Chapter 363 – Fights Between The Legitimate And Illegitimate Children In The Palace
Hearing the eunuch’s instructions, Wei Yuewu followed Wei Qiufu to Empress Tu.
“Did you receive any pastries yesterday?” Empress Tu asked Wei Qiufu as she looked at the latter’s face with her cold gaze.
“Pastries?” Wei Qiufu was bewildered for a moment before she suddenly remembered it and nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I did receive the pastries sent from Zhaoyi Tu yesterday, but it was Sixth Younger Sister who brought the pastries over.”
“Sixth Miss Wei, what do you have to say about this?” Empress Tu’s gaze finally fell on Wei Yuewu’s face. Her expression was indifferent and cold, and no one could read her true emotions.
“Your Majesty, I was resting in my room yesterday when the eunuch sent the pastries over, saying that they were from Zhaoyi Tu, so I asked Jin Ling to take them. Then, the eunuch said that he wanted to send the pastries to Fourth Elder Sister, and that Zhaoyi Tu had a message for both of us, so I followed him to Fourth Elder Sister’s room. But when we arrived at the door, the eunuch sent me away, saying that we could talk about it later, so I went back.”
Wei Yuewu was already prepared. When she heard this question, she raised her eyes slightly and explained unhurriedly.
She was almost certain that the eunuch was already dead. He held all the clues, so it would be a disaster if he was alive. Now that he was dead, there would be no evidence.
The lack of evidence brought the same effect to her and the person who plotted against her.
No matter what she said to the eunuch at that time, no one else could prove that what she said was false. So, what if Wei Qiufu said that she had brought the eunuch to her room?
“You followed the eunuch all the way to your Fourth Elder Sister’s room because the eunuch said that he had something to tell you, but he decided not to say it later. Am I right?” Empress Tu mouthed calmly, her deep gaze falling on Wei Yuewu.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Wei Yuewu was serene.
“Fourth Miss Wei, what about you?” Empress Tu turned to Wei Qiufu and asked.
“I-I-I don’t know!” Wei Qiufu did not expect Wei Yuewu to be so calm. To her surprise, her words did not bring any effect at all, so she was a little tongue-tied. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and knew that she would look suspicious if she was caught unawares, so she hurriedly quavered, “I don’t know what happened either. The eunuch put down the pastries and left.”
In other words, neither of them knew what the eunuch meant since he left immediately after delivering the pastries.
However, how could the eunuch leave after delivering the pastries without stating his reason? Moreover, he did it in Zhaoyi Tu’s name and went to the two young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang specifically. This matter seemed very mysterious and skeptical.
Wen Tianyao’s gaze turned from Wei Qiufu to Wei Yuewu and then back to Wei Qiufu. His handsome eyebrows wrinkled.
“Guards, go check their rooms!” Empress Tu ordered.
Hearing that Empress Tu was going to send someone to check their rooms, Zhaoyi Tu gasped in shock and hurriedly blurted, “Sister, it’s better for me to send my people. After all, someone sent whatever pastries to them in my name. I want to see for myself what kind of secret is behind this.”
“Uh…” Empress Tu hesitated for a moment and looked at the Emperor, who was donning a gloomy face.
“Let Zhaoyi Tu send her people. After all, such a serious incident happened in the Third Princess’s ceremony. You can send your people to follow them if you’re concerned.” The Emperor asserted.
He was right. Zhaoyi Tu had a reason to intervene since something like this happened in her daughter’s ceremony. As for the Emperor’s last remark, Empress Tu pretended not to hear it.
Even if she wanted to send her people over, she would not express her intention right here.
“Sister, send your people over then! Yao’er, the Crown Prince Mansion is close to Chu Xiu Palace. Send your people to follow Zhaoyi Tu’s people. If there is anything that harms you and your palace, you must report it immediately!” Empress Tu said to Wen Tianyao who was at the side.
This reason was sufficient to stop the Emperor from saying anything more.
Compared with the Crown Prince’s safety, the Third Princess’ coming-of-age ceremony was not so important anymore.
“Yes, Mother Empress!” Wen Tianyao was curious about the truth of the matter, so he nodded. Next, he ordered his eunuch to follow Zhaoyi Tu’s palace maid, and they went to check Wei Qiufu’s and Wei Yuewu’s rooms.
The Third Princess’ coming-of-age ceremony had also come to an end at this time. What ensued was the matter of the harem. After talking to Empress Tu briefly, the Emperor left with his people.
The Third Prince and Fourth Prince also left together. Meanwhile, Wen Tianyao stayed behind to wait for the report.
Chu Xiu Palace was near the Crown Prince Mansion. If something really happened, the first one to be in danger would be the Crown Prince. Therefore, it was necessary to let the Crown Prince stay to listen to the report. If he found anything wrong, he could find out the reason right there and then.
After the ceremony had been completed, everyone moved to the side hall with Empress Tu, who took the main seat, and Zhaoyi Tu sat beside her. Beside them were the Fourth Princess and Third Princess.
Wen Tianyao did not sit down. Instead, he stood behind the Empress and observed Wei Yuewu thoughtfully. He sized her up cautiously.
From this angle, Wei Yuewu looked very gentle as she stood there quietly. She wasn’t wearing something outstanding. In fact, she was the least outstanding among the rest of the young ladies who dressed up to the nines, but she looked gentle and elegant in plain clothes.
Compared with her, the rest of the young ladies looked tacky and indelicate.
It was rare to have such an elegant orchid in the sea of bright-colored peonies.
The image in front of him gradually blurred, as if he saw the little girl wearing coarse clothes standing among the orchid flowers and smiling at him…
“Crown Prince, if you are busy, you can leave first!” Empress Tu smiled a little coldly.
“Mother Empress, I’m not busy. I’ll be with you here.” Wen Tianyao spruced himself up and smiled at Empress Tu. “Father Emperor wanted me to stay here and help you.”
“In that case, sit over there!” Empress Tu nodded and pointed to a big nanmu chair at the side.
“Yes, Mother Empress!” Wen Tianyao glanced at the nanmu chair that was obviously a lot further away. He was about to walk over when the Fourth Princess stopped him.
“Wait a moment, Royal Brother. You are the dignified Crown Prince of a country. How can you sit so far away? Come and sit with me!” The Fourth Princess, who was rarely sensible, stood up and called out to Wen Tianyao.
These words were very reasonable. Even Empress Tu could not say anything, so she asked someone to move a chair over. Wen Tianyao and the Fourth Princess sat next to each other.
Seeing this, the Third Princess and Zhaoyi Tu could not sit still.
“Sister, please let the Fourth Princess sit on my chair. I can take another chair,” Zhaoyi Tu stood up and said with a smile. The Third Princess also stood up without hesitation and smiled.
“Never mind. Just sit like this. Besides, you are an elder. How can I let you give up your seat for the Fourth Princess?” Empress Tu grabbed Zhaoyi Tu and revealed a faint smile on her face.
Perhaps it was because she did not often smile, Empress Tu’s smile looked a little stiff at this moment.
At this point, Zhaoyi Tu couldn’t force the Fourth Princess over. Moreover, the Fourth Princess raised her chin as if she didn’t see her, so she secretly shook her head and sat back down.
“You’re too polite, Sister!”
Zhaoyi Tu sat down, and the Third Princess also sat down.
“Sixth Miss Wei, come over here for a moment.” The Fourth Princess, who felt that she had the upper hand, was very smug. She felt that she had finally won a round. She raised her eyebrows and said to Wei Yuewu who was at the side.
Wei Yuewu walked over and bowed to the Fourth Princess.
“Sixth Miss Wei, I heard that you have an older sister who is an illegitimate daughter. Why didn’t she enter the Palace this time?” The Fourth Princess asked with a smile, but when she said this, she glanced sideways at the Third Princess.
“My grandmother did not let Third Elder Sister enter the Palace.” Although Wei Yuewu knew that she had become an excuse for the Fourth Princess to attack the Third Princess, she donned an innocent look as if she didn’t know anything and respectfully replied.
“Logically speaking, it should be the elder sister entering the Palace, but it turned out to be you. Was it because she is an illegitimate daughter?” The Fourth Princess looked at Wei Yuewu with a puzzled expression as if she was genuinely curious about this.
It was a hard question to answer, so Wei Yuewu simply smiled and did not answer it.
“It seems to be true then. Well, the aristocratic families have always been like this. The legitimate children will always be legitimate, and the illegitimate children will always be illegitimate. It can never be changed. The status of nobility is set by the bloodline. You can surpass it as you please!” Of course, the Fourth Princess did not need Wei Yuewu’s answer. She glanced at the Third Princess and said in a strange tone.
The meaning behind her words was way too obvious. Wen Tianyao’s face darkened, and he scolded in a low voice, “Fourth Younger Sister, don’t talk nonsense!”
“Royal Brother, how am I talking nonsense? What I said is true. Think about it, your future Crown Princess must be a legitimate daughter from some aristocratic family. You can let an illegitimate daughter become the Crown Princess, right?” The Fourth Princess widened her eyes and retorted smugly.
Zhaoyi Tu lowered her head, a trace of fierce hatred flashed across her face. It disappeared quickly, but Wei Yuewu happened to see it…
It seemed that the relationship between Empress Tu and Zhaoyi Tu, who were both from the same family, was not as harmonious as it seemed on the surface.
“Luan’er, stop it!” Empress Tu scolded with an unhappy expression.
“I’m sorry, Mother Empress!” The Fourth Princess apologized with a bit of grievance, but she didn’t pick another fight.
A eunuch rushed in with two sets of clothes in his hands. They were blue and purple. The bright colors indicated that they were the last two sets of the two colors from before.
So, they did find the clothes. At this moment, everyone stared at the two sets of clothes with wide eyes.
Wei Qiufu’s gaze also fell on the two sets of clothes. The smile on her lips was full of pride. Even though Wei Yuewu did not wear the two sets of clothes today, she did not care.
Now, they found the clothes! Next, it was Wei Yuewu’s turn to be doomed…
She was the only legitimate daughter that Marquis Hua Yang valued the most…
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