Free Web NovelChapter 143: Chapter 142: Experience
Old Mrs. Xia’s smile was full of satisfaction as she gently embraced Yunluo, sighing, "Our Yunluo has truly grown up."
Yunluo, however, was taken aback.
She couldn’t bring herself to smile. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly, her eyes lowered, biting her molars hard.
If she didn’t, she feared she would break down and cry the next moment.
Yes, she had grown up.
She had exchanged a lifetime of pain and hardship for this growth. Although decades had passed, the memories of the past were vivid, so clear that when she closed her eyes, she could see her former self.
The stubborn self, unwilling to endure, unwilling to suffer losses, always insisting on calculating everything.
No matter how smooth life was in the boudoir, whatever advantages she took, in the later years, she paid back many times over.
After surviving such a life, how could she not have grown up?
This experience was bloody and deep, visible to the bone.
Yunluo steadied her breathing and slowly raised her head to look at Old Mrs. Xia.
The smile was gone from Old Mrs. Xia’s face, replaced by concern and advisement.
The elderly woman’s hand caressed Yunluo’s face, her eyes lowered to look at the age spots, the yellowing nails, somewhat resembling the hands she saw of her aging self a year ago.
"Yunluo," old Mrs. Xia’s voice trembled slightly, but her tone was exceptionally firm, "Even common folk have conflicts with in-laws and siblings; within the imperial family, there’s no such thing as familial affection. While it’s true that the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is filled with loyalty and valor, you must remember that human greed knows no bounds. Nothing is impossible. What can be held steadily in your and the Princely Heir’s hands, others may only obtain through struggle and fight. Just because they don’t fight doesn’t mean they don’t want it."
Yunluo stared blankly at old Mrs. Xia.
She thought, her grandmother was truly remarkable, seeing things far clearer than she, the one involved.
In the past, if she had a bit of guidance from old Mrs. Xia, how would she have let Mu Yuanmou and the Lian couple force her to a hopeless situation?
No, rather, after Mu Lianxiao died on the battlefield, her heart also died; she hadn’t even wanted to resist then.
Yet, her compromise and surrender still couldn’t withstand the treacherous hearts of others.
"Yunluo, it’s the same everywhere," old Mrs. Xia patted Yunluo’s back.
Yunluo understood the meaning of this sentence.
The future was unknown; even if it wasn’t the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, if she married into someone else’s home, wouldn’t there be intrigue and deceit?
As long as you are in such a place, disputes will arise.
Just like in the past with Lian Hui, no matter how many people she schemed against, in the end, she fell to Prince Rui Mansion’s ambition.
Yunluo took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, her eyes clear as she looked at old Mrs. Xia, nodding heavily, "Grandmother, I understand. Even if I don’t want to take what belongs to others, others will come for mine. If I don’t want to be taken from, I must suppress them completely."
Just as old Mrs. Xia told Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo, if you don’t want to be bullied, if you don’t want to be fish in troubled waters, climb up, climb over those people’s heads.
"You all are good children," old Mrs. Xia released Yunluo, leaning against the pillow with a smile, "I don’t care what you all are up to at home; once you step out, your surname is Du. Fortunately, you all remember."
Du Yunying would risk herself to save Du Yunnuo, Yunluo and Du Yunnuo know to cooperate, Du Yunlan, and Du Yundi move forward and back together.
To the elders, nothing pleased them more than this.
"Alright, let’s talk about what happens next," Old Mrs. Xia saw Yunluo somewhat dazed and changed the topic.
"Enrong Bo Mansion and Duke Jing Mansion will inevitably suffer this loss, as for Lady..." Old Mrs. Xia paused, then snorted, "The guts are indeed big, but misfortune won’t necessarily follow."
Yunluo recalled the attitude of Princess An Ran and Huo Ziming and asked, "Grandmother, are you saying that Prince Rui won’t necessarily trouble her?"
"Certainly won’t," old Mrs. Xia was very certain.
Yunluo bit her lower lip, thought about it, and slowly figured it out.
Princess An Ran and Huo Ziming wouldn’t complain about this in Cining Palace. Just like the princess said, this is the outcome, any more trouble would be more disgraceful.
As for Shi Lian’er, she dared not, at this point, bite Mu Lianhui, for her teeth couldn’t chew such a hard bone. It’s better to patiently wait for a sedan chair to carry her into Enrong Bo Mansion.
The little tricks beside the water were mere ripples, besides the parties involved, who knew of the intrigue?
The only variable is Li Luan.
And Li Luan wouldn’t tell Cining Palace about Mu Lianhui.
Li Luan went to the small courtyard because of Huo Ziming’s carelessness. Huo Ziming cleaned up the mess and could hardly be accused of premeditation. In this way, how could Li Luan say Shi Lian’er’s appearance was a setup by Mu Lianhui?
The Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort knew Mu Lianhui intended to cause trouble through Shi Lian’er, but no evidence pointed at Li Luan being the target.
The Empress Dowager was determined to have Li Luan marry Mu Lianhui. At this juncture, if Li Luan claimed that Mu Lianhui harmed him, it would sound like Li Luan’s excuse not to marry her in the Empress Dowager’s ears.
Even if Li Luan truly did not want to marry her, he had to find another reason, definitely not using this to tell Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort would only focus on the shortcomings of Mu Lianhui’s banquet arrangements, not cautious and careful enough, resulting in some chaos.
As for what the chaos really entailed, knowing it internally was enough; it certainly wouldn’t be put on the table.
It’s already halfway through the twelfth month, with the New Year approaching, what punishment could Mu Lianhui possibly face? A cut in salary or house arrest wouldn’t harm her a bit.
Furthermore, the court needed the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to go to battle, so how could they distance themselves from the entire Mu Family over a young woman from the Mu Family?
In the end, besides Princess An Ran and Huo Ziming, others remain unscathed.
There is still the Shi Family, and they are the ones who will truly suffer a great loss.
Shi Lian’er entered Enrong Bo Mansion this way; neither Huo Ziming nor Huo Ruyi were pleased with her. In the mansion, she finds no footing, and when Princess An Ran marries in, she’ll know the taste.
In her past life, Shi Lian’er counted on Shi Shiren’s rise to power for her comfortable days. In this life, Shi Shiren remains a mere scholar, his future uncertain.
The old master of Duke Jing Mansion did send off Princess An Ran, true, but he cared about his reputation. How could he let Shi Shiren rise smoothly? Even with the addition of Enrong Bo Mansion, it’s uncertain whether Shi Shiren would even pass the imperial exams, let alone become a scholar.
Does Shi Lian’er still think she can sing in the back courtyard to provoke her legitimate wife, like in her past life? Princess An Ran wouldn’t be satisfied until she sewed Shi Lian’er’s mouth shut.
Understanding all this, Yunluo felt slightly relieved. She now cared most about Li Luan and Mu Lianhui’s marriage.
In her previous life, Mu Lianhui’s in-laws’ home caught fire, burning her along with it. If she doesn’t marry Li Luan in this life, how would Yunluo see her as seeking her own demise?
