Free Web NovelChapter 162: Chapter 161: Intentions
The thoughts of Du Yunluo?
Princess Nanyan raised her eyebrows, her clear eyes shimmering with a watery light, as she carefully sized up Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo actually wanted to leave the Heavenly King Hall. Only if she and Princess Nanyan left together could Mu Lianxiao escape. However, what she needed to say to Princess Nanyan was not suitable to speak elsewhere, and she had just emerged from hiding. Leaving eagerly would only make Princess Nanyan suspicious.
Without waiting for Princess Nanyan to respond, Du Yunluo walked to the window and turned her back against the window frame: "I seek a smooth life, with my parents and elders in good health, a couple growing old hand in hand, with children. That’s all. Thus, I have little interest in the exchanges of swords and shadows among you all. I do not wish to be entangled."
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the ground. In the passage of time, Du Yunluo’s features appeared gentle and hazy.
Princess Nanyan took a sharp breath, murmuring, "Growing old hand in hand? Perhaps it’s a luxury."
Du Yunluo’s eyes tightened abruptly: "What did you say?"
Princess Nanyan turned her head away, avoiding Du Yunluo’s gaze, and slowly sighed: "I’m saying that even if you don’t want to be involved, you will be. Hasn’t the princess already sought you out?"
"She did seek me. She doesn’t want you to marry Prince Rui," Du Yunluo did not choose to hide it. She tilted her head and smiled faintly, "One a princess, the other a companion reader, then there’s my eldest sister-in-law. Stuck in between, I’m like that pig, neither here nor there, certainly at a disadvantage should anything go wrong. Given that, Princess, do you think I would help the princess?"
"Then what will you do?" Princess Nanyan asked.
Du Yunluo blinked: "I won’t provoke others, but how do I know others won’t provoke me? I just want to control what I can control, things enough to let me extricate myself. This is also knowing oneself and the enemy, ensuring no defeats."
From previous life to present, many details have already changed considerably.
Du Yunluo knew that to have everything follow her will, to let Mu Lianxiao live long, to make the second household of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion pay a price, passive defense alone would not suffice.
Even if a single blow couldn’t succeed, she needed to advance step by step.
This applied not only to dealing with the Lian Family and Mu Lianhui but also concerning the matter between Princess Yunhua and Princess Nanyan.
Otherwise, she’d be embroiled by these bickering deities before even marrying Mu Lianxiao.
Du Yunluo’s mind whirled swiftly, savoring the conversation between Princess Nanyan and Mu Lianhui earlier, she said, "Lady doesn’t want to marry Prince Rui, then how about you? I guess you are willing, right? Otherwise, you would have discussed it with the princess, not her coming to seek me."
Princess Nanyan bit her lip lightly and said, "It’s all irrelevant to my wishes."
"Then let me guess," Du Yunluo stepped out from the shadows, walked slowly to Princess Nanyan’s side, and slightly raised her head to watch her pale, delicate face, saying, "The princess had said that she wanted you to stay with her always, but the princess will marry eventually. By then, Princess, what about you? Will she keep you still, or..."
Du Yunluo stumbled upon a new thought she hadn’t considered before, momentarily freezing her, sending chills through her neck.
"So, it’s the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion!" Du Yunluo exclaimed out loud.
Princess Nanyan’s expression drastically changed, almost lunging forward, she covered Du Yunluo’s mouth: "Don’t speak nonsense!"
Frightened by Princess Nanyan, Du Yunluo instinctively wanted to struggle, but recalled Mu Lianxiao was still in the hall. If they made too much noise, he would surely peek in secretly.
Seeing Princess Nanyan covering her mouth, Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t remain indifferent, and their spying would be revealed.
Quickly calming herself, Du Yunluo didn’t struggle or speak, just quietly watched Princess Nanyan.
Princess Nanyan, fearing Du Yunluo’s words, saw her compliance and released her hands, softly warning, "Don’t speak recklessly."
Du Yunluo frowned, her voice low but firm: "You know better than I do whether I spoke recklessly. Among the many powerful families in the capital, why specifically the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion? The eldest grandson of Lord is excellent, yet the second grandson? Born weak and sickly! Even though the Duke Mansion claims he’s recovered, who ever saw him among the young noblemen of the capital all these years? Everyone speaks quietly about it, something the Princess cannot be unaware of. The princess wants you to accompany her, only to make you a widow accompanying her for a lifetime."
Princess Nanyan’s eyes instantly reddened, her gaze lowered, red lips opening and closing without a sound.
After a while, she lifted the back of her hand to her eyes, wiping, and hoarsely said, "You know the princess’s intentions, but what about the Lady’s?"
Du Yunluo, having just posed the question to Princess Nanyan, now faced the same inquiry. Finding herself at a loss, she said, "As you said, because she doesn’t want to marry Prince Rui, she doesn’t need to do anything but patiently wait for you to be assigned. Yet she fears the princess meddling. Despite the meddling, the Empress Dowager is already displeased with the Lady, sure to find another suitable match, not letting the Lady fill in. So this action...."
There’s only one reason for this action.
Du Yunluo sighed deeply.
Princess Nanyan gave a wry smile: "Indeed, she doesn’t want to marry, nor let me marry, isn’t this having a great heart?"
Du Yunluo sized up Princess Nanyan carefully.
She understood Mu Lianhui, knowing her actions weren’t without reason.
"Did the Princess offend the Lady?" Du Yunluo inquired.
Princess Nanyan shook her head with a bitter smile: "I haven’t even had the chance to offend her."
Du Yunluo laughed: "You make it sound like you’re eager to offend her."
Princess Nanyan knelt again before the Weituo Heavenly Bodhisattva, softly chanting some sutras, saying, "Miss Du, actually, we are the same. The future is hard to predict; sitting and waiting for doom is impossible. You know what I think, so show mercy. The word widow is too weighty, isn’t it?"
Du Yunluo’s body swayed slightly.
The weight of the word widow, she understood the most, for she bore it for fifty years. During those fifty years, the ash from the incense burner before Buddha could fill a whole room.
It could bury the room she lived in, burying her body, her heart together!
If not for realizing the past mistakes in old age, she may remain unable to awaken, buried with the ashes, ending a life of sorrow.
Du Yunluo watched Princess Nanyan’s silhouette, sighing inwardly. Previously, protecting Mu Lianxiao was her willingness, whereas Princess Nanyan was different, attached to Princess Yunhua. Marrying into the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion meant waiting for the sickly man to die, then spending the rest of her life in the Princess Mansion.
Princess Nanyan before her was of the same age, and Du Yunluo seemed to see her former self.
Turning her head firmly, she refused to look at Princess Nanyan. She couldn’t bear to see her tread that path nor push her into the firepit.
"I never intended to harm you. Before the princess, I will say nothing," Du Yunluo said hoarsely.
Princess Nanyan’s brows gradually relaxed: "Thank you."
