Chapter 278 - 277: Xie En
Du Yunluo was very familiar with Nanny Shan.
Nanny Shan was the old nanny beside Madam Wu, greatly trusted by her, and Nanny Shan was deserving of this trust.
In the past, Du Yunluo was not favored by Madam Wu, and Nanny Shan treated her with respect yet still distant.
At this moment, Du Yunluo looked up and saw Nanny Shan’s smile was much kinder.
Nanny Shan wore a brand new navy cotton robe, bordered with a square pattern, and her hair was neatly and brightly combed, looking very spirited.
She smiled and bowed to the two of them.
Du Yunluo followed Mu Lianxiao to return the greeting to Nanny Shan.
Nanny Shan put away the handkerchief and smiled, "Old Madam instructed, going into the palace for Xie En is of utmost importance, and we can’t delay the hour. Please, Princely Heir and wife, go into the palace first, and later go to Baijie Hall."
Mu Lianxiao agreed.
Because they had to enter the palace, breakfast was sent to Shaohui Garden earlier.
Du Yunluo hadn’t eaten much yesterday and only had some snacks at night, so she was already hungry by this hour.
Plain porridge, steamed buns, small dishes, and a bowl of chicken soup.
Lian Qiao said, "This is for the Lady’s nourishment. The kitchen simmered it carefully, it shouldn’t be greasy. Don’t know if it suits the Lady’s taste."
Du Yunluo was naturally accustomed to Dingyuan Marquis’s taste, having lived here for decades.
The oil layer on the chicken soup was removed, leaving only the clear broth with added greens and red dates, mild in taste, indeed not greasy.
Madam Wu has health-keeping customs; the day after the marital room, there’s always a bowl of chicken soup. If missed in the morning, it would be served by noon.
At that time, Du Yunluo found it troublesome. Things between married couples due to that bowl of soup became known to the kitchen, but later seeing the same in Jiang Yunuan’s place, she gradually got used to it.
She drank it in small sips, the hot soup warming her stomach, and after finishing a bowl, she felt entirely comfortable.
After breakfast, the carriage for the palace was ready, and Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo went together.
Stepping onto the carriage, Du Yunluo saw Mu Lianxiao joined her, curiously asking, "Isn’t the Princely Heir riding a horse?"
Mu Lianxiao responded, sat beside Du Yunluo, and naturally held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Jin Rui jumped onto the carriage, eyes observing the nose, the nose observing the heart, sitting beside the curtain.
The carriage stopped outside the palace gates, Jin Rui tidied Du Yunluo’s dress hem before returning inside.
Today, it was Jiuxi who accompanied, and he asked Jin Rui with a smile, "Sister, did the master practice martial arts this morning?"
Jiuxi wasn’t much older than Xue Bao, lively in personality. Jin Rui liked him and nodded, "Yes, before the day was fully bright, the Princely Heir got up and practiced."
Jiuxi thanked verbally, but couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.
Yesterday was the wedding, the Princely Heir practiced martial arts; today the bride was married, and the Princely Heir still practiced.
What Yun Qi said, "You’ll understand once you get married," seemed a sham.
Jiuxi hummed secretly, always tricking people; next time he’d tell his wife, let’s see if Yun Qi dares to talk nonsense again.
In the palace city, the Holy Emperor had not yet finished court sessions.
The two waited outside the Imperial Study Room for two quarters of an hour before the Holy Emperor returned.
Seeing Mu Lianxiao, the Holy Emperor, who had a serious demeanor, added a smile, saying, "With such a fine couple, it wouldn’t be right if I don’t give some rewards."
The eunuchs quickly followed along with the Holy Emperor, speaking good words.
The two expressed gratitude, then headed to Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager held Du Yunluo’s hand, saying, "The mourning family knows your affection is good, it’s also fulfilling Madam Wu’s wish for Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to have descendants sooner."
Du Yunluo lowered her eyes and agreed.
Imperial Consort placed a string of Jade Buddha Beads on Du Yunluo’s wrist: "When you have time, come to the palace and chat with us two old people. Both the Empress Dowager and I are elderly, there are not many children to converse with."
Du Yunluo nodded.
She thought, Mu Lianhui was one of those children who could talk with the Imperial Consort, but now the Imperial Consort no longer summoned Mu Lianhui into the palace.
Promoting Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, having Du Yunluo was enough.
Cining Palace leaving someone to talk, rather than saying leaving someone who can converse, it’s better to say leaving someone useful.
Upon exiting the palace and returning to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the two first returned to Shaohui Garden.
Du Yunluo changed her clothes; the festive attire for palace greetings was indeed somewhat heavy.
She thought to herself, the Heir’s Wife’s dress was so intricate, once Mu Lianxiao inherits the title and she becomes Marchioness, guessing the official dress would tire her.
But even if it tires her, she wants to wear it, and needs to wear it.
In past lives, she never wore Marchioness’s crown and dress; she only saw Jiang Yunuan wear them, the Zhai Crown on the head was extremely beautiful.
She could somewhat understand the Miao Family’s feelings now, but she was different from the Miao Family, Du Huaiping had no official position, while she...
Du Yunluo cast a glance at Mu Lianxiao, the position of Marchioness was rightfully hers.
This time, never let the second branch take it again.
Sensing Du Yunluo’s gaze, Mu Lianxiao turned his head to look at her, smiled, and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Du Yunluo pursed her lips, walked to Mu Lianxiao, slightly tiptoed, and whispered in his ear, "I’m thinking, what should I do if they all don’t like me..."
Her soft voice echoed by the ear, the breath whispered at the ear, causing Mu Lianxiao’s ears to burn.
He lowered his gaze to look at her; her voice was truly captivating, he recalled her soft calls and sighs from last night, stirring his heart.
Clearing his throat and suppressing amorous thoughts, Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo’s hand, saying, "How could they?"
His Yunluo is so good, who wouldn’t like her?
Even if they truly don’t like her...
Mu Lianxiao smiled to himself; as long as he liked her, that’s all that mattered.
Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo’s hand, heading to Baijie Hall while chatting with her about the Marquis Mansion’s backyard layout.
Everything here was extremely familiar to Du Yunluo, although she rarely left her living place in her later years, having lived here so long, she could find the way even with closed eyes.
But she still listened attentively.
Mu Lianxiao accommodated her pace, walking neither quickly nor slowly, Du Yunluo following tightly, occasionally asking a question or two.
Baijie Hall was in the central part of the Marquis Mansion’s backyard, a two-courtyard house.
The backward room was for servants, and the main room of the first courtyard was converted into a small Flower Hall. Madam Wu now rarely moved around, family banquets during holidays were mostly set in this Flower Hall. The main room of the second courtyard was Madam Wu’s living place, three bright two dark five opening spaces; daily living was here. Further backward rooms were converted into a Buddhist Hall.
At this time, Madam Wu was waiting for the couple in the small Flower Hall.
Du Yunluo followed Mu Lianxiao inside.
Greetings were heard all around, many maids and women stood properly under the veranda.
Perhaps after many years without seeing, perhaps impressions said these women had passed away, maids had aged long ago, suddenly, Du Yunluo felt hard to recognize them.
Walking through the courtyard, step by step up the steps, Du Yunluo spotted Madam Wu sitting prominently in the Flower Hall, along with family heads from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and relatives from the Mu Family.