Chapter 268 - 267: Bittersweet
By late January, news of war breaking out again at the border had spread among the citizens of the Capital.
Although the people did not favor war, the Capital and the border were a thousand miles apart. Having never endured the hardships of war, the citizens of the Capital were not deeply affected by it.
Regarding matters of war, they could remember which year the lad from next door went off to fight and never returned, or whose boy climbed step by step in the military and now had some small achievements.
The most vivid memory was undoubtedly six years ago in January, when the Dingyuan Marquis returned to the Capital with the spirits of his two sons. White paper filled the city, constricting the entire New Year with a feeling of suffocation.
And this year, the second son of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion also went to battle, and the Young Master would be deployed after his wedding.
For a time, everyone in the Capital was discussing Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo’s marriage.
The gossip outside did not reach Du Yunluo’s ears.
Jin Rui, however, was aware of some of it. When she returned to the front street, the neighbors quietly gossiped, and even her mother, Mrs. Xue Si, mumbled a couple of times.
Despite her murmurings, Mrs. Xue Si dared not utter anything inauspicious.
Nanny Hua concocting tales about Jin Rui was punished with a beating until she wailed, unable to get out of bed for more than a month. If someone with no respect dared to slander the Young Master, it wouldn’t be just a case of their bottom being sore.
Having witnessed the beating firsthand, Mrs. Xue Si kept her mouth shut tightly.
The gossip from the front street, Jin Rui would not share even a word with Du Yunluo.
These days, Du Yunluo was also busy. Besides visiting Lianfu Garden for her greetings, she stayed in Qinghui Garden with Mrs. Zhen, where mother and daughter talked and did some needlework.
On the third day of February, at Baijie Hall in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mu Liancheng accompanied Madam Wu for dinner.
During the meal, no words were spoken. It was only after the dishes were cleared that Madam Wu finally said slowly, "I’m already used to it. After all, it’s just sending you off one by one, and then looking forward to you all coming back. But your wife isn’t used to it. You should go back to accompany her early. She’s pregnant, and who knows if you’ll be back when she gives birth."
Mu Liancheng nodded in agreement and withdrew.
In Baijie Hall, Madam Wu slowly got up, held by Nanny Shan, and made her way to the small Buddha hall in the secondary courtyard.
Nanny Shan lit some incense, and Madam Wu took it, bowing three times before the seated Guanyin statue, then instructed Nanny Shan to insert the incense into the bronze incense burner.
Kneeling on the prayer mat, with Buddha beads in hand, Madam Wu softly chanted scriptures.
Nanny Shan quietly stood by, her brows conveying a hint of melancholy.
Used to it...
How could one ever get used to such things?
Nanny Shan had witnessed firsthand the countless times Madam Wu sent her husband and sons to war. Each time she saw it, her heart ached anew, especially when those sent off never returned. The sorrow and exhaustion of Madam Wu were deeply etched in her mind.
As the Old Madam of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, even with grief turning into illness, bedridden, Madam Wu had to hold herself together. At least mentally, she could not collapse, for the whole family looked up to her, relying on her.
Only an old servant like Nanny Shan, who had been with Madam Wu for decades, understood the unspoken bitterness in Madam Wu’s heart during the quiet of night.
Just like now.
Madam Wu could only seek peace of mind in front of the Bodhisattva.
The next morning, Mu Liancheng departed with the army.
But within the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the atmosphere was not clouded by farewells, ****** preparing for Mu Lianxiao’s grand wedding.
In Lianfu Garden of the Du Mansion, Mrs. Zhen smiled as she spoke to Old Mrs. Xia about the arrangements: "I’ve already spoken with my aunt. She’ll come to do the hair when Nannan marries."
Mrs. Zhen’s aunt was a Lady and had been the principal guest at Du Yunru’s coming-of-age ceremony. Old Mrs. Xia had a very good impression of her, nodding repeatedly.
They then talked about the selection for the Flower Stepping Hall.
For the Flower Stepping Hall, the rank of imperial decree wasn’t necessary. The most important thing was a blessing of longevity.
Old Mrs. Xia had invited two blessed ladies from the Xia Family. Du Yunluo had heard from Xia Anxin that those two ladies were sweet-spoken, thoughtful, and reliable.
As the wedding day approached, Du Yundi returned to the Capital five days early.
At noon, a family feast was set in Lianfu Garden.
It wasn’t for a festival, but simply because Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia were reluctant to part with Du Yunluo.
The ladies did not drink and left the table early, while the Miao family sisters-in-law busied themselves and left one by one. The young ladies and the grandmothers stayed to chat and play mahjong with Old Mrs. Xia.
Du Yundi and his brothers were still in the Flower Hall, drinking and playing drinking games. Du Yunlan, with an arm around Du Yundi’s shoulder, was planning on how to give Mu Lianxiao a hard time at the door, to let him know that the Du Family’s precious daughter was not so easily married off.
Du Yunlan, having drunk quite a bit, made Du Yundi listen to his stuttering tales, mostly about how he faced difficulties with the Jiang brothers when he married Jiang Si Niang, leaving Du Yundi amused and exasperated.
"Alright, Third Brother, I’ll help you go rest a bit. If Third Sister-in-law sees you like this, she’ll surely be upset." Du Yundi called to Du Yunlang, gestured to a servant woman, and helped Du Yunlan away.
Leaning back in his chair, Du Yunlang looked up at the beams, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple.
He heard soft footsteps, and someone stopped behind him.
Du Yunlang opened his eyes to see Cailian, and asked, "Where’s your mistress?"
Cailian bent slightly, closing some distance, "Mistress is with Old Mrs. Xia playing mahjong. Is grandpa looking for her?"
Du Yunlang mumbled, "No need to call her."
Cailian pressed her lips together and softly said, "Grandpa drank too much wine. Allow me to escort you back to Chunhua Courtyard. I’ll make a sobering soup later, or else your head will ache."
Du Yunlang felt his head was heavy, yet did not move.
Cailian reached out to support him, applying such strength that Du Yunlang was pulled up. Yet Cailian’s own footing was weak, unable to support him alone, leaving her face flushed red.
In the room behind, Old Mrs. Xia won the game and laughed heartily.
Xia Anxin turned her head and asked Lanzhi, "Aren’t the Second Master and they done eating yet?"
Old Mrs. Xia tapped her knuckle on the table, "What? Looking for reinforcements? It’s no use, absolutely!" Though she said this, Old Mrs. Xia eventually instructed Lanzhi, "Go check, send some sobering soup. Don’t let them get too drunk."
Lanzhi acknowledged and turned to leave.
Du Yunluo and Yunuo had formed a team. Hearing this, Du Yunluo rolled her eyes and said, "Fourth Sister, come and play cards; I need a rest."
"What rest? Clearly, you’re trying to escape after losing silver!" Yunuo laughed and teased her, "I don’t care; since we are partners, even if you run, you have to cover half of today’s losses."
The remark brought a burst of laughter in the room.
Du Yunluo made a face at her and turned to leave the main room.
Outside the wing room, Jin Rui and Qian He were chatting. Seeing Du Yunluo come out, Jin Rui quickly approached to adjust Du Yunluo’s snow jacket.
Du Yunluo pulled Jin Rui along for a few steps, quietly asking, "Did you see Cailian?"
Jin Rui blinked, frowning slightly, "She was just here. Now she’s not to be seen."
Du Yunluo’s eyes darkened.