Chapter 368 – Something Off About The Clothes
“So, it has something to do with Concubine Dong?” The maid was so shocked that her face turned pale.
“Yes! If you don’t believe me, you can ask Ming Yan!” Jin Ling nodded, her face full of fear.
“I-I will go and report to the Madam Dowager first!” The maid did not dare to stay for a moment. She quickly turned around and walked towards Tranquility Courtyard.
In Tranquility Courtyard, the Madam Dowager was sitting on the chair, her face gloomy.
Her goal was never simple when her two granddaughters entered the Palace. It was a great honor to join the Third Princess’ prayer ceremony. It might be even more glorious to her family if the imperial family took a fancy to her two granddaughters. However, the old maidservant, who was waiting at the entrance of the Palace, reported that she heard from the other young ladies saying that Fourth Miss Wei had plotted against Sixth Miss Wei and even the Empress was alerted.
It seemed that the matter even involved the seven-colored clothes used at the Third Princess’ sacrificial ceremony.
This was serious. Therefore, one of the maidservants rushed back to the mansion to report to the Madam Dowager.
At this time, the Madam Dowager was very anxious and wanted to know the whole story quickly.
She had sent Nanny Hong and a maid over to take a look. When she was jittery, the maid, who had been sent earlier, ran in and informed, “Madam Dowager, I heard that the whole thing started because of Concubine Dong.”
The maid said, panting.
“What does it have to do with Concubine Dong?” The Madam Dowager’s face sank, and she snorted coldly.
“I am not sure, but Sixth Young Lady’s maid said that Concubine Dong seemed to have done something that irritated the Empress so much that she was furious, and then many other things were involved,” The maid gasped again and continued.
Although Jin Ling had only said one sentence to her, the general situation had been clear.
In fact, there shouldn’t be any connection between the high and mighty Empress and Marquis Hua Yang’s concubine, but it was different because the Empress had been engaged to Wei Luowen in the past.
Therefore, although these words were not very convincing, the Madam Dowager immediately believed them.
At that time, Concubine Dong was just her maid and not Wei Luowen’s concubine. The former was quite diligent when she was serving her. Being engaged to the Tu Family’s daughter was good news. At that time, the few most trusted servants around the Madam Dowager knew about it, and Concubine Dong could also be considered the Madam Dowager’s most trusted servant at that time.
After that, because Wei Luowen fell in love with Qin Xinrui, the engagement was blown out. Grand Preceptor Tu Mansion solved the problem swiftly, and the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang did not comment anything about it since they were in the wrong. In fact, they even executed some of the trusted servants who knew about the episode, leaving only Nanny Hong and Concubine Dong.
The Madam Dowager did not execute Concubine Dong because she wanted the latter to become Wei Luowen’s concubine and put Qin Xinrui in a difficult situation. Moreover, Concubine Dong didn’t know much at that time. All she knew was it was the Second Young Lady of Grand Preceptor Tu Mansion but had never seen her in person.
At first, the Madam Dowager felt that there was nothing serious, but now, she felt that it was not as simple as it seemed. Did Concubine Dong know who the person was at that time?
Thinking of this, the Madam Dowager looked up and urged the nanny beside her, “Go and see what Concubine Dong is doing. If she doesn’t have urgent things to attend to, ask her to come!”
“Madam Dowager, have you forgotten? Concubine Dong has been busy in the backyard for the past few days?” The old maidservant reminded the Madam Dowager.
These words indeed reminded the Madam Dowager. Thinking that Concubine Dong was indeed busy with her matters, she looked slightly relaxed. “How is the progress of the construction?”
“It should be completed soon. The geomancer also said that this is the best option. Since we can’t burn Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard, at least we can’t let this bad luck spread out and ruin the luck of you and the entire Marquis Mansion!” Seeing that the Madam Dowager was unhappy, the old maidservant carefully reported.
With that said, she figured that the matters in the backyard were also very important because it was related to the fate of the entire Marquis Mansion. The Madam Dowager coldly snorted and no longer asked more questions. At that time, the geomancer had said it well. If she didn’t take some measures, something unfortunate would always happen to her. First, it would start from the younger generation to herself. No one could come out unscathed.
She didn’t expect that Qin Xinrui would be such a source of bad luck. She had died for so many years, yet she was still causing some trouble now. For this matter, the Madam Dowager even confronted her eldest son. Finally, for the sake of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and Wei Yuewu, Wei Luowen decided to give way.
At this time, Nanny Hong lifted the curtain and walked in. “Madam Dowager, the two Misses have returned!”
“Let them in!” The Madam Dowager restrained the worries in her heart and said to Nanny Hong.
A young maid had already come over to lift up the curtain. Wei Qiufu and Wei Yuewu slowly walked in. The two of them were still wearing the clothes they had worn to the prayer ceremony earlier. One was gorgeous and outstanding, while the other looked too ordinary.
Both the dresses were made of silk, but judging from the quality of the material, the meticulous embroidery, pattern, and style, one could tell that the dress Wei Yuewu wore, which Zhao Ruo’e had given her, looked rather casual, and there was nothing special about it.
With just a glance, the Madam Dowager felt deep displeasure in her heart, and her expression became cold.
Wei Qiufu and Wei Yuewu came in together to greet the Madam Dowager.
The Madam Dowager waved her hand and cut to the chase, “What’s going on? Why did such a big thing happen? Didn’t I tell you sisters to be kind to each other when you entered the Palace? Why did you cause so many things when you just entered the Palace and even alarmed Empress?!”
“Grandmother, I’m innocent. S-Someone set Sixth Younger Sister and me up! The Empress also said that she would give closure to our mansion.” Wei Qiufu had already thought of all the appropriate responses along the way. At this time, she should avoid the key issue and even expressed that she was as innocent as Wei Yuewu.
“Someone set you up? Tell me, what’s going on?” The Madam Dowager shouted coldly, her gaze sweeping over Wei Yuewu who was standing at the side as calm as water.
“Someone cut Sixth Younger Sister’s clothes, and there was nothing she could wear, so she borrowed some dresses from another young lady. The Third Princess’ dresses for the sacrificial ceremony were in my room. I don’t know who put them there. Grandmother, Sixth Younger Sister and I are really innocent, I swear! Someone must have disliked us, that’s why we sisters have been in trouble one after another. Look at what happened to Eldest Sister! Grandmother, please help us!”
Wei Qiufu covered her face and cried. Her acting became more and more skillful. She even dragged Wei Fengyao, who had an accident, into this, and she illustrated the whole thing as if she was completely unaware of what had happened.
“Who did this?” The Madam Dowager was furious.
She knew that the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang was very reputable and was very pleased about it. She felt that it was because of her endurance and perseverance for all these years. However, someone would be so jealous of them that they set up traps for her granddaughters in the Palace. The Madam Dowager felt that she could not bear it anymore. She slammed her hand on the table and was exasperated.
“Uh… I don’t know. The Empress only said that she would give us closure!” Wei Qiufu was taken aback and stuttered because she didn’t know what to say. The Empress did say that she would give them closure, but she didn’t know when it would be.
Of course, she didn’t dare to say who was behind this.
“Yuewu, is this what happened?” The Madam Dowager turned to the composed Wei Yuewu.
Wei Yuewu had long been waiting for the Madam Dowager to ask her. She raised her head unhurriedly. “Grandmother, someone stained my clothes first and then they were cut open, including the ones you gave me, so I couldn’t wear any of them. Only the clothes given by Concubine Dong were not ruined. However, the Empress was once furious when she saw the clothes made of the material Concubine Dong had given me, so I did not dare to wear them.”
Wei Yuewu looked at the Madam Dowager with her clear eyes. Her expression was extremely natural and her narrative was very organized. She did not cry out for injustice just like how Wei Qiufu did, which made the latter seem a little guilty.
“Sixth Younger Sister, these things…” Wei Qiufu subconsciously felt that something was wrong. She wanted to stop Wei Yuewu, but Wei Yuewu coldly glanced at her.
“Since Fourth Elder Sister still has something to say, Grandmother, I’ll let her speak first.”
“I-I have nothing to say…” Seeing that the Madam Dowager’s gaze swept over with displeasure, Wei Qiufu stammered in a low voice and secretly cursed in her heart. Wei Yuewu, this bitch, was really too good at talking. A simple remark from her made the Madam Dowager feel Wei Qiufu’s annoyance and anxiety.
“What clothes did Concubine Dong give you? Why would the Empress be angry?” The Madam Dowager asked coldly.
“I don’t know either. Grandmother, please take a look at it!” Wei Yuewu turned her head and gestured to Jin Ling behind her.
Jin Ling stepped forward carrying two bags in her hands. She placed them on the ground in front of the Madam Dowager. She first untied the knot of the first bag, and immediately, a few bright and outstanding clothes appeared in front of the Madam Dowager.
The Madam Dowager looked at them with a face full of confusion, apparently not comprehending why these clothes would upset the Empress.
“Grandmother, these are the dresses that were made of the materials that Concubine Dong gave to me. All these clothes, along with the ones you prepared for me, were all ruined and stained. Only these few sets were left intact, but I didn’t dare to wear them!” With that, Wei Yuewu pointed to the other bag that Jin Ling opened.
“The clothes that you and I had prepared were in there. Please take a look, Grandmother.”
When the second bag was opened, the Madam Dowager saw not only the large patches of stains on the clothes but also the cuts. It was such an eyesore to look at those ruined dresses, let alone to wear them.
Anyone who looked at the clothes from these two bags would choose the clothes in the first bag.
“Before entering the Palace, I went to the ready-made clothes shop outside and happened to meet Miss Zhao from the mansion of Marquis Huaiqin. We chatted for a bit since she was also part of the Third Princess’ prayer convoy. When she saw my fabric, she liked it very much, so I gave her one piece. This time, she made clothes from the fabric and brought them with her to the Palace. But before she could even wear the clothes, the Empress scolded her!”
Wei Yuewu quipped reservedly.
Was there really something off about these clothes that Empress Tu was afraid of? The Madam Dowager was originally skeptical, but now her eyes fell on the clothes. “Nanny Hong, bring the clothes over!”
“Yes!” Nanny Hong came over and carried the complete sets of clothes to the Madam Dowager.
The Madam Dowager looked at them in surprise and frowned in confusion. Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something, because her eyes widened, and her face turned ashen…
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