Chapter 395 - 394: Endurance

Chapter 395: Chapter 394: Endurance

Du Yunluo was holding the letter, lost in thought, and didn’t even notice Mu Lianxiao’s return.

It wasn’t until the curtain was lifted and Mu Lianxiao stepped inside that Du Yunluo belatedly looked up.

Mu Lianxiao smiled warmly and asked, "I heard from Jiuxi that a letter was sent from the Capital?"

Du Yunluo nodded, without a word, and pushed the letter towards Mu Lianxiao.

Noticing her unusual behavior, Mu Lianxiao’s smile slightly froze; he sat by the side and read the letter carefully.

When he saw that Mu Yuanjing had swallowed gold, Mu Lianxiao furrowed his brows.

Mu Yuanjing having an affair with Mu Lianyu was a death sentence; the only uncertainty was when she would die.

What Mu Lianxiao hadn’t anticipated was that Mu Yuanjing would end her own life. If she truly didn’t want to live, she would have ended it back then, rather than wait until now.

Yet, Mu Yuanjing’s death must have been by her own hand. Madam Wu wanted her dead but wouldn’t have chosen the Laba Festival for that.

"She must have realized her days were numbered." Du Yunluo saw Mu Lianxiao’s thoughts and sighed.

This explanation suited Mu Yuanjing’s personality.

Their aunt had always liked to make her own decisions. Since death was inevitable, rather than let Madam Wu force her hand, it was better to act first, catching everyone off guard, which was exactly her style.

No matter how disgraceful Mu Yuanjing’s actions were, she was still their legitimate aunt. With her death, everything ceased to matter; good or bad, there was no need to mention it.

Mu Lianxiao’s gaze fell back on the letter.

Mrs. Zhou mentioned Mu Yuanjing’s provocative words, especially mentioning Mu Liankang’s name, which made Mu Lianxiao’s eyes darken.

"Yunluo, what exactly did Aunt say?" Mu Lianxiao asked solemnly.

Du Yunluo’s eyes tightened suddenly, and the hand hidden in her sleeve involuntarily clenched.

Many words swirled in her throat, but she swallowed most of them eventually.

Since she had endured this long, she had to find the right opportunity to speak, and now wasn’t it.

Merely relying on Mrs. Zhou’s vague words to accuse the second branch of intending harm against Mu Lianxiao, Du Yunluo wasn’t going to be so reckless.

Du Yunluo slowly shook her head, "I don’t understand Aunt, don’t know her character, I really can’t guess. Better to ask Mother next time."

While they were discussing Mu Yuanjing, someone from the government office came to announce that Du Yunru and Shao Yuanzhou had arrived.

Though Lindong didn’t set up spirit tablets, being in a mourning period, Du Yunluo sent word to Mrs. Yang that she wouldn’t go to the government office this New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, the household’s meals had become much simpler.

Outside, firecrackers were crackling loudly, and Du Yunluo lay on the couch, drowsy.

Her spirits lately hadn’t been great, with the little one in her belly being particularly restless, often punching and kicking energetically, making it hard for Du Yunluo to stand upright.

On the ninth day of the first month, a new family in the alley was hosting a feast, inviting all the neighbors. Even with the doors closed, the excitement outside was audible.

Hong Jinbao’s wife went out to shop and exchanged a few words with the maiden of that family, then reported back, "Madam, the head of that family is surnamed Liu, from Jiangnan. They used to do business outside the pass and accumulated quite a bit of silver, but two years ago, when the border was unstable, they dared not venture out again."

Du Yunluo had heard that Jiangnan ceramics and fabrics could fetch a good price outside the pass. Despite the long journey and high risks, merchants were undeterred.

They would often hire escort agencies, traveling in groups; in peaceful times, they didn’t need to worry too much about the Dazi, just the bandits.

If they could make one round trip a year and return safely, the silver earned would be astonishing.

"So why did they leave Jiangnan and come to Lindong?" Du Yunluo was curious.

Hong Jinbao’s wife chuckled sheepishly, "I was quick with my words and asked that too, but they changed the subject. I reckon there might be some situation at home, forcing them to move far away."

Du Yunluo understood.

Every family has its conflicts; some vie for the throne, others for titles, and some for silver. It’s all essentially the same.

Du Yunluo didn’t go out, but Mrs. Yan and Du Yunru came to see her together.

Mrs. Yan had gotten past the worst of it, and her complexion was now much healthier. She smiled and said, "I’m here to deliver the催生 bag."

Du Yunluo had Jin Rui accept it.

Du Yunru instructed carefully, "Childbirth is just like that, listen to the midwife; breathe when she tells you to, push when she tells you to.

I know you love to cry. Save your energy; if you exhaust yourself crying, how will you give birth?

The day after tomorrow, I’m going back to Linggu; I can’t be here for your delivery, which worries me."

Du Yunluo chuckled, "Did Sister not say it’s just like that? Then what are you worried about?"

"You don’t appreciate good intentions!" Du Yunru playfully scolded her, "Take this chance to have a big, healthy boy, so that in the Marquis Mansion..."

Du Yunru held up two fingers.

Du Yunluo nodded. If she could give birth to a boy this time, Jiang Yu Nuan would have to delay another year due to mourning; with Mu Yuanmou’s personality, he’d slow his pace further.

After the Shangyuan Festival, Mrs. Yang brought the midwife to see Du Yunluo.

The midwife, surnamed Qiu, looked to be in her fifties, with a round, kind face that was instantly likable.

Mrs. Qiu was renowned in Xuancheng, having delivered over a hundred children, and according to Mrs. Yang, she had delivered Brother Duan as well.

"This pregnancy looks to be about ready," Mrs. Qiu smiled, "Within the next ten days or so it’ll be time. Don’t worry, everything seems fine."

Du Yunluo nodded.

Hong Jinbao’s family prepared a guest room, and Mrs. Qiu agreed to move in five days later, just in case Du Yunluo went into labor early.

Now, everything was ready; all that was left was the right moment.

Du Yunluo asked Mu Lianxiao, "Don’t you need to return to Shanyu Pass?"

Mu Lianxiao rubbed Du Yunluo’s belly and shook his head with a smile, "I can wait another half month. Who knows if he might come out before I have to leave."

Du Yunluo smiled softly, "Then give him a little nudge."

In the Capital, at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mu Liancheng had no choice but to depart.

Sister Niang cried and fussed for a while, and Mrs. Liu Menghai coaxed her to sleep.

Jiang Yu Nuan helped Mu Liancheng pack his luggage, watching him with concern.

Mu Liancheng pulled Jiang Yu Nuan into his arms, and she trembled, wrapping her arms around him, her hands brushing over his back.

On Mu Liancheng’s back was a deep, long knife scar. Even through the cloth, Jiang Yu Nuan could feel the rough old wound, and she couldn’t help but gasp.

"Don’t be afraid, Anuan, don’t be afraid, it’s alright." Jiang Yu Nuan shivered in his arms, and Mu Liancheng comforted her gently.

Jiang Yu Nuan lowered her eyes; how could she not be afraid, how could she not fear?

She remembered the first time Mu Liancheng returned and she saw the wound on his back, she was so terrified that she almost collapsed, tears streaming uncontrollably.

After that, she dared not look, dared not touch it. Even when nestled in Mu Liancheng’s arms, she’d subconsciously avoid that scar.

But now, there was no avoiding it.

The Northern Border was treacherous, and with this return, how many more scars would Mu Liancheng bear when he came back?

She looked up, her eyes misty and the corners red.