Chapter 37 - 36: Falling into Water (Third Update)
Du Yunying could not stay away from the Flower Hall for too long. After giving instructions, she turned and sat back beside Mrs. Miao.
Mrs. Miao noticed her somber expression and said softly, "Don’t argue today."
Du Yunying looked up and followed Mrs. Miao’s gaze. It was towards Du Yunluo, who was talking with Mrs. Zhen. She pressed her lips together and shook her head, saying, "Mother, at this moment, I have no time to argue with Fifth Sister. Mother, take a closer look, see if there’s any trace of our Cai’er."
Just hearing the first part, Mrs. Miao felt slightly relieved, but after hearing the latter part, she looked around and didn’t see Miao Ruoshan. Her face instantly turned pale.
Du Yunying took hold of Mrs. Miao’s hand, "I just sent someone to look for her. If she’s truly looking for trouble, she can’t blame me for not considering feelings."
Mrs. Miao gasped and couldn’t help but glance towards Old Mrs. Xia. Old Mrs. Xia was laughing and chatting with some familiar guests, completely unaware of the situation here. Even so, Mrs. Miao felt a chill down her back.
If something truly happened, regardless of Du Yunying’s regard for feelings, Mrs. Miao would loathe having Miao Ruoshan as a niece.
How could she hold her head up in front of Old Mrs. Xia!
Mrs. Miao was on edge but couldn’t leave the guests to search personally, forcing herself to deal with the guests with a few words.
This distracted appearance didn’t escape Du Yunnuo’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but smile lightly.
A quarter of an hour later, a servant woman came in smiling, but that smile was particularly forced, with no real mirth in her eyes.
Mrs. Miao felt a jolt in her heart.
The servant woman walked to Mrs. Miao’s side and whispered a few words in her ear.
Mrs. Miao’s face instantly went ashen, her hands on her lap clenching tightly. She gritted her teeth and said, "I know. Keep it quiet."
Seeing Mrs. Miao’s expression, Du Yunying knew it wasn’t good, and Du Yunluo also frowned.
After all the guests from various families were sent off, Mrs. Miao finally let her smile fade and hurried back.
Old Mrs. Xia was tired and told everyone to disperse.
Du Yunluo, holding her thoughts, followed Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunru back to Qinghui Garden. As soon as they sat down, Mrs. Zhen called Shui Yue in.
"Go find out what’s going on," Mrs. Zhen said.
Shui Yue responded and left.
Du Yunluo leaned in Mrs. Zhen’s arms and said, "Did Mother see through it?"
𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Mrs. Zhen chuckled and patted her daughter’s back, "I’m not foolish. Just now in the Flower Hall, almost everyone knew something was amiss at the mansion, and Cai’er was nowhere to be found. I figured the matter concerned her. I sent Shui Yue to inquire. Going forward, she would surely encounter people from Lianfu Garden and Anfeng Courtyard."
Du Yunluo blinked, recognizing the wisdom that comes with age—indeed, it was no falsehood.
Mrs. Zhen simply avoided getting involved in inner courtyard struggles, but it didn’t mean she was unaware of them.
Though a nondisclosure command was issued, in the inner chambers, what secret could truly be kept?
Shui Yue took some effort but eventually understood.
Miao Ruoshan encountered Du Yunlang in the back garden. She stepped forward and said a few words, but Du Yunlang turned to leave.
Miao Ruoshan, emboldened, tried to grab Du Yunlang’s sleeve, but accidentally, she slipped and fell into the pool. Du Yunlang was caught in a dilemma whether to save her or not. Fortunately, those sent by Du Yunying to find Miao Ruoshan arrived just in time and quickly pulled her out.
Du Yunlang hurried to the front courtyard, and Miao Ruoshan was taken back to Shuifu Garden, where Mrs. Miao exploded in anger upon her return.
"I underestimated her!" Du Yunru was shocked. "A misstep into the water? She wanted to fall into the water with Second Brother, right! Amazing she could think of that!"
Mrs. Zhen kept shaking her head, "Reputation is paramount for a girl, and Yunlang is already engaged. How could she be so confused!
Du Yunluo secretly clenched her palm.
She, too, had once fallen into the water, a result of someone’s scheme.
That year at Potuo Mountain’s Fa Yin Temple, she went to the releasing pool at Mrs. Zhen’s behest and fell into the water with Mu Lianxiao.
Du Yunluo couldn’t swim. The releasing pool wasn’t deep, but she couldn’t stand firm, filled with fright. The servants around her were also ’land ducks,’ unable to swim. Instinctively, she clung to Mu Lianxiao beside her.
When Mu Lianxiao brought the shivering Du Yunluo ashore, whether from cold or fear, she couldn’t even cry.
At Fa Yin Temple, with many worshippers around, such a commotion was witnessed by many.
One was the princely heir from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the other an unmarried official’s daughter. For reputation’s sake, the Marquis Mansion hurriedly went to the palace for an imperial decree. Holding the decree, Du Yunluo felt as if she was back in the releasing pool. Despite the scorching summer, the pool water chilled her to the bone.
Years later, Du Yunluo considered that fall into the water an accident. With many worshippers by the releasing pool, slipping into the water seemed possible, until late in life when she realized it was the Lian Family’s doing.
Du Yunru avoided the topic after a brief mention; the quietness was unsettling. She turned to see Du Yunluo biting her lip in silence.
"What’s this about?" Du Yunru gently nudged Du Yunluo, "I thought you’d be indignant."
Du Yunluo snapped out of it, "Falling into the water together is the most effective way, isn’t it?"
"You..." Du Yunru was at a loss, not understanding Du Yunluo’s words.
Du Yunluo forced a smile, "Indeed, it’s an effective method. Luckily, Second Brother didn’t fall in with her, and Sister Cai’er had the maids rescue her, otherwise..."
Otherwise, what followed wouldn’t be easy to handle.
In Anfeng Courtyard, the East Cross Courtyard had just lit its lamps.
Du Yunnuo sat under the lamp, eyes widening in surprise as she listened to the maid, "Fell into the water? I thought she was a timid rabbit, but forgot, when a rabbit’s cornered, it bites."
The situation’s development surprised Du Yunnuo. She thought she understood Miao Ruoshan’s nature, teasing her with a few words to provoke her into confessing to Du Yunlang.
With Du Yunlang engaged, Miao Ruoshan saying such inappropriate words would cause Mrs. Miao to lose face and bring reproach from Old Mrs. Xia.
While Mrs. Miao suffered, the Liao Family wouldn’t show it outwardly but would relish in her misfortune internally.
When the mistress was in a good mood, Aunt Mo’s days went smoothly.
Du Yunnuo had calculated this, but unexpectedly, Miao Ruoshan dared to pull Du Yunlang into the water!
Unconsciously biting her lip, Du Yunnuo’s heart sank. Such a bold Miao Ruoshan, would she expose her?
If Old Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Miao learned she was behind this...
Du Yunnuo shivered, feeling like she’d gain nothing but get herself in trouble.
For two days, with her heart in her throat, the mansion remained calm.
Miao Ruoshan was sent back to the Miao Family by Mrs. Miao that very night. The next day’s greeting, Old Mrs. Xia indirectly reproached Mrs. Miao, who accepted it all, not daring to respond, living cautiously, not troubling Du Yunnuo.
Du Yunnuo’s heart finally settled.
Another day passed; as soon as Du Yunluo entered Old Mrs. Xia’s room, Mrs. Miao came soon after.
Smiling ingratiatingly, she greeted Old Mrs. Xia, saying, "Old Lady, early this morning magpies came to the door. I had someone check the almanac, and the seventh of next month is a good day. I was thinking, why not take that day to send someone to the Xia Mansion and set the date for Xin’s entry into the family."