Chapter 101: Chapter 100: Last Quarter Moon
Hearing this, Du Yunluo’s brows furrowed slightly, but they soon smoothed out.
Jin Rui stood by the side, clearly observing everything.
Although she didn’t understand why her young lady was somewhat averse to Zhen Wenqian, since Jin Rui had noticed, she subtly moved to stand between Du Yunluo and Zhen Wenqian.
Zhen Wenqian cast a sidelong glance at Jin Rui, the maid hung her head, and from this angle, it was impossible to discern her expression.
He turned his gaze back to Du Yunluo.
Compared to the glutinous rice dumpling of her childhood, Du Yunluo had grown up.
Her appearance and figure followed Mrs. Zhen’s, not striking, yet like the waning moon that only appears in the second half of the month—graceful and serene, yet not without charm.
The lantern light flickered, casting shadows on the white walls of the corridor that swayed as well, but the owner of that shadow stood upright, her clear eyes looking towards the Flower Hall, unhurried and calm.
"Compared to childhood, cousin has changed a lot."
Du Yunluo was slightly startled, turning her eyes towards the sentence that had suddenly emerged from Zhen Wenqian.
Although Zhen Wenqian did not avoid her gaze, his eyes were open and honest, as if it were the most ordinary greeting between siblings. To Du Yunluo, it appeared even more candid than the glance exchanged in the Flower Hall earlier.
Even though the odd feeling in her heart had not completely faded, facing such a pair of eyes, considering their status as cousins, she couldn’t ignore it too much.
"I actually don’t remember much about things from childhood. But, after all, a few years have passed, and changes are inevitable," Du Yunluo said mildly.
Her voice was as crisp as pearls falling on a jade plate. Zhen Wenqian pressed his lips together, wanting to say more, when he saw the light of approaching lanterns not far away.
More than one lantern.
He swallowed his words back, silently waiting for the people to arrive.
It was Zhen Wenting and Nanny Zhao.
"I was just about to head back when I happened upon Nanny Zhao coming to borrow a light. As we came out together, I saw the lantern light here and wondered who it might be. Coming over for a look, it turns out it’s eldest brother." Zhen Wenting greeted the two with a beaming smile, "Isn’t this cousin’s earring? It was left in the Flower Hall, and I picked it up."
Du Yunluo thanked her.
The South Pearl earring was small, and as Du Yunluo accepted it, she raised her hand and put it back on her earlobe.
In the warm light, half of her face appeared even more gentle and soft.
Zhen Wenting said to Nanny Zhao, "Do you still remember the way back? Should I call someone to guide you?"
Nanny Zhao saw Zhen Wenqian holding a lantern for Du Yunluo and quickly curtseyed, then said to Zhen Wenting, "Second Miss, this servant remembers."
Zhen Wenting blinked and realized, "Of course, Nanny Zhao used to serve in the mansion; she knows the paths in the back courtyard even with her eyes closed. It’s late, let’s not delay cousin’s rest."
Du Yunluo quietly breathed a sigh of relief when Nanny Zhao returned.
No matter what, she didn’t like being with Zhen Wenqian. Even though he was honest, she always felt there was something strange, and she wanted to avoid it.
Jin Rui took the lantern, and Nanny Zhao supported Du Yunluo as they headed to the depths of the back courtyard.
Zhen Wenting watched their figures grow distant, then turned her head to see that Zhen Wenqian hadn’t moved either. She tugged at the corners of her lips and said, "Eldest brother, if you don’t leave now, the front will lock the gate."
Zhen Wenqian closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, nodding towards Zhen Wenting before turning away.
His steps were unhurried, the night still, with only the sound of the wind blowing from behind. He could even hear Zhen Wenting’s scoff interspersed in the wind.
Ignoring it, Zhen Wenqian’s steps did not pause as he passed through corridors and halls.
In his mind was the white jade-like South Pearl and the white jade-like earlobe he had just seen. He slowly exhaled a breath.
That truly was a waning moon.
The waning moon that only appears in the latter half of the night, if you’re not patient enough to wait, falling into a muddled sleep, waking up to find it’s already daylight.
He had already overslept.
When Du Yunluo returned to the small courtyard, Mrs. Wang had already left, and the main room was lit, casting shadows of Mrs. Zhen bustling about.
It seemed Du Huaili had truly had too much to drink. Mrs. Zhen refused to let others help and took care of it herself.
Seeing this, Du Yunluo decided not to enter and add to the chaos. She asked Nanny Zhao to deliver a message to Mrs. Zhen, while she herself returned to her room with Jin Rui.
By the afternoon, the room was mostly tidied up.
This trip back was just a brief stay; Du Yunluo wasn’t particular about the details.
Jin Rui had the young maid fetch some water, serving Du Yunluo as she washed up and freshened her face. She considered probing about Zhen Wenqian, but seeing Du Yunluo had little interest, she refrained.
The inner room held a meticulously crafted plum wood four-poster bed, originally out of place in this wing room. But because Mrs. Zhen brought Du Yunluo back to stay, Mrs. Chen specially had it moved over, saying the cousin had always been accustomed to fine things and worried she wouldn’t sleep well and lose spirit.
The bedding and pillows on the bed were brand new. Du Yunluo lay down, and Jin Rui tidied the covers for her, lowered the gauze curtains hanging on the bed frame, picked up a lamp on the table, went out to extinguish it, and lay down on a couch in the outer room in the dark.
Jin Rui wasn’t sleepy yet. Worried about disturbing Du Yunluo by tossing and turning, she lay still, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.
The last time Du Yunluo returned, Jin Rui was too young to be of use, which made this her first visit to the Zhen Family.
After a day, everything felt amicable and kind; the mistresses and young ladies were easy to talk to—unlike in the Du Family, where Mrs. Miao and Mrs. Liao schemed and plotted, always set to devise something.
Only a family like this could cultivate someone with the fine temperament of Mrs. Zhen.
However, that Zhen Family’s eldest young master...
The way the young lady avoided him was indeed peculiar.
Unable to figure it out, Jin Rui gradually stopped pondering.
Inside the inner room, Du Yunluo was a light sleeper.
The weariness from the journey a few days ago once again swept over her. The first half of the night was restless; the latter half saw her fall into a deep sleep. When she awoke, she couldn’t quite remember her dreams, feeling an emptiness in her heart.
Old Mrs. Hou, seeing Du Yunluo out of spirits, held her close and said, "Is it because you don’t recognize the bed?"
Du Yunluo nodded vaguely.
Mrs. Chen stood by, offering some comforting words with a heart feeling somewhat relieved. Luckily, they had brought over a top-quality bed; otherwise, it would mean she had been remiss.
At night, Mrs. Zhen had Jin Rui light the soothing incense once more.
For several days following, Du Yunluo’s sleep wasn’t great, but it wasn’t exactly bad either.
Then, on the twenty-seventh, it was Old Mrs. Hou’s fiftieth birthday.
A banquet was held in the mansion, inviting familiar and friendly families from Tong City.
Old Mrs. Hou was a second wife, without any biological sons, yet she received genuine filial piety from two stepsons and daughters-in-law. This, in Tong City, was something to be envied. Now, seeing the son-in-law and daughter-in-law who married into the Capital along with the cousin returning for the birthday banquet brought Old Mrs. Hou great pride.
The guests, knowing Du Yunluo was betrothed to the Princely Heir of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, openly and surreptitiously praised her beauty and good fortune.
Old Mrs. Hou smiled without revealing the slightest emotion, though Mrs. Zhen, observing her, could sense a hint of melancholy in her eyes, it was evident.
