Chapter 362 - 361: Joke

Chapter 362: Chapter 361: Joke

When Jiang Yunuan returned to Shangxin Courtyard, Sister Niang was still deeply asleep.

Sitting in front of Sister Niang’s bed, Jiang Yunuan stared at her for a long time, her chaotic heart gradually calming down.

Sister Niang kicked her foot, and her little foot slipped out from under the blanket.

Jiang Yunuan hurried to tuck her in properly.

The maid entered, and Jiang Yunuan gestured for silence, stepping out quietly.

"Madam, the lady is looking for you."

Jiang Yunuan slowly nodded.

In Fengyu Courtyard, Mrs. Lian lay on the Arhat Bed. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes, gave Jiang Yunuan a once-over, and said, "Why do you look so pale?"

Jiang Yunuan forced a smile, "Sister Niang was restless last night, so I didn’t sleep well."

Mrs. Lian glanced at her and asked, "Have you been to Shaohui Garden? What did Lian Xiao’s wife say?"

Jiang Yunuan’s hand, tucked in her sleeve, clenched, and she said, "She’s busy packing. She said she couldn’t accompany me and asked me to take good care of myself and Sister Niang."

Mrs. Lian frowned. The words seemed odd but she couldn’t pinpoint why, so she just said, "You should take care of yourself. Since you didn’t sleep well last night, have a good rest later."

Jiang Yunuan lowered her eyes and agreed.

As she left Mrs. Lian’s room, Jiang Yunuan came face-to-face with Mu Lianhui.

"Third sister-in-law is going with the third brother to Lindong," Jiang Yunuan said blandly.

"Yunluo is going with them?" Mu Lianhui was holding a hand warmer, visibly surprised. Seeing Jiang Yunuan nod, she mumbled, "Looks like she knows."

Mu Lianhui’s voice was faint, and Jiang Yunuan didn’t catch it. She stepped forward and asked, "What did you just say?"

"I said," Mu Lianhui curved her lips into a cold smile, "let her go, what does it have to do with me."

With that, Mu Lianhui turned and left.

Jiang Yunuan stood stunned, shivering in the biting north wind.

Two days later, the Marquis Mansion sent over the results of the horoscope matching.

Mu Lianhui’s horoscope matched perfectly with Pingyang Marquis’s youngest grandson.

Mrs. Lian examined it carefully, feeling much relieved now that Mu Lianhui found a suitable match family-wise.

The Marquis Mansion was arranging the marriage, and since Mu Lianhui also had a title, the two families had to choose a day to enter the palace to report. Only after the palace’s approval could the wedding proceed.

After seeing off the people from the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, Madam Wu sat cross-legged on the Arhat Bed with a sullen face, saying, "A real old fox. If it weren’t for Lian Xiao’s reassignment to Shanyu Pass as Deputy General, who would know if this is a top match or not."

With Nanny Shan absent, no one dared to respond to this, not even Mrs. Zhou, let alone Du Yunluo.

Flattering the powerful and trampling the weak is quite the norm.

Mu Lianhui’s marriage was hard to arrange, so Madam Wu could only "make do." After venting, she told Du Yunluo, "Send a note to Cining Palace. I’ll be entering the palace the day after tomorrow."

Du Yunluo agreed, her mind turning, gaining some understanding of Madam Wu’s intention.

Mu Lianhui had chosen the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Although Madam Wu had her criticisms about Marchioness Pingyang, she let it pass.

Marriage is a matter for two families, and there’s nothing perfect about it. If Madam Wu were overly critical and interfering, it might turn into another situation like Mu Yuanjing’s marriage.

As for Du Yunluo not bringing a cook with her, Madam Wu was the same, letting her be.

Without a cook, going hungry wouldn’t be a problem, and once they reached Xuancheng, Du Yunluo could get used to it and find one.

Madam Wu inquired about the preparations in Shaohui Garden and sent Du Yunluo back.

At night, Du Yunluo leaned against Mu Lianxiao, rubbing her eyes tirelessly from fatigue.

Mu Lianxiao held her hands, softly calling her, "Yunluo, your eyes are turning red."

Du Yunluo softly hummed, "Nonsense, it’s pitch black, how would you know?"

Mu Lianxiao chuckled. Her soft and gentle voice when sleepy was especially endearing. In a swift movement, he pinned her down.

Du Yunluo gasped, suddenly wide awake. When Mu Lianxiao bent down to kiss her, she quickly covered her mouth, "I’m tired..."

Mu Lianxiao raised an eyebrow, their foreheads touching, looking straight into Du Yunluo’s eyes, "Really tired?"

Du Yunluo nodded quickly.

Mu Lianxiao was utterly exasperated.

Since New Year’s Day when Madam Wu agreed to let Du Yunluo go to Xuancheng, he hadn’t sought her once.

For five or six days, Du Yunluo had her period, and other times, she was either tired or sleepy or weary. Mu Lianxiao couldn’t bear to oblige her, understanding her reluctance.

He understood Du Yunluo’s intention, fearing that if she got pregnant before departure, Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou wouldn’t let her go.

These little thoughts of hers, Mu Lianxiao knew them well, both amused and a little annoyed.

"You..." Mu Lianxiao pinched Du Yunluo’s nose, "Your period ended a few days ago. Even if we shared a bed now, they wouldn’t find out before the journey."

Du Yunluo blinked her eyes, her cheeks suddenly reddening.

Having her thoughts laid bare like this was just...

Du Yunluo’s hands no longer covered just her mouth but her entire face.

Mu Lianxiao, unable to contain himself, gently kissed the back of her hand.

Du Yunluo was deeply embarrassed.

Through all her past lives, she had never been pregnant, never knowing such intricacies.

Mrs. Zhen didn’t teach her such specifics, and Du Yunluo didn’t ask anyone about them. Hence, the awkwardness.

It wasn’t her fault, was it?

Du Yunluo was quietly justifying herself when it hit her suddenly.

She parted her fingers, her sparkling eyes peeking through, "Princely Heir, how do you know about these women’s matters?"

Mu Lianxiao’s body tensed, awkwardly avoiding Du Yunluo’s gaze.

Now it was Du Yunluo’s turn to be amused, her almond eyes curved with mirth. She pressed on with a grin: "Tell me, how do you know?"

Mu Lianxiao refused to answer, turning his back entirely: "If you’re tired, just sleep."

Du Yunluo wasn’t about to let him off easily. After laughing for a while, she noticed Mu Lianxiao still had his back turned. Her eyes widened with a hint of anxiety.

Did she go too far with her laughter?

"Princely Heir," Du Yunluo called in a soft tone.

Mu Lianxiao didn’t move.

Du Yunluo cuddled closer, wrapping her arms around Mu Lianxiao’s waist, "You laughed at me first. Let’s call it even, alright?"

Her soft curves pressed against his back, igniting a fire within Mu Lianxiao, but the blushing on his face was even hotter. Even in the dead of night, he feared turning around would reveal his flushed appearance to Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo slightly bit her lip. Whether before or after marriage, Mu Lianxiao never ignored her.

In her previous life too, regardless of how she acted up, Mu Lianxiao would patiently coax her.

Being ignored now, Du Yunluo found it hard to accept.

"Alright, I admit I was wrong. Don’t ignore me," she propped herself up, whispering in Mu Lianxiao’s ear, "Princely Heir, dear, Lianxiao, Ah Shao, Brother Xiao..."

Du Yunluo’s soft and gentle voice whispered beside his ear, persistent and soothing, like a cat’s paw scratching, making it impossible for Mu Lianxiao to resist any longer. He pulled her into his arms, "What did you call me?"