Chapter 35 - 34: The Truth Revealed
Du Yunluo was eager to leave, and Du Yunying did not stop her.
The Miao Family arranged for people to see them off, and with people from the second branch both in front and behind, Du Yunru held her sister’s hand, not saying a word.
Once they entered Qinghui Garden, Du Yunru lowered her voice and said, "Why are you getting involved in those matters? Whether Cai’er is good or bad, she belongs to our second aunt’s maiden family. If second aunt doesn’t mind the third sister, she might end up blaming you instead."
"If it were a trivial matter, I wouldn’t want to get involved," Du Yunluo sighed. "Second aunt doesn’t guard against Cai’er, and there are things that we, as sisters, can’t directly tell our second brother. If something happens in the future, it will be grandmother who gets upset. She’s too old to be troubled with such matters."
Mentioning Old Mrs. Xia left Du Yunru silent for a moment before she said, "Grandmother hasn’t doted on you for nothing."
Du Yunluo gave a slight smile.
She had her own considerations.
Previously, she wasn’t particularly close to Xia Anxin. When Xia Anxin entered the family, Du Yunluo had already "fallen out of favor." Seeing Old Mrs. Xia favor Xia Anxin left her feeling somewhat unfair.
Yet, Xia Anxin had a gentle disposition. Even though the Miao Family nitpicked about her, it was like hitting cotton with a fist. After a few attempts, they no longer wanted to play the role of the unreasonable mother-in-law, and the two got along well enough.
As for Du Yunlang, he was respectful to his wife, and their days were quite stable.
With a fine family like this, Du Yunluo didn’t wish for Miao Ruoshan to stir up trouble, causing upsetting incidents that would disrupt the peace.
"I already spoke with the third sister. After all, she’s the niece of second aunt’s family. As long as second aunt understands, everything that follows will be easier to deal with. The third sister will naturally speak to second aunt, and it won’t involve us," Du Yunluo added, fearing Du Yunru would worry.
The two sisters leaned on each other, exchanged a few words, then went to greet Mrs. Zhen and retired to their rooms to rest.
Early the next morning, after the greetings in Lianfu Garden, the Miao Family invited Du Yunluo to Shuifu Garden.
The nanny instructing the hairpin ceremony rules waited on the side, meticulously explaining the process to the three girls and had them practice a few times before feeling assured.
Du Yunying glanced at the Western clock, estimating that by this time, the women reporting to the Miao Family should have dispersed, and she excused herself under the pretense of changing clothes.
The Miao Family was resting by the couch, about to send someone to check on how the girls were practicing when Du Yunying appeared.
"What brings you here? How are you getting along with the rules?" The Miao Family gestured for Du Yunying to sit beside her and noticed a slight sweat on her exquisite face, quickly taking a handkerchief to help her wipe it off. "It’s starting to get warm these days, take care of your health."
Du Yunying agreed, her gaze lingering on the maids present.
The Miao Family took the hint and dismissed the attendants, speaking softly. "What’s the matter? Is it about Cai’er? Yunying, after all, Cai’er is your maternal cousin. She’s well-mannered and lovely. Why don’t you like her? Fortunately, it was Cai’er yesterday. If it had been someone else, they would have escalated things after a few barbs from you. Mother can’t see what Cai’er did to upset you..."
As soon as the Miao Family spoke in praise of Cai’er, Du Yunying’s expression darkened, and she interrupted, "Does mother really not know what makes me dislike her?"
The Miao Family was taken aback.
Du Yunying had initially intended to delicately share Miao Ruoshan’s intentions with the Miao Family. However, the previous remarks from the Miao Family left Du Yunying feeling aggrieved, unwilling to mince words any longer. "You think Cai’er is good, but she’s full of dirty thoughts, all focused on the second brother! The second brother is already engaged to Xia Anxin, so what’s she planning by hanging around him like that? Letting her stay at home, should she plot something against the second brother, where will mother’s reputation go!"
The Miao Family’s eyes widened, and she quietly scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting! A girl’s reputation is vital; even if you don’t like Cai’er, you shouldn’t gossip like this, implicating your second brother."
"Does mother not believe me?" Du Yunying stood up, her eyes flushed red. "Fifth sister said that as long as mother understands, mother wouldn’t let Cai’er act recklessly. But it seems, I can’t get through to you, mother."
The Miao Family grabbed Du Yunying’s wrist tightly, anxiously asking, "Yunluo? How is Yunluo involved in this?"
"It’s not just the fifth sister!" Du Yunying sneered, "I haven’t said anything to the fifth sister, and yet she saw through Cai’er’s dirty thoughts with one glance yesterday. Which of our sisters didn’t see it? Fourth sister knows it too, otherwise, why would she speak of Yaya like that in front of Cai’er yesterday? Everyone can see it clearly, except for mother. Wait until grandmother notices. Just wait for the silent suffering you’ll face, mother!"
Having finished, Du Yunying, without regard for decorum, freed herself from the Miao Family’s grasp and turned to leave.
The Miao Family, steeped in shock, didn’t pay attention to Du Yunying’s departure. Her mind repeatedly played those few words.
If Du Yunying was telling the truth, then...
Thinking of this, the Miao Family gasped sharply.
If Miao Ruoshan truly caused trouble for her, in front of Old Mrs. Xia, could she cry out saying she genuinely knew nothing? In Old Mrs. Xia’s eyes, it would only serve as evidence that she was dissatisfied with Xia Anxin!
That would truly be a silent suffering.
As much as the Miao Family disliked Xia Anxin, she wasn’t naive enough to think Miao Ruoshan could replace her. When the time came, whether Miao Ruoshan married far away or became a concubine, the Miao Family would lose both face and dignity.
Considering Du Yunlang’s straightforward and principled nature, he might even blame her as his mother.
She knew her daughter’s temperament well; Du Yunying wasn’t one to speak nonsense. The more the Miao Family thought, the colder her back felt, wishing she could immediately send Miao Ruoshan back to the Miao Family.
However, Du Yunying’s hairpin ceremony couldn’t be delayed, but thankfully it was only a few days away. The Miao Family called in the maid, Quan Yin, and carefully instructed, "Cai’er is staying temporarily, and didn’t bring many attendants. Select a couple of clever ones to serve her well, and keep a close watch on her for me."
Quan Yin had been waiting outside earlier, hearing much of the altercation between the Miao Family and her daughter, especially when Du Yunying lost her temper and no longer controlled her volume, storing every word in her memory.
Seeing the Miao Family’s instructions, Quan Yin quickly bowed and responded, "Rest assured, madam, there won’t be any slips."
The Miao Family nodded. Seeing Quan Yin about to leave, she asked, "What do you think?"
Quan Yin was momentarily stunned. One was a daughter, the other a cousin. The question wasn’t easy to answer.
Frowning in thought, Quan Yin replied, "I hadn’t thought in that direction before, but now that I follow through, it seems the third miss has a point. Miss Cai’er does seem genuinely interested in the second master..."
Coming across as if she were carefully recollecting, Quan Yin caused the Miao Family to sigh inwardly and wave her off.
Quan Yin quickly exited, breathing a long sigh of relief after seeing the curtain steadied behind her before going off to arrange the watchful attendants.