Free Web NovelChapter 169: Chapter 168: Good News
The Empress Dowager returned to Cining Palace.
Princess Nanyan felt dizzy from the carriage ride, unable to stand steadily, and was carried back to her chamber in a small sedan chair.
Du Yunluo had only dozed off and on in the carriage, and now she felt a bit dizzy as well, wanting to return to the Du Mansion early. She had just taken two steps when someone called out to her.
She turned to see it was the Duchess.
The Duchess was only a year or two younger than the Empress Dowager, and this round trip had taken quite a toll on her.
Her hair was gray, her face lined with wrinkles, and her voice not as lively as before they departed.
Du Yunluo stepped forward to pay her respects.
The Duchess took her hand and said warmly, "You, my dear girl, I met you for the first time yesterday and felt an immediate affection. I was delighted the moment I saw you, but with all the hurried comings and goings, we haven’t had much time to talk. Why don’t we leave the palace together today?"
With such an affable invitation, Du Yunluo could not refuse and responded with a smile.
Walking wasn’t as easy for the elderly as it was for the young, and the Duchess walked slowly, often pausing to rest her feet.
Du Yunluo walked alongside her, answering her questions politely and without over-familiarity.
"It’s kind of you, such a young lady, to accompany an old woman like me," the Duchess remarked with a laugh. "Age is indeed catching up with me. When I was younger, I used to fly kites and have snowball fights with the Empress Dowager in this garden. Now we’re two old ladies, neither able to outdo the other. She insists I should use a sedan chair, but I won’t have it. I insist on walking, slowly to irritate her."
Du Yunluo couldn’t help but chuckle.
She wasn’t disturbed by the elder’s pace, nor did she find it tiring. In fact, less than a year ago, she walked even slower than the Duchess.
Such stubbornness was something almost every elderly person had.
The Duchess, holding Du Yunluo’s hand, led her through the garden and said, "I remember you’re betrothed to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, aren’t you?"
Du Yunluo nodded.
"It’s good to have things settled, live harmoniously as a couple, and both the Empress Dowager and the Holy Emperor will be pleased," the Duchess paused and said with a smile, "As the Empress Dowager mentioned, Dingyuan Marquis Mansion really knows how to choose—they’ve picked someone pleasing to all, thanks to the Du Family for raising such a delightful girl."
Du Yunluo modestly replied with a few words.
"You’re the youngest in your family, right? Have your sisters been betrothed?" the Duchess asked again.
Du Yunluo opened her mouth, about to say that there was still one sister unengaged, but then recalled this was the Duchess and swallowed her words.
Previously, she and the Duchess hadn’t exchanged many words, yet the Duchess treated her so warmly. Having walked and talked together for a while, it felt as if they were grandmother and granddaughter, but Du Yunluo knew to be cautious.
There was still a sickly person in the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion.
The original intent of Princess Yunhua was to have Princess Nanyan marry that sickly person, but if the Empress Dowager betrothed the Princess to Li Luan, then Duke Zhen Guo Mansion would have to find another girl for their ailing grandson.
Among the prestigious families in the capital, who would want to marry their daughter to a sickly man?
That would be sending her to the Ghost Gate. Comparing it to marrying into the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, it’s a better choice with the latter.
The battlefield isn’t necessarily a death sentence. It’s the sickly one whose life is unpredictable.
If a few casual words from Du Yunluo made the Duchess set her eyes on Du Yunnuo, she would be devastated.
She wouldn’t push Nanyan into the fire, nor would she harm Du Yunnuo.
"All my sisters are betrothed," Du Yunluo replied.
The Duchess nodded slowly and asked no more.
Seeing this, Du Yunluo gathered her thoughts.
The Duchess had some intentions, but they seemed fleeting rather than overly determined. A casual response from Du Yunluo would not be dwelled upon by the Duchess.
Outside the palace gate, after seeing the Duchess off into her carriage, Du Yunluo finally boarded her family’s carriage and headed back to the Du Mansion.
After paying respects to Old Mrs. Xia in Lianfu Garden, Mrs. Zhen had many words for her daughter, but seeing her fatigued look, she felt sorry for her and let her sleep by her side for a while.
Du Yunluo slept until it was dark, and when she woke, the lights outside were already lit.
Mrs. Zhen had Jin Rui assist Du Yunluo with her grooming and said, "Why do you look as if you haven’t slept all night?"
"Wasn’t it because I didn’t sleep all night?" Du Yunluo muttered.
Mrs. Zhen heard this, puzzled, while Du Yunluo only mentioned playing chess with Princess Nanyan and the incident of a palace maid misjudging, without divulging more. Mrs. Zhen was wise enough to understand that behind these words lay some intrigue and wisely decided not to inquire further.
A few days later, while Du Yunluo was chatting with Mrs. Zhen, a servant from the Shao Family came to announce good news, saying Du Yunruo was pregnant.
Mrs. Zhen beamed, pulling the servant aside to ask for details, finding out that Du Yunruo had been diagnosed two months pregnant and, though a bit tired lately, had a good appetite. She joined her hands in prayer, then instructed Shui Yue to give the servant a large red envelope.
With Du Yunruo’s good news, the Du Family was in a joyful mood all around.
Du Yunluo was reassured as she recalled that her eldest sister had also been diagnosed around this time in the past, and after ten months of pregnancy, had given birth to a pretty girl.
Though not a son, she was Shao Yuanzhou’s first child, cherished from birth more than the two sons who followed.
Among the Shao Family elders, since Shao Yuanzhou’s elder brother already had a son, the girl, being the first granddaughter among the younger generation, was dearly loved.
Mrs. Zhen and Old Mrs. Xia made plans to visit Du Yunruo at the Shao Family in the coming days.
Mrs. Liao walked in with an invitation, handing it to Old Mrs. Xia: "Madam, Duke Jing Mansion has set the date for the princess’s wedding. It’s set for March 17th."
Old Mrs. Xia raised her eyebrows: "That’s not far off."
"They need to rush it before that incident," Mrs. Liao explained softly.
Du Yunluo, sitting aside, didn’t grasp it immediately. But when Old Mrs. Xia shook her head and sighed, it suddenly became clear.
Duke Jing Mansion was aware of the Young Master’s wife’s health and saw she wouldn’t last much longer. She was the legitimate mother of Princess An Ran. If she passed away, the princess would have to observe mourning, delaying the wedding.
The Old Master was eager for Princess An Ran to be married, planning to wed her before the Young Master’s wife passed away.
Fortunately, this marriage had been discussed since last year, and with both families having no shortage of money or hands, preparing by March wasn’t especially rushed.
"Are we going to attend the feast?" Old Mrs. Xia asked.
Mrs. Liao nodded: "They invited me, Yunnuo, and Yunluo."
Hearing this, Du Yunluo looked up, quite surprised.
Given her and Princess An Ran’s ambiguous relationship, which could easily spark gossip, it was indeed peculiar for Princess An Ran to invite her.
It truly was unexpected.
