Chapter 241 – Asking For A Portrait
Wei Yuewu pressed her hands on the table to suppress the intense pain in her heart. However, even though she controlled it well, sweat suddenly appeared on her fair and tender forehead. As she bit her teeth slightly, the imprints were obvious.
“Sixth Miss Wei, are you… feeling unwell?” Wen Tianyao’s gaze fell on Wei Yuewu and he asked slowly.
Wei Yuewu tried her best to suppress the pain in her heart, and the next wave of pain disappeared like flowing water. She calmed down and raised her face, forcing a smile. “Your Highness, I felt a little uncomfortable. Now it’s over!”
“Do you need an imperial doctor?” Wen Tianyao asked with concern.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. There’s really no need. It’s an old problem. I’m fine now!” Since Wen Tianyao discovered the fluctuation in her mood, Wei Yuewu no longer concealed it. She reached out to cover her forehead with a handkerchief and wipe away the slight sweat. Then, she asked, “Your Highness, have you heard of me before?”
Since the Crown Prince had asked the same question before, Wei Yuewu began to carefully probe.
“About you being untalented and ordinary-looking?” Wen Tianyao leaned back and suddenly laughed.
“Yes, untalented and ordinary-looking!” Wei Yuewu nodded generously, not showing the slightest bit of concern. Her pair of bright eyes even carried a self-deprecating smile.
“I’ve heard quite a few rumors about you being untalented and ordinary-looking. Previously, this reputation of Sixth Miss Wei had spread far and wide in the capital. Almost everyone in the aristocratic families knew Sixth Young Lady’s reputation.” Wen Tianyao laughed loudly.
However, behind this smile was a shocking aura.
“I am overwhelmed by Your Highness’ compliment!” Wei Yuewu helplessly tilted sideways.
The Crown Prince was actually interested in these rumors, which surprised Wei Yuewu. From whichever perspective, the Crown Prince did not seem to be someone who cared about such things.
“Is Sixth Young Lady wondering why I’m so curious about you?” Wen Tianyao raised his eyebrows and asked.
Wei Yuewu bit her lips and shook her head, “I really don’t know!”
“Actually, not only did I not see you, but I didn’t see Marquise Hua Yang as well. Sixth Young Lady, are you surprised to learn that?” The smile on Wen Tianyao’s face slowly faded away, his eyes carrying a faint sense of seclusion. “I, as the Crown Prince of the country, have never seen the family members of Marquis Hua Yang, an important official of the court!”
Wei Yuewu felt that there might be such a possibility that the Crown Prince had never seen her before, but it was impossible for him not to see her mother!
Wei Yuewu raised her watery eyes in astonishment and looked at Wen Tianyao. Her heart grew more and more nervous. Why was this? How could such a thing happen? When her mother passed away, this Crown Prince should have been twelve or thirteen years old, right? How come he had never seen her mother?
Besides, her mother mentioned him in the token she left behind!
The meaning behind this was enough to make Wei Yuewu rack her brains, and she did not dare to take the Crown Prince’s words lightly.
This was a rare opportunity to talk to the Crown Prince privately. If she could find out something, she would definitely be able to solve the riddle left behind by her mother!
Her heart was slightly excited, and her eyes couldn’t help but become a little more enthusiastic. “Your Highness, do you know why? Could it be that my mother had never been to the Palace?”
Every year during the Spring Festival, the Palace would definitely hold a grand banquet. Not only the officials, but also their family members would attend the banquet. Of course, not everyone would have a chance to attend such an event. However, considering her father Wei Luowen’s status, her mother would definitely be invited.
“Sixth Young Lady, you’re very smart!” Wen Tianyao took a deep look at her. The meaning in his eyes was unclear. “Marquise Hua Yang’s health was quite poor. She rarely entered the Palace. Moreover, every time she entered the Palace, I happened to have something to do. Therefore, I missed her every time. That’s why I have never seen her before.”
These words were extremely meaningful, especially when he spoke the words “happened to”, Wen Tianyao deliberately stressed them, and the change in his tone shocked Wei Yuewu such that she couldn’t help but grip the handkerchief in her hand more tightly!
There was no one else in the Palace who could arrange the Crown Prince’s whereabouts, except for the Empress, mother of the Crown Prince. No one else could be so powerful!
Was this because the Empress did not like her mother so that she didn’t allow the Crown Prince to see her?
However, this still couldn’t explain why her mother wrote down Wen Tianyao’s name. Since the Empress didn’t want the Crown Prince to see her mother, how come her mother was so sad and reluctant that she would even shed tears while writing down his name?
“Your Highness, had you ever been to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang back then?” Wei Yuewu asked. After thinking for a while, she asked tactfully, “Or perhaps there was someone who didn’t want Your Highness to see my mother?”
Wen Tianyao had always had this question, but even the people around him didn’t dare to be so straightforward. He didn’t expect that this was actually suggested by a young lady he had only met a few times. He looked at her and suddenly smiled. A trace of sharpness flashed in his eyes. “What is Sixth Young Lady implying?”
“Your Highness, I didn’t dare! I only asked casually. If I said anything wrong, I hope Your Highness will forgive me!” Wei Yuewu lowered her head and said.
Implying? Needless to say, both of them were well aware of the implied meaning.
However, the Empress was the Crown Prince’s biological mother. As a subject, she couldn’t be too explicit with her words. As for what the Crown Prince thought, it was not something she could control. She only needed to take care with her words!
“Sixth Young Lady, do you have a portrait of your mother?” Seeing that Wei Yuewu was well aware of her manner of speech and behavior, Wen Tianyao’s voice softened.
“What does Your Highness want a portrait of my mother for?” Wei Yuewu asked in surprise. Her long eyelashes flickered, and her eyes were rippling with confusion.
“Nothing, I just want to see Marquise Hua Yang!” Wen Tianyao’s gaze involuntarily fell on Wei Yuewu’s exquisite little face. This pale face was as delicate as jade and as beautiful as those beauties in a painting. Even though she still looked somewhat childish, she was already a young lady who could touch the heartstrings of people.
“My mother didn’t leave behind any portrait. I left home when I was young and grew up in my maternal grandmother’s family. I didn’t discover any portrait of my mother after returning to the capital this time.” Wei Yuewu shook her head and said calmly.
She really didn’t have a portrait of her mother. Her childhood memories had already faded. She only remembered that her mother was a beautiful and elegant woman. She couldn’t remember anything else about her, but that didn’t stop her from missing her mother, Marquise Hua Yang, who was said to be exceptionally beautiful but passed away early.
“Sixth Young Lady, can you go to your father’s study and see if there is a portrait of your mother? I heard that Marquise Hua Yang and Marquis Hua Yang loved each other very much back then. Marquis Hua Yang even refused to have another wife for so many years. It is very likely that Marquis Hua Yang will have a portrait of your mother!” Wen Tianyao slowly said, announcing his goal.
“This… Your Highness, I’m afraid it’s not appropriate!” He wanted a portrait of her mother? Wei Yuewu was shocked and forced herself to calm down. “Your Highness, this… does not conform to the conventions!”
If her mother left behind a portrait, it would definitely look somewhat similar to her. If someone discovered the Crown Prince had the portrait, they would probably think that the Crown Prince and she have…
“Sixth Young Lady, are you afraid of rumors that we have an affair?” Wen Tianyao’s expression turned cold, and his eyes revealed a hint of uncertainty. “Actually, you don’t have to worry about it. If your reputation is affected, I will take responsibility!”
The meaning behind Wen Tianyao’s words was very straightforward, especially the admiration in the corner of his eyes, which was revealed without any concealment.
“Your Highness has misunderstood me. I’m just worried about the adverse impacts on Your Highness’ reputation!” Wei Yuewu said. Her watery eyes were filled with a smile that was neither humble nor arrogant, but there was not the slightest bit of expectation or shyness in them.
She didn’t want to be involved with the Crown Prince. There were too many mysteries in the imperial palace. Before she could figure out the truth, she felt that she had better be careful and stay away from the imperial palace!
Wen Tianyao had long since grown accustomed to those young ladies from aristocratic families who peeked at him bashfully. How could Wen Tianyao not understand their wishes? Once they were doted on by him, it meant that almost unlimited glory, wealth, and fortune were within their reach. They might even become the future Empress. But this Sixth Miss Wei in front of him really surprised him.
He had already given her such an obvious hint, but all he got was a tactful refusal. Did she know what she was rejecting?
“Sixth Young Lady, have you thought it through?” Looking at the beautiful young lady in front of him, Wen Tianyao’s heart was inexplicably filled with anger. Originally, he was just probing her. But because of Wei Yuewu’s refusal, he was truly enraged and his expression darkened.
“Your Highness, my Fourth Elder Sister is about to enter your Crown Prince Mansion!” Wei Yuewu did not understand what was wrong with her words, but she still reminded him softly.
The Crown Prince Mansion could not have two young ladies from the same mansion at the same time. Since Wei Qiufu had already been selected, Wei Yuewu naturally would not be able to enter the Crown Prince Mansion.
“She is just an insignificant bedroom concubine!” Looking at Wei Yuewu’s face that was filled with anxiety to distance from him, Wen Tianyao suddenly sneered coldly. His eyes flickered as he said, “Haven’t you always disliked your Fourth Elder Sister? If you entered my mansion, there would naturally be enough chances for you to suppress a small concubine!”
Wei Yuewu was shocked. She did not expect the Crown Prince to say such words. As expected, Wei Qiufu’s status would not be high. But with her identity as a young lady from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, it was impossible for her to be a concubine who did not even have a title!
What she did not expect was that the Crown Prince was probably suggesting that because Wei Qiufu did not even have an official title, the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang would not be considered as sending a young lady to the Crown Prince Mansion. Therefore, it was very likely that she would be sent to the Crown Prince Mansion.
“Your Highness, I have been weak and sick since childhood. I can only marry into an ordinary family…”
Seeing Wei Yuewu’s panicked expression, Wen Tianyao relaxed and said with a smile, “The royal family is also very simple. Even an ordinary aristocratic family may have more than four brothers!”
He was referring to the fact that the current Emperor had only four sons. Compared to the other emperors in history, this was far from enough.
It was really dangerous to continue discussing this issue. Wei Yuewu decisively dropped the topic and returned to the original question. “Your Highness, I will ask my father on behalf of you after I return. If there is a portrait of my mother, I will definitely ask for it on behalf of you!”
“So, Sixth Young Lady, you are willing to ask for it for me?” Wen Tianyao looked at her and suddenly smiled.
“Yes, Your Highness. Whatever your wish is, I dare not go against it!” Wei Yuewu stood up and knelt down to Wen Tianyao, showing that she was a subject of Wen Tianyao.
A subject must unconditionally obey the monarch. Therefore, even though she knew that this matter was inappropriate, if Wen Tianyao insisted on her doing it, she would not go against his wish!
This was an expression of her loyalty! It also showed that in her heart, Wen Tianyao was always the supreme ruler, whereas she was just an ordinary subject.
Since she was just an ordinary subject and was so loyal, Wen Tianyao naturally could not let her down and put forward some excessive demands!
“Sixth Miss Wei, you’re very smart!” Wen Tianyao withdrew the smile on his face and looked deeply at Wei Yuewu. He was quite impressed by her.
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