Free Web NovelChapter 152: Chapter 151: Xie En
"The princely heir sent you back?" Mrs. Xia inquired, scrutinizing Du Yunluo carefully. Seeing her calm demeanor without a trace of guilt, Mrs. Xia silently blamed herself for overthinking.
It was indeed the traits of an old woman, to overthink and complicate matters.
It was in the palace, with so many eunuchs and palace maids around, what could possibly happen?
On the way back, one rode in a carriage, the other on horseback, at most having a few words exchanged, what was there to worry about?
With this thought, Mrs. Xia was reassured, and asked Du Yunluo, "Why was the princely heir in the palace as well? Was it a coincidence, or..."
The words were left unfinished, but Du Yunluo understood, and replied, "The princely heir was accompanying the Holy Emperor. After he arrived at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager did not ask him about the matters in Wangmei Garden, maybe she didn’t intend to ask, or perhaps she had already inquired a few days ago."
"If that’s the case, we should just wait and see." Mrs. Xia nodded.
After leaving Lianfu Garden, Du Yunluo first went to Qinghui Garden.
Mrs. Zhen pulled her aside and asked in detail, finally feeling at ease knowing everything went smoothly, "It’s your first time entering the palace, I was worried you might not understand the etiquette and offend the nobles."
As the mother and daughter were talking, gifts from the palace arrived.
A pair of Jade Ruyi, a set of head ornaments with gold inlaid turquoise, along with plenty of silk and satin materials.
Mrs. Zhen was stunned, "Why so many rewards?"
"Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the princely heir struck the drum, and the Holy Emperor said he would reward me," Du Yunluo replied softly, selecting some materials for someone to send to Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo.
Mrs. Zhen chuckled, tapping Du Yunluo’s forehead, and said as she walked out, "You said it yourself, you’re not a muddle-headed person."
Du Yunluo stood still, her neck burning slightly.
Pressing her lips together, she thought to herself, she indeed wasn’t the muddled one, the truly muddled one was clearly Mu Lianxiao.
The Shangyuan Festival came swiftly.
Du Yunying, preparing for her marriage, didn’t go out to join the festivities.
Du Yunnuo came to invite Du Yunluo, speaking good words, but seeing no sign of her relenting, he also gave up.
After all, Du Yunnuo knew Du Yunluo’s temperament best. In previous years, even when she joined forces with Du Yunying, she hadn’t succeeded, and this year, battling alone, defeat was inevitable.
Du Yunluo looked up at the full moon in the sky. It wasn’t that she opposed watching the lanterns, but since Mu Lianxiao promised her, she would wait until he could take her to see the lanterns.
On the sixteenth day of the first month, the government office resumed its duties.
Du Yundi also packed his luggage and set off for Lishan Academy.
The festive atmosphere in the Du Mansion gradually faded, with life returning to tranquility.
Meanwhile, in the palace, orders were given for the marriage between Princess An Ran and Huo Ziming to proceed according to plan.
Looking at this marriage, many believed that Princess An Ran had completely lost the Old Master’s favor; otherwise, why would she be matched with Huo Ziming?
Not to mention Huo Ziming was an illegitimate son, and the foundation of Enrong Bo Mansion couldn’t compare with other noble families. This marriage seemed almost dismissive, vastly different from Princess An Ran’s previous standing in the Duke Jing Mansion.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace lavishly rewarded Princess An Ran.
The rewards were carried into the Duke Jing Mansion one by one, dazzling all who beheld them.
Du Yunluo sat in the carriage, peering out through the veil and curtains, understanding that these gold and jade items, rather than being purely rewards, were more of a means of appeasement and intimidation.
The matter involved the Heir of Prince Rui, Li Luan; for the sake of his reputation, Princess An Ran could only suffer in silence. The Empress Dowager’s array of gifts was a means to seal her mouth.
Along with the engagement, Huo Ziming was to take another concubine. Without some appeasement, Princess An Ran would be utterly humiliated.
Simultaneously, the Empress Dowager was subtly expressing her dissatisfaction with Mu Lianhui.
The Imperial Consort had not summoned Mu Lianhui in recent days; instead, Du Yunluo was once again called into the palace.
On the surface, everything seemed calm, but behind the scenes, there was an intricate back-and-forth. The Imperial Consort always adhered to the Empress Dowager’s wishes; since the Empress Dowager intended to cool things with Mu Lianhui, she followed suit.
In turn, Du Yunluo and Princess An Ran became pawns, guided here and there on the chessboard.
Du Yunluo realized this, but could she indeed defy the Empress Dowager’s intent?
Consider it some compensation after resolving troubles for Du Yundi.
The carriage stopped outside the palace gates, and just as before, Aunt Ming came to escort Du Yunluo to Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager had guests, so Du Yunluo stood waiting under the veranda.
In the courtyard stood a banyan tree, quite old, requiring two people to embrace it, its branches sparse in the winter, but it promised cool shade in the summer heat.
Du Yunluo gazed, lost in thought, at the banyan tree, when she saw a graceful figure approaching with lotus steps. Upon closer look, it was Princess An Ran.
The two encountered each other, both a bit surprised.
An awkwardness flickered across Princess An Ran’s face but was swiftly replaced with composure, and she nodded toward Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo stepped forward and greeted, "Is the County Princess here to give thanks?"
Princess An Ran’s phoenix eyes subtly mocked, "Yes, to give thanks."
Du Yunluo glanced towards the main hall and said, "We’re both in the same boat."
"That Shi Lian’er will be brought into Enrong Bo Mansion the day after tomorrow. Moving forward, she will be at my mercy; ha..." Princess An Ran gave Du Yunluo a sidelong glance, leaned closer, and whispered, "It’s been ages since I fought with anyone. I helped you sisters deceive Mu Lianhui, yet now I must suffer such a loss. Had it been before, I would have slapped you already. Unfortunately, I’ll only have Shi Lian’er to deal with from now on."
The words were fierce, yet Du Yunluo sensed the helplessness and desolation within them, prompting her to say, "I’d have thought the County Princess more willing to slap Lady, as every grievance has its source. Speaking of which, had it not been for Fourth Sister holding you back and then me, if I hadn’t met the princely heir earlier, you might not have the chance to deal with Shi Lian’er later."
Princess An Ran laughed heartily, "How do you know I don’t want to bother you?"
Unmoved, Du Yunluo gazed steadily into Princess An Ran’s eyes and calmly said, "As you mentioned, you haven’t fought with anyone in ages, lacking neither the nerve to strike nor to upset me."
Princess An Ran turned her head, snorted, "It seems mutually beneficial, yet I lost out. And you..."
Seeing her appraise Du Yunluo up and down, Du Yunluo smirked and said, "Didn’t I also lose out? The rewards and favors, aren’t you more aware of what’s behind them, County Princess?"
The words were like a knife, piercing deeply into Princess An Ran’s heart.
Her years of glory, her years of smooth sailing, seemed always under the affection of the Duke Jing, but ultimately amounted to nothing.
Now, the gifts delivered to the Duke Jing Mansion were exactly the same.
