Chapter 330 – Ranking, The Mysterious Second Miss Tu
“Uh… I’m not sure about it. At that time, I was still young, and I didn’t go to the main branch much.” Hearing Wei Yuewu asked such a detailed question, Tu Yuzhen shook her head with a bitter smile. She only had a brief knowledge about this matter, and she heard it from Zhaoyi Tu. When she asked anyone in the family, no one knew about it.
She had also inquired about it, but no one knew that Marquis Hua Yang had been engaged, let alone that he had been engaged to Second Miss Tu.
“Is Second Miss Tu Grand Preceptor Tu’s biological daughter?” Wei Yuewu paused and changed the topic to another simple question.
“No. I heard that…” Tu Yuzhen was a little hesitant at this point. She wasn’t absolutely sure about this.
“Ninth Miss Tu, is it because you can’t say it?” Wei Yuewu asked with a gentle smile. Her sparkly eyes and soft-spoken demeanor made one have a good impression of her.
“No, it’s not like that, but as far as I know, Second Sister was not a legitimate daughter in the past. It seems that… she was ranked the second because of the engagement.” Tu Yuzhen frowned in confusion as she wasn’t certain about this. The women in the Tu Family were often accepted into the main branch due to their outstanding talent.
However, she had privately asked an old nurse in the mansion, and she was told that Second Sister appeared only after the engagement was called off. Previously, the latter was just a young lady from an unknown branch.
She was not from the main branch when she was engaged, but she was accepted into the main branch and became Second Miss Tu after the engagement was canceled. Was it because the family felt that they owed her? However, she was from an unknown branch, so how could she become the distinguished Marquise Hua Yang?
Even if Tu Yuzhen was from the side branch, the Grand Preceptor had promised that her status as Ninth Miss Tu would be officially written into the genealogy of the main branch of the family as long as she could be betrothed to Marquis Hua Yang. From then on, she would officially be a legitimate daughter. This was because Marquis Hua Yang would not marry a young lady from the side branch, even if she was only his second wife.
“When did she become a legitimate daughter of the main branch?” Seeing the conflicted look on Tu Yuzhen’s face, Wei Yuewu pursued, feeling her heart trembling.
“I-I think it was after Marquis Hua Yang broke off the engagement…” Tu Yuzhen muttered. This matter sounded so bizarre. With Marquis Hua Yang’s status, how could he be engaged to a daughter from a side branch? Even Tu Yuzhen felt that it was inconceivable.
“She only ranked as the main branch after my father broke off the engagement?” Wei Yuewu raised her head, her eyebrows slightly raised.
“Yes. An old nurse told me by chance. My Second Sister can be considered a talented woman, but she ended up like this, and she died so miserably that no one remembered her,” Tu Yuzhen sighed and then stood up.
“Sixth Young Lady, I have to go now. Zhaoyi Tu is still waiting for my return. It’s nice to meet you today. Next time, feel free to come and chat with me. I’ll occasionally enter the Palace to accompany Zhaoyi Tu.”
Wei Yuewu also stood up and bowed with a smile. “Thank you, Ninth Miss Tu. Thank you, Zhaoyi Tu!”
Tu Yuzhen smiled and returned the bow. Because she had to report to Zhaoyi Tu, she left in a hurry.
“Miss…” Jin Ling was about to speak when Wei Yuewu waved her hand to stop her.
“Let’s go back!” Wei Yuewu looked at the sky and commented softly. It was already dark, and it was time for dinner.
“Yes. I will help you back.” Jin Ling nodded and held Wei Yuewu gently as they turned and walked toward Chu Xiu Palace. Regardless of whether she saw it or not, the scene just now was just an accident.
When they returned to Chu Xiu Palace, it was not long after she sat down that the eunuch brought dinner. After dinner, Ming Yan came over and urged them to go out for a walk at Orchid Courtyard.
After Jin Ling agreed on Wei Yuewu’s behalf, she helped Wei Yuewu wash up.
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Wei Yuewu looked blankly at her reflection in the mirror while Jin Ling brushed her hair. There was too much information contained in Tu Yuzhen’s statements, yet not only did it not solve the doubts in her heart, it even made her more puzzled.
Second Miss Tu was engaged to her father, and she ended up depressed after the engagement was canceled.
But the fact was that the Empress was the one who was engaged to her father. Did they come up with the story of Second Miss Tu as the legitimate daughter due to the engagement because they intended to hide the truth?
But why did Second Miss Tu die on the same day as her mother? Was it just the same date with a different year, or the same date on the same year? Was there any other connection between this?
What exactly was going on?
Could it be that there was another secret behind Mother’s death?
Thanks to her simple dressing, Jin Ling quickly finished dressing her up. She adjusted her dress and went out of the door.
At this moment, Wei Qiufu was already waiting outside the door with a smile on her face. She was wearing a light blue robe, a long dress with an eight gore skirt, a sachet with a matching color with her dress, and pink pearl earrings. She looked beautiful and dignified.
A hairpin was hung on her black hair that was styled into a high bun. The hairpin’s unadorned color and exquisite carvings could attract one’s attention at first glance.
Gold, silver, and jewelry were abundant in the imperial palace. Only this kind of naturally-made wooden hairpin looked more impressive and outstanding.
“Sixth Younger Sister, how are you? Can you go out for a walk?” Seeing Wei Yuewu come out, Wei Qiufu took two steps forward and mouthed with a smile.
Wei Yuewu was very indifferent to Wei Qiufu’s disguised demeanor. In the afternoon, she had told Wei Qiufu when she went out, but now, she had the audacity to ask her if she could go out for a walk.
“Fourth Elder Sister, I’m fine. Let’s go!”
“Alright!” Wei Yuewu tugged at her wide sleeves and smiled.
Her clothes were mostly plain and light, including the light blue dress she was wearing right now. However, the delicate edges of the skirt and the vibrant-colored flower pattern design added a lot of charm to the dress.
In addition, with her slender waist and delicate face, those bright-colored flower patterns actually emphasized her elegant outlook.
“Let’s go!” Wei Qiufu quietly withdrew her jealous gaze.
She was aware that Wei Yuewu went out in the afternoon, so she had rested for an entire afternoon because of the stroll tonight. But from the looks of it now, her meticulous dress-up did not bring the effect she had anticipated. Instead, she felt that she was evenly matched with Wei Yuewu, and the feeling irritated her.
However, when she thought of her purpose, mockery started to fill Wei Qiufu’s gaze again. No matter how extraordinary Wei Yuewu was, eventually, she would rise above her. Her sole objective had always been to be above everyone.
There were many beautiful women in this world, but no one was her match.
Not Wei Yan, not Wei Yuejiao, and certainly not Wei Yuewu…
The place around the gate of Chu Xiu Palace was actually very lively tonight. Several young ladies gathered around, looking like they were going to walk around casually.
“Sixth Miss Wei!” Wei Yuewu did not expect someone to call out to her. She stopped and turned around.
“Sixth Miss Wei, where are you going?” It was Zhao Ruo’e. She was with her maid. It was obvious that she wanted to come out and stroll.
“I have something to talk to Sixth Younger Sister about, so we just walked around.” Before Wei Yuewu could answer, Wei Qiufu had already taken a step forward and replied with a smile.
As her chance of answering the question was snatched, Wei Yuewu curled her lips into a faint smirk. Wei Qiufu was worried that other people would ruin her plan.
“Oh, you have something to do. Okay then. When you are free, please come to my room. I have something to tell you.” Instead of joining them, Zhao Ruo’e informed Wei Yuewu while looking at Wei Qiufu beside them.
“Okay. Miss Zhao, you can also come to my room if you’re free,” Wei Yuewu invited her with a nod as she looked at Zhao Ruo’e’s modest dress. A trace of light flashed across her eyes. This was different from the style Zhao Ruo’e usually wore.
Moreover, there was something off about Zhao Ruo’e’s expression today. She looked melancholic, and she didn’t even want to smile. It was completely different from her usual ostentatious appearance.
“Alright, I’ll definitely drop by when I’m free!” Zhao Ruo’e nodded.
“Sixth Younger Sister, let’s go!” Wei Qiufu called out to Wei Yuewu, “Eldest Sister…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the young ladies who were going in the same direction with them suddenly stopped. Wei Fengyao’s accident was such shocking news that even the young ladies, who did not have informants in the Palace, knew about her injury.
Moreover, they still could not find out who had injured her. Since the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s two sisters wanted to talk about this, it was inconvenient for them to follow them for a stroll.
“Fourth Sister, how is Eldest Sister’s situation now?” Since Wei Qiufu had taken the initiative to mention it, Wei Yuewu naturally wanted to inquire about Wei Fengyao.
“She is out of danger right now.” Wei Qiufu sighed, “At that time, Eldest Sister was too careless. Those heirs-apparent…”
Wei Qiufu’s intention was to tell everyone that this incident happened because Wei Fengyao overestimated herself. None of those heirs-apparent were easy to deal with.
Since Wei Fengyao was overestimating herself, her accident had nothing to do with Wei Qiufu. Wei Qiufu felt that this sounded reasonable, and she could steer the attention away from her.
“Fourth Sister, will Eldest Sister hate you?” However, Wei Yuewu did not let her have her way. She smiled and asked curiously.
“No. This matter really has nothing to do with me. Eldest Uncle also said that Eldest Sister brought this to herself,” Wei Qiufu shook her head and hurriedly explained. There was a trace of smugness in her eyes. She deliberately made such a big commotion the other day because she wanted Wei Luowen to take her side.
With his testimony, no one would make things difficult for her, whether Second Uncle or Grandmother. She would be unscathed no matter what Wei Fengyao said.
“Fourth Elder Sister, Eldest Sister doesn’t seem to be a sensible person. If she uses the power of Prince Nan’an Mansion to suppress our family…” Wei Yuewu quipped while glancing at Wei Qiufu with a meaningful look.
Her remarks spruced Wei Qiufu up, and she trembled unconsciously. Then, she hurriedly shook her head and laughed dryly. “Impossible. No matter how powerful Prince Nan’an Mansion is, she might not be able to suppress us. Our status as the legitimate daughters of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang is not inferior to Heiress-apparent of Prince Nan’an’s!”
“Not inferior?” Wei Yuewu exclaimed in shock and looked at Wei Qiufu in bewilderment. Prince Nan’an was of the royal bloodline. No matter how powerful Marquis Hua Yang was, he was only an official. What… did she mean actually?
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