Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

In the evening, Jin Rui and Jin Lan returned to the mansion together.

Du Yundi had returned to the academy, and Du Huaili had to socialize with his colleagues, leaving only Du Yunluo to have dinner with Mrs. Zhen in Qinghui Garden.

Jin Rui talked about the excitement in the alley.

Mrs. Zhen held Du Yunluo after hearing it, sighing, "It’s all fate, my dear. By next March, when you’re married, I’ll be dining alone."

Du Yunluo knew that there was still a year or two before Du Yundi’s wedding. During this time, if Du Huaili didn’t come back for dinner, Mrs. Zhen would indeed be all alone.

"Mother," Du Yunluo called out gently, "just two more years, wait until brother excels and marries a beautiful wife. She’ll give you a beautiful daughter, then a handsome son..."

Mrs. Zhen burst out laughing, "Why a daughter first, then a son? Yun Ru had a daughter first, so you think your brother will too?"

Du Yunluo chuckled dumbly.

It wasn’t what she thought; it was what she knew.

The eldest daughter of Du Yundi and Mrs. Tang was a well-behaved beauty, even more lovely than Sudhana. Unfortunately, she was born with deficiencies, and despite all the wealth they put into her upbringing, she passed away young.

In this life, without Shi Lian’er’s interference, Du Yundi and Mrs. Tang would certainly be fine, and their daughter would be born full-term, growing up safely.

"Because, Mother, you had my eldest sister first, then brother, and after that, there was me." Du Yunluo made up another explanation for Mrs. Zhen.

Mrs. Zhen couldn’t stop laughing, and Nanny Zhao and Shui Yue also laughed so hard that they couldn’t keep their mouths shut, sharing many humorous remarks.

Soon it was the twelfth lunar month.

The Ying family returned the harmonized Eight Characters, and given the results were favorable, both families were naturally satisfied.

Du Yunluo’s wedding date was set, so there was no way Du Yunnuo could marry before her sister, which put neither the Ying family nor the Liao Family in a hurry. They decided to hold the preliminary betrothal in March next year and the formal ceremony in autumn.

Du Yunnuo became busy.

With Liao Family’s mind set at ease, she discussed the trip to Potuo Mountain for Laba porridge with Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Miao, "Last year, because I was unwell, I asked Third Sister-in-law to go on my behalf. This year, I’ll go myself, just right to pay respects to the Bodhisattva. I’ll take Yun Lan’s wife with me to pray for both her and Yunuo."

These words were reasonable, so Mrs. Xia nodded, and instructed Nanny Xu to go along to pray for Xia Anxin.

On the morning of Laba Festival.

Du Gongfu opened the ancestral hall; besides offering sacrifices, he also added new daughters-in-law to the family genealogy and recorded the in-laws’ families of the married daughters.

Du Yunluo watched as Du Gongfu wrote in the genealogy, thinking that by this time next year, a sentence would be written after her name as well. She wouldn’t just be a girl of the Du Family but also the wife of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Liao Family and Jiang Si Niang went to Potuo Mountain and returned before noon, distributing Laba porridge among the houses and courtyards.

It was the busiest time of the year at the mansion.

Steward from various estate shops came to the mansion to present their accounts.

Mrs. Zhen, having numerous dowry estates and shops, went over the account books while discussing with Nanny Zhao to select a few suitable ones, planning to give them to Du Yunluo as an addition to her dowry.

The New Year gifts from Lindong arrived in the Capital.

More than the various gifts, Mrs. Xia was most concerned about the contents of the family letters.

The family letter was written by Yang Family herself.

She mentioned a few matters that greatly pleased Mrs. Xia.

Du Huarang’s political achievements in Lindong were commendable; in recent years, he had been rated outstanding each year. This year should be no exception, and come the new year, he might be promoted, though he might not be able to return to the Capital. However, if transferred to another place, it should also be desirable.

Du Gongfu, having stepped down for many years, frequented the Eastern Palace recently, regaining some prominence, though he never sought favors for his sons.

Mrs. Xia had her criticisms about this, but also understood that official appointments weren’t as simple as opening and closing one’s mouth. She only hoped this time, even if her eldest son’s family couldn’t return to the Capital, they could be stationed somewhere closer.

Lindong is truly too far away.

The discussion also turned to the married Du Yunhu.

The Second Young Master Shen plans to come to the Capital with Du Yunhu in the spring of next year, and he had informed his elder brother, Shen Bianxiu, about this.

The imperial examinations weren’t just about writing; getting familiar with the Capital early and receiving guidance from Shen Bianxiu would be beneficial to the Second Young Master Shen’s imperial exam.

Yang Family considered this thoroughly.

If Du Huarang were to be transferred next year, leaving Du Yunhu in Lindong and she became pregnant or something happened, it would worry Yang Family endlessly. It’d be better for the young couple to come to the Capital. Besides, with Shen Bianxiu and his wife there, the Du Family could also lend a hand in looking after them.

Mrs. Xia was naturally delighted. A granddaughter by concubine is still a granddaughter. Having spent so many years with Du Huarang on his post, Mrs. Xia missed them dearly. And she had never met the Second Young Master Shen, her granddaughter’s husband, only heard from Yang Family in the letters praising him as dignified and scholarly.

Mrs. Xia had met Shen Bianxiu and his wife. During holidays, they would visit the mansion, and Shen Bianxiu indeed carried a good temperament. As they were brothers, the younger one likely wouldn’t be too different.

Mrs. Xia’s joy spread to the maids and women in Lianfu Garden, who started praising Du Huarang and Du Yunhu, making Mrs. Xia so happy that she handed out generous rewards.

"All of your chatter is just expert at coaxing money out of this old woman!" Mrs. Xia laughed heartily, "Getting older, there’s nothing I wish for more than my children and grandchildren around me. Huarang’s family has been far from the Capital for years, and I’ve been longing for their return. Now I’ve gotten clever, marrying all my granddaughters into the Capital, and when Yunhu returns, the family will be complete."

Everyone laughed again.

On Little New Year’s Eve, a banquet was laid in the Flower Hall.

From the previous day, snow had been falling outside intermittently, not accumulating much but turning colder.

The underground fire dragon and charcoal brazier together kept the indoor temperature comfortable. Outside, the north wind howled, making Du Yunluo reluctant to stroll.

Yet she still went to Lianfu Garden to pay respects, and Qinghui Garden to accompany Mrs. Zhen, knowing her days at her parents’ home were coming to an end.

At the banquet, Du Yunluo poured wine for Mrs. Xia.

Mrs. Xia, in good spirits, watched the sons and grandsons at the next table participating in drinking games, laughing as the wine urns were refilled time and again. She finally spoke, "You all should take it easy, especially those with poor tolerance. Don’t try to show off; we all know each other’s capacity. If you’re too drunk to get up later, no one will take care of you."

Everyone laughed heartily.

Just as Mrs. Xia had said, some indeed couldn’t rise when the banquet ended.

Du Huai’en had the worst alcohol tolerance among the brothers. In front of Mrs. Xia, Liao Family refrained from complaining, but once outside the Flower Hall, she didn’t stop scolding him, urging the women to hurry up, lest the cold wind chill them.

Du Yunlang also drank quite a bit.

Xia Anxin, being pregnant, dared not support him, so Cailian stepped forward to help.

Mrs. Shen Changgen glanced at Nanny Guan, who was assigned to Chunhua Courtyard.

Nanny Guan understood, and smiling, she said, "The road is slippery outside, miss, please support our lady; we’ll handle Second Master. He’s quite drunk, unsteady on his feet. Miss might not be able to hold him; we have strength, so rest assured, our lady and miss."