Chapter 281 – An Old Friend From An Aristocratic Family That Concubine Dong Took Seriously
It was a middle-aged man. Judging from his demeanor, one could tell that he must be from an aristocratic family. The lad servant respectfully led the way in front of him and they entered Wei Luowen’s courtyard.
Wei Yuewu smiled and turned around. “Let’s go…”
After following Wei Yuewu for a few steps, Shufei stopped and looked behind her. Then, she said hesitantly, “Should I go over and take a look?”
Since the young lady was interested in Lord Marquis’ guest, why not investigate carefully?
“No need!” Wei Yuewu shook her head. She indeed did not know that person, but since everything Concubine Dong did today was so abnormal, then it must be for this guest. However, now that Concubine Dong’s pastry was in her hands, it was impossible for her to attract the attention of that person today.
Besides, her father was going to have an audience with the Emperor soon…
Not long after they were back in Lotus Courtyard, the lad servant, whom Wei Luowen had sent out earlier to take the mold, also came over.
“Sixth Young Lady, Concubine Dong said that the mold was broken when making pastry. It can’t be used for the time being. She can think of ways to repair it and then give it to you.” The lad servant reported.
Wei Yuewu narrowed her eyes. “Broken?”
“Yes, it’s broken. Concubine Dong was afraid that Sixth Young Lady wouldn’t believe it, so she specially let me see it. The mold is indeed slightly damaged in the corner, and it needs to be repaired.” The lad servant respectfully reported.
Wei Yuewu sneered in her heart. Concubine Dong had really made the pastry with ulterior motives, so now the mold for making the pastry was also “broken”. Needless to say, she was unwilling to lend the mold to her.
However, now that she said the mold was broken, even Concubine Dong could not use the model for the time being. No matter what Concubine Dong’s intentions were, she would inevitably fail to achieve her purpose.
“Then forget it. Since Concubine Dong’s mold happened to be broken, then I can’t use it. What a pity. Tell my father that when Concubine Dong’s mold is repaired, let her lend it to me.” Wei Yuewu said indifferently.
“Yes, I will report to Lord Marquis!” The lad servant hurriedly answered. At the moment, everyone could see that Lord Marquis was fondest of the Sixth Young Lady. Previously, Concubine Dong and the Third Young Lady ran into trouble, and Concubine Dong was even punished with protracted kneeling. However, Lord Marquis did not say a single word. By comparison, when the Sixth Young Lady wanted a mold to make pastries, Lord Marquis immediately sent him to ask Concubine Dong for it.
When had Lord Marquis cared about such a small matter?
After the lad servant left, Jin Ling came in with a cup of tea. She looked at the pastry on the table and said, “Miss, what is this?”
“Pastry made by Concubine Dong!” Wei Yuewu gave a very concise answer.
The exquisite pastry was placed on a blue and white porcelain plate. Whoever saw it could not help but be attracted and gasp in admiration.
Jin Ling looked at the plate of pastry and thought for a moment. Then, she said, “Miss, I seem to have seen such pastries before!”
“You did?” Wei Yuewu raised her eyebrows.
“But I can’t remember exactly. I seem to have seen it before. There was a time when someone sent the same pastry to the heir-apparent, but he didn’t like this kind of food. Therefore, the pastry was given to the servants as a reward. At that time, I liked the pastry and tasted a piece. Because it looked nice and tasted delicious, I have always remembered it.”
Jin Ling thought for a moment before answering.
This was a special piece of pastry she was granted in the Duke of Yan’s Mansion. That was why she still remembered it.
“It seemed that someone asked for a favor from the heir-apparent. That plate of pastry was offered to the heir-apparent at that time! But we were not clear about the exact detail!” Jin Ling shook her head.
It was clear that the person’s identity was not ordinary. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to send the pastry to Yan Huaijing. Concubine Dong was just an insignificant maid, and it was said that she sold herself to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and had no relatives. Now that she was actually connected to such a person, it was apparent that her goal was not small.
Her heart skipped a beat. The thing Concubine Dong coveted the most was the position of Marquise Hua Yang. That day, after Concubine Dong was punished to kneel, she did not do anything unusual. Could it be that she was planning something big?
Concubine Dong wanted to be Marquise Hua Yang. In fact, she had a good chance now. For so many years, she was father’s only concubine, and she even gave birth to Wei Yuejiao. The mansion of Marquis Hua Yang had long lacked a legitimate hostess. Concubine Dong had been coveting the position of Marquise Hua Yang long before.
Right now, she should be running out of patience and couldn’t endure it anymore. However, her humble origin was the biggest obstacle! Could it be that she had a way to…
“Jin Ling, go to my father’s study and see if you have met my father’s good friend before!” After pondering for a moment, Wei Yuewu had an idea.
“Yes, I will go there in a moment!” Jin Ling nodded, but she still hesitated. “Miss, what if I have never seen this person?”
It was very likely, because Jin Ling knew very little about Yan Huaijing’s issues!
“It doesn’t matter. You just need to ask the lad servant which mansion this person is from.” Wei Yuewu glanced out of the window and said indifferently.
This matter wasn’t urgent for the time being. Even if Concubine Dong had a scheme, she couldn’t succeed because she had taken away her pastry. Even if that guest wanted to visit the mansion again, it would not be possible within the next couple of days.
Jin Ling went to the outer courtyard. Shufei and Huamo helped Wei Yuewu pack her things. She was going to stay in the palace for several days, so she had to get everything prepared in advance.
Although Wei Yuewu had prepared some clothes before, after seeing the gorgeous clothes the Madam Dowager had prepared for her, she knew that after entering the palace, there must be a grand ceremony. Therefore, she needed to make extra preparations.
“Miss, are these clothes enough?” Shufei looked at the clothes on the bed and said in embarrassment.
They had previously estimated that a few sets of clothes would be enough. However, it seemed that they had underestimated the event. None of the maids had experienced such a big event. They were now afraid that Wei Yuewu would be laughed at for not having enough clothes and accessories for the event.
“Miss, do you want to make a few more sets of clothes? I heard that the Fourth Young Lady has prepared a lot of clothes. By comparison, we have much fewer!” Huamo took out a few pieces of cloth from the inner room and said in embarrassment.
Wei Yuewu had plenty of cloth, but she did not care much about clothing and seldom made clothes for herself. Therefore, she had only a few sets of simple and plain-looking clothes.
Now that Wei Yuewu was going to enter the palace and the maids prepared clothes for her, it seemed that she was really in short of clothes.
The two maids were also anxious for Wei Yuewu.
“Miss, please pick two pieces of cloth. Embroideress Yun happens to be in our mansion. The two of us can work late into the night. Maybe we can make two sets of clothes for you!” Huamo placed the cloth in front of Wei Yuewu and suggested her to pick two pieces.
“Where did the cloth come from?” Wei Yuewu picked up a piece of cloth in front of her and asked casually.
The material felt not bad, and the patterns on the cloth were also nice. The light lotus-colored cloth was decorated with a few lotus flowers at the corner. The lotus flowers were in full blossom and looked enchanting. However, because they were not dense, the pattern looked elegant. What was special was that the lotus leaves were dotted with some fiery red flowers, which were actually not lotus flowers upon close examination, making people feel that the pattern was really made with great ingenuity.
Huamo had a good memory and thought for a while before answering, “I casually took a few pieces of cloth. These should be the gifts that Concubine Dong gave to you after returning to the capital.”
Shufei even knocked over Concubine Dong’s gift that day. At that time, she took special notice of the gift, so she recognized the cloth. At this time, she also nodded and said, “Yes, it was Concubine Dong who gave it to Miss!”
“Then I will choose this one!” Wei Yuewu said casually.
“Miss, are you going to choose only one piece?” Huamo was a little anxious and shook the other cloth on the side. “I heard that there are many young ladies accompanying the Third Princess in the palace this time. If you have few clothes for change, you will be laughed at by others.”
A faint smile appeared in Wei Yuewu’s clear and watery eyes. She shook her head and said, “It doesn’t matter. I have quite a lot of clothes. I’ll take this one!” She was going to enter the palace to accompany the Third Princess to pray, not to compete with the Third Princess for beauty of looks. There was no need to wear too beautiful clothes. The Third Princess would definitely be displeased if others stole the limelight.
This Third Princess was not as kind and gentle as she looked on the surface!
She knew better than asking for trouble!
Shufei was also worried. After thinking for a while, her eyes lit up and she suggested, “Miss, how about going to the Brocade Clothing Shop to choose some ready-made clothes?”
“No need!” Wei Yuewu did not feel that there was a need to make such a fuss just for a few pieces of clothes.
Shufei’s eyes fell on Wei Yuewu’s dressing table. There were a few ornaments, but only a small bottle of face cream. She hurriedly said, “Miss, let’s go and have a look there. You don’t have much face cream here. Although you are already stunningly beautiful without makeup, there are some occasions where you still need to apply some makeup to prevent unfair criticism from others. Miss, let’s go out and buy something for you!”
“That’s right, Miss. It’s better for us to be well-prepared. Otherwise, if you really need something when you are in the palace, it will be too late.” Huamo agreed with Shufei.
Seeing that the two maids were so keen on buying clothes and accessories for her, and thinking about the situation in the imperial palace and the repeated instructions from her father, Wei Yuewu finally nodded.
Even if the Empress would not make things difficult for her, there were many people who wanted to curry favor with the Empress. If someone knew that the Empress disliked her, they would definitely think of ways to embarrass her so as to please the Empress.
Therefore, she should try her best not to leave any handle to others.
Shufei went to ask for instructions from the Madam Dowager. Hearing that Wei Yuewu was going out to buy things for her trip to the palace, the Madam Dowager naturally would not object. Moreover, she also asked Shufei to bring a one-hundred-tale silver ticket to Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu tidied up a little and brought Shufei and Huamo with her to board Old Li’s carriage. She also brought the piece of brocade that Huamo had picked up earlier. Since she needed to make clothes, she might as well let the Brocade Clothing Shop do it so that Huamo didn’t have to work at night! Besides, the Brocade Clothing Shop would get the clothes ready faster.
After the incident that day, Old Li’s carriage became Wei Yuewu’s exclusive carriage. Wei Yuewu expressed her trust in Old Li to Wei Luowen. After thinking about it, Wei Luowen assigned Old Li to Wei Yuewu as her exclusive driver.
The carriage slowly drove out of the side gate of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and headed for the street.
Brocade Clothing Shop was not far from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. The carriage turned a few corners and arrived in front of Brocade Clothing Shop’s door. Seeing that there were all women coming and going at the door, Wei Yuewu could not help but ask, “Why are there so many people?”
“Miss, people heard that the Crown Prince was holding a nation-wide selection. Moreover, there were no requirements on family background. Therefore, families that could afford to dress up their daughters are all buying clothes for them to have a try!”
Shufei lifted the curtains for Wei Yuewu and looked outside with a smile.
“So, these people are all going to attend the nation-wide selection!” Wei Yuewu pondered for a moment and understood. The Crown Prince was young, and he was also the future ruler of the country. Entering the Crown Prince was equivalent to embarking on a road to unlimited wealth and fortune. Moreover, the Crown Prince was handsome and elegant. Few young ladies would not be tempted.
Moreover, the nation-wide selection this time had no requirements on family background or status. Such conditions were really tempting to those relatively rich families, which would go all out to participate in the selection!
“Blimey, don’t you have eyes? Why are you stepping on my new clothes?” A tender and angry voice sounded from the side of the carriage. Wei Yuewu raised her eyes and looked at the young lady in front of her in astonishment. The corners of her lips slowly curled into a smile. What a coincidence. It was actually her!
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