Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Zhongyuan (Second Update)
With her eyes half-closed, Yunuo heard the words and quietly glanced in the direction of Old Mrs. Xia. Seeing a few old women chatting with the old lady and no one paying attention to them, she smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "I just knew you would say that. It was always like this before: when inviting you on an outing, eight or nine times out of ten you wouldn’t go."
Her tone carried three to four parts of teasing, with a hint of regret, which fell on Du Yunluo’s ears, making her press her lips together involuntarily.
In the past, she didn’t like going out, not because she didn’t love the scenery outside, but because she was picky.
If it was a garden tour or a flower viewing banquet, there were many noblewomen from various mansions. Since Du Yunluo herself wasn’t exactly amiable, she was even less patient with those girls who were either sarcastic or insincerely cordial. Mutual annoyance was better avoided by keeping out of sight and mind;
If it was Shangyuan viewing lanterns or Mid-Autumn river lanterns, common folks were mingling, and there would inevitably be collisions, and the things outside were not as refined as those of an official family, so Du Yunluo wouldn’t join the excitement.
However, those were things from the previous life.
After fifty years of honing, many things have grown insubstantial.
Whether noble or common, they are all just a stroke on the Book of Life and Death, none can escape, without any difference. As for those shrewd young women, she lived decades longer than others, and idle gossip is no longer something she pays attention to.
In all fairness, Du Yunluo wanted to go, but she had promised Old Mrs. Xia.
"Fourth Sister, I’m staying home with Big Sister, it would be too boring for her if we all went out." Du Yunluo explained.
That made sense; if all the siblings went out to play, leaving her alone, Yunuo thought she’d feel uncomfortable too.
"So, is there anything you want to buy? I’ll bring it back for you?" Yunuo finished speaking, her eyes swirling as she chuckled, "Do you think we might meet the Princely Heir again this time? If we do, don’t regret it."
Du Yunluo was startled, then smiled and shook her head, "Who knows."
She was eager to see Mu Lianxiao, but she knew from sunset to the second watch, several hours, with many people releasing lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the chances of meeting in the crowd were very slim. Was she to stand by the river, looking around?
Moreover, in a few days, Mrs. Zhen should arrange a visit to Fa Yin Temple to offer incense, just like in the previous life.
If she went out today, Old Mrs. Xia definitely wouldn’t let her go along when offering incense.
Having waited fifty years, she wasn’t in a hurry for one or two days.
Rather than trying her luck during the Mid-Autumn Festival, it’s better to stake everything on the reliable visit to Fa Yin Temple.
The most important thing is that Du Yunluo knows the habits of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Mid-Autumn sacrifices are taken very seriously in Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, with almost three full days of incense burning and rituals. Monks visit to conduct services for Mu Family sons who died on the battlefield and for the countless soldiers.
At this moment, Mu Lianxiao probably wouldn’t go out.
Once everything was arranged properly by the servants, the three brothers of Du Yunlang took Du Yunying and Yunuo out.
Since there were many people outside and fearing accidents, the Miao Family also assigned quite a few extra hands, carefully instructing, "You’re going to release lanterns; don’t run wild and come back early. Don’t dally till the second watch."
Du Yunru and Du Yunluo chatted with Old Mrs. Xia and Du Gongfu for a while.
As it got completely dark, Old Mrs. Xia sent them off.
The two sisters walked hand in hand, and midway they heard the night watchman outside, marking the first watch. Yunru laughed, "Before leaving, they agreed to this and that. Once out of the mansion, they forget everything. You’ll see, they won’t be back by the second watch."
Du Yunluo also laughed, "Hardly an outing, wouldn’t they want to make the most of it?"
The mid-July full moon was bright.
After getting ready for bed and lying down, Du Yunluo was not at all sleepy. She tossed and turned for a while before dozing off in a daze.
She didn’t know how long she slept. Vaguely hearing voices outside, she instinctively rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "Jin Ling..."
Jin Ling was on guard tonight. Initially, Du Yunluo tossed about, and she didn’t sleep well either. Gradually, the voices outside stirred her awake.
Hearing Du Yunluo calling, Jin Ling turned over and got up, slipped on her shoes, lit a lamp, walked to the bedside, lifted the curtains, and said softly, "Miss."
The lamp’s light stung Du Yunluo’s eyes, and she covered her eyes with her palm, "Why is it so noisy outside? Could you check it out?"
"Sure." Jin Ling quickly turned her back, shielding the lamp with her hand, and walked out past the screen to the outer room.
The southern window was open, the noise outside became clearer. She walked over and said, "What are they talking about? They’ve woken the Miss."
The people speaking in the courtyard also noticed the light and, seeing Jin Ling’s inquiry, both shivered and said, "The Miss is awake?"
It was a little far, and it was dark outside, so Jin Ling couldn’t see the two until they came beneath the window. Then she recognized them as Nanny Shui and Nanny Hua.
Jin Ling remembered, today is Nanny Shui’s turn to keep watch, while Nanny Hua...
"Didn’t Nanny go home? The second gate was locked early; how did you get in?" Jin Ling asked.
Nanny Hua’s husband is a born servant in the mansion, serving as the second steward in one of the mansion’s silk shops, and their home is on Front Street, with neighbors almost all being the Du Family’s servants.
She went home at noon to offer incense and should’ve returned the next morning, so how come...
Nanny Hua leaned closer to Jin Ling, "Miss, there’s something amiss."
Her low voice fell into Jin Ling’s ears, cold and unsettling, especially saying such things on the Mid-Autumn night, it was quite frightening.
Jin Ling felt a chill on her back, whispering, "What’s Nanny saying! What matter? I don’t understand."
"I had a quarrel with my husband, got fed up staying home, and hurried angrily to the mansion. When I reached the east side corner gate, I heard the night watch sound, realizing it was past the hour. I planned to go back, but saw a carriage returning, and Si Shui by Third Master’s side was knocking on the door. Seeing Third Miss and Fourth Miss also just returned, I thought the second gate would surely open, so I followed in." Nanny Hua paused here, Jin Ling, anxious in suspense, urged a bit, before Nanny Hua continued, "When the two Misses got off the carriage, although surrounded by maids and old women protecting them, I saw their faces were streaked with tears, and Fourth Miss’s hair was shorter."
"What?" Jin Ling was stunned, nearly crying out.
Nanny Hua pounced over, covering Jin Ling’s mouth, "Miss, keep it quiet. Fifth Miss is awake, if she hears us gossiping, she’ll surely be angry."
Jin Ling mumbled twice, signaling Nanny Hua to release her.
Nanny Hua let go and continued, "The ones by the two Misses’ sides, I dare not inquire. Second Master and Third Master, they surely won’t say anything to me, so I discreetly asked Si Shui. Si Shui said when releasing lanterns, the crowd was a bit chaotic, someone’s lantern accidentally overturned and burnt Fourth Miss’s hair, and in the panic, Third Miss’s sleeve caught fire."
