Free Web NovelChapter 145: Chapter 144: Going in Circles
The oil lamp burned on the table.
Mu Lianhui lay on the couch, half of her body hidden in the indistinct light, with a book covering her face. From Lian Shi’s angle, she couldn’t see Mu Lianhui’s expression.
Lian Shi frowned deeply, her eyes filled only with helplessness.
She knew Mu Lianhui was being perfunctory with her, even using the book as a shield.
The light wasn’t bright enough over the couch, how could Mu Lianhui possibly see the words on the page clearly?
Lian Shi thought to herself, delaying like this wasn’t a solution. She propped herself up and moved to the edge of the couch, lightly tapped on the book twice: "Hui’er, are you really not plotting against Prince Rui?"
Mu Lianhui’s voice came from behind the book, muffled and impatient: "I said I’m not."
Lian Shi’s anger flared again: "You might fool others with those words, but I’m your mother! Do you think you can deceive me? Ask yourself, haven’t you thought about scheming against him? If Huo Ziming isn’t involved, do you really have no backup plan? Without Huo Ziming to handle the mess, what are you going to do about that shameless woman?"
Lian Shi’s voice raised again, sounding particularly piercing in the silent night.
Mu Lianhui tossed the book aside, sat up straight, and stared into Lian Shi’s eyes. She saw herself in her mother’s eyes. She curled her lips in a half-smile, half-sneer: "Why do I need to clean up? In Li Luan’s hands, what good end will she meet? Pretending to be lifted into the mansion, shelved for a couple of months, and then tossed to some estate to fend for herself, who will remember her after a year or two?"
That’s the logic, the means to deal with such a person are numerous.
When the incident first broke, it might be a big deal, but if avoided, after a year or two, without anyone backing her, it wouldn’t be surprising for such a woman to die ten or a hundred times; no one would dare question it.
After all, quietly killing someone in the deep confines of the Marquis Mansion is both very difficult and embarrassingly easy.
Lian Shi herself has blood on her hands, so how would she not understand Mu Lianhui’s words? Only, only Shi Lian’er was still alive.
"Aren’t you afraid she’ll accuse you?" Lian Shi asked.
Mu Lianhui’s gaze was deep: "Who would she dare tell? Besides, she only knows she’s scheming against Du Yundi from top to bottom, nothing else. Is she going to tell Huo Ziming? Or An Ran? She’s about to enter Uncle Enrong’s mansion, how could she reveal her true intention was Du Yundi? She wouldn’t dare if she values her life."
Lian Shi understood.
Everyone knew Shi Lian’er had some agenda, but in the end, was she targeting whoever she could or aiming at a specific goal? Huo Ziming didn’t know.
Shi Lian’er wanting to stay by his side means she absolutely wouldn’t dare reveal her own plans.
Lian Shi was about to nod but pondered Mu Lianhui’s words again, her face turned dark: "Alright, so she doesn’t know, but you do? You knew from the start that you had to scheme against Prince Rui, didn’t you?"
This back-and-forth had come full circle, Mu Lianhui’s head throbbed painfully, she reclined heavily onto the soft couch, not feeling the pain, and grabbed the book to cover her face again, refusing to speak to Lian Shi anymore.
Lian Shi, full of anger and resentment, kept poking the book with her fingertip, grumbled for a good quarter of an hour, but didn’t receive a response from Mu Lianhui. She stood up, gritting her teeth, and turned to leave.
Footsteps faded into the distance.
Mu Lianhui, confirming that Lian Shi was gone, lifted the book and squinted into the void.
The matters in Wangmei Garden, she had planned thoroughly, even unsettling the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort to ensure success.
Originally, everything was going smoothly until Du Yunluo and Du Yunuo swapped the snow jackets, which led to unexpected developments.
Mu Lianhui sighed, really, the Du Family had exceptionally good fortune.
If Du Yundi had fallen into the trap, Lian Shi wouldn’t have been so bothered by Li Luan’s involvement.
But now, a pawn was wasted, yet it didn’t affect the Du Family at all, truly a losing deal.
Mu Lianhui, being angry for a while, waited until Lian Shi’s reprimands faded away from her mind, finally feeling at ease.
No matter, let it be wasted, if it doesn’t work out, it’s fine. There’s ample time and opportunities ahead, she would eventually have ways to annoy Du Yunluo.
Outside, the night watchman was beating his clapper, the night was quiet, the sound echoing from afar. She turned over, burying her face in the pillow.
In Du Mansion Anfeng Courtyard.
Ever since returning from Lianfu Garden, Liao Family pulled Du Yunuo to recount the events in Wangmei Garden once more, particularly regarding Princess An Ran, sparing no detail.
Du Yunuo dared not show impatience, sitting in the chair, only going for a piece of pastry after she finished speaking.
"You mean, Lady deliberately misled the Princely Heir, if Princess fell into the water, the Heir went to rescue, upon pulling up realizing the mistake..." Liao Family said up to this point, stopped herself, able to imagine the situation.
If it truly ended up like that, it wouldn’t just be unsettling and aggravating, it would be a matter of going berserk with fury.
Truly ruthless!
Luckily, it didn’t succeed.
Otherwise, Liao Family could understand with even her toes that her concubine sister would likely have hit her head to die, dragging Princess An Ran along, haunting Mu Lianhui even as ghosts.
"Why? Princess tried to stop the Heir, but that was before the Heir got engaged. Now, Princess’s marriage is settled, yet causing such a scene? Lady intends not to let the Heir and Yunluo have peace, despite being family." Liao Family’s words flew quickly, unsure whether she was asking Du Yunuo or talking to herself.
Du Yunuo glanced at Liao Family, her mouth turning downwards, speaking softly: "So what if they’re family, even families can have outward harmony and hidden discord."
Just like mother and second aunt...
Of course, Du Yunuo dared not speak the latter part aloud.
Liao Family, reminded by these words, understood quietly, laughed awkwardly twice, then squeezed out a smile: "Yunuo, today you did the right thing and did well, as the elder sister should; didn’t let Yunluo suffer, nor yourself. Princess is your cousin, you two get along well too. That cloaked in orangutan felt, though worn for the first time, stained it’s a pity, but rest assured, it will be cleaned up perfectly. Mother will get more material to make you two new outfits and I have some unused old jewelry, the styles are outdated, we’ll melt them at the gold shop for two nicer sets. Yunuo is a big girl now, it’s time to have some good things in store."
Du Yunuo, hearing this, thanked her with a smile.
Honestly, Liao Family wasn’t stingy with her, though such generosity was unusual.
No matter the reason, not taking advantage means Du Yunuo would be a fool.
As for Du Yunluo, she was kept by Mrs. Zhen in Qinghui Garden for the night.
The green gauze cabinet burned with an underground fire dragon.
Du Yunluo, a bit weary after a long day, had gone to bed early.
Mrs. Zhen came to see her, hugged her and said: "Did you see the Princely Heir?"
