The Li Family retreated knowing it was a difficult situation.
Du Yunluo smiled sweetly as she sat next to Old Mrs. Xia, saying, "Grandmother, it’s a good thing you answered firmly, otherwise they might have said sothing about third brother and then again about the fourth brother."
Old Mrs. Xia gave Du Yunluo a sidelong glance, pointed at the Beauty Hamr beside her, and waited until Lanzhi cleverly began massaging her legs. The old lady then snorted, "Do you think Grandmother is senile?"
Years ago, before Du Yuntao married into the Yan Family, Old Mrs. Xia had considered a familial connection with the Li Family. However, when she tentatively brought it up, they pretended not to understand.
Old Mrs. Xia dropped the idea and chose to bring Yan Family into the family instead.
After Yan Family married into the family, they went to Lindong with the main branch, so Old Mrs. Xia didn’t have much contact with her. However, Yang Family often praised this daughter-in-law in family letters, making Old Mrs. Xia very satisfied.
The Du Family had Du Yunluo, who married well, and Du Yunhu, who married down; what matters most is mutual satisfaction.
The Li Family, though their status was comparable, was not satisfactory, so they gave up.
Unexpectedly, as life turned, the situation reversed today.
It is common to flatter the high and trample the low. If it’s truly suitable, past matters can be overlooked, and one should not be overly calculating; otherwise, it would make one appear petty.
Huaili truly was discussing marriage, and there wasn’t a single lie; as for Du Yundi, Old Mrs. Xia had only one thing to say: that was sothing Du Gongfu should worry about, and she absolutely would not interfere.
Du Yunluo, holding onto Old Mrs. Xia, giggled and said, "How could Grandmother be senile?"
Old Mrs. Xia lightly patted the back of Du Yunluo’s hand.
After the laughter, Old Mrs. Xia earnestly told a few girls, "No matter what, keep this matter to yourselves, don’t speak of it outside. It would make things difficult for the young lady."
Everyone agreed.
Even though they didn’t want to form a connection, there was no need to make enemies either.
With this polite refusal, Old Mrs. Li would also be more cautious in visiting in the future; there’s no need to tear the face off.
At night, compared to the lively day, it suddenly beca much quieter.
Mrs. Zhen stood for a long ti facing the empty East Cross Courtyard before turning back inside.
Early the next morning, Du Huaixi went out.
The Imperial Consort arrived in the capital, and everyone in the Ministry of Rites was so busy their feet didn’t touch the ground.
Because he needed to marry off his eldest daughter, he received approval from the Minister of Rites and the two Assistant Ministers, so he did not go to personally welco her at the Qingliu Ferry. However, on the day she arrived in the capital, he definitely could not shirk his duty.
Many officials in the governnt office had stayed up all night.
When Du Huaixi arrived, they all greeted him, congratulating him while regretting not attending the banquet the previous day.
Vice Minister Shi, with dark circles under his eyes, shook his head and said, "I missed drinking at Yunru’s banquet, next ti when Yunluo gets married, I’ll drink three vats for sure."
"Of course, of course, Yunluo’s marriage still needs a ***** to diate."
In Qinghui Garden, Mrs. Zhen sat in the room, and hearing soone lift the bead curtain and enter, she turned her head to see only Du Yunluo, and she couldn’t help but sigh.
Du Yunluo, understanding Mrs. Zhen’s mood, playfully teased her with a couple of words, making Mrs. Zhen unable to hold back a smile. The mother and daughter headed together to Lianfu Garden.
Old Mrs. Xia was lively all day yesterday, and today she was a bit tired, so after the greetings, she dismissed everyone.
Du Yunluo went back with Mrs. Zhen.
Mrs. Zhen propped a pillow and leaned on the couch, half-closing her eyes and said, "Your father went out early in the morning. I heard the Imperial Consort arrives in the capital today, and the Princely Heir is coming back with her."
At the ntion of Mu Lianxiao, Du Yunluo was montarily lost in thought, and after a long pause, she said, "Even if he cos back, I can’t see him."
Her tone was wistful.
Mrs. Zhen pointed at Du Yunluo, seeing her pitiful expression; she couldn’t bring herself to scold her, only shaking her head and sighing, "What would you do if you saw him? Go to the street to see the Imperial Consort’s procession and squeeze among the crowd just to watch the Princely Heir ride past you on a horse, watching his figure from afar to near, then from near to far, does that satisfy you?"
Du Yunluo blinked her eyes.
She just wanted to see him.
Day and night, for fifty years.
Not having married, she could hardly see him easily; being able to watch him from afar to near, then from near to far, would satisfy her.
These words, Du Yunluo dared not utter to Mrs. Zhen, afraid that she would be angry enough to hit her with a pillow.
But even if unspoken, could Mrs. Zhen not see through Du Yunluo’s little thoughts?
"That’s your only ambition!" Mrs. Zhen said helplessly.
Du Yunluo squeezed next to Mrs. Zhen, saying sweet words until Mrs. Zhen finally let her go.
Last night, with her eldest daughter’s marriage, Mrs. Zhen tossed and turned without sleep, worrying if Du Yunru was mistreated at the Shao Family, if her son-in-law was kind and considerate; had it not been for rembering that Du Huaixi had to leave early in the morning, Mrs. Zhen might have stayed sleepless until dawn.
Now with so free ti, drowsiness overca her, and Mrs. Zhen soon fell into a light sleep.
The couch was spacious; Du Yunluo also took off her shoes, curled up beside Mrs. Zhen, and pulled a thin blanket over both of them, falling asleep as well.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of whether Mu Lianxiao, who had been moving between Lindong and the ferry all month, had gotten tanned under the strong sun.
Then she thought that since Mu Lianxiao practiced martial arts, he was already tanned like bronze; he probably couldn’t get any darker...
In her drowsiness, she fell asleep.
What Du Yunru said was true, Du Yunluo was a restless sleeper, and before half an hour passed, Mrs. Zhen was woken up by her fidgeting.
Holding the fidgety Du Yunluo in her arms, Mrs. Zhen unconsciously curved her lips into a smile.
Her little girl, even though she had soone in her thoughts, at her core, was still a little girl clinging to her mother.
At night, Du Yunluo rested in Qinghui Garden.
Since she had recuperated last ti, and the West Courtyard was prepared, Mrs. Zhen had kept it in order for Du Yunluo to stay whenever she wished.
As dawn broke the next day, Du Yunluo awoke.
As Jin Rui assisted her with dressing and grooming, she smiled and said, "Miss, are you thinking about the eldest sister? I just got so hot water from the small kitchen and heard that the Madam is also awake and looking forward to the first visit back ho."
Jin Rui styled Du Yunluo’s hair and added hairpins according to her usual preferences.
Du Yunluo checked herself in the mirror from all angles and nodded, "You look nice."
Jin Rui, smiling brightly, started tidying up the dressing table, but Du Yunluo said, "Take it down."
Jin Rui was montarily stunned.
"I look this good, it will outshine my big sister. Help tone it down a bit."
Jin Rui couldn’t help but burst out laughing, bending over, as Du Yunluo said with a serious face such cheeky words, if Du Yunru heard them, she would surely pounce on her to scratch her.
Amidst the laughter, Jin Rui followed Du Yunluo’s wishes, changing her headpiece, and said, "Miss, you are naturally beautiful, it’s impossible to hide it."
"Just do your best."
Jin Rui couldn’t stop herself from laughing again.
Upon reaching the main house, Jin Rui playfully recounted this to Mrs. Zhen, who laughed uncontrollably, pulling Du Yunluo over to pat her twice on her lap, "I’ll give you a lesson for Yunru, always talking nonsense."
In Lianfu Garden, everyone eagerly awaited.
They didn’t have to wait long before Du Yunru and Shao Yuanzhou returned together.
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