Du Yunluo pressed her Qingming acupoint, her eyes always a bit uncomfortable after crying at Mrs. Zhen's place. She closed her eyes to rest for a moment.
In her mind appeared the face of a young girl.
Her skin wasn't particularly fair, with an oval face, curved willow leaf eyebrows, and small cherry lips. She loved wearing red, and her every move exuded the pride of a noble girl. Just standing there, she captured everyone's attention around her.
That was Princess An Ran.
She had reason to be proud and had the leverage to be unreasonable.
Apart from a few noble girls with titles and backgrounds no less prestigious than the Duke Jing Mansion, no one dared contend with Princess An Ran face-to-face.
Even compared in arrogance, Du Yunluo's little antics were nothing compared to Princess An Ran's means, like a child's play.
Du Yunluo had the protection of her family elders, while Princess An Ran was the precious gem of the Old Master. No matter how you looked, it was all good. Even if the Young Master wanted to scold Princess An Ran, he would get reprimanded by the Old Master.
With such a peer, Du Yunluo wouldn't rashly seek trouble.
Du Yunluo wasn't foolish, and Du Yunying was even more astute. Among the Du Family sisters, only Du Yunnuo would associate with Princess An Ran.
And Princess An Ran's intentions toward Mu Lianxiao were no secret among the girls she was acquainted with.
In a previous life, when she was old, Du Yunluo had thought: since the second wife of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Lian, wanted to find a willful girl, why not simply choose Princess An Ran?
Given Princess An Ran's temperament, there would be no peace around Mu Lianxiao.
But then she thought it through.
Princess An Ran's turmoil wouldn't be confined to just the main house; it would disturb the entire Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Her prestigious birth being a given, Mrs. Lian would only be anxious, and even when the second house's matters were set, Mrs. Lian wouldn't be able to control Princess An Ran.
Du Yunluo might become disheartened and be manipulated by Mrs. Lian, but Princess An Ran wouldn't.
Besides, rumors outside said that the Young Master's legal wife had been bedridden for many years and could not hold out much longer. By then, it's likely Aunt Liao would be promoted, after all, the Old Master regarded Princess An Ran and her brother as his precious gems.
Once this Aunt Liao was promoted, Princess An Ran would go from being an illegitimate to a legal daughter of a concubine, a bone so hard to chew that Mrs. Lian couldn't handle it.
However, only Du Yunluo knew that a few years later, Aunt Liao remained Aunt Liao, and despite the Old Master's favor, the successor was still chosen from a noble family girl.
"I'm worried about what to give Princess An Ran for her coming-of-age ceremony," Du Yunnuo appeared conflicted.
Du Yunluo glanced at her sideways: "That's the precious gem of the Duke Jing Mansion. Apart from something inappropriate, what could she lack? In my opinion, it's just the thought that counts. Fourth Sister and the County Princess are cousins, sincerity is enough."
"Cousins..." Du Yunnuo's eyes darkened, with a hint of sarcasm at the corners of her lips, "How could someone like me be considered a cousin!"
Du Yunluo straightened up, leaned towards Du Yunnuo, and looked into her eyes: "Why not? Fourth Aunt loves Sister so dearly. Sister mustn't belittle herself. If Fourth Aunt heard this, wouldn't she be heartbroken?"
Du Yunnuo shivered and came back to her senses, knowing she misspoke earlier, she clasped her hands in pleading: "I know deep down that mother truly cares for me. Dear sister, please..."
"Sister, don't worry," Du Yunluo blinked playfully, "I won't tell Fourth Aunt, nor will I mention it to Aunt Mo."
At the mention of Aunt Mo, Du Yunnuo smiled sheepishly.
Du Yunluo could tell that despite Du Yunnuo being with the Liao Family all the time, pleasing the Liao Family, deep down, it was Aunt Mo that mattered the most to her.
"Some things, you and I know. Saying them out loud wouldn't be good." Du Yunluo reached out her little finger to hook Du Yunnuo's, "We agreed."
Du Yunnuo let her talk and hook their fingers, nodding blankly.
It wasn't until they left Anhua Courtyard, and the warm spring wind blew, did Du Yunnuo come to her senses.
She turned her head and saw Qian He carrying a blackwood food box, Du Yunnuo was surprised: "What's this?"
Qian He, confused by her question, looked at the box and then at Du Yunnuo: "It's the pastries that Fifth Miss gave you, Miss asked me to hold them."
Du Yunnuo bit her lip lightly, she was genuinely confused, those words from Du Yunluo had muddled her thoughts.
Some things, you and I know.
In her ear, Du Yunluo's bell-like voice seemed to echo, Du Yunnuo shrank her neck, her mind heavy as she took a few steps. Through the flower window of the corridor, she happened to see the blooming pomegranate flowers, the flame-like red coming in view.
She paused abruptly.
The red-clad Princess An Ran.
If Princess An Ran knew that Dingyuan Marquis Mansion intended for Du Yunluo, what then?
Du Yunnuo chuckled. If those matters she and Du Yunluo knew were revealed, how terrible it would be!
Just now, they hooked their pinkies with these little fingers, didn't they?
She slowly raised her hand, her pearl-colored nails small and exquisite, and placed them on her cherry lips. Du Yunnuo smiled and turned her head: "Qian He, Fifth Sister dyed her nails, I think it's quite pretty, so when we go back, I want to dye mine too."
Qian He didn't understand why she brought it up, but obediently nodded: "Miss's hands will surely look good dyed, when we return, I'll get it ready."
In Anhua Courtyard, Du Yunluo drank a cup of cold tea.
As an old lady, she couldn't sleep well every day, sleeping little and lightly. But after returning for just a few days, she began to have the delicacy of a young girl in her chamber, somewhat sleepily.
Cold tea refreshed her mind, and after a cup, she felt slightly more awake.
The words she spoke with Du Yunnuo were hinting at something. She believed that even if Du Yunnuo didn't understand at the moment, she would figure it out later.
She was hoping Du Yunnuo would relay it to Princess An Ran.
The silent probing between the Du Family and the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion might not be decisive, and she didn't want it to end in nothing.
At this time, a strong dose of medicine was needed.
Once Princess An Ran made a scene, the Old Master would definitely intervene.
With the Old Master's protective nature, he would never let Princess An Ran marry Mu Lianxiao, who could be called to battle at any moment. He would only want to cut Princess An Ran's romantic notions swiftly.
And Mrs. Lian, not understanding the Old Master's thoughts, feared he couldn't resist Princess An Ran and would act first.
Du Yunluo leaned against the pillow, her fingertips tapping idly on the table, recalling the imperial decree from her previous life.
The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion's second house, to pressure the Du Family, sought an imperial decree for marriage.
It was both forcing marriage and cutting off her path.
Once Mu Lianxiao died in battle, the imperial decree would make it impossible for the Du Family to take Du Yunluo back or for Du Yunluo to remarry; she could only stay in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, to be handled by Mrs. Lian.
But now, Du Yunluo wanted that decree. She wanted to use Princess An Ran to force Mrs. Lian to ask for it again.
This time, she still wanted to marry in with that decree.
The imperial decree was her envoy, providing her legitimacy to save her many troubles. More importantly, she wanted to use the same sword once pointed at the Du Family and her own neck against the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion's second house.
Treat others the same way others treat you.
She was somewhat looking forward to it.