Chapter 283 - 282: Peaceful Life
The Lian Family was busy all day, and finally, she could take a rest. She leaned on the couch, letting her maid massage her temples.
With her eyes closed, she recalled the scene of meeting relatives during the day, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.
"What is Hui’er doing?" she asked.
The maid behind her, Zhu Shan, replied, "Lady seems to be taking a nap."
The Lian Family gasped. While she was worrying about this and that here, Mu Lianhui was taking a nap as if nothing happened?
She couldn’t stay lying down anymore. She waved her hand, letting Zhu Shan help her up, threw on a cloak, and went to find Mu Lianhui.
The place where the Lian Family lived, Fengyu Courtyard, was spacious, and the East Cross Courtyard was given to Mu Lianhui, so the two could look after each other.
Mu Lianhui was already awake but hadn’t gotten up. She lay on the Arhat Bed, hugging a brocade quilt, holding a book in her hand, flipping through it leisurely.
The Lian Family lifted the curtain and went in. Upon seeing this situation, the anger she had suppressed surged again: "Which girl behaves like you? Do you still look like a lady from a respectable family?"
Mu Lianhui yawned and said, "Those young ladies from respectable families don’t have titles. Why should I learn from them?"
The Lian Family widened her eyes.
Nonsense! This is really nonsense!
Yet Mu Lianhui acted as if she didn’t know the Lian Family was angry, adding, "You haven’t seen the lifestyle of Princess Yunhua."
"But she is a princess!" the Lian Family said in a low voice. Seeing Mu Lianhui about to speak, the Lian Family feared she would say something else infuriating, so she quickly stopped her, "Hui’er, you’ve interacted with that Du Yunluo before; what do you think of her?"
Mu Lianhui casually tossed the book aside and said, "You’ve asked me this several times, and I’ve answered several times. What could she be? Just a delicate girl pampered by her family."
"But she’s not like the rumors," the Lian Family said. "She should be more delicate and troublesome, but with Lian Xiao..."
"Are they sweet as honey?" Mu Lianhui laughed mockingly, "Ah Shao has good looks, a good temper, and accommodates her well, what’s so strange if the two hit it off?"
"But if it goes on like this..."
The Lian Family spoke halfway when Mu Lianhui interrupted her: "What will happen if it goes on like this? She is so focused on Ah Shao; can she see anything else? You don’t need to worry needlessly; even the Old Madam hasn’t seen through it, are you afraid of that little girl?"
The Lian Family pressed her lips. It was not only the Old Madam, but who among the household noticed anything?
Mu Lianhui snorted: "Compared to the rumored Du Yunluo, she has indeed changed, perhaps her temper has indeed improved a lot, but it doesn’t affect the bigger picture, does it? She doesn’t know anything and has no way of knowing."
Mu Lianhui’s certainty gave the Lian Family peace of mind, and she set aside Du Yunluo’s matters, holding Mu Lianhui’s hand, "Hui’er, what plans do you have for the future? At least give your mother a hint, you are not young anymore, by the end of the year when people ask, I wouldn’t know what to say."
"If you want to find a well-matched family in the Capital, then take your time," Mu Lianhui disliked the topic greatly, withdrawing her hand, "Tomorrow Yunluo is returning home, have you prepared everything? Don’t you plan to give her some trouble?"
With her hand now empty, the Lian Family’s anger flared up high, gritting her teeth: "Give her trouble? Do something under the Old Madam’s nose, do I still wish to live peacefully?"
Do you think I’m like you, doing things so carelessly? The accounts of Wangmei Garden haven’t been settled yet!
Tell me yourself, ever since then, has the Imperial Consort ever summoned you alone? All the benefits have fallen onto Du Yunluo!"
Mu Lianhui’s brow furrowed tightly, snorting: "Peaceful days? From the moment you and Father chose this path, it has nothing to do with peaceful days."
The Lian Family was at a loss for words, stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth: "Enough, enough, what’s the use of arguing with me? Keep being stubborn if you have the ability, just don’t get up every day!"
After speaking, the Lian Family turned and left.
Mu Lianhui watched the swaying curtain, lowered her eyes, yawned, didn’t bother with the book, held the brocade quilt, and closed her eyes again.
Peaceful days? What is that?
She never knew.
As for doing things, she didn’t feel she was careless. Although she lost the favor in Cining Palace, how could one know if misfortune is truly bad?
Ultimately, you can’t buy her willingness with wealth.
The February sky still darkened early.
Baijie Hall was lit.
Madam Wu asked a lot about the Du Family, and Du Yunluo answered them one by one.
Du Yunluo answered appropriately and generously, sharing amusing stories, making the Old Madam very happy.
Madam Wu listened and nodded, somewhat understanding why Du Yunluo was favored in her maiden family. She wasn’t shy when she should be coy, and never said more than she should when it was time to close her mouth.
This balance is not easy to maintain.
Madam Wu had lived for most of her life, having seen all sorts of drama; which family doesn’t have a few stories in their backyard?
But from Du Yunluo’s mouth, she couldn’t detect a hint of bias towards her maiden family members. This wasn’t "broad-mindedness," but knowing what should and shouldn’t be said.
A smart child.
Madam Wu asked about the Zhen Family in Tong City: "I heard from Lian Xiao, you met before in Tong City?"
Du Yunluo replied with a smile about her maternal family: "If it weren’t for the Princely Heir’s help, my grandfather couldn’t have invited an Imperial Physician."
Upon hearing it was Imperial Doctor Xing, Madam Wu was filled with emotions, recalling the Old Marquis, but didn’t bring up the old matters in front of Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo, instead she blamed Mu Lianxiao: "It’s rude to visit empty-handed, next time prepare well and take your wife to Tong City to pay respects."
Her gaze passed over Du Yunluo’s smiling face and landed on the smiling Madam Wu, Mu Lianxiao felt joyful and nodded in agreement.
Mrs. Zhou lifted the curtain and entered, seeing the Warm Pavilion filled with joy, she couldn’t help but smile.
Du Yunluo got up and saluted Mrs. Zhou: "Mother."
Mrs. Zhou had come to dine with Madam Wu, seeing that the table wasn’t set yet, she smiled: "I was already late today, who knew you were even later."
Madam Wu laughed heartily: "I got caught up talking with these two, I forgot the hour."
Mrs. Zhou glanced at Banqiao.
Madam Wu waved her hand: "Don’t blame them, I had plenty for lunch, and don’t feel hungry. Now that everyone is here, let’s set the table."
Banqiao hurried off and soon returned with a food box.
Neither Madam Wu nor Mrs. Zhou ate vegetarian, and with two young ones present, the table was richly laid.
Perhaps because she was in a good mood, Madam Wu ate a third more than usual and was about to have more when Mrs. Zhou stopped her.
In old age, overeating can be difficult to digest, Madam Wu knew this herself and stopped without Mrs. Zhou’s persuasion.
After the table was cleared, Madam Wu urged Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo to return to Shaohui Garden, letting Banqiao escort them out, then said to Mrs. Zhou: "No wonder Lianxiao likes her, she is considerate and sensible, even I am fond of her."
Mrs. Zhou took the Beauty Hammer and personally helped Madam Wu with it.
These four words "considerate and sensible" were words Madam Wu had used to praise Jiang Yunuan long ago.
To this day, Madam Wu still liked Jiang Yunuan, but the liking had long changed from what it used to be.