Chapter 351 – Probe, Ten Hairpins
During the break after a praying session, everyone sat together in the side hall to rest.
The young ladies of the aristocratic families had been together for so many days, and there was no longer any unfamiliarity between them. They began to chat in a low voice before the Third Princess said anything.
Moreover, they no longer paid much attention to the seating as everyone took their seat casually.
“What’s wrong with your Fourth Elder Sister?” As soon as Wei Yuewu sat down, someone sat beside her almost immediately. She turned her head and saw that it was Zhao Ruo’e. Compared to yesterday, Zhao Ruo’e was much more spirited, just like when she had just entered the Palace.
It made sense. Even though Zhao Ruo’e had been scolded by the Empress, her situation was much better compared to Wei Qiufu, who had her hairpin “knocked down” forcefully by the Empress’ maid.
After what happened to Wei Qiufu yesterday, Zhao Ruo’e felt less pressure instantly.
“I don’t know either. I slept early last night. Did you see my Fourth Elder Sister?” Wei Yuewu’s gaze fell on Wei Qiufu who was sitting diagonally opposite her. Wei Qiufu was sitting next to the Third Princess, wiping her tears with a handkerchief while whispering something to the Third Princess.
Wei Qiufu could not meet the Empress directly, so she went to explain herself to the Third Princess!
“I saw her. Yesterday, your Fourth Elder Sister was really very pompous. She followed the Crown Prince closely wherever His Highness went. Anyone not in the know might think that she would become the Crown Princess!” Zhao Ruo’e snorted coldly. Then, she lowered her voice and said to Wei Yuewu, “Do you think that the Empress was annoyed to see her closely follow the Crown Prince, so she reprimanded her?”
“Miss Zhao, please watch your tongue!” Wei Yuewu turned around and glanced at Zhao Ruo’e.
It was a timely reminder for Zhao Ruo’e, who hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and looked around in panic. Seeing that no one had noticed her, she heaved a sigh of relief. It was taboo to directly talk about the Empress in the Palace.
“Sixth Miss Wei, please come here!” The Third Princess, who was talking to Wei Qiufu, suddenly raised her voice to Wei Yuewu.
Immediately, the entire side hall quieted down, and everyone’s eyes focused on Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu stood up gracefully and walked to Wei Qiufu’s side. The young lady, who was sitting next to Wei Qiufu, stood up quickly and gave up her seat. Wei Yuewu smiled and nodded as she sat down on the side.
The young lady smiled back at Wei Yuewu. Then, she took her maid and sat at Wei Yuewu’s previous seat.
The atmosphere was restored to peace again. However, although the young ladies were talking to each other, their eyes would occasionally fall on the three ladies.
“Sixth Young Lady, I heard that this hairpin was given by a concubine in your mansion?” The Third Princess pointed to the hairpin in the jewelry box that Wei Qiufu took out, her face full of surprise.
“Yes, it was given by Father’s concubine. I heard that she took a lot of effort to get it.” Wei Yuewu nodded generously.
Since Empress Tu did not say anything about the hairpin, it meant that the hairpin was not so important after all.
The reason behind the offensiveness? Zhao Ruo’e’s words dawned upon Wei Yuewu. At this moment, everyone must have thought that the Empress was not satisfied with Wei Qiufu, hence she deliberately put the latter in a difficult situation!
“Did she get this hairpin from the border?” The Third Princess picked up the hairpin and looked at it carefully. She could see that it was quite interested in it. It was not easy to come by with such an elegant and delicate hairpin.
In fact, for someone who was used to seeing gold and silver jewelry, such a simple accessory could actually attract her attention.
Moreover, the hairpin was so exquisite and delicate that anyone who wore it would instantly become more charming and elegant. A few days ago, the Third Princess had noticed the hairpin that Wei Qiufu was wearing, but she did not expect that this hairpin was given by a concubine.
“I think so.” Wei Yuewu smiled apologetically, “At that time, Concubine Dong came back from the border with Father, and this hairpin was among the gifts she sent to me!”
“I didn’t expect that there was such a good thing at the border!” The more the Third Princess looked at the hairpin, the more she liked it, and she couldn’t bear to part with it.
“Third Princess, if you like it, please accept it!” The observant Wei Qiufu quickly wiped away her tears and pushed the jewelry box over. She was trying to please the Third Princess, but she forgot that the hairpin was not hers, to begin with.
“I-I don’t think it’s a good idea!” The Third Princess hesitated, but her eyes fell on Wei Yuewu. After all, Wei Yuewu was the real owner of the hairpin. Just now, in order to shirk responsibility, Wei Qiufu had already told her everything.
Seeing the Third Princess’ gaze fall on Wei Yuewu, Wei Qiufu realized that she had already told the Third Princess that the hairpin was not hers and that she had no right to give the hairpin to the Third Princess in order to please her.
For a moment, she felt hatred in her heart. Then, she blushed sheepishly as she heard the sneer from the young ladies around her.
“Third Princess, if you like it, please accept it. But it’s a gift from our mansion’s concubine, and I’m afraid that it will ruin your…” A smile flashed across Wei Yuewu’s face, but she hesitated for a moment, meaning that the gift from Concubine Dong was too inferior for the Third Princess.
“Thank you, Sixth Young Lady.” The Third Princess really liked this hairpin. Since Wei Yuewu had given it to her, she accepted it wholeheartedly. She put the hairpin in the box and closed it. Then, she turned to the palace maid behind her and said, “Pick a few hairpins from my jewelry and send them to Sixth Miss Wei!”
This was a return gift for Wei Yuewu.
“Yes, Your Highness!” The palace maid came over to pick up the jewelry box and answered respectfully.
“Fourth Young Lady, did you really offend Mother yesterday for something else?” The Third Princess turned around and asked Wei Qiufu in a gentle tone.
At first, the Third Princess walked together with Wen Tianyao and Yan Huaijing. But later, Yan Huaijing quietly left, so the Third Princess was not in the mood to walk with Wen Tianyao and parted her ways. Therefore, she did not know how Wei Qiufu offended the Empress.
“I really don’t know what the reason was. I… I…” When Wei Qiufu heard this, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears again. Just now, when she was on her way to the prayer in the soft sedan, she thought about the whole situation again. Since the Crown Prince sent this hairpin back to her again, it meant that the Empress did not make the hairpin an issue. Thus, she could not say that the hairpin was the reason of the Empress’ reprimand.
In fact, last night, she clearly knew that Empress Tu was angry with her because of the hairpin she wore. But now that Empress Tu did not say it, so she would not dare to do so too. The only thing she could do was to pretend that she didn’t know anything. Then, no matter what reason the Empress had, she would collude with her statement.
She did not dare to go against the Empress!
Wei Qiufu believed that the Empress would think highly of her if she was so tactful. It would only benefit her.
“Alright, everything is over. I’m afraid that you have really offended my mother. My mother rarely gets angry.” The Third Princess could not find out anything, so she just laughed and avoided the topic.
After the prayer, they went back.
Not long after Wei Yuewu arrived at Chu Xiu Palace, the Third Princess’ palace maid came to her room with ten hairpins. Each one was shining with brilliant colors. Obviously, most of them were precious. Wei Yuewu politely thanked her and personally sent her to the door.
“Miss, the Third Princess is really generous. Even though your hairpin is rare, her ten hairpins are also extraordinary!” Jin Ling kept the hairpins for Wei Yuewu and sighed.
Wei Yuewu sat in front of the window and casually flipped through a few pages of a book. Then, she stopped reading and said, “Show me the hairpins!”
“You want to see them?” Jin Ling had already put them away. When she heard Wei Yuewu’s words, she was taken aback for a moment, but she obediently took out the jewelry box with the hairpins and put it in front of Wei Yuewu.
There were ten hairpins in a row. Each one was beautiful and delicate, and they had different designs and styles. When she looked closer, she noticed the difference between the hairpins. Five of them had phoenix heads carved on them. They were phoenix hairpins.
Although the phoenix hairpins were not as noble as the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin, which could only be worn by the Empress, the wearers must have some connection with the royal family. Wei Fengyao could wear them because she was part of the royal family.
But Wei Yuewu was not. A trace of coldness flashed through her watery eyes.
“Jin Ling, take these five hairpins and return them to the Third Princess!” Wei Yuewu pointed to the five phoenix hairpins and instructed.
“Yes, Miss!” At this time, Jin Ling understood her indication. She had to take out these five phoenix hairpins, find a jewelry box, and send them back to the Third Princess.
It seemed that the Third Princess was secretly probing her Miss too.
“Use this box!” Wei Yuewu stopped Jin Ling’s movements and pointed at the jewelry box that the Third Princess had sent over. This jewelry box was also very exquisite. There were dragons and phoenixes carved on the outside. It was obvious that it was an item from the Palace.
Although Wei Yuewu didn’t do anything wrong since the jewelry box was gifted to her by the Third Princess, she figured that she should be careful. There must be a reason why the Third Princess was testing her. Before she could understand the Princess’ reason, she did not want the latter to suspect anything.
Jin Ling nodded and took the five hairpins without phoenix carving from the jewelry box. Then she closed the jewelry box and sent the other five hairpins and the jewelry box back to the Third Princess.
When Jin Ling came back, it was lunchtime. The eunuch, who was sending the ladies’ lunches, happened to meet with Jin Ling at the door. After taking the food box from the eunuch, Jin Ling walked in, put down the food box, walked into the inner room, and took out a jewelry box from her pocket.
“Miss, the Third Princess said that her maids took the wrong ones. She specially asked her maid to change another five hairpins and the jewelry box for you.” Jin Ling put the jewelry box on the table in front of Wei Yuewu and opened it for her.
It was also five delicate and gorgeous hairpins, but they were no longer phoenix hairpins. The jewelry box looked beautiful, but it was not the unique design that was only available in the Palace.
“Put it away!” The corners of Wei Yuewu’s lips curled into a cold smile.
“Yes, Miss!” Jin Ling closed the jewelry box and put it away. “Miss, what does the Third Princess mean by this? She clearly knows that you are not part of the royal family, so why did she send those five hairpins over?”
Jin Ling did not buy the Third Princess’ explanation that her maid had taken the wrong hairpins and box.
It was possible if she mistook one, but there were five of them. The palace maid would never become the Third Princess’ personal maid if she was careless to this extent.
“The Third Princess is testing me!” Wei Yuewu squinted, her eyes as sharp as knives. “She wants to see if I’m ambitious!”
“What is the Third Princess trying to do?” Jin Ling was shocked and her eyes widened.
“I don’t know, but it should be related to her plan!” Wei Yuewu sneered. She stood up and walked out. During this period of time, Wei Yuewu couldn’t figure out the Third Princess’ motives as she was being extraordinarily kind to her. But at this moment, everything became clear because of the hairpins.
The Third Princess thought that she was simply testing her, but she did not realize that she was exposing her thoughts…
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