Chapter 246 – Not Simple, Army Arrow?
A person had actually been shot to death by an arrow in broad daylight! This was way too horrible! Did this mean that if someone wanted to kill a person, he could just hide somewhere and shoot the person to death with an arrow? In that case, wouldn’t everyone in the capital be worried about losing their lives?
The several mansions that were watching on the side immediately dispatched guards to follow the direction of the arrow and chase after the killer!
Jin Ling trembled as she stretched out her hand to check the coachman’s nose. When she felt that he was not breathing, she trembled in fright. She fell back onto the snow and cried out in alarm, “Miss, he… he actually died. This… this arrow is so sharp, how can there be such a sharp arrow?”
Outside the crowd, Yan Huaijing slowly walked in surrounded by his guards. His handsome eyes landed on Wei Yuewu, and he suddenly raised his eyebrows.
“Find out what kind of arrow this is.” Yan Huaijing gently instructed.
Seeing Yan Huaijing’s appearance, everyone in the carriage secretly lifted the curtains of their carriages. Occasionally, people would hear women exclaiming in soft voices. Needless to say, this heir-apparent’s appearance had attracted the attention and admiration of a lot of young ladies!
Wei Yuewu was speechless upon seeing Yan Huaijing’s appearance, but she was still very satisfied that Yan Huaijing could take her hint quickly!
“Yes!” One of Yan Huaijing’s guards answered and ran over. After checking it for a while, he said loudly, “Your Heir-apparent, this arrow is for exclusive use by the army.”
It was actually an arrow used by the army! The surrounding people immediately started to panic again. Of course, arrows used by the army could only be found in the army, but now, an ordinary coachman was shot dead by such an arrow. This fact in itself explained some problems.
Actually, there were quite a few officials working in the army, especially now that they were returning to the capital to report on their work. Therefore, it was not easy to investigate the source of the arrow.
But what if the incident was connected to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang? Wasn’t Marquis Hua Yang guarding the border? His people should be able to obtain this arrow quite easily. Of course, no one would think that Marquis Hua Yang would kill his own daughter.
Even if Marquis Hua Yang didn’t like his daughter, it was impossible for him to kill her.
However, if it wasn’t him, there would only be a few people who not only could obtain this kind of arrow but also wanted to eliminate Sixth Miss Wei.
“Is Sixth Young Lady going to the mansion of Duke of Jing?” Yan Huaijing slowly walked to Wei Yuewu’s side. He was taller than Wei Yuewu by more than one head. At this moment, he looked down at Wei Yuewu, making her feel quite stressed.
After carefully taking two steps back, Wei Yuewu bowed respectfully and said, “I am going to the birthday banquet of Eldest Miss Jing!”
“Sixth Young Lady, your carriage is no longer usable. How about riding in my carriage and going there together with me?” A gentle smile appeared on Yan Huaijing’s handsome face as he pointed at his carriage.
“This…isn’t appropriate, perhaps?” Wei Yuewu braced herself and said hesitantly. This heir-apparent was so eye-catching that if she got into his carriage, she would very likely become a thorn in the side of the young ladies of the various mansions.
“Sixth Young Lady, this isn’t the first time you’ve boarded my carriage. I remember when you entered the capital last time…” Yan Huaijing was not angry at Wei Yuewu’s refusal, but he still smiled so elegantly that he definitely deserved the title of Peerless Young Master.
However, the implied meaning of these words made Wei Yuewu’s heart skip a beat. She didn’t know what this black-hearted and cunning fox wanted to do, so she hurriedly nodded and bowed deeply to Yan Huaijing again. “Your Heir-apparent saved me again. I really can’t repay you for your kindness. My father has already told me that he will bring me to express his thanks to Your Heir-apparent.”
How could Wei Yuewu not understand the threat in Yan Huaijing’s words? This black-hearted and powerful heir-apparent had never behaved according to the norm. Wei Yuewu felt that it was better not to provoke him.
Yan Huaijing was satisfied with Wei Yuewu’s cooperation. He moved aside and let Wei Yuewu pass. At this time, Jin Ling had already stood up and followed behind Wei Yuewu.
The two of them got into Yan Huaijing’s wide carriage under everyone’s gaze.
A guard had already pulled a white horse for Yan Huaijing. After mounting the horse, he pointed at the coachman lying on the ground with his whip and asked, “Has the Mayor of the capital city come yet?”
“He should be here soon!”
“Just leave one person here!” Yan Huaijing nodded and raised his foot slightly. The white horse slowly moved forward. The carriage behind him also turned around and moved towards the side road.
After that, the guards from the other mansions came back and said that no one had been found.
The Mayor’s men arrived fairly quickly. They took away the dead coachman, cleaned up the road, and dug out the broken carriage from the snow.
Yan Huaijing’s carriage was very clean and spotless. It made Wei Yuewu feel a little embarrassed. Instead of sitting on the couch in the middle, she just took a seat in the corner. She was now in a mess all over, from her shoes to her hair.
She was in an extremely sorry state. When Jin Ling hugged her and jumped out of the window, she only paid attention to her safety. There were mud stains on her clothes, and a few strands of her hair had also fallen off. In her current state of condition, she could not go to the banquet at all.
“Miss, where are we going now? The carriage doesn’t seem to be driving to the mansion of Duke of Jing.” Jin Ling carefully sat on the side. She was well aware of her former master’s hatred for dirt or contamination and she did not dare to touch anything in the carriage with her dirty hands.
“To the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang!” Wei Yuewu sighed helplessly, feeling a little uneasy in her heart.
She had also wanted to go back to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang after the incident. Considering the chaotic situation and her miserable conditions back then, some people would definitely be willing to offer their carriages and send her back. However, she didn’t expect Yan Huaijing to be among these people.
Now that Yan Huaijing was escorting her back, she felt uneasy. She didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.
Hearing that they were returning to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, Jin Ling felt a little relieved. She listened carefully and only the sound of horses’ footsteps could be heard outside. Then, she lowered her voice and asked, “Miss, will Lord Marquis expect this…”
“He will!” Wei Yuewu said confidently, and a mocking smile appeared on her face. She had put on such a big show and even risked her life to make Wei Luowen suspect Concubine Dong.
Apparently, Concubine Dong, who had been living at the border with him, was the number one suspect beside Wei Luowen who could get an arrow used by the army.
Moreover, this arrow must have indeed been sent to Lady Li by Concubine Dong! Lady Li had always been in the capital, so it was impossible for her to have access to arrows used by the army. Even if she obtained help from her brother, tutor of the Crown Prince, the arrow would definitely be provided by Concubine Dong. In this case, even if something went wrong, Concubine Dong would not be able to get away with it.
It was impossible for Lady Li and Concubine Dong to trust each other completely.
“Will Lord Marquis punish Concubine Dong?” Jin Ling was overjoyed.
“No!” Wei Yuewu bit her lips and a sharp light flashed in her eyes. Even though her father still remembered her mother, Concubine Dong had been living with him for many years. How could she be convicted with just an arrow?
Nevertheless, conviction was one thing, and suspicion was another. After today’s incident, it was impossible for Concubine Dong to be trusted by her father as before.
She would be farther and farther away from the position of Marquise Hua Yang, which she had dreamt of for years. Moreover, Wei Yuejiao was coming of age, and engagement was imminent for her. If Concubine Dong couldn’t become Marquise Hua Yang immediately, Wei Yuejiao would definitely not have a satisfying marriage. In this case, it would be impossible for Concubine Dong to maintain composure…
People in a panic were most susceptible to errors!
The carriage slowly stopped at the gate of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Yan Huaijing got off his horse and stood in front of the gate. He looked at the large plaque of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and pondered silently.
Someone had already gone up to call the door and state their identities. After hearing the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State was outside and the Sixth Young Lady who had an accident was in his carriage, the gatekeeper didn’t dare to keep them waiting. He immediately rushed to deliver the message to Wei Luowen in his study.
Wei Luowen was eating dessert and Concubine Dong brought the soup she had just stewed and carefully filled it in a porcelain bowl. She blew on the soup to cool it before handing it to Wei Luowen.
This meticulous effort really softened Wei Luowen’s heart.
He thought of Wei Yuejiao, his eldest daughter, who had been living with him and grown up at the border over the years. Perhaps it was because of the tough custom and conventions at the border that this daughter grew up without the typical bearing of a young aristocratic lady. Besides, he also neglected his daughter’s education, and as a result, she was too narrow-minded.
He now felt that he had been unfair with Concubine Dong by blaming her for everything.
“How’s Yuejiao?” After taking a sip of the soup, Wei Luowen asked softly.
“She copied books late into the night yesterday. She said that she realized she was wrong. She accidentally pushed the Sixth Young Lady at the city gate because they had a dispute in the carriage. You see, the two of them were both still a little bit ignorant.” Concubine Dong had a kind expression on her face as she uttered those words, referring to the matter at the city gate as a quarrel between two ignorant girls.
She thus imperceptibly acquitted Wei Yuejiao of any responsibility.
“I’ve also scolded her for damaging the embroidered screen. She said that she didn’t know it was the Madam’s item. She didn’t care too much when she saw the screen in her room being scratched. Yuejiao had always been a carefree person. Who knows how she has formed such a character.” Concubine Dong skillfully switched the topic to the screen incident.
A carefree person? Wei Luowen lowered his head and drank a few mouthfuls of soup. After pondering for a while, his expression was no longer as strict as before. “Tell Yuejiao to be careful. She must not have the slightest disrespect for the Madam. Whether it was she or her maidservant who scratched the screen, she is not allowed to profane the Madam in the slightest!”
Wei Luowen warned.
“Yes, I know that the Madam will always be the Marquise, and the Sixth Young Lady is not just Yuejiao’s younger sister. I will definitely let Yuejiao know about the difference between legitimate and concubine-born daughters!” Hearing Wei Luowen’s words, although Concubine Dong gritted her teeth with hatred in her heart, she knew that she couldn’t reveal it. However, a trace of complacency soon flashed in her eyes.
After a while, Wei Yuewu would forever be a thing of the past.
Both Wei Yuewu and her mother Qin Xinrui would become stepping stones for her and Yuejiao and be buried forever. So what if Lord Marquis remembered Qin Xinrui? She was just a dead person. Could she compete with her for the position of Marquise Hua Yang?
From today onwards, Yuejiao was going to become the legitimate daughter of this mansion, and she was also the legitimate Marquise Hua Yang. This was a trend that no one could stop.
A lad servant rushed in and knelt in front of Wei Luowen. “Lord Marquis, bad news. Something happened to the Sixth Young Lady. It was said that something happened to her carriage!”
“Clang!” Wei Luowen was so shocked that the spoon in his hand fell into the bowl and the soup splashed onto the table. He didn’t care at all. He stood up abruptly and asked, “Is Yuewu OK?”
Although Concubine Dong on the side had a face full of shock, her eyes were filled with a faint hint of satisfaction. It seemed that Lady Li had succeeded…
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freew𝒆(b)novel.c(o)m Only