Chapter 44 - 43: Eastern Palace
After entering summer, each day became hotter than the last. Just another six or seven days passed, and the weather was quite different from before.
Though there were still occasional thunderstorms, they could not dispel the heat. Old Mrs. Xia couldn’t bear it, so ice basins were set early in Lianfu Garden.
The Miao Family planned well and understood the Capital’s climate; June was always this hot, and the next two to three months would be difficult to endure.
Du Mansion stored a lot of ice during the winter, and the Miao Family hastily sent people out to buy more. However, they still didn’t dare to use it freely, only adding it to Lianfu Garden while other places held out for the time being.
The Liao Family felt suffocated by the heat and constantly complained about the Miao Family’s frugality behind their backs. Yet, before Old Mrs. Xia, they dared not voice their grievances. After all, deep down, they knew that if they didn’t plan carefully, come August, even holding silver ingots wouldn’t guarantee finding any ice.
Lianfu Garden was cooler, so Old Mrs. Xia summoned all the girls to spare them from suffering.
Du Yunluo and Du Yunru sat by the window, sorting embroidery threads and whispering to each other.
Du Yunying fiddled with a knot and went over to join the conversation.
Only Du Yunnuo remained alone, knowing well that because of previous events, her sisters were silently angry with her. She didn’t try to ingratiate herself, instead staying with Du Gongfu to play with Yaya.
The sound of the small bell was clear and crisp, and Yaya, with eyes like green beans, looked around constantly, chirping nonstop.
Old Mrs. Xia closed her eyes to rest, her tone impatient: "Why are you playing with it on such a hot day? The more it calls, the more annoying it gets."
Du Gongfu shook the bell in his hand: "Peace of mind brings coolness. Don’t worry so much, and you’ll feel comfortable."
Old Mrs. Xia felt her breath caught in her throat—was this her being unnecessarily anxious? With so many youngsters and girls around, how could she not worry? Could she be like Du Gongfu, a carefree lord who plays with birds all day?
Old Mrs. Xia opened her mouth but didn’t voice her disagreement with Du Gongfu in front of the girls, swallowing all her words.
The Miao Family parted the curtain and entered, performing the courtesies before saying: "Old Master, Old Mistresses, early this morning some fresh fruits from the manor were brought. I’ve had them chilled in the well, and they’ll be brought soon to cool us down. I was thinking, if it stays this hot in July and August, why don’t the Old Master and Old Mistress stay at the manor for a while? Xingye Manor outside the city had just been renovated last year; I’ll have someone tidy it up again."
These words made Old Mrs. Xia feel tempted.
Xingye Manor, her dowry estate, sat on a hillside outside the city. Originally, it wasn’t meant for its productivity but for its delightful scenery, warm in winter and cool in summer.
"That makes sense; send people ahead. If we decide not to go later, it’s no big deal." Old Mrs. Xia ordered.
Du Gongfu snorted: "Unnecessary hassle!"
The Miao Family lowered their head, pretending not to hear, as long as Old Mrs. Xia agreed, that was enough.
Listening to their conversation, Du Yunluo recalled some past events.
The summer before was just as scorching.
Old Mrs. Xia had decided early to go to the manor for summer escape, planning to return to the Capital when Du Yunru married.
Dismayed by Du Yunluo, Du Gongfu and Old Mrs. Xia didn’t take the second brother’s family along, only Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo went up the mountain.
After staying for half a month or so, Du Yunluo fell into the water at the temple, causing the two elders to hurry back to the Capital.
This time...
Old Mrs. Xia would definitely call for her.
Du Yunluo inwardly wanted not to follow to the manor.
Staying at the manor, how could she accompany Mrs. Zhen and Du Yundi to Fa Yin Temple for incense?
How could she meet Mu Lianxiao?
If she missed it, who knows...
"If you don’t pay more attention, it’ll tangle." Du Yunru gently patted Du Yunluo’s hand.
Du Yunluo snapped back to reality, her eyes drifting to the thread in her hands, which was indeed about to ruin, and she hurried to mend it.
A flurry of footsteps rushed in from outside, bringing a wave of heat into the East Wing. Du Yunluo looked intently and saw it was the wife of Housekeeper Zhao, who had begged for Jin Ling in the previous life.
Seeing her, Du Yunluo was puzzled—why did someone from the Zhao Family hurry and come?
Old Mrs. Xia frowned slightly, and Nanny Xu understood, raising her eyes to see the Zhao Family’s wife sweating profusely, making it hard to speak sternly. She vaguely said: "Madame Zhao, the rules in Old Mistress’s room—are you unaware?"
The wife of the Zhao Family promptly took out a handkerchief, turned her back, and rubbed her face randomly, returning with a smile: "This servant knows it’s against the rules, but the matter is urgent, and this servant couldn’t find Second Madame, so I hurried to Lianfu Garden."
Nanny Xu nodded, gesturing for Madame Zhao to continue.
The wife of the Zhao Family looked at Du Gongfu and said: "The gatekeeper reported that the sedan chair of the Eastern Palace has entered the mansion, waiting outside the second gate, inviting the Old Master to the palace."
Du Gongfu’s hand trembled slightly, and the bell in his hand rang out, he looked straight at the wife of the Zhao Family: "The sedan chair of His Highness? Are you sure there’s no mistake?"
The wife of the Zhao Family nodded vigorously: "Old Master, even if our gatekeeper was confused, they wouldn’t mistake the Eastern Palace’s plaque. Moreover, it’s Eunuch Cao next to His Highness who came to fetch you; everyone knows him."
Before Du Gongfu even reacted, Old Mrs. Xia had already sat upright, urging the maids: "Quickly help the Old Master dress!"
Lianfu Garden suddenly bustled.
Du Gongfu had been retired for many years, having no official attire to wear, so Nanny Xu took out a brand new robe, and Lanzhi prepared the sedan chair at the courtyard door.
At this moment, the girls naturally wouldn’t go forward to add trouble.
Du Yunying, astonished, said to her sisters: "Just like that, why is His Highness inviting Grandfather to the palace? Since Grandfather retired, aside from the first couple of years, he hasn’t entered the palace, right?"
Du Yunluo was equally baffled.
In the previous life, Du Gongfu hadn’t interacted with the Eastern Palace until his death; why is it different this time...
Yet she believed the gatekeepers would never mistake it.
Du Gongfu had served as Crown Prince’s Tutor for many years; though retired, the gatekeepers would recognize the Eastern Palace’s plaque, and Eunuch Cao was a trusted figure by His Highness. If there was an error, Miao Family might purge all the gatekeepers later.
With anxiety in his heart, Du Gongfu didn’t dare delay, heading to the second gate with a cane.
The Miao Family had gotten the news and delivered it to the second gate.
Du Gongfu met with Eunuch Cao, cautiously asking a few questions.
Eunuch Cao didn’t hide anything, saying: "Speak and don’t fear being laughed at by the Old Master. The Emperor recently examined the Imperial Grandson’s coursework and wasn’t satisfied; the Crown Prince explained that the Grandson was young and couldn’t focus, but the Emperor said that when the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson were the same age, the Old Master taught well. The Emperor wants the Old Master to occasionally advise the Imperial Grandson."
Du Gongfu was both surprised and apprehensive, continuously paying respects, expressing gratitude to the Holy Emperor and the Crown Prince.
The Miao Family listened carefully by the Lotus Gate, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, unable to hide the smile in her eyes.
As soon as Du Gongfu left, the Miao Family joyously entered Lianfu Garden, beaming: "Old Mistress, inviting our Old Master to the Eastern Palace, that’s the Emperor’s wish; the Emperor still remembers our Old Master!"
"What’s going on? Quickly tell me in detail," Old Mrs. Xia eagerly asked.
The Miao Family recounted what she overheard in full, delighting Old Mrs. Xia to clap hands.
"Prepare incense and candles; once the Old Master returns, we’ll go to the ancestral hall to inform the ancestors. With the Emperor honoring the Old Master like this, even if the Old Master doesn’t re-enter service, the career paths for Huairang and his brothers will be broader." Old Mrs. Xia said.
The Miao Family smiled in agreement, unable to resist glancing at Du Yunying.
If Du Gongfu frequented the Eastern Palace in the future, why worry about Du Yunying’s future!