Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Invitation Letter (180+ Monthly Tickets)
In Lianfu Garden, the gatekeeping little maid saw Du Yunluo and beamed with joy.
Lanzhi personally came out to greet her: "Miss, you’re finally back, the Old Madam has been talking about you all the time."
Du Yunluo smiled and called out "Hello, sister," as she lifted the curtain and entered, only to see Old Mrs. Xia sit up straight from the arhat bed and beckon her over repeatedly.
"Yunluo, come here to Grandmother’s side." Old Mrs. Xia called out.
Du Yunluo walked forward, and Old Mrs. Xia embraced her tightly, inspecting her closely: "No missing arms or legs, you’re quite intact."
Nanny Xu chuckled: "Old Madam, it’s just a trip to Tong City, how could she be missing any arms or legs? Don’t frighten the Fifth Miss."
Old Mrs. Xia laughed heartily.
Du Yunluo also laughed, thinking to herself that if Old Mrs. Xia knew about Zhen Wenqian’s matters, she’d probably think Du Yunluo would indeed be missing an arm or leg.
Letting Du Yunluo sit beside her, Old Mrs. Xia asked: "How is Tong City?"
"Grandmother, Tong City is not as lively as our Capital. When the carriage entered the city, I took a glance; the shops are not as big, and there aren’t as many people as in the Capital." Du Yunluo said with a smile.
"That’s only natural, we’re living under the Emperor’s feet, the most bustling place." Old Mrs. Xia inquired further about Old Master Zhen and Old Mrs. Hou’s health.
This left Du Yunluo a bit at a loss for words.
If nothing had happened, both elders would be in good health, but with Zhen Wenqian’s mess, Old Master Zhen had fallen ill.
Du Yunluo pondered for a moment and said: "Grandmother, Grandmother likes drinking sheep milk porridge; she barely has any white hair. Grandfather, being old, often finds himself powerless, but like Grandfather, he loves listening to opera and teasing birds, living joyfully with friends."
Upon hearing about enjoying opera and teasing birds, Old Mrs. Xia laughed, pointing outside the window at the veranda: "Look, your grandfather is out teasing birds again; his legs aren’t even nimble, yet he’s out bird watching. Seems like the birds are walking him instead!"
Du Yunluo burst into laughter but quickly stopped as she saw the curtain lift, hearing Yaya’s call.
Du Gongfu entered with a stern face.
Old Mrs. Xia felt awkward; Du Gongfu disliked others mentioning his legs, and she had just teased him, unaware that he had returned at that moment.
Despite the embarrassment, Old Mrs. Xia could only focus inwardly, pretending to be a clay Bodhisattva.
Du Yunluo stepped forward to take the cage and greeted Du Gongfu, then began praising Yaya’s bright feathers and clear voice.
Only then did Du Gongfu’s face soften, saying: "Yunluo also noticed Yaya’s difference? Last time His Highness gifted me some bird food, supposed to be made from a Western prescription. Many of the palace concubines praised it for their birds, so I got a share. I tried it on Yaya, and look at his feathers, they’re glossy."
Upon hearing it was gifted from the Eastern Palace, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but ask more questions.
The Imperial Grandson quite enjoyed Du Gongfu’s lectures, and upon the Emperor’s delight, the Crown Prince often invited Du Gongfu to the palace to lecture. In the past month or so, all of the Capital noticed Du Gongfu’s comings and goings in the court.
Du Yunluo congratulated Du Gongfu warmly with some playful words, just as Du Huaili and Ms. Zhen arrived.
After the greetings, Du Gongfu called Du Huaili to the study, while Ms. Zhen stayed to chat with Old Mrs. Xia.
Naturally, they eventually spoke about Liao Family’s illness.
"Daughter-in-law, you should go check on your fourth sister-in-law later." Ms. Zhen suggested.
Old Mrs. Xia waved her hand: "No need to go, don’t catch her illness."
Upon hearing this, Ms. Zhen thought for a moment and nodded.
Du Yunluo turned her eyes and concurred with Old Mrs. Xia: "Grandmother, how did Fourth Aunt fall ill so suddenly?"
Old Mrs. Xia glanced at Du Yunluo: "It’s mid-October; with the summer being so hot, this winter is bound to be cold. She went to the Duke Jing Mansion and must have caught a chill from the autumn wind, needing to recuperate for a while."
Du Yunluo blinked, wondering if Old Mrs. Xia was genuinely unaware or just playing dumb?
Du Yunluo couldn’t be sure, but since Old Mrs. Xia said so, she didn’t press further.
After returning to Du Mansion, Du Yunluo’s life regained its rhythm.
In the morning, she would go to Lianfu Garden to pay respects, then after lunch, take a nap, practice calligraphy, embroider to pass the time, or accompany Old Mrs. Xia in conversations or playing leaf cards.
The Eastern Palace sent its sedan chair again to pick up Du Gongfu.
Du Gongfu changed into a brand-new robe and headed to the palace with a smile, but when he returned in the evening, his expression was somewhat heavy.
Du Yunluo noticed and tenderly expressed her concern.
"It’s nothing major," Du Gongfu pressed his brow, "Grandfather is just thinking, in this vast Capital, there are many young ladies, but none are as sensible as our Yunluo. Unlike some others, who are just a nuisance."
Du Yunluo was puzzled by Du Gongfu’s cryptic words.
Upon returning to Anhua Courtyard, she had just sat down with a cup of tea when Du Yunnuo arrived.
This was Du Yunluo’s first time seeing Du Yunnuo since returning from Tong City. Noticing Du Yunnuo holding a hand warmer, she was surprised: "Fourth Sister, it’s not that cold yet, is it?"
Du Yunnuo smiled gently, handing the hand warmer to Qian He, and sat beside her: "It’s that time of the month, and I haven’t been resting well these days, feeling cold all over."
Knowing Du Yunnuo had a cold constitution, making those days hard to endure, Du Yunluo wasn’t surprised.
"Initially, I planned to visit you the day you returned, but with Mother being ill, I couldn’t leave her bedside." Du Yunnuo sighed.
Honestly, there were ample hands in Anfeng Courtyard, so how could Du Yunnuo be indispensable? However, being an illegitimate daughter, she had to exhibit filial piety before her legitimate mother at such times.
If she were a legitimate daughter, she would have been kept far away, spared from the smell of medicine, unlike before when Ms. Zhen was ill, and during the worst days, Du Yunluo and Du Yunru were kept away, lest they catch the illness.
Liao Family, always claiming to be considerate of Du Yunnuo, showed no such detailed consideration for an illegitimate daughter in these matters.
Du Yunnuo was well aware; being born to Aunt Mo, she understood that compared to many illegitimate daughters, Liao Family treated her quite well. She endured these small issues.
Du Yunluo, fully aware, listened and asked: "Is Fourth Aunt feeling better today?"
Du Yunnuo chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in her eyes: "She’s better now, but later, who knows? So I hurried out to chat with you. I have so much to say, nowhere to vent, it’s distressing."
Knowing Du Yunnuo wanted to share her grievances, Du Yunluo wouldn’t stop her; letting her talk would reveal quite a bit, true or false.
"The other day at Duke Jing Mansion, the County Princess was writing an invitation." Du Yunnuo paused, leaning closer to Du Yunluo, saying, "Guess who it’s for?"
"Who?" Du Yunluo followed up curiously.
Du Yunnuo pursed her lips: "Lady Jiarou."
Du Yunluo was taken aback; Princess An Ran writing an invitation to Mu Lianhui?
After losing face completely before Mu Lianxiao, Princess An Ran still managed to send an invitation to Mu Lianhui. Such bravery even earned Du Yunluo’s admiration.
"When she saw me notice the invitation, her face changed and she told me that it wasn’t aimed at you but at Princess Hui. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, they got into a fight, and she wanted to compete with Princess Hui." Du Yunnuo explained.
