Chapter 342 - 341: Visit (Monthly Ticket 350+)

Chapter 342: Chapter 341: Visit (Monthly Ticket 350+)

After attending to Madam Wu’s afternoon nap, Du Yunluo left the mansion with Jin Rui.

The small sedan chair entered Willow Tree Alley and proceeded deeper inside.

The Lu family’s eyes widened in surprise, "Is it true that sedan chairs pass through our alley now? Which noble from the mansion has arrived?"

A nearby servant woman approached, clicking her tongue, "Didn’t you see the lady accompanying the sedan? That’s Miss Jin Rui, who visited Yunqi’s wife previously."

The Lu family swallowed in astonishment, "Doesn’t this mean that inside the sedan chair is..."

The sedan chair stopped in front of Yunqi’s house. Jin Rui stepped forward to knock on the door. When she saw Ying’er’s face appear, she smiled and said, "Madam has come to see Jin Ling."

"Madam?" Ying’er was momentarily flustered, spun around in two quick circles, then turned and ran inside to call for others.

Du Yunluo, supported by Jin Rui, stepped out of the sedan chair and walked into the courtyard.

This was her first visit to Willow Tree Alley. The small courtyard was neatly arranged, and the walls seemed to have been repainted last year when Yunqi and Jin Ling got married. They still looked clean now.

Du Yunluo hadn’t had time to look closely when Yunqi came out of the house to greet her with a bow.

Jin Ling followed behind, smiling brightly, "Why has Madam come?"

"I just wanted to see you," Du Yunluo replied with a smile.

Seated inside the house, Du Yunluo carefully observed Jin Ling.

Although Jin Rui had visited twice before and Yunqi treated Jin Ling very well, Du Yunluo still wanted to see for herself.

This thought had been in her mind for some time, but she hadn’t found the right opportunity until today, when she had some free time and decided to come over.

Jin Ling looked more plump compared to when they met in summer; her four-month pregnancy showed a slight bulge, and her cheeks had filled out, softening the once pointed chin.

Seeing Du Yunluo observing her, Jin Ling held her face and cleared her throat, "Have I gotten fat? I almost didn’t recognize myself in the mirror this morning."

Jin Rui couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

Du Yunluo also laughed, "It’s normal to gain weight during pregnancy; think about Second Sister-in-law."

Jin Ling pursed her lips and shook her head.

Jin Rui laughed and reminded, "Madam, Jin Ling hadn’t seen Second Madam’s pregnancy since she got married out as soon as Second Madam was newly pregnant."

Hearing this, Du Yunluo repeatedly shook her head with a smile, "Look at me, living life in a bit of a blur."

The three women chatted for a while, and Jin Ling brought up her brother and Mrs. Duan.

With no elders at Yunqi’s home and Jin Ling still early in her pregnancy, handling matters would become difficult as the pregnancy progressed.

Jin Ling was experiencing her first pregnancy, and Ying’er was unmarried, so Yunqi couldn’t always rely on neighbors.

Yunqi intended to bring over his mother-in-law and brother-in-law since there was enough space in the house.

Though Mrs. Duan had poor eyesight, she could still provide some care for pregnant Jin Ling, and Jin Ling’s brother was often ill, which ironically made him easier to manage.

Jin Ling had originally hired a maid for Mrs. Duan and her brother, and Yunqi wanted to bring her along too, so she could assist Jin Ling as well.

Yunqi had had this idea for a while, but Jin Ling didn’t agree, saying it wasn’t appropriate to bring her mother and brother right after marriage.

Unable to persuade her, Yunqi temporarily set the idea aside, but with Jin Ling now pregnant, he wanted to bring them over before the end of the year.

"Since he’s concerned, you shouldn’t stop him," Jin Rui said. "Didn’t he say he would take care of your mother and brother before you agreed to marry him?"

Du Yunluo patted Jin Ling’s hand, "With Yunqi having no parents or elders, pushing him away makes it seem like you’re treating him as an outsider. Having your mother to help with the baby will allow you to learn quicker."

Jin Ling thought over this for a moment and nodded, "I understand."

After more than half an hour, Jin Ling escorted Du Yunluo and Jin Rui outside.

Concerned for Jin Ling, Yunqi only let her see them to the door, while he personally followed the sedan chair all the way out.

From behind the sedan chair, Yunqi cheerfully said to Du Yunluo, "Thank you, Madam. I’ve been trying to persuade Jin Ling for ages, but today Madam succeeded, so now I’m relieved."

Du Yunluo laughed, "From now on, with your mother-in-law and brother-in-law watching, if you aren’t good to Jin Ling, they’ll surely deal with you."

"I wouldn’t dare," Yunqi chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "Madam, don’t let life pass by in a blur anymore; the Master will be back soon."

Mentioning Mu Lianxiao made Du Yunluo’s heart race, "Have you received any news? When will he reach the capital?"

Yunqi rubbed his nose, "It should be in December. Whether he’ll make it before the Laba Festival, I can’t say for sure."

Du Yunluo’s brow furrowed slightly.

This was a few days later than she remembered.

The first snow lay thin and quickly melted away. After seven or eight clear days, it snowed heavily again.

Each household’s rooms had their underground fire dragon and braziers set up already. Madam Wu was afraid of the cold and slept in the West Warm Pavilion at night.

With a hand warmer in hand, Du Yunluo went to Baijie Hall, took off her snow jacket, and stood in the middle room until she warmed up before entering the West Warm Pavilion.

Madam Wu smiled and said, "Look at me, old and useless, afraid of the heat in summer and the cold in winter."

Du Yunluo chuckled.

Madam Wu asked her, "Have you arranged the trip to Potuo Mountain for Laba porridge in a few days?"

"Everything is arranged. Mother usually goes every year, and this time, I’ll accompany her," Du Yunluo replied. "The personnel for porridge distribution outside the city gates are also set, with rice and ingredients for the Eight-Treasure Porridge following the usual rules."

Seeing that Du Yunluo had everything under control, Madam Wu was relieved, saying, "It’s December now, and we still don’t know when Lian Xiao and his group will arrive in the capital. It’s less than half a month until Sister Niang’s hundred-day celebration; they should make it by then, right?"

Du Yunluo nodded, "It’s just about these upcoming ten or so days."

On the sixth day of December, nobles from various royal and noble mansions set up tents outside the city, distributing porridge from the seventh to the ninth. The kitchen started cooking porridge the night of the sixth, sending it out of the city at dawn.

On the day of Laba, the mansion held ancestor worship.

Du Yunluo rose very early, freshened up, and went to the ancestral hall with Mrs. Zhou.

Only Mu Yuanmou was at the mansion from the male side, so the women knelt outside, leaving the ancestral hall looking cold and desolate.

Having married into the family for almost a year, Du Yunluo avoided the ancestral hall unless necessary, even though this place didn’t yet have the Chastity Arch or plaques added over the decades.

As the legitimate eldest daughter’s daughter-in-law, she knelt behind Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou, with the three aunts not allowed to surpass her, let alone Jiang Yunuan and Mu Lianhui.

If Mu Lianxiao were home, he would preside over the ceremony instead of Mu Yuanmou.

After a smooth ancestor worship, Madam Wu returned to Baijie Hall.

Du Yunluo and Mrs. Zhou went up to Potuo Mountain.

At Fa Yin Temple, incense was burning brightly. To avoid accidents and clashes, the area where officials’ families collect porridge was separate from that of the common folk.

Du Yunluo followed Mrs. Zhou to line up for porridge, meeting many familiar faces and exchanging greetings as they went.

After coming down from the mountain and re-entering the city, Mrs. Zhou sent someone to check on their porridge distribution tent.

Soon, a servant woman returned with a joyful expression, "Madam, Ma’am, the caregivers at the tent said that about an hour ago, the Young Master and Second Master had entered the city."