Chapter 275
Chapter 275
Chapter 275 – Junior Concubine, The Most Unexpected Person
Doctor Ming first went back to Tranquility Courtyard to report to the Madam Dowager about Wei Yuewu’s injury. After hearing that Wei Yuewu’s injury was not serious, but it was still not suitable for her to move around, the Madam Dowager’s face darkened. She waved her hand to motion Doctor Ming to leave.
“Madam Dowager, can’t the Sixth Young Lady enter the imperial palace to see the Empress Dowager?” After Doctor Ming left, Nanny Hong could not help but ask. The Madam Dowager was going into the imperial palace to see the Empress Dowager mainly because it was too great an honor for all the four young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang to be the Third Princess’ companions for ten days when she prayed for the prosperity of the country. Therefore, two of them must be removed from the list. Another reason was Wei Yuewu.
After entering the capital, Wei Yuewu hadn’t been to the imperial palace to see the Empress Dowager yet.
However, in the current situation, it was extremely unsuitable for Wei Yuewu to enter the imperial palace. Therefore, the Madam Dowager was also in a difficult position. “Let’s wait and see. In any case, there are still two more days. If Yuewu recovers well, I will bring her with me to the imperial palace!”
The Madam Dowager couldn’t make up her mind at this time. She only hoped that Wei Yuewu’s foot would be restored in a couple of days, which was the best result.
Doctor Ming came out from Tranquility Courtyard. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and left quickly. Ever since Sixth Miss Wei found that medicine bottle, Doctor Ming was always frightened every time he saw this youngest Sixth Miss Wei.
“Doctor Ming, please wait!” A voice came from the intersection. Doctor Ming looked back and saw a maid walking over with a smile. He probably had seen her before, but he could not remember which courtyard she came from.
“Doctor Ming, how is the Sixth Young Lady’s injury?” The maid came over and asked with a face full of concern.
“You are…” Doctor Ming looked her up and down, but he really could not recognize who this maid was.
The mansion of Marquis Hua Yang had many maids and Doctor Ming had seen many of them, but other than a few special maids, Doctor Ming could not remember who this pretty maid in front of him was.
“Our Fourth Young Lady and Fifth Young Lady were worried about the Sixth Young Lady’s injury, so they specially asked me to come and ask. I didn’t expect to meet Doctor Ming here.” Ming Yan said with a face full of sincerity, as if she really just happened to pass by here.
Doctor Ming suddenly remembered Wei Yuewu’s words. His heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly replied, “The Sixth Young Lady’s foot injury doesn’t look serious, but the injury is at the critical part of her foot. She might need a good rest for some time!”
“Is it really serious? Didn’t she seem not to be seriously injured when she came back?” Ming Yan asked in surprise.
“Didn’t I tell you just now? The injury doesn’t look serious, but she was injured in the critical part of her foot. Therefore, it is extremely improper for her to walk. Besides, the Sixth Young Lady moved around with the help of others, and as a result, her foot was injured more seriously. So she had better not get out of bed, lest the injury becomes more serious. Do you doubt my medical skills?”
Doctor Ming shook his head and said seriously.
Ming Yan hurriedly said with a smile, “How could I doubt Doctor Ming’s medical skills? It’s just that the two young ladies are worried about the Sixth Young Lady’s injury. Doctor Ming, please forgive me for disturbing you!”
Having obtained the information she needed, Ming Yan retreated to the side and politely made way for Doctor Ming. After Doctor left, she hurriedly went back to report.
It turned out that it was the Fourth Young Lady who wanted to inquire about the Sixth Young Lady’s injury. At this time, Doctor Ming recognized Ming Yan and knew that she was Wei Qiufu’s maid.
It was no wonder that the Sixth Young Lady said that when someone asked him about her injury, he just needed to “tell the truth”. It seemed that this “someone” was the Fourth Young Lady. He couldn’t help but wonder what this Fourth Young Lady wanted to do by sending a maid to block him at the intersection and asked him about Wei Yuewu’s injury. Doctor Ming, who was old and experienced, certainly did not believe that this was really a coincidence.
However, what Doctor Ming did not expect was that at the next intersection, he met another old maidservant who served Concubine Dong. The words she said were actually the same as what the maid Ming Yan said just now. After the old maidservant left, Doctor Ming did not dare to stay any longer.
Although this Sixth Young Lady was still quite young, her intelligence was beyond the imagination of ordinary people, which was truly both shocking and frightening. He increasingly felt that he could not become enemies with this Sixth Young Lady. Otherwise, he would really die a mysterious death.
Rumors were soon spread about the birthday party for the old lady of Li Mansion. According to the story, the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s Second Lady, Lady Li, who had been recuperating in Li Mansion, broke her leg that day. Her injury was so serious that she could not be moved at all. Therefore, she continued to live in Li Mansion to recuperate.
According to some rumors, this Second Lady would probably not be able to get out of bed in the future.
It was really unlucky that such a thing actually happened at a birthday party, which was supposed to be a happy event. Everyone secretly said that Lady Li might have run been possessed by some evil thing. Otherwise, how could she be so unlucky?
Now that she was paralyzed and the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang had a lukewarm attitude towards her, it was really not a good sign. Although she was still the Second Lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang in name, what difference could she make? She was no more than an abandoned wife who was paralyzed and lived in her parents’ home.
However, another piece of breaking news was soon released, which caused everyone to completely lose their interest in Lady Li!
The Crown Prince actually selected the eldest daughter of Assistant Minister Yang of the Ministry of Works as his junior concubine, and it was the Empress who issued the decree.
Previously, there were rumors outside the imperial palace that the Crown Prince was looking for a woman who had an affinity with him. The Crown Prince had even started a nation-wide selection for her with the consent and support of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Emperor.
Everyone was speculating about this woman. At the same time, they also believed that before finding this woman, the Crown Prince would not really decide who would become the Crown Princess. After all, that woman’s status was not certain. If her background was ordinary, even if she had the support of the Crown Prince, she would at most become a junior concubine. However, if she was a young lady from a big aristocratic family, the position of Crown Princess would definitely belong to her.
Therefore, before this woman was found, the statuses of the shortlisted candidates who would enter the Crown Prince Mansion could not be decided.
However, just as everyone was certain of this matter, the Empress had actually directly issued a decree to Yang Mansion, appointing Yang Yuyan as the Crown Prince’s junior concubine. Such news was like a stone thrown into the seemingly calm lake, immediately causing a great uproar.
Did this mean the selection of the Crown Princess had officially started?
But why was Assistant Minister Yang’s daughter so lucky? When this eldest young lady was in Plum Blossom Nunnery, she was loathed by the Crown Prince, who directly ordered someone to pull her out. After that, she was said to have falsely accused the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s Sixth Young Lady. Although the Sixth Young Lady did not pursue the matter afterwards, people wouldn’t make groundless accusations against her. Moreover, there were many young ladies present at that time.
It was said that this Eldest Miss Yang was not only stupid, but her temperament wasn’t good either. Many young masters of aristocratic families simply excluded her from their lists when selecting a legitimate wife.
No man from an aristocratic family would like a woman with such a disposition.
Everyone believed that this Eldest Miss Yang could at most only rely on her father’s power to marry a low-ranking official. But who would have thought that the Empress’ decree would be released at this time? This was something no one had expected.
“What? Yang Yuyan became Crown Prince’s junior concubine?” It was not too late when Wei Qiufu received the news. Actually, she knew about it almost as soon as the rumors started outside. She was so shocked that she stood up and exclaimed.
“Fourth Young Lady, you have to think about it clearly. If you really can’t enter Crown Prince Mansion…” The speaker was an old maidservant who looked like an ordinary old maidservant with her head down. She didn’t look eye-catching, but her words were obviously threatening.
Although Wei Qiufu was anxious in her heart, she did not dare to show it on her face and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Nurse Qi. Go back and report to your master that I will definitely enter Crown Prince Mansion. Ask him to take it easy!”
“Then you had better hurry up!” Nurse Qi raised her face and said bluntly, “If Fourth Young Lady really doesn’t have the ability, our master can still find a capable young lady.”
“Okay, I will be quick!” Wei Qiufu nodded.
“Then I will take my leave!” Nurse Qi lowered her head and resumed the look of an ordinary servant. She respectfully bid farewell to Wei Qiufu. She had come today to give Wei Qiufu a warning.
At this time, Wei Qiufu was not in the mood to speak to her. She waved her hand, motioning Nurse Qi to leave.
“Miss, what should we do? Why did the Crown Prince choose Eldest Miss Yang?” After the old maidservant left, Ming Yan couldn’t help but ask. In her opinion, her young lady was much better than the stupid Eldest Miss Yang.
Wei Qiufu was also very anxious. No one anticipated that the Crown Prince would make this move. She had previously been quite confident because the Crown Prince specially kept her token. Although the Crown Prince hadn’t decided on the Crown Princess yet, she believed she definitely had a greater chance than others.
But judging from the current situation, she had apparently been too optimistic.
“Ming Yan, go to Prince Nan’an Mansion in a while and ask my Eldest Sister about her progress. If she has not taken action yet, ask her to act as soon as possible. Otherwise, Second Aunt will really not have the chance to return to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang for the rest of her life.”
Since others had threatened her, she had to make a suitable threat to Wei Fengyao.
“Yes, I will go immediately. When you enter the imperial palace, are you going to use…” Ming Yan also understood that Wei Qiufu was anxious and she hurriedly agreed, but after taking two steps, she turned around and asked hesitantly.
Wei Qiufu, of course, understood the meaning of Ming Yan’s words and said with a bit of impatience, “Yes, I will. Isn’t Wei Yuewu unable to enter the imperial palace? That would be best, lest she should ruin my plan!”
“But, Miss…” Ming Yan hesitated.
“Cut the crap, go now!” Wei Qiufu said impatiently. Originally, she was still very calm. She thought that even if she could not achieve her goal after entering the imperial palace this time, she could also ask Wei Fengyao for help when she went to Prince Nan’an Mansion the next time. But now, she had no choice but to quicken her pace.
Now that the junior concubine of the Crown Prince Mansion had been officially announced, the meaning of this news was enough to make Wei Qiufu anxious. Her goal had always been the position of Crown Princess. Even if she failed to enter the Crown Prince Mansion as the Crown Princess, she would rise to the position of Empress in the future. She actually had a trump card in her hand. However, since she was not sure whether her judgment of the current situation was correct or not, she did not dare to take it out…
“What? The eldest daughter of Assistant Minister Yang has become the Crown Prince’s junior concubine?” At the same time, the Madam Dowager was also shocked. She heavily placed the teacup in her hand on the table, and her face was extremely gloomy. “What is Yang Mansion trying to do?”
Eldest Miss Yang, the most unlikely candidate, had suddenly become a side concubine of the Crown Prince Mansion. While the Madam Dowager was shocked, she suddenly thought of a possibility, and her face became stern.
“Go, take out the bottle of medicine I have kept and send it to the Sixth Young Lady. Tell her to apply the medicine and have a good rest these few days. Ask her not to move around. In a few days, when she gets better, I will take her with me to the imperial palace to have an audience with the Empress Dowager!” The Madam Dowager said in a low voice.
“There isn’t much of the medicine left!” Nanny Hong hesitated for a moment. This medicine was extremely effective. It was granted by the late Emperor in the past. The Madam Dowager had always been reluctant to use it. Now, she actually took it out and gave it to the Sixth Young Lady.
“One must give before being able to get!” The Madam Dowager said, frowning. The Crown Prince was the heir-apparent to the throne. This meant that the Crown Princess was highly likely to become the Empress in the future. “Let Qiuju go too!”
It seemed that she had to bring all the granddaughters with her to the imperial palace! She did not believe that none of her outstanding granddaughters could enter the Crown Prince Mansion. Moreover, besides the Crown Prince, other princes might also be considered. The closer the relationship between the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and the royal family, the more likely it was for the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang to enjoy lasting honor and glory…