Chapter 267 - 266: Fulfillment
In front of Old Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Zhen didn’t ask anything. But when they returned to Qinghui Garden, she took Du Yunluo’s hand and sat her down, gently cradling her face and examining it closely.
Du Yunluo’s features resembled hers, yet they were more delicate and refined. Even in her daughter’s expression, Mrs. Zhen found not a hint of unease or confusion, only a bit of surprise.
Surprise at such a sudden gesture from her.
Du Yunluo blinked and softly said, "Mother, are you reluctant to let me go?"
Mrs. Zhen lowered her eyes, pressing her forehead against Du Yunluo’s, and sighed, "Yes, I am reluctant to let you go, my Nannan."
Upon hearing this, Du Yunluo reached out and embraced Mrs. Zhen.
After a moment of lament, Mrs. Zhen finally asked, "It’s all of a sudden, a month earlier. Nannan, aren’t you worried? I mean, about the Princely Heir..."
Du Yunluo bit her lip softly.
She was mentally prepared for all of this and wasn’t afraid. But she couldn’t be entirely honest with Mrs. Zhen, so she furrowed her brows and came up with an excuse.
"Actually, I had a hunch last year..." Du Yunluo said with a faint smile, rubbing her forehead against Mrs. Zhen’s, "Before going to the hunting ground, Grandmother had mentioned something to me..."
Mrs. Zhen widened her eyes.
"At Cining Palace, they wanted me to go to the hunting ground, and Grandmother speculated back then that the Holy Emperor might use troops. It was just speculation at the time; we didn’t expect it to be now." Du Yunluo slowly explained, and this wasn’t a lie to Mrs. Zhen. Even if she went to Lianfu Garden to ask, it would still hold true.
Mrs. Zhen hugged Du Yunluo tightly and sighed, "Old Mrs. Xia sees things clearly."
Du Yunluo responded, "From the very beginning, didn’t we already know what kind of family Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was? Eventually, the Princely Heir would have to go to the battlefield, be it this year or next. I’m not afraid."
Upon hearing this, a tremor ran through Mrs. Zhen’s entire body. Her eyes, suddenly tense, flashed with shock and heartache, but then gradually calmed down. She patted Du Yunluo’s back and said, "Yes, we’ve known from the start."
It was this awareness that made them, be it in Lianfu Garden or as husband and wife with Du Huaili, so agonized. But Mrs. Zhen, being soft-hearted, leaned towards Du Yunluo’s wishes once she understood her thoughts.
Ultimately, it was a single sentence from Du Yunru that persuaded them.
"One shouldn’t reject a good man for an unforeseeable future."
This statement was nothing short of accurate.
From the bottom of her heart, Mrs. Zhen believed that Mu Lianxiao was an excellent person. Excluding his background and abilities, she was content as long as he treated her Nannan well.
Just the other time, on the way back from Tong City, the way Mu Lianxiao sat at the front of the carriage and spoke warmly to Du Yunluo inside—Mrs. Zhen, not seated far away, saw everything clearly.
Having lived through it, Mrs. Zhen knew that she could tell a man’s affection for a woman with just a look or a gesture.
Mu Lianxiao truly had Du Yunluo in his heart.
Mrs. Zhen forced herself to smile.
It’s just a decree to go on a campaign, isn’t it? Once the battle is over, he’ll return!
With Mu Lianxiao’s skills, he will definitely come back. Her Nannan is waiting for him in the capital, so how could he not return?
Mrs. Zhen secretly nodded repeatedly, continually reassuring herself that this was how things were. If she, as a mother, became anxious, wouldn’t that make Nannan even more pitiful?
"Nannan," Mrs. Zhen cleared her throat, "Thankfully, we prepared for the wedding early. Even if it’s a month in advance, we’re not in a rush. You don’t have to worry about anything. I guarantee that your wedding will be grand and splendid.
The Princely Heir doesn’t have much time left in the capital. Make sure to spend good time with him, and don’t be headstrong. In your free time, make a few more pairs of shoes and clothes for him to take; these things are never too many."
Du Yunluo pursed her lips and smiled with her eyes: "Look at how mother talks, as if I’m marrying tomorrow, not next month."
Mrs. Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, dispelling all the emotions in her heart, and playfully punched Du Yunluo: "You little heartless!"
The decree was issued from the palace, and Cining Palace added more rewards. Early the next morning, Du Yunluo entered the palace to express her gratitude.
In Cining Palace, the Empress seemed to have matters to discuss with the Empress Dowager, so the palace maid guided Du Yunluo to the side hall.
In the side hall, the charcoal basin burned fiercely.
Du Yunluo didn’t feel cold, holding a hand warmer as she stood under the veranda outside, quietly observing the palace hall.
She suddenly recalled the same time last year.
It was just after Shangyuan as well, standing in this same place.
She had been summoned into the palace by the Imperial Consort, and beside her stood Princess An Ran, who also came to express gratitude in the palace.
While it seemed glorious, behind the rewards and favor lay untold stories, only the wise would see.
Just as Du Yunluo was lost in thought, she heard the voice of a palace maid greeting someone. Looking in that direction, she saw Princess Nanyan entering.
Their eyes met, and Nanyan gave a slight pause, then warmly smiled as she quickly approached Du Yunluo’s side: "Ah, you have come to express your gratitude."
Du Yunluo smiled as well.
The two of them stood shoulder-to-shoulder under the veranda.
Nanyan softly asked, "What were you thinking earlier?"
"I was thinking of this same time last year," Du Yunluo turned her head to look at Princess Nanyan and said, "I was standing here with Princess An Ran when you came out of the main hall. It was the first time I saw you."
Reflecting on that time, Princess Nanyan was quite moved. She remained silent for a long while, and just when Du Yunluo thought she wouldn’t say anything, Nanyan softly spoke, "Yunluo, this past year has been the most fulfilling year of my two lifetimes. I want every year ahead to be just as satisfying. I’ve got what I hoped for, and I hope you will too."
Du Yunluo’s breath caught, feeling as if her heart was being tugged, her eyes immediately reddened.
Those who haven’t experienced what they longed for but never attained wouldn’t understand Princess Nanyan’s perseverance. Likewise, those who haven’t died and come back to life, starting anew, wouldn’t comprehend Nanyan’s moth-to-flame resolve.
One person’s poison is another’s honey.
Nanyan didn’t mind guarding the Imperial Mausoleum for a lifetime, as long as Li Luan was with her, living or dying without regret.
And Du Yunluo felt the same way.
So she told Mrs. Zhen she wasn’t worried, afraid, or hesitant.
Pressing her lips together, Du Yunluo smiled gently, her eyes curved like crescents, "I too will certainly get what I hope for."
Once the Empress left Cining Palace, Princess Nanyan and Du Yunluo bowed across the courtyard and then entered the main hall with the palace maid.
The Empress Dowager looked a bit weary.
Du Yunluo knelt to express her gratitude for the rewards.
The Empress Dowager gave a few words of advice, then said to Princess Nanyan, "The Empress came to talk about the construction of the Princess Mansion. You know Yunhua’s temperament; don’t provoke her these days."
Princess Nanyan bowed her head and agreed.
Du Yunluo stood with hands at her sides; without the Empress Dowager’s dismissal, she couldn’t leave, so she listened to the conversation about everyday matters between the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanyan.
The construction of the Princess Mansion didn’t surprise Du Yunluo.
Princess Yunhua was no longer young, and her marriage to the Duke Zhen’s grandson was already set. No matter how much she fussed, she couldn’t go against the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Previously, after Nanyan’s scandal with a drunken Prince Rui, Princess Yunhua didn’t find another match for the sickly girl, and she ended up marrying alone.
No matter how noble a woman is, she can’t overrule royal authority.