Chapter 332 – A Trap, A Dangerous Encounter
“Sixth Younger Sister, the Orchid Courtyard is so big. Why don’t we split up and look around? When we come here again tomorrow, we’ll visit the place where we haven’t been to today,” Wei Qiufu suggested.
Wei Yuewu turned her head slightly and saw a trace of anxiety on Wei Qiufu’s face as her eyes darted around. She curled her lips faintly and said calmly, “Alright!”
Seeing that Wei Yuewu was not suspicious, Wei Qiufu was overjoyed and pointed at the moon cave. “I’ll go this way. Sixth Younger Sister, you go that way!”
Wei Yuewu nodded and led Jin Ling forward. When Wei Yuewu disappeared from the entrance of the moon cave, Wei Qiufu hurriedly turned around and ordered Ming Yan, “Do you still remember the path just now?”
In order to confuse Wei Yuewu and prevent her from finding the original place easily, Wei Qiufu took a detour on purpose.
“Don’t worry, Miss. I memorize it all the way.” Ming Yan nodded.
“Let’s go back!” Wei Qiufu beamed. Thus, Ming Yan brought Wei Qiufu back to their original path.
In the corridor, the Crown Prince Wen Tianyao fainted at the pots of the orchid, not moving at all.
“Quick!” Although it was quite a shocking sight, Wei Qiufu had prepared herself for it. She called Ming Yan over, and the two of them worked together to help Wen Tianyao up from the ground and toward a corridor far away from the Fallen Leaves Orchid.
“Your Highness, what happened to you? Wake up! Your Highness!” Wei Qiufu asked Ming Yan to help Wen Tianyao sit down.
After all, Wen Tianyao was a martial arts practitioner, so he had slowly regained his composure at this moment. Looking at the pretty face in front of him, he couldn’t remember who it was. He massaged his aching head and frowned.
“Your Highness, you finally woke up.” Wei Qiufu looked relieved.
“Fourth Miss Wei?” At this time, Wen Tianyao recognized Wei Qiufu.
“Yes, Your Highness. Why did you faint there alone? What happened? Why was there no one beside you?” Wei Qiufu looked around and asked softly.
“Why are you here?” Wen Tianyao looked at Wei Qiufu suspiciously. It was not his fault for being skeptical. From a young age, he had been through these kinds of “coincidental encounters” with several young ladies of aristocratic families, so he knew what was playing in their minds.
“My Eldest Sister brought me and my younger sister here before. Just now, Sixth Younger Sister invited me to come and take a stroll. After what happened during the day, we have some private matters to talk about.” As if remembering what happened during the day, Wei Qiufu hurriedly looked down with a wronged expression and bloodshot eyes.
Wen Tianyao already knew that Wei Qiufu wanted to commit suicide during the day. His gaze fell on Wei Qiufu’s slightly lowered neck, and the suspicion in his eyes lessened a bit.
“Where is Sixth Miss Wei?”
“Sixth Younger Sister was here just now, but we parted ways because she wanted to go to the back to take a look.” Wei Qiufu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and asked with concern, “I was walking alone and decided to turn back because there was nothing much to see, but I was surprised to see Your Highness faint here. What actually happened?”
In other words, if Wei Qiufu had not walked through here just now, the Crown Prince would still be lying unconscious beside the orchid.
“Nothing. Thank you, Fourth Miss Wei!” Wen Tianyao massaged his head and felt that his mind was clear now, but he didn’t know why he suddenly felt dizzy just now.
He lowered his head slightly and his eyes turned cold as he happened to see the handkerchief in his hand.
“You’re welcome, Your Highness. Please rest here for a while. I’ll get someone to help you,” Wei Qiufu asserted and turned around as if she was about to leave.
She was being evasive by doing so, and it actually delighted Wen Tianyao a little. Compared to other misses who were desperately trying to show up before him, Wei Qiufu had a more brilliant tactic by retreating to avoid suspicion.
“You don’t have to do so. The eunuch will be here soon,” Wen Tianyao sounded gentler now, and he re-examined Fourth Miss Wei, who was going to enter his palace.
Her dress was not too flamboyant, and there were very few ornaments on her head. There was only a delicate hairpin, but it was very attractive, making her look elegant and dignified. Compared to the young ladies in gold and silver accessories, gorgeous makeover, and desperate to win his heart, Wei Qiufu was more sincere and pleasing to the eye.
Moreover, her explanation just now indicated that she did not come alone, and it was a complete coincidence that she met him. If it weren’t for her, he might have still been unconscious on the ground. In this case, Wei Qiufu could be regarded as his savior.
“Oh… then I won’t disturb Your Highness. I’ll take my leave first.” Wei Qiufu seemed to hesitate for a moment, but she still bowed and politely took her leave, as if she didn’t want to stay any longer in order to avoid arousing suspicion.
“It’s fine.” Wen Tianyao shook his head, put the coarse handkerchief in his hand into his pocket, and said with a calm expression, “When the eunuch comes over, let your maid go find Sixth Young Lady. Orchid Courtyard is quite big, and it’s easy to get lost as the sky is turning dark.”
“Maybe Sixth Younger Sister is really lost. I walked around the garden two times, and both times, I ended up here. But fortunately, I turned out here, or I wouldn’t have seen Your Highness faint here,” Wei Qiufu said with a smile as she stayed according to the Crown Prince’s wish.
However, she was inexplicably angry in her heart. Why did she feel that the Crown Prince was concerned about Wei Yuewu? Wei Yuewu did not do anything, yet she got the attention of His Highness! And she had worked so hard, but in the end, all she got was lukewarm attention from him! Why!
Since Wei Yuewu entered the capital, nothing good had ever happened to her, and it was all because of Wei Yuewu. As long as she thought of this, Wei Qiufu felt hatred in her heart.
However, Wei Qiufu did not know that Wei Yuewu, whom she hated to the bone, was looking at this side from the rockery where she stood before.
The rockery was located in an ideal position as she could clearly see the corridor below when she stood on the peak. Moreover, a protruded corner of the rockery could hide her, so she could see everything from the peak, but people looking up from below couldn’t see her.
Moreover, there were lights underneath.
When Wei Yuewu turned back, it was still early, but she happened to see Wei Qiufu helping Wen Tianyao to sit down on the fence on the side.
Ming Yan knew the way, but Jin Ling was even better than her. However, she had received Wei Yuewu’s instructions and did not return to the corridor. Instead, she led Wei Yuewu to the rockery.
“Miss, how did Fourth Young Lady know that the Crown Prince would faint here?” Looking at the scene below, Jin Ling asked in confusion. Judging from Wei Qiufu’s expression, she was certain that Wei Qiufu knew what would happen in advance.
Under the faint moonlight, Wei Yuewu’s face was a bit cold and distant. However, her expression became heavy. She had always suspected that there was someone behind Wei Qiufu, but she had never had evidence. That was what she thought about during the incident at the Plum Blossom Nunnery that time, but now she was more and more sure.
There was indeed someone behind Wei Qiufu!
Otherwise, how could a weak girl like her do this? No matter what reason Wen Tianyao fainted for, it was impossible for Wei Qiufu to do it. Wei Fengyao could not do it either.
Even though Wei Fengyao could travel around the Palace freely thanks to Prince Nan’an Mansion’s influence, she would not be so clear about the Crown Prince’s matter.
It was a bit mysterious and bizarre for a country’s Crown Prince to actually faint on the ground without anyone around him. He would have been in great danger had people with malicious intentions known about this.
However, Wei Qiufu actually stumbled upon such a matter, and her previous actions indicated that it was not a coincidence. If so, it was a scheme, one that could kill the Crown Prince. Just thinking about it shocked and frightened Wei Yuewu.
Who was behind Wei Qiufu? Why did he have such strength? What was his plan?
“Jin Ling, do you think an assassin could kill the Crown Prince directly if he came just now?” Wei Yuewu asked slowly with a heavy face.
“Of course!” Jin Ling’s expression turned solemn too when the realization dawned upon her. “F-Fourth Young Lady is extremely resourceful!”
“Indeed, she is.” Wei Yuewu nodded and became more vigilant of Wei Qiufu. In fact, it was not Wei Qiufu who was resourceful, but the person behind her was.
“Miss, should we go down?” From their position, they could see everything clearly, but they couldn’t hear the conversation between the Crown Prince and Wei Qiufu. From the looks of it, the two people below were chatting happily.
“Alright, let’s go down!” Wei Yuewu looked up and saw a figure not far away. It was the eunuch, who was rushing over here. He should be looking for Wen Tianyao.
Jin Ling helped Wei Yuewu down the rockery and casually walked forward. They met Ming Yan, who had been looking for her all the way here. Seeing that Wei Yuewu was still wandering around the original place, Ming Yan heaved a sigh of relief and went forward to greet her, “Sixth Young Lady, our Miss has been looking for you all over the place. Please come with me quickly.”
“Where did Fourth Elder Sister go?” Wei Yuewu asked calmly as she followed Ming Yan.
“After walking for a while, she was tired, so we went back to the previous place to rest, and she asked me to look for you. But I couldn’t find you just now, so I was panicked,” Ming Yan explained.
“Did anything happen to Fourth Sister?” Wei Yuewu smiled slightly, and a faint coldness appeared on the corners of her lips. Wei Qiufu dragged her into such a perfect and flawless plot.
That was why Wei Qiufu had to bring her along to the Orchid Courtyard. This meant that Wei Qiufu’s meeting with Wen Tianyao and her rescuing him had been completely coincidental. However, it was a pity that a sketch of Fallen Leaves Orchid was in Wei Qiufu’s room. Although such a sketch couldn’t explain anything, it would still arouse suspicion.
How could she approach the Crown Prince so easily anyway…
When Wei Yuewu followed Ming Yan to the corridor, Wen Tianyao and Wei Qiufu were still talking. There was a pleasant atmosphere between them as they conversed. From time to time, Wei Qiufu would raise her shy face to answer his questions.
Hearing the voices behind her, Wei Qiufu turned around. When she saw Wei Yuewu behind Ming Yan, she suddenly stood up and excitedly took two steps forward. Then, she grabbed Wei Yuewu’s hand with an anxious expression. “Sixth Younger Sister, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for a long time, but I didn’t see you, so I came back here to wait for you!”
Wei Qiufu’s words were very vague, but they completed the puzzles of all her previous explanation. As for Wei Yuewu, Wei Qiufu believed that her words were solid.
Even if Wei Yuewu was smart, she wouldn’t be able to guess that it was all her plot.
But the next moment, Wei Qiufu’s smile froze on her face.
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