Chapter 205 - 204: Sisters-in-Law
Du Yunluo wondered, when was the last time she saw someone getting married?
Not a girl marrying off, but a daughter-in-law being brought into the mansion.
She pursed her lips and thought for a long time before she finally remembered.
The last time she attended such a ceremony was when her stepson got married, so long ago...
She could still clearly recall the scene from back then.
In the lively wedding hall, she sat in a chair, watching her stepson lead his new bride in. They both bowed to her, surrounded by laughter and cheers. She was smiling too, because after all, she had raised the boy for over ten years, and now he was grown and starting a family. How could she not be happy?
But gradually, she began to feel weary.
Rumors started to spread, and her daughter-in-law looked at her with defensive and disdainful eyes, while her stepson grew distant.
Everything in the Marquis Mansion became far removed from her, and she finally understood that someone else’s son is always someone else’s son. No matter how long you raise them, they are not your own flesh and blood.
After that, she never attended another ceremony.
No one invited her, a widowed woman. Except for when her son or grandson got married, no one wanted her to make an appearance.
But in the end, when each grandson got married, she never received the formal respects of a daughter-in-law.
Except for Xiao San who would come to visit her, it was as if the whole family had forgotten about her existence.
Her stepson’s wedding was the last lively event she experienced in the past.
As memories resurfaced, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but clench her hands tightly.
Perhaps sensing her change, Du Yunru, who was sitting in front of her, quietly reached out and gently patted her on the wrist.
Du Yunluo’s body tensed up. She looked down to see Du Yunru, noticing the concern in her sister’s eyes. She took a deep breath and managed a smile.
After all, the past is the past. She was just a bit emotional and not overwhelmed with sadness.
In this life, Du Yunluo had her own plans.
She would not live her life like she did in her previous life.
She wanted to grow old hand in hand with Mu Lianxiao. They would have their own children, and when they grew up, she would sit in the wedding hall, smiling as their son and daughter-in-law bowed to her, just like Miao Family did.
The newlyweds had just completed the heavens and earth ceremony and were now paying respects to the elders.
Du Huaiping was grinning from ear to ear, nodding repeatedly. Even Du Gongfu, who was usually calm, couldn’t hide his smile, looking at the newlyweds with gentle eyes.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds were sent to the bridal chamber, and the guests went to the tables to drink wine.
Du Yunying came to find Du Yunluo and Yunuo, and the three of them went together to Chunhua Courtyard.
Chunhua Courtyard was covered in red happiness characters, and a few unfamiliar maids and older servants were standing under the veranda, all of whom were dowry from the Xia Family.
Du Yunlang came out of the room, saw the three of them, and smiled, "Just in time. I’m going to the front to toast, and you should keep her company."
Du Yunying rolled her eyes playfully, "Isn’t brother afraid we’ll bully her? A new bride should be given a hard time, shouldn’t she?"
Knowing well that Du Yunying was just joking, Du Yunlang still clasped his hands in a mock bow, "Go easy on her, in a few days, brother will give you a big red envelope."
Du Yunying couldn’t help but laugh.
Leaning against Yunuo, Du Yunluo giggled non-stop, "Heartache already! We have already agreed; without this amount, we won’t agree."
After speaking, Du Yunluo held out her fingers to indicate a number.
Du Yunying grabbed her hand with one hand and indicated another number with her other hand, "Not enough, not enough, at least this much."
Du Yunlang couldn’t outmaneuver them, so whatever they said went.
Only then were the three sisters satisfied, they sent Du Yunlang away, chatting and laughing as they entered the bridal chamber.
Xia Anxin was sitting in the eastern side room, waiting for them.
She had already removed the phoenix crown, her eyes bright and shiny, her face all red as she softly invited them to sit down.
Du Yunluo looked Xia Anxin up and down. She seemed much the same as in her memory, lacking the steadiness and maturity she would gain after having children later on. For now, she still had the shyness and modesty of a young girl.
The moment Du Yunying saw her expression, she knew she had heard everything and laughed, "Heard it all? Brother truly treats you well. He can’t bear us bullying you. His monthly allowance is just that much, and after dividing it among us three, he won’t have any money left for months."
Xia Anxin’s face turned even redder, almost burying her head into her chest.
Du Yunluo wouldn’t let it go, adding, "Second sister-in-law wouldn’t let second brother run out of money, would she?"
"Exactly." Yunuo nodded seriously, but then couldn’t hold back, and the three of them laughed together.
Xia Anxin looked as if she was on fire, lifting her watery eyes and pouting, "You said you wouldn’t bully me. If you keep it up, I won’t give you any red envelopes."
Du Yunying clutched her belly, "See, in perfect accord with each other."
Xia Anxin was Old Mrs. Xia’s family niece. As a child, she often visited the Du Mansion and was around the same age as the Du sisters, so they were quite familiar with each other. But after getting engaged, she held herself back from visiting.
Now, being teased by them brought out the playful nature from childhood, and she pretended to claw at Du Yunying.
For a moment, the room was filled with laughter and chatter.
Hearing the jovial noises within, the accompanying maids and older servants outside were finally at ease.
For a girl leaving home for marriage, the biggest fear is that the husband’s mother or sisters-in-law are difficult to get along with. While marrying into the familiar Du Family should provide reassurance, the presence of three unmarried sisters still caused some concern among the servants.
But hearing them chatting and laughing, getting along like sisters within the family, naturally sets their minds at ease.
After the four women finished laughing, they gathered together to chat.
Their conversation naturally turned to matters dear to a young woman’s heart.
Ever since Old Mrs. Xia spoke about the marriage proposal to the Xia Family, Du Yunying hadn’t seen much of Xia Anxin over those years, so she couldn’t help but ask, "What do you think of my brother?"
Xia Anxin didn’t expect such a direct question and was at a loss for words.
Recalling the handsome and gentle person she saw when the veil was lifted, her heart softened, and she vaguely said, "He is different from before."
"Different how?" Du Yunying pressed on.
Xia Anxin lightly bit her lip. Naturally, he had become someone she couldn’t take her eyes off, but she had no face to say that, so she simply redirected: "And the second young master of the Chengyi Bo Mansion, how about him?"
Du Yunying didn’t expect the counterattack, which made Xia Anxin laugh for a while before she managed to squeeze out, "I haven’t even seen him, how would I know if he’s round or square. You’d better ask Fifth Sister, she is quite fond of the princely heir."
The conversation, after a circuitous journey, ended back at her own feet. Not wanting to be the target of their jokes, Du Yunluo steered the topic to Lu Huan, the second son of the Chengyi Bo Mansion. Although Du Yunying hadn’t seen Lu Huan, Du Yunluo had.
The three chatted back and forth, sharing secrets and causing a delightful ruckus.
Yunuo sat on the side, laughed along for a while, but after the laughter subsided, she felt a bit of bitterness in her heart.
All the sisters had their engagements planned and knew where their future lay. They could close their eyes and sketch the face of that person, while she was the one left behind.
This feeling wasn’t pleasant at all.