Chapter 538 - 537: Matchmaker

Chapter 538: Chapter 537: Matchmaker

The handwriting on the booklet is elegant and neat, likely penned by a palace maid from the Cining Palace.

However, Du Yunluo’s mind couldn’t focus on the beautiful writing; she only pursed her lips and looked at those names.

Among the unfamiliar names was Huang Jie’s name.

Du Yunluo understood the Empress Dowager’s intention in having her consult; the palace’s initial preference was clearly Huang Jie.

Otherwise, what results could someone like Du Yunluo, who knew no one other than Huang Jie, come up with?

Putting down the booklet, Du Yunluo smiled and said to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, you really put me in a difficult position. At a glance, I feel that everyone has a good name. As for their temperaments and appearances, I’m truly unaware. The only one I’ve interacted with is General Huang’s daughter, Huang Jie."

The Empress Dowager seemed to be in thought.

Aunt Ming softly reminded: "Last time during the Holy Emperor’s hunt at the hunting ground, the lady and Miss Huang were both present."

"I see," the Empress Dowager nodded, "in your opinion, how is this Huang Jie?"

The Empress Dowager wanted to feign ignorance, and Du Yunluo wouldn’t expose her. She said, "Miss Huang is kind-hearted. I quite like her."

"I always say I don’t like match-making blindly. As I grow older, I just wish you younger ones to get along harmoniously," the Empress Dowager squinted happily.

Du Yunluo lowered her eyes and responded softly.

Seeing Du Yunluo’s translucency, the Empress Dowager laughed more heartily, exchanged some amusing words with her, and then let her withdraw.

Du Yunluo followed Aunt Ming out of the Cining Palace.

Aunt Ming smiled and said, "In a few days, the golden osmanthus trees will soon bloom."

Du Yunluo gazed at a few golden osmanthus trees in the garden, saying, "Yes, in the blink of an eye, it will be autumn again."

"I heard that the Suru Garden in the Marquis Mansion is a good spot to admire the golden osmanthus," Aunt Ming said.

Du Yunluo smiled lightly.

When the Dingyuan Marquis was first granted his title, it was the Old Marquis’s father who was granted the title.

The entire family moved into the newly built Marquis Mansion, but the Old Marquis’s grandmother chose to stay in the family’s old residence with the family of the eldest son.

The Old Marquis’s father was the legitimate second son and did not dare to go against his elder mother’s wishes, but he deliberately renovated his mother’s residence several times, which became known as Suru Garden.

Today, the Suru Garden is long vacant; no one has moved in, and it remains well-kept as before, becoming more like a family garden due to its continuous seasonal blossoms.

Du Yunluo never liked visiting the family site in either her past or present life, so she had never been to Suru Garden.

Seeing Aunt Ming mention it, Du Yunluo smiled and said, "I was just worried about where to enjoy the autumn scenery, and Aunt has given me a great idea."

The two laughed as they exchanged glances.

After Du Yunluo departed, Aunt Ming returned to the Cining Palace to report.

The Empress Dowager smiled and said to the Imperial Consort, "I just like straightforward people, it’s not tiring."

The Imperial Consort, holding a white chess piece, said, "I wonder how good a straightforward person is at chess?"

"Why? Afraid of losing?" The Empress Dowager laughed heartily.

Du Yunluo went straight to Baijie Hall after returning to the Marquis Mansion.

"Grandmother, the Empress Dowager wants me to play matchmaker," Du Yunluo briefly mentioned the palace’s idea, "Once the golden osmanthus blooms, we’ll need to borrow Suru Garden to host guests."

Madam Wu chuckled, "If you’re able to bring about a good match, that would indeed be a merit. As for Suru Garden, just talk to the family."

Madam Wu nodded, and the family certainly wouldn’t disagree in the least.

Madam Gui personally came over to the mansion, saying, "Madam, don’t worry about it; Suru Garden has been tended for years and won’t disgrace the Marquis Mansion. How many guests will you invite this time?"

"While the Marquis was in Lindong, he was in General Huang’s care. This time, I will only invite Miss Huang," Du Yunluo said.

Disappointment flashed in Madam Gui’s eyes; why only invite one family?

If more families were invited, it would have given her a chance to acquaint herself with more society ladies.

Despite her disappointment, Madam Gui had someone bring in a black-lacquered food box: "The osmanthus flowers in Suru Garden are good, and every year some are harvested and sun-dried to make food.

I specifically had some fresh ones made. Lian Xiao’s wife, try them. If they are good, we can have them on the table that day."

Du Yunluo didn’t like Madam Gui, but she couldn’t help but find the osmanthus cake, osmanthus porridge, and sweet osmanthus dumplings in the food box delightful.

Fragrant and refreshing, sweet but not cloying, Du Yunluo nodded with satisfaction, "Indeed a good taste."

Madam Gui beamed with happiness, "Then I’ll have some prepared for the time. Eating these treats while admiring the osmanthus is a pleasant affair."

Madam Gui, in high spirits, didn’t mind Du Yunluo’s coldness towards her, and left with a smile.

Du Yunluo returned to Shaohui Garden and wrote a note to Huang Jie.

When Mu Lianxiao came in, he smelled the scent of ink and followed it into the study, asking, "What are you writing?"

Upon hearing the voice, Du Yunluo looked up, put down the brush she was using, and said, "I was just writing a note to Huang Jie."

On the Huanhua Paper, the beautiful tiny script resembling flower-pins, Du Yunluo could imitate many people’s handwriting, but Mu Lianxiao thought this small flower-pin script suited Du Yunluo best.

Seeing Mu Lianxiao reading the note, Du Yunluo explained it to him.

Mu Lianxiao was slightly taken aback; he hadn’t expected the palace’s favored candidate to be Huang Jie.

But upon further thought, it all made sense.

General Huang had risen step by step through military merits in the army and had no ancestral ties to the officials nor did his family ties intersect with the complex noble circles in the capital.

As a person, General Huang didn’t place importance on family origins, nor would he bow to the likes of Duke Jing Mansion; such a family was more suitable for Ye Yuzhi.

It suited the Holy Emperor’s intention of keeping Ye Yuzhi at a distance from the Duke Jing Mansion, free from entanglement with its affairs.

Seeing Mu Lianxiao slowly relax, Du Yunluo asked him, with her head tilted, "Do you think it’s suitable?"

Mu Lianxiao raised an eyebrow.

"I don’t think it’s suitable," Du Yunluo sighed, "Huang Jie doesn’t like martial arts."

Mu Lianxiao could not help but smile.

He knew nothing of Huang Jie’s temperament, yet as the daughter of General Huang, would she really disdain martial people?

Seeing Mu Lianxiao’s disbelief, Du Yunluo said, with pursed lips, "Huang Jie’s temper is somewhat stubborn. Although she’s quite nice, if it were the former Young Master Ye, she might not oppose very much."

However, if it were the former Ye Yuzhi, held under the Duke Jing Mansion’s thumb, General Huang might likely be displeased.

"Mutual affection requires fate, after all," Du Yunluo murmured.

Even if Huang Jie truly disliked Ye Yuzhi, the Cining Palace wouldn’t replace another person.

The matter of marriage was originally decided by parental decree; if General Huang nodded, Huang Jie would have to comply as well.

After sending out the note, Mu Lianxiao didn’t delay, writing notes for Huang Yun and Ye Yuzhi to send altogether.

Du Yunluo watched quietly as Mu Lianxiao wrote. While his manner seemed casual, there was a hint of seriousness. Du Yunluo couldn’t look away, only finding that sharply defined profile captivating.

Mu Lianxiao put down the brush, turned his head to smile, and asked, "Is it that appealing?"

Du Yunluo caught red-handed, met his deep and clear eyes, and giggled, "Appealing."