Chapter 232 – Suspicion, Whom To Believe?
Wei Luowen held a painting in his hand, his expression as cold as ever. After sitting down, he put the painting aside and asked, “Second Brother, are these beauties in the courtyard sent over by the heirs-apparent?”
“Yes, Elder Brother, what do you think?” Wei Luowu had a troubled expression on his face, as if he was asking for advice with an open heart.
“What did Mother say?” Wei Luowen asked after thinking for a while.
“Mother asked me to put them all in the same courtyard and accept them for the time being!” Wei Luowu lowered his head and looked helpless.
“Then just do as Mother said!” Wei Luowen said decisively.
“Alright, I will do as Elder Brother and Mother said.” Wei Luowu nodded and let out a long sigh. He turned around and instructed the lad servant beside him, “Take them to Concubine Huang and let Concubine Huang find a courtyard for them.”
The lad servant received the order and led the eight beauties away. Quietness was restored outside the house.
“Second Brother, the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State also sent a painting.” Only then did Wei Luowen mention the reason why he had come over and unfold the painting.
The person in the picture looked full of life and vitality.
“This… isn’t this Yuewu?” After seeing the girl in the picture clearly, Wei Luowu stood up and asked in shock. “What did the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State mean by sending this picture?”
Anyone who knew Wei Yuewu would immediately recognize that the person in the painting was none else than Wei Yuewu. She was standing under a willow tree. However, the mansion in the background was not the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, nor was it casually drawn. There was a character on the plaque that read “Yan”.
“Elder Brother, is this the mansion of the Duke of Yan?” Wei Luowu’s expression also became nervous. This Yan Huaijing sent him two beauties. Now, he sent over a drawing of Wei Yuewu. However, the background was the mansion of the Duke of Yan. From whichever perspective, this matter was not simple.
“Second Brother, I want to know if His Majesty has the intention to marry a princess to the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State?” Wei Luowen looked at Wei Luowu coldly. “I haven’t been in the court for a long time. Although I’m back now, His Majesty has ordered me to have an audience with him after resting for some time. I know little about these heirs-apparent.”
This was also the reason why he came to see Wei Luowu. This Second Brother had always been in the court. He must be well-informed about the four heirs-apparent who entered the capital. As for the Emperor’s attitude, he believed that Wei Luowu could not be totally ignorant.
“Elder Brother, His Majesty didn’t make it clear. However, I think he has the idea of marrying a princess to one of the heirs-apparent. The Duke of Yan State has annexed several small dukedoms. His Majesty is furious, but he can’t do anything to the Duke of Yan State. The Yan State has been fully-fledged. Right now, a marriage alliance is the best option.”
Wei Luowu thought for a moment and said with a serious expression. He did not conceal anything from Wei Luowen.
“Right now, the most important thing is which princess shall be selected. His Majesty may not have made up his mind.”
Of course, it was impossible for the Emperor to say those words to him. However, he was the Minister of Rites, and he could naturally understand the Emperor’s intentions.
Wei Luowen seemed to have thought of something and his expression changed. He slapped heavily on the table and said sternly, “Could it be that Yan Huaijing wanted Yuewu to be a part of the princess’ dowry?”
On the surface, it was a marriage alliance. But the four major dukes were all powerful, and the marriage was to some extent a condescending way of the Emperor to make peace and cement relations with the duke. In this case, it was a custom for the princess to have young ladies from aristocratic families as part of her dowry.
“This… shouldn’t be the case! Yuewu’s status isn’t low!” Wei Luowu frowned. He wasn’t too sure. Considering the Emperor’s fear of Yan State, if Yan Huaijing insisted, it wasn’t impossible for the Emperor to agree.
“Hmph, Yuewu is my daughter, how can she be someone’s concubine!” Wei Luowen was furious.
“Elder Brother, this matter hasn’t been decided yet. Just wait and see. Perhaps this Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State has other intentions. I heard that he saved Yuewu’s life.” Wei Luowu advised.
“When did it happen?” Wei Luowen was unclear about the details of the assassination of Wei Yuewu on her way to the capital.
“It should happen when Yuewu was back to the capital. I heard that the Heir-apparent of Yan happened to pass by when Yuewu encountered robbers and he saved Yuewu. After that, Yuewu insisted that Marquis Jing Yuan who went to pick her up had plotted to kill her. Elder Brother, you saw with you own eyes that Yuewu had a deep-seated hatred for Marquis Jing Yuan. She also said that the concubine of Marquis Jing Yuan was Wei Yan’s maid. My poor daughter. She is now dead and cannot defend herself!”
Wei Luowu sighed and skillfully switched the subject before finally mentioning Wei Yan, knowing that Wei Luowen felt pity for this young and beautiful niece who had died of illness in the prime of her youth.
“Forget it. Since Yuewu is really unwilling to marry Marquis Jing Yuan and the engagement was cancelled by Her Majesty, no harm was done to her reputation. However, you should be careful with the eight beauties who were sent over this time.” Wei Luowen stood up.
“Don’t worry, Elder Brother, I know what to do. And you too. Don’t be anxious about Yuewu’s marriage. Yan Huaijing sent the drawing to you on purpose. We need to be cautious!” Wei Luowu saw Wei Luowen off at the door and said with concern.
Wei Luowen patted Wei Luowu on the shoulder and nodded. Then, he turned around and left.
As Wei Luowen walked away, Wei Luowu’s expression slowly turned cold, and a faint gloomy expression appeared on his face…
Wei Luowen headed towards his own courtyard. He didn’t walk far before he stopped. After thinking for a while, he turned around and walked towards Lotus Courtyard where Wei Yuewu lived. He wanted to ask what had happened back then. Perhaps his Second Brother failed to give a detailed account because he didn’t know much about that assassination.
In Lotus Courtyard, Wei Yuewu heard that Wei Luowen was coming and she brought a few maids with her to wait respectfully at the gate.
Wei Luowen went inside and took the seat of honor. Jin Ling served tea and stood by the side respectfully.
Wei Luowen put the painting aside but did not open it. He took a sip of tea and pondered for a moment before raising his head to ask, “Yuewu, what happened when you encountered robbers on your way to the capital? Why are you so sure that Marquis Jing Yuan did it? I heard that you were saved by the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State. He was also passing by at that time, right?”
Wei Yuewu was seated below. Hearing Wei Luowen’s question, she suddenly smiled and said, “Father, the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State saved my life. At that time, I said that after you returned to the capital, I would ask you to pay him a visit and express your thanks to him. But, since Father is asking about the assassination, are you suspicious that it was done by the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State?”
Wei Luowen didn’t expect Wei Yuewu to be so straightforward. He hesitated for a moment and said, “How could there be such a coincidence?”
Wei Yuewu sneered in her heart. It seemed that someone had intentionally said something to this father of hers to make him suspicious of Yan Huaijing.
“Yes, it was quite a coincidence that was almost hard to believe. The route I traveled was decided by the people sent by my Second Aunt. Originally, I wanted to stop in an inn and have a rest early that day because it was snowing. But the people sent by my Second Aunt said that there was a better place to rest not far ahead. So, we kept moving in the night despite the snow. As a result, we encountered robbers. All the people except me were killed. What was even more coincidental was that when Mo Huating’s mask fell, my maid recognized him.”
Wei Yuewu smiled, but her smile was cold as she stared fixedly at Wei Luowen.
“Afterwards, I found Mo Huating was accompanied by Shuiyun, the personal maid of my Second Elder Sister. At that time, she was dressed as a man and was disguised as one of Mo Huating’s guards. If father still thinks that Mo Huating is wronged, I have nothing to say.”
Hearing a tragic thing being uttered so calmly by such a girl who still looked a little childish, Wei Luowen felt his heart ached for a moment. Then, he burst into rage, “Mo Huating actually dared to murder my daughter! I…”
“Father, I didn’t conceal anything in front of you. But if you ask whether I have any evidence, my answer is no!” Wei Yuewu gently interrupted Wei Luowen. She uttered those words with a determined and affirmative tone. “You can trust me, you can trust someone else. I have told the truth!”
She was such an exquisite-looking girl with such an innocent look on her face. But when she said these words, there was not even the slightest bit of expectation in her tone, as if she didn’t care whether Wei Luowen believed it or not.
Feeling a heavy blow to his heart, Wei Luowen subconsciously touched the scroll of painting beside him and he instantly calmed down. He took a deep look at Wei Yuewu before answering, “I… Of course I believe in you!”
Wei Yuewu said she had no evidence. Only Wei Yuewu and her maid saw what had happened. But now that the maid was dead, Wei Yuewu was the only witness, and what she said was even less convincing as evidence. It was even possible that Wei Yuewu’s words were all fabricated!
“I haven’t seen Father for so many years. I didn’t expect Father would believe in my one-sided words!” Wei Yuewu’s eyes flashed with a hint of a smile, and her expression was very naive.
“You are my daughter, of course I believe you!” Wei Luowen looked at Wei Yuewu and unconsciously lowered his voice.
In other words, he would believe whatever she said because she was his daughter. What about Wei Yuejiao? Fortunately, she had been prepared beforehand. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get her mother’s screen back from Wei Yuejiao no matter what.
Wei Yuewu stood up and bowed deeply to Wei Luowen. “Thank you, Father, for trusting me. I hope you can go to the mansion of the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State when you are free and convey my gratitude to him for saving my life!”
Looking at this daughter who bowed respectfully and thanked him, Wei Luowen suddenly felt his heart aching. “You… don’t have to do this. You’re my… daughter. This is what I should do!”
“Father, have you seen my mother?” Wei Yuewu suddenly changed the topic and asked with a smile.
Wei Luowen thought she was asking about the eternal lantern in the Plum Blossom Nunnery. He forced a smile and answered, “Every time I am back to the capital, I will go to see your mother. But this time, because of my old injuries, I haven’t had time to go to the Plum Blossom Nunnery yet. The day after tomorrow, I will bring you to offer some incense to your mother.”
“Father, you don’t have to go to the Plum Blossom Nunnery to see my mother. The eternal lantern in the Plum Blossom Nunnery is kept very well. I’ve already been there twice.” Wei Yuewu blinked her eyes, her long eyelids flickering with a deep thought. Indeed, her mother’s eternal lantern was one of the few that were taken the best care of in the Plum Blossom Nunnery.
Could this have something to do with the fact that her father went to the Plum Blossom Nunnery every time he returned to the capital?
Wei Luowen did not understand what Wei Yuewu meant. After pausing for a moment, he asked, “Where else can I see your mother if I don’t go to the Plum Blossom Nunnery?”
“Father, do you still remember the courtyard where my mother used to live?” Wei Yuewu stared coldly at Wei Luowen, her eyes deep and serene…
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