Chapter 264 - 263: Lunar New Year’s Eve
Nanny Guan’s voice was neither light nor heavy, and since the Flower Hall was only so big, many people heard it.
Cailian gently bit her lower lip and retreated to stand beside Xia Anxin.
Xia Anxin was speaking to Du Yunluo, and when she noticed Du Yunluo’s indifferent gaze sweeping over Cailian, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
An indescribable feeling lingered at the tip of her heart, and Xia Anxin suddenly felt a bit irritated.
It was as if something was bottled up inside her, suddenly flaring up into a panic.
She clearly hadn’t had a drop of alcohol.
Xia Anxin looked up at Cailian, gesturing for her to help her up.
"My husband has had too much to drink, I’ll head back first," Xia Anxin said to Du Yunluo and then went to bid farewell to Old Mrs. Xia.
Old Mrs. Xia was instructing Mrs. Zhen on some matters, and when she saw Xia Anxin approaching, she quickly waved her hand, "Good child, hurry back to Chunhua Courtyard, the road at night isn’t easy to walk, be careful."
Xia Anxin nodded, and as she turned, she caught sight of Shui Yue standing obediently behind Mrs. Zhen, which made her breath catch again.
She suddenly understood what was bothering her.
Cailian’s intention to assist Du Yunlang couldn’t exactly be termed wrong, but Cailian was her maid, and although she wasn’t visibly showing, she was indeed pregnant...
Even if she wasn’t pregnant...
Shui Yue was following Mrs. Zhen, who just left the fourth room, and Xiuyu was closely following Mrs. Liao. The drunken Du Huaien had servants supporting him, and without Mrs. Liao’s permission, not even Aunt Mo dared step forward to offer a hand...
Xia Anxin gave Cailian a sidelong glance, and Cailian’s expression was as usual.
Perhaps Cailian hadn’t thought it through...
This maid was always proactive in her work, never slacking off, which is why...
Xia Anxin was momentarily confused. As she left the Flower Hall, a cold wind hit her face, making her shiver involuntarily, and her anxiety and irritable mood rose even further.
She thought, this must be what her mother meant by saying "pregnant women have strange tempers," "like a firecracker, easy to explode."
She wrapped her snow jacket tighter and said in a low voice, "Let’s hurry up, it’s windy and snowy, don’t let the Second Master catch a cold."
Du Huaiping and Du Huaili, being better equipped for drink, personally escorted Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia back to Lianfu Garden before returning to their respective places.
Du Yunluo and Mrs. Zhen reached Qinghui Garden. The underground fire dragon was burning hot, making them extremely comfortable after being hit by the cold wind.
Mrs. Zhen didn’t want Du Yunluo traveling at night again, and since the room in the adjacent courtyard hadn’t set up the brazier for warmth in advance, she arranged for Du Yunluo to stay in the green gauze cabinet.
Just after the minor New Year, with the government office sealed, Du Huaili and Du Huaien had much more free time to accompany Du Gongfu in playing chess and chatting.
It was lively around Old Mrs. Xia too.
Mrs. Liao didn’t press Du Yunnuo to rush any needlework over the New Year and only let her stay at Lianfu Garden, playing leaf cards and Ma Diao with the Old Lady.
What Mrs. Liao said made sense; this was the last major New Year that the girls from the "Yun" generation would spend at their parental home. Next year, when Du Yunluo and Du Yunnuo got married, they’d become someone else’s daughters-in-law, so they should accompany Old Mrs. Xia well. There’s no rush for the needlework in ten days or half a month.
Old Mrs. Xia was pleased to hear this, and Mrs. Liao felt quite proud.
Mrs. Miao had a smiling face, but she muttered to herself about Mrs. Liao, thinking she was clearly challenging her. When Du Yunying was preparing for her marriage, Mrs. Miao had indeed kept Du Yunying confined in Shuifu Garden, not allowing her to wander freely.
This year didn’t have a thirtieth, as the evening of the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month was New Year’s Eve.
At 3:00 PM, it began to snow again, the sky was dim, and each household and courtyard had already lit their lamps.
At Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mu Lianxiao dispelled the cold from his body in the central hall before lifting the curtain to enter the Warm Pavilion.
Madam Wu sat gracefully on the Arhat Bed, smiling as she held Jiang Yunuan’s hand.
Below, the expressions of several daughters-in-law varied.
Mrs. Zhou smiled warmly, listening intently as Fourth Madam, Mrs. Lu, spoke. Mrs. Lian was radiant, while Mrs. Xu had an expression devoid of joy or sadness, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
Madam Wu beckoned to Mu Lianxiao, "Where are Liancheng and Lian Yu? Didn’t they come back together?"
Mu Lianxiao smiled, "Grandmother, just at the main gate, I happened to meet the steward from the mountain cottage. He said they caught a wild boar this morning and just sent it over. Second Brother went to handle the boar, and Fourth Brother went to fetch Aunt. I came over first, worried you might be waiting for too long."
Mrs. Zhou chuckled, "That clever Lian Yu, Yuan Jing loves roast wild boar. He must have gone to be the first to deliver the news."
Madam Wu laughed, "Just a wild boar and she’s so pleased! Whenever we have a meal at home, doesn’t she always dawdle until we’re seated to show up? I’ll see how long she’ll take this time! Let her wait for once!"
Mrs. Lian laughed, covering her mouth, "Madam, you’re in good spirits today, which is as it should be a double celebration."
Madam Wu nodded with a smile.
As they were speaking, Mu Lianyu and Mu Yuanjing came in together.
Mu Yuanjing was Madam Wu’s only daughter. Long married into the Liu Family in Shu, she found herself unable to adjust to life there after her husband’s death. She had come back to the capital to mourn for the late Old Marquis and her brothers and stayed here.
The Liu Family was not as illustrious as the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. A couple of years ago, due to differing political views, they had distanced themselves considerably from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. This time, when the Old Marquis died in battle, they didn’t insist that Mu Yuanjing remain a widow in Shu but rather saw her departure as severing in-law ties, beneficial for their future development.
Madam Wu had considered sending Mu Yuanjing back to Shu, for among the three widowed daughters-in-law in the household, which of them had cried to return to their natal homes?
But after losing both her husband and son, Madam Wu couldn’t bear to be heartless with Mu Yuanjing’s tears and seeing her living in seclusion, didn’t have the heart to send her away.
Mu Yuanjing was soberly dressed.
Widowed ladies typically dressed like that, and she was no exception.
"Mother, I came because I was enticed by the roast wild boar," Mu Yuanjing said bluntly.
Madam Wu was amused by her, "See, what did I tell you?"
Mu Yuanjing sat down beside Madam Wu, her gaze sweeping over the goose-yellow top of Jiang Yunuan, and said to Mu Lianhui, "You should learn from your sister-in-law; you’re a fine young lady, always following our ways with no bright colors on you. Your mother keeps it simple for our comfort, and we appreciate it. But I don’t appreciate this gesture from you, quickly go and change, just looking at you makes me uncomfortable."
Mu Lianhui looked down at her own attire, "I find it quite good, Aunt. After three years at Putuo Mountain studying, I’m used to it."
Mrs. Lian gave Mu Lianhui an exasperated look and said to Mu Yuanjing, "I can’t get through to her. No matter how many bright clothes I make, she refuses to wear them. Never mind, I’m worn out fighting this little ancestor. When Lianxiao’s wife comes next year, the house should brighten up more."
Mu Lianxiao, sipping his tea, raised his head, and at the thought of the pretty Du Yunluo, couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Whereas Mu Yuanjing just coldly snorted.
Mu Liancheng and Mu Yuanmou arrived later, and before they could discuss the wild boar, Mrs. Lian was already smiling joyfully.
Madam Wu also smiled, "This child is expecting, so our mansion is finally having an addition." With that, Madam Wu patted Jiang Yunuan’s hand.
Mu Liancheng was stunned, prompting Mu Lianyu to make exaggerated facial expressions until he snapped back to attention.
With elders present, Mu Liancheng restrained his excitement, yet the pride and eagerness in his demeanor were apparent.
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Here’s something to clarify for the readers, as mentioned earlier, Madam Wu’s daughter’s name was Mu Yuanmin. But when developing the character, I muddled up the pronunciation issues between Yuanmin and Yuanming, so now her name has been changed to Mu Yuanjing.