, but certainly not plain.
Seeing Yang Chuxiaâs gaze, she softly greeted, "Hello, Madam Ye."
Listening to First Madam Luoâs implication, a family? What kind of family, could it possibly be related to Linhao?
If so, then she understood. She wondered why the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been so quiet. They once went so far as to introduce people from Princess Consort Leâs side to secure Linhaoâs marriage, so why would they now allow Linhao to marry someone they couldnât control?
It turns out they had been waiting for this!
"Family?" Yang Chuxia chuckled, "Oneâs surname is Yang, the otherâs is Li; even five hundred years ago, they wouldnât have been a family. However..."
First Madam Luo, used to Yang Chuxiaâs unreserved way of speaking, wasnât angered by this. She had expected it even before she came, but she was curious about what Yang Chuxia would say next.
She couldnât help but look towards Yang Chuxia.
Glancing at the two, Yang Chuxia laughed, "But if this Susu were also to marry into the Luo family, it would be different. Just now from the First Madamâs words, it seems like thatâs the case, right? But which family member would Susu be marrying? From what Iâve heard, the other five young masters of the Luo family are already wed, and as for Linhao, the date is already set, unless Susu is going to become someone elseâs..."
The last word "concubine" wasnât spoken by Yang Chuxia, but everyone present understood her meaning.
"How could that be?" First Madam Luo replied, "Regardless of how you put it, my niece is a legitimate young lady from the Li Residence, skilled in all the arts â music, chess, calligraphy, painting. How could she compare to some girl from who-knows-where deep in the mountains? How could she possibly become a concubine?"
"Oh!"
Having no interest in her boasting, Yang Chuxia just let out an "Oh" and left it at that.
Seeing her not responding, First Madam Luo had to speak for herself, "My niece has already received Her Highness Noble Princess Consortâs decree; she will marry into the Luo Residence alongside your younger sister to jointly manage the harem for Linhao, spreading the Luo familyâs branches, blooming and bearing fruit. I thought since Susu and your sister will eventually live under the same roof, itâs best to bring her over to bond a little with your sister."
"Moreover, Madam Ye, you know, living in the Capital City, itâs necessary to interact with various residences. While the men worry about state affairs in the court, women need to maintain relationships with different households in the harem. You have been in the city for many days, but I notice that you donât really interact with the other households, and your sister hasnât left the royal residence. For families like ours, this wonât do. Since my niece was raised in the Capital City, sheâs acquainted with many young ladies from different residences. I thought your sister may not be familiar with the rules of socializing with other families, so I brought her here to both get accustomed and to guide your sister."