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

Chapter 246: Chapter 245: Bullying the Weak

Inside the Cining Palace, a moment of quietude prevailed, with the subtle fragrance of sandalwood rising from the incense burner, calming the spirit with each breath.

Princess Nanyan had agreed as expected, yet she felt uncertain.

In Princess Yunhua’s heart, Nanyan was a betrayer.

The Duchess of Duke Zhen Guo Mansion briefly glanced over Princess Nanyan, seemingly unintentionally and yet intentionally, as she knew Princess Yunhua’s thoughts.

If Nanyan hadn’t married Li Luan, the two joyous events at Duke Zhen Guo Mansion would have long since concluded, instead of hanging in uncertainty as they were now.

But she couldn’t blame Nanyan; the marriage was arranged by the Empress Dowager. Could she snatch the Empress Dowager’s desired granddaughter-in-law for herself? Besides, that grandson was a sickly child...

The more the Duchess of Duke Zhen Guo Mansion thought, the sadder she became. Even if he was a sickly child, he was still her dear grandson. Regardless of how many years he might live, at least leave a descendant behind, give her something to hold onto.

”Empress Dowager,” the Duchess’s voice was aged and weary, ”it’s not that the ladies from our mansion are unwilling to decide early, but in the capital, from families of equal standing... alas, Your Majesty, which family’s daughter has reached age yet remains unbetrothed? I’ll inquire further.”

The Empress Dowager cast a sidelong glance at the Duchess of Duke Zhen Guo Mansion and thought to herself, with that sickly grandson, why care so much about equal standing, close enough should suffice.

If it really can’t work, then find someone willing to ”sell” their daughter. Even if their status isn’t reputable, it can be said their zodiac signs match to bring fortune. The goal is simply to leave a descendant; such fuss over details is unnecessary.

The Empress Dowager had said these words to the Duchess before, but the latter wouldn’t listen, so she couldn’t be bothered to repeat anymore.

The Royal Family offering a princess in marriage was already an immense honor for the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion, let alone helping solve another issue. People might just think that it was because Princess Yunhua was worried about marriage, and that’s why the Cining Palace was acting this way.

The Empress Dowager hid her dissatisfaction, sipping her tea without it showing a trace.

The Duchess of Duke Zhen Guo Mansion remained unaware, turning to Du Yunluo, ”Your family’s fourth sister just reached age recently, right? Has she been betrothed?”

Du Yunluo’s body stiffened, and she felt a chill down her spine.

The Duchess had asked her this question on their way back from Guoning Temple.

Du Yunluo had prepared a guard, saying her sisters were all betrothed, but hadn’t expected, after more than half a year, the Duchess to bring up old matters, seemingly aware that Yunuo wasn’t yet engaged.

In the presence of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, Du Yunluo couldn’t lie, but telling the truth might lead the Duchess to ask the Empress Dowager to decide, and how could she handle that?

Du Yunluo subconsciously clenched her fists and said slowly, ”Yes, fourth sister just reached age.”

She held back the latter half of the sentence.

The Duchess was about to speak again but was cut off by the Empress Dowager.

”The one who reached age, is she related to An Ran?” The Empress Dowager appeared deep in thought.

Du Yunluo nodded and said, ”Empress Dowager, fourth sister’s legitimate mother and Princess An Ran’s concubine are sisters.”

”Oh, so it’s her,” the Empress Dowager realized, casting a glance at the Duchess, ”I’ve heard of her. Last time the Duchess Rong came to greet me, she mentioned her, saying she’s clever and daring, and quite likable.”

The Duchess swallowed her words back down.

The Empress Dowager’s intention was clear, for the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion not to eye Du Si Niang. The Cining Palace would never agree to the union of Du Si Niang with their family.

The Duchess understood the reason.

Even if Du Si Niang was a concubine’s daughter, Du Yunluo’s marriage to Mu Lianxiao meant the Holy Emperor held the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the Du Family in high regard. How could they allow Du Si Niang to marry a sickly groom!

The Duchess sighed, ”Even the Duchess Rong praises her; she must be a good girl.”

Du Yunluo also breathed a sigh of relief, regardless of whether the Duchess Rong had genuinely mentioned it, as long as the Duchess’s thoughts were deterred.

”In the capital, unmarried girls of age?”

A clear voice came from outside, accompanied by greetings of respect. Princess Yunhua entered, wearing leather boots.

She seemed to have just returned from the riding grounds, her cheeks flushed, and her riding outfit made her look particularly spirited.

She appeared anything but unwell.

The Duchess watched with clear understanding; the princess was displeased. If the marriage of her second grandson couldn’t be settled, the princess might refuse to wed as well.

After greeting the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort, Princess Yunhua turned to the Duchess, ”There are a few of those girls, Ahui, Jiarou, aren’t they?”

For a moment, everyone’s expressions turned somewhat odd.

Ahui referred to Princess Hui, who, like Mu Lianhui, had reached age without being betrothed.

Du Yunluo understood in her heart, the Duchess didn’t mention these two individuals and instead focused on Yunuo, clearly bullying the weak and fearing the strong; she had targeted Nanyan before because Princess Yunhua had backed her.

The Duchess became exceedingly distressed.

The Empress Dowager pulled Princess Yunhua to sit down: ”Nonsense again! Every day you pair up couples willy-nilly!”

Princess Yunhua chuckled, ”What do you mean by pairing willy-nilly? I only heard the Duchess asking about the girls of age and unbetrothed, could it be you’re planning a marriage alliance, Grand Empress Dowager?”

The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, aware Yunhua was feigning ignorance despite knowing everything, opting not to expose her and said, ”Listen to me. The Princess Mansion should be renovated. Your mother keeps nagging, saying you find it unsuitable here and there. The mansion is for you and the Prince Consort to live in; who your sisters-in-law are doesn’t matter!”

Princess Yunhua pouted, acting spoiled, ”Of course it matters. I used to have Nanyan with me, and after she married, I’m left all alone. Grand Empress Dowager, my days are terribly dull. If I move to the Princess Mansion, it’ll be even bleaker. How can I spend these days without someone to accompany me?”

The Empress Dowager remained silent.

It was the Imperial Consort, who had remained silent, who stepped in with a diversion, ”Then tell us, who would you like to have with you?”

Princess Yunhua blinked, ”Ahui? Jiarou?”

The Duchess’s heart sunk; she knew the princess was being unreasonably troublesome, feeling increasingly mentally exhausted. She reluctantly took her leave.

Princess Yunhua had come to confront the Duchess and had no wish to face Princess Nanyan, making an excuse of being tired to leave.

The Empress Dowager gazed sharply at Princess Yunhua’s departing back before turning to ask Princess Nanyan in a gentle and calming tone, ”How has Luan’er been these past few days?”

The Empress Dowager inquired about his daily life, and Princess Nanyan answered meticulously.

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction. Nanyan’s detailed responses reflected her attentive care for Li Luan, which greatly reassured her. She glanced at Nanyan’s belly; if she might soon conceive and give birth, that would be ideal.

Du Yunluo accompanied the Imperial Consort in conversation.

The Imperial Consort’s eyesight had deteriorated considerably, asking Du Yunluo to transcribe some sutras in larger characters for clarity, which Du Yunluo readily agreed to.

Du Yunluo exited the Cining Palace, taking a small sedan chair to the side gate.

Jin Rui came to greet her, smiling as she pointed to a spot under a tree in the near distance.

Following her gaze, Du Yunluo spotted Mu Lianxiao, and her eyes lit up, filled with smiles.