Chapter 285 - 284: Companionship
The voice was soft and sweet, like a coquette, yet those eyes were exceptionally serious, revealing a hint of stubbornness.
Unknowingly, Mu Lianxiao lifted the corners of his lips and gently flicked Du Yunluo’s nose, "Practicing boxing doesn’t look good."
Du Yunluo turned her eyes, "Then does wielding a spear look good?"
Laughter was clear, Mu Lianxiao said, "Wielding a spear in the courtyard isn’t easy to showcase."
The courtyard of Shaohui Garden wasn’t small, but flowers were placed all around, and the spear was fierce; wielding it made a swishing sound, making it indeed difficult to showcase here.
Du Yunluo smiled with her eyes curled, "Next time, when you practice spear at the drill ground, I want to go and watch."
Mu Lianxiao knew that Du Yunluo’s nature was straightforward, and after getting married, she spoke even more boldly than before.
What she wants to see, she wants to see. What she wants to go to, she wants to go to. She wouldn’t hesitate to ask him, "Is it okay?" or "Is it good?"
He thought that he simply liked this straightforwardness, letting him clearly know what she was thinking.
Just like understanding her feelings.
In Du Yunluo’s eyes, there is never any concealment of her admiration and reliance on him.
"Anything you say." Mu Lianxiao smiled even more, with such an adorable Du Yunluo, he only wished to follow her in everything.
Jin Rui moved a chair over, and Du Yunluo sat at the door watching Mu Lianxiao practice boxing.
Mu Lianxiao had been practicing martial arts since childhood, with a solid foundation. Even if he wasn’t sparring with someone, Du Yunluo felt that every punch and palm he threw packed power.
Completely different from her little fists, referred to as "flowery fists and embroidered legs."
In the past, she had often used her little fists to greet Mu Lianxiao, one with no strength to truss a chicken, the other thick-skinned, Du Yunluo’s strength wasn’t enough to even scratch Mu Lianxiao’s itch, but Mu Lianxiao always let her.
The more Mu Lianxiao let her, the more she gained an inch, thinking it was just an outlet for the depression in her heart, looking back later, wasn’t it just a way to get Mu Lianxiao to coax her and spoil her?
The former her was an unadulterated "child."
The former her also never seriously watched Mu Lianxiao practice.
She wouldn’t follow him to the drill ground, nor would she wake up early. When Mu Lianxiao practiced, she would still be in a daze seeing Zhou Gong in her dreams.
Now, Du Yunluo wanted to take a good look.
Du Yunluo watched carefully, an outsider watching the fun, she didn’t understand the boxing moves, only that every move and style was good-looking.
Mu Lianxiao practiced boxing on his own, occasionally their eyes met, and Du Yunluo’s unblinking stare surprised him a bit.
When he finished practicing, Du Yunluo stood up from her chair and pulled out a clean handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
Mu Lianxiao bent halfway, bringing his face forward to avoid Du Yunluo standing on tiptoe, and he asked with a smile, "Is it really that good-looking?"
Du Yunluo’s hands didn’t stop, and she said, "Yes, it’s good-looking."
The laughter was brisk and clear like a bell.
Mu Lianxiao’s eyes darkened, thinking of the many maids and older women in the courtyard, he refrained from an affectionate gesture on a whim.
The handkerchief had the scent of Du Yunluo’s usual fragrant lotion, Mu Lianxiao squinted and looked, a string of Yunluo flowers embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief bloomed before his eyes.
He suddenly recalled this time last year.
In the Heavenly King Hall of Guoning Temple, he watched Du Yunluo carefully string his jade pendant, her ten fingers flying, indescribably beautiful.
It was the first time he realized that a girl doing needlework could be so captivating.
At the time, a thought had crossed his mind — if these hands, this person, quietly embroidered patterns and sewed clothes, he would watch and stay, unwilling to leave.
It turns out, they were the same.
He thought her doing needlework was beautiful, while she thought his practicing was beautiful.
It was this person that ignited a sense of companionship in his heart, making him unwilling to look away.
Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo’s hand and walked into the house.
Hot water was already prepared in the clean room, and after Mu Lianxiao washed and changed clothes, the two had breakfast together before heading to Baijie Hall.
Madam Wu didn’t hold them for long, saying, "The carriage and horses are ready, hurry back home, the Du Family must be waiting."
Slowly, the carriage left Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, and before long, they arrived outside Du Mansion.
Outside the main gate, Du Yundi and his two brothers were waiting for them.
Mu Lianxiao released Du Yunluo’s hand, lifted the curtain, and jumped off the carriage, while Du Yunluo only stepped down at the screen door.
Mrs. Zhen, stretching her neck waiting for her, first held the person in her arms for a while, then released her and sized her up carefully.
Today, Du Yunluo wore a pomegranate skirt, and over her half-length jacket, she draped a snow jacket with monkey fur; her hair was tied up, adorned with a set of East Sea coral head ornaments, making her appear charming and lively.
The Miao Family pursed her lips and laughed, "How does she look like a newlywed? Still like a girl at home, it shows the Marquis Mansion also dotes on her."
Mrs. Zhen laughed and gave Du Yunluo a playful look, "Did you hear? You should act like a daughter-in-law now, not just a child all day, I’m embarrassed for you."
Du Yunluo hugged Mrs. Zhen’s waist, acting coy.
Mrs. Zhen didn’t know whether to laugh or scold, so she held her hand and led her to Lianfu Garden, "The old master and old lady are waiting for you."
The group stepped into Lianfu Garden.
Lanzhi was glancing around outside the main hall, and when she saw them coming, she quickly raised her voice, "Old Master, Old Lady, our Heir’s Wife is back."
In Lianfu Garden, greetings mixed with laughter filled the air, making it bustling.
Lanzhi lifted the curtain for Du Yunluo to enter.
Old Mrs. Xia’s voice came from the Warm Pavilion, "Yunluo, come let grandmother take a look at you."
Du Yunluo hurried in, saluting Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia.
"No need to rush with the formalities, wait for the Princely Heir to join you in bowing together," Old Mrs. Xia pulled Du Yunluo to sit beside her, looking her over carefully, "How are you still like a little girl who hasn’t grown up, you’re already someone else’s wife, you should be more mature."
With that, the Miao Family and Mrs. Zhen also laughed heartily together.
"Didn’t I say, you’re not listening, even the old lady has mentioned it, you should pay attention," Mrs. Zhen said with a smile.
Old Mrs. Xia looked up, "What did Huaili’s wife say?"
The Miao Family, smiling, recounted the matters at the screen door, making Old Mrs. Xia clap in laughter, and even Du Gongfu showed a hint of amusement.
Before long, Mu Lianxiao came over as well.
Cushions were laid on the floor, and together Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo kowtowed to Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia, then to Du Huaili and Mrs. Zhen.
As Mrs. Zhen looked at the handsome young couple before her, her eyes turned red instantly, and she turned away to dab at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Because on the day of returning home, they needed to return to the in-laws’ house by dusk, the homecoming banquet at noon was held earlier than the usual lunch.
After Du Yunru, Du Yunying and their spouses arrived, the table was set in the Flower Hall.
Du Yunluo sat between Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunru, occasionally glancing at the table across from hers.
Du Yunru placed a piece of candied lotus root on her plate and whispered, "What? Afraid the Princely Heir can’t handle it alone?"
At the homecoming banquet, the new son-in-law was definitely subjected to some drinking by the wife’s family, but the family had rules and wouldn’t drink the son-in-law to illness, just for some merriment.
Du Yunluo remembered that after Shao Yuanzhou had drunk, it took him more than an hour to recover.
"Can’t handle it alone?" Du Yunluo covered her mouth with a laugh, "Are you sure?"
Not to boast, but with Mu Lianxiao’s drinking capacity, even if two tables of people were down, he wouldn’t get drunk.