Chapter 227 – No One Was Stupid
That letter was written to Wei Qiufu, and it could not be compared with this one. It was a letter that proved that the two of them were having an affair. How could Xie Qingzhao be calm at this time? His expression was panicked, but he could not speak any word.
“You… you…”
He truly regretted it to the extreme. He suddenly realized that this Sixth Miss Wei in front of him was not simple. His previous failures weren’t just coincidental. Today, when he came to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, he was simply throwing himself into a trap and lifting a stone to smash his own foot.
“Lord Xie, please explain clearly who asked you to harm me like this? I am a weak woman, and I have just been back to the capital. I am sure that I have never offended Lord Xie, but why did Lord Xie harm me like this?” Wei Yuewu said coldly. Although her tone was fierce, her words hinted at a path of life, a path of life for Xie Qingzhao.
Those who ranked among the top three in the Palace Examination presided by the emperor were never really stupid…
“It’s not me… I’m not trying to harm you!” Xie Qingzhao shook his hands and he was almost frightened out of his wits. As long as he thought of the letter in Madam Dowager’s hand, he would not be able to calm down. That letter involved not just him but also Wei Qiufu, whose safety he cared about wholeheartedly. She was so beautiful. If he ruined her life, how could he be worthy of her affection?
Wei Yuejiao also realized what happened at this time. She was not stupid either. In order to prove her innocence, she immediately berated Xie Qingzhao, “Who else could it be except you? There’s also your stuff. Why is it here? These are clearly gifts from my concubine mother. How come your brush got mixed up in my gifts?”
“Lord Xie, please explain why your brush was mixed up in Concubine Dong’s gifts and sent to my Third Elder Sister?” Wei Yuewu said indifferently. She was pressing forward step by step!
“I… I…” Xie Qingzhao looked at Wei Yuewu and then Wei Yuejiao, unable to find an answer in a short time.
“Looks like Lord Xie wanted to send it to someone else. I wonder who changed the recipient’s name.” Wei Yuewu said meaningfully.
After saying those words, she lifted the corner of her skirt and was going to walk out.
Shufei asked in a low voice, “Miss, it’s not good to disturb the Madam Dowager at this time, is it?”
Hearing that Wei Yuewu was going to get the letter from the Madam Dowager, Xie Qingzhao was very anxious. He recalled Wei Yuewu’s previous hint and casually pointed at Wei Yuejiao. However, he immediately answered, “I… I wanted to give it to Third Young Lady… It should have been taken away by Third Young Lady’s concubine mother!”
There were only two young ladies here, one was Wei Yuewu, and the other was Wei Yuejiao!
Moreover, Wei Qiufu had reminded Xie Qingzhao that Marquis Hua Yang had a very capable concubine who was coming back with Marquis Hua Yang to the capital this time. The fight between the legitimate daughter and the concubine mother was about to begin.
In that case, the one who framed the legitimate daughter was naturally this Concubine Dong! Just now, this Third Miss Wei also said that the gifts were sent by Concubine Dong.
“Nonsense!” Hearing Xie Qingzhao mentioned her and then her mother, Wei Yuejiao was stunned. Then, she was furious and rushed over. After slapping Xie Qingzhao fiercely in the face, she gave him a hard kick.
Unprepared, Xie Qingzhao was kicked and stumbled back two steps in a row. His body smashed into the door behind him, and he almost fell down. For a moment, even his hair was in a mess.
“I’m not lying. I sent this brush to Third Young Lady. The person who received the brush also claimed to be serving the Third Young Lady. But since the Third Young Lady denied having received the brush and said it was delivered by Concubine Dong, that meant it was Concubine Dong who received the brush at that time.” At this time, Xie Qingzhao could only bite down on Concubine Dong and make her the scapegoat.
“Are you saying that it was Concubine Dong who altered the recipient’s name in the letter?” Wei Yuewu looked quite shocked.
“It… should be her. The recipient’s name I wrote was Yuejiao!” Xie Qingzhao continued to make up the story. Fortunately, he was quick to react and was able to immediately take Wei Yuewu’s hint. However, his train of thought was unknowingly led by Wei Yuewu.
“Nonsense, if my mother changed your letter, why did she send it to me?” Wei Yuejiao wanted to beat him up, but her maid Yuzhu held her tightly. She struggled desperately, pointing at Xie Qingzhao and scolding him angrily.
“But… maybe Concubine Dong was confused and sent it to the wrong place!” Xie Qingzhao had no way to back down now. He could only continue making lies to justify what he had said. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and immediately thought of a reason.
There were so many gifts to be sent, and the gifts were delivered to the young ladies at the same time. Even if Concubine Dong divided the gifts properly, it was possible that the servants took the wrong gifts. In fact, this was very likely to happen. After all, it was the first day of their return, and the servants were so busy that they were likely to make mistakes.
“Father, I didn’t expect this matter had something to do with Concubine Dong!” Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Luowen with a calm expression. She didn’t look like a young lady from an aristocratic family who had just been slandered and almost had her reputation ruined. She looked at Wei Luowen fixedly, and her gaze made him feel pity for her.
“Nonsense, both of you are talking nonsense. My mother wouldn’t do such a thing. Father, beat this person to death or cripple him for slandering my mother!” Seeing that Wei Luowen was silent, Wei Yuejiao was really anxious. At this time, she even forgot to address Concubine Dong as concubine mother. She pushed Yuzhu away and ran over to pull Wei Luowen’s sleeves and shook them.
This was her habitual action. In the past, as long as she acted like this, Wei Luowen would almost always give in to her requests.
But today, when Wei Luowen saw Wei Yuewu’s cold and calm eyes, he felt embarrassed and uncomfortable for a moment. He reached out and pushed Wei Yuejiao’s hands away, reprimanding her sternly, “You have already grown up, yet you still behave like a child. Look at your Sixth Younger Sister, see how dignified she is!”
After saying those words, he turned around and glared coldly at Xie Qingzhao, “Explain why you said that you had an affair with Yuewu when you came in. According to your story, the person you liked was originally Yuejiao, but why did you say that you liked Yuewu when you entered the mansion?”
Wei Yuewu looked at Xie Qingzhao quietly and sneered in her heart. Xie Qingzhao had made inconsistent statements, which were quite evident and hard to justify. It was impossible for Xie Qingzhao to keep out of the matter completely today. Even if he could make Concubine Dong a suspect in the matter regarding the brush, his previous words did not make sense.
“I… I did like the Third Young Lady, but after my lad servant delivered the brush, the maid who received the brush at that time caught up with him halfway as he was returning. Then, the maid told my lad servant that tonight…if I came here to make a proposal to the Sixth Young Lady, I would definitely get what I wanted. For the sake of the Third Young Lady, I… followed the maid’s words.”
He stammered, but no matter what, this could be considered an explanation for his previous words. As for whether Wei Luowen believed him or not, Wei Yuewu did not care. Once the seeds of doubt had been sown, they would take root at the right time.
“When did you take a fancy for me? Nonsense!” Wei Yuejiao didn’t dare to be as presumptuous as she had been before being scolded by Wei Luowen. Now that she heard that Xie Qingzhao was still slandering her mother, her entire body trembled with anger.
“When I happened to see you before a shop, I was shocked by your beauty! I inquired and found out that you were the Third Young Lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.” Xie Qingzhao had no option but to make Wei Yuejiao a victim. He did not dare to get Wei Yuewu involved at all.
Whenever he thought of the letter that Wei Yuewu had mentioned, his hair would stand on end!
After he finished speaking, he looked at Wei Yuewu’s expression and saw that although she still looked cold, she was not angry. He heaved a sigh of relief. Apparently, she was satisfied with what he said.
He must think of a way to get back that letter. Otherwise, it would be a permanent evidence against him. He had long forgotten about it, but now he realized that Wei Yuewu could use it to prove his guilt! Now, he didn’t dare to harm her!
“Xie Qingzhao, what are you going to do?” Wei Luowen said sternly.
“Lord Marquis, it was my fault that caused Third Young Lady’s reputation to be damaged this time. However, I’m really not clear of what happened. I promised Lord Marquis that from now on, I will not mention anything about what happened tonight. Neither will I do anything to damage Third Young Lady and Sixth Young Lady’s reputations.”
Hearing Wei Luowen’s question, Xie Qingzhao wiped the sweat off his forehead and hurriedly promised.
“How did you dare to say that? Who do you think you are? Father, kill this shameless guy and throw him out to feed the dog!” Wei Yuejiao screamed. She wished she could jump over and scratch Xie Qingzhao’s face.
“Third Elder Sister, this is the capital!” Wei Yuewu quietly reminded her. To Xie Qingzhao who was so frightened by Wei Yuejiao’s cruel words that he started to sweat again, these words were like life-saving straws.
“Lord Marquis, although you have great merits and power, I am an Imperial Academician personally conferred by His Majesty and I am a court official. Moreover, before I came, I also told a few good friends that I would come to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang today. If I did not appear in my own mansion tomorrow, they would definitely report to His Majesty.” Xie Qingzhao said anxiously.
“Father, don’t let him go. Kill him!” Wei Yuejiao was not willing to give up. Having grown up and lived at the border for many years, she had no respect for laws at all. The servants of the mansion would occasionally be beaten to death because they went against her will. For her, killing people was not a big issue. How would she let Xie Qingzhao get away with it?
Wei Yuewu remained silent. The corner of her lips curled into a sneer. However guilty Xie Qingzhao was, he was a court official. How could Wei Luowen simply take his life? Moreover, if this matter went beyond the limit, it would damage the reputation of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Even if Wei Luowen wanted to punish Xie Qingzhao, he wouldn’t use this matter as an excuse.
Now, Xie Qingzhao had provided an explanation to his previous actions. It seemed that he had also been set up by others.
Seriously speaking, Concubine Dong was the most likely mastermind behind the scenes. However, Xie Qingzhao looked panicked and his words weren’t thoroughly convincing either.
“Someone, send him back!” Wei Luowen’s expression changed as he finally made up his mind and said sternly.
A guard came in from outside the door. He bowed respectfully to Wei Luowen and carried Xie Qingzhao out like he was handling a chicken.
Xie Qingzhao did not dare to struggle. He felt as if his entire body had been pulled out of the water. He felt a chill running down his spine. He knew that Marquis Hua Yang would not believe everything he said, but he had to leave in this situation.
Wei Yuejiao stamped her feet and pointed at Xie Qingzhao’s back, screaming relentlessly, “Father, you just let him go like that!”
Wei Luowen ignored her and turned to Wei Yuewu who had been calm and indifferent. He said softly, “Yuewu, come here.” Then, he stretched out his hand and took out an item from under his writing desk and placed it on the desk.
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