Chapter 519 - 518: Stalling for Time

Chapter 519: Chapter 518: Stalling for Time

Mu Lianhui’s eyes moved slightly, and her lips quivered.

"Don’t rush to speak, listen to your grandmother finish," Madam Wu interrupted her, "The fallback you desire, at this point, neither your parents nor your siblings, not even I, can promise you that. Even if we did promise, it would be deceiving you.

What kind of family is our Mu Family, what kind of family is the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, and what is your status? This account, you can calculate it yourself.

The son-in-law is gone, and with the Pingyang Marquis Mansion holding a funeral, as his wife, what does it look like to others if you are not present at the spirit table but instead at your natal home? Regardless of which path you want to take in the future, regardless of whether you can even take that path, what should you do now?

You need to make sure no one can find fault with you! Let the palace, the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, the noble families, and all the eyes and mouths in the Capital have not a single word to say against you!

Lian Cheng is already entangled in this matter.

Those who know think you’re back to settle accounts with Lian Cheng to vent your anger; those who don’t know might assume we’re plotting against the Pingyang Marquis Mansion in return.

Lian Hui, you should go back first; let me think carefully about the matters ahead."

Mu Lianhui stared straight at Madam Wu, withdrawing any semblance of ridicule she had.

Madam Wu’s words, even if not promising exactly how Mu Lianhui should proceed, at least meticulously analyzed the current situation.

Mu Lianhui wasn’t foolish; this was the only outcome she could achieve by coming back and causing such a scene. If she really did throw a tantrum or threaten to hang herself, thoroughly angering Madam Wu...

She cast a sidelong glance at Du Yunluo, seemingly unintentionally, and then lowered her eyes.

Utterly falling out with her natal family would leave her with no backing, rendering talk of returning home or remarrying futile—Du Yunluo’s past was a warning to her.

She could make noise; she could curse, but she must not sever her prospects or lose the support of her natal family.

If she stayed at the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, as long as the Jin Family did not starve her, freeze her, or shortchange her in material needs, only applying mental pressure, who could say anything?

Du Yunluo endured her grievances without recourse from her natal family; the Du Family, being unaware of the situation in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, did not pay attention to her.

However, if Mu Lianhui broke ties with her natal family now, even if she cried or complained in the future, as long as the Jin Family didn’t drive her to death or disgrace the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion...

If Madam Wu were angered with her, and the Second House was overwhelmed with its own troubles, could she expect Du Yunluo to stand up for her?

The future path must be kept in her own hands as much as possible.

Mu Lianhui softly said, "Grandmother is right, I shouldn’t let others find fault with me, after all, I wasn’t to blame for Jin Shang’s death."

Seeing that she wasn’t completely confused, Madam Wu patted her hand and said, "Let Lian Cheng and his wife accompany you back, and once the mourning hall is set, let Lian Xiao and his wife go over to offer incense."

Mu Lianhui nodded, acknowledging this was the respect due to her.

Seeing that the discussion had been settled, Lian Family took a breath of relief and personally escorted Mu Lianhui to the second gate: "Hui’er, given the situation, leave it to Grandmother to ponder further."

As soon as the words fell, Mu Lianhui turned her head, her dark eyes unfathomable, "Grandmother is mulling it over, and what about you? Are you pondering for me, or simply listening to Grandmother?"

Lian Family was taken aback and responded awkwardly, "Hui’er, for a daughter-in-law like me, many things..."

"Ha..." Mu Lianhui smiled, eyes curving with a hint of mockery, "So you listen to Grandmother? I thought you only listened to Father. When he says east, you go east; when he says west, you hasten west. Grandmother’s wishes, haven’t you defied them often enough over the years?"

Lian Family’s breath caught; glancing at the nearby Jiang Yunuan, she said somberly to Mu Lianhui, "Don’t speak recklessly."

Mu Lianhui laughed aloud, entwining her arm around Jiang Yunuan’s, reminiscent of their childhood bond: "Anuan, look, there are all kinds of mothers and daughters, mothers-in-law, and daughters-in-law in this world.

Your mother, with a wave of her hand, arranges everything for you, in line with the path she plotted for you, disregarding even your grandmother’s words. But my mother, she says to pass the matter to my grandmother, and since pondering is pointless, she simply doesn’t bother.

Thinking about it like this, it seems we share the same fate. No matter how we feel, nobody really cares. Anuan, we have at least grown up together."

Jiang Yunuan’s face turned pale, as Mu Liancheng approached, neither too close nor too far, she looked at him timidly, unsure of how much he had heard.

Lian Family’s chest tightened, wanting to say something, but the stubborn expression on Mu Lianhui’s face was both painful and panic-inducing. Fearful she’d say something even more unrestrained, she opted to remain silent.

The Pingyang Marquis Mansion’s carriage awaited at the second gate, and Mu Lianhui stepped aboard, with Jiang Yunuan following after bowing to the Lian Family.

The Lian Family whispered a few reminders to Mu Liancheng before he finally boarded the carriage.

In Baijie Hall, Mu Yuanmou sat in a chair and said, "Mother, you’ve been troubled."

Madam Wu, with a heavy gaze, looked at her only remaining son. Remembering the truth of Mu Liankang’s disappearance, she suddenly didn’t know what to say to Mu Yuanmou.

Waving her hand, Madam Wu said, "Go back for now. As for Lian Hui’s matter, let me consider it slowly."

Mu Yuanmou left, and Banqiao cleared away the broken porcelain pieces on the floor, replacing them with new items.

Madam Wu, sipping tea from Nanny Shan’s hand, bitterly smiled, "This old woman really has a dilemma on her hands."

Du Yunluo sat nearby, silent.

Madam Wu’s advice to Mu Lianhui was essentially a stalling tactic.

No matter how things pan out, stabilizing Mu Lianhui and persuading her to return was the primary goal. Mu Lianhui herself understood this; "remarry" often served as an exasperated threat rather than a resolute plan; truly doing so would be excessively difficult.

"Lady Yuan Ce," Madam Wu called upon Mrs. Zhou, "assist this old woman in thinking this through. Lian Hui hasn’t even been married a year, and she..."

A hint of melancholy flashed between Mrs. Zhou’s brows. She sighed, "Only those who’ve tasted widowhood understand its bitterness.

In my case, it doesn’t matter much; I have Lian Xiao. After the old master passed, there remained something to look forward to. Watching my son build his family, my days aren’t hard.

But recalling the hardships of my third and fourth sisters-in-law during Lian Kang’s missing years, Madam, these years haven’t been easy for them.

This life, who knows when it will ever end.

Lian Hui is still young, and in my heart, I don’t wish for her to endure such suffering."

Madam Wu sighed deeply, wiping her face, "She is, after all, my own granddaughter; how could I bear it?

But in families like ours, we cannot ignore ancestral honor!

The daughters-in-law of the Mu Family, each one remains chaste. Now that it’s Lian Hui’s turn, to say she won’t observe mourning undermines our standing. How, then, can the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion retain honor in the Capital?"