Chapter 105

Lady Li knew that Wei Luowu had been to Concubine Huang’s courtyard.

“A concubine’s words? Well, should I call more doctors and let them see if I’ve been taking gastrodia fruit for a long time. How long has Concubine Huang been in the mansion? Do you think it’s because of her that I’ve been taking medicine for so long a time?”

Wei Luowu sneered and kicked away Lady Li’s hand with his leg. He ignored her and directly went to the Madam Dowager’s Tranquility Pavilion.

The issue of male offspring? He couldn’t even define how serious this issue could be!

If in the future his eldest brother had no…. Then the number of sons he had would be of utmost significance!

Wei Yuewu had just arrived at the Tranquility Pavilion. She came here after learning that Wei Luowu had gone to Lady Li’s courtyard. She brought over the materials she had chosen for the Madam Dowager on the day when she went to the street. The materials were all of high quality. At this time, they were placed in front of the Madam Dowager for her to choose.

“Grandmother, you see these materials are pretty good. The colors are bright. They’re just suitable for you to wear. I just tidied them up shortly ago and brought them over for you to take a look.” Wei Yuewu smiled gently, as if there wasn’t any conflict between them over the matter of Concubine Dong.

Although the Madam Dowager still looked a little unhappy, she raised her eyebrows and stood up with the help of a maid’s hand. She walked to the table and examined the materials carefully. The materials looked indeed nice and the patterns were suitable for her age. Her expression became gentler.

The Madam Dowager resumed her seat “I told you to pick some materials for yourself, but you still bought materials for me. You don’t have much money at hand, do you?” Then, she said to Nanny Hong, “Nanny Hong, go get a silver ticket for Yuewu.”

She didn’t say how much, but Nanny Hong had stayed by the Madam Dowager’s side long enough to understand her meaning. She walked inside knowingly and took out a 100-tael silver ticket. She smilingly handed it to Wei Yuewu, “Sixth Young Lady, see how much the Madam Dowager loves you. She knows that you don’t have any money now, so she already asked me to prepare it for you.”

“Thank you, grandmother.” Wei Yuewu’s face was filled with gratitude. She let Huamo receive the silver ticket from Nanny Hong, but she sneered in her heart.

She had stayed in her maternal grandparents’ house for so many years, but the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang had never cared about her. That was not all. She had encountered assassination and almost lost her life on her way to the capital. Even if she had some valuables given by her maternal grandparents, it was impossible for her to take them with her. After entering the capital, all she had was the monthly allowance and that small amount of money was not even enough for her to buy the things she needed.

However, the Madam Dowager had never paid any attention to her. But now, she was putting on a look like she was wholeheartedly caring about Wei Yuewu. How truly despicable her hypocrisy was!

“Grandmother, when Eldest Aunt came last time, she actually gave me some silver.” Wei Yuewu acted as if she was sincerely moved. If she didn’t have money, she wouldn’t be able to buy those materials.

The Madam Dowager was very satisfied that Wei Yuewu volunteered to explain the source of her money. This was exactly what she had guessed. Since Wei Yuewu had admitted it, she would naturally have to show her generosity.

“Don’t take money from your eldest aunt anymore. If you need money, just tell me. You are a young lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. How can I let your maternal grandparents’ family bear your expenses? I will have someone send some gifts to your maternal grandmother after the Spring Festival. Your mother is gone, so your maternal grandmother spent much time raising you in all those years.”

The Madam Dowager said with a smile, as if nothing unhappy had resulted from the last conversation between her and Wei Yuewu.

“Thank you, grandmother. Eldest Aunt was good to me when I was at granny’s. Grandmother, are the Tu Clan’s daughters really famous for their good reputation?” Wei Yuewu asked with some perplexity. Her delicate little face revealed curiosity and looked endearing. Moreover, it had not been long since she arrived in the capital. Therefore, it was normal for her to be curious about such things.

“The Tu Clan’s daughters indeed have a good name. Because of Empress Tu and Zhaoyi Tu, all of them, even those who are not in the direct bloodline, enjoy a distinguished status.” Surprisingly, the Madam Dowager explained Wei Yuewu’s question in a good mood.

Wei Yuewu blinked her clear eyes and asked, “Is it because the Tu Clan has many prominent male offsprings that they have gained the reputation?”

“You can say so.” It was true that the Tu Clan’s daughters were highly noble. Nevertheless, without the support of the clan’s gentlemen who served the imperial court, it was impossible for the daughters to have such a close relationship with the imperial family. It was also partly for this reason that Empress Tu could become the empress.

“Grandmother, I heard that the daughters-in-law in the Tu Clan are more virtuous than those in other clans? After I came to the capital, I also heard that young ladies who are not virtuous cannot marry into the Tu Clan.” Wei Yuewu became more curious. Her eyes under her long eyelashes calmly glanced at the Madam Dowager. As expected, she saw a trace of vexation on the Madam Dowager’s face.

Actually, Wei Yuewu had heard from Nurse Mei that the Madam Dowager had almost married into the Tu Clan when she was young. However, she was rejected in the end for some unknown reason and later she married the late Marquis Hua Yang.

“Taking about virtuous, of course they are. If anything happens to the sons of the clan, it’s all their fault. Either they will be cast off or locked in the clan’s temple and face the Buddha for the rest of their lives.” The Madam Dowager said hatefully. This was simply the humiliation of her entire life.

The Tu Clan had directly broken the engagement to her just because they had heard that she had helped her mother punish her father’s concubine. What huge harm their act had done to her, a young lady at the time! If she hadn’t been fortunate to marry the then Marquis Hua Yang later on, she would have ended up marrying someone from a remote small town.

Now Wei Yuewu inadvertently brought up the past grudge, how could she not be angry?

“Is the Tu Clan actually so strict with their daughters-in-law? Is this matter concerning male offsprings really so important?” Wei Yuewu was greatly surprised. She looked a little stunned and blank.

“The prosperity of a family has a lot to do with its male offsprings. A single tree cannot grow into a forest!” The Madam Dowager sighed involuntarily at Wei Yuewu’s question. She said seriously, “If only your father had a son!”

“It’s a pity that Second Uncle has only one son. Otherwise, father could just adopt Eldest Brother and it’ll be legitimate for Eldest Brother to succeed him in the future! However, Eldest Brother is the only son of Second Uncle, and my father definitely can’t bear to see that Second Uncle has no heir, right?” Wei Yuewu nodded and laughed softly.

In fact, the inheritance of the title of Marquis Hua Yang was always heatedly-discussed topic in the capital. Although Marquis Hua Yang attached much importance to his nephew, he didn’t recognize his nephew as his son. If he adopted a foster son in the future, the issue of inheritance would actually be controversial.

The best way was of course to adopt a son from the second branch. However, except one son born to Lady Li, the second branch had no more male offsprings.

Those words seemed to evoke some bad memories from the Madam Dowager. Yet those words were reasonable when she thought about them. She frowned for a moment and her expression sank as if she was deep in thought! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Madam Dowager was silent, so Wei Yuewu couldn’t continue. The room quieted down. Only the Madam Dowager’s face looked increasingly gloomy and angry. Yet no one knew who was the cause of her anger.

“Madam Dowager, Second Master is here.” A maid suddenly entered and reported.

“How could he have the time to come over at this time? Hurry! Invite Second Master in.” The Madam Dowager was surprised. Normally, Wei Luowu would be in the study in the outer courtyard at this time dealing with official businesses. It was rare for him to come to the inner courtyard at this time.

“Yes!” The maid hurriedly went out to invite Wei Luowu in.

Wei Luowu walked in with an angry expression and a livid face. When he saw Wei Yuewu was also here, he was surprised for a moment, but his expression was still sullen.

“Greetings, Second Uncle.” Wei Yuewu stepped forward and curtsied.

Wei Luowu was in a bad mood and only nodded slightly in return.

The Madam Dowager saw that her son’s face was ashen and that he even looked angry. She knew that he was really furious, so she said to Wei Yuewu, “You go back first. I like these materials very much.”

“Yes!” Wei Yuewu certainly wouldn’t want to be involved at this time. She obediently turned around and left with her maid.

However, although she left the Madam Dowager’s Tranquility Pavilion, she did not immediately return to her own courtyard. Instead, she strolled around in the garden. After a while, she saw Wei Luowu leave angrily and head straight for the outer courtyard. Then, Nanny Hong led a few old maidservants toward Lady Li’s courtyard.

Standing at the top of the artificial hill, Wei Yuewu saw it clearly. She knew that Lady Li could not end up well this time. Then she strolled back to the Lotus Courtyard with Huamo.

Thanks to her previous question about the importance of male offsprings, the Madam Dowager would definitely not let Lady Li get away.

As expected, word came in the evening that Lady Li cared for her daughter so much that she couldn’t bear to leave her daughter alone in the family temple. In addition, she thought that her daughter had caused trouble because she didn’t teach her well, and she felt sorry for the Wei Clan’s ancestors. Therefore, she requested to live at the family temple with Wei Yan together. The Madam Dowager was moved by her love for her daughter and did not let her live in the family temple. As a result, she allowed Lady Li and Wei Yan to live in a dilapidated courtyard next to the family temple.

That courtyard was not small, but due to its proximity to the most remote part of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and the family temple, it was usually used for storing useless objects. Normally, no one would go there. It could be considered the most deserted corner of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Moreover, Lady Li took Wei Yan with her.

Judging by Wei Yan’s current situation, everyone could tell that Lady Li was basically abandoned. Even though she still held the title of Second Lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yan, this title became only a meaningless name.

“Miss, why didn’t the Madam Dowager cast off the Second Lady?” Jin Ling came in to report to Wei Yuewu with an angry expression after she was back from inquiring about the news. In her opinion, Lady Li and Wei Yan had maliciously framed her mistress more than once. Such a result was too lenient for them.

“I heard that the eldest young master of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang is very outstanding. He has been following Marquis Hua Yang and is highly appreciated in the army.” Wei Yuewu narrowed her eyes and put down the satin in her hand. She suddenly laughed.