Chapter 294 - 293: Sachet
Du Yunluo chuckled coldly in her heart.
In her past life, Jiang Yunuan had told her the same thing, and Du Yunluo had comforted Jiang Yunuan for a long time, during which Jiang Yunuan had often poured out her woes to her.
"By the way," Jiang Yunuan adjusted her mood, forced a smile, and said, "Tomorrow is Third Uncle’s birthday, have you prepared anything?"
Du Yunluo smiled and replied, "I don’t know what to prepare, I’ve been worrying for a while, afraid he might not like it. Sister-in-law, are you also like that when you give things to Second Brother?"
Jiang Yunuan paused, her smile froze at her lips.
She seemed lost in thought.
Du Yunluo saw clearly that Jiang Yunuan appeared to recall something, her gaze lingering on her fingers resting on the table for a long time, not moving away.
"Sister-in-law?" After a while, Du Yunluo gently called her.
Jiang Yunuan snapped back to reality, cleared her throat, and said, "Don’t think too much, as long as it’s from you, Third Uncle will surely like it."
"Is this based on experience, Sister-in-law?" Du Yunluo smiled, leaning closer, "Does Second Brother like anything Sister-in-law gives?"
Jiang Yunuan felt embarrassed and answered vaguely, "Sort of."
"Then Sister-in-law can’t sympathize with my feelings," Du Yunluo propped her cheek, her gaze sliding off Jiang Yunuan, her tone lowering, "A mix of worry and joy, that bittersweet feeling."
Jiang Yunuan’s fingers stiffened, then began to tremble slightly.
Du Yunluo felt it; Jiang Yunuan’s hand holding hers was trembling.
Afterwards, Jiang Yunuan remained absent-minded during the conversation and, before long, left to go back.
Du Yunluo escorted her all the way outside Shaohui Garden, watching Jiang Yunuan slowly walk away.
She knew that the few words just exchanged made Jiang Yunuan recall Mu Liankang.
The state of mixed worry and joy was something Jiang Yunuan had experienced, things of a young girl’s heart, filled with thoughts of Mu Liankang.
With Mu Liancheng, she wouldn’t have such unsettled feelings.
Mu Liancheng was unconditionally kind to her, whereas with Mu Liankang, she had once warm-heartedly yearned to give her all.
Du Yunluo turned and walked back into the house.
Previously, Jiang Yunuan had toyed with Du Yunluo’s emotions; in this life, she was merely retaliating in kind.
Du Yunluo believed that in the last few years of her past life, Jiang Yunuan had discovered some clues regarding the truth of Mu Liankang’s disappearance, but at that time, she was already an aging old woman, unable and unwilling to confront Mu Liancheng.
One was a husband she shared her life with, the other a person she held deep in her heart.
Jiang Yunuan had been in pain, which Du Yunluo could well understand.
Yet how could the pain Jiang Yunuan caused Du Yunluo be dismissed?
If Jiang Yunuan knew the truth early in this life, how would she react?
For Mu Lianxiao and for the peace of the main family, Du Yunluo needed to act against the second family; only when the second family was in disarray would they be too distracted to notice other matters, thus revealing themselves in time.
The relationship between Jiang Yunuan and Mu Liancheng might be the catalyst.
Even if Jiang Yunuan remained unaware of the truth, plunging her into memories of Mu Liankang would be enough to trouble Mu Liancheng.
Du Yunluo took out a sachet from beneath the embroidery basket.
She had made this before the New Year, embroidered with the dual carp motif, intending it as a birthday gift for Mu Lianxiao.
Du Yunluo examined it carefully, took it into the inner room, and placed it under the pillow.
Mu Lianxiao returned rather late.
Du Yunluo asked Lian Qiao to bring up the warm dishes from the small kitchen, and the couple shared their meal together.
Mu Lianxiao served her dishes, saying, "Next time, you should eat first, don’t wait for me."
Du Yunluo nodded with a smile.
In the quiet of the night, Du Yunluo leaned against Mu Lianxiao, recounting some amusing stories.
Mu Lianxiao seemed absent-minded, lowering his head to kiss her brow.
In the middle of the night, Du Yunluo awoke groggily, lifting her hand to rub her sleepy eyes.
Before falling asleep, she constantly reminded herself not to oversleep but instead woke up in the middle of the night because of it.
Du Yunluo felt helpless, wanting to turn over but found her waist encircled tightly.
Trying to move Mu Lianxiao’s hand, as soon as she made a move, Mu Lianxiao also awoke.
"Yunluo..." he called hoarsely, "What’s wrong?"
Du Yunluo whispered, "Did I wake you? Don’t worry, go back to sleep."
This time, they slept until dawn.
Seeing the empty bed beside her, Du Yunluo sighed and buried her face in the pillow, feeling both angry and annoyed.
She had planned so well last night, yet things turned out this way!
Du Yunluo resigned herself, not wanting to get up, until Mu Lianxiao returned from practicing.
He opened the curtains, sat by the bed, and bent forward to look at Du Yunluo lying on the pillow: "If you can’t get up, don’t suffocate yourself."
Du Yunluo pouted and turned her head, cheeks flushed from staying under the cover, secretly peeking at him, half annoyed, half playful.
Mu Lianxiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his body lowered further, murmuring by her ear, "Are you tired?"
Du Yunluo froze, then understood, feeling so embarrassed she wanted to hit him with the pillow.
Her fingers touched the sachet under the pillow, she snorted, took it out, and stuffed it into Mu Lianxiao’s arms: "Here, birthday gift."
This time, Mu Lianxiao was stunned.
He looked at the exquisite sachet, his fingers brushing over the embroidered carps, his eyes showing a hint of warm smile: "I thought the insoles were my birthday gift."
Hearing this, Du Yunluo reached to grab the sachet, saying, "That’s right, that’s the one. This one is my own."
But her movements weren’t as fast as Mu Lianxiao’s.
When she reached out, the sachet was already hidden behind him, his other hand clasping her hand and lifting it to his lips for a kiss.
"Yunluo, I’m very happy," Mu Lianxiao said with a smile.
Her apricot eyes sparkled with affection, and Du Yunluo chuckled, "Glad you like it."
Though they got up a bit late, they didn’t miss the time to visit Jingshui Hall.
Mrs. Zhou looked at them lovingly, saying, "Go pay respects to your father."
Mu Lianxiao nodded in agreement.
The family had a feast in Baijie Hall that day.
Du Yunluo met Mu Yuanjing, believing she might have found a reason not to attend.
Mu Yuanjing chatted with Lian Family sporadically.
Du Yunluo sat beside Mrs. Zhou, mimicking her demeanor, focusing inward and ignoring Mu Yuanjing’s conversation.
"Can’t you serve properly!"
Suddenly, Mu Yuanjing shouted.
Du Yunluo looked up, seeing a trembling maid who immediately knelt down.
"Madam, please calm down, it’s just my clumsy mistake," the maid cried.
Madam Wu waved her hand, saying, "It’s fine, she just lost her grip. Today is Lianxiao’s birthday, Yuanjing, if your sleeve is dirty, go change."
Mu Yuanjing’s eyes reddened, showing the sleeve stained with wine: "Mother, you gave me this fabric long ago, and I’ve made just this outfit. It’s stained, how can I wear it again? One lost grip..."
Madam Wu shook her head: "Choose another fabric from what I have, alright?"
Mu Yuanjing was unhappy, pulling her cuff to expose her arm.
On her hand, she wore two delicate golden bracelets.
Du Yunluo looked carefully, seeing the Tang Grass Pattern.