Chapter 119 – Warm-Hearted Eldest Miss Yang
The person Jin Ling brought back was a smart little maid who was called Jin’er.
“Sixth Miss Wei, I’m from the mansion of Deputy Minister Yang of the Ministry of Works. I accompanied our Eldest Young Lady to Plum Blossom Nunnery this time. My mistress was very anxious when she heard that you caught a cold but had no medicine. She has sent someone down the mountain to get some medicine and it will soon be brought over. My mistress is afraid that you will be anxious, so she sent me here to tell you about it.”
Jin’er curtsied respectfully to Wei Yuewu and explained on the side.
Wei Yuewu’s eyelashes fluttered. She stared at the maid with half-closed eyes for a while and smiled. “Send my thanks to your mistress for sending someone on a special errand to fetch medicine for me.”
Why was this Eldest Miss Yang so warm-hearted to a stranger? Was it because Wei Yuewu came from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang?
‘”Actually, it’s not all like that. Our eldest young lady is not in good health and always has medicinal ingredients prepared at home. When she heard that Sixth Miss Wei was not feeling well, she thought that since she herself was also feeling unwell, she was going to fetch some medicine anyway. Therefore, she asked the servant to bring some medicine for you by the way.” Jin’er said smilingly.
What the maid said was reasonable. It wasn’t that the young lady cared so much about a stranger but that this Eldest Miss Yang wasn’t feeling well either. Bringing extra medicine for Wei Yuewu was merely a little favour and didn’t mean any loss to her.
“Thank your eldest young lady for me. Is she alright?” Since they did her a favour, Wei Yuewu naturally had to ask about Eldest Miss Yang to express her thanks.
Hearing Wei Yuewu’s question, Jin’er lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eyes with her handkerchief. When she raised her eyes again, although she was still smiling, anyone could tell that the smile wasn’t natural.
“My mistress has been heavy-hearted ever since our Madam was gone. She has been in a depressed mood and her health is very bad.” Jin’er’s eyes turned red as she spoke. “Sixth Miss Wei, I wonder if you can come to cheer my mistress up when you are free. My mistress has been suffering a lot in her heart since our Madam passed away.”
Jin’er’s voice was choked at this point. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, afraid that she would cry out.
In this situation, everyone felt that this Eldest Miss Yang was really unwell.
Wei Yuewu’s watery eyes glanced across Jin’er’s face. She was moved and some moisture rose to her eyes.
Besides losing her mother, this Eldest Miss Yang also had a poor health. She could be said to be in the same pitiful situation as Wei Yuewu. Judging from Jin’er’s behavior, it seemed that this Eldest Miss Yang was also having a hard time in the mansion of the Deputy Minister.
“When I get things settled here, I will go to see Eldest Miss Yang.” Wei Yuewu said gently.
Hearing Wei Yuewu said that she would come over when she was free, Jin’er wiped away her tears and was sensible enough not to mention this matter again. She curtsied respectfully to Wei Yuewu and said, “Sixth Young Lady, I’ll then go back to accompany my mistress.”
Wei Yuewu smiled and nodded, so Jin’er retreated.
“Miss, I only asked one question and that Eldest Miss Yang immediately said that she was going to have someone go down the mountain to collect medicine. She ordered someone to bring some medicine for you before I could say anything.” After Jin’er left, Jin Ling finally had the opportunity to tell what had happened. She had a good impression of that Eldest Miss Yang, who looked fragile and weak but was warm-hearted.
Wei Yuewu took the teacup that Jin Ling handed over to her. She lifted the lid and skimmed the foam on the surface of lotus leaves. Then, she asked coolly, “Is Eldest Miss Yang sick?”
“I can’t tell… but this Eldest Miss Yang doesn’t look very well. She speaks softly and doesn’t have much strength.” Jin Ling thought for a moment and shook her head.
“Miss, are you really going to see this Eldest Miss Yang?” Shufei asked cautiously.
Wei Yuewu smiled and a trace of coldness flashed through her eyes. “I have a very similar experience to this Eldest Miss Yang. If I stayed with such a warm-hearted person, the two of us would definitely have a good relationship.”
The two maids didn’t understand Wei Yuewu’s meaning. They looked at each other. Shufei asked in confusion, “Miss, you meant….”
“Let’s go to the main hall mentioned by the Third Princess. Since we were invited by the Third Princess, we should follow Third Princess. As for this Eldest Miss Yang, we will meet her anyway.” Wei Yuewu stood up, looked at the two confused maids and said as if she was insinuating at something.
No matter what Wei Qiufu’s intention was, this Eldest Miss Yang would be a key figure in her plan. Since she didn’t live with Eldest Miss Yang in the same courtyard now, Wei Qiufu would definitely have a follow-up move. Therefore, she was bound to meet this Eldest Miss Yang and there was no need for her to take the initiative to go and see her….
However, Wei Yuewu did not expect that she would meet Yang Yuyan much earlier than she had imagined.
While Jin Ling went to arrange the trivial matters for her stay, Wei Yuewu went out with Shufei. Hardly had they taken a few steps when she saw a 16- or 17-year-old young lady sitting on a stone stool not far from her. Jin’er was standing beside the young lady.
Seeing Wei Yuewu taking Shufei out of the intersection, Jin’er excitedly waved her handkerchief at them and called out, “Sixth Miss Wei.”
Wei Yuewu sighed in her heart and had no choice but to go over with Shufei.
“Sixth Miss Wei.” Seeing Wei Yuewu standing in front of her, Yang Yuyan stood up as if she wanted to curtsy to Wei Yuewu, but Jin’er stopped her. “Miss, don’t move. You just got cramps in your leg. Take a rest now. Sixth Miss Wei won’t mind.”
“Eldest Miss Yang, you got cramps?” Now that they have met, Wei Yuewu had to ask out of ceremonies. Wei Yuewu revealed a faint smile. What a coincidence it was!
“I was going to the main hall, but I didn’t expect to feel a spasm in my leg after just a few steps.” Yang Yuyan knitted her eyebrows tightly. One could tell that she was still unwell.
This was a pretty girl. Her eyebrows were slightly knitted and she looked very delicate. Her eyes were warm and gentle. She was quite an impressive young lady for being able to keep a smile on her face in such a situation.
“Do you want to go back for a rest first?” Wei Yuewu asked as her eyes landed on her slightly raised foot.
“It’s okay. I’m almost all right now. Are you also going to the main hall, Sixth Miss Wei?” Yang Yuyan slowly stood up with the help of Jin’er’s hands. She gently swung her foot before landing it on the ground.
Wei Yuewu smiled and asked, “Yes. Eldest Miss Yang, your foot.…”
“What a coincident. Let’s go together. But my foot is injured. I may be a drag to you and slow you down, Sixth Miss Wei.” Yang Yuyan said.
“That’s no problem. We happened to go in the same way. I haven’t thanked you for bringing me the medicine.” Wei Yuewu shook her head and said those words smilingly in a soft voice. Yet when Yang Yuyan raised her head to look at her, she felt that Wei Yuewu’s smile was somewhat cold and not as warm and affectionate as she had imagined.
Yang Yuyan couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment. The hand she had affectionately stretched out to take Wei Yuewu’s hand was frozen there.
Wei Yuewu stretched out her hand, took hers and supported her: “Eldest Miss Yang, let me help you.”
This was originally what Yang Yuyan had expected, but she felt that something was wrong. However, as Wei Yuewu held her by the hand, she thought it was better not to take it back. On her other side, Jin’er was also supporting her. So the few of them went together to the main hall, which was in the middle of Plum Blossom Nunnery.
Wei Yuewu had only visited the nunnery once, so she was not familiar with the place. Luckily, Yang Yuyan had been here several times. She said that when her mother was still alive, she would come here every winter to offer incense and watch the blossoms by the way. Thus, she was very clear about the layout of the nunnery.
With her leading the way, Wei Yuewu didn’t have to ask for directions. Because they had to take care of Yang Yuyan on the way, they walked very slowly. By the time they arrived at the main hall, almost all other young ladies were waiting outside in twos and threes.
The two princesses hadn’t arrived yet. The young ladies were chatting in small groups, looking quite at ease.
No one knew who saw Yang Yuyan and Wei Yuewu first. Many people stopped chatting and looked sideways at them. Some started pointing at them secretly, but none of them stepped forward.
Some revealed a mocking smile at the corners of their lips.
Wei Yuewu had been to the palace banquet last time. Her eyes flashed with a trace of thought. She had seen several young ladies before. At that time, even though some looked at her mockingly, they did not point at her so openly. Obviously, these mocking smiles were not directed at her. There was indeed something wrong with this Eldest Miss Yang.
“Sixth Miss Wei, you… you’d better stay away from me!” Yang Yuyan also saw the crowd pointing at her. She stopped moving forward and tears appeared at the corners of her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Wei Yuewu had no choice but to stop. Yang Yuyan coincidentally stood in front of her.
“Ever since my mother was gone, I’ve lost my father’s love. My new stepmother even regarded me as a thorn in her side. She spread rumors that my mother’s death had made me so upset that I became disobedient and lost my manners. Those young ladies who used to be close to me shunned me when they saw me as if I was a snake or scorpion.”
Yang Yuyan wiped the corner of her eyes with her handkerchief. She lowered her voice and said those words in an injured tone. Her maid Jin’er stood at her side and angrily stared at the young ladies, but she didn’t dare to say anything.
So this Eldest Miss Yang lost her mother, then her reputation was ruined and she was generally ridiculed and despised. Wei Yuewu revealed a smile at the corner of her lips and her long thick eyelashes fluttered to conceal the coldness in the corner of her eyes. This couldn’t be more coincidental. Eldest Miss Yang was simply sharing the same fate with her!
Wei Qiufu had really put in a lot of effort to find such a person!
“Eldest Miss Yang, let’s go there to wait for the two princesses.” Ignoring Yang Yuyan’s words, Wei Yuewu gave a noncommittal smile and pointed to a place.
“Right, let’s go there and have a talk.” Yang Yuyan thought that Wei Yuewu didn’t respond to her previous words because she wanted to find a quiet place and have a good talk with her. No matter what, the two of them had the same experience. They had a lot in common to talk about.
However, when she wiped off her tears and saw the direction Wei Yuewu was pointing at, her eyes widened and her body trembled. She turned to look at Wei Yuewu in disbelief.…
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶