Chapter 120 - 119: Gift Giving
Shi Qingyu silently nodded.
She hadn’t witnessed the situation firsthand, but after hearing about it later, she couldn’t help but acknowledge that Du Yunying was indeed brave and formidable.
If it were her, what would she have done?
Shi Qingyu wasn’t sure in her heart; after all, until faced with the situation, no one knows.
By the time Du Yunying came over with gifts, Du Yunluo had said everything to Shi Qingyu that needed to be said.
Shi Qingyu smiled benignly at Du Yunying, and she would convey Old Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Miao’s intentions to Mrs. Shi.
Yunuo, seeing the appearance of these three, couldn’t help but frown.
Obviously, they were keeping some secret from her.
She felt stifled; she wasn’t merely curious about the secrets but disliked the feeling of being excluded.
They were all sisters; why was she the only one not told...
Indeed, perhaps because of the difference between legitimate and illegitimate...
Suddenly, the words Liao Family uttered on the sickbed sprang into her mind.
"No matter how much the Old Master dotes on her, she is still illegitimate; why doesn’t she understand!"
Yunuo shuddered, mocking herself. Indeed, with different births come different fates.
Even someone as favored as Princess An Ran caused Liao Family to sigh thus, let alone her, Yunuo.
Liao Family merely liked her; she was never cherished deeply, never the core of affection in Lianfu Garden.
Thinking of these things, Yunuo’s mood grew heavier, and not wanting to stay, she found an excuse and left.
The bead curtain lifted, sounding crisp. Du Yunying looked at Yunuo’s back and muttered, "What’s with her? She was fine just now, why the sudden change in demeanor?"
Even though Du Yunluo had lived a second life, she couldn’t fathom Yunuo’s delicate thoughts and said, "Is it because she’s worried Fourth Aunt is looking for her?"
"Wouldn’t Fourth Aunt know she’s in Anhua Courtyard?" Du Yunying disagreed, pursing her lips, "Mother especially instructed today to serve more dishes at Qinghui Garden tonight, calling us to dine in Third Aunt’s room."
With Shi Qingyu present, Du Yunying only complained briefly, not mentioning Yunuo further.
After all, it was winter, the night fell early, and as the hour approached, Shi Qingyu also left.
Du Yunluo and Du Yunying accompanied her, then headed to Qinghui Garden.
Signaling the maids to follow at a distance, Du Yunying held Du Yunluo’s arm, leaned over, and whispered, "Fifth Sister, help convey Grandmother’s intentions to Miss Shi, will you?"
Du Yunluo glanced at Du Yunying, "Third Sister, waiting until now to ask, I thought you weren’t going to."
Du Yunying blushed.
If it were Yun Ru in front of her, Du Yunluo would tease more, but with Du Yunying, she refrained and said, "Don’t worry, I’ve said everything."
Hearing this, Du Yunying felt relieved.
After all, she wasn’t as thick-skinned as Du Yunluo; even asking this made her deeply embarrassed, so she promptly changed the topic, chatting about this and that.
Du Yunluo didn’t expose her feigned composure.
Entering Qinghui Garden, Mrs. Zhen didn’t see Yunuo and was surprised, pulling Du Yunluo aside, "Where is your fourth sister? Did your nonsense chase her away?"
Du Yunluo giggled, shaking her head vigorously, "No way."
Mrs. Zhen only said it casually. As long as Yunuo wasn’t scheming against Du Yunluo, her beloved Nannan wouldn’t upset anyone.
With Du Yunying around, the mother and daughter’s conversation was less convenient.
Mrs. Zhen glanced at the sky and instructed Shui Yue, "Send someone to Anfeng Courtyard to invite Fourth Miss over. I heard from Second Sister-in-law this morning, fresh lotus roots arrived from the village, and we’ve cooked a bone broth, which Fourth Miss likes to drink."
Shui Yue agreed.
𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Hearing about the lotus roots, Du Yunluo’s eyes lit up, pleading, "Why not sweet lotus roots?"
"You little glutton! Your mind is always on sweets!" Mrs. Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, teasing, "Can you not have your sweet lotus roots? You play like a child more than a year younger."
Du Yunying, holding a handkerchief, laughed uncontrollably.
Shui Yue, smiling, went off and returned shortly, curtseying, "The Marquis Mansion sent birthday gifts for Miss."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhen quickly asked Shui Yue to invite the gift-bearing nanny inside.
A woman in her forties entered, dressed neatly and properly, her fair skin made her appear affluent as the royal blue cloak complemented her, looking even more opulent than some wealthy household madams.
Du Yunluo recognized her; it was Nanny Su from Mrs. Zhou’s quarters, known for being kind and amiable, well-liked in the Dingyuan Marquis mansion. Even though Du Yunluo’s relationship with Mrs. Zhou wasn’t cordial, there was never a bad word about Nanny Su.
After Mrs. Zhou passed away in her previous life, leaving only Du Yunluo in the main household, Nanny Su diligently guided her for over a year, managing all affairs meticulously.
When Mrs. Zhou’s mourning period ended, Nanny Su left the Marquis Mansion, tearfully telling Du Yunluo that, despite Mrs. Zhou being gone, she couldn’t believe Mrs. Zhou would take her own life.
Now, looking back, Nanny Su was right. Mrs. Zhou didn’t commit suicide but was killed by the Second House.
As long as Mrs. Zhou was alive, she could control the main house and Du Yunluo as her daughter-in-law, preventing the Lian Family from dictating to Du Yunluo about who to adopt.
Recalling past events, and seeing the kindly smiling Nanny Su before her, Du Yunluo felt countless emotions.
Nanny Su bowed respectfully, "Madam, I am Su, serving by the side of the First Madam."
Upon hearing she was from Mrs. Zhou’s side, Mrs. Zhen became even more courteous, and after exchanging formalities, Nanny Su stated her purpose.
A daughter, though at home awaiting marriage, becomes part of the marital family once the marital contract is complete.
Customarily, the marital family would send gifts for the daughter’s birthday.
Mrs. Zhen had been waiting since morning, not seeing anyone from the Marquis Mansion, anxiously wondering why custom had been overlooked. Having waited and seen Nanny Su now, Mrs. Zhen finally felt at ease.
Nanny Su presented the gift list, and as Mrs. Zhen quickly glanced over it, she found the courtesy indeed comprehensive.
Jewelry and accessories, rouge and floral water, brocade and cloth, and some small trinkets, nothing was missing.
Mrs. Zhen expressed her thanks and handed over the prepared red envelope to Nanny Su.
Du Yunluo also stood to express her gratitude, speaking words of appreciation for Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou.
Nanny Su came not only to deliver gifts but also to see with her own eyes the praised Du Family’s Fifth Sister by both Mrs. Shi and Mrs. Tian Wu.
She examined her closely.
An oval face, big eyes, smiling like a crescent moon, with fair and radiant skin—indeed, the charming girl Mrs. Tian Wu described.
Not very tall, petite and delicate, standing upright, exuding vitality.
Her figure wasn’t fully mature, but the signs were there, in two years she would be quite different.
Mrs. Zhou lamented only having one heir, hoping for a daughter-in-law who would bear many descendants. Nanny Su thought, given Du Yunluo’s physique, she seemed suited for motherhood.
Observing her demeanor, her expressions, and manners, Nanny Su was increasingly pleased.
With such a fine girl, Mrs. Zhou would indeed rejoice, Nanny Su thought, nodding to herself, planning to share this with Mrs. Zhou, to hasten the marriage and bring some liveliness to the household.