Chapter 343 - 342: Boasting for Credit

Chapter 343: Chapter 342: Boasting for Credit

Mrs. Zhou was taken aback, she pursed her lips and asked, "What did you just say?"

The servant woman smiled so broadly her eyes squinted shut, "Our Young Master and the Second Master have returned."

Mrs. Zhou’s eyes instantly lit up with joy, and she hurriedly urged the coachman, "Quick, quick, let’s return to the Mansion immediately."

Du Yunluo also heard it clearly and unconsciously twisted the cloth in her lap with her hands.

In the past, every time Mu Lianxiao returned to the Mansion, Du Yunluo would not go to greet him. She would just lean lazily in Shaohui Garden, pouting to express her dissatisfaction.

This time, she originally planned well, intending to personally greet him at the second gate to let Mu Lianxiao know that she was eagerly anticipating his return while in the Capital.

Unexpectedly, just as Du Yunluo and Mrs. Zhou went to Potuo Mountain, Mu Lianxiao had returned.

He had entered the city a whole hour prior, so by the time the mother and daughter-in-law returned to the Mansion, he probably would have already bathed and changed clothes.

With this thought, she felt some regret.

Du Yunluo slightly lifted the curtain, and the sky, obscured by the smoky blue curtain, appeared clear and bright.

That slight gloom instantly dissipated, and Du Yunluo’s face was full of smiles.

Since it’s missed, it’s missed. Once they meet, she would tell him everything thoroughly, expressing all her longing and anticipation.

Mrs. Zhou looked at Du Yunluo with a smile.

No amount of listening could compare to seeing the warmth between husband and wife; just by looking at Du Yunluo’s expression, Mrs. Zhou knew her joy and happiness.

Mrs. Zhou nodded secretly, thinking it was excellent that her son and daughter-in-law have a loving relationship, so the elders have one less thing to worry about.

Since today was the Laba Festival, many citizens came in and out of the city gates to collect porridge, causing the carriage to move slowly. It was quite a while before they entered Qingshui Alley, and the hearts of the mother and daughter-in-law lifted once more.

Could this be called "near home, apprehensive"?

The carriage stopped outside the second gate, and Nanny Su placed a footrest, helping Mrs. Zhou and Du Yunluo down from the carriage.

Du Yunluo instructed Hong Jinbao’s family to deliver the Laba porridge to the main kitchen and distribute it to the various rooms and courtyards. She herself went to the gatehouse and asked, "Has the Young Master returned?"

The woman guarding the gate quickly shook her head, "I haven’t seen the Young Master return, Madam. Perhaps he entered through the side gate."

Du Yunluo pursed her lips. From the front to Shaohui Garden, the closest route was through the Chuihua Gate; there was no reason for Mu Lianxiao to detour through the southwest or southeast side gates.

Mrs. Zhou gently told Du Yunluo, "I’m a bit tired and will return to Jingshui Hall first. Once Lian Xiao settles in, have him visit the Old Madam first, then come to see me."

Du Yunluo agreed.

After seeing Mrs. Zhou off, Du Yunluo did not return to Shaohui Garden; instead, she exited through the Chuihua Gate and went to Mu Lianxiao’s courtyard at the front.

Jiuxi was busy in the courtyard when he heard footsteps. He looked up and smiled, "Why has Madam come?"

"I heard the Young Master returned, but the nanny at the second gate said she didn’t see him," Du Yunluo said as she walked and asked, "Have you seen the Young Master?"

Jiuxi nodded vigorously, "The Young Master returned this morning. Knowing that Madam and the Lady went to Potuo Mountain, he didn’t go to the back. After freshening up here, he went into the palace. I heard it was because the Holy Emperor was waiting for him to report."

Du Yunluo understood and then asked, "How does the Young Master look?"

Jiuxi thought for a moment and said, "It seems like he’s gotten a bit darker?"

Du Yunluo paused.

Jin Rui couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth and turning away to stifle her laughter.

"Really, I’m not making it up," Jiuxi said awkwardly, rubbing his nose, "Also, the Young Master has a new scar on his right arm, roughly from here to here. It’s mostly healed but looks a bit scary; Madam, don’t be frightened..."

As Jiuxi spoke, he gestured with his hands.

Du Yunluo frowned; this must have been the injury Mu Lianxiao had mentioned in his letters.

From its location, it seemed to overlap with the wound from the bear at the hunting ground, a very painful addition.

"There’s nothing else?" Du Yunluo asked.

Jiuxi thought again and was about to shake his head when his eyes lit up, "Yes, yes, the Young Master asked about Madam."

Du Yunluo raised her eyebrows, feeling warmed in her heart, "About me? I usually don’t come to the front; how much could you tell him about me?"

Jiuxi was quite pleased and said, "I answered that Madam is now in charge of managing the household, very busy daily, aside from visiting her family. Recently, she accompanied the Old Madam to the palace for an audience and went to the Pingyang Marquis Mansion for the chrysanthemum viewing.

Madam’s family has had many happy events recently; Madam’s second sister-in-law gave birth to a boy, her second sister and second brother-in-law returned to the Capital, her third sister is expecting, and her fourth sister got married in the autumn.

Yun Qi recently met Madam’s fourth brother-in-law, and the Chief Xu mentioned he’ll invite the family for a drink during the New Year and not leave until drunk.

Madam recently went to Willow Tree Alley, as Yun Qi’s wife is expecting, and she specially went to visit her."

After listening, Du Yunluo laughed, "You remember quite a lot."

Jiuxi took out a small, simple knife from his sleeve, unlike the ornate items the nobles in the Capital played with. He said cheerfully, "The Young Master praised me for my good report, rewarding me with this knife, saying it’s what people in the Northern Border use. It doesn’t look flashy, but it’s sharp."

Du Yunluo and Jin Rui laughed at Jiuxi’s pride and said, "These were things I was supposed to tell the Young Master myself, but you took them all to earn credit. Remember, in the future, if the Young Master has anything, you should report to me this way; then it’ll be fair."

Jiuxi was startled and asked, "So, after I said everything, what did the Young Master say?"

Du Yunluo chuckled with squinted eyes, "Don’t worry about that; let the Young Master contemplate it himself."

Jiuxi nodded, somewhat confused.

Du Yunluo returned to Shaohui Garden and first sent someone to notify Baijie Hall and Jingshui Hall before sitting down at the table.

The table was covered with bowls of Laba porridge, and Lian Qiao said, "Madam, this is from the Old Madam, and this from the Second Madam..."

Although Du Yunluo had a sweet tooth, seeing so many bowls at once made her lose interest, mainly because her heart wasn’t really in it.

She had Lian Qiao take a spoonful from each bowl, mix them, and absent-mindedly ate some. She then called Jin Rui and asked, "Where did we keep the ointment the Young Master gave me before?"

"Madam asking about the ointment used last spring for treating the palm injury from riding?" Jin Rui asked.

Du Yunluo nodded, "He said it would leave no scar."

Jin Rui answered, turned around, and retrieved it from the mirror drawer on the dressing table in the inner room.

Du Yunluo opened the jar and smelled it, a pleasant and refined scent wafted out, soothing her immensely.

She glanced at the Western clock, noting it was past Si Zheng and wondering if Mu Lianxiao could return home before noon. Today was the Laba Festival, and they should have some Laba porridge before noon.

Feeling anxious, Du Yunluo could only return to her seat, picking out peanuts and lotus seeds from each bowl with her chopsticks to pass the time.

Just after she had picked a small bowl, Madam Ma from the gatehouse rushed to the door, raising her voice, "Madam, the Young Master has returned to the Mansion."

Du Yunluo dropped her chopsticks, not caring about the hand warmer or snow jacket, and dashed out.

She had just reached outside Shaohui Garden when she saw that familiar figure striding towards her, coming closer and closer.