Chapter 357 - 356: Unchanging

Chapter 357: Chapter 356: Unchanging

Jiang Yunuan was absent-minded.

Madam Wu noticed, and when Jiang Yunuan went to the side room to set the table, she said softly to Lian Cheng, "After dinner, you should head back early and spend more time with your wife."

Lian Cheng silently nodded.

Of course, he wanted to spend more time with Jiang Yunuan and Sister Niang, and wished, like Mu Lianxiao, to take his wife out to see the lanterns. But he would be leaving early tomorrow morning, so it was inconvenient to go out tonight.

Just now, the joy in Du Yunluo’s expression was completely different from Jiang Yunuan’s demeanor.

If it weren’t so, Jiang Yunuan wouldn’t have suddenly become so forlorn.

Lian Cheng glanced at the petite figure in the side room, and thought to himself that everything now was for the future.

Once things were accomplished, Jiang Yunuan’s life would be a thousand, ten thousand times better than Du Yunluo’s.

He would make Jiang Yunuan a thousand, ten thousand times better.

Since they were going out to see lanterns, and accompanied by Mu Lianxiao, no carriage was prepared. Du Yunluo wore only a veiled hat.

Du Yunluo was accompanied by Jin Rui; Mu Lianxiao also had Jiuxi and Ming Liu with them, ensuring safety wasn’t a concern.

The streets were bustling.

Du Yunluo generally disliked crowds, but being led by Mu Lianxiao through the streets, she found it extremely interesting.

All kinds of lanterns were hung on the trees by the street, and people gathered around guessing lantern riddles.

They moved along East Street, and as more and more people came to see the lanterns, Mu Lianxiao pulled Du Yunluo into a tea house.

"I had Yun Qi reserve a private room," as they followed the attendant upstairs, Mu Lianxiao turned to Du Yunluo and said, "He said you like the pastries here."

Du Yunluo smiled.

Yun Qi was astute, booking a large private room where the carved screen in the middle could be opened to divide it into two rooms.

Jin Rui, Jiuxi, and Ming Liu were in one room, Du Yunluo and Mu Lianxiao in another, so the masters wouldn’t be disturbed, but help was just a call away if needed.

The private room was elegantly decorated, and opening the street-facing window revealed the view of lantern lights.

Du Yunluo took off her veiled hat and leaned by the window to observe the lantern scene below, finding it much more comfortable than weaving through the crowd.

Within the scene, one sees different kinds of lanterns, but from here one sees a continuous expanse of warm light.

Wherever the eye travels, the candlelight is gentle, and looking up, a clear, bright full moon hangs in the sky.

Her almond eyes reflected the moonlight, her smile overflowing.

Just by looking at Du Yunluo’s eyes, Mu Lianxiao understood her mood at the moment.

Infected by Du Yunluo’s smile, Mu Lianxiao couldn’t help but curl his lips as he rested his chin watching her.

She watched the lanterns, he watched her, neither wanting to look away.

Until Du Yunluo turned to call him, and upon meeting Mu Lianxiao’s gaze, she saw the tender affection flowing within.

Du Yunluo’s heart skipped a beat, she puffed her cheeks and said, "Heir, you are really good to me."

Mu Lianxiao raised his eyebrows and lightly tapped Du Yunluo’s forehead: "I’ll always treat you like this."

Such sweet talk, but everyone loves to hear it.

Du Yunluo’s heart felt as if coated with honey, her smile gaining some mischief and teasing: "I won’t always treat you like this."

Mu Lianxiao paused.

The next moment, Du Yunluo smilingly leaned close to his ear and said, "I will treat you better day by day, year by year.

I like you, and it won’t change for ten years, fifty years, a hundred years.

In past lives, present lives, future lives, it won’t change."

She had loved him for fifty years already, and in fifty more years, it would absolutely remain unchanged.

Mu Lianxiao’s heart softened completely.

Du Yunluo’s confession touched him deeply, as he knew she wasn’t just saying it; her smile, and in her eyes, she never hesitated to express her feelings.

But Mu Lianxiao also felt a pang of heartache, unable to pinpoint its source, yet it clogged his throat uncomfortably.

Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo in his arms until the attendant knocked on the door, and then he released her.

One by one, delicious pastries and fragrant porridge were brought in.

Du Yunluo took a bite of red bean cake, finding it exceedingly sweet.

Mu Lianxiao, seeing her satisfaction, asked, "Yunluo, is it delicious?"

Du Yunluo nodded repeatedly.

Mu Lianxiao clasped her wrist and sampled it from her hand.

The pastry was crisp and flaky, with a soft, sweet red bean filling, truly delicious.

Mu Lianxiao picked a piece of lily cake, tasted it himself, and then brought it to Du Yunluo’s mouth.

Du Yunluo glanced at him, then lowered her head to take a bite, leaving teeth marks on the lily cake.

The two of them stopped talking, feeding each other back and forth, cheerfully playing along.

The screen dividing the two private rooms was carved with the Ba Xian Guo Hai motif.

Jiuxi, sharp-eyed, managed to glimpse figures of Du Yunluo and Mu Lianxiao through the small holes, and couldn’t help but stare, dumbfounded.

He turned around and quietly asked Jin Rui, "Sister, do the Master and Madam usually do this?"

"Do what?" Jin Rui hadn’t peeked, so she didn’t know.

Jiuxi chuckled foolishly: "Feeding each other."

Ming Liu was biting a mung bean cake, and upon hearing this, choked slightly.

Jin Rui put on a troubled face, wondering how to respond...

Ming Liu, after emptying the teapot, felt more comfortable and called for the attendant to refill the water.

The attendant was leading a guest: "Young Master, as you can see, tonight we are fully booked, if you don’t mind, please wait downstairs in the hall."

Ming Liu held the empty teapot and happened to meet the guest eye to eye.

After recognizing him, Ming Liu promptly greeted, "Young Master Ye."

"It’s you," Young Master Ye seemed surprised and glanced into the private room, "Is Heir Mu inside?"

"Our master and madam are in there."

Inside, Mu Lianxiao, with sharp ears, heard Ming Liu’s conversation and raised his voice to ask.

Ming Liu turned to enter, pushed open the screen to the next room, and respectfully said, "Master, it is Young Master Ye from Duke Jing Mansion."

Du Yunluo was surprised, seeing that Young Master Ye from Duke Jing Mansion was indeed Princess An Ran’s brother, Ye Yuzhi.

She had met Ye Yuzhi once during Princess An Ran’s wedding.

In her impression, Ye Yuzhi’s appearance took after Aunt Liao, handsome but without the slightest feminine air, his words and actions naturally open.

Among the aristocratic children, Ye Yuzhi’s relations were much better than Princess An Ran’s in the past.

Du Yunluo had heard from Du Yunnuo that Aunt Liao spent considerable effort raising this son.

If Aunt Liao was married properly, Ye Yuzhi would be the legitimate heir.

Aunt Liao pinned her future life on her son, hoping he could inherit the Duke Jing Mansion, thus making sure he never lagged behind in both civil and martial pursuits.

Unexpectedly, Duke Jing Mansion added a new wife, and Ye Yuzhi remained just a concubine’s son for a lifetime.

Since they had encountered him, proper greetings were in order.

Mu Lianxiao said to Ming Liu, "Ask Yuzhi, if he is free, please invite him in for tea."

Ming Liu exited, smiling at Ye Yuzhi, "Young Master, our master and madam would like to invite you for tea, if..."

Ye Yuzhi pursed his lips.

He initially intended to decline, but upon remembering a matter, he nodded and agreed.