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

Chapter 339: Chapter 338: Candidates

In their past life, Mu Lianxiao had quite a few wounds.

Knife wounds, arrow wounds, and some that Du Yunluo couldn’t identify.

Every time he returned to the Capital, most of his wounds had mostly healed, but he was still left with frightening scars, and touching them with her fingertips made her heart anxious.

Even the most resilient skin and flesh couldn’t withstand such injuries.

When held in Mu Lianxiao’s embrace, as her palm brushed over those wounds, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but frown.

It was truly terrifying.

Scars that had healed looked like that; she could hardly imagine how he looked when he was freshly wounded.

Du Yunluo was angry at the abundance of his scars, knowing that they looked frightening but didn’t actually hurt, so she often pinched them.

As she pinched them, tears would fall gently, as if she saw fresh blood surging forth.

Fear, an intense fear from deep within.

Blades and arrows show no mercy; a single wound could take a life.

Du Yunluo cried, and Mu Lianxiao comforted her.

She said, ”A bit more, and it would have pierced your heart,” and he replied, ”I won’t be hurt too severely; I won’t leave you alone.”

But in the end, it became a prophecy.

A long arrow struck Mu Lianxiao, and Yun Qi brought him back from the battlefield, but they couldn’t save his life.

Ultimately, she was left alone...

Recalling the past, Du Yunluo was overwhelmed with emotions. Her vision became blurred without realizing it, and she wiped the corners of her eyes, her fingertips moist.

She exhaled slowly, held back her tears, carefully read Mu Lianxiao’s letter again, put it back into the envelope, and stored it under the dressing box along with previous family letters.

Looking at the reflection in the copper mirror, youthful and in her prime, Du Yunluo curved her lips into a smile.

Mu Lianxiao would return to the Capital in just over a month, and this time, she would remind him again, not allowing him to break his promise.

She wouldn’t let him break his promise again.

In late autumn, someone from Cining Palace invited Madam Wu along, and Du Yunluo accompanied her to the palace.

After paying respects to the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort, Du Yunluo intended to leave, but Madam Wu stopped her.

”Autumn is different from spring; the wind picks up outside. Stay and sit for a while,” Madam Wu said.

Du Yunluo paused, seeing the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort had no objections, so she sat down as instructed.

”The matter you mentioned to me last time, after pondering it, I did think of several candidates,” the Empress Dowager said, sipping her tea. ”The first is the son of the Changping Marquis, who is twenty this year, once betrothed, but the bride’s untimely death after the initial engagement delayed it till now; the second is the eldest grandson of Old General Shao, about the same age as Jiarou, delayed by mourning his mother; the third is the youngest grandson of the Pingyang Marquis, also in mourning for years; and then...”

Madam Wu listened carefully.

Du Yunluo understood that Madam Wu was requesting the Empress Dowager to arrange a marriage for Mu Lianhui.

Mu Lianhui had lost favor in Cining Palace. She schemed not to marry Li Luan, thus blocking the way to Prince Cheng Mansion as well.

The Lian Family couldn’t find a suitable match and with the matter of Mu Yuanjing, Madam Wu took it upon herself, using her seniority to seek favor in Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager, after all, couldn’t refuse Madam Wu’s face and helped list some potential candidates.

”I’m just offering advice; whether it works out or not is up to you to discuss further,” the Empress Dowager stated after introducing each candidate, ”You know, if I speak, it means an arranged marriage, and whether they are willing or not, they would have to agree.

If it’s a good match, I’ll be pleased. If not, forcing two incompatible children together would be a sin on my part.

Honestly, if it really comes to that, a man has his diversions, and it’ll be Jiarou who suffers.

That’s why I prefer you settling it yourselves, then coming to request my decree, just like Ah Shao and Yunluo.

Seeing a harmonious young couple, I am very happy.”

As the Empress Dowager glanced at her, Du Yunluo quickly lowered her gaze, a faint blush on her face.

Such demeanor pleased the Empress Dowager greatly, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Madam Wu understood well; Mu Lianhui no longer held the status she once did. The Empress Dowager offering suggestions was already going above and beyond; awarding a marriage was out of the question.

Mu Lianhui was too proud, resorting to schemes to avoid marrying Li Luan.

Li Luan was the Empress Dowager’s own grandson, a grievance she couldn’t easily swallow.

Cining Palace even left a meal.

Even though it was vegetarian, the Imperial Kitchen’s skills received much praise.

After leaving the palace and getting into the carriage, Madam Wu rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit tired, ”About the candidates the Empress Dowager mentioned, Lian Xiao’s wife, what do you think?”

Du Yunluo pursed her lips.

The young men mentioned by the Empress Dowager left some impression on Du Yunluo.

Before inheriting his title, the Changping Marquis worked for Prince Rui Li Xiang. After succeeding, he retreated to his fief, secretly raising many private soldiers, becoming a key support for Li Xiang during his rebellion.

After Li Luan killed his own father, the rebel forces quickly fell apart, and the Changping Marquis Mansion faced beheadings and exile, collapsing overnight.

Old General Shao had fought alongside the Old Marquis for many years and was still defending the Northern Border, even at over sixty years old. Under his guidance, Mu Lianxiao and his brothers learned how to advance from soldiers to generals.

Old General Shao had disagreements with the Old Marquis at times regarding political views, but his integrity and honesty were commendable. If Mu Lianhui were to marry into the Shao Family, he certainly wouldn’t support the actions of Mu Yuanmou and his son.

As for the youngest grandson of Pingyang Marquis...

If Du Yunluo remembered correctly, he only lived to twenty-six in the past life, accidentally falling from the monastery steps and never revived.

Du Yunluo took a silent breath and said to Madam Wu, ”These young gentlemen, I only know their names but not their characters. I can’t say whether they are good or not.”

Madam Wu was not surprised by Du Yunluo’s response.

Knowing means knowing, not knowing means not knowing. Not meddling or giving random advice, such demeanor made Madam Wu very pleased with Du Yunluo.

The carriage returned to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Du Yunluo assisted Madam Wu back to Baijie Hall.

After resting for a while, Madam Wu instructed Banqiao to summon the Lian Family.

This is to discuss Mu Lianhui’s marriage. Du Yunluo pondered for a moment and then rose to take her leave.

This time, Madam Wu didn’t stop her, letting her return to Shaohui Garden first.

The Lian Family arrived hastily. After Madam Wu conveyed the Empress Dowager’s words, the Lian Family’s face turned pale and flushed, opening their mouth but swallowing back their words.

Madam Wu said in a deep voice, ”I understand your intentions, I promised you that you could choose until the end of the year, but times have changed. You don’t seem to be thinking about Lianhui’s marriage anymore.”