Chapter 383 - 382: Rainy Night

Chapter 383: Chapter 382: Rainy Night

When Mu Lianxiao returned to Guishu Alley, the robe under his raincoat was already soaked through.

Seeing him drenched, Du Yunluo quickly had hot water brought in.

The sound of water came from the bathing room, while Du Yunluo leaned on the couch, thinking that the rain was indeed too heavy.

The government office was very close to home, and even at the pace of the young maids, it was only a quarter of an hour’s walk.

Even though it was difficult to walk in the rain, Mu Lianxiao’s long strides meant that just this short distance had left him drenched from head to toe; the torrential rain was far more frightening than it appeared from inside the house.

Ginger soup was already simmering in the kitchen.

After all, autumn had already arrived, and if one caught a cold, it would be troublesome.

Mu Lianxiao felt more comfortable after a wash and change of clothes.

As he wiped his hair and walked out, he took the ginger soup from Du Yunluo’s hand and drank it in one go.

"I heard from the servants below that the situation in the city isn’t too good?" Du Yunluo asked.

Mu Lianxiao nodded: "A few houses were knocked down, the soldiers have been busy all day."

Seeing Du Yunluo frown slightly, Mu Lianxiao said, "Don’t worry, our courtyard won’t be washed away. Guishu Alley is at a high ground and won’t flood."

Du Yunluo smiled faintly.

Jin Lan had set the table, and though there were many dishes on it, the variety was not as complete as usual.

During pregnancy, Du Yunluo had a good appetite, and the kitchen had prepared plenty of meat, fruits, and vegetables. Although it wasn’t easy to shop today, it hadn’t affected them much.

However, not knowing how long this heavy rain would last, they had to be a bit frugal to avoid shortages in the coming days.

The couple dined together.

After setting down her chopsticks, Du Yunluo listened to the rain outside and asked, "Heir, compared to the year in De’an, is this rain more severe?"

Mu Lianxiao cleared his throat.

The scene in De’an that year wasn’t something easily explained in a few words, nor did he want to tell Du Yunluo.

In the midst of a disaster, the people suffered, the villages outside De’an City buried by mudslides, the rivers breaching in the city...

It wasn’t as bloody as a battlefield, but it was still a matter of life and death.

This wasn’t a scene for the women of the inner household to witness.

Mu Lianxiao didn’t want to frighten Du Yunluo, so he spoke vaguely: "The rain that year lasted a long time. It won’t rain for so many days here in Lindong; it will clear up in a few days."

A trace of worry flashed in Du Yunluo’s eyes: "I’m concerned about eldest sister and her husband; they should have arrived by now."

At the mention of Shao Yuanzhou and Du Yunru, Mu Lianxiao pressed his lips tightly.

The official road from Liang County to Xuancheng had collapsed, and Mu Lianxiao wanted to go and investigate but was stopped by Du Huarang.

Firstly, due to the unclear situation and the lack of news about Shao Yuanzhou and his wife, if Mu Lianxiao hurriedly left the city, Du Huarang feared Du Yunluo would start imagining the worst.

Secondly, as the commander of Shanyu Pass stationed in Xuancheng during the garrison change, if something happened while inspecting the official road, no one could answer for it.

Mu Lianxiao listened to Du Huarang and returned to wait for news.

If necessary, he would then search the official road.

"Yunluo," Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo’s hand, "Coming from the capital, it takes several days to travel, how can anyone predict it accurately? Didn’t we also get delayed for a few days because of the snow then? Auntie and uncle are probably also delayed."

Du Yunluo found reason in his words and said no more.

Late at night, the house was dark with the lamps out.

Du Yunluo fell into a deep sleep, while Mu Lianxiao slept lightly.

Thud, thud, thud—

Even in the dead of night, despite the sound of rain drowning out many noises, the knocking on the door was still clear.

The doorkeeper got up, threw on some clothes, and asked through the door, opening it quickly upon hearing someone from the government office was looking for Mu Lianxiao.

The two people moved to the second entrance and knocked on the Moon Gate.

Hong Jinbao’s wife had them wait outside, holding an oil lamp in one hand to shield the wind, she walked to the main house to call for someone.

Mu Lianxiao, a light sleeper, woke to the sound. He heard faint rustlings outside, followed by a creaking of the door, presumably as the maid Jin Rui went to find out what was happening.

Gently moving Du Yunluo’s hand off his waist, Mu Lianxiao sat up and drew open the drapes.

Jin Rui was hesitating on how to wake the master, but hearing the movement, she came in.

Mu Lianxiao quickly gestured for silence.

As he moved outside, he asked, "Has someone come from the government office?"

Jin Rui nodded.

Mu Lianxiao glanced at the inner room and instructed Jin Rui: "I will go there. The lady is asleep, don’t disturb her."

Jin Rui agreed.

Mu Lianxiao left, and Jin Rui quietly closed the door, but once back on the couch, she was wide awake.

Has something happened?

Jin Rui’s heart was uneasy, silently reciting Buddhist prayers.

In the room, Du Yunluo, sleeping, shifted slightly and groggily opened her eyes.

The room was pitch black.

The space beside her was empty. She pressed her throbbing temples and called softly for Jin Rui.

Jin Rui jolted awake and quickly pulled on clothes to go inside: "Madam, do you need some water?"

"Did the Heir go to practice?" Du Yunluo’s voice was hoarse, "The rain is so heavy, I can’t tell if it’s daylight yet."

Jin Rui bowed respectfully: "It’s not daybreak yet, still the fourth hour of the night. Two quarters of an hour ago, someone from the government office came to find the Heir, and he has gone out."

Du Yunluo was stunned.

It was already the fourth hour of the night, and Mu Lianxiao going out now meant there must be urgent matters at the government office.

However, Mu Lianxiao wasn’t an official, and Du Huarang was someone who acted with proper restraint, so calling him to help during the day wasn’t unusual. But calling Mu Lianxiao out of bed in the middle of the night suggested something significant had occurred.

Du Yunluo’s heart pounded loudly.

What could the heavy rain cause?

River breaches? Villages nearby affected? Mudslides?

These were the only things Du Yunluo could think of. Her brow furrowed tightly as she said: "The Heir won’t be back for some time. Since he has gone to the government office, we needn’t worry about his food and drink.

You should go back to sleep, and at daybreak, send someone to the street to inquire and see if there’s any news."

Jin Rui helped Du Yunluo lie back down, adjusted her quilt’s corners, and lowered the drapery before leaving.

With her eyes closed, Du Yunluo couldn’t fall asleep.

The water flow in Xuancheng was gentle; even if it rained for three days and nights, there wouldn’t be a concern of river breaches, at most the river water would spill onto the banks.

Had a mudslide destroyed a village, or had it damaged the official road?

At this thought, Du Yunluo became anxious.

She couldn’t help but worry about Shao Yuanzhou and Du Yunru...

Anxiously, she waited until daybreak, and Jin Rui urged someone to go out to inquire about the situation.

It didn’t take long before news came back that the official road to Liang County had collapsed, burying travelers under mudslides.

Jin Rui and Hong Jinbao’s wife exchanged worried glances; how could they dare to bring this news to Du Yunluo?

But Du Yunluo urged them for news, and Hong Jinbao’s wife braved it and spoke.

Upon hearing, Du Yunluo gasped, her face turning ghostly pale.

Hong Jinbao’s wife quickly comforted her: "Madam, it’s just a rumor; it might not be true."

"Where there’s smoke, there’s fire." Du Yunluo tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, "If the road hadn’t collapsed, why would Uncle call the Heir to go in the middle of the night?"

"The eldest master has been an official for many years and is prudent. If the road has collapsed, he must have already sent people to clear it," Hong Jinbao’s wife said.

Du Yunluo bit her lip and stood up: "I’m going to find Auntie."