Mrs. Zhen's words pleased Old Mrs. Xia, who repeatedly said, "Well said, indeed. Just engaged, and already like this. When Yunhu gets married, who knows, Erlang might top the list."
Old Mrs. Xia was delighted, and the maids and old women around her quickly chimed in, flattering her.
Each added their piece, saying when Shen Family's young master went to the capital, he was twenty-three, with children. As the eldest son, he had to bear the family burdens due to the family's past difficulties. As for his official career, he could only dream, hoping to save enough silver to not delay his brother's future.
Only after getting engaged to the Du Family did things change, and the family's eldest son began relistening to the family advice and took up the books again.
It seems it was meant to be, as he succeeded during the spring examination.
These words made the old lady overjoyed, as the daughters of the Du Family were meant to have such good fortune.
Mrs. Miao, sitting to the side, wore a smile but couldn't help sneering inwardly.
Scholar, does a scholar grow on trees like the buns at the street corner, easily attainable?
How many times has Du Huaiping taken the exams, yet each time his name was left off the ranking list, ultimately having to resort to helping with the family's business as a mere scholar?
Official's wife, Mrs. Miao dreams of being an official's wife, as everyone in the family is, except her, who stands out as nothing.
In an ordinary family, she might have spent some money to buy an official title, but the Du Family, being "honest and down-to-earth," refused to buy positions, making Mrs. Miao envious.
It seems her only hope of becoming a woman of an imperial decree rests on her son's success.
Mrs. Liao had been saying good things for a while when she suddenly shifted the conversation, saying, "Old lady, since Yunhu has set the marriage, next would be Yunying."
Mrs. Miao raised her eyes to look at Mrs. Liao, with a passing sharpness in her gaze.
This really is bringing up what ought not to be mentioned.
Mrs. Miao knew that Du Yunluo's marriage was almost finalized, which essentially bypassed both Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo.
Mrs. Miao didn't know how Du Yunnuo felt, but she knew both she and Du Yunying felt quite uneasy about it.
"Yes, it's about the right age," Old Mrs. Xia said thoughtfully.
Mrs. Miao quietly glanced at Du Yunying beside her, lost in her thoughts, and sighed quietly.
Du Yunying and Du Yunhu were only a few months apart, yet now their situations were vastly different.
Fearing further conversation might distress her daughter, Mrs. Miao quickly shifted the topic, "The letter mentioned that Yuntao's wife is pregnant?"
Seeing Mrs. Miao looking at her, Du Yunnuo responded, "Second Aunt, the letter did say so, that the eldest sister-in-law found out half a month ago."
Mrs. Liao smiled with curved eyes.
Mrs. Miao felt a chill behind her, realizing she had brought trouble on herself, thinking of slapping herself for her own misstep.
As expected, Old Mrs. Xia looked at her deeply, saying, "Yunlang is not young anymore, it's time to set a date and bring Xin into the family. You worry about Yunlang's lack of focus; marrying a wife would change that."
Mrs. Miao smiled awkwardly, hoping to brush off the topic, but seeing Old Mrs. Xia's seriousness, she had no choice but to nod.
Xin referred to the daughter of Old Mrs. Xia's niece, Xia Anxin, who was just fourteen this year, three years younger than Du Yunlang.
If Mrs. Miao had her way, the ages of Du Yundi and Xia Anxin would be more appropriate, or failing that, Du Yunlan would also do. Yet they insisted on giving her to Du Yunlang; it was evident Old Mrs. Xia wanted to place a plant within the family.
These thoughts swirling in her mind, Mrs. Miao had been using Xia Anxin's age as a reason to delay.
But knowing that come next year, Xia Anxin would reach maturity, could she continue to use age as an excuse?
Though she agreed, Mrs. Miao was restless, using the excuse of managing affairs to leave first with Du Yunying.
The rest, seeing this, also dispersed.
Old Mrs. Xia kept Du Yunluo back, saying, "In a while, we'll be steaming dumplings. You've loved the jujube filling made by Huairang's wife since you were a child."
Du Yunluo agreed with a smile.
As the grandmother and granddaughter chatted for a while, there was a commotion from outside, and soon, someone lifted the curtain and entered.
Du Yunluo stood up and looked up to see Du Huaiping.
With a stern face, Du Huaiping gave her a harsh look before greeting Old Mrs. Xia.
Du Yunluo, feeling bewildered, still bowed and called "Second Uncle."
Old Mrs. Xia, noticing this, scolded, "What's the matter? Coming over at noon and giving Yunluo a hard time without saying a word!"
Knowing Old Mrs. Xia's favoritism, Du Huaiping took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and said, "Mother, don't be upset. It's just that... Yunluo, the reputation of a young lady matters most!"
Du Yunluo frowned.
Old Mrs. Xia's gaze lingered on Du Yunluo, knowing the gossip about her at home as being headstrong and capricious, but why was Du Huaiping making a fuss now?
Could there be more to the story?
Old Mrs. Xia pondered briefly, then said, "Yunluo, ignore your second uncle's nonsense, go to the West Attic to read for a bit, and later join grandmother for dumplings."
After instructing Du Yunluo, Old Mrs. Xia continued with Du Huaiping, "And you, explain clearly, what rumors have you heard to come here lecturing Yunluo!"
Being labeled as spouting nonsense, Du Huaiping felt as though his heart was on fire, but not daring to be impudent in front of Old Mrs. Xia, he sat quietly on the Eight Immortals Chair.
Du Yunluo left the room, pacing back and forth in the West Attic.
Every morning Du Huaiping would go to the shop, never idling, yet to come back at this time suggested he must have heard something in the streets.
Could it be...
Could it be about Princess An Ran?
Since her own maturity ceremony, a few days had passed, and it was just about time for something like this to happen.
Thinking of this, Du Yunluo opened the window, motioned to Jin Rui, who was chatting with the maids, to come over.
Jin Rui, noticing her, quickly approached with a bright smile, "Miss."
"Listen carefully," Du Yunluo leaned over the window sill and whispered to Jin Rui, "Jin Ling left the house early this morning. Go see if she's back, and if so, bring her to me promptly; I have questions for her."
Hearing that Du Yunluo was looking for Jin Ling, Jin Rui's smile faltered slightly, but being quick-witted, she recalled seeing Du Huaiping enter the East Wing with a gloomy expression and guessed what might be happening, quietly asking, "Miss, did something happen in the streets today?"
"You are quite perceptive!" Du Yunluo gave her a glance, waved her off, "Whether something happened, we'll know once we ask Jin Ling."
Jin Rui nodded, "Alright, I'll go look for her now."
After speaking, Jin Rui hurried away.
Du Yunluo half-closed the window, walked to the curtain, and listened carefully, yet no sounds came through.
Separated as they were by the middle room, unless Du Huaiping spoke loudly, nothing could be heard from this side.
Du Yunluo resigned herself, tempering her impatience, and sat by the desk, picking up a book and idly flipping through it.
Yet she could not concentrate on it for even a moment.
Sighing, she put the book down, rubbed her brow, realizing that barely a month after awakening, she was already feeling restless and unable to maintain a calm mind.
After waiting for a while, footsteps were heard from the middle room.
Du Yunluo went over, cautiously lifting a corner of the curtain to peek, spotting Du Huaiping leaving with a troubled expression, striding out without noticing anyone around.
Du Yunluo was puzzled, was Du Huaiping leaving already?
Not until she spotted him through the window exiting Lianfu Garden did she feel certain he had left.
Coming in a huff, only to leave silently, what play was this?