Chapter 54: Chapter 53: Stain (Second Update)

Shi Shiren had originally agreed to the arrangement, but after three to five days, Shi Lian’er came crying to the door, saying her father, Scholar Shi, had kicked her out, and she could only come to the Du Mansion.

Once it started, how could Mrs. Tang still keep it a secret?

Mrs. Tang was indeed gentle like water, but she wasn’t entirely mild-mannered. Seeing Shi Lian’er forcing her way in, she angrily threw things around.

If it were just about breaking things, smashing the entire display shelf wouldn’t matter, but Mrs. Tang was eight months pregnant. In her anger, she affected her fetal air and gave birth prematurely to a daughter.

Born at eight months, teetering on the edge of life and death.

A child born prematurely at eight months is in grave danger.

To save the girl’s life, the entire household poured in immeasurable effort.

The girl was naturally frail, entirely like a medicine pot, causing Du Yundi and Mrs. Tang immense heartbreak. Du Yundi was filled with remorse. Over the ensuing decade, despite mountains of gold and silver being spent, this child still passed away in her tender years.

Thinking of that delicate yet beautiful and understanding niece and recalling Mrs. Tang’s almost maddened state after losing her daughter, Du Yunluo felt a piercing pain in her heart.

If it weren’t for Shi Lian’er, how could there have been a rift between Du Yundi and Mrs. Tang? How could the daughter have been born prematurely?

Yet, after all the commotion, Shi Lian’er still entered the household.

At that time, Du Gongfu had not been re-favored in the palace, and the Du Family did not achieve sudden success by relying on the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Shi Shiren was a newly appointed scholar of the same rank. If things turned ugly, the Du Family really couldn’t afford to lose face.

Moreover, it was a critical period for the Du Family.

Although Du Yundi had passed the imperial examination, he was still waiting for an official post. It seemed promising, but if some incident arose at this critical moment, his position might be lost.

Meanwhile, Du Huaili’s superior, Vice Minister Mr. Xie of the Ministry of Rites, was retiring. Both the Minister and Vice Minister Lord Shi had recommended Du Huaili as his successor. If his son didn’t acknowledge an affair with his sister, the new scholar, Du Huaili would certainly face a report.

Du Gongfu was so furious that he beat Du Yundi severely with a cane and punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall. Mrs. Zhen felt heartache, but she didn’t dare and didn’t want to plead for him.

After all, it was Du Yundi’s mistake.

Mrs. Zhen was quite aware of what kind of person her son was. She believed Du Yundi had been set up by Shi Lian’er, but the truth didn’t matter at this moment. What mattered was turning major issues into minor ones.

Du Gongfu told Du Yundi that since he had caused the trouble, he must bear the consequences. After suffering such a loss, he wouldn’t be so easily deceived again. This time, consider it a lesson learned, and make up for the injustice done to Mrs. Tang.

Regret lingered in his heart, but just as Du Gongfu said, Du Yundi had no choice but to bear the consequences.

After Shi Lian’er entered the household, Mrs. Tang focused entirely on the premature daughter and harbored resentment toward Du Yundi. Naturally, the couple wasn’t as intimate as before.

Du Yundi disliked Shi Lian’er, but Shi Lian’er was adept at creating trouble, sometimes delivering soup, sometimes singing songs. Du Yundi avoided her by going to the front yard, but Shi Lian’er then turned her attention to Mrs. Tang.

No one could tolerate Shi Lian’er’s antics after it happened several times.

Mrs. Zhen and Du Huaili had a loving relationship and had never dealt with concubines in their lives. She despised Shi Lian’er’s malicious intentions and also pitied Mrs. Tang, who was worn out for her daughter, so she disciplined Shi Lian’er.

Shi Lian’er truly became much more obedient, until a few years later when Shi Shiren’s career went smoothly, progressing rapidly, gaining a Yue Family willing to spend silver for his official career.

When Shi Shiren became successful, Shi Lian’er’s arrogance resurfaced.

At that time, Du Yunluo was already widowed and had fallen out with her family, so she wasn’t fully aware of everything happening in the Du family’s backyard. However, the sight of a maid grinding her teeth while speaking of Shi Lian’er left a lasting impression on Du Yunluo.

Her fourth brother was tricked by a shameless woman, and whenever she thought of it, Du Yunluo was filled with anger. Shi Lian’er indeed was the only stain in Du Yundi’s life.

If possible, in this lifetime, she hoped Du Yundi could distance himself from Shi Lian’er and Shi Shiren, regardless of how esteemed Shi Shiren became before the court, the Du Family wouldn’t dare associate with such people.

The more Du Yunluo thought about it, the angrier she became. She clamped her molars and spat out a few words: "Shameless!"

Isn’t it just shameless!

Mrs. Zhen wholeheartedly agreed. Not only had she lost respect for the Shi Family’s daughter, but also for Shi Shiren. After all, to raise such a daughter, one could glimpse the Shi Family’s moral conduct. Shi Shiren’s character was no longer the straightforward and amiable person Si Shui and Chang An described.

"Mother, perhaps you should speak to Fourth Brother and tell him not to associate with that Shi Shiren," suggested Du Yunluo.

Mrs. Zhen frowned and said, "Nannan, you and I think alike. I, too, hope your fourth brother will not associate with that man, but we have never met the Shi family. Merely relying on the words of Si Shui and Chang An, it’s not appropriate to instruct Yun Di so directly."

After hearing this, Du Yunluo realized she was being hasty.

Having lived another lifetime, she knew how things developed later, which fueled her hatred for Shi Lian’er. But to the current Mrs. Zhen, that person was still just a girl with some aims towards her son, not a woman willing to destroy her own reputation just to ensnare Du Yundi, as she would become. Just as to the current Du Yundi, Shi Shiren was still a close classmate.

To rashly badmouth Shi Shiren to Du Yundi wouldn’t be effective. Instead, it would make Du Yundi feel that Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo were overly calculating and meddling.

"The academy is neither too far nor too close, and it’s not a matter of reaching it in a heartbeat. If something does happen, we would indeed be powerless," said Mrs. Zhen.

Du Yunluo calmed herself, and after suppressing her anger, she felt much more at peace, and her thoughts were clearer.

Mrs. Zhen’s concerns were not unfounded. Although nothing happened for several more years in her past life, Du Yunluo couldn’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be any changes in this life.

If it was like Miao Ruoshan, with someone by her side to incite trouble, what would one do?

Du Yunluo pondered, and softly said to Mrs. Zhen, "Mother, Fourth Brother will return to the academy in half a month, and then in another half a month, when the eldest sister goes out at the door, he needs to ask for leave to return. I think, after that period, when Fourth Brother returns to the academy, we should take a trip there, don’t you think?"

"To the academy?" Mrs. Zhen was surprised. "How did you think of this?"

"If that Miss Shi can visit Shi Shiren at the academy, why can’t we check on our brother?" Du Yunluo confidently replied. "Mother must be curious to know how Fourth Brother is faring with his food, living conditions, and studies at the academy, aren’t you?"

After such a statement, Mrs. Zhen was a bit tempted. She was about to agree but hesitated again when thinking of Lianfu Garden: "Your grandfather would be displeased if he knew."

Understanding Du Gongfu’s temper, Du Yunluo wouldn’t set up Mrs. Zhen for a direct confrontation. She thought carefully and then said, "Late September coincides with Grandmother’s birthday. Why don’t you tell Grandfather and Grandmother that you’ll visit for the birthday celebration and take the opportunity to visit Lishan Academy? I think they won’t be upset about it."