Chapter 136: Chapter 135: Nonsense
This is Chapter 135, awaiting the editor to change the Chapter name when they return to work.
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Jiang Yunuan turned away and left, and when she returned, there was a hint of confusion between her brows.
Mu Lianhui saw it clearly. Even though she guessed that the situation had changed, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. When Jiang Yunuan walked up, she asked in a low voice, "Where is the County Princess?"
"The County Princess is not in the Flower Hall. The maidservants in the hall said the County Princess went to admire the plums with the fourth lady of the Du Family." Jiang Yunuan said.
Mu Lianhui’s eyes darkened as she looked at those figures in bright red and deep purple in the distance, taking a deep breath.
Holding the hand warmer, Mu Lianhui quickly walked towards Du Yunuo.
Hearing the footsteps, Princess An Ran turned her head. Seeing Mu Lianhui hurrying over, she smiled with her lips pressed, "Lady, the white plum blossoms ahead are truly beautiful. If not for their crisp fragrance, I almost thought they were apricot flowers at first glance."
Mu Lianhui bit down on her back teeth.
Using deceit to replace the original plan was one thing, but Princess An Ran even went out of her way to mock her.
Du Yunuo saw Mu Lianhui come over and knew that she had seen through the plan she and Du Yunluo had devised.
However, quite some time had been delayed, so by now, Du Yunluo’s side should have had some progress, right?
If not, they could only take one step at a time.
When Mu Lianhui got closer, she could see the material of that snow jacket clearly. Seeing Du Yunuo wearing a crimson snow jacket, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Nuomu, why are you wearing Yunluo’s snow jacket? Where did your gorilla wool cloak go?"
Du Yunuo smiled and curtsied, just about to answer when Princess An Ran interjected suddenly.
"Yunuo invited me to see the plum blossoms. I was already wearing bright red, and she also wore red. Standing here both in red felt awkward, so I had her exchange with her fifth sister."
Mu Lianhui kept her smile, not speaking.
Of course, she knew the temperament of Princess An Ran. When Du Yunuo first got off the carriage, Princess An Ran showed considerable dissatisfaction with her cloak, so the excuse was plausible.
But in truth, it was all deceit.
These people had clearly joined forces to set her up, offering a plausible excuse so she couldn’t refute it.
From the time Du Yunuo and Princess An Ran stood here admiring the plums, almost two quarters of an hour had passed...
Mu Lianhui glanced around, then asked, "Where’s Yunluo? Why is Yunluo nowhere to be seen?"
Du Yunuo smiled, feigning seriousness as she replied, "I pulled Yunluo along with me to wash up. We bumped into Miss Shi. They started chatting and must be nearby. Shall I go look?"
Mu Lianhui’s smile did not falter, saying, "With Miss Shi?"
"Yes," Du Yunuo nodded, "Miss Shi’s brother is at Lishan Academy with our fourth brother. Last time, when my fifth sister visited the academy to see her brother, she and Miss Shi met, and they got along well."
"That’s good then." Mu Lianhui nodded, turning to leave.
After Mu Lianhui had walked some distance away, Princess An Ran gave Du Yunuo a sidelong glance and sneered, "Lying through your teeth. Looks like I should reconsider how much of what you used to tell me was true."
Du Yunuo’s face turned pale.
Every time she went to the Duke Jing Mansion, she accompanied the Liao Family’s mistress. Whether during festivals or when the County Princess entertained guests, her position was always awkward, so she spoke whichever way fit the situation, mixing truth and lies until even she couldn’t recall the facts clearly anymore.
She sighed softly; if the County Princess wanted to turn old matters over, so be it. She would just deny them steadfastly.
As she glanced around, she saw a red figure approaching quickly from afar, cutting through the plum forest, coming closer.
Du Yunuo tensed up, meeting her halfway and urgently asked, "Fifth sister, how did it go?"
Stopping in her tracks, Du Yunluo nodded slightly to Princess An Ran, then whispered to Du Yunuo, "I saw the third brother and asked him to remind the fourth brother. Along the way, I didn’t see Shi Lian’er. I don’t know where she went."
Du Yunluo only shared the key points with Du Yunuo, not mentioning a word about her encounter with Mu Lianxiao. But on second thought, since Du Yunlan was aware, and their siblings had always been close, once Du Yunuo learned from Du Yunlan, she would likely keep it in mind. Next time something important happened, she might not exert herself to help.
With that realization, Du Yunluo leaned in to whisper to Du Yunuo, "I just happened to run into the Princely Heir, and he helped me find the third brother."
Du Yunuo widened her eyes, timidly glanced at Princess An Ran, and whispered, "Where did the Princely Heir go then?"
"I didn’t recognize the way back. He took me to the forefront and then left," Du Yunluo explained.
Mu Lianxiao originally wanted to escort her back to the Flower Hall, but Du Yunluo preferred not to be seen by so many people, so they parted ways at the front.
When releasing that warm hand, she couldn’t help but feel cold, holding her hand warmer tightly.
She looked back again and again as she walked away, seeing him standing there with a smile, watching her until he was out of sight around the corner. Only then did Du Yunluo dash back.
Du Yunuo recounted how she coaxed Princess An Ran and what Mu Lianhui said when she found out, informing Du Yunluo of everything, so the sisters were on the same page as they walked with Princess An Ran towards the group of ladies.
Mu Lianhui spotted Du Yunluo returning from afar. As she approached, she smiled and held her hand, "Yunluo, weren’t you with Miss Shi? Where did she go?"
Du Yunluo turned around and pointed, "By the waterside pavilion ahead, we sat for a while. I was really freezing and wanted to ask her back with me, but she couldn’t bear to leave the waterfront scene. She said with maids around, there was no need to worry about her, so she let me return first."
"Is the scenery good?" Lu Wan asked, leaning in.
"It’s quite nice," Du Yunluo responded with a smile.
Mu Lianhui’s eyes flickered, suggesting to everyone, "Why don’t we go see by the waterside pavilion too?"
This proposal was naturally met with approval by all.
Mu Lianhui poured a cup of warm tea from the kettle over the fire and handed it to Du Yunluo, "Warm yourself up."
Du Yunluo took a sip and put it down.
The ladies proceeded in groups toward the waterside pavilion, but upon arrival, there was no trace of Shi Lian’er.
Du Yunluo frowned and said, "She was here just now, where has she gone this time?"
Mu Lianhui turned and instructed the maids to search the vicinity, then engaged the girls in discussion about the waterfront scenery. Across the way, they could vaguely hear the laughter of the gentlemen, enticing some to glance toward the source of the sound.
Mu Lianhui noticed this and chortled, "Everyone’s mind is not on the pavilion. What if I guide you over for a look?"
Nobody spoke, neither nodding in agreement nor declining.
"They’re all family connections, sitting and chatting shouldn’t stir up trouble with so many eyes on us, right?" Mu Lianhui chuckled incessantly, tugging Jiang Yunuan’s hand, "Anuan, let’s lead the way. If not others, you at least know our family’s brothers."
Jiang Yunuan couldn’t resist her and was half-dragged away.
Huo Ruyi, seeing this, followed along.
Once one started moving, everyone else followed suit.
Du Yunluo and Du Yunuo walked at the rear, whispering, "What do you think she’s planning?"
Du Yunuo sneered, "Who knows! This is by the water, surely she won’t resort to that worn-out trick of pushing people into the water again, right?"
Du Yunluo furrowed her brows and thought for a moment. The trick of pushing someone into water, though crude, was effective.
The Lian Family tried it on her once before. Wonder if Mu Lianhui inherited the Lian Family’s style and would pull the same stunt?
