Free Web NovelChapter 164: Chapter 163: Don’t Understand
Mu Lianxiao looked down at his own hands.
He thought of Du Yunluo, who had once held his hand and written words on his palm, and couldn’t help but smile.
Growing old together hand in hand as a married couple was Du Yunluo’s wish, and it was his wish too.
In the twilight, Du Yunluo walked back to the private room unhurriedly.
Under the veranda, a palace maid saluted her and said that the Empress Dowager had requested her presence; Du Yunluo dared not delay and hurried over.
The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort lived together in a courtyard that, naturally, could not compare to Cining Palace, but was far superior to the private rooms where Du Yunluo and others stayed.
Inside, the sounds of laughter echoed.
The Crown Princess Consort was talking about the Imperial Grandson’s amusing antics, causing the ladies present to laugh incessantly, each sharing anecdotes about their own young children.
Princess Yunhua sat on one side, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the silver bowl on the few tables, while Princess Yunhua sat opposite her, peeling melon seeds silently, piling half a bowl with the seed kernels.
Mu Lianhui quietly kept the Imperial Consort company, smiling on the surface but with a hint of loneliness and detachment in her eyes, her thoughts wandering elsewhere.
Du Yunluo stepped forward to pay her respects.
Princess Yunhua pursed her lips and asked her, "Yunluo, where did you go? Come over and sit with us. Let’s chat and not listen to their tales of boys climbing trees and girls crying, so boring, truly boring."
Du Yunluo lowered her gaze and replied with a smile.
The Crown Princess Consort couldn’t help but laugh, casting an amused glance at Princess Yunhua, "Alright, alright, we won’t talk about boys and girls anymore."
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips and shook her head, "Indeed she’s just a child; she hasn’t grown up yet, so not paying attention to these things is quite normal."
The ladies laughed again, their eyes gentle, their laughter carrying an air of kindness and familiarity, but in Princess Yunhua’s ears, there was a taint of scorn that made her heart flare with anger.
Even in front of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, despite her dissatisfaction, Princess Yunhua refrained from retorting against the Crown Princess Consort, instead focusing her gaze on Mu Lianhui.
"Jiarou, what are you doing sitting there? They’re talking of their children’s antics; we, as young maidens, won’t join their chaos. After all, we don’t understand."
Mu Lianhui looked up abruptly at the sound.
The Imperial Consort patted Mu Lianhui’s hand and said, "Go on."
Du Yunluo watched Mu Lianhui rise. She had been facing Mu Lianhui just now, and vaguely saw a hint of confusion flash in Mu Lianhui’s eyes, only for a moment, disappearing without a trace.
Princess Yunhua took a handful of seed kernels from the silver bowl, chewed meticulously, and said, "You truly don’t understand; just say so. Why pretend to listen? No matter how much we listen, we don’t understand anecdotes of children wetting themselves, falling, or growing teeth."
"Indeed, I don’t understand." Mu Lianhui pursed her lips and, after speaking, ignored Princess Yunhua’s reaction, pulling Du Yunluo’s hand, "Where did you go? Why did you come only now?"
Du Yunluo allowed Mu Lianhui to lead her to sit by the table and said, "I went to the Great Heroic Hall to pay homage with Princess Nanyan."
Mu Lianhui knew that Li Luan had sought out Princess Nanyan in the hall, naturally aware that Du Yunluo and a few accompanying palace maids were dismissed by Li Luan. Where did Du Yunluo go while Princess Nanyan and Li Luan were in the Heavenly King Hall?
Thinking of this, Mu Lianhui felt a bit anxious and tentatively asked, "I was at the front; why didn’t I see you?"
Du Yunluo blinked, Princess Nanyan cast a glance at her and pursed her lips without speaking.
Both couldn’t reveal, lest Mu Lianhui found out that Du Yunluo had been eavesdropping nearby, creating unforeseen twists later.
Du Yunluo hesitated to find an excuse, but heard the Heir’s wife chuckle.
Seeing everyone look over, the Heir’s wife unreservedly said, "Where else could she go."
The tone carried three points of understanding and three points of teasing, as the experienced ladies immediately comprehended.
The Duchess raised her gaze and said with a smile, "Empress Dowager, I fully understand what you said this morning."
The Empress Dowager smiled without speaking.
She had expressed satisfaction with the marriage between Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo this morning, more than heartfelt, fueled by anger at Mu Lianhui’s rejection of Li Luan.
Li Luan was her dear grandson, in looks and character, intellect or skills, excellence in every aspect.
The Empress Dowager’s fondness for Li Luan grew with Mu Lianhui’s discontent.
The Wangmei Garden incident lacked a clear statement, yet in the Empress Dowager’s mind, it was already settled.
Du Yunluo lowered her gaze, unsure whether to be grateful for the Crown Princess Consort’s diversion or embarrassed by the ladies’ teasing.
However, with the marriage settled, even when the Holy Emperor had recently asked Mu Lianxiao to escort her home, chatting together was no longer an unusual matter.
Perhaps knowing the maiden’s fragile pride, the Crown Princess Consort shifted the topic to the matter of offering incense tomorrow.
Du Yunluo slightly exhaled a breath of relief.
Before dawn on the morrow, they had to rise for chanting and blessings, therefore the day ended early.
Princess Yunhua invited Du Yunluo to sit for a while in her private room.
Inside, sandalwood had been burned, differing from the scent she had smelled during the day.
Princess Yunhua noticed her contemplation and with a smile said, "Your nose is really something. This scent differs from ordinary sandalwood; it’s unique to Guoning Temple. Though I can’t say what exactly is added, I fancy it and asked the Grand Empress Dowager for some. You noticed it immediately."
Du Yunluo laughed, not usually sensitive to other scents, but overly familiar with sandalwood, "My grandmother always burns incense when chanting."
Princess Yunhua’s eyes lit up, "Next time, I’ll gather more spices, and we can try blending?"
Blending wasn’t simple. Among noblewomen in the Capital, only one or two dared claim expertise in perfumery; the rest merely dabbled for amusement.
Du Yunluo nodded in agreement.
Princess Yunhua felt a bit fatigued, and Du Yunluo rose to take her leave.
Outside, the sky had grown dark. The clouds hung low, suggesting an approaching storm.
Despite the clear weather earlier, Du Yunluo tightened her collar button and walked back along the veranda. As she passed Princess Nanyan’s room, she coincidentally encountered a palace maid carrying out a copper basin to discard water.
"Has the Princess retired?" Du Yunluo asked.
The palace maid bowed, "The Princess just finished grooming, albeit rested during the day, hence not sleepy now."
Inside, Princess Nanyan heard the voice and came out, "Coming from the Princess?"
Du Yunluo furrowed her brows, did not answer, instead entered the private room directly, waited until the palace maid was gone, and in a lowered voice said to Princess Nanyan, "Rest assured, the Princess didn’t ask me for anything. Besides, I promised you, wouldn’t go to chat idly with the Princess."
Princess Nanyan, hearing this, looked slightly embarrassed, "I didn’t mean it like that..."
Du Yunluo took a deep breath, catching a familiar scent.
The words she intended stayed caught in her throat, nose twitching, and she searched, moving to the inner room, her eyes catching sight of the ornate bird and flower silver incense ball hanging on the bedpost.
