Lanzhi laid out the prayer mat, and Du Yunru and Shao Yuanzhou bowed their heads to the elders, then acknowledged their siblings one by one.
Mrs. Zhen watched with a smile, observing her son-in-law with increasing fondness.
Du Yunluo also observed Shao Yuanzhou.
Before, she hadn’t had many chances to et this brother-in-law. She only rembered him as a gentle and courteous scholar, who had earned his reputation. His career wasn’t particularly impressive, but the Shao Family had always been noble, and he was well-regarded. He and Du Yunru were deeply affectionate.
Looking now, her brother-in-law seed younger than she rembered, his face as smooth as jade, cultured and refined. Still studying in the academy and not yet in officialdom, he lacked the airs of an official and exhibited more youthful humility.
Du Gongfu smiled and asked Shao Yuanzhou a few questions.
He had read Shao Yuanzhou’s writings before, and Du Yundi had praised this classmate highly, which sparked the idea of the marriage.
On the day he blocked the door, he heard people say that the new son-in-law spoke eloquently, holding his ground against the three Du brothers. It was partly because during door-blocking, it was important not to push the new son-in-law too far and to make appropriate concessions, but it was clear Shao Yuanzhou had real talent and learning.
Du Gongfu favored such scholars.
Since there were mostly won in the back courtyard, after acknowledging family and paying respects, Shao Yuanzhou followed his father-in-law and the uncles and brothers forward.
When bowing to take his leave, Shao Yuanzhou instinctively glanced at Du Yunru. Their eyes t, and Du Yunru blushed, quickly turning her head to talk to Du Yunluo beside her, while Shao Yuanzhou smiled lightly and left.
Du Yunluo, being sharp-eyed, saw the little gestures between her sister and brother-in-law clearly. But seeing Du Yunru’s ears turn as red as dripping blood, she simply pursed her lips and chuckled, refraining from teasing her further.
Du Yunru felt guilty, and when Du Yunluo laughed, even the back of her neck burned, until Old Mrs. Xia called her, resolving the situation.
Old Mrs. Xia held Du Yunru, inspecting her thoroughly.
Her hair was styled in a married woman’s fashion, she wore a silver-red high-waisted short jacket, with an outer garnt embroidered with a hundred butterflies among flowers. Du Yunru, taller in stature, appeared even more upright and slender.
Her wrist, white as jade, wore a bracelet of high-quality mutton fat jade.
Old Mrs. Xia knew well the jewelry Du Yunru had in her dowry, and this jade bracelet wasn’t from the Du family, so it must have been given by the Shao family. Seeing how well-nourished and translucent the bracelet was, not like a new item, Old Mrs. Xia nodded subtly, guessing it might be an heirloom passed to daughters-in-law by the Shao family.
It seed Du Yunru had a decent ti at the Shao Family these two days.
Old Mrs. Xia felt slightly relieved, nodding to Mrs. Zhen.
Mrs. Zhen understood, leading Du Yunru back to Qinghui Garden.
The East Cross Courtyard remained the sa, though so items had been sent to the Shao Family, making it feel sowhat empty.
Du Yunru sat by the table, feeling a bit sentintal.
The sisters gathered around to chat, and Mrs. Zhen, having things to discuss with her daughter, gestured for Du Yunluo to invite Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo to the study across the way.
Understanding the nature of the third day’s hocoming, Du Yunluo followed instructions.
In the inner room, Mrs. Zhen held Du Yunru, conversed for nearly half an hour, and ca out with a smiling face, apparently reassured.
Seeing off Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo, Du Yunluo turned to find Du Yunru, embracing her sister and refusing to let go.
"Isn’t it said that getting married ans having babies? Big sister, why is your waist still so slim?" Du Yunluo teased with a grin.
Du Yunru flushed, thinking Du Yunluo likely didn’t understand such things, bravely explained, "How can it be so fast? It’s said to take ten months of pregnancy, not sothing that happens overnight."
Suppressing a laugh, Du Yunluo said, "So in ten months, I get to beco an aunt?"
Having just got married, she couldn’t make any promises. Nodding was impossible, but shaking her head would invite persistent questions from Du Yunluo about why not, and oh, how to explain about getting pregnant or not.
Du Yunru, already thin-skinned, being a new bride, was mortified thinking about such things, head almost too shy to lift as she muttered, "Oh, you just wait and see."
Du Yunluo prepared to tease further, while Du Yunru, embarrassed, chased her away.
The two sisters nudged and budged until Du Yunluo couldn’t hold it back, clutching her belly and laughing heartily. Du Yunru was montarily stunned and realized her sister was teasing her, vexed enough to threaten her with a cushion.
Du Yunluo repeatedly begged for rcy.
"You rascal, are you a girl or not!" Du Yunru sprinted after her.
Du Yunluo made a face. In her past life, though she hadn’t had children, she had been married, and at her age, there wasn’t much she didn’t know. If it weren’t for Du Yunru’s terribly thin skin, she could be even more outrageous.
Mrs. Zhen, returning at that mont, heard the noise inside and quickly entered: "What’s going on?"
Du Yunluo darted behind her: "Mother, sister wants to scold ."
"You still dare to complain first!" Du Yunru, facing Mrs. Zhen, couldn’t bring herself to repeat Du Yunluo’s words, only keeping her head down.
Mrs. Zhen knew both sisters’ temperants well. It was surely Du Yunluo’s impudent mouth. She pulled her younger daughter out from behind her, sternly said, "Behave! How could Yunru scold you without reason? Must be your loose tongue!"
"I only encouraged sister to give a little nephew; I want to be an aunt. That’s all," Du Yunluo said before dashing off.
Du Yunru stomped her foot in frustration.
Mrs. Zhen was both amused and exasperated, embracing Du Yunru to console her, internally sighing that these two sisters, one shy and reserved, the other bold and cheeky—if only their traits could be blended, it would save a lot of worry.
Du Yunluo lingered in the courtyard for a while, ultimately unable to bear parting from Du Yunru, she turned around and went back.
Finding Du Yunru talking with Mrs. Zhen, she poked her head in, and was greeted with, "Hurry up and co in," from Du Yunru.
Du Yunluo squeezed in with a smile, sitting beside her sister.
Tapping her on the forehead, Mrs. Zhen shook her head, "You, can you not hold back a bit? With a skin thick enough to boil donkey-hide gelatin, how does the Princely Heir favor you?"
"Whatever I’m like, the Princely Heir likes," Du Yunluo mumbled instinctively.
In her previous life, even with such a willful temperant, strained relations with Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou, Mu Lianxiao never abandoned her and always protected and cherished her. In this life, having rely developed a thick skin wouldn’t bother Mu Lianxiao either.
Hearing this, even Du Yunru and Mrs. Zhen felt the urge to box her ears.
Nearing noon, Mrs. Zhen led her daughters to the Flower Hall.
A lively hocoming banquet was enjoyed, though Shao Yuanzhou, not a strong drinker, had a few extra cups and, after resting to sober up, took Du Yunru back ho.
Mrs. Zhen, escorting them to the second gate, clutched her daughter’s hand with another round of advice before seeing her onto the carriage.
Du Yunluo, reluctant to part as well, noted that Du Yunru’s departure likely ant she wouldn’t return until Old Mrs. Xia’s winter birthday.
After seeing Du Yunru off, Mrs. Zhen prepared a bit more for Du Yundi, who was returning to the academy early the next morning.
Next, two bouts of autumn rain fell, gradually dispelling the sumr heat, and the rooms felt less stifling even without ice basins.
The Du Family and Jiang Family secretly finalized matters, sending a matchmaker from the Du Family to knock on the Jiang Family’s door.
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