Free Web NovelChapter 158: Chapter 157: Arrival
Through the green gauze curtains of the carriage window, the street scenery was tinged with a hazy color.
The carriage was in the center, flanked by a noble escort on either side.
Du Yunluo quietly watched the view outside the window, suddenly recalling Mu Lianxiao speaking to her across the carriage window that day, causing her heart to beat faster.
At this moment, Mu Lianxiao must be somewhere in this escort, still riding high on his magnificent horse, gallant and spirited.
Upon leaving the city gate and getting onto the main road, Du Yunluo listened to the sound of the wheels. She didn’t feel the carriage was shaking violently, even though it was apparent that the princess’s carriage was different. Only now did she truly feel it.
The mountain path leading to Guoning Temple was newly constructed. Nevertheless, the carriage could only reach halfway up the mountain; from there on, they had to switch to a sedan chair.
Du Yunluo stepped down from the carriage, looked around front and back, and happened to see Princess Nanyan being helped down by a palace maid, her face pale, and she swayed unsteadily.
The sedan chair went all the way to the temple gate.
The abbot and a group of Buddhist disciples were waiting.
It happened to be the hour, and the sounds of bells and drums from the temple resonated continuously in her ears.
The accommodations at the Royal Temple were much more spacious than any temple Du Yunluo had visited before. Though it maintained the purity and simplicity of a Buddhist place, the materials and craftsmanship were evidently refined.
Du Yunluo had a room to herself, the southernmost room in this veranda. To the north were the rooms of Mu Lianhui, Princess Nanyan, and Princess Yunhua. The rooms of several ladies were not far, whereas the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort resided further north.
A young palace maid attended to Du Yunluo’s washing and grooming, applying some fragrant ointment to her face when someone from Princess Yunhua’s side came to invite her over.
Du Yunluo did not delay, holding the hand warmer, she walked along the veranda.
Mu Lianhui’s door was half-open, with palace maids’ laughter coming from inside. Princess Nanyan’s door was tightly shut. Moving forward, outside Princess Yunhua’s door, a palace maid greeted Du Yunluo with a smile and led her in.
Princess Yunhua sat comfortably, holding a teacup with steam curling up, while sandalwood incense burned in the corner altar, lighter than the usual scent Du Yunluo was accustomed to.
"Sit down and taste this Lao Junmei. It’s brewed with spring water from the back mountain of Guoning Temple. The taste is really good, no wonder the Imperial Consort got used to mountain spring water in Putuo after three years, and couldn’t adapt to the Capital’s water after returning. In terms of flavor, mountain spring, stream water, and melted snow each have their merits." Princess Yunhua said with a smile.
Du Yunluo sat down as suggested, took the teacup from the palace maid, and took a sip. It indeed had an extraordinary fragrance with a sweet aftertaste.
Princess Yunhua had naturally not invited Du Yunluo over solely for tea tasting, but since the princess didn’t bring it up, Du Yunluo didn’t inquire further. On their way here, after that one sentence, they hadn’t conversed much in the carriage.
After waiting for a moment, a palace maid of about thirteen or fourteen years entered, kneeling before Princess Yunhua with lowered eyes.
Princess Yunhua glanced at her, "What have Nanyan and Jiarou said?"
Du Yunluo’s heart stirred, and she glanced at the palace maid. It was indeed the maid who helped Princess Nanyan down the carriage halfway up the mountain, indicating she had been serving in that carriage all along.
The maid respectfully replied, "In response to the princess, the County Princess and Lady said nothing. The County Princess feared getting car sick and held a piece of Dried Tangerine Peel in her mouth as soon as she boarded, leaning back and lying down. Before we even left the Capital City Gate, she was already extremely uncomfortable, enduring until we reached halfway up the mountain. Lady dared not speak and disturb the County Princess seeing her face so pale."
Princess Yunhua looked stunned for a while before coming to her senses, pondering, "I was negligent. If it had been my carriage, she might have been steadier. It’s fortunate she wasn’t sick all over with other carriages. Where is she now?"
"The County Princess is resting in her room. I think sleeping for a short while should ease her discomfort."
"Go back and attend to her. When she wakes up, inform me, and I’ll go check on her." After giving these instructions, Princess Yunhua waved the maid away.
The room fell silent.
Princess Yunhua rested her chin on her hand and let out a breath, "Her father is supposed to be a courageous Great General, yet Nanyan has never even gotten used to carriages since she was a child. Because of this, I had to reinforce my carriage time and again. It’s fine in winter with the thick padding, but in summer, even if I had the chance to go out, I wouldn’t want to."
Du Yunluo was surprised. She had ridden in the princess’s carriage and naturally knew it was exceptionally stable. She originally thought it was for the sake of the princess’s travels, but it turned out to be specifically designed for Princess Nanyan, who couldn’t handle carriages.
"When we were switching to the sedan chair halfway up, I noticed the County Princess looking rather pale, barely able to stand. In her condition, she definitely wouldn’t have spoken much with Lady." Du Yunluo remarked.
Princess Yunhua hummed softly, "My efforts to give them time to chat were in vain."
With such deviations, Princess Yunhua’s mood wasn’t high, and thus Du Yunluo withdrew.
Princess Nanyan’s door remained closed as Du Yunluo passed by Mu Lianhui’s room, just in time to meet Mu Lianhui lifting the curtain and stepping out.
"Yunluo," Mu Lianhui called her with a smile, "I’m going to the main hall to offer prayers, are you coming?"
The voice was clear, with a gentle tone and sincere smile. In Du Yunluo’s eyes, Mu Lianhui’s actions were just right, full of goodwill and intimacy, as if the unspoken schemes in Wangmei Garden had never happened.
Du Yunluo tucked her hair behind her ear and also smiled, "The Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort are resting; perhaps it’s not appropriate for us to go directly to the main hall?"
"Just to offer incense." Mu Lianhui said, pausing for a moment, pointing north, "Did you come from the princess?"
Du Yunluo nodded, "Yes."
"What did the princess say to you?" Mu Lianhui asked.
Du Yunluo smiled faintly, "The princess grew up in the palace and has scarcely left the gates. She thinks I, being outside the palace, should be familiar with the outside. She wanted me to point out interesting places and good food along the way. But I, too, stay mostly indoors and couldn’t provide her with much either."
Mu Lianhui covered her lips and laughed, "The princess indeed, how much can we, ladies, know about such things?"
Their conversation was light and Solas. Mu Lianhui then proceeded to the main hall.
Du Yunluo turned to return to her room. Just as she pushed open the door, she heard Mu Lianhui call her again from behind.
"Lady?" Du Yunluo asked, puzzled.
Mu Lianhui approached her quietly and said softly, "I forgot to tell you earlier, it’s Ah Shao’s birthday in a few days, you know, right?"
"Yes, I know."
"Have you prepared a gift?" Mu Lianhui inquired and seeing Du Yunluo looking at her with confusion, she cleared her throat and whispered in her ear, "If you have, find a different occasion to give it. Ah Shao doesn’t like celebrating birthdays; it reminds him of his uncle; they had a great bond."
Du Yunluo frowned, lowering her gaze, "Thank you for the reminder, Lady. I will remember."
After speaking, Mu Lianhui left, and Du Yunluo returned to her room, taking out the prepared gift from her bag, examining it in her hand repeatedly.
Previously, she had been misled into thinking Mu Lianxiao enjoyed tea, and now this birthday matter. Could it be in Mu Lianhui’s eyes, she was that easily fooled?
