Chapter 498 - 497: Upside Down

Chapter 498: Chapter 497: Upside Down

The Elder Lady of the clan always felt that Zhuang Ke had an extraordinary bearing in her gestures, and now she had suddenly turned into a Commandery Princess. She just hoped that Zhuang Ke wouldn’t take Gui Family’s nonsense to heart.

In the end, it’s all Gui Family’s fault for her mouth, feeling the need to show off.

After all, the clan depended on Dingyuan Marquis Mansion for their livelihood. The Marquis Mansion, for the sake of reputation, wouldn’t make things difficult for the family, but if they wanted to reply with a sharp retort, wouldn’t it be easy as pie?

With that in mind, the Elder Lady of the clan wished she could take out an embroidery needle to sew Gui Family’s mouth shut.

The Elder Lady of the clan felt hatred in her heart, meanwhile Gui Family standing outside the mourning hall was dumbfounded.

That blue-eyed Zhuang Ke is a Commandery Princess?

She had no natal family, and suddenly she’s connected to the Imperial Family?

From now on, not just the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, but within the whole clan, Zhuang Ke would be the woman of the most distinguished background.

The generations of glory from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion relied on military achievements, blood, and loyalty. Many of the wives were also from official noble families, born of clansmen, but Zhuang Ke was the first.

Gui Family took a deep breath.

Last month, she was laughing at Zhuang Ke as an ignorant outsider, but this month everything had turned upside down?

"In the ninth year of Yong’an, she was made a Lady, and now she’s a Commandery Princess..."

Gui Family vaguely heard someone say this, and she couldn’t help but nod repeatedly.

Indeed, it must be the same as Mu Lianhui’s situation. It was a reward from the palace. In the mansion, the only four- or five-year-old girl is Sister Ying. It could only fall on Zhuang Ke.

Who knew Mu Liankang returned from missing and, along with Mu Lianxiao, achieved such military success.

"If it is really for a reward, then making her a Lady is enough. At most, it would be a County Princess. If she is favored enough to be made a Commandery Princess, then there’s no reason not to be under some Prince’s name, but they even brought out the name of Prince Shun. I think it’s true, didn’t you hear about even changing the surname? She won’t be of the Zhuang Family anymore, she’ll be of the Li Family."

Gui Family shivered, her whole back turning numb.

She knew that those women were right, by the rules, the most she could get would be a County Princess.

Just like the current Princess Rui, formerly County Princess Nanyan, whose father died in battle and mother followed, the Empress Dowager took pity and made her a County Princess.

But Zhuang Ke was made a Commandery Princess, and even her surname would change.

This was not just idle talk; it was a change written in the Mu family’s genealogy.

Mu Liankang’s wife would be of the Li Family, no longer the Zhuang Family.

Thinking of this, Gui Family only saw a swirl of white before her eyes.

She almost wanted to slap herself twice.

Why did she have to provoke Zhuang Ke? No, it’s Li Ke.

She thought she was teasing a cat; little did she know the cat stood up and turned into a tiger.

Li Ke got along very well with Du Yunluo. In the future, the mansion would be run by these two sisters-in-law, and then...

Gui Family regretted so much that it was like her intestines were turning green. She saw the two sisters-in-law who received the imperial decree coming from afar, trying to put on a smile to say a few good words. But before she could approach, they were surrounded by other mourners, and Gui Family couldn’t push her way in, only fretting anxiously.

Du Yunluo was there to thank those who came to the mansion for condolences; these were customary matters.

Fortunately, those who came were all familiar, understanding Du Yunluo’s busy day, exchanged some pleasantries, and moved on.

Seeing people scattering gradually, Gui Family went up with her, smiling and calling "niece-in-law."

Du Yunluo replied with "Third Aunt Hu."

Gui Family then looked at Zhuang Ke, whose demeanor remained unchanged, neither pleased nor annoyed, indifferent.

This made Gui Family’s heart drum with anxiety. Was she holding her airs, waiting for her to speak good words?

As an elder, pleading with the younger generation, Gui Family felt extremely uncomfortable. Hesitating several times, just about to speak, the two sisters-in-law were about to step away.

Gui Family hurriedly reached out to stop them.

Du Yunluo asked, "Does Auntie still have any business?"

Gui Family gave a dry smile.

Du Yunluo wasn’t keen on interacting more with Gui Family; to be honest, she would rather shed a few tears for Mu Lianyu at the mourning hall than look at Gui Family’s face.

Seeing that Gui Family still wanted to follow, Du Yunluo gave a look to Mrs. Gu Fula.

Mrs. Gu Fula understood and blocked Gui Family, allowing Du Yunluo and others to escape.

Seeing the two going farther and farther, Gui Family anxiously scolded Mrs. Gu Fula for bullying others with power, muttering how Du Yunluo had just become the Marchioness and her temper was already rising.

Returning to Shaohui Garden, Du Yunluo asked Jin Rui to change out of her Princely Heir’s wife’s attire.

It had been raining outside, and after kneeling for a while, her attire was dirty.

Jin Rui smoothed the embroidery above and said, "Madam, this is the last time you’ll wear this attire. Next time, you’ll wear the new Marchioness’s clothes."

Seated before the dressing table, Du Yunluo was momentarily stunned.

She thought of her past life and recalled seeing Jiang Yunuan wearing the attire of the Marchioness.

It looked heavy but also beautiful.

It was supposed to be hers, this title in Dingyuan Marquis was always meant for Mu Lianxiao.

In this life, the couple finally took back what was theirs, not just the title, but also everything else Du Yunluo had desperately wanted in her past life but couldn’t get. In this life, she did not want to miss a thing.

In Fengyu Courtyard, Mrs. Lian slowly opened her eyes, accompanied by her sister-in-law from her maiden family, Mrs. Lian Chang.

Mrs. Lian Chang, dressed plainly, neatly combed, her expression kind.

"I know you’re sad, but you must take care of your health," Mrs. Lian Chang said.

Mrs. Lian’s tears fell like rain, "Did you see those rewards? One after another, our mansion in mourning treated like a wedding with these honors!

Poor me, my son left without sons or heirs! Our family line ends!

Those items can’t replace my son’s life. Is my son worth so little? Even moving the entire Imperial Palace can’t compare to my son’s life!"

Mrs. Lian Chang sighed, "You can say this to me, but don’t shout it outside. If it reaches the palace, it’s a grave disrespect. If you truly love Lian Yu, designate a son under his name as a filial act."

"Designate one?" Mrs. Lian sneered, "Whose son should be designated to Lian Yu? The eldest branch’s or the third’s? If they want to designate, I won’t accept! Let Lian Cheng’s wife have a son for Lian Cheng first."

Mrs. Lian Chang patted Mrs. Lian’s hand, "If you don’t want it, then stop crying. Crying won’t help."

"But I’ve lost my son, and now I can’t even cry?" Mrs. Lian was unsatisfied, glaring, "The eldest holds the title, the third has a Commandery Princess, what’s left for us? It’s just exchanging for my son’s life, I spit on it!"

Mrs. Lian Chang disagreed.

The eldest and third branches both have military merits; they earned their rewards.

If one says everything was exchanged for Mu Lianyu’s life, then in the ninth year of Yong’an, when the Old Marquis and his two sons died in battle, didn’t the rewards fall on the second branch’s Mu Lianhui?

In the end, it’s just the cycle of cause and effect.

As those thoughts came to Mrs. Lian Chang’s mind, seeing Mrs. Lian’s distracted state, she refrained from saying it out loud, instead saying, "Take care of your health, and when the weather improves, let’s go to Potuo Mountain to offer incense, read for Lian Yu, and hopefully bless him with fortune."

Mrs. Lian’s eyes suddenly tightened; what Mrs. Lian Chang hadn’t said was perfectly clear to her.

Is this retribution?

Was all this truly retribution?

Mrs. Lian couldn’t accept it.