Chapter 360 - 359: Disbelief

Chapter 360: Chapter 359: Disbelief

Du Yunluo said calmly, "It’s just me alone, there’s no need for so many people. Moreover, if it’s truly not enough, we can always add more."

Lian Shi frowned with concern, "The newly bought ones can’t be used yet; they need two years of training. How can they compare to those in our household who understand the rules and know how to act?"

Du Yunluo laughed, "Rest assured, my uncle’s wife is very fond of me. If I’m short-handed, she’ll assign the well-trained people she has by her side to me."

Lian Shi felt stifled, rest assured? How could she be at ease!

Jin Rui, Jin Lan, and the family of Hong Jinbao were all brought by Du Yunluo from the Du Family.

Lian Shi didn’t even bother to try and bribe them. They were all born and raised in the Du Family, their entire families depended on the Du Family for their livelihood, how could they foolishly betray their master.

With no way to insert personnel, just letting Du Yunluo go to Lindong like that...

Lian Shi could already imagine that in half a year or so, Du Yunluo would be pregnant, and after ten months, she would give birth.

If it were somewhere else, it would be fine, but Du Yunluo would be unfamiliar with the place. If Lian Shi prepared from now, she could arrange "suitable" midwives, wet nurses, and doctors there, but that’s Xuancheng!

Du Yunluo’s uncle had been an official in Xuancheng for many years, he was a true local power.

With the Du Family overseeing things, and Lian Shi being separated by mountains and rivers, even if she had the heart, she couldn’t stir up any trouble.

Thinking of this, Lian Shi grew more and more upset and restless.

In front of Madam Wu and the others, Lian Shi could only act warm and concerned, but inside, her heart was bleeding.

Mrs. Zhou smiled gently, her tone soft, "After marrying, she still needs her maternal family’s care. Speaking of which, it really makes us uneasy, but having relatives to rely on when out and about is always a good thing."

Du Yunluo smiled, her eyes curved, "Mother, my uncle and aunt are very kind to us. My maternal family even wants me to move directly in with them and live together."

This was just talk, after all, she was already married. How could she go with her husband to his post yet live in her uncle’s mansion instead?

Unless there was some situation, doing so would only invite ridicule.

Du Yunluo planned to find a place to live near the government office, so there would be someone to take care of things if anything happened.

What she was saying was entirely for Lian Shi to hear.

As expected, a flash of annoyance crossed Lian Shi’s eyes. If Du Yunluo moved into the government office, she really would be out of reach.

Madam Wu nodded slightly.

Du Yunluo was a treasured girl of the Du Family. Heading to Lindong, the Du Family would certainly prepare everything thoroughly, which put Madam Wu’s mind at ease.

The Old Madam smiled and said, "Since you’ve already thought it through, then let’s arrange it like that. You’ll be setting off in a few days, so take this time to rest well."

Du Yunluo agreed.

Seeing that what was done was done, Lian Shi simply shut her mouth.

Madam Wu had made up her mind. If Lian Shi continued to hold on, it would only seem inappropriate.

She consoled herself to proceed slowly and with care.

The Western clock sounded, and Madam Wu asked Banqiao to set the table.

Lian Shi returned to Fengyu Courtyard.

Since Mu Lianxiao wasn’t returning to the mansion for dinner, Du Yunluo stayed to keep Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou company.

On the table was a small dish of drunken dates. Knowing Du Yunluo liked them, Madam Wu said, "I’ll have someone pack a jar for you to take to Lindong."

Du Yunluo agreed with a beaming smile.

After dinner, Du Yunluo and Mrs. Zhou left Baijie Hall together.

Mrs. Zhou walked neither fast nor slow, saying, "Two maids and one family servant are really too few."

Du Yunluo glanced up to secretly observe Mrs. Zhou.

Mrs. Zhou kept her eyes ahead, "It seems there are male servants, mammas, and maids, but...

Jin Rui, Jin Lan aside, Hong Jinbao’s family doesn’t seem like ones who can do hard labor. Cleaning is one thing, but who’s going to boil water and cook?"

Du Yunluo’s heart skipped a beat. As Mrs. Zhou said, she didn’t bring any staff for rough work, especially not a cook.

The cook in the small kitchen of Shaohui Garden was not someone Du Yunluo trusted, so she deliberately skipped over her.

Now that Mrs. Zhou pointed it out so straightforwardly, Du Yunluo couldn’t claim she had miscalculated her staff and needed to bring a cook after all.

Mrs. Zhou paused her steps, lowered her voice, "Lianxiao’s wife, you don’t trust the people in Shaohui Garden, especially not the cook."

Right to the point.

Du Yunluo couldn’t refute it, nor did she want to.

She lowered her eyes and held Mrs. Zhou’s wrist, "Mother, it’s cold and windy outside, let me first escort you back to Jingshui Hall."

Mrs. Zhou gave her a sidelong glance, then nodded.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arrived at Jingshui Hall, sat in the western side room, and Mrs. Zhou pushed a cup of hot tea in front of Du Yunluo, "Warm yourself up first."

Du Yunluo cradled the teacup and sipped it slowly. The hot tea warmed her up, making her feel much more comfortable.

Mrs. Zhou instructed the maid Suxin, "Go to the second gate and tell Lianxiao to come and pick up his wife later. It’s dark outside, and there’s no need for her to walk in the dark."

Suxin responded and went out.

Nanny Su was the only one left in the room.

Du Yunluo stroked the teacup and said, "Mother, I don’t trust the cook in Shaohui Garden."

Mrs. Zhou raised an eyebrow, waiting for Du Yunluo to continue.

"Last year when we returned to Tong City, Imperial Doctor Xing took my pulse and said that I seemed to have been exposed to something harmful to progeny, but only in very small amounts, and not constantly, so he wasn’t sure." Du Yunluo spoke in a low voice.

Mrs. Zhou’s eyes tightened suddenly.

"During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace’s imperial physician said that I was completely well..." Du Yunluo paused, looking at Mrs. Zhou, "Mother, Imperial Doctor Xing wouldn’t speak carelessly. I keep wondering if it’s only when the Princely Heir isn’t around that I’m fine, but when he’s in the capital, I’m exposed to something."

Mrs. Zhou stared intently at Du Yunluo. Though her brows were furrowed, her gaze was frank, not like someone talking nonsense.

She took a deep breath and said, "Have you had a pulse check these days?"

Du Yunluo shook her head.

She had a vague feeling that the second household couldn’t control the main kitchen now and wouldn’t dare to act recklessly, so she should be healthy now.

However, she couldn’t say this directly to Mrs. Zhou. After contemplating, Du Yunluo said, "I have not asked for a doctor. Imperial Doctor Xing said that stuff is hard to detect; many doctors might not notice it, and even if someone did, they might keep quiet to avoid trouble. If the Princely Heir hadn’t saved his life, and he wasn’t supported by the Zhen family now, he wouldn’t have mentioned it."

Mrs. Zhou, being perceptive, understood immediately.

Meddling with a woman’s progeny definitely involved family feuds. The dirty affairs in the Duke’s Mansion’s backyard were not something foolishly bold people would dare to speak of.

Mrs. Zhou remained silent.

Du Yunluo sighed silently; she knew from what Nanny Su had told her about Mrs. Zhou’s matters in the past life that Mrs. Zhou’s character was well understood.

Before going to war with the Old Marquis and his two brothers, Mu Yunce had entrusted Mrs. Zhou to manage the Marquis Mansion’s inner courtyard.

Mrs. Zhou had always kept her promise to Mu Yunce, showing filial respect to Madam Wu, raising Mu Lianxiao, and caring for Mu Yuanmou, the three siblings, and their nieces and nephews.

Were it not for working too hard and falling ill in recent years, Mrs. Zhou would have managed the household properly and fulfilled her duties as the eldest daughter-in-law.

Letting Mrs. Zhou, who had devoted herself to the home, accept such filth was like stabbing her in the chest.

But Mrs. Zhou had no choice but to accept it.

At this moment, it was just someone hindering the first branch’s offspring. In the future, Mrs. Zhou would have to face the truth about Mu Yunce’s death in battle.

It would be tough and painful, but Du Yunluo knew that with Mrs. Zhou’s steadfast nature, she would make it through.