Chapter 294
Chapter 294
Chapter 294 – Two Identical And Eye-Catching Hairpins
“Yes, that’s great. I will go and tell the Fourth Young Lady. Sixth Young Lady, please have a rest.” Seeing Wei Yuewu readily agreed, Ming Yan breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly replied.
Wei Yuewu waved her hand.
“Miss, why must the Fourth Young Lady ask you out for a walk?” Seeing Ming Yan left happily, Jin Ling worriedly reminded Wei Yuewu.
“Of course it’s because she wants to make use of me!” Wei Yuewu smiled, and her lips curled into a cold smile. Apparently, Wei Qiufu was about to take action.
“Miss, don’t go. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to protect you!” Jin Ling said with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry. I happen to be going out for a walk as well!” Wei Yuewu said.
She indeed wanted to go out for a walk. There were many things that she did not understand, which all involved the imperial palace. It would be best if she had a chance to wander around the imperial palace.
Wei Qiufu was a very cautious person. This was only their first day in the Palace. Even if she had a plan, she would not really do anything!
“Miss…” Jin Ling still wanted to persuade Wei Yuewu, but was stopped by her.
“In a while, help me put on the hairpin I asked you to bring when we entered the Palace!” Wei Yuewu slowly walked back and sat in front of the dressing table. She gently picked up the tea on the table and took a sip. Then, she suddenly put it down, her eyes shining with cold light.
She was talking about the hairpin engraved with the characters that read “shan you mu”, meaning “there are trees in the mountain”. Right now, she wondered if this hairpin had anything to do with Empress Tu. She was determined to find out if her mother’s death was related only to Concubine Dong and Lady Li, or if Empress Tu also played a role. She must get to the bottom of this!
“The hairpin sent by Concubine Dong? I brought it!” Jin Ling noticed that something was wrong with Wei Yuewu’s expression. She hurriedly took out the delicate hairpin from under the dressing table that she had tidied up.
Previously, Wei Yuewu only thought that this hairpin was exquisite and elegant, but now in her eyes, it was quite suspicious. She did not believe that Concubine Dong was ignorant of the fact that Empress Tu had once been engaged to her father.
However, it was a myth to her how the Tu Mansion substituted another daughter for the daughter who was engaged with her father, and how the Tu Mansion managed to send this daughter to the Palace, who subsequently made her way up to the position of Empress.
The strength of the Tu Clan, or perhaps it could be said Grand Preceptor Tu, was actually so strong that he was even able to make a fool of the royal family!
Jin Ling handed the hairpin to Wei Yuewu and asked, “Miss, are you going to wear this hairpin?”
Wei Yuewu took it and carefully played with it. It was a simple but elegant hairpin. Her granny only said that it was a betrothal gift from her father to her mother, but this matter made Wei Yuewu more and more suspicious.
Judging from what she saw, her father was incomparably devoted to her mother. He should still cherish her mother in his heart, so it was impossible for this hairpin to appear in Concubine Dong’s hands.
On that day, Concubine Dong sent this hairpin to her as an act of provocation. But if it were really a betrothal gift from her father to her mother, it definitely couldn’t have fallen into the hands of Concubine Dong.
On the other hand, was it just a similar replica of the one sent by her father to her mother as a token of love and betrothal gift?
Since Wei Yuewu couldn’t come to a conclusion, she simply brought this hairpin with her into the Palace. She thought that she could wait for the right opportunity to wear it. Maybe someone would know something about it. After all, it was such an exquisite hairpin that even the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang wouldn’t have gotten it unless by chance.
But now that she thought about it, she felt that it was a bit strange!
“Up in the mountain, there is a big tree with overhanging branches. Alas! The gentleman doesn’t know that I’ve lost my heart to him.” As she recalled the lines, she couldn’t help but wonder if her father, a general who didn’t read much, could write stuff like this. As for the Madam Dowager, who disliked her mother, it would be even more impossible for her to prepare such a good hairpin. Therefore, the origin of this hairpin was really suspicious!
Or perhaps this hairpin was given by her granny to her mother…
“Help me wear this hairpin before going out!” Wei Yuewu nodded and her gaze fell on the hairpin. Such an exquisite hairpin was really not something an ordinary hairpin could compare to.
Even those hairpins that were embedded with gemstones would appear inferior for lack of elegance. Coupled with the exquisite carvings on the hairpin, whoever wore it would definitely attract the attention of others.
It was such an outstanding hairpin, Wei Qiufu must like it…
Well, if it appeared on Wei Qiufu’s head, it would definitely be more eye-catching than on her head!
After Wei Yuewu freshened up and dressed up, Ming Yan knocked on the door again and said that Wei Fengyao was here.
Wei Yuewu went out of her room with Jin Ling.
Outside the door, Wei Fengyao and Wei Qiufu were waiting there. The two of them were chatting and laughing, and they looked very happy.
Wei Fengyao had a thick layer of makeup on her face. The makeup on her face was so thick that it made her face look pale. However, her attitude was very friendly. When she saw Wei Yuewu coming out, she even warmly came over and said with a smile, “Sixth Younger Sister, we have been waiting for you. Are you used to living in the Palace? Fourth Young Sister said that your room is facing the north and it is really cold in the winter. I’ll ask someone to get another room for you in a while!”
“Thank you, Eldest Sister. I… Please don’t bother!” Wei Yuewu refused with a smile.
“We are sisters, why are you being so polite!” Wei Fengyao had a smile on her face. In the eyes of outsiders, the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s daughters were indeed deeply attached to and cared about each other.
“Eldest Sister, I…” Wei Yuewu was about to refuse, but Wei Fengyao reached out to stop her. She said to a nurse-in-charge at the side, “Get another room for my Sixth Younger Sister later. This room is too cold. My Sixth Younger Sister is not in good health. I’m afraid she will soon be ill if she continues to live in the room!”
“Yes, Your Heiress-apparent!” The nurse-in-charge answered respectfully. They all knew the Empress Dowager liked the fat Heir-apparent of Prince Nan’an the most. Therefore, she also treated Wei Fengyao, the Heiress-apparent of Prince Nan’an, with reverence.
“Thank you, nurse. Since you are here, please change the room for my Fourth Younger Sister as well so that the two of them can live next door and take care of each other!” Wei Fengyao looked at the rooms and said to the nurse-in-charge with a smile.
“Alright!” There were plenty of empty rooms in Chu Xiu Palace right now, so changing rooms wasn’t a big issue for the nurse-in-charge.
However, in the next moment, the nurse-in-charge looked a little awkward.
Wei Fengyao pointed to the right and said, “Let them move to the rooms over there. I remember those rooms over there are the best rooms in Chu Xiu Palace. Just let my two younger sisters live there!”
Wei Yuewu followed her hand and looked over, but she couldn’t make out anything. There were several courtyards and she really didn’t know which direction Wei Fengyao was pointing to.
The nurse-in-charge, however, understood and frowned as she asked, “Your Heiress-apparent, are you referring to those rooms?”
“Yes, aren’t those rooms all empty now? They all face the south. It’s good for my two younger sisters to live there!” Wei Fengyao said smilingly.
“Well…” The nurse-in-charge was really put in a difficult position. Although those rooms were empty, not anybody could live there.
“If you can’t decide, I will ask the Empress Dowager later. I think the Empress Dowager will also agree with what I said!” Wei Fengyao said as she glanced at the nurse-in-charge with a hint of arrogance.
“Yes, I will arrange everything in a while. I am going right away!” Thinking of how the Empress Dowager doted on the Heir-apparent of Prince Nan’an, the nurse-in-charge did not dare to hesitate any longer. If Wei Fengyao really made a fuss in front of the Empress Dowager, she might be punished.
In any case, it would only be a dozen days, and it wouldn’t be a big problem.
“Thank you for taking the trouble, nurse!” Seeing that the nurse-in-charge had agreed, Wei Fengyao said in a pleased manner.
Then, the nurse-in-charge turned around and took people with her to prepare the rooms over there.
Ever since Wei Yuewu came out, Wei Qiufu’s gaze had been stealthily fixed on the hairpin on Wei Yuewu’s hair from time to time. She had never seen this kind of hairpin before. Most importantly, it looked uniquely ancient and elegant.
This was exactly what she lacked the most right now!
Young ladies from rich families, especially aristocratic young ladies like Wei Qiufu, didn’t lack expensive jewelry and ornaments. All of them had hairpins and headwear made of gold and silver, and it was very difficult to look eye-catching among a group of young ladies of aristocratic families.
Wei Qiufu was not beautiful enough. She could only be considered above the average among the young ladies of aristocratic families. If she wanted others to notice her, she would have to put in a lot of effort. However, if she had the hairpin on Wei Yuewu’s head, it would be different. Everyone would be attracted by this kind of hairpin with just one glance.
She really liked this hairpin…
After the nurse-in-charge left, Wei Qiufu immediately praised with a smile, “Sixth Younger Sister’s hairpin is so beautiful!”
“This hairpin is really beautiful!” Wei Fengyao also praised. “I have never seen Sixth Younger Sister wearing such a beautiful hairpin!”
“Eldest Sister must be joking. It’s just an ordinary hairpin!” Wei Yuewu was flattered and covered her face with a handkerchief.
Although her eyes were burning with desire, Wei Qiufu was still able to put on an indifferent expression. She asked in a seemingly casual tone, “An ordinary hairpin? Where did you get this hairpin, Sixth Younger Sister?”
“It was sent to me by Concubine Dong after she came back to the mansion. She gave me a lot of gifts at that time. You knew about it, Fourth Elder Sister.” Wei Yuewu’s long eyelashes flickered twice.
Wei Yuewu received the most gifts when Concubine Dong came back. Concubine Dong sent so many gifts that all the people in the entire mansion said she was especially good to Wei Yuewu. However, some people also said Concubine Dong was deliberately trying to curry favor with Wei Yuewu. After all, Wei Yuewu was the real legitimate daughter of Marquis Hua Yang.
“Concubine Dong gave it to you?” Wei Qiufu hesitated for a moment. She did not completely believe in Concubine Dong’s personality.
How come Concubine Dong gave such a unique hairpin to Wei Yuewu? It was really suspicious.
“Yes, it was said that there are two such hairpins, and the Third Elder Sister and I each have one!” Wei Yuewu smiled and explained softly.
Actually, Wei Yuewu didn’t know whether Wei Yuejiao also had such a hairpin. However, Concubine Dong did say those words to her back then.
If Wei Yuejiao also had one, this meant that Concubine Dong was afraid of gossip, so she gave one to Wei Yuewu. Thinking of this, Wei Qiufu no longer had any suspicion.
Concubine Dong was a sophisticated person. Since Wei Yuejiao had such a good hairpin, if Wei Yuewu did not have one, people would definitely say that she was biased and cared more about her own daughter. As a concubine, she certainly did not dare to do this.
Since Wei Yuejiao also had one, Wei Qiufu felt that she could be completely at ease. Her eyes flashed, and she stretched out her hand as she asked, “Sixth Younger Sister, may I have a look at your hairpin?”