Chapter 192 Chance Encounter
Su Zipei responded with joy and was about to leave with Dongfang Rui. Suddenly, Zhu Yan pulled her clothes. Then she remembered that she had to arrange for Zhu Yan… It was really troublesome.
Su Zipei thought of that and then stopped. Dongfang Rui noticed and turned around. He asked, “Zipei, what’s wrong?”
Su Zipei affected embarra.s.sment for a moment and then said sheepishly, “Dad, actually… Mom had a quarrel with Father Su yesterday. She is divorced and nowhere to go now. If I just left, then…”
“This is easy to do.”
Dongfang Rui heard it and breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and invited Zhu Yan. He said, “Mrs. Zhu, since you are already free, how about live in my mansion? I’m not familiar with the things about Zipei. I need to consult you.”
Zhu Yan heard that and relieved. She said with great joy, “Thank you for taking in me!”
“I need to thank you.” Dongfang Rui shook his head with a smile and said, “Come on with me.”
When Su Zipei and Zhu Yan got on the carriage, Wu Bin ran over and asked with a low voice, “Master, how to arrange the honoraria?”
Dongfang Rui looked slightly serious and thought for a moment. Then he said, “Since we have carried the honoraria here, there is no reason to take them back. Although the Su Family did not know the ident.i.ty of Zipei, she didn’t need to worry about food and clothing. Now since Mrs. Zhu has been divorced, and we have given them the honoraria, the Su Family is no longer related to my daughter, Zipei.”
“Yes, Master! I know what to do.”
Wu Bin said. He understood the meaning of Master. The Master wanted Su Zipei to make a clean break with the Su Family…
He turned around and glared at the mother and daughter who were whispering happily in the carriage. It seemed that Su Zipei and Zhu Yan had been tired of the Su Family. They left without sadness.
It seemed that the morality of the Miss was worrying under the indoctrination of Zhu Yan.
On this day, the news that Lord Rui’s daughter who had been separated with him for more than ten years returned to the mansion spread all over the city. It caused a great disturbance. Everyone was discussing which woman was so lucky that she could be a member of the royal family in one step.
When they heard that this matter was related to the Su Family, everyone was surprised.
“Unexpectedly, it’s Su Zipei who acted like a fool at the Baishou Feast, isn’t it?”
“Are you sure that it’s not mistaken? Isn’t it Su Li?”
“Gee, the Su Family is really good at hiding!”
“I heard that Mrs. Zhu secretly adopted Su Zipei in those days. The day before the news came out, the head of the Su Family divorced his wife. It’s like the saying that throw good money after bad!”
“Unexpectedly. The Su Family loses a lot, doesn’t it?”
“…”
The news was uncovered one piece after another piece. For a time, whether students of the National Academy or common people, they all chatted about the family affairs of Lord Rui at leisure.
The Su Family, the center of the event, kept silent. Su Huanli was still in the coma. The event was a heavy blow for him. On the contrary, the Lord Rui’s Mansion was bursting with happiness. The mansion had been cheerless for more than ten years. Now it was decorated with lanterns and festoons. All servants and maids were joyful.
“Miss, are you satisfied with the clothes?”
The maid was a dab hand at dressing her master up. She combed Su Zipei hair and made a beautiful and exquisite hair style. The jewels on Su Zipei’s hair were l.u.s.trous and brilliant. She said, “It is the latest style that I learned from the palace. The princesses in the palace are also dressed like this.”
“Really?”
Su Zipei’s eyes brightened. Before coming to the Lord Rui’s Mansion, she never thought that there would be a whole room to put her clothes and shoes. She never thought that jewels and hairpins could pile up several boxes for her to select. When she asked the maid to open the box, her eyes shone in the bright of jewels at that moment.
“Yes. Miss, you are now a princess. The standard of dressing is naturally according to the princess. It should not be worse than other princess.”
The maid spoke sugared words, which amused Su Zipei.
Looking at Su Zipei’s big smile in the mirror, the maid was envious in her heart. How lucky Su Zipei was. She used to be a countrified village woman but suddenly became a princess.
The maid was specially cultivated in the palace. She could have become a maid in the imperial palace or may become an imperial concubine. In that case, she would not be worried about food and clothing. However, she was transferred by Lord Rui to become a maid of Su Zipei.
However, as long as she could amuse Su Zipei, the days in the Lord Rui’s Mansion would be quite good.
Suddenly, the door was opened.
The maid came to her sense. She quickly bowed her head and went out. The person who came in was Lord Rui, Dongfang Rui.
“Dad!”
Su Zipei got up and gave a salute. Looking at Su Zipei who dressed up dazzlingly and had a princess manner, Dongfang Rui was gratified in his heart. He said gently, “Zipei, your status has changed. As a princess, you should not be rude and arrogant as before. You need someone to teach you etiquette. Follow me.”
“Ok, dad.” Su Zipei responded and quickly followed him. She was filled with antic.i.p.ation. She kept on telling herself in heart that she was a princess now!
The opponents in the future would no longer be like Su Li who didn’t have aristocratic status. She should think in the long term. Those princesses whose ident.i.ties were equal to hers should be the goals that she would be compare with in the future!
Taking a deep breath, Su Zipei calmed herself down and followed Dongfang Rui to get on the carriage.
At noon, the carriage stopped in front of the National Academy. Dongfang Rui took Su Zipei’s hand with a smile and got off. He gently said, “You will learn in the National Academy. Listen to the teacher and learn etiquette seriously.”
Su Zipei was shocked. She said, “Dad, I’m a student of the National Academy, aren’t I?”
“Of course not. If you want to become a real student of the National Academy, you must pa.s.s the examination. Now I just help you get in by the backdoor, so, you can only learn etiquette here.”
Dongfang Rui explained while shaking his head and smiling. Then they walked in. He was a member of the Dongfang Family. The rules of the National Academy were set by the ancestors of the Dongfang Family. As a descendant, he couldn’t break the rules of the ancestors.
“Besides… Zipei, three days later, it will be a lucky day. I will hold a banquet in the mansion. You will change your family name to Dongfang. In these days, listen to the teacher and learn etiquette seriously. Don’t make me lose face on that day.”
Dongfang Rui warned her and was slightly perturbed. However, he saw that Su Zipei looked so happy and nodded without hesitation.
Dongfang Rui slightly frowned. Who cultivated her such temperament? There was a saying that a leopard could not change its spots. It was not easy for him to help Su Zipei have the tolerance and thoughts of the Dongfang Family.
At this time, Mammy Li, who had a basket on her arm, pa.s.sed by the gate of the National Academy. Every day when she went to the kitchen yard that she rented, she would pa.s.s by here.
Today, there was a magnificent carriage in front of the National Academy. She couldn’t help but look at it. However, when she saw Dongfang Rui smile in front of the carriage, she was stunned instantly. She dropped the basket, and the eggs fell out on the ground.
“Master… and… Is that Third Miss? The jade pendant!”
Mammy Li was stunned and said to herself, “Is Third Miss little Miss? No… Miss gave birth to little Miss 16 years ago. Even little Miss’s age is miscalculated, it should not be 15. Who gave Su Zipei the jade pendant? Zhu Yan?”
As soon as Mammy Li thought of Zhu Yan’s selfish face, she instantly realized. She could not help but tremble with excitement.
It turned out that Su Li, who she had served for so many years, was little Miss, right?!
Zhu Yan abused little Miss since little Miss’s childhood. It turned out that little Miss was not her own child. Su Li was the daughter of Miss Su Yun, her original master!
“Miss, I found little Miss! It turns out that I have been with her!”
Mammy Li cried and laughed in the street like a lunatic. Suddenly, she realized that there was no time to cry. Master mistook Su Zipei for his daughter. It must be Zhu Yan who placed obstacles in the way. She took away the jade pendant and made her daughter become the princess!
She couldn’t bear it!
“Master!”
Regardless of the basket on the ground, she rushed to the National Academy. However, she was stopped by a vigilant gate guard before she walked in the door. He shouted, “Stop! No one can enter without a token!”
“The token!”
Mammy Li came to her sense and quickly looked for it. She suddenly remembered that Su Li’s token was thrown into the basket. She looked back at the basket and looked at Dongfang Rui who walked far away in the National Academy. She was so anxious that she sweated.
What should she do? It was too late to go back to take the token. However, if she didn’t go back to take it, she couldn’t enter the National Academy…
My Goodness!
Why did I meet Master but have no opportunity to talk to him?!
Mammy Li covered her chest by her hand. She shouted hopelessly, “Master, she is not your daughter! I’m Xiaocui! Please look back!”
Mammy Li’s voice was high, but the road was too long. Neither Dongfang Rui nor Su Zipei heard her. They still laughed and walked far away.
As soon as Mammy Li couldn’t see Dongfang Rui, she lost all her strength and fell on the ground. The gatekeeper of the National Academy drove her away impatiently and shouted, “Lunatic, get away quickly! If you get the National Academy’s gate dirty, I will have somebody arrest you!”
Mammy Li trembled and managed to stand up. She slowly turned back to pick up the basket. When she saw the token carved “Su Li” lying in the basket, her eyes suddenly brightened.
Yes, little Miss was smarter than Miss. She would find a way to meet Master.
Thinking of this, Mammy Li took the token and rushed to the Affiliated School instead of cooking the meal. When she destructively rushed to Su Li’s study, she realized that her whole body was dirty.
“Little… Miss…”
Su Li put down the bottle and raised her head. She frowned and asked with concern, “Mammy, why are you in such a mess? What happened?”
Mammy Li grabbed her clothes with both hands. She looked up at Su Li but quickly looked away.
Destiny played tricks on Su Li. She looked like neither Miss nor Master. Because of this, Mammy Li didn’t recognize Su Li even if she served Su Li for many years. Now she accepted the fact that Su Li was the daughter of Miss. She found that the temperament of Su Li was really like that of Miss.
Seeing Mammy Li act like this, Su Li stopped frowning. She said with a smile, “Mammy, do you want say something to me?”
Mammy Li looked up with amazement. Su Li continued to say, “The news of Su Zipei spreads quickly. You should hear of it. As early as in the Qinghe Province, I found that you are not simple. You were much more familiar with the layout of the Qinghe Girls’ School than anyone else. After coming to Yunjing City, many servants were at a loss. Only you adapted well, as if you have lived in Yunjing City for many years. Now, do you finally want to tell me the truth?”
Mammy Li heard that and smiled. It turned out that she had been seen through by little Miss. But this time, she did not feel creepy, instead, she was relieved.
Little Miss indeed inherited Miss’s cleverness and she was more outstanding than Miss.
“My name is Li Xiaocui. I used to be the personal maid of your birth mother! Miss, you are the biological daughter of Lord Rui!”
Mammy Li signed and finally told the secret hidden in her heart for many years. But, when she looked up, she did not see any emotional fluctuations on Su Li’s face.
She was totally indifferent.