Mrs. Zhen cupped Du Yunluo's cheeks and said with a smile, "Mother's little girl is now a young lady. It's time to worry about marriage arrangements at home."
Du Yunluo met Mrs. Zhen's gaze, feeling both sour and afraid that her mother could see through her thoughts, so she lowered her eyes and said, "Mother, worry about elder sister first."
Mrs. Zhen tapped her on the forehead and smiled without speaking.
Du Yunluo found it hard to continue discussing Mu Lianxiao, so she simply changed the topic.
Mother and daughter chatted idly about trivial matters. Mrs. Zhen, feeling a bit tired, leaned on the pillow and fell asleep.
Du Yunluo tucked in the corners of her mother's quilt, turned around, and lay down on the divan in the corner, picking up the book Shui Yue handed over and flipping through it casually.
The breeze of spring blew freely, sending the fragrance of flowers through the slightly open window, as sunlight cast dappled shadows on the ground.
Du Yunluo was so dazzled by the sunlight that she couldn't open her eyes, and soon fell asleep as well.
After a long time, Shui Yue came in from the outer room, saw the young lady sleeping, and quickly tiptoed to fetch a light blanket.
As light as her movements were, Du Yunluo suddenly opened her eyes.
Her pitch-black eyes couldn't find a focus, appearing lost and detached, and her hand clutched Shui Yue's wrist, her lips moving slightly, uttering two barely audible words.
"Miss..." Shui Yue called her softly.
Du Yunluo's body stiffened, and she stared blankly at Shui Yue for a while, then turned her head to glance at the window sill, slowly releasing her grip on Shui Yue's hand.
"I'm fine." Du Yunluo's voice was hoarse.
Seeing this, although Shui Yue didn't quite believe her, she knew better than to press further.
Noticing Du Yunluo's attention on the window sill, Shui Yue thought the sunlight might be bothering her eyes, so she stood up to close the window.
"Leave it open," Du Yunluo stopped her.
Shui Yue acknowledged softly, turned around, and left. She circled the screen, still filled with curiosity, and sneaked a glance back, her expression suddenly tensing.
Miss was crying; a single tear rolled down her cheek and shone peculiarly in the light.
But it was just that one tear.
Du Yunluo's heart felt heavy, as she had just dreamt of the past once more.
In that instant, she thought she would see a cluster of purple Yunluo Flowers on the windowsill.
Du Yunluo loved to nap on the divan by the window, regardless of the season.
Whenever the Yunluo Flowers bloomed, if Mu Lianxiao was at the mansion, he would always pluck a cluster for the windowsill, allowing Du Yunluo to see them the moment she opened her eyes.
The fresh fragrance carried a slight sweetness that would involuntarily draw a smile across her lips, and the warmth lingered in her heart; even fifty years after Mu Lianxiao had passed away, when Du Yunluo was kneeling in the Buddhist hall, she could still remember it.
Even now, she remembers.
Sighing quietly, though the older generation hesitated, she was determined to make them agree to this marriage.
By noon, Du Yunluo accompanied Mrs. Zhen for lunch.
Du Yunru also came, glancing at her younger sister with a slight reproach, but she said nothing.
Back at the Anhua Courtyard, after flipping through a book absentmindedly for a while, Jin Rui laughed and announced, "Miss, Mrs. Xu has come."
Du Yunluo set down the book, slipped on her shoes, and went to greet her, "Why has Mama come instead of sending a little maid if there's something needed?"
Mrs. Xu paid her respects and said as she walked, "Even this old servant goes to the Vice Minister Lian's Mansion, let alone walking a few steps here."
Mrs. Xu spoke in a light and merry tone, but she was keenly observing Du Yunluo's expression.
Both she and Mrs. Xia felt that Du Yunluo was slightly unusual today.
Considering Du Yunluo's temperament, hearing such words from a servant, even one favored by Mrs. Xia, would make Du Yunluo displeased. Even if she didn't retort, it would show on her face.
Mrs. Xu waited to see if Du Yunluo would throw a tantrum but was surprised when Du Yunluo turned her head slightly, paused her steps, gazed at her lightly, and only spoke once she had crossed the threshold and sat in the East Wing.
"Mama went to the Vice Minister Mansion? What did Sister Yu say about the patterned flowers?" Du Yunluo inquired slowly and calmly.
Mrs. Xu was momentarily taken aback. If Du Yunluo was angry, why wasn't there a snub or a sour face? But if she wasn't mad, what was this eerie, unhurried demeanor?
Mrs. Xu couldn't quite figure it out and suddenly remembered Mrs. Xia's questions to Du Gongfu this morning.
She shared Mrs. Xia's earlier confusion, sensing something was hidden between the lines.
Oh, how did a day's absence make Du Yunluo's thoughts so hard to decipher?
She used to be the most straightforward and understandable young girl but now felt as inscrutable as a calculating old woman.
Indeed, an old woman – Mrs. Xu had served Mrs. Xia for half her life, understanding her master's thoughts with just a glance, but Du Yunluo? Mrs. Xu honestly couldn't grasp her.
After pondering several turns, Mrs. Xu put on a smile and said, "This old servant personally handed it to Miss Shi, and she was very pleased with the pattern and promised to embroider it beautifully for the elder miss's trousseau."
"That's good. Sister Yu is skilled at embroidery; the elder sister will surely like it."
Mrs. Xu still had to report back to the Lianfu Garden, so she didn't linger and bid farewell after a few words.
Jin Ling saw Mrs. Xu out.
Jin Rui crouched by Du Yunluo's divan, lightly massaging her legs. "Miss, when did Miss Shi ever praise my flower patterns? I've no recollection."
Du Yunluo glanced at Jin Rui, "She praised you, but do you really need to know every bit? Your grandmother would've teased if she found out and made it clear."
Jin Rui chuckled, and when Jin Ling came in, her lips curled slightly upward.
Jin Ling didn't catch the meaning but didn't comment, tidying up and leaving silently.
Du Yunluo rubbed her forehead; she knew that since Mrs. Shi had shown interest, she would surely come for a reply in the upcoming days. All she could do was wait.
Over the next two days, Du Yunluo spent her days at Qinghui Garden with Mrs. Zhen.
Mrs. Zhen was now able to get out of bed, moving to the soft divan in the East Wing.
Du Yunluo kept her mother company and relieved her boredom while watching her elder sister do needlework.
Shui Yue came in quickly and said, "Madam, Mrs. Shi has come to the mansion. She went to the Lianfu Garden and will be here shortly."
Du Yunluo pressed her lips together lightly.
Du Yunru set aside the embroidery frame and said, "Mother, I'll go meet her."
Mrs. Zhen nodded with a smile, and after Du Yunru left, she held Du Yunluo's hand and said, "Nannan, what about you?"
"Me? I'll pay respects to Mrs. Shi later," Du Yunluo feigned ignorance.
Mrs. Zhen's smile deepened, "Since you know Mrs. Shi's purpose in coming, should we discuss it in your presence?"
Du Yunluo opened her mouth slightly but then lowered her eyes, "Then... I will go inside the green gauze cabinet..."
"Go on." Mrs. Zhen pursed her lips with a bit of laughter, uttering these words.
Watching Du Yunluo get up and enter the green gauze cabinet, Mrs. Zhen's smile carried a trace of bitterness. Seeing how much her daughter cared left her fully aware of Du Yunluo's feelings.
She must be satisfied with this marriage...
But...
Over the past few days, she and her husband had discussed thoroughly, sharing similar concerns.
They were pleased with Mu Lianxiao but feared the unexpected.
Marrying off a daughter is unlike taking a bride; parents naturally take more precautions.
Waiting patiently, Du Yunru soon arrived with Mrs. Shi.
Not seeing Du Yunluo, Du Yunru wondered aloud, "Where's my sister?"