Chapter 157 - 156: Arrangements (300+ Monthly Votes)
Du Yunluo lowered her eyelids, with just a touch of a smile at the corner of her lips, appearing delicate yet composed and dignified, while her mind was tirelessly reminiscing.
That day in the Imperial Garden, she merely walked alongside Mu Lianxiao. Although the two were not far apart, they were not particularly close either. They exchanged a few words without any overt gestures, yet Princess Nanyan just glanced from afar and somehow discerned that their relationship was good?
Could it be that when she and Mu Lianxiao were together, even a simple exchange of three or four words gave off a sweet and affectionate aura?
This was indeed...
This was indeed too exaggerated, wasn’t it?
If it truly caught the eye of Mrs. Zhen, she feared she would wish nothing more than to poke at her forehead with a finger.
Du Yunluo thought to herself.
Such thoughts would certainly be unknown to Princess Nanyan and Princess Yunhua.
Princess Yunhua casually exchanged a few more words with Du Yunluo and then called upon Princess Nanyan and returned to their chambers together.
Du Yunluo watched the two walk away before retracing her steps out of the palace.
Upon returning to the Du Mansion, Old Mrs. Xia was surprised to hear that Du Yunluo was to accompany the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort to Guoning Temple for incense burning.
With a few words of reassurance from the Miao Family and Liao Family, she also thought it was a good thing. After a few reminders, she let Du Yunluo retire early to rest.
Back in Anhua Courtyard, Du Yunluo kicked off her shoes and lay on the couch, partially closing her eyes as she considered the matters ahead.
Whether it was the Empress Dowager or Princess Yunhua, this trip to Guoning Temple was something she had not experienced in her previous life. The twists and turns were unpredictable; there was no other choice but to take each move as it came.
If she could closely follow the Empress Dowager or the Imperial Consort, it wouldn’t be a bad strategy.
Though she could not act according to Princess Yunhua’s arrangements, at least she would not be shooting herself in the foot.
She wondered who would be accompanying her that day...
Princess Yunhua mentioned that Mu Lianhui would be going, and so would Mu Lianxiao...
The Princely Heir he...
Du Yunluo sat up straight from the couch. These days she was so engrossed in the Huayan Sutra that she nearly forgot something important.
In a few days, it would be Mu Lianxiao’s birthday. Preparing gifts was the elders’ responsibility, but she also wanted to give him a present.
Since Mu Lianxiao would be going to Guoning Temple, she would hand it to him personally.
According to the plan, the Empress Dowager would climb the mountain on the eighteenth of February, spend the night at Guoning Temple, and begin the blessings and sutra chanting before dawn. This made the timing even tighter.
Making a sachet would not be feasible, but tying a knot wouldn’t take much effort.
The next day, the list of those accompanying them was finalized in the palace.
The Crown Princess Consort, Princess Yunhua, Prince Rui’s Heir Li Luan, Prince Cheng Li Yu, Princess Nanyan, Mu Lianhui, Mu Lianxiao, Du Yunluo, and five or six women from the Elder Mansion who were devout Buddhists and often visited the Empress Dowager in the palace.
In no time, it was February eighteenth, and early in the morning, Du Yunluo entered the palace.
Cining Palace was filled with laughter.
Du Yunluo lifted the curtain to enter. After paying her respects, she looked at the several ladies seated below the Empress Dowager.
Mu Lianhui approached Du Yunluo. Today, she was wearing a Pipa collar small jacket with a lake green silk willow leaf skirt and topped with a light apricot folded branch Begonia robe. When she lifted her hand, it revealed a fair wrist adorned with a fine jade bracelet, matching the lotus-shaped collar button of inlaid white jade on her garment.
"This is Princess Rui, and this is the Duchess..." Mu Lianhui’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, introducing to Du Yunluo with measured cadence.
Du Yunluo greeted them one by one.
Princess Rui was the legitimate mother of Princess Hui. Princess Hui’s concubine was somewhat related to a favored concubine in the harem, giving Princess Hui a high status among the noblewomen in the capital. However, she was not favored by Princess Rui.
Princess Rui was close with the Empress Dowager and never brought Princess Hui along when presenting memorials at the palace. Thus, the Empress Dowager naturally omitted her from the trip to Guoning Temple.
Du Yunluo thought it was better that Princess Hui was not coming. She was known to be prickly and quick to cause trouble with others. Among the young ladies accompanying them, Du Yunluo had the lowest status. If Princess Hui lost her temper, she might turn on her, causing unnecessary trouble.
The Duchess was the grandmother of the former Princess Consort, Princess Yunhua, in a past life. The old woman seemed to be older than the Empress Dowager; her spirit was good, though her face bore the marks of the years.
"These sisters-in-law are quite harmonious," the Duchess commented.
Cining Palace had set Mu Lianhui aside for a while, but the reasons were not known outside. Recently, Du Yunluo had visited the palace several times, which in others’ eyes seemed like the Marquis Mansion was enjoying the emperor’s favor. Besides, this trip to Guoning Temple hadn’t overlooked anyone.
The Empress Dowager fiddled with the purple sandalwood Buddhist beads in her hand, saying, "The emperor mentioned recently that this marriage was a good match. I agree. We’re at an age where we can’t expect much else, only hope for the younger generation to marry and have children, live harmoniously as couples and sisters-in-law, and pass their days peacefully. The worst is to bestow a wrong marriage, creating grievances and adding sins instead of blessings."
The Empress Dowager’s words were, of course, echoed by both the Duchess and Princess Rui.
Princess Yunhua cast a sidelong glance at Mu Lianhui, with a hint of a smile.
Mu Lianhui seemed unaware of the subtext in the Empress Dowager’s words, her gaze falling on the Buddhist beads on Du Yunluo’s wrist. Once she realized they were the ones the Imperial Consort always wore, her eyes tightened for a moment before returning to calm.
When the other ladies had all arrived, the Empress Dowager checked the time and prepared to set off.
The Empress personally saw the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort off onto the carriage, while also keeping Princess Yunhua for a few words of advice.
Du Yunluo was initially to share a carriage with Mu Lianhui. Just as she was about to step onto the carriage, she heard Princess Yunhua calling her.
"Yunluo, come and chat with me."
Du Yunluo paused, turning to look at Princess Yunhua.
Mu Lianhui lifted the gauze curtain with a smile, saying, "Since the princess called you, you should go."
Princess Yunhua spoke to Princess Nanyan, "Nanyan, you and Jiarou go together."
This arrangement caused Aunt Ming’s brow to furrow slightly.
Mu Lianhui and Princess Nanyan, these two were the choices for the heir of Prince Rui’s wife in the Empress Dowager’s heart. Though it had not been entirely made clear, both probably understood this about each other. To let them be together...
Although it was uncertain what Mu Lianhui would do, Princess Nanyan was always composed. Aunt Ming felt slightly relieved, secretly instructing the palace maids serving on the carriage to be particularly attentive.
Princess Nanyan smiled in acknowledgment, holding onto the maid’s hand as she boarded the carriage.
Du Yunluo then boarded the carriage of Princess Yunhua.
The carriage for a princess was unlike those of ordinary noble families—more spacious, more comfortable, and more exquisite.
The carriage was stocked with tea and snacks, and the palace maids serving were somewhat familiar to Du Yunluo. She recalled seeing the maid outside the side hall the last time she met the princess, suggesting she was a trusted person by the princess’s side.
The carriage gradually left the palace.
Princess Yunhua took a bite of lily cake, leaning obliquely against the pillow in the carriage, saying, "Yunluo, are you wondering why I let Jiarou and Nanyan go together?"
At her words, Du Yunluo looked at Princess Yunhua, noticing the hint of anticipation in the princess’s eyes, and nodded in agreement, "Yes, I am."
"I forgot to tell you," Princess Yunhua said, handing the half-eaten lily cake to the maid and taking some almond dew to soothe her throat, "During the festival, when Jiarou came to the palace to pay her respects, I saw Jiarou and Nanyan avoiding the palace maids and eunuchs to talk. I don’t know what they discussed, but since they want to talk, let them have their fill this time."
Du Yunluo pondered.
During the festival?
Wasn’t that just a few days before her first time entering the palace?
When Mu Lianhui and Princess Nanyan got together, what could they be discussing?