Surely, if she wants then she can still choose not to tell the Dowager about it but even if she chose to keep her distance from the Duke's estate, she possible can't deny that since she had been here, in the estate not only anyone looked down on her but they also never came to bother her once and she knows this is all because the Dowager never allow it as she had already warned everyone in the estate to not cause trouble with her in the first place.
Including the Duchess and the little naughty Young Miss Lan Xiulin. She is assured that Duchess even without the warning wouldn't but Xiulin is another case.
At first, she really thought that it was because of the Dowager Empress but in these past eight years, she had realised that Dowager Duchess was genuinely nice to her.
Because even if she had warned the others in estates because of the Dowager Empress, she doesn't need to keep visiting her courtyard or much less to keep tabs on her daily needs or activities and if she really wanted to force the truth out of her mouth or wanted to know where she often goes for many days, the dowager had many ways to find out because if she can't then being Duchess for decades would have been in vain.
She had long ago found out that the Dowager knows that she is not staying at the academy in recent years and have been waiting for her to investigate or come to question her but not only the Dowager didn't do any of these but she has been patient with her by never questioning her for not telling the truth.
Su Xin sighed at her thoughts and couldn't help but feel that she had really given this old lady a hard time who have only been nice to her, never despising her because her being illegitimate.
After being surprised, a deep frown etched deeply on the dowager's face.
Others would find being close to the Crown Prince is a privilege but she, who has been closer to the royal family for more than a decade knows that it is a privilege that comes with its own cost depending on the person and the relationship shared between.
Even though the Dowager Empress had told her about Su Xin's existence, knowing it was only because Su Xin's mother was close to the Empress and had saved the latter's life more than once, she never thought much of it.
As considering the incident two decades ago, she had long ago guessed that Su Xin's mother might be the Empress's personal maid or a palace maid. Or else why would an unmarried lady force a married man to sleep with her whom she doesn't love if not for his status to wealth?
And for Su Xin to help the Crown Prince in the investigation only means that the latter trusted the former much enough to entrust such things to her as if the investigation involves the attention of the Crown Prince then it might be something very important.
Dowager Duchess glanced at the girl sipping her tea with a placid expression and the only that told her that she is enjoying her tea was how after every gulp her lips parted as if savouring the aftertaste. Making her appearance exceptional.
She knows from the moment she had seen Su Xin that she would become a beauty and after their first conversation, she had realised that she not the typical beauty with no brains, she is a remarkable girl but after seeing her grow from the side in these past eight years, she finally knows that she is a unique girl.
At first, when Su Xin without any help from the Duke's estate got into the academy, she thought it might be the imperial family who had helped her but later she investigated when it came to her expenses, she got to know that Su Xin never received any help from the imperial family not even in her admission.
At that time she finally realised that Su Xin had her own secrets but she had never forced her to tell her. Firstly because if Su Xin wanted then she should have done it in the beginning, and secondly, she can tell that Su Xin from he beginning never wanted to do anything with the estate.
It was just that she had never intended to pry into her secret but even if Su Xin never shared her achievements with her, that didn't mean, she can't get to know about her grandaughter's achievements through internal sources.
And from that, she knows how talented and capable her granddaughter is at this young age and also about her leaving the academy for several days many times but it was just that even after these years she hasn't gotten her granddaughter's trust to make her share her joys and problems with her!
She had long realised that Su Xin had some money with her as in the durations of academy Su Xin never once had used the duke's estate money for her expenses. Even the maids she had brought get their salary and living expenses from her.
But even she had money, just how much money could a maid save in her life that her daughter could not only take care of her expenses but also others while living comfortably?
This only meant that whenever she left the academy, she was always out on work!
This thought only deepen her frown as she asked herself. 'Just what Su Xin do these years?'
Gathering her thoughts, the dowager finally asked, "How was it going?" Still, trying to think of a way to make Su Xin tell her what kind of she does!
Su Xin kept her empty cup on the table, glancing at her, said, "Not smooth but will be over soon!"
Cathing the meaning behind the girl's words the dowager narrowed her eyes and her lips tucked down at the corner, asking, "Are you going again?"
She just got the hold of the girl and she was going again, how annoying!
Su Xin, seeing her behaving this way, looked away to hide her smile, nodded before saying, " Probably for half a month."
Making dowager frown at that. Thinking of the future, the Dowager doesn't want her to be involved with the Crown Prince and doesn't matter how much these words were on the tip of her tongue, she knows Su Xinhas her own beliefs and plans.
She at the end sighed before asking," When you are leaving?"
Su Xin pondered for a while before answering, " Maybe tomorrow or the day after?"
The dowager nodded before nervously saying," Just take care of yourself during this and if anything happens just inform me, alright?"
Su Xin looked at her at this but nodded later, with countless thoughts in mind she suddenly felt exhausted. So, with that, she stood up and said," I will excuse myself, for now, and I will visit you as soon I come back." after a pause, she said, "If you want me, you can just tell Lin Li, she has means to reach me."
Her last words cleared the dowager's doubts as the dowager had been suspecting that every time she would send someone to her courtyard to ask about her Su Xin would appear the same or the next day.
'So it means that if she hadn't asked then Su Xin wouldn't have come back?' Though the dowager wanted to question she instantly felt that her question was ridiculous because if Su Xin really doesn't want to come, she would have completely left the estate.
Wait! Does this not mean that Su Xin always came back when she got to know that she had asked about her because Su Xin cares for her?' The dowager's eyes lit up at this thought as she nodded finally at her, giving her permission to leave.
After getting the permission, she bowed to the dowager before turning to leave but after taking a few steps she paused, looking over her shoulder, said, "You are already old don't sit for long here, it's windy!" with that she strode off.