Chapter 370 - 369: Zongzi (He Shi Bi of Pure Ripples +)

Chapter 370: Chapter 369: Zongzi (He Shi Bi of Pure Ripples +)

The Changping Marquis was once Prince Rui Li Xiang’s right-hand man. After inheriting the title, he continued to secretly raise private soldiers, supporting Li Xiang’s rebellion.

In a previous life, when the Changping Marquis rose with Li Xiang, Du Huarang had already been transferred to Jiangnan for several years, which spared him from being implicated. Otherwise, not just his official hat, but the entire Du Family would have suffered.

The Changping Marquis Mansion was in Xuancheng, while Du Huarang was the Lindong Prefect. The two knowing each other and having interactions was only natural.

But whether or not Du Huarang knew about what the Changping Marquis was secretly doing?

Du Yunluo couldn’t be sure for a moment, so she smiled and asked the Yang Family member, "Is Aunt familiar with Madam Changping?"

The Yang Family member smiled thinly, "Both from the Capital, having been in Lindong for many years, Madam often sends posts during festivals.

Given her status, it’s only reasonable for Madam to invite me to her feasts.

As my husband worked in Xuancheng, we inevitably had some contact with the Changping Marquis Mansion.

But to say we’re very familiar..."

The Yang Family member paused, cleared her throat, and smiled awkwardly, "They are hereditary nobility, while we come from an official background—it’s different."

Du Yunluo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Yang Family member’s attitude is also Du Huarang’s attitude.

As long as Du Huarang is not aligned with the Changping Marquis, all is well.

Not to mention that Li Xiang’s rebellion was doomed to fail, even if he succeeded, it would still be a disaster for the Du Mansion.

Du Gongfu was once the Crown Prince’s Tutor, and now often enters the palace to teach the Imperial Grandson. In the eyes of others, the entire Du Family are figures aligned with the Crown Prince.

If Li Xiang ascends the throne, the Du Family would be the first to suffer.

Our own elder brother should not be so confused; he probably just didn’t discover what the Changping Marquis was doing.

The Yang Family member asked someone to prepare brush and ink for a reply. She had no choice but to accept the invitation to admire the spring flowers, but she advised Du Yunluo not to go.

Du Yunluo did not want to go; she was reluctant to interact with those people and did not wish to deepen ties with the Changping Marquis Mansion.

After returning from the government office, Du Yunluo sat at the long desk to write a letter to Mu Lianxiao.

This letter would be sent by the post house, so Du Yunluo didn’t have to struggle over whether to mention the Changping Marquis Mansion; she only talked about the situation at home and about Shao Yuanzhou’s success in the imperial examinations.

Jiuxi delivered the letter to the post house.

Two days later, someone from the government office came to invite Du Yunluo.

Yang Family member had prepared glutinous rice stuffing, and the fresh smell of zong leaves awakened Du Yunluo to the fact that it was time to wrap zongzi and send them back to the Capital.

Being far from the Capital, even raw zongzi from Lindong were hard to preserve.

These years, Yang Family member had always timed it right. If freshly made, someone would rush it back to the Capital.

Following family tradition, Du Yunluo wrapped zongzi herself for Du Gongfu and Mrs. Xia.

While Yang Family member packed the boxes, she took some paper and pen to write a family letter, sending them together back to the Capital.

A few rain showers fell at the end of April.

Perhaps because we were not far from the desert Gobi, Xuancheng rarely had rain in the year, and even when it rained, although raindrops appeared large, not much fell before it stopped.

Though there was no fine rain, the weather grew warmer day by day.

The flowers and trees in the garden budded new shoots, adding some spring feeling. The Flower Supervisor’s old woman said that since moving in late this year, by next spring, the garden will look very different from now.

Jiuxi brought a letter from the post house.

Du Yunluo looked at it, the handwriting seemed somewhat familiar yet strange. Looking at the signature on the back, she suddenly realized.

It was sent by Yun Qi.

The letter chattered on about many things.

Jin Ling had given birth to a chubby boy. Fortunately, Jin Ling had gained a lot of strength over those ten months, so the little chubby boy didn’t tire her out.

It also mentioned that Princess Nanyan gave birth to a daughter with peach blossom eyes like Li Luan’s, and even in the Cining Palace, her looks were praised.

The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and Pingyang Marquis Mansion had set a date for Little Ding on May 18th.

Mu Liancheng and Mu Lianyu in the Northern Border had just sent a family letter back to the Capital...

Du Yunluo read and laughed out loud.

This chatter clearly came from Jin Ling’s dictation for Yun Qi to write.

Yet Yun Qi added his own thoughts, making the entire letter amusingly interesting.

Du Yunluo read it twice, still finding it funny.

As for the matters mentioned in the letter...

Jin Ling safely giving birth to a boy made Du Yunluo overjoyed.

Before leaving the Capital, Du Yunluo had long prepared a washing ceremony gift for Jin Ling’s childbirth, which should have been delivered by Mrs. Gu Fula to Jin Ling.

As for Nanyan having a daughter.

Unlike in the previous life, where Mu Lianhui gave birth to a son, Nanyan gave birth to a girl.

Whether this was good or bad, Du Yunluo couldn’t say.

As for Mu Lianhui, Du Yunluo was truly puzzled.

Would Mu Lianhui really marry a short-lived man?

Or does Ma Lianhui think that she can prevent that short-lived man from falling down the stairs and allow him to live?

However, if Mu Lianhui calmly marries out and no longer meddles in her maternal family affairs, it would be a good thing for Du Yunluo.

After all, Mu Lianhui is starting over; if she is forced into a corner, resulting in mutual injury, it’s not worth it.

But a faint thought lingered in Du Yunluo’s mind that Mu Lianhui might not turn a blind eye to the second house.

No matter what, Du Yunluo had to proceed with preparations step by step.

As May started, Du Yunluo instructed the kitchen to purchase glutinous rice, zongzi leaves, and fresh meat.

Jin Rui asked her, "Madam, haven’t you already wrapped zongzi at the government office?"

"Can’t I wrap some to eat myself?" Du Yunluo turned her eyes to counter.

Jin Rui chuckled, her eyes arching, "Madam clearly prefers red date stuffing. These..."

Before she finished, Jin Lan also joined in the laughter.

Du Yunluo glanced at her, huffing, "Since you know I like red dates, hurry and wrap some for me."

"It’s not yet the Dragon Boat Festival. When the day comes, I’ll wrap the freshest for you, Madam," Jin Rui answered.

Du Yunluo puffed out her cheeks and glared at her, but soon laughed too.

These fresh meat zongzi were all for Mu Lianxiao.

Du Yunluo carefully wrapped them, instructing Jiuxi to rush them to Shanyu Pass.

Calculating the days, when Jiuxi arrived, it would be just the Dragon Boat Festival so Mu Lianxiao could enjoy the zongzi, fitting the occasion.

On the fifth day of May, ayamay lilies and mugwort hung in the yard, and realgar scattered.

The master and servants wrapped various flavors of zongzi. Together with Du Huarang’s family, they joyfully celebrated the holiday.

During the meal, they drank some wine and after returning to Guishu Alley, they rested early.

The next day, still under the influence of the wine, Du Yunluo got up late, and had just sat up when she heard a knock at the door.

She called Jin Rui in, "Who is knocking?"

Guishu Alley was tranquil, and the courtyard not large, so when someone knocked on the Moon Gate connecting two yards, some sounds could be heard indoors.

Jin Rui tended to her dressing and grooming, saying, "It might be Jiuxi coming back."

Du Yunluo raised an eyebrow, anticipating what Jiuxi would say this time, whether Mu Lianxiao liked her zongzi or not.

She was still speculating when suddenly she heard a clear voice, "Yunluo," which nearly caused Du Yunluo to leap from her chair.

Du Yunluo quickly looked toward the door.

Mu Lianxiao lifted the curtain and entered.

Their gazes met, and his smile was as radiant as the bright spring sunshine.