Chapter 528 - 527: Nemesis

Chapter 528: Chapter 527: Nemesis

The ancestral residence of the Mu Family is not far from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Through the light gauze curtains of the carriage, familiar yet somewhat strange alleys gradually came into view.

In both past and present lives, the number of times Du Yunluo visited the family can be counted on one hand, and the most profound impression was the time in the past life when Mu Lingran was adopted.

When five-year-old Mu Lingran left his biological parents, he neither cried nor made a fuss. Obediently holding Du Yunluo’s hand, he hid behind Du Yunluo when Mrs. Gui spoke with a beaming smile.

Such a well-behaved yet timid child inspired Du Yunluo to dedicate all her efforts over the next ten years.

The eventual outcome was something Du Yunluo never expected.

The carriage stopped outside the Flower Gate.

Jin Rui helped Du Yunluo out of the carriage, and Gui, along with a few younger wives from the family, came to greet her.

"Lian Xiao’s wife," Gui said with a smile, "you said you were coming today, and Aunt is truly overjoyed."

Du Yunluo nodded slightly, showing little interest in engaging in small talk with Gui.

The few wives there, being of the same generation as Du Yunluo, addressed her simply as "Madam" without calling her sister-in-law or younger sister.

The recognition ceremony was arranged in the Flower Hall, not far from the ancestral hall.

Even before approaching, lively chatter could be heard from within.

As soon as Du Yunluo stepped inside, the room fell silent, and everyone looked towards her.

Among those with high standing in the family, some called Du Yunluo "Lian Xiao’s wife," while others simply called her "Madam." The reserved ones stayed in their places, either sitting or standing, while the more enthusiastic ones came over to speak with Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo greeted the clan elders and their wives.

The clan elder’s wife, amidst her smile, had a hint of surprise. Although it was typically the clan elder’s lineage to receive the eldest grandson’s wife, someone from the Marquis Mansion should have come. Either Lian or Jiang Yunuan would have been suitable, yet it was Du Yunluo, the Marchioness herself, who came, leaving the elder’s wife with mixed feelings.

She glanced at Gui, who subtly shook her head. Throughout the journey, she had tried to gather some information from Du Yunluo but to no avail.

The previous night, a message from Hong Jinbao’s family brought both joy and surprise to the elder’s wife.

Gui was delighted, assuming Du Yunluo was giving her daughter-in-law some dignity, but the elder’s wife quickly poured cold water on that notion.

Given Gui’s remarks, which had offended the Commandery Princess, would Du Yunluo really grant her daughter-in-law such favor?

The comment made Gui blush, and though she wanted to explain, she couldn’t find the words, only managing to awkwardly say, "The Prime Minister’s belly holds a ship."

Zhuang Ke, as the Prince Consort, seemed generous enough, unlikely to turn against her over a few words.

Hearing this, the elder’s wife nearly scolded her daughter-in-law for being thick-skinned.

After some deliberation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they concluded that the only issue the Marquis Mansion might want to address within the family was Mu Lianhui’s situation. They had heard from sources that the day Jin Shang died, Mu Lianhui rushed back to the Marquis Mansion, claiming she knew what to do.

Initially, this speculation seemed possible, but upon seeing Du Yunluo, the elder’s wife realized they were mistaken.

If it truly were for Mu Lianhui, Lian and Jiang Yunuan should have been present, and it would not have been Du Yunluo who came alone.

The elder’s wife, her eyes turning shrewd, smiled and asked Du Yunluo, "Why did you come in person?"

Gui was taken aback by the elder’s wife’s candidness.

Du Yunluo took a seat and replied with a smile, "I’ve been married for several years, and I’ve never come for a family celebration. Today was a good chance, so I decided to visit."

The elder’s wife laughed heartily.

Both knew it was merely an excuse.

Du Yunluo sipped her tea. She had not come entirely on a whim.

She came to see two people: Gui’s eldest daughter-in-law, Ren, set to be recognized soon, and the biological mother of Mu Lingran in the past life, Mrs. Xue of the Sixth Branch.

Ren had not arrived yet, and Du Yunluo only saw Mrs. Xue.

Mrs. Xue was younger than Du Yunluo, having just gotten married last autumn. Her robust build made her considered a good bearer by the elderly.

Xue was pregnant since the start of the year, now sitting with a large belly beside her grandmother.

The Sixth Branch was not prestigious, always looking up to the main lineage. Only the elderly woman of the Sixth Branch was allowed to sit, while Xue’s father and mother-in-law could only stand. Xue was seated due to the child in her womb.

Before, after entering the family, Xue gave birth to two sons and a daughter, earning the favor of the elderly of the Sixth Branch.

In the 30th year of Yong’an, when Xue gave birth to Mu Lingran, she was injured, and could no longer have children, causing her feelings towards Mu Lingran to be complex, loving and hating him at once.

At age five, when an heir was needed for Du Yunluo at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the elder’s wife chose Mu Lingran.

The Sixth Branch never dared to challenge the clan’s decisions and agreed as expected.

Xue initially consented, thinking sending the youngest to the Marquis Mansion would be beneficial, as being raised by a widowed mother promised a better life than growing up with the Sixth Branch.

For the child’s good, and to avoid seeing things that might upset her.

Yet, after the adoption, Xue was heartbroken over losing her flesh and blood, leading to days of tears and turmoil, eventually falling ill.

These events were unknown to both Du Yunluo and Mu Lingran until the rumors spread within the clan.

Xue caused a scene with the clan elder, claiming she never should have given Mu Lingran to Du Yunluo, lamenting that years of longing for him had cost her health, and accusing Du Yunluo of corrupting Mu Lingran.

She said numerous harsh things.

On one side was the stepmother, and the other was the biological mother. The conflict and agony wrapped around Mu Lingran, and after marriage, he distanced himself further from Du Yunluo.

Lightly stroking the teacup with her fingertip, Du Yunluo squinted at Xue.

She wasn’t angry at Xue.

Only as a mother, can you understand the love for your child.

For the Sixth Branch, for the child, for that barrier in her heart, Xue agreed to the adoption, but sending away her child turned that barrier into an open wound.

No reason or gain was meaningful in the face of yearning for one’s child.

Xue endured for ten years, and when the rumors began, any mother would reach her breaking point.

If she showed no emotion, Du Yunluo would instead think Xue was cold and unfeeling.

Xue merely believed the gossip. The real culprits of those malicious rumors were who Du Yunluo truly despised.

That was Gui.

Gui, a perennial fence-sitter, often stirred trouble following in Lian’s footsteps.

However, Gui also had a nemesis.

The maid outside announced the arrival of the newlyweds.

Du Yunluo put down her teacup, watching as the bride, Ren, entered with her husband.

Slender and charming, even in later years, Ren remained beautiful.

This daughter-in-law was Gui’s nemesis.