Chapter 446 A Gift from the Third Prince
“You have… someone to marry?” The Fourth Prince, Wen Yi, was surprised and subconsciously turned around to look at Mo Huating, who was standing far away.
Wei Yuewu was disgusted by the Fourth Prince’s self-righteous attitude and no longer hid her coldness.
“Your Highness, this is my personal affair. Anyway, Fourth Elder Sister is still looking for me, so I’ll be leaving now.” Indifferently, Wei Yuewu gave the Fourth Prince a bow, turned around, and slowly left with Jin Ling, ignoring the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince’s expression didn’t look too good. His gaze was icy-cold as he stared at Wei Yuewu’s back, and he remained silent for a long time.
“Your Highness!” Just then, Mo Huating’s voice came from behind.
“She claims to have someone to marry. Find out who it is!” The Fourth Prince ordered icily.
“Your Highness, it must be her excuse. After she came to the capital, I’d never heard of her getting close to any young master. As for engagement, it is even more impossible. Besides, that day, Madam Dowager praised that Your Highness’ suggestion was very good.”
Mo Huating was also gazing at Wei Yuewu’s back deeply. Although he sounded indifferent, he was clenching his right hand which was placed to the side tightly.
“Madam Dowager just has to tell the Empress that Wei Yuewu is willing to be your concubine, and the Empress will agree. Even if Marquis Hua Yang objects, it is Madam Dowager’s proposal, and the Empress is just pushing the boat along with the current.”
Hearing those words, the Fourth Prince was delighted. The expression on his face relaxed, and he snorted coldly. “The Empress holds a grudge against the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. If Wei Yuewu proposes to be the concubine, naturally, the Empress is happy. As for Mother Consort, she won’t say anything if the Empress approves it. There are so many noble young ladies. My third sister has many choices.”
The Fourth Prince felt extremely helpless when his third sister wanted to snatch Wei Yuewu away from him. Although he might not be able to make Wei Yuewu his Princess Consort, it was still very easy for her to become his secondary concubine.
Even the Emperor was unaware of Empress Tu’s secretive past, but Zhaoyi Tu knew about it. Of course, she would not dare to reveal this matter to the Emperor. Otherwise, the entire Tu Mansion would be seen as deceiving the Emperor. If Empress Tu got blamed, so would Zhaoyi Tu.
But of course, Zhaoyi Tu had told her son and daughter about the secret in private. Hence, the Fourth Prince knew about the entanglement between Empress Tu and Wei Luowen.
“Do you know why the Empress holds a grudge against Marquis Hua Yang? When Mother was alive, she said that the Empress was particularly unhappy with Marquis Hua Yang. Even on the first day of the new year, when the noble ladies greeted the Empress according to the etiquette, she wouldn’t allow Marquise Hua Yang to come near her. She just had the Marquise attend the event for the sake of a good image before ordering the Marquise to leave together with the other low-rank noble ladies.”
Mo Huating quietly listened.
“Well… Of course, she doesn’t want to see Marquise Hua Yang at all.” Knowing the inside story, the Fourth Prince sneered and walked in the direction which Wei Yuewu left. “She doesn’t like Wei Yuewu either. If Wei Yuewu, the legitimate daughter of Marquise Hua Yang, becomes my concubine, the Empress surely is very happy.”
Without a doubt, Mo Huating was the Fourth Prince’s most trusted servant right now. However, there were some things that the Fourth Prince couldn’t tell even his most trusted servant as Mother Consort had once enjoined. The matter was really important, but he couldn’t make it too obvious. He couldn’t disappoint Mo Huating, so his words were very vague.
Mo Huating followed the Fourth Prince by the side at some distance. Sensing that the Fourth Prince was being vague, he did not ask further. “I heard that the Empress was very angry when she saw the hairpin that Fourth Miss Wei wore. I wonder why the Empress is not on good terms with the daughters of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.”
The Fourth Prince didn’t respond to Mo Huating’s doubt. Instead, he looked up at the row of tall trees in front of him and commented, “I heard that my third brother is very concerned about Fourth Miss Wei.” He shifted the topic to the Third Prince.
“The Third Prince likes Fourth Miss Wei?” Mo Huating was surprised for a moment. This was the first time he had heard of the news. Could it be that the Third Prince, who had always been indifferent to fame, was not as indifferent as he appeared to be?
“I don’t know whether he likes her, but he does seem to be very concerned about her. Just now, I saw the eunuch, who has been serving him since he was little, went to look for Fourth Miss Wei. In the past, he had never sent anyone to look for any noble young ladies. Anyway, the bad news is that Fourth Miss Wei belongs to my eldest brother already. There is no possibility that her status can be changed anymore.”
The Fourth Prince’s tone was somewhat mocking. Nevertheless, he also did not understand why his unworldly third brother would pay so much attention to Fourth Miss Wei.
Judging by the things that had happened before, no matter how the Fourth Prince looked at it, Fourth Miss Wei’s character didn’t seem to be good. Now, not only did his eldest brother take her in, but she also attracted the attention of his third brother. It was really unexpected for the Fourth Prince.
In regards to the Fourth Prince’s ridicule of the Third Prince, Mo Huating remained silent. Only after the Fourth Prince finished did Mo Huating frown and remind him, “Your Highness, the Second Prince…”
“My second brother has been attracting a lot of attention lately. He even hooked up with the daughter of a court official. Right now, he should be setting his target on Grandmother. Anyway, with his sickly body, he can’t do much. Even if he manages to succeed, he won’t be able to maintain it for more than a few days. However, you should still keep an eye on him. Who would have expected a sickly man like him would have such great ambition!”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll have someone keep an eye on him.”
Mo Huating was also surprised by the easily forgotten Second Prince. In the past, no one had paid attention to the Second Prince who was rumored to have been lying in bed for a long time and might die at any time. But since the Second Prince had been drawing a lot of attention lately, Mo Huating naturally noticed him.
“Pay more attention to him, especially when he’s around Empress Dowager. His relationship with Empress Dowager is not ordinary!” The Fourth Prince ordered coldly.
Wei Yuewu looked at the eunuch in front of Wei Qiufu in shock. She blinked her watery eyes and then quietly put away her gaze.
It was the Third Prince’s eunuch.
Normally, the other eunuchs either had similar ages to their masters or were just slightly older than their masters. However, this eunuch was obviously much older than the Third Prince. He was in his forties.
Why was the Third Prince’s eunuch looking for Wei Qiufu at this time?
Previously, Jin Ling had asked Wei Qiufu to wait there before going to look for Wei Yuewu. When Jin Ling left, the eunuch was not there yet. But now, Wei Qiufu and the Third Prince’s eunuch were chatting happily.
One was sitting and the other was standing. It could be seen that the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Seeing Wei Yuewu come back, Wei Qiufu stood up with a smile. “Sixth Younger Sister, come over and take a look. This is the Third Prince’s eunuch. He brought me some gifts.”
Wei Qiufu pointed at the boxes placed on the side. In Wei Qiufu’s opinion, the Third Prince must have treated her differently because of the Crown Prince. After all, she was about to marry the Crown Prince. It was natural that the Third Prince look up on her and gifted her presents. Therefore, she accepted those gifts as a matter of course.
She was also very flattered by the eunuch’s praises.
“My honor to meet you, Sixth Miss Wei.” The fat eunuch seemed to be very good at flattering people. After greeting Wei Yuewu, he took out a small jade bottle from his sleeve and handed it over respectfully. “I didn’t expect to see you. Fortunately, my master was prepared. He heard that your health is not good and would like you to have this medicine. It can strengthen your body.”
No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like the gift was not sincere enough. Looking at Wei Qiufu’s big boxes of gifts and the small medicine bottle for Wei Yuewu, everyone could tell that the latter was prepared impromptu. Perhaps the Third Prince didn’t even prepare the medicine, and it was just an impromptu present from the eunuch.
The smug look on Wei Qiufu’s face was very obvious now that she had finally put Wei Yuewu below her.
“Please thank the Third Prince for me.” As if not noticing the disdain in Wei Qiufu’s eyes, Wei Yuewu solemnly bowed toward the fat eunuch.
At the same time, Jin Ling calmly took the medicine over. The medicine bottle looked very familiar and resembled the one that the Third Prince had given to Wei Yuewu earlier. Wei Yuewu had never used it. Why did he send another bottle of medicine now?
The fat eunuch dodged Wei Yuewu’s bow before bidding goodbye smilingly.
“Fourth Miss Wei, Sixth Young Lady, I’ll be leaving now.”
“Please do as you please.” Wei Qiufu chimed in with a smile. The Third Prince’s eunuch had come to give her gifts. Of course, Wei Qiufu knew this bit of etiquette.
Politely, the eunuch bowed to them and left with a smile.
After the eunuch had left, Wei Qiufu put on a cold expression. She looked at Wei Yuewu and questioned unhappily, “Sixth Younger Sister, where have you been? Why didn’t I see you when I came out?”
“Fourth Elder Sister, didn’t you say that you came out from the side door? Of course, you didn’t see me. I wasn’t waiting at the side door,” Wei Yuewu responded indifferently.
Wei Qiufu was choked speechless before she responded, “When I followed Eldest Miss Jing out, I left through the back door. Why weren’t you there?”
“You were in the courtyard for a long time. I thought you and Miss Lin were having a good time talking, so I took a walk in the garden myself,” Wei Yuewu explained coldly.
The two of them were not on good terms. Since there were no outsiders at this time, Wei Yuewu didn’t think it was necessary to act anymore.
Just then, Wei Qiufu slammed her hand on the stone table and chided harshly, “Wei Yuewu, you have to know that I’m no longer an ordinary young lady from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang!”
Was Wei Qiufu going to use the Crown Prince’s power to suppress her? At the thought of that, Wei Yuewu looked up and curled her lips into a faint smile. “Fourth Elder Sister, what are you trying to say?”
Wei Qiufu choked on her words. Of course, she knew that there were some things that she shouldn’t say now.
“Fourth Elder Sister, you entered that courtyard early, but you came out last. If people know this, do you think the Crown Prince will be fine with it?” Wei Yuewu said with a gentle smile.
A trace of hatred flashed across Wei Qiufu’s eyes. She understood that she should stop now. Otherwise, her reputation would really be ruined. When she was in the palace, the Empress had already disliked her very much. If this matter of her reputation being ruined was spread, the Empress would definitely not tolerate her anymore.
Right then, a maid came over in a hurry. Seeing the three at the pavilion, she immediately heaved a sigh of relief. As she ran over, she shouted, “Young ladies, something happened! Eldest Miss Jing wants you two over!”
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