Chapter 405 - 404: Caution

Chapter 405: Chapter 404: Caution

The son’s cries were loud.

Du Yunluo picked up her son, glanced at Mu Lianxiao’s messy hem, and her smile deepened.

Mu Lianxiao gave a wry smile; he’d heard soldiers who became fathers talk about how the little rascal at home would often pee all over them.

Though they cursed verbally, their eyes shone brightly, clearly filled with a sense of satisfaction and pride.

Now Mu Lianxiao could somewhat understand this feeling.

Mu Lianxiao went to the clean room to wash and change clothes.

Lady Peng fetched water and, together with Du Yunluo, helped change the son’s diaper and pants.

When Mu Lianxiao came out, the son was just cleaned up, feeling comfortable, kicking his feet and grinning with wide, dark eyes.

The chubby cheeks were fair and smooth, mouth resembling Du Yunluo’s, while the eyes and nose took after Mu Lianxiao.

The son, toothless, had an empty mouth, making his laugh appear somewhat foolish.

But this foolishness softened Mu Lianxiao’s heart immensely.

This was his son, the little troublemaker who soaked him in pee, yet also the silly smiling little bundle.

Mu Lianxiao sat by his son, unable to resist teasing him.

After dinner, the son became sleepy.

Du Yunluo asked Lady Peng to take him back to the room to rest while she and Mu Lianxiao leisurely walked in the garden for digestion.

"The capital should have received the letter," Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo’s hand and smiled, "Grandmother and mother must be very happy."

Du Yunluo smiled softly.

She could imagine Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou’s smile; they had waited a long time for this son.

Similarly, Du Yunluo could guess Lian Family’s mood, certainly full of resentment.

Let them be angry; it’s good to let off steam.

Did they not make her suffer in the past?

Du Yunluo turned her eyes, saying, "I wonder what name Grandmother will give him."

Mu Lianxiao stopped walking, tilted his head, and kissed Du Yunluo’s forehead: "Don’t worry, it will be a good name."

The next day, Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo took their son to the government office.

Brother Duan saw his younger brother, delighted and dancing around.

The son was still a little baby who would only stare and turn his neck, yet Brother Duan played with him happily; the two little ones had their own fun, unaware of what they enjoyed.

Not knowing was okay, just looking at those two smiling faces made one genuinely joyful inside.

"Brother Duan is a good brother." Du Yunluo spoke while glancing at Yan Family’s belly.

Yan Family’s expression was full of joy.

After dinner at the government office and the family returned to Guishu Alley.

As soon as they entered the alleyway, they heard a lively tune.

Unlike regular opera performances and not the string music of Jiangnan, the melody was light and rhythmic, which the son also heard, his eyes continuously moving.

Mu Lianxiao spoke through the carriage to Du Yunluo: "You head back first."

Du Yunluo nodded.

Returning home, she waited for nearly half an hour.

Although the tune was rare to hear, it was distinctive enough that once heard, it was unforgettable.

It was Hu music, a tune loved by people from outside the border.

After the border war ended in the previous life, the capital also buzzed with Hu music for a while.

At that time, Du Yunluo had already been widowed and disconnected from those lively scenes. Still, her adopted son listened to it a few times with the kids from the second house and detailed it upon returning to Du Yunluo.

In those days, Mu Lingran, whom she personally raised, was just nine, not yet subjected to rumors, and was still a dear child with a close relationship with his adoptive mother.

Language alone couldn’t convey the uniqueness of Hu music, so Mu Lingran saved silver to buy a Huqin back to demonstrate awkwardly for Du Yunluo.

The amateur’s play amused Du Yunluo.

Mu Lingran called this colorful clothes to please the mother.

Warmth turned cold after a few years.

Recalling past events, Du Yunluo sighed softly, sipping warm tea, easing her emotions a bit.

Those events had passed, and now she had her biological son, it was enough.

But why did the Jiangnan merchant family at the alleyway mouth have Hu music now?

This Hu music wasn’t as prevalent as it would be years later, especially since the court and Dazi fought fiercely at the border; even those who liked Hu music dared not openly play it.

If word got to the top about someone playing Hu music in Xuancheng, Du Huarang would have to submit a confessional note.

Mu Lianxiao asked them to return first, probably for this reason.

Du Yunluo pondered randomly until Mu Lianxiao entered, then she went to welcome him.

"That was Hu music," Mu Lianxiao said softly to her.

Du Yunluo nodded: "I know."

Upon hearing this, Mu Lianxiao continued, "I inquired about it.

Mr. Liu has been in the outside pass business for years and likes Hu music greatly. Today, his guest also likes it, so they played.

Not just Hu music, they’ve made quite a bit of Hu Bing, insisting on gifting me a few pieces, which I brought back to the kitchen."

Du Yunluo laughed: "How did you respond then?"

"I said we were neighbors and curious about the tune," Mu Lianxiao said as he sat on the Arhat Bed, deliberating, "His guest visibly skilled in martial arts, claimed to be from an escort agency, named Jia De, who used to escort for Mr. Liu, traveled outside the pass and paused this route due to war in the past two years."

Upon hearing this, Du Yunluo felt uneasy, frowning as she looked at Mu Lianxiao: "Is the Princely Heir implying..."

"I heard them speak; their familiarity with outside the pass is evident, having visited Ancient Meili." After Mu Lianxiao finished speaking, he noticed Du Yunluo’s heavy expression and touched her cheek, "Guides are crucial, I will be cautious upon cautious."

Du Yunluo nodded.

Finding a guide was tough, and the sudden emergence of the escort leader Jia De in their view made Du Yunluo uneasy.

Coincidences existed, but Du Yunluo feared Mu Yuanmou might have designed a trap for them.

If a fake guide was hired, in the vast Great Desert, not only would Mu Lianxiao be endangered, but court soldiers too would face utter devastation.

Du Yunluo knew Mu Lianxiao hadn’t considered this as a setup by the second house, but as Deputy General, he must consider for the court, not take things lightly.

As long as Mu Lianxiao was careful, Du Yunluo could relax a bit more.

A good night’s sleep.

When Du Yunluo woke, Mu Lianxiao wasn’t beside her.

After dressing and freshening up, she noticed Mu Lianxiao wasn’t practicing kung fu in the yard and asked Jin Rui.

Jin Rui merely smiled, pointing back: "In the garden."

Du Yunluo was stunned, hastening to the small garden at the back.

The garden had scaffolding set up, fresh soil, and Mu Lianxiao planted flower branches.

Du Yunluo stood still, watching Mu Lianxiao.

Mu Lianxiao’s clothes and pants were stained with soil, light sweat on his forehead; he turned to her, his gentle gaze suddenly blooming with a smile.

The vision blurred, Du Yunluo’s long eyelashes trembled.

Those were Yunluo Flower branches.

Past life to present, in the capital, in Lindong, Mu Lianxiao always planted vast swathes of Yunluo Flowers for her.

With each breath, it seemed she could already smell the fragrance of bloomed Yunluo Flowers, Du Yunluo stepped forward quickly, holding Mu Lianxiao tightly.