Chapter 248 - 247: Lost and Hesitant
Du Yunluo glanced at Jin Rui.
Jin Rui understood and walked forward a bit, stopping only after rounding the Moon Gate. She stayed there to prevent anyone from overhearing the girls talk.
Du Yunluo leaned against the pillar, imitating Du Yunnuo, and said, "I guessed it."
"Isn’t the Duke Mansion good?" Du Yunnuo frowned slightly. The third sister went to the Elder Mansion, and the fifth sister is going to the Marquis Mansion. If she could enter the Duke Mansion, wouldn’t it be a good thing?
Du Yunluo smiled bitterly, "Do you know the condition of the second young master of the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion, Fourth Sister?"
Du Yunnuo’s eyes suddenly tightened.
She knew it, as did all the nobles and officials in the Capital. Everyone knew he was a medicine pot, and even though the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion kept saying the second young master was doing better, no one believed it.
Seeing her react this way, Du Yunluo looked directly at her, "Last spring, when Mrs. Shi came to Lianfu Garden from the Marquis Mansion to sound things out, the words you said, Fourth Sister, still echo in my ear.
You said you didn’t want to see me like a green lamp and old Buddha for a lifetime;
You said if I went to the Marquis Mansion, it might seem infinitely glorious, and the Du Family would look good, but I would be the one living day to day there. If something went wrong, what should I do?
You said, given our Du Family’s status, without reaching too high, there are still many well-matched official families, and being safe and sound is paramount."
Du Yunnuo’s face turned pale, and with every word Du Yunluo uttered, she grew a shade whiter.
Those words back then were superficial pleasantries, meant to persuade Du Yunluo to create a scene that displeased Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia, but they were also sincere.
As sisters, she wasn’t heartless; how could she eagerly push her younger sister into a pit of fire?
Du Yunluo sighed and continued, "I don’t wish for you to live a life of solitude either, and I don’t want to see you ruin your entire life.
Even if you’re willing to risk everything, you should consider the Du Family. Marrying you to a medicine pot truly demeans the Du Family, inviting scorn from all the official families in the Capital.
At that time, what about Fourth Uncle and Third Brother? If their prospects are ruined, Aunt Mo’s lifetime would be tied with yours."
Du Yunnuo’s body trembled slightly; if not for the pillar, she might have wobbled.
"Fourth Sister, I know you want to marry well, but you must see if their family is truly worthy. At the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion, eventually, it will be Princess Yunhua reigning over everything—what benefits could you gain? Having no support or reliance, not everywhere is as pure as our home," Du Yunluo said.
Du Yunnuo bit her lip; she knew Du Yunluo was right, but precisely because of this, her heart felt exceptionally heavy.
She could seek temporary glory, but when that sickly person breathed his last, who in the Duke Mansion would truly care for her? At that time, she’d call to the heavens but receive no answer, call to the ground but find no help—wanting to end her life would depend on if they even allowed her that release.
Just like Aunt Liao, who painstakingly managed the household for over a decade, yet is now helping her husband manage the wedding. If she were the main wife lifting a concubine, it might be fine, but she is a concubine welcoming a main wife, truly enough to infuriate her.
Compared to those disgraceful families, the Du Family’s rear courtyard is truly clean.
"I won’t be blinded by temptation; I know well enough the good from the bad, I just..." Du Yunnuo lowered her head, her eyes misty as she blinked her eyes to stop her tears, "I just don’t know what to do in the future..."
Confusion, hesitation.
The past two years were alright, but this past year, these emotions occasionally lingered around her heart.
Sometimes, she’d resign herself to thinking that like Miao Ruoshan, it wouldn’t be so bad—throw everything to the wind without a care, but when she calmed down, she’d find herself ludicrous and pitiful. It’s not that she lacked courage, but even if she had it, she wouldn’t know to whom she should risk herself.
Before reaching adulthood, Aunt Mo would remind her now and then to think for herself, to strive for herself, and the last couple of days this increased, leaving Du Yunnuo annoyed enough to seek refuge in Lianfu Garden.
Seeing her like this, Du Yunluo’s heart felt heavy.
In the previous life, Du Yunnuo married into a well-matched family; her husband was an official family’s concubine son, but their marriage was merely cobbled together.
Du Yunnuo had no feelings for the man, and they never listened to each other. Initially, they’d argue, but later, they didn’t even bother and just lived separately.
Yet Du Yunnuo was a woman—when a couple is at odds and lives separately, it’s the woman who truly suffers.
In this life, Du Yunluo knew of such a family but would never tell Mrs. Xia or Liao Family; Du Yunnuo had suffered enough in her past life—why make her live a lifetime of widow’s solitude and endure lifelong grievances?
"Do you remember when Princess An Ran got married?" Du Yunluo asked softly, "Whether reaching high or marrying low, it doesn’t matter. To be like the County Princess, it really isn’t so bad."
Du Yunnuo clenched her hand by her side.
To be like An Ran, able to handle Huo Ziming and make him follow her lead—able to make a fuss whenever unhappy, knowing Huo Ziming would have her back.
Du Yunnuo took a deep breath, her eyes teary but smiling, "It really is quite nice."
Du Yunluo knew Du Yunnuo was insightful; she was just troubled by her present circumstances, but wouldn’t do anything foolish, giving Du Yunluo much reassurance.
The topic ended here, with neither mentioning the Duchess anymore.
In Lianfu Garden, Mrs. Xia had invited Liao Family, roughly revealing her stance.
Liao Family was so enraged she almost fell back; if not for Mrs. Xia’s presence, she would’ve cursed the Duchess as shameless and wicked-hearted. They think their sick grandson is a treasure, while other families’ daughters are weeds?
As far as Liao Family was concerned, that second young master was already so sick—the Duke Mansion should focus on their own virtue instead of marrying a granddaughter-in-law. What despicable, immoral act—to ruin a young maiden—to speed up the second young master’s demise?
Du Yunnuo might not be her biological daughter, but Liao Family had raised her for over ten years—if she pushed her into a pit of fire, she’d be no different than the Duke Jing Old Master, whom she loathed most. How would the outside world view the Du Family?
"Our family hasn’t fallen so low as to sell our daughters!" Liao Family gritted her teeth in anger, "Madam, I know this matter; if they dare target Yunnuo, I’ll drive them away with a broom! I don’t believe that in the Capital, although I scrutinize deeply, one capable man isn’t enough to open the way—one healthy man who can live to see his grandchildren isn’t to be found!"
Mrs. Xia nodded. Liao Family was a person who kept her promises; if she committed to something, she wouldn’t go back on it. "It’s just to let you know; having said that, Cining Palace has already made their position clear; the Duke Mansion shouldn’t dare act independently."
Mrs. Xia was correct; the Duchess indeed didn’t dare—she could only cast Du Yunnuo aside, much like she wouldn’t dare dream of Princess Hui and Mu Lianhui.
Ten days later, the palace decided on Princess Hui’s marriage.
Princess Hui would travel far to Pingchuan, marrying the second son from the Pingchuan Prince Mansion.
This was the same news Princess Nanyan had leaked to Du Yunluo half a year ago.
To send off this concubine-born daughter, Princess Rui had expended much effort—not only convincing Prince Rui but also having the Empress Dowager preside. After more than half a year, Cining Palace finally nodded in agreement.