Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 211: Chapter 210: Elegance

Even though it was decided to visit the Shao Family, Mrs. Zhen still waited patiently for a few more days before sending a post, bringing Du Yunluo along for the visit.

The Shao Family was not far from the Du Family, and taking a sedan chair was more convenient than a carriage. Du Yunluo had Jin Ling accompany them.

Over the past few days, Jin Ling’s condition had improved significantly. Although she occasionally zoned out during the day, she no longer woke up crying at night.

After all, having experienced such an incident, Du Yunluo feared that Jin Ling would always be on edge whenever she left the house. Thinking there were many people today, Du Yunluo let Jin Ling follow the sedan chair through the streets, hoping she would gradually overcome her fears and wouldn’t be afraid anymore.

With Du Yunluo and Jin Ling gone, Jin Rui was left to guard the Anhua Courtyard.

Jin Rui fetched some clean water and meticulously wiped the main room clean. When she stepped out, she saw two young maids leaning on brooms and chatting happily under the veranda. She strolled over slowly and glanced at the window ledge, immediately noticing it hadn’t been wiped. She let out a cold snort.

The two young maids were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice Jin Rui until she was right in front of them, prompting them to quickly shut their mouths and lower their heads.

"What were you talking about? Maybe you could tell me too," Jin Rui said, expressionless.

"Sister..."

Jin Rui sneered, "You still remember to call me Sister, huh? Look at how you’re standing—do you think the broom is supposed to be your crutch? If you can’t stand steady with your skinny arms and legs, you’d better have your parents take you back home."

Hearing that they might be sent out of the Anhua Courtyard, the young maids turned pale with fear and repeatedly apologized, eventually getting chased off by Jin Rui to go clean the windows.

Nanny Hua leaned against the door of an outbuilding, clicked her tongue, and whispered to Nanny Shui: "The girl took Jin Ling out today, and this half-a-master is looking for someone to vent on everywhere. And taking the broom as a crutch—if this word gets to the old master, will this half-a-master end up being taken back home by her parents?"

Nanny Shui ignored her. She had seen what happened just now; those two young maids were chatting without working, standing improperly, lacking any etiquette. It was only natural for Jin Rui to reprimand them. As for whether these words would reach Lianfu Garden, the old master wasn’t so muddled as to jump at such trivial matters.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhen’s and Du Yunluo’s sedan just arrived outside the Shao Family’s residence.

The Shao Family was a scholarly household. Their ancestors had produced scholars, but the official path wasn’t broad; currently, no one held a position at court. They hoped Shao Yuanzhou and his brothers would bring honor to the family in the future.

The Shao Family’s residence was naturally not comparable to the Du Family’s, but inside was certainly not something that small, ordinary households could match. A scholarly family paid attention to details—though small, their house was complete in every aspect, with pavilions, corridors, decorative windows, and ever-changing scenery at every step, full of charm.

As Du Yunluo walked, she observed the Shao Family’s backyard, growing increasingly fond of it.

Du Yunru’s eldest sister-in-law, Grandma Shao, came to greet Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo.

Grandma Shao was sweet-looking and sweet-talking, and with just a few words made Mrs. Zhen smile broadly. She also praised Du Yunluo a few times, making Du Yunluo, though meeting her for the first time, develop a sense of closeness to her.

Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo first went to pay respects to the old lady of the Shao Family.

The elderly lady was immensely satisfied with Du Yunru as her granddaughter-in-law, so she was naturally extremely gracious to Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo as well.

Madam Shao soon joined them, and after exchanging greetings, accompanied them to Du Yunru’s courtyard.

Halfway there, they could see two figures dressed in green and blue in the garden from afar.

Madam Shao instructed her maid with a few words and told Mrs. Zhen, "That one in blue is my second daughter. The in-law met her last time. The one in green is the eighth daughter from my sister-in-law Mrs. Li’s family."

Upon hearing this, both Du Yunluo and Mrs. Zhen discreetly observed the two being led over by the maid.

Miss Shao had inherited the looks of Madam Shao, qualifying as pretty. Li Baine, however, was as slender as if she had no bones, delicate and pitiful. She was indeed nice to look at, but one couldn’t help feeling that she might be blown away by the wind in the next moment.

Du Yunluo didn’t like them; anyone who wasn’t on good terms with Du Yunru, she naturally didn’t like either.

They exchanged greetings.

Miss Shao was just as the rumors said. In front of elders, she smiled sweetly, saying things like, "Second sister-in-law is the kindest," and "I get along so well with her," entirely sincere in every word without the slightest hint of forcefulness.

Mrs. Zhen wasn’t easy to fool, especially knowing that Miss Shao was a troublemaker. With a scrutinizing gaze, she found the words to be as fake as they could be.

Mrs. Zhen smiled at Madam Shao, "In-law, hearing those words from your second daughter, I feel at ease. How is this just two sisters-in-law? Even sisters don’t get along this well. Now, take Yunluo and Yunru for example. Before Yunru got married, these two sisters would have a spat every few days, really giving us elders a headache."

Madam Shao laughed heartily, "Listen to you! Good feelings between sisters are the reason they can make so much noise together. I’ve heard people say that Yuanzhou’s wife gets along splendidly with her siblings."

Mrs. Zhen loved hearing this. What satisfied her most was the harmonious relationship among her three children, with no disputes.

"Let me say something that might make you laugh. Yun Di is my son, Yun Luo is my youngest daughter, and I tend to indulge them more. Yunru, as the elder sister, often shows tolerance." After finishing, Mrs. Zhen glanced at Miss Shao, "So, I believe that these sisters-in-law can truly get along, and that genuinely reassures me."

Being a broad-minded person, Madam Shao didn’t catch any underlying meaning, but asked Miss Shao, "I’m going to see Yuanzhou’s wife. What about you two?"

Li Baine glanced at a certain direction longingly.

Miss Shao shook her head, "Mother, I’ll accompany cousin to bury the flower arrangement and visit sister-in-law later."

Madam Shao agreed and led Mrs. Zhen forward.

Just as Du Yunluo was about to follow, Miss Shao suddenly called out to her, "Miss Yun Luo, would you like to join us?"

"Join you in burying the flower arrangement?" Du Yunluo was taken aback.

Miss Shao nodded, "The flower arrangement was planted by cousin. We watched it sprout and grow from a seed into a beautiful state, blooming perfectly. Who would have thought it would be battered by wind and rain one night... Cousin said it couldn’t be saved, so we might as well bury it."

Du Yunluo blinked.

"Fallen flowers are not heartless, transforming into nurturing spring compost for the next bloom." Li Baine suddenly recited a phrase, then sighed mournfully.

Du Yunluo was startled.

While the sentiment of returning to one’s roots is understandable, and the poem very apt, coming from Li Baine’s mouth, it carried an incomprehensible melancholy that made one feel uncomfortable all over.

Du Yunluo recalled what Du Yunnuo had mentioned to her about Huang Jie.

Du Yunnuo had described Huang Jie as being obnoxiously pretentious. But comparing her to Li Baine, Huang Jie’s pretense seemed insignificant. Besides, Huang Jie was a bit awkward, but inherently kind-hearted, unlike Li Baine who was utterly clueless.

Naturally, Du Yunluo didn’t want to join the spectacle and followed Mrs. Zhen.

Miss Shao watched Du Yunluo’s retreating figure and after a moment, blurted out, "Where’s the Grand Tutor’s daughter’s supposed sense? If one after another of them are this lacking in sensibility, it’s no wonder she’s marrying a warrior. Turns out she’s just that crass."

If Du Yunluo knew Miss Shao thought this way, she’d probably laugh uproariously.

Even if she didn’t know, she had finally figured out what Shui Yue heard about "writing poetry, admiring stars and moon" was all about.

Li Baine was brooding about nature; Miss Shao must have been deeply influenced by Li Baine.

How could Miss Shao and Li Baine share such deep empathy without a mutual appreciation for this "refinement"?

It was no wonder Miss Shao didn’t like Du Yunru, precisely because Du Yunru was not that kind of refined person.

But if Du Yunluo were to say, if her sister were that kind of "refined," she’d be the first to turn around and run away.

Imagining Du Yunru constantly lamenting about nothing, Du Yunluo stumbled. If she hadn’t forced a straight face, she might have laughed herself into rolling on the floor.