Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 148: Chapter 147: Summons

Du Yunluo instinctively touched her flat stomach.

If back then she had a child, how could her later life have been so difficult?

Thinking this, she felt she was the one who was mistaken. Back then, she never suspected the Lian Family, so naturally, she wouldn’t have guarded against the Second House.

The Second House wanted to seize the title. If Du Yunluo had a son, how could the child have grown up safely after Mu Lianxiao’s death?

Not to mention a son; even if it were a daughter, the Lian Family would have worried that the girl would rise to success and turn back to support her mother.

For a woman, a mother becomes strong. She had devoted all her efforts to raising an adopted child. If she were raising her own son, she definitely wouldn’t have let the Lian Family manipulate her as they did before.

Just like her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhou.

After Mu Yuance’s death, Mrs. Zhou truly carried the entire Marquis Mansion on her shoulders. If it weren’t for her body weakening over the years, Lian Family wouldn’t have been able to meddle.

Du Yunluo slowly exhaled a breath.

If Mrs. Zhou didn’t commit suicide, then what about her illness?

Mu Yuanmou and the Lian Family were truly mad.

Du Yunluo sat in a daze for a while before asking Shui Yue to invite her back to the East Wing.

Mrs. Zhen looked as usual, but Du Yunru’s face was even redder than when she first went out, like two spots of fire burning fiercely.

Du Yunluo felt a bit sullen and didn’t have the energy to tease Du Yunru.

After Du Yunru left with Shao Yuanzhou, Mrs. Zhen was reluctant, red-eyed, and gave a few more reminders until Du Yunru nodded repeatedly before she was at ease.

In January, it was the time for relatives to visit each other.

Although Du Yunhu hadn’t married into the Shen Family yet, the eldest son of the Shen Family living in the Capital still visited in accordance with etiquette.

The Shen Family remembered the support and assistance from the main house of the Du Family and showed special respect to Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen Family brought her daughter to Lianfu Garden and spoke a lot of joyous words, which made Old Mrs. Xia very happy and fond of the six or seven-year-old little girl.

Du Yunluo didn’t like going out to visit relatives. Old Mrs. Xia told her twice and, seeing she was still set in her ways, let her be.

On the twelfth day of the first month, a letter from Lindong arrived.

Old Mrs. Xia had been eagerly anticipating this letter for the entire month, and when Nanny Xu brought it in, she quickly urged Du Yunluo to read it to her.

Du Yunluo glanced over it and immediately picked out the most important part. "Grandmother, eldest sister-in-law gave birth to a son on the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, and both mother and child are safe. Grandmother, you’ve become a great-grandmother!"

Old Mrs. Xia was overjoyed.

The maids and older servants in the room chimed in with congratulations, and Old Mrs. Xia waved her hand generously, instructing Nanny Xu to bring out a large handful of silver ingots for everyone as a reward.

Old Mrs. Xia held Du Yunluo’s hand and asked, "Has the boy been named yet?"

Du Yunluo shook her head. "Eldest sister-in-law wrote in the letter that they are still calling him ’the boy, the boy,’ waiting for grandfather to give him a name."

Old Mrs. Xia nodded heavily. "That’s as it should be, that’s as it should be."

Laughter filled Lianfu Garden as Old Mrs. Xia sent for Du Gongfu.

Du Gongfu hurried back, took the letter from Du Yunluo, read it carefully twice, and clapped his hands with laughter.

The newly promoted great-grandparents happily discussed the child’s name, but before they reached a conclusion, someone came hurriedly to deliver a message.

Nanny Xu went out to inquire, then came back with a strange expression on her face and said with a bow, "A sedan chair from the Eastern Palace has arrived, and the Crown Princess Consort invites Fifth Miss to the palace."

At the first mention of the Eastern Palace, Du Gongfu was about to stand up with his cane to change his clothes. But after hearing the second half of the sentence, he was stunned on the spot. "What? The Crown Princess Consort invites Yunluo?"

Du Yunluo was equally puzzled.

Due to the New Year, Du Gongfu hadn’t been to the palace for a while, but during the New Year’s Eve, the Eastern Palace sent wine, making it public knowledge that Du Gongfu was now very much in favor at the Eastern Palace, but it was only Du Gongfu.

Over the past half year, the Du Family hadn’t gained any additional benefits despite the favor from the Holy Emperor and the Eastern Palace. Du Huaixi and his brothers continued in their old positions, with no sign of promotion, and there was no knowing when Huairang in Lindong might be reassigned back to the Capital.

And now, suddenly during the New Year, the Crown Princess Consort was inviting Du Yunluo.

"Are you sure the message isn’t wrong?" Old Mrs. Xia wondered.

Nanny Xu nodded. "There was no mistake. They said they were afraid the people from our mansion wouldn’t recognize the aunt who came to greet the young lady, so Eunuch Cao also came along."

If Eunuch Cao came, then there’s no mistake about it.

No matter why the Crown Princess Consort suddenly took an interest, since the sedan chair was already at the door, Du Yunluo had no reason to refuse.

Old Mrs. Xia instructed Jin Rui to quickly get Du Yunluo a suitable outfit and personally advised Du Yunluo: "It’s your first time entering the palace, be smart about everything. Yunluo, the Crown Princess Consort is not just the Crown Princess Consort; she is the Empress Dowager’s granddaughter-in-law."

With Old Mrs. Xia’s hint, what could Du Yunluo not understand?

She softly asked Old Mrs. Xia, "Grandmother, do you mean the Empress Dowager wants to inquire about something in Wangmei Garden?"

"If Her Highness asks, how do you plan to respond?" Old Mrs. Xia looked into Du Yunluo’s eyes and asked in return.

Du Yunluo was slightly startled.

Old Mrs. Xia patted Du Yunluo’s hand. "Think about the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, think about the Emperor, Prince Rui, and Prince Cheng."

Du Yunluo’s eyes suddenly tightened, then she slowly lowered her eyelids. "Grandmother, I understand."

When the late Emperor was still alive, the Empress Dowager was the Central Palace. Although the harem went through many rises and falls, she remained unassailable and eventually placed her son on the throne.

In the face of such a woman, what schemes could Du Yunluo possibly play?

The matters of Wangmei Garden, the Empress Dowager had long made up her mind about; asking her a few questions was just a formality.

To oppose would naturally be wrong, and to blindly flatter is also unwise; she should speak truthfully and properly.

Du Yunluo took a carriage to the gates of the palace, then switched to a sedan chair.

The accompanying aunt didn’t speak to her until the sedan chair landed and she invited Du Yunluo out, then she whispered, "The Crown Princess Consort is in Cining Palace, miss, please follow me."

Du Yunluo thanked her with a smile.

This wasn’t her first time entering the palace. In the past life, as the heir’s wife of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, she had to enter the palace to pay respects to the Inner Noble Women during festivals, and she had visited Cining Palace more than once, observing the stern Empress Dowager from afar.

The harem had thousands of courtyards, stretching endlessly.

The Empress Dowager, who had survived and emerged victorious in this place, what tactics hadn’t she seen, what tricks hadn’t she used?

Mu Lianhui’s schemes, in her eyes, were likely insignificant.

Du Yunluo took a deep breath. If Mu Lianhui dared to plot, it indicated that she was certain the Empress Dowager wouldn’t punish her. Since the Empress Dowager didn’t want to punish, Du Yunluo wouldn’t foolishly report Mu Lianhui.

Old Mrs. Xia was right; considering the Emperor, Prince Rui, and Prince Cheng, it was clear the Empress Dowager preferred family harmony, even if only on the surface.

As Mu Lianxiao’s fiancée, how could Du Yunluo blatantly reveal to the Empress Dowager her discord with her elder sister-in-law?

Even if the Empress Dowager was aware, the act had to be played.