Chapter 429
Chapter 429 One Sly Person After Another
“You had no choice? When do you ever lack a choice in the things you do?” Due to Wei Yuewu’s previous words, Wei Luowen did not buy Concubine Dong’s explanation and retaliated sternly.
Although his face still looked calm, everyone familiar with him knew that he was in a state of rage.
“You treated Yuewu as your biological daughter and even made new clothes for her, but you couldn’t make one more for Yuejiao in time and casually asked someone else to make one instead. It turned out that this was all just for show.”
Some things would have gone unnoticed without thinking much, but the more Wei Luowen thought about them, the odder things were. At this time, he also remembered that before Concubine Dong entered the capital, she repeatedly said she would definitely treat Wei Yuewu well and purposely made new clothes for her. Undoubtedly, he also thought of the dispute at the city gate.
“Lord Marquis, I really had no choice. I-If it hadn’t been for you, why would I have done this!” On the way here, Concubine Dong had already heard about the details. Therefore, she came prepared this time. She sobbed and cried, “Lord Marquis, you just returned to the capital. Many things needed money, but every expense in the mansion had a fixed amount. I can’t break the rules either, so I thought of this method. With this method, I can spend the profit of the shops in the meantime. Once your condition is stable after some time, I will return the money to Sixth Young Lady.”
“Are there many things that need to be paid off? Why don’t I know about them?” If it were in the past, Wei Luowen would not question anymore because Concubine Dong usually handled these things. But after his previous conversation with Wei Yuewu, Wei Luowen no longer believed in Concubine Dong, so he continued questioning her.
Concubine Dong was stunned for a moment. She did not expect Wei Luowen to care about such details, but she reacted quickly and cried, “Lord Marquis, after you entered the capital, many visitors came to see you. You have many close friends in the capital, and I must prepare gifts for them. Even though there was enough to spend when we were at the border, some things were still lacking. That was why I thought of using this method… But I was afraid that Sixth Young Lady would misunderstand, so I did it without telling others!”
Wei Luowen was born and raised in the capital and had a group of close friends. Even if they did not contact Wei Luowen throughout the year, they would pay a visit when he returned. The expenses were relatively large, and it was likely that Concubine Dong had trouble making ends meet.
“So, you came up with this method?” Wei Luowen’s anger was yet to quell.
“I thought Sixth Young Lady wouldn’t notice once I return the money I have used. Then, I’ll return the shops to Sixth Young Lady and tell her that the only thing that has changed is the shops’ names and return the interest as well. Sixth Young Lady is the legitimate daughter Madam left behind. I deeply respect Madam and want to get close to Sixth Young Lady too. I was afraid that Sixth Young Lady and I would get into a conflict because of this matter. Therefore, it would be best if Sixth Young Lady didn’t know about this!”
Concubine Dong wiped her tears and cried feebly.
Meanwhile, Wei Yuewu stood at the side and sneered in her heart. Concubine Dong had a way with her words and knew her father’s temper well. Wei Yuewu could tell from the expression on her father’s face that he had calmed down a little. However, today’s matter was just a prelude. Many things could escalate as a result of today’s matter, and Wei Yuewu wanted to see how Concubine Dong would talk her way out of the mess.
“Father, let’s forget it. Since Concubine Dong said so, you should let it go. After all, it is just a misunderstanding, like those times with the hairpin, new clothes, and Mother’s courtyard almost getting burned,” Wei Yuewu said indifferently. Anyone could see the disappointment on her face.
She stepped back and returned to the writing desk. “Father, please go to the Mayor of the capital city’s side to settle the case so that the outsiders won’t gossip about our family.”
“A misunderstanding? Of course, it was a misunderstanding!” Although Wei Yuewu was soft-spoken when saying those words, she reminded Wei Luowen of the grudges he held in his heart toward all those incidents, but he did not have any evidence back then. But when those incidents were put together, he found that not only Yuewu’s but also Rui’er’s courtyard had an accident. Was Concubine Dong truly not involved in those incidents?
When Concubine Dong heard Wei Yuewu mentioning the hairpin, clothes, and Qin Xinrui’s courtyard, her heart sank. She subconsciously realized she was at a disadvantage. Although all those incidents had no evidence of her involvement, they were all related to her.
“In that case, do you dare to swear that you never intended to harm Yuewu?” Wei Luowen said with a gloomy face.
“Yes, I have never intended to harm Sixth Young Lady. If I am not telling the truth, I will die a horrible death.” In this situation, Concubine Dong had to grit her teeth and swear. She knew that if she didn’t swear today, things would go terribly for her.
“Concubine Dong, I remember telling you that if Yuewu disagrees, I can’t let you become the main wife. Are you getting ahead of yourself now?” However, Wei Luowen had been repeatedly egged on by Wei Yuewu’s words today. Now, he couldn’t trust anything Concubine Dong said and still gazed at her doubtfully.
“Yes, Lord Marquis. I get it!” When Wei Luowen said this in front of everyone, Concubine Dong was ashamed and angry, yet she had no choice but to answer.
Wei Luowen had indeed said it before, but that was when Qin Xinrui had only passed away. Moreover, he had said it to her privately, telling her not to dream about being the marquise. But later on, as Yuejiao grew up and won Wei Luowen’s favor, Wei Luowen didn’t seem to be that persistent anymore.
Sometimes, she would even jokingly say that if she were Marquise Hua Yang, Yuejiao would be a legitimate daughter, and she could marry into an even better family!
“Father, ask them to take their leave!” Wei Yuewu looked at the two shopkeepers and shop assistants and reminded Wei Luowen.
She brought it up at this time because the shopkeepers and shop assistants had heard enough and they could leave now. She didn’t want them to hear the words she would say next.
“All of you, leave and kneel in the corridor!” At this time, Wei Luowen also realized that outsiders were still present and waved his hand coldly.
The shopkeepers and shop assistants felt as if they had been granted mercy. Then, they hurriedly bowed to Wei Luowen respectfully, ran out, and knelt in the corridor.
The room immediately quieted down. Wei Luowen’s most trusted lad servant also lowered his head, standing at the entrance stiffly.
“Father, don’t be angry. I am not even mad anymore. Please spare Concubine Dong!” Wei Yuewu advised softly. She went over and gently patted Wei Luowen’s back in a coquettish manner.
Concubine Dong relaxed at once and was pleased with herself. It seemed that Wei Yuewu didn’t intend to pursue the matter further. After all, she had thought of a counter plan when coming here. Otherwise, Lord Marquis would definitely not let her off the hook today.
“Spare her? If I spare her, who knows what kind of thoughts she might have again in the future?” Wei Luowen said spitefully.
“Father, Concubine Dong is only a concubine, after all. If you are to marry another lady from a prestigious family, such a thing will not happen. The guests in the capital would also be received properly. I do not care much about the dowry, but I heard only a family that is declining will make ends meet by using the legitimate wife’s dowry.”
Wei Yuewu calmly brought up the topic of Wei Luowen’s remarriage.
Concubine Dong, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised her head. Her face was pale with anger as she stared fiercely at Wei Yuewu. She was extremely vicious. This was what she was most afraid of now. This was a true issue compared with Wei Yuewu’s shops that she had stolen.
“It wasn’t easy to find a suitable noble lady either!” Wei Luowen didn’t have the heart to think about this at this time, and his eyes were indifferent.
“Father, the Ninth Young Lady from the Tu Family is a good candidate. She even took care of me when I was in the palace!” Wei Yuewu seemed to ignore the impatience on Wei Luowen’s face and smiled gently.
“Did she take care of you in the palace?” Wei Luowen was stunned for a moment. Although he had never seen this Ninth Young Lady from the Tu Family before, he knew she came to the mansion herself to pass a letter from Zhaoyi Tu. Only then did Madam Dowager give up her intention to burn Rui’er’s courtyard.
With this in mind, he had a good impression of this particular Ninth Miss Tu whom he had not seen.
“That’s right. I was unfamiliar with the palace and did not know anything. Fortunately, Ninth Miss Tu took care of me, so I could come back safe and sound. When I returned, I heard that Ninth Miss Tu had taken care of Mother’s courtyard. If Ninth Miss Tu had not sent a message, that liar would have burned Mother’s courtyard!”
Wei Yuewu lowered her head and had a pitiful expression on her face.
After listening to his youngest daughter’s reasonable words, Wei Luowen felt it was necessary to think about Ninth Miss Tu’s matter for the first time. If Ninth Miss Tu was as kind as Yuewu claimed to be, he could marry her because he could not let Yuewu continue to suffer.
As for Concubine Dong, she was, after all, a lowly and petty maid. It was despicable of her to think of doing such a thing. Even though he was part of the reason, it was still a hard pill to swallow.
Moreover, with so many things linked up, was Concubine Dong really as innocent as she claimed and did she genuinely not think of harming Yuewu? Did she not dream of taking over Marquise Hua Yang’s position?
Since that was the case, he might as well destroy her illusions, lest she became too greedy and did more absurd things.
“If you like Ninth Miss Tu, I shall choose her then!” Wei Luowen said indifferently.
When Concubine Dong, who was kneeling on the ground, heard their conversation, she almost exploded with anger. She secretly cursed Wei Yuewu. How did she dare to interfere with her father’s marriage? On the other hand, her brain was spinning rapidly. She was thinking of a way to ruin their plans.
No matter what happened, she could not let Wei Luowen marry Ninth Miss Tu.
“Lord Marquis… What happened between the Tu Mansion and us… Is this really a good idea?” Concubine Dong reacted quickly and immediately thought of the engagement between Wei Luowen and Empress Tu.
The engagement between Wei Luowen and Empress Tu was the incident he was most reluctant to bring up. It wouldn’t benefit anyone if this incident were brought up. Since Grand Preceptor Tu tried to cover it up as much as possible, Wei Luowen would obviously keep his mouth shut tightly too. Therefore, when Concubine Dong mentioned it, he could not admit it.
“Father, I heard from Ninth Miss Tu that you were engaged to Second Miss Tu from Tu Mansion. But later on, you canceled the engagement to marry Mother. However, she said neither Empress Tu nor Zhaoyi Tu blamed you for that. Second Miss Tu had always been unlucky, and now she was more than willing to see the relationship between our families improved to clear any misunderstanding!”
Wei Yuewu said softly while turning a blind eye to Concubine Dong’s hateful gaze.
The shop matter was just to initiate her father’s dissatisfaction with Concubine Dong. Although Concubine Dong tried to explain herself, she was also proven incompetent at managing the family’s finances. Therefore, she brought up Ninth Miss Tu at this time to cut off Concubine Dong’s route of retreat. It was clear that Concubine Dong wanted the position of Marquise Hua Yang, but since Wei Yuewu was here, she would never let that happen, unless in Concubine Dong’s dream…
“Lord Marquis, I remembered something important!” Seeing that Wei Luowen was considering the rationality in Wei Yuewu’s words, Concubine Dong became anxious and hurriedly exclaimed while gritting her teeth. She had to bring this matter up no matter what!
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