Chapter 525 - 524: Dilemma (Little Bunny’s Mom and He Shi Bi +)

Chapter 525: Chapter 524: Dilemma (Little Bunny’s Mom and He Shi Bi +)

June 19, the day when Guanyin attained enlightenment.

Du Yunluo got up very early, tidied herself carefully, and went to the palace with Zhuang Ke.

Yesterday, the Empress Dowager sent word, asking the two to visit her in Cining Palace for a chat. Given the recent hot weather, they were advised not to bring the children to avoid exposure to the heat.

In Cining Palace, Aunt Ming smiled and said to the two of them, "The Empress Dowager instructed that the Commandery Princess believes in The Three Pure Ones, so you are not required to go to the Buddha hall. Please have some tea in the main hall. Madam, please follow me, as the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort are in the Buddha hall."

A palace maid led Zhuang Ke into the main hall, while Du Yunluo followed Aunt Ming to the side hall’s Buddha hall.

The Empress Dowager was devoted to Buddhism, so even the Buddha hall in the side hall was more splendid than some temples.

The Buddha banners were meticulously embroidered, and on the shrine was a white jade statue of Guanyin holding a Pure Bottle and sitting in a lotus position, flanked by intricately carved, lifelike statues of Sudhana and the Dragon Girl.

Sandalwood incense was burning in the Buddha hall, and the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort were kneeling before Buddha, chanting scriptures with their eyes closed.

Aunt Ming gestured for Du Yunluo to enter.

Du Yunluo tiptoed into the hall, knelt on a prayer mat at the back, folded her hands, and calmly began reciting sutras.

Once her mind settled, her awareness of other matters around her diminished, and even her sense of time became blurred.

Reflecting on her past life, Du Yunluo recalled that she spent day after day before the Buddha, and once she became accustomed to it, the mornings passed by without feeling long.

When the Empress Dowager gently coughed twice, Du Yunluo opened her eyes.

The palace attendants helped the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort up, and Du Yunluo followed suit, respectfully bowing.

The Imperial Consort smiled faintly and said to the Empress Dowager, "This child has always had a steady temper."

"There are many who worship the Bodhisattva, but among the younger generation, few can calm their minds and pay homage to Buddha," the Empress Dowager nodded at Du Yunluo.

The Empress Dowager left the Buddha hall first, and the Imperial Consort slowly followed. As she passed by Du Yunluo, she whispered, "It’s just you, Nanyan, and Jiarou."

Du Yunluo’s heart felt heavy.

Younger wives and girls have more lively hearts and can’t be compared to elderly people.

Unless, like Mrs. Lu, they were widowed young and, after a few years of widowhood, grew accustomed to living with only a lamp, could their hearts find peace.

And the three people the Imperial Consort spoke of...

Du Yunluo gave a wry smile. She and Mu Lianhui had already aged, while Princess Nanyan, though she died young, had an old heart from the moment she took desperate measures, and slowly it had also died.

Returning to the main hall, Zhuang Ke was greeting the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort.

The Empress Dowager sat on the Arhat Bed and softly said, "I have always told you to visit the palace more often, yet each time, I have to send someone to fetch you."

Zhuang Ke smiled apologetically.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes moved, and the attendants in the hall exited, leaving only two old nannies, each holding a Beauty Hammer, gently tapping the legs of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort.

"Though we are of a certain age and have seen much, still, recent days have been troubling," the Empress Dowager leaned back against the pillow, massaging her forehead, and said, "You know the eldest son of the Duke Jing Mansion, don’t you?"

Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke exchanged a glance, thinking today’s visit to Cining Palace would focus on Mu Lianhui’s matters, but they hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to mention Ye Yuzhi.

"Young Master Ye and I crossed paths at Shanyu Pass," Du Yunluo said with a smile, "It was due to Young Master Ye’s efforts that my eldest brother and sister-in-law could return to the capital."

The Empress Dowager nodded, "I haven’t seen him for a few years. When An Ran came to the palace, I had summoned him. I remember his appearance was quite proper and his speech was appropriate. I never thought then that he would join the army."

The Imperial Consort fiddled with the Buddha Beads in her hand and said, "Destiny has its ways, the Bodhisattva guided him, and didn’t he bring A Ke back?"

"Indeed," the Empress Dowager squinted her eyes slightly, "A few days ago, the Holy Emperor discussed with me about finding a suitable wife for him. Isn’t that putting me in a tough spot?

I’ve said for years that I dislike matchmaking.

Let him find someone himself, let the two families agree, then have me issue the decree. It’s a mutual desire, how wonderful is that?

I’m quite content with you and Ah Shao; seeing you together feels right, much better than any forced match, yet the Holy Emperor insists I decide."

The Empress Dowager frowned and shook her head repeatedly.

Ye Yuzhi’s marriage was a troublesome issue.

Given the situation in Duke Jing Mansion, families of equal status were unwilling to marry their daughters to Ye Yuzhi. Even if a decree from the palace forced it, their days would be far from comfortable.

But choosing someone of lower status, would that elevate or degrade Ye Yuzhi?

Ye Yuzhi is merely a concubine-born son, and having the palace decide his marriage would lead people to speculate about the Holy Emperor’s attitude toward Duke Jing.

Du Yunluo instinctively pinched her fingers; merely because of the troublesome issues at the back residence wouldn’t be enough to anger the Holy Emperor towards Duke Jing.

If the Holy Emperor intends to meddle, could it be that Duke Jing Mansion offended the Holy Emperor in some other matter, and he wanted to use Ye Yuzhi’s marriage as a warning?

Even if that were the case, why specifically share this with her and Zhuang Ke?

Du Yunluo couldn’t quite comprehend, so she simply followed the Empress Dowager’s words, "Among the young women of Ye Family’s matching status and age, there don’t seem to be many suitable ones."

"Exactly?" The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples, "I dislike thinking household by household to find suitable children, just like when discussing marriage for Jiarou, your grandmother asked me for advice, and I thought until my head hurt before coming up with a few suitable candidates, but... better not mention it!"

These words were just to intimidate from the Empress Dowager.

If she truly listed suitable candidates, given the numerous eunuchs and palace maids in Cining Palace, why would the Empress Dowager need to think personally?

Once the candidates were listed, the Empress Dowager could just glance over them, make some marks, and the matter would be settled.

At that time, among the proposed candidates, the Changping Marquis Mansion was taken down by the Holy Emperor for harboring private soldiers; Pingyang Marquis Mansion’s Jin Shang was poisoned by his mistress; and General Shao, who was far off at the Northern Border, Mu Lianhui didn’t marry into the Shao Family, but had she, who knows what would have happened.

However, the mention of Mu Lianhui’s marriage still left the Imperial Consort visibly distressed.

This topic soon passed.

They stayed for a meal in Cining Palace, avoiding the intense midday sun before Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke returned to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion with snacks from the Imperial Kitchen.

In Baijie Hall, Madam Wu was resting with her eyes closed.

Nanny Shan invited the two in.

Du Yunluo recounted the matters the Empress Dowager had brought up.

Madam Wu didn’t dwell on the Duke Jing Mansion and instead asked about Mu Lianhui’s situation, "Did the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort reveal anything?"

Du Yunluo shook her head.

"Exactly," Madam Wu didn’t open her eyes, only lightly tapping the edge of the Arhat Bed with her fingertips, "Remarriage - that’s something Cining Palace never even considered."

In the eyes of Cining Palace, Mu Lianhui, born in Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, with so many widows in the mansion, such a family wouldn’t consider remarriage.

Why would they comment on something they don’t expect to happen?