Chu Muqing followed Xiao Yuzhu through several courtyards of the Duke of Dingguo’s residence until they arrived at the courtyard of the old lady.
The Duke of Dingguo’s mansion was different from the Yongding Marquis mansion. The Marquis’s residence was exquisite in every detail, flaunting the refinement and wealth of an aristocratic household. The Duke of Dingguo’s residence, however, had more of a military air. Instead of rare flowers and delicate landscaping, there were artificial hills, pines and cypresses, and rare stones, exuding the grandeur of a general’s estate.
When the two reached the entrance of the old lady’s courtyard, they saw a maid anxiously looking out as if waiting for someone.
“Sister Peilan, were you waiting for us?” Xiao Yuzhu called out from afar.
The maid named Peilan turned when she heard the voice and saw Xiao Yuzhu and the girl holding her hand. She froze for a moment, then quickly came back to herself and said, “This servant greets the eldest young miss. And this must be the young miss. Greetings. Please come in quickly, Her Ladyship has been waiting for you.”
“Sister Peilan really has sharp eyes to recognize my cousin right away. But you’re wrong, Grandmother is waiting for my cousin, not me. She already finds me bothersome enough,” Xiao Yuzhu laughed, winking playfully. “But I love pestering Grandmother. I’ll annoy her for the rest of my life.”
With that, she pulled Chu Muqing inside.
Peilan chuckled softly behind them. Their eldest young lady was lively and spirited, while the young miss seemed quiet and composed.
“Grandmother, look who I’ve brought to see you!” Xiao Yuzhu called out as soon as she stepped inside.
The old lady wore a royal-blue robe. Her round face carried a kind expression, the wrinkles etched by time softening her features. Silver threads were faintly visible in her hair. This was the old lady of the Duke of Dingguo’s household, Chu Muqing’s maternal grandmother.
Hearing her granddaughter’s voice, she looked up to see a girl in light blue pulling along another girl in light pink. The girl behind wore a faint smile, and in her every movement and expression, the old lady seemed to glimpse Xiao Yuanrou in her youth.
She stared blankly for a moment, then abruptly stood up and stepped forward, calling softly, “Nannan…”
The chief maid, Mu Xiang, quickly stepped up to support her gently. “Madam, please be careful.”
The old lady snapped out of her daze and studied the girl seriously. Though she resembled Xiao Yuanrou by six or seven parts, this girl carried a colder, more resolute aura, different from Xiao Yuanrou’s softness.
Seeing this, Chu Muqing knew her grandmother was thinking of her mother. She immediately stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed deeply. “Muqing greets Grandmother. Muqing has been unfilial for not visiting Grandmother all these years.”
In her previous life, she had failed her maternal grandparents.
It was her unfilial heart that had led to tragedy for her mother’s family.
This kneeling was a bow for two lifetimes: one for her shattered past life, and one for this rebirth that granted her a second chance.
Hearing Chu Muqing’s trembling voice, the old lady hastily helped her up and embraced her tightly. Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “Get up, child. Let Grandmother take a good look at you. Why are you so thin and frail?”
She said she wanted to look, yet she still clung to Chu Muqing, unwilling to let go. Back then, the daughter she had cherished like a precious jewel had died just like that. The most hateful part was that she couldn’t seek justice and couldn’t even bring back the only bloodline her daughter had left behind.
She had been filled with hatred and helplessness. Every time she thought of it, the pain tore at her heart and stole her sleep.
For all these years, grandmother and granddaughter had been forced apart, unable to meet. She had often wondered what the child looked like now. Seeing her today, she realized the child had grown even more outstanding than she had ever imagined.
“Grandmother, Muqing has been doing well. I’m sorry to have worried you all these years.” Seeing the old lady cry even harder, Chu Muqing couldn’t help feeling sorrowful herself, but she still tried to comfort her.
Seeing the two of them like this, Xiao Yuzhu felt both happy and sad. Ever since she was young, she had lived with her grandmother on the borderlands, so she knew very well how much her grandmother missed this cousin. From time to time, her grandmother would dream of her deceased aunt and little cousin. Now that they could finally meet again, it truly felt like a blessing from heaven. Yet, her cousin had been sent away by the Marquis of Yongding’s household when she was still very young, and she knew her grandmother felt guilty and distressed over it. Not only her grandmother, her father and mother felt the same way.
Thinking of this, her eyes reddened as well.
When the Duchess of Dingguo and Nanny Cui entered, they saw grandmother and granddaughter embracing and weeping, while Xiao Yuzhu stood to the side with swollen, red eyes.
The Duchess of Dingguo immediately understood and couldn’t help feeling sad too, but she still said softly, “Mother, don’t be sad. Now that we and Muqing have returned to the capital, we’ll naturally be able to see each other often. Since we’re reunited today, we should speak of joyful things.”
Hearing this, the old lady stopped crying, looked at the Duchess of Dingguo and said, “You’re right. It’s only that I’m getting old and muddle-headed. This is clearly a happy occasion.” As she spoke, she took Chu Muqing’s hand and pulled her to sit in the main seat. “Sit beside Grandmother.”
Chu Muqing smiled and sat with her. Now that the old lady had finally seen her, she seemed a little anxious, unwilling to let go of Chu Muqing’s hand for even a moment.
Seeing that the old lady had calmed down, the Duchess of Dingguo pointed at Xiao Yuzhu and said jokingly, “Mother, look at this girl. She’s usually as mischievous as a monkey. When she was young, she could fall from a tree without shedding a single tear, yet today she’s actually crying.”
Xiao Yuzhu protested at once, “Mother, what nonsense are you saying? I didn’t cry!”
As she said this, she noticed Chu Muqing sitting beside the old lady quietly laughing. She pretended to be angry and said, “Cousin, are you laughing at me?”
Chu Muqing quickly stopped smiling and replied, “How could I, Sister?” Her tone was serious, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her.
After Chu Muqing finished speaking, the Duchess of Dingguo laughed, and the maids in the hall also followed with soft laughter.
Xiao Yuzhu said deliberately, “Grandmother, now I’m upset. As soon as Cousin arrived, all of you started teasing me. But since Cousin is so beautiful, I’ll forgive her this time.” After speaking, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter herself.
For a moment, the main hall was filled with warmth and cheerful voices.
They chatted for a while. After some time, Chu Muqing noticed that although the old lady was trying to stay energetic, she was already very tired. Feeling moved, she said gently, “Grandmother, Muqing would like Sister Yushu to take me to see Mother’s courtyard. I have never seen my mother’s boudoir before.”
Xiao Yuzhu replied with delight, “That’s wonderful!”
Nanny Cui could tell that the old lady was forcing herself to stay awake. Ever since the eldest young lady had passed, her health had been poor, and today she had cried when she saw her granddaughter. She feared the old lady’s body wouldn’t be able to endure much longer, but the old lady still could not bear to part from her granddaughter. Fortunately, the young lady was sensible and had found an excuse for her to rest. Nanny Cui agreed and said, “Yes, our young lady has never seen her mother’s courtyard. It’s a good time for her to go and have a look.”
The Duchess of Dingguo added, “Later I will send someone to the Marquis of Yongding’s mansion to inform them. Since Muqing has come all this way, she should stay the night here, in her mother’s courtyard.” She looked at Chu Muqing. “Muqing, what do you think?”
Chu Muqing readily agreed, she also wanted to stay in her mother’s former courtyard.
Seeing this, the old lady understood and, relieved, said, “Very well, the you may go.”
The group agreed and then left the old lady’s courtyard together.