Although she doesn't know why, she knew very well that even if she hadn't said those, Su Xin would never show her face in front of her parents. But she just wanted to make sure she doesn't forget and accidentally come and ruin her mother's birthday.
Su Xin paused in her steps but didn't say anything but nodded to show she had acknowledged Lan Xiulin's words and continued to walk away.
Looking at her leaving back view, Lan Yansheng turned to his little sister, though he knows Lan Xiulin was only concerned about their mother that's why acted like that or else she would've ignored Su Xin, he still in a stern tone said, " Tame your rudeness, Xiulin, even if you can't accept who she is, just don't forget she is still your elder."
Everyone in the family loved to pamper her but that didn't mean they would fail to teach her the right things while loving her. Yansheng felt that he needed to warn his sister or else if not tamed her rudeness today can harm her or may be others in the future. Even if he can't force her to accept Su Xin amicably, he just hope his little sister could start to treat her neutrally.
He knows he just can't tell her that even if their father doesn't acknowledge Su Xin's existence, it will never change the factor that Su Xin is their half sibling. Not when Lan Xiulin is too young to understand the unsaid rules of their society.
Lan Xiulin wanted to retort by saying, 'she can never be her elder' but pouted at her brother, and as if trying to defend herself, she said " But she is the one who makes mother upset!"
Lan Yansheng furrowed his brows making it clear that he was displeased with her words, he said in a stern tone, " It's our mother's duty to punish her if she's upset with her, not yours! And not to forget that she was never at fault, to begin with."
At this, Lan Xiulin retorted, "She is because she is illegitimate!" but seeing her brother's stern eyes, she didn't dare to say it out loud and only whispered the last word to herself.
She knows that what her brother said was right but can she possibly not show her anger towards the person who made her kind and energetic mother frown and upset over life.
"Enough! Let's get going or we will get delayed." Lan Yansheng motioned everyone as he waved his hand and left with others following him.
Su Xin had long left and even if she had heard the content of their conversation, she might not know what kind of emotion she should show or even might not know what to feel about it, to begin with.
At this moment, she was walking towards the Dowager Duchess's Tranquility Hall as she was informed that the Dowager Duchess had been looking for her.
As if it is a rule, the elderly of the family once handing over the responsibility would retreat and watch over the family from side and would only step up when in need.
Dowager Duchess after her husband who was known as the lord of war died on the battlefield, she handed the management of the household and duties to her daughter in law and retired to live in the courtyard on the north side of the estate near the back mountain where she claimed to have memories with her husband and wanted to have some peace and enjoy the nature.
As she entered the courtyard the servants and maids bowed to her seeing her. It was obvious that the servants here treated her differently than the others in the estates.
No one could tell whether they truly respect or was pressured to because of the Dowager Duchess, might be because of their direct employer or the reason other than staying in her courtyard she had visited here the more than other courtyards in the estates.
The middle-aged woman, average in stature, but kind and warm from her face that had an aura that would make one respect her naturally, rushed forward as she saw her and after greeting her, said, "Miss Su the Old Madam is waiting for you near the pond in the backyard. Please follow me."
Su Xin nodded at her respectfully, saying," Sure, Aunt Wu." and followed the lady in.
Being beside the Dowager, Aunt Wu as her personal maid has had her fair share of experiences and it was obvious from her sharp eyes but her kind and warm looking face would always conceal it but it was obvious to those who spent days around her that she very strict and beliefs holding woman.
And the very example of it was that as soon as Aunt Wu appear in front of other servants and maids, their backs would stiffen and their hands would move firmly.
Su Xin really really find it amusing to the eyes and can't understand how this kind and warm looking woman could scare these servants to make them behave this way.
She slightly shook her head and focused on her way, looking around.
The walls have paintings and on the sides were the rare antiques but she ignored them as she had seen plenty of these.
Though it was at the back of the estates, the designs of the courtyard were of top-notch quality and as one walked inside the courtyard they could see that just as the name suggests the interior decor was calm bringing peace to mind yet it was elegant and sharp, just like the Dowager.
They soon reached the pond in the backyard, on the side of it was a cherry blossom tree, full of blooming flowers and sitting under the tree was an elderly woman whose eyes were narrowed far at the distance.
Despite at the age of seventies, clad in blue robes, her hairs were not entirely white only a few streaks here and there, expressions serene and other than some deeply etched wrinkles, her face of the void of any spot and unlike most of her age, she still look young by several years. Her eyes though narrowed, were sharp but was just the calm water of the river that had seen many vicissitudes.
Su Xin walked to stand in front of her while Aunt Wu went to stand behind her and whispered, making their presence known.
Getting the Dowager Duchess's eyes on her, Su Xin bowed halfway and in a soft and respectful tone, " Greeting to the Dowager Duchess!"
Dowager Duchess sized her up and down, though illegitimate she was still her granddaughter yet she had never addressed her as a grandmother.
As if not minding the way she addressed her, the dowager said, " Come and sit here." as she gestured at the seat beside her. Then turned to Wu Mie, saying, "Pour some tea for her."
To which Wu Mie followed.
Looking at the girl dressed in white and green pattern robes, the dowager knows she had just come back.
Su Xin thanked the Ant Wu as took the cup from her hands.
Seeing her taking the sip and nodding at the taste and not saying anything, the dowager asked her gently, "How is the taste?"
Su Xin looked at the tea in the cup for a while, suddenly recalling what happened this morning along with his words at the side hall from the morning, she said bitterly, " Stilled yet smooth, sweet yet bitter, just like life."
This was the first time Su Xin had talked about life in front of them, so they both looked at her in surprise.
Realising she had lost her composer, Su Xin adjusted her expression and looked up, smiling at them as if nothing happened.
They would have taken it as an illusion if not for the cold wind keeping them in their senses.
Seeing her concealing her emotions, the dowager hesitated, she wanted to ask her what happened but she knows that Su Xin will never tell her.
So, by changing the topic she asked, " Where have you been these days?" and before Su Xin could answer, she said, " You were also not at the academy!"
The Dowager fixed her eyes on Su Xin as if daring her to make another excuse.
Su Xin pursed her lips at this, she knows in the entire estate since she came to live here only Dowager Duchess had treated her nicely.
Even if she doesn't want to get involved with them, she knows that the dowager was genuinely concerned for her and while knowing she had been up with something, the dowager had never tried to ask her about it but now that she did, it means... She needs to soothe older woman's worry slightly.
So, after a sip from her tea, she said, "I was at the palace" after seeing the confusion in the woman's eyes, she continued, " Was helping the Crown Prince investigate something."
Making both Aunt Wu and the Dowager's eyes widen at that.