Free Web NovelChapter 189: Chapter 188: What a Pity
While Du Yunluo was observing Huang Jie, Huang Jie was also observing her.
Du Yunluo was naturally more petite compared to girls her age, while Huang Jie was quite the opposite, taller in stature, making Du Yunluo only reach up to Huang Jie’s chin.
Having traveled by carriage all the way, Du Yunluo wasn’t dressed in riding attire, but rather as she would on a regular day, wearing a plain white pi pa sleeve jacket, paired with a white gauze horse face skirt embroidered with spring flowers, covered with a peach-red top garment. Her hair was styled in two flat buns, adorned with peach blossom-shaped hairpins, with her ears hanging with gentle Nanzhu earrings, giving her an appearance of elegance with a hint of liveliness and charm.
Huang Jie glanced twice, then lowered her head to stare at her pointed shoe tips and secretly sighed.
Comparisons among people can really be infuriating.
This set of clothes suited Du Yunluo, but if she, Huang Jie, were to wear it, it would be a huge joke.
Being taller than other girls her age was one thing, but she also inherited her father, General Huang’s, large frame. Even though she refrained from indulging in lavish meals every day, she still appeared more robust than others.
Not exactly burly, but not exactly graceful either.
Her mother loved making new clothes for her, but the two pink cross-collar skirts she brought home, after wearing them once, she dared not try them again.
Others wore pink like a maiden’s charm, but on her, it was simply unbearable, even her mother couldn’t stand it, which showed how tragic it was.
Huang Jie knew she wasn’t unattractive; it was only her frame that dragged her down, and her face appeared broad. This was even more pitiful compared to overweight girls who could lose weight by diet, but she couldn’t very well crush her bones, could she?
Even though she understood this, Huang Jie couldn’t help feeling downhearted.
Girls of fourteen or fifteen loved beauty most, but she was naturally like this, leaving her frustrated, secretly envying Du Yunluo.
If only she had Du Yunluo’s figure, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Petite and delicate, accompanied by spring flowers and autumn moon, holding a book, savoring it—just imagining it felt like a lady from a painting.
The daughters of scholarly families were indeed different from her sisters born into a military family; even though her mother tried to change her somewhat, the atmosphere in the General Mansion couldn’t compare to the scholarly family’s foundation, leaving her feeling incomplete.
Thinking of this, Huang Jie gazed more attentively at Du Yunluo, suddenly seeming to think of something, biting her lower lip, her gaze deep, and sighed, "What a pity..."
Du Yunluo, baffled by her gaze that was sometimes passionate, sometimes hesitant, suddenly hearing "what a pity," couldn’t fathom Huang Jie’s emotional shift, feeling completely puzzled.
Huang Jie didn’t explain, instead, she said, "Today has been tiring with travel, it’s late, it’s time to rest, otherwise, sleeping late tomorrow will miss the sunrise."
"Sunrise?" Du Yunluo was curious.
Huang Jie nodded, "I heard people say that at sunrise, light scatters on the glazed tiles of the traveling palace, shining brightly and beautifully. I’m going back now, Miss Du, see you tomorrow."
As Huang Jie turned and took small steps back to her room, Du Yunluo followed the palace maid back to her quarters.
Jin Ling quickly packed up things.
On this trip, everyone brought someone from the mansion, familiar people to serve the masters, although they couldn’t go to the hunting ground, they rested in the master’s courtyard during the day.
Jin Ling combed Du Yunluo’s hair, whispering, "That Miss Huang, her way of speaking always seems odd."
Du Yunluo pressed her lips, somewhat understanding what Du Yunnuo meant by "painting a tiger, but looking like a dog," though, it was just awkwardness and lack of harmony in personality, not related to character or integrity; from a few words, Du Yunluo didn’t dislike Huang Jie.
She was just somewhat concerned about what Huang Jie regretted in her "what a pity."
That night Du Yunluo slept deeply, only waking up at dawn when Jin Ling called her.
The early meal hadn’t been sent yet, so Du Yunluo stepped out to walk in the courtyard.
After dawn, it looked different than at night.
Even in the small palace rooms allocated to Du Yunluo and Huang Jie, one could sense the grandeur and exquisiteness of royal courtyards, looking up from afar, glazed tiles stretched on and on, and within sight, it was all within the hunting palace’s range.
Huang Jie leaned against a veranda pillar, softly muttering something; Du Yunluo couldn’t hear, but seeing Huang Jie’s absorbed look, didn’t interrupt.
Soon, the palace maid brought the early meal; after finishing, Du Yunluo set off with Huang Jie, following the palace maids.
The hunting ground wasn’t far from the traveling palace, a quarter-hour by carriage.
When the ladies arrived, it was already quite lively.
Nanyan called Du Yunluo over with a wave, smiling, "How did you sleep last night?"
Before the two could exchange many words, they were invited to the tent of Princess Yunhua.
Suiyu invited them inside, and Du Yunluo immediately saw Mu Lianhui seated within the tent.
Mu Lianhui seemed in a good mood, smiling while holding a tea cup, sipping her tea.
"What’s taking so long?" Princess Yunhua, seeing them arrive, stood with a horsewhip in hand, "Let’s go, horse riding."
Princess Nanyan laughed, "With my limited ability, I can’t keep up with the princess, the princess and Lady can have more fun together."
"No need for you to say." Princess Yunhua raised an eyebrow, "Jiarou and I will have our fun, you two don’t slack off either, it’s a rare outing."
Du Yunluo verbally agreed, her eyes passing over Mu Lianhui, who slowly lifted her head, looking at her with a subtle smile.
The four left the tent, and the palace maids led the horses over.
Princess Yunhua mounted her horse, waiting until Mu Lianhui was ready before giving a whip to Mu Lianhui’s horse’s behind.
It seemed Mu Lianhui anticipated this from the princess, showing not an ounce of panic, she clenched the reins and rode out, Princess Yunhua sneered and followed.
Du Yunluo and Princess Nanyan firmly decided to let those two entangle as they were, not wanting to join their lively fun, each took a horse from the palace maid, leisurely walking around the edge of the camp.
In the distance, one could hear the horns in the center of the hunting ground.
The two were walking and talking when they ran into Huang Jie and Princess Hui.
Princess Hui, in a goose-yellow riding outfit, sat on a horse, snorted, "If I were you, I wouldn’t come, a girl from the General Mansion who can’t ride a horse—it’s laughable."
Huang Jie’s expression was gloomy and didn’t respond.
Princess Hui spotted Nanyan and Du Yunluo, quickly saluted Nanyan, and then looked Du Yunluo over, saying, "You seem fitting for this, can you ride a horse?"
Du Yunluo smiled without answering; she could tell Princess Hui didn’t care about her answer.
As expected, once she finished speaking, Princess Hui turned to Huang Jie and said, "A girl from Grand Tutor Du’s family not riding a horse is one thing, but for you, it’s just too unreasonable."
Having said that, Princess Hui laughed coldly twice, turned her horse around, and rode away.
Huang Jie sighed quietly, noticing that Du Yunluo’s horse, Snow Clothes, looked very docile, she tentatively asked, "The horses in the stable seem a bit fierce, Miss Du, could I borrow your horse, I’ll just ride a couple of circles here, to avoid them **** saying I’m not up to par."
