Chapter 186 – Four Heirs-Apparent Encountered An Assassination Simultaneously
Wei Yuewu walked over as required and sat down. She picked up the book beside her hand and flipped through it. She then raised her watery eyes and nodded her head affirmatively. “Second Uncle, I was sitting here at that time and I was also flipping through these books casually.”
The seat she took was right opposite Wei Luowu’s bookshelf, and when she looked at the shelf, the corner of her eyes involuntarily twitched twice. However, she immediately lowered her head in a natural manner. Her long eyelids concealed the shock in her eyes, and then she gradually calmed down.
“Isn’t Sixth Miss Wei facing the window in this position at that time? Why didn’t you notice it when someone entered?” Lu Yeli’s gaze fell on Wei Yuewu coldly and he asked first.
Wei Yuewu’s position was indeed at an angle to the window. If anyone entered, she could see them with a slight lift of her head.
“Yuewu didn’t see anyone.” Wei Yuewu shook her head naturally.
“Did you hear anything strange?” Lu Yeli continued to ask.
“No!” Wei Yuewu frowned and shook her head.
“Sixth Miss Wei was just reading some books now on the desk. How come you were so fascinated by them? As I see, they are just some ordinary books of history and ancient classics. Most young ladies don’t like reading such books, let alone being fascinated by them.” Lu Yeli walked over. He picked up a book that was placed on the desk, flipped through it, and asked suspiciously.
These were the most common books in Wei Luowu’s study. There were no casual books or storybooks that ordinary women liked to read.
“Heir-apparent of Lu, what are you questioning? I don’t know whether other young ladies like reading these books, but I do know that my granny taught me to read this kind of book since I was young. When I came to the capital, I brought some books with me, but I encountered an assassination halfway. Most of those books were gone. Now that I saw the books in Second Uncle’s study, I was happy and read them. Does Your Heir-apparent feel there is something wrong? ”
Wei Yuewu’s face turned cold, and her watery eyes were filled with anger as she looked straight at Lu Yeli’s face.
Lu Yeli was stunned for a moment. He really didn’t expect the seemingly delicate and weak Sixth Miss Wei in front of him to be angry with him, and she even dared to speak bluntly and glared at him angrily.
“Sixth Young Lady, don’t be angry. Heir-apparent of Lu just tried to be on the safe side! Well, Heir-apparent Lu, since you have asked all your questions, shall we leave now?” Yan Huaijing stood up leisurely. The corners of his thin lips curved into a beautiful arc and his handsome face revealed a bit of carelessness.
Yan Huaijing raised his wide robe as he said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first!” Wei Yuewu immediately noticed a trace of blood on the bottom of his sleeve. Her eyes narrowed. Yang Huaijing was injured?
There was indeed nothing else to ask. Lu Yeli cupped his hands to Wei Yuewu politely and said, “Sixth Young Lady, thank you for coming. Please go back now!”
“Sixth Young Lady, do you need me to escort you back? There are really many things going on in your mansion. There are assassins in both the inner and outer courtyards. They even specifically assassinated the several of us who were newcomers in the capital.” Yan Huaijing’s beautiful eyes gently landed on Wei Yuewu’s face as he suggested. However, his gaze looked so enchanting that it did not match the expression on his face.
“…” Wei Yuewu was made speechless by Yan Huaijing’s offer. Didn’t he know that this was the inner courtyard of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and she was a young lady living in this mansion? “Thank you, Your Heir-apparent. I do not dare to trouble you!”
“Well, considering our relationship, Sixth Young Lady, you are too polite.” Yan Huaijing did not try to conceal the unique relationship between him and Wei Yuewu. His long and slimed eyes turned to look at Wei Luowu with deep meaning. “Minister Wei, see you!”
“I will definitely investigate the matter of the two heirs-apparent getting injured!” Wei Luowu hurriedly said.
Yan Huaijing’s handsome eyes glanced sideways at Wei Yuewu. With a flick of his sleeves, he left with his men, completely ignoring Wei Luowu’s words.
Seeing that there was nothing else to do with her, Wei Yuewu also returned to the inner courtyard.
Lu Yeli looked at the small trace of bloodstain on the corner of his clothes, then he looked at the surroundings and snorted coldly at Wei Luowu, “Minister Wei, we are all here today to celebrate your birthday. I didn’t expect that there would be someone waiting here to assassinate us. I hope that you and the Fourth Prince can thoroughly investigate this matter.”
“Yes, Your Heir-apparent, please rest assured. I will definitely send someone to investigate this matter.” Wei Luowu nodded repeatedly.
Hearing that this matter indeed became his responsibility, the Fourth Prince had a bitter expression on his face. However, he had no choice but to say, “Don’t worry, Your Heir-apparent, this matter will definitely be investigated thoroughly. We will never allow such a thing to happen again.”
“That’s good!” After saying that, Lu Yeli also turned around and strode away.
After everyone left, the Fourth Prince took on a serious expression and said, “Minister Wei, the security measures of your mansion really need to be strengthened.”
A moment ago, several servants actually sneaked into the outer courtyard, and they even successfully rushed to the front of the four heirs-apparent and injured all the four of them. It really made people wonder how this kind of thing could happen in front of so many people.
Fortunately, only the few of them and their attendants were present at that time. Therefore, news about the incident wasn’t spread out. Otherwise, it would definitely cause panic.
The Heir-apparent of Duke of Chu and Heir-apparent of Duke of Qi returned immediately after the assassination, but Lu Yeli and Yan Huaijing stayed behind to see how the Fourth Prince would respond to this incident. In order to prove his innocence, Wei Luowu also mentioned that someone intended to assassinate him in the study. However, he was not in the study, and the assassin met Wei Yuewu in the study and knocked her unconscious.
That was why the Fourth Prince personally brought people to question Wei Yuewu.
“Your Highness, the incident happened quite unexpectedly. No one expected such a thing to happen. Fortunately, the heirs-apparent were only slightly injured.” Wei Luowu wiped the sweat off his forehead. He knew very well that if something really happened to these people in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, even the Emperor would not be able to safeguard him.
That was why he told them about the incident in the study to prove that he had nothing to do with the assassination.
Fortunately, the guards of the heirs-apparent reacted quickly. The moment the assassins who were dressed as servants struck with the knives in their hands, the guards responded. As a result, only several people were slightly injured. As for Lu Yeli and Yan Huaijing, they were not even injured at all. The bloodstains on their clothes were splashed by the people around them.
“Is there anything particular in Minister Luo’s study that was coveted by the assassin?” The Fourth Prince did not plan to leave like this. He turned his gaze from Wei Luowu’s bookshelf to the compartment that was opposite him and filled with bookshelves. “I wonder if I can take a look as well?”
“Your Highness, it’s my honor if you would like to take a look!” Wei Luowu stood up and generously pointed at the compartment the Fourth Prince was looking at.
The Fourth Prince had been observing Wei Luowu’s reaction. Seeing that he stood up without hesitation, he smiled and waved his hand. “I’m joking. How will I suspect Minister Wei? Marquis Hua Yang is returning in a few days. I will come again when he is back. Now I have to go to the Palace to report this matter to Father Emperor and elder royal brother, so I won’t disturb you.”
As the Fourth Prince spoke, he cupped his hands at Wei Luowu and then left with his men.
The study immediately quieted down. The fear on Wei Luowu’s face gradually subsided, and a trace of contemplation appeared. He still didn’t understand why someone would suddenly barge into his study. Was the person looking for something in his study?
As for investigating the assassination of the four heirs-apparent, Wei Luowu felt that it was simply beyond his capabilities. This incident was either intended by the heirs-apparent as a means to confuse people or was carried out at the order of His Majesty. It wouldn’t be good for him to interfere without careful consideration. Judging by the agility of those assassins who left with ease, he knew that it wasn’t something an ordinary person could do. It seemed that he and Mo Huating had to think about their plan carefully…
In the Lotus Courtyard, Wei Yuewu was seated on a chair. The scenes she saw before the so-called assassination flashed in her mind. There was clearly one thing that was completely different from what she had just seen. Wei Luowu took something away before Yan Huaijing and the others arrived at his study.
Were these things vital?
That bookshelf wasn’t big and didn’t look conspicuous, but because Wei Yuewu noticed the characters Prince Bei’an Mansion, she was attracted by that box and took the opportunity to look at the bookshelf a few more times.
Just now, she clearly saw that a few books were missing from the layer of bookcase that was under the box related to Prince Bei’an Mansion.
Previously, books in this layer of bookcase had been arranged neatly and tightly, but when Wei Yuewu saw them again, it was clear that the books were no longer tightly aligned. One of the books had even collapsed loosely.
There were fewer books there, and more than one book was missing! Of course, that box related to Prince Bei’an Mansion was no longer there!
The study of Wei Luowu was indeed a place full of secrets!
The banquet in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang was over. As the banquet came to an end, there were many rumors about Third Miss Wei and Fifth Miss Wei. Although the guests could not confirm who the servants were talking about at that time, it must be one of the two concubine-born daughters. Rumors spread like wildfire for a moment.
In particular, one of them was a daughter of Marquis Hua Yang. It had been said for a long time that Third Miss Wei was doted on by Marquis Hua Yang. There were a lot of people who wanted to get engaged to her. Every time Third Miss Wei returned to the capital in the past, people who wanted to seek a marriage alliance came and went like an endless flow. But now, everyone felt that they had to think carefully. Could it be that Third Miss Wei really had a tainted reputation?
Others thought that even though this Third Miss Wei had a good reputation, she was only the daughter born by a concubine. The Sixth Miss Wei who dressed colorfully to please her grandmother at the banquet was the real legitimate daughter. Well, even if Marquis Hua Yang doted on Third Miss Wei, the fact that she was only a concubine-born daughter could never be denied.
As a result, more and more people gave up the idea of seeking a marriage alliance.
Wei Fengyao’s invitation was delivered two days later. Before delivering the invitation, she kept sending gifts to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang every day. She sent gifts to not only the Madam Dowager but also all the four unmarried younger sisters. Such a hospitable act not only showed her modesty but also indicated how much importance she attached to her parents’ family.
The Madam Dowager’s anger slowly subsided. After all, Wei Fengyao had another identity: the title of Heiress-apparent of Prince Nan’an was enough to make the Madam Dowager think highly of Wei Fengyao. Besides, Wei Fengyao said that she would think of a way to make Princess Nan’an and a few noble ladies appreciate Wei Yuejiao and Wei Qiuju. In this way, rumors about the two of them would naturally dissipate.
Therefore, the Madam Dowager agreed to Wei Fengyao’s request to let the four sisters go to Prince Nan’an Mansion together.
“Sixth Younger Sister, you’re right. Eldest Sister won’t stand on my side at all. I’m just a concubine-born daughter, and besides, I’m from the third branch. It’s normal for me to be looked down upon by others.” After meeting Wei Yuewu at the Madam Dowager’s place, Wei Qiuju followed Wei Yuewu all the way, saying that she wanted to go to Lotus Courtyard and have a chat with Wei Yuewu.
But the more Wei Qiuju spoke, the more aggrieved she became, and she cried and started to wipe away her tears halfway.
Wei Yuewu had no choice but to stop and console her, “Since you and Third Elder Sister are both daughters of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, you are also a part of this family. There is no need to bother about being a concubine-born daughter.”
Hearing these words, Wei Qiuju didn’t stop her complaint at all, and she even shed more tears. “Sixth Younger Sister, I can only tell you the pain in my heart now. In the past, I thought that Fourth Elder Sister treated me sincerely, but now, I can’t believe even her. She actually sent a writing brush to me the day before yesterday.”
“What writing brush?” Wei Yuewu was stunned for a moment and asked.
“A man’s writing brush that is thicker than those used by young ladies. It doesn’t look like those writing brushes used by us. But Fourth Elder Sister actually sent it to me. She said that it was a gift from Imperial Academician Xie to me. What does that have to do with me? Grandmother said that Second Elder Sister was going to get married with Imperial Academician Xie. What does Fourth Elder Sister mean?”
Wei Qiuju said angrily, secretly observing Wei Yuewu’s expression.
Wei Yuewu glanced sideways at Wei Qiuju. Her butterfly-like eyelids flashed and she smiled calmly and she took a seat in the corridor. Since Wei Qiuju chose to attack here, she would like to see what she was having in her sleeves.
“Fifth Elder Sister, since you are unable to make a decision, why don’t you show the writing brush to Grandmother and let Grandmother talk with Fourth Elder Sister?” Wei Yuewu suggested.
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