Chapter 220 - 219: Chill to the Bone
If Du Yunnuo has any dissatisfaction with the Liao Family, it’s only the fact that they like to give Aunt Mo a hard time.
However, despite the torment, there has been no excessive method used. After all, Old Mrs. Xia is still in charge, and Aunt Mo is honest and proper, so even if the Liao Family is unhappy, they have no reason to punish Aunt Mo.
The Liao Family sighed again upon hearing this, making Du Yunnuo uncomfortable, and they said, "After all, they were raised close by, the Old Master dotes over a bird as if it were his flesh and blood, let alone raising a person! Pity, oh pity, when they were needed in the past, all sorts of ways were thought of to keep them calm, and now..."
Upon hearing this, Du Yunnuo understood that the Liao Family was talking about the affairs of Duke Jing Mansion.
Xiuyu said the Liao Family was upset at their parental home over the matters concerning Aunt Liao, but it’s unclear what exactly was said.
The Liao Family didn’t care what Du Yunnuo was thinking, only lamenting their own worries, saying Aunt Liao was deceived by the Young Master, that Aunt Liao had been working tirelessly for Duke Mansion, and that if they had known it would turn out this way, they would never have allowed the Young Master’s wife to give birth. The conclusion was, men are liars, not a single one is reliable, the Young Master and Du Huai’en are all equally despicable, not a word from their mouths can be believed.
Du Yunnuo dared not respond at all, simply fanning herself with a round fan. When the Liao Family complained about the small breeze, Du Yunnuo quickly switched to a larger bamboo fan.
When the Liao Family let out three scornful laughs at the sight of Du Huai’en returning to the mansion, Du Huai’en looked puzzled, prompting Du Yunnuo to quickly greet then apologize, hurriedly retreating to the East Cross Courtyard, calling Qian He to help massage her sore arms.
Qian He applied force on her hands, causing Du Yunnuo to yelp in pain. To distract herself, she tried recalling the Liao Family’s words, so as not to actually cry out in pain.
With such thoughts, many details fell into place, chilling her heart.
The Young Master’s wife was too ill to manage affairs, so logically, it should be the Old Duke’s wife handling the estate. However, the duty unexpectedly fell to Aunt Liao, who had just entered the mansion at that time.
Du Yunnuo remembered the Old Duke’s wife’s attitude toward Princess An Ran, stirring a thought—The Old Duke’s wife was unsuitable and unable to manage the household.
Though she comes from a decent background, she lacks the skills and capability to run a household, and perhaps it’s not her health that’s the issue, but her competence.
Aunt Liao not only managed the mansion, but she also bore the eldest son and daughter before the Young Master’s wife.
This means that both Duke Jing Mansion and the Young Master’s wife’s family didn’t believe this sickly woman could survive to bear children safely.
Duke Jing Mansion needed heirs, but couldn’t lose face by divorcing due to "being barren," yet they had no idea how long the sickly Young Master’s wife holding the position of the primary wife would live.
Dying early would be better, so a new wife could enter the mansion, making everything easier. But if it were to endlessly drag on, Duke Jing Mansion couldn’t afford the delay.
Thus came Aunt Liao, with official background, clear family history; she could manage the household and bear children, even if the Young Master’s wife lived to an old age, Aunt Liao’s son would be acknowledged under the primary wife, ensuring the family legacy without being mocked for the birth mother’s status.
Yet, no one expected the Young Master’s wife to indeed give birth to a son and a daughter.
As the legitimate grandson was born, the Old Master changed his plans immediately, leading to Aunt Liao’s ten-year wait and her caution.
Now, everything has reached its end.
Aunt Liao lamented that the saying "kill the donkey once the grinding is done" was absolutely true.
And the Liao Family said men are liars, showing how the Young Master deceived Aunt Liao all along.
Thinking of Princess An Ran, and Aunt Liao’s tears, Du Yunnuo suddenly wanted to see the future, to see the grand drama that Aunt Liao mentioned.
Du Yunluo was unaware of the matters in Anfeng Courtyard, otherwise she would surely sigh as well.
As women without conflicting interests, Du Yunluo naturally sympathizes with Aunt Liao.
The past life differed from the present, where the concubine for the Young Master wasn’t the biological sister of the original wife; Du Yunluo vaguely remembers, that lady did have a son but ultimately couldn’t compare to the legitimate eldest son left by the original wife.
The reason was firstly that the original wife’s family was closely watching over this legitimate nephew, and secondly, the Old Master continued to treat An Ran siblings well, Aunt Liao, being alive, attracted the new wife’s hatred.
In this life, the new wife’s status has changed, and Aunt Liao will no longer be at Duke Mansion’s mercy, ensuring exciting days ahead.
Those are future events, but at present, Du Yunluo is most concerned about Qixi Festival.
Early the next morning, Mrs. Shen Changgen brought Du Yunying’s skillfully made cookies to Chengyi Bo Mansion, while Du Yunluo’s flower melon was still sent to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion by Nanny Xu.
Taking the brocade box from Jin Ling’s hands, Nanny Xu felt uneasy, remembering too vividly opening the brocade box in front of Madam Wu last year, fearing Du Yunluo might pull a similar trick this year.
"Jin Ling," Nanny Xu whispered, pulling Jin Ling aside, "What did the girl carve this year?"
Jin Ling blushed and said, "Mama, the girl carved the Princely Heir again."
Nanny Xu sighed, almost losing grip of the brocade box, she knew it!
Knew their Fifth Miss wasn’t an ordinary person, this...
"It doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter, if the Fifth Miss isn’t afraid of being mocked by the Marquis Mansion, what am I, an old nanny, afraid of." Nanny Xu shook her head as she left.
Nanny Xu entered Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and was warmly invited into Madam Wu’s room.
Madam Wu sat cross-legged on the Arhat Bed, with Mrs. Zhou seated below, and Nanny Xu was relieved that the Second Mrs. Lian, whom she had met last time, wasn’t present. Grandmother, mother-in-law, and aunt are not the same.
Nanny Xu presented the brocade box.
Madam Wu smiled at Mrs. Zhou and said, "The child’s thoughts are unique, let me see what’s carved this time."
Opening the box, and seeing the flower melon inside, Madam Wu chuckled, "I predicted correctly, didn’t I!"
Mrs. Zhou leaned over to look, seeing the carvings on the melon so lifelike, not just the spirited horse, but also the person on it was wonderfully vivid, making Mrs. Zhou feel as though her son was smiling at her from the horse with pride.
Creating such a likeness requires not only keen observation but more so a delicate and lingering heart.
Mrs. Zhou nodded with satisfaction; having only Mu Lianxiao as her son, if he could marry a deeply affectionate wife, it would be ideal.
Madam Wu took another careful look, repacked the brocade box, and had it sent to the front courtyard.
Yun Qi carried the brocade box quickly to Mu Lianxiao’s courtyard.
Mu Lianxiao had just finished his exercises and was sitting at the desk writing reports.
Yun Qi knew these were to be sent to the Imperial Study Room, the Holy Emperor cared greatly about Lingxi’s situation, and in the days since Mu Lianxiao returned to the capital, he had frequented the palace, not content with mere verbal reports; he needed to write them up properly to present.
"Master," Yun Qi handed over the brocade box, "Miss Du’s flower melon has arrived."
Mu Lianxiao looked up and smiled while pursing his lips, "This place is messy, put it in the other room, I’ll head over shortly."