Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Chapter 168 – Third Young Lady’S Pastry Cook
Those aristocratic young ladies invited by the princess actually did not need to fast for ten days. Only the young ladies designated by the empress’ decree had to enter the Palace ten days before the princess’ prayer ceremony. It was a great honor for them to fast for ten days with the princess.
However, the problem was that all the four unmarried young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang would enter the Palace. How could the Madam Dowager not be worried?
“Madam Dowager, don’t worry. All the young ladies in the mansion are as beautiful as bright pearls and crystal jade. When they enter the palace, they will definitely be favored by Her Majesty. In a few days, the Empress Dowager would receive all the old ladies with official mandates. Madam Dowager, please bring the young ladies with you. The Empress Dowager is old and likes to see young ladies.”
The eunuch reminded the Madam Dowager with a smile.
Upon hearing these words, the Madam Dowager’s eyes lit up. Her gaze fell on Wei Qiufu’s face for a moment, then she turned to Wei Yuejiao and Wei Yuewu. But she completely ignored Wei Qiuju.
Wei Qiuju lowered her head sadly with a bitter smile on her lips. In the Madam Dowager’s eyes, she was good for nothing.
The eunuch left smilingly. Wei Luowu also went to the front yard. After that, the Madam Dowager asked all her four granddaughters to stay. She was really unsure which of them should be given the special honor of praying with the Third Princess in the end.
Sending all the four of them to the event would make the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang too eye-catching. So, it would be good to send only two of them to the event!
Needless to say, Wei Qiuju was ruled out. Wei Qiufu wanted to enter the Crown Prince’s Mansion, of course she must attend the event. Then, the Madam Dowager had to choose between Wei Yuewu and Wei Yuejiao, and she was unable to make a decision for the time being.
Apparently, Wei Yuejiao’s status was lower than Wei Yuewu’s…
Everyone in the hall could see the Madam Dowager’s hesitation. Wei Qiufu believed that she would definitely enter the Palace. However, she was also both happy and worried. Being able to pray for the country along with the Third Princess was of course a matter of great honor. After she entered the Crown Prince’s Mansion in the future, her status and position would not be too low thanks to this event. This made her breathe a sigh of relief.
But now that something had come between her and the Third Princess, it was definitely impossible for them to maintain their intimate relationship as before. Thinking of the Third Princess’ methods, Wei Qiufu’s mind was weighed down with anxiety.
Therefore, she didn’t have the mood to say anything.
“Grandmother, before I came, father said that the princess in the Palace was about to reach the age of praying for blessing. He said that I might have a chance to pray with the princess. I didn’t expect that such a good thing would really happen when I came back. When father comes back, I will definitely tell him about this to make him happy.”
Wei Yuejiao walked over, she held the Madam Dowager’s hand and uttered those words in an intimate manner.
Wei Yuejiao wasn’t stupid either. She glanced at Wei Yuewu beside her and a trace of jealousy flashed in her eyes. When Wei Yuewu wasn’t back in the mansion, grandmother wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation.
“Girls, go back first!” The Madam Dowager felt more and more difficult to make the decision. If her eldest son really loved this eldest daughter so much, why didn’t he elevate Concubine Dong to the position of Marquise Hua Yang? She had hinted several times, but his attitude was always lukewarm. After so many years, she found that it was more and more difficult for her to understand her eldest son.
“Grandmother…” Wei Yuejiao still wanted to say something, but when she saw the Madam Dowager’s closed eyes, she turned her head and glared at Wei Yuewu fiercely before turning around and leaving angrily.
Since her return to the mansion this time, she had suffered a number of setbacks in succession because of this Wei Yuewu.
Now that the Madam Dowager had already indicated that she wanted to rest, everyone stood up. Wei Qiufu’s eyes flashed and she wanted to chase after Wei Yuejiao, but when she saw Wei Yuewu’s calm eyes, her heart beat violently without control and she stopped.
“Young ladies, please wait a moment.” Nanny Hong chased after and called out to Wei Qiufu, Wei Yuewu, and Wei Qiuju who had walked to the entrance of the courtyard.
Wei Yuejiao stopped outside the courtyard.
Nanny Hong had chased out to inform them of Wei Luowu’s birthday banquet. “The day after tomorrow is the Second Master’s birthday. The Madam Dowager said that the Second Master didn’t intend to hold a grand celebration, so he just invited a few relatives of the family to come over and have fun. Some female guests might go to the yards of the young ladies and the Madame Dowager asked you to tell your servants to behave properly on that day.”
Since Wei Luowu wanted to avoid extravagance, there weren’t many things that needed to be prepared. However, Lady Li of the second branch was absent. If there were young unmarried ladies and madams among the guests, the four young ladies of the mansion would have to accompany them.
The Madam Dowager was afraid that they were all young and unexperienced, and therefore she asked Nanny Hong to remind them in advance.
The four of them said aye and returned to their own courtyard.
At this time, Wei Yuejiao had calmed down. After taking a few steps towards her own courtyard, she suddenly turned around.
“Miss, where are we going?” Her maid Jinzhu trotted a few steps to catch up with her and asked in puzzlement.
“I am going to have a chat with Fourth Younger Sister. I remembered that she was very enthusiastic about writing back to me before. I wanted to know why she didn’t reply to my letter for so long.” Wei Yuejiao said coldly.
“Could it be that Fourth Young Lady didn’t receive your letter? I heard that Fourth Young Lady had been in the Plum Blossom Nunnery and accompanied the two princesses to appreciate plum blossoms. Perhaps your letter was sent to the mansion and nobody delivered it to the Fourth Young Lady.” Jinzhu guessed.
What Jinzhu heard and collected was only ordinary news. There weren’t many people in the mansion who knew about the important matters that occurred in the Plum Blossom Nunnery. Besides, the Madam Dowager had also issued a ban on discussions of what happened on the mountain.
Needless to say, Wei Yuejiao was not satisfied with this speculation. Her letters would always be answered by Wei Qiufu at the first possible moment. In her heart, her own matters were naturally the most important.
As a result, Wei Yuejiao stopped Wei Qiufu on the road.
Wei Qiufu smiled calmly and pointed at the pavilion on the side. Then, she said to Wei Yuejiao who was full of anger, “Third Elder Sister, let’s talk in the pavilion over there.”
“Let’s go!” Wei Yuejiao angrily walked towards the pavilion. She wanted Wei Qiufu to give her a satisfactory explanation.
The pavilion was leaning against the rockery, and it was now at noon. Therefore, it wasn’t cold there.
“Fourth Younger Sister, didn’t you say you disliked Wei Yuewu?” As soon as she entered the pavilion, Wei Yuejiao asked straightforwardly.
“Neither have I said I like her yet.” Wei Qiufu smiled slightly. Compared with the impatient Wei Yuejiao, she was much calmer. “However, Sixth Younger Sister is after all the legitimate daughter of Eldest Uncle. This is a fact that no one can change. I guess grandmother will still choose her in the end. As long as she maintains her moral integrity, everyone will think that she is a right and proper choice.”
Wei Qiufu knew very well about Wei Yuejiao’s weakness. Although she uttered those words with a smile, they sounded like two fierce slaps in the face of Wei Yuejiao, who was stunned and unable to speak.
“Third Elder Sister, I’m going back now. I have to accompany the princess in praying for blessings for the country. Although it is still more than a month ahead, there are some things that need to be prepared early. I’m much more anxious than you at the moment.” Wei Qiufu didn’t wait for Wei Yuejiao to say anything and she turned around and left smilingly.
Looking at Wei Qiufu’s back, Wei Yuejiao stamped her feet in hatred, wishing that Wei Yuewu was right in front of her and torn into pieces by her.
Wei Yuewu wanted to steal the honor that belonged to her. That would only happen in her dream!
Moral integrity, huh? Alright, then let her lose her moral integrity! Mother had already made good preparations for her…
“Miss, Third Young Lady stopped Fourth Young Lady on the road. The two of them talked in the pavilion. Fourth Young Lady left first. Then, Third Young Lady left angrily. Not long after she returned to her courtyard, she asked people to prepare pastry for her. Later, it was said that she didn’t like the pastry sent by the kitchen. She then asked a pastry cook of hers to go to the kitchen.”
Jin Ling reported to Wei Yuewu in detail.
Pastry? Wei Yuewu put down the needle and thread in her hand and her eyes flickered twice. Did Wei Yuejiao still have the mood to let people spend so many efforts making pastry for her at this time?
Although Wei Yuejiao was impulsive, she was not as brainless as Wei Yan. She could never do something useless at this time, especially when she was just enraged by Wei Qiufu.
“Shufei, go to the kitchen and see if my medicine is ready.” Wei Yuewu instructed. A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes. Although her injuries had been healed, it was said that the impact of the drug that was applied to her had not been removed, and she needed to continue taking medicine for a period of time before she would really be fine.
The kitchen was really a place that everyone had a reason to be there!
“Miss, bad news. Something happened to Miss Jing!” Before Shufei could leave, Huamo lifted the curtain and walked in with a panicked expression.
“What is it?” Wei Yuewu asked.
“I don’t know. The maid from the mansion of Duke of Jing sent this book. She said that her eldest young lady fell when she was about to get off the carriage. It is even difficult for her to walk now. She might suffer a bone fracture.” As Huamo said, she handed over a small parcel to Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu took the parcel and opened it. Seeing the familiar cover inside, she took a deep look.
“Miss, even if she fell off the carriage, she couldn’t be hurt so seriously. How come Miss Jing’s bones were broken all of a sudden? It looks like Miss Jing won’t be able to show up for a while.” Because Jing Wenyan had sent Wei Yuewu a book, Huamo’s favorable impression of her had strengthened a lot.
Wei Yuewu’s eyes flashed with a trace of serenity. Normally, she wouldn’t hurt so badly. Moreover, Jing Wenyan wasn’t a reckless person. How could she fall off the carriage? It seemed that the black-hearted heir-apparent didn’t like Jing Wenyan’s ambitions.
“It’s alright. Miss Jing’s maid said that as long as she lies in bed and heals for some days, it won’t be a big problem!” Shufei, however, realized something and said indifferently. She pulled Huamo who was still puzzled and retreated.
The room quieted down. Wei Yuewu flipped through the complete copy with her hands. This book was truly an extinct copy!
There wasn’t the slightest bit of damage to the book, and she turned to the page she wanted to read.
Here they are: a goshawk and dazzling flowers. Actually, what one should pay attention to was the cluster of bloody red flowers beneath the goshawk’s claws. These flowers should be the theme of this picture, and they were probably the totem of a tribe! She didn’t expect Wei Yuejiao to come into contact with such a kind of things.
She closed the book, walked to the dressing table and took out the sachet that she had placed there. After careful comparison, she found that the pattern on the sachet was exactly the same as the picture in the book.
Originally, it was only viewed as ridiculous talk, but now it didn’t look that simple. It was impossible for such a thing to fall into Wei Yuejiao’s hands.
Even though her father was guarding the border over there, the border abutted the territories of the states of Yan and Lu, and this tribe was not located in the direction her father was guarding…
Looked like she needed to thoroughly investigate Concubine Dong!
Shufei returned carrying Wei Yuewu’s medicine in her hands. She entered the room, poured out the medicine into a bowl and put it aside for the medicine to cool down.
“Miss, I’ve been to the kitchen. Everyone in the kitchen said that the pastry made by the cook brought by the Third Young Lady was really delicious. They even sent some pastry to the Madam Dowager. After eating the pastry, the Madam Dowager kept praising the cook and said she would like this cook to make pastry on Second Master’s birthday banquet, and now she ordered this cook make more so that the young ladies of all the courtyards could have a taste of the pastry.”
Shufei reported.
“The kitchen also sent some pastry to me?” Wei Yuewu raised her eyes and asked coldly.