Free Web NovelChapter 150: Chapter 149: Heart Aflame
Du Yunluo stared blankly at him, for a moment, she forgot she was in the Cining Palace, in front of the Holy Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Imperial Consort. Her eyes only saw Mu Lianxiao, who had suddenly appeared.
Mu Lianxiao was wearing a red round-collared brocade robe, with a white jade belt around his waist. His whole figure was tall and spirited.
So handsome that it was hard to look away.
Du Yunluo suddenly remembered the first time she saw Mu Lianxiao in red.
It was their wedding day when the red veil was lifted, she looked up at Mu Lianxiao. The bright red joy was etched into her mind.
So clear that she remembers it to this day.
Her Princely Heir rarely wore red, but every time he did, he looked so handsome.
Du Yunluo was full of these thoughts until Mu Lianxiao passed by her, and she was startled back to reality.
Mu Lianxiao was smiling, his lips clearly curling up. Although his eyes were not on her, Du Yunluo could still see the laughter in Mu Lianxiao’s eyes.
She was so lost in thought staring at him that she became his joke.
Mu Lianxiao respectfully saluted the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Consort, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Imperial Grandson.
The palace maids brought a pair of fur mats and laid them in the center side by side.
Mu Lianxiao stepped forward, and Du Yunluo dared not lag behind, kneeling with him solemnly to pay respects to the Holy Emperor.
As her gaze touched the bright yellow hem of the robe, Du Yunluo wondered if she should say something upon meeting the Holy Emperor for the first time.
Congratulations to the Holy Emperor for ten thousand years, wishing him good health? Or congratulations for the New Year? Or thank him for the granted marriage?
No matter which, speaking now felt strange. Since Mu Lianxiao remained silent, she decided to keep her mouth shut as well.
However, Mu Lianxiao arriving so quickly suggested that he was originally in the palace.
Glancing surreptitiously to the side, Du Yunluo noticed Mu Lianxiao’s hand, large and powerful, with distinct knuckles, a martial artist’s hand. Compared to him, her hand seemed much smaller.
The Holy Emperor called them to rise. Mu Lianxiao stood up, reached out to help Du Yunluo, and once she stood steady, he let go.
This helping and releasing left Du Yunluo both surprised and with a warm feeling in her heart.
This move caught the attention of everyone, and the Holy Emperor laughed heartily: "I’ve granted marriage to many couples, but few are as affectionate as these two."
The Empress Dowager smirked, her expression half-smiling, "If every couple granted marriage were this affectionate, wouldn’t we, the matchmakers, be pleased and delighted?"
Du Yunluo’s face burned with embarrassment, muttering to herself, wasn’t it just helping her up, how’s that affectionate?
But hearing the Empress Dowager’s words gave her a chill, suppressing her bit of shyness back.
The Empress Dowager’s words had a deeper meaning, but she couldn’t figure out what exactly it was.
The Holy Emperor seemed unaware of the subtext, saying: "Ah Shao, last year’s Dragon Boat Festival reward is still owed, isn’t it? I said I’d reward your wife, and today I’ll reward her."
Last year’s Dragon Boat Festival?
Du Yunluo didn’t know the context, and looked up at Mu Lianxiao, who had recalled and thanked the Emperor, but his ears turned thoroughly red.
The Holy Emperor gave gifts, and the Empress Dowager also gave some, with eunuchs sent to deliver them to the Du Mansion.
The Holy Emperor was in a great mood, apologized to the Empress Dowager, and said he was going to visit the Empress, who had caught a cold.
The eunuchs and palace maids surrounded the Holy Emperor, sending him off respectfully. The Holy Emperor turned to Mu Lianxiao and said: "Ah Shao, no need to accompany me today, take your wife home."
Nearby, the Crown Princess Consort chuckled.
As they exited from the Cining Palace, a few palace maids continued to follow them.
Not knowing the way, Du Yunluo followed Mu Lianxiao unhurriedly.
The palace maids followed at a respectful distance. Du Yunluo glanced back at them, then softly called to Mu Lianxiao: "What was the reward from the Dragon Boat Festival?"
Her gentle, soft voice was so close, Mu Lianxiao paused, turned his head, and met Du Yunluo’s starlike eyes, suddenly reminded of the day in the Wangmei Garden, she had looked at him the same way...
A warmth spread in his heart, as Mu Lianxiao’s gaze traced Du Yunluo’s delicate eyebrows, her petite chin, and finally landed on her slender hands holding the hand warmer.
He wanted to hold her hand as before, but thinking they were in the palace, with the palace maids behind, he restrained himself, saying: "It was the drum beating last Dragon Boat Festival, the Holy Emperor said there would be a reward."
"Then why hasn’t it been rewarded?" Du Yunluo pursued the question.
Mu Lianxiao cleared his throat, awkwardly turned his head, and walked a few steps before stopping. He listened until Du Yunluo caught up, then continued: "It was said to be rewarded to you later."
"But I wasn’t the one beating the drum." Du Yunluo smiled with her eyes curved, "If I get the reward, what about you?"
Her laughter-laced voice was even more pleasing, like a feather brushing over his heart, making Mu Lianxiao’s spirit dance.
What had the Holy Emperor said at the time?
He’d said he’d already been rewarded with a wife, so the reward went to his wife.
This answer, Mu Lianxiao couldn’t speak, so he simply deflected: "Wasn’t it you who watched from the shore before?"
Du Yunluo was surprised. She hadn’t gone to watch at the time, but...
But if she said it, how would she explain to Mu Lianxiao how she could vividly recall his demeanor beating the drum, despite them never having met before?
Unable to explain, Du Yunluo mumbled in response.
Both had things left unsaid, so the topic naturally faded away.
Once outside the palace gate, the Du Mansion’s carriage was already waiting.
Jin Ling was taken aback to see Mu Lianxiao accompanying them and hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Mu Lianxiao rode beside the carriage, as Du Yunluo lifted the curtain and revealed half of her face, watching Mu Lianxiao upright as a pine on his horse.
Noticing her gaze, Mu Lianxiao smiled and controlled the horse’s speed, keeping it even alongside the carriage, so every glance down revealed her features vividly.
With Shangyuan Festival approaching, many shops hung flower lanterns at their doors, and vendors sold various kinds along the street.
Seeing Du Yunluo glance at the lanterns, Mu Lianxiao softly asked her: "Do you like watching the lanterns?"
Du Yunluo blinked.
She had seen lanterns on the streets when she was very young, Du Huaixi would carry her, counting lanterns and guessing riddles with her, as she clapped and admired their beauty, winking at Du Yundi trailing behind.
Being a son, Du Huaixi no longer carried Du Yundi, and Du Yunluo, the little one, smug with her status as his daughter and young age, hogged her father’s embrace.
But that was all in her childhood.
As she grew up, she no longer went out to see the lanterns. The crowds made her uncomfortable, and despite Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo’s invitations, she stayed in her room.
"Only when I was little." Du Yunluo replied with a smile.
Mu Lianxiao raised an eyebrow; watching lanterns only as a child—was it because it wasn’t convenient for young women to go out?
Seeing Du Yunluo’s nostalgic look, Mu Lianxiao’s heart stirred. He bent slightly to meet her eyes, smiling: "Yunluo, in the future, I’ll take you to see them."
