Chapter 113: Chapter 112: The Arena
It’s no secret among the noble ladies in the Capital that Princess An Ran and Commandery Princess Hui do not get along.
Their backgrounds are laid out for all to see. Even though they are both concubine-born daughters, their favor with their elders is no less than that of their legitimate sisters in the family, sometimes even surpassing them. Therefore, they are targets for flattery and currying favor among the young ladies of various families.
The more similar they are, the more they dislike each other, competing over both big and small matters.
In the past, they kept their mockery behind closed doors; outwardly, they maintained decorum, saving some face for each other.
When Princess An Ran reached the age of maturity, Commandery Princess Hui also attended.
Du Yunluo heard from Yunuo that Commandery Princess Hui’s coming-of-age gift was not light. She loves face and needed to make a statement, definitely cursing in her heart while smiling and choosing an expensive gift to send.
That was probably the last time the two women "peacefully" coexisted among the noble daughters.
After Princess An Ran’s coming-of-age ceremony, the incident of her stopping Mu Lianxiao and speaking nonsense broke out, which was already enough to be laughed at. But a few days later, an imperial decree came down upon the Du Family.
Someone as proud as the Princess was, of course, furious. The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Duke Mansion had to enter the palace to pay homage, and Hui Commandery Princess from Prince Rui Mansion also had to enter the palace.
When these two met in the palace, it would be surprising if Commandery Princess Hui didn’t take the opportunity to rub salt in the wound.
However, constrained by being in the Forbidden Palace, they could only exchange a few verbal jabs, not daring to escalate the situation.
Until the Mid-Autumn Festival.
At the riverside lantern festival, Yunuo and Yun Ying were victims, while Princess An Ran and Commandery Princess Hui completely tore face.
With just a finger’s thought, Du Yunluo knew that these two would never reconcile, not even pretending to do so.
However, what did their rivalry have to do with Mu Lianhui?
In a previous life, as soon as Mu Lianhui returned to the Capital, she outshone all the noble ladies, which gritted the teeth of Princess An Ran and Commandery Princess Hui, who saw her as a formidable enemy. In this life, why did they instead send an invitation?
Du Yunluo, puzzled, asked Yunuo.
Yunuo made no effort to conceal her disdain, summarizing with four words: "Childish quarrel."
After the Mid-Autumn, Mu Lianhui returned to the Capital, much favored by the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, and frequently entering the Forbidden Palace.
Prince Rui had received a few pots of precious chrysanthemums, and under the pretense of a chrysanthemum viewing, Commandery Princess Hui specifically sent an invitation to Mu Lianhui, also sending one to Duke Jing Mansion.
Of course, this was not genuinely to invite Princess An Ran for the chrysanthemum viewing. Commandery Princess Hui’s intention was to display the grandeur of Prince Rui Mansion and to invite the eldest sister of the Mu Family to embarrass the Princess.
Princess An Ran was exceedingly angry, but being stubborn, she accepted the invitation after two days of fuming.
However, at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mu Lianhui declined, citing her need to visit Qinglian Temple to fetch spring water.
When Princess An Ran found out, she laughed heartily and went to the chrysanthemum viewing event full of spirits, mocking Commandery Princess Hui, implying she was just pretending to be something she’s not.
"The County Princess learned that Lady is returning from Qinglian Temple and wrote an invitation, wanting to invite Lady to admire osmanthus flowers on the estate at the end of the month. When I went, she was writing invitations for this very reason, and by this date, it should have already been sent to the Marquis Mansion," Yunuo explained.
Du Yunluo, upon hearing this, leisurely took a sip of tea, having to admit Yunuo’s four words were spot on.
Princess An Ran and Commandery Princess Hui’s back-and-forth was indeed akin to a childish argument; today I flaunt a treasure, tomorrow new jewelry, while Mu Lianhui became something precious to fight over, it was laughably petty.
"If you ask me, since the County Princess has already gained the upper hand, why bother with such matters? What if Lady doesn’t attend, won’t it only invite Commandery Princess Hui’s mockery?" Yunuo said with a pout.
"The reasoning is sound." Du Yunluo laughed, it’s just that their rivalry is raging hot, neither willing to let go.
Yunuo commented a bit more but didn’t dwell on the matter, instead discussing Mrs. Liao’s health.
"That Aunt from the Liao Family, her spirits aren’t well." Yunuo lowered her voice, "The Heir’s Wife in the Duke Mansion seems to be living on borrowed time, has even been able to sit up and talk lately. I heard the doctors think it’s just a final flare before death, predicting she won’t last beyond this winter, at most next summer."
The Heir’s Wife in the Duke Mansion refers to Princess An Ran’s legitimate mother, the legitimate wife of the young master of Duke Jing Mansion, Mrs. Han.
The lady had been bedridden for years, surviving thanks to precious medicinal herbs up to this day.
In Du Yunluo’s memory, the lady lasted until the next summer before passing. Mrs. Han had both a son and a daughter, younger than the ones born by Aunt Liao, and due to Mrs. Han’s own ill health, they were raised in the Duke’s wife’s presence all those years.
Aunt Liao thoroughly resented these two children, but her hand could not reach into the Duke’s wife’s quarters, fortunately, the Old Master cherished Princess An Ran and her brother like apple of his eye, which somewhat comforted Aunt Liao.
Aunt Liao had been waiting earnestly to be formally recognized after Mrs. Han passed, waiting over ten years.
Du Yunluo, having lived a life, knew Aunt Liao’s hopes were in vain, but the current Aunt Liao was unaware of that. After enduring ten years, seeing the time likely drawing near, how could her spirits decline now?
She should be enjoying the breeze in spring delightfully.
Or could it be she was putting on an act for the Old Master and the Young Master?
But if she were acting, why would even Mrs. Liao fall ill?
When Du Yunuo saw Du Yunluo frowning in thought, she waited for her to continue speaking, then cleared her throat and said, "The Heir’s Wife has been able to sit up and talk, so the Young Master goes there often.
Aunt learned that the Heir’s Wife implored the Young Master, saying, after her passing, the Young Master should marry her sister from her maiden family to be the new wife, reasoning that the Duke’s wife is getting old and taking care of the two children would be strenuous. She didn’t dare impose further on the wife to take care of the children, feeling reassured if her sister would come to care for them."
This was blatantly expressing distrust in Aunt Liao, forcing the Young Master to promise not to elevate Aunt Liao’s status.
Aunt Liao was livid upon knowing this, not daring to share this with Princess An Ran, afraid that the Princess’s temper might lead to provoking the Heir’s Wife.
If Mrs. Han passed, and they angered the Old Master, Duke’s wife, and the Young Master over this, it would be utterly disadvantageous.
Aunt Liao could only stifle it in her heart, later secretly probing the Young Master, but gleaned no response, only noticing that people from Mrs. Han’s quarters indicated that Mrs. Han had already sent word to her maiden family, leaving Aunt Liao dumbfounded.
This suggested the Young Master had agreed to Mrs. Han’s request; otherwise, how could Mrs. Han take it upon herself to send word?
The more Aunt Liao dwelled on it, the more wrong it seemed, prompting her to invite Mrs. Liao over to the mansion for discussion. Du Yunuo wasn’t clear on what they concluded, only knowing that Mrs. Liao fell ill upon returning.
