Free Web NovelChapter 155: Chapter 154: Alliance
Aunt Ming took Du Yunluo to the study in the side hall.
The study was furnished with all the Four Treasures of the Study.
Aunt Ming pointed to the Mahayana Sutra on the shelf and said, "Miss, you should transcribe this first."
Du Yunluo nodded. While Aunt Ming ground the ink, she took down the first scroll, glanced at it, and found the handwriting familiar.
"Is this..." Du Yunluo murmured, and when Aunt Ming looked up, she asked, "Is this transcribed by Lady Jiarou?"
"You recognize Lady Jiarou’s handwriting?" Aunt Ming smiled, "Indeed, it was transcribed by Lady Jiarou."
Du Yunluo nodded, seemingly realizing that Mu Lianhui had spent quite some time transcribing scriptures in the past three years.
Once Du Yunluo picked up the brush, Aunt Ming withdrew, leaving her alone in the study.
The fragrance of ink was strong. As Du Yunluo wrote, her mind gradually calmed. It was only after she finished transcribing a scroll that she felt her arm slightly numb and paused to rest for a moment.
Outside the hall, footsteps were light on the veranda. Du Yunluo assumed it was just some palace maid passing by until she noticed the footsteps stopped outside the hall door, prompting her to look there attentively.
The newcomer, about the same age as Du Yunluo, was dressed lavishly with a naturally proud demeanor—it was Princess Yunhua.
Du Yunluo stepped forward and saluted.
Princess Yunhua nodded, gesturing for the palace maids and eunuchs to wait outside, then stepped into the side hall herself, walking straight to the desk.
On the desk lay the scriptures Du Yunluo had just finished transcribing.
Princess Yunhua glanced at the work and smiled, "I think your handwriting is better than Jiarou’s."
Jiarou referred to Lady Jiarou, Mu Lianhui.
Du Yunluo didn’t know what kind of relationship Princess Yunhua had with Mu Lianhui, so she dared not respond hastily. After a slight pause, she replied, "Lady Jiarou writes in the finely meticulous ’Flower Crown’ script; our handwriting styles are different and cannot be easily compared."
Princess Yunhua’s eyes flashed with something odd, then brightened as if understanding, "Jiarou is your fiancé’s sister. No wonder you dare not speak ill of her."
Du Yunluo neither confirmed nor denied it, shifting the topic: "Is the Princess here to pay respects to the Imperial Consort?"
"No," Princess Yunhua replied straightaway without hesitation or concealment, "I came to see you."
Du Yunluo was taken aback.
In both her previous and present lives, she had never interacted with Princess Yunhua.
Princess Yunhua, a legitimate daughter of the Empress, had high status and was much favored by the Holy Emperor. In her previous life, she married the eldest grandson of Duke Zhen, had children, and led a fairly smooth life.
Although many people’s experiences were changing in this life, Du Yunluo thought these wouldn’t involve Princess Yunhua. She should still follow the path of her past life.
Thus, Du Yunluo was puzzled—why would Princess Yunhua come to her?
Princess Yunhua approached Du Yunluo, suddenly leaned in, and whispered, "Did the Imperial Consort have you transcribe scriptures because she truly dislikes Jiarou now? Does the Grand Empress Dowager also dislike her?"
"I don’t know."
"Is Jiarou truly not going to marry Brother Luan anymore?" Princess Yunhua’s eyes revealed her confusion, "And what about you? Do you wish for Jiarou to marry into Prince Rui Mansion?"
Du Yunluo bit her lip, unsure why Princess Yunhua was asking this.
Princess Yunhua didn’t wait for Du Yunluo’s answer and continued, "The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion only has a title; since the Old Marquis passed away years ago, the surviving son cannot take the battlefield. Future glory will depend on the three grandsons. If they can carve out a niche, their status would naturally be stable. But if not, there are plenty of noble families in the Capital, and decline could happen within a generation or two. But if Jiarou marries Brother Luan, they would become part of the Imperial Family. Once Brother Luan ascends to the title of Prince, Jiarou would be the Princess Consort, providing Dingyuan Marquis Mansion with another form of support. As the future hostess of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, wouldn’t you hope for this?"
This statement marked a departure from Princess Yunhua’s previous uncertainty; her voice, though not loud, had a resolute impact.
Du Yunluo took a deep breath.
Her relationship with Mu Lianhui was not amicable; Mu Lianhui had even plotted against her in Wangmei Garden. However, such unvoiced matters were never discussed. Before the Empress Dowager, neither Mu Lianhui, Princess An Ran, nor Du Yunluo would mention the incident where Princess An Ran nearly fell into the water.
The Empress Dowager only knew of a Shi Lian’er, and although she had her own suspicions and biases, there wasn’t definitive proof to claim Mu Lianhui targeted Li Luan, nor could they ascertain Shi Lian’er’s true objective.
Red robes and falling into the water were like pebbles dropping into a lake—too small, sinking quietly with no ripples.
It seemed even Princess Yunhua was unaware of Du Yunluo’s animosity with Mu Lianhui. She had merely analyzed the situation from an ordinary relationship between sisters-in-law, arriving at such a conclusion.
Having understood these matters, Du Yunluo carefully chose her words: "The marriage of Prince Rui is under the guidance of the Holy Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Prince Rui, not something Lady Jiarou—or my wishes—can influence."
"I’m asking about your true feelings." Princess Yunhua wasn’t irritated by Du Yunluo’s evasive response. She turned and walked over to the couch by the north wall, sat down slowly, and beckoned Du Yunluo over. Once Du Yunluo stood before her, she looked up, her almond-shaped eyes raised slightly, "I, personally, am hopeful."
Du Yunluo hadn’t expected Princess Yunhua to candidly express her own sentiments.
"Why?" Du Yunluo inquired, feeling distinctly that Princess Yunhua didn’t like Mu Lianhui.
Princess Yunhua smiled nonchalantly, "In Grand Empress Dowager’s heart, there’s only Jiarou or Nanyan. I don’t want Nanyan to marry Brother Luan; I want Nanyan to stay with me always."
Du Yunluo was surprised—it was such an unexpected answer, yet it seemed reasonable enough.
"What about Princess Nanyan? Does she wish to marry Prince Rui?" Remembering Princess Nanyan’s previous charming smile, Du Yunluo felt a stirring within her and asked again.
Princess Yunhua furrowed her brow, pondering, "I don’t know; but as you said, it’s not something Nanyan can comment on or control either."
"Does the Princess mean she can change the Empress Dowager’s mind?"
Her phoenix eyes twinkling with mischief and her smile radiant, Princess Yunhua casually reclined on the couch, "That’s why I came to find you. I don’t want Nanyan to marry Brother Luan, and you hope for Jiarou to marry into Prince Rui Mansion. See, we’re allies by different means toward the same end."
Du Yunluo couldn’t help but chuckle.
After all the talk, it turned out Princess Yunhua was seeking an alliance with her.
Yet, the Princess was right about one thing. Du Yunluo did hope for Mu Lianhui to marry Li Luan, not for the future of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, but because Prince Rui was bound to rebel, and she wouldn’t have to lift a finger to watch Mu Lianhui walk toward her own downfall.
Thinking along these lines, indeed, she could join forces with Princess Yunhua.
Du Yunluo, after some contemplation, replied, "I don’t understand the Empress Dowager as well as the Princess does. If the Empress Dowager is already displeased with Lady Jiarou, then this marriage..."
Princess Yunhua laughed aloud, winking at Du Yunluo, "How would we know if we don’t try?"
Du Yunluo smiled softly without a word.
"You just focus on transcribing; when I need your help, I’ll let you know. Yunluo, may I call you Yunluo?" Princess Yunhua stood up, disregarding the slightly disheveled hair and hems of her dress, "You see, you’re Yunluo, and I’m Yunhua. We’re quite like sisters, aren’t we?"
