Chapter 281 - 280: Honest and Sincere
After taking a couple of steps, Mu Lianxiao suddenly stopped.
Du Yunluo was following right behind him and nearly bumped into him, but Mu Lianxiao quickly caught her.
"Why did you stop?" Du Yunluo looked up at him.
Mu Lianxiao released Du Yunluo’s shoulders and held her hand: "Do you still remember the way back?"
Du Yunluo was momentarily stunned.
She recalled the Wangmei Garden from that year.
He had asked her the same question before holding her hand.
That was the first time he had held her in this life, cautiously probing back then, but now it felt as natural as it should be.
Du Yunluo smiled, interlocking her fingers with Mu Lianxiao’s: "I don’t remember."
She was lying to him. How could she not know? In the backyard of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, even in pitch darkness, Du Yunluo could find her way.
But at this moment, she just wanted to say so, to let him lead her, guide her.
Du Yunluo saw Mu Lianxiao smiling, a smile warmer than winter sunshine.
Meanwhile, in Baijie Hall, Madam Wu slowly paced back into the main room.
The underground fire dragon in the West Warm Pavilion was burning hot, and she sat cross-legged on the Arhat Bed, motioning for Mrs. Zhou, who had come in with her, to sit below.
"I see this old lady is an honest child." Madam Wu spoke slowly.
Mrs. Zhou, hearing this, pondered for a moment, then said: "She is honest, but I’m afraid she’s too honest."
Madam Wu furrowed her brow and nodded toward the big maid Banqiao who was serving in the room.
Banqiao curtsied and exited, leaving only Nanny Shan to serve inside.
Madam Wu leaned against the pillow and sighed: "I understand what you’re thinking. It is not easy to pick the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law for the legitimate eldest branch. An overly honest person managing the household affairs might suffer losses. However, the two of us still have some strength. If she can shoulder the responsibilities, then we should teach her bit by bit."
Mrs. Zhou nodded: "That’s what I thought too. No one is born knowing how to manage a household. I learned under your guidance back in the day."
Recalling the past, Madam Wu smiled, then sighed again: "If she were half as clever as you, it would make teaching her easier."
Mrs. Zhou lowered her eyes, as cleverness is a matter of perspective.
If the price of cleverness is a husband’s early death, she would rather be a fool. Just like now, as long as Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo can love each other tenderly until old age, Mrs. Zhou doesn’t mind having a foolish daughter-in-law.
Keeping her feelings to herself, Mrs. Zhou forced a smile and said: "Old Madam, after all, Lianxiao likes her."
"That is a true statement." Madam Wu’s smile deepened. "Ah Dan went to Shaohui Garden this morning, and when he came back, he told me that Lianxiao and his wife are getting along well."
Mrs. Zhou turned to look at Nanny Shan: "Is that so?"
Nanny Shan, hands lowered, chuckled, "When this old servant went, the Madam was dressing the Heir. Her little face was flushed, and they looked so sweet together that this old servant could hardly bear to look."
Mrs. Zhou pursed her lips in a smile. She knew the couple was affectionate, but hearing it from Nanny Shan made her feel at ease.
Madam Wu grew a bit tired, squinting her eyes she said: "Time reveals a person’s heart."
Mrs. Zhou responded, got up, and took her leave.
Nanny Shan’s eyelids fluttered as she covered Madam Wu with a brocade quilt.
The Old Madam’s wrinkled hand suddenly grasped Nanny Shan’s: "Ah Dan, do you think I’ve been somewhat inconsiderate to Lian Mou’s wife?"
"The legitimate eldest is the legitimate eldest," Nanny Shan’s tone was calm, "A few years ago, it was because the First Madam was unwell that you let the Second Madam manage the household. Now that the Heir’s Wife has entered the manor, returning the management to the legitimate branch is only fair and proper."
"Even so..."
Nanny Shan said: "This old servant understands the Old Madam’s concerns. The Second Madam has been managing the household for many years. Asking her to relinquish it all at once is difficult to accept."
"Who is willing to spit out the meat from their mouth?" Madam Wu smiled bitterly, "Just like at Duke Jing Mansion, taking back management from a concubine caused such chaos."
"That was a battle between wives and concubines, and the new wife was too hasty, unlike our mansion’s situation," Nanny Shan consoled her.
"Yes, it has to be gradual. In these years, the benefits Lian Mou’s wife has gained are significant," Madam Wu released her grip.
Nanny Shan tucked in the corners of the quilt: "You said it yourself, Old Madam, ’Clear water has no fish.’"
Madam Wu closed her eyes and said no more.
The struggle over household management exists in every family. She’d even heard stories of mothers-in-law unwilling to relinquish power to daughters-in-law, causing unrest in the back household. It ultimately boils down to the battle for the right to speak and be heard.
To Madam Wu, unless the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law cannot fulfill her duties, the legitimate branch should shoulder the responsibilities.
In her mind was Du Yunluo’s gentle smile.
She thought to herself, she really couldn’t be too hasty. She’d have to see if Du Yunluo had the competence. If she turned out to be hopeless, she wouldn’t make a fuss anymore to avoid handing it back to the Lian Family, only to have to take it away again, which would only breed resentment.
Du Yunluo and Mu Lianxiao returned to Shaohui Garden.
Shaohui Garden was just one compound, but it included large side courtyards with a small kitchen, so it wasn’t a small courtyard by any means.
The two of them sat in the inner room.
Lian Qiao, ever perceptive, called in the people serving in the courtyard to come and pay respects to Du Yunluo.
As Du Yunluo glanced over, many familiar faces from her past life came into view.
Lian Qiao, of course, she trusted to work in the house, as for Yu Zhu...
She glanced at Mu Lianxiao, planning to ask him at a more suitable time why he had transferred Yu Zhu in.
In the courtyard were also four second-class maids, eight third-class maids, two crude maids, and a cook.
After they paid their respects in batches, Du Yunluo instructed Jin Rui to distribute reward silver.
Then after Jin Rui, Jin Lan, and the two accompanying maids had paid their respects to Mu Lianxiao, the ceremonies were complete.
As there were constant comings and goings, the curtain kept rising and falling, allowing in a lot of cold wind, so the inner room was far less warm than the East Wing.
Du Yunluo and Mu Lianxiao entered one after the other.
"The ones by my side, you know Yun Qi and Jiuxi, and there are Ming Liu and Shuying. In a couple of days, I’ll have them come pay their respects." Mu Lianxiao said.
Du Yunluo replied softly, "Okay."
Mu Lianxiao looked at her, pulled her to sit on the Arhat Bed, and massaged her temples: "Meeting so many people wore you out?"
Her long eyelashes fluttered, and Du Yunluo didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
"Don’t take Aunt’s words to heart. She was targeting Mother, not you." Remembering the situation during the introductions, Mu Lianxiao explained.
Du Yunluo clearly understood the issues between Mu Yuanjing and Mrs. Zhou, and it wasn’t that she was biased towards Mrs. Zhou; it was just that Mu Yuanjing was being unreasonable.
"I didn’t take it to heart." Du Yunluo said.
Du Yunluo’s voice wasn’t as soft as usual, revealing a hint of emotion, but it was indeed quite endearing.
Mu Lianxiao realized this, and pulling her close, he smiled: "Yunluo, you asked before, what to do if elders don’t like you, but why do I feel like it’s you who doesn’t like them."
Mu Lianxiao had noticed during the introductions that Du Yunluo was respectful towards Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou, but notably distant with some relatives.
She consistently avoided the deliberate favor-courting of Third Madam Xu from the clan.
Du Yunluo’s body stiffened as she looked up at Mu Lianxiao’s face, so close.
Mu Lianxiao’s eyes were filled with concern. He cared for her, indulged her, never blamed her; it was like this in the past, and remains so now.
Du Yunluo felt a mix of gratitude and heartache, a mixture of feelings swirling within her. She reached out to hug Mu Lianxiao back, her face buried in his chest, her voice muffled: "Heir, they are all your family. As long as they treat you well, I will treat them well."