Chapter 277

“The mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s young ladies are really all beauties. Madam Dowager, you are truly fortunate to have so excellent granddaughters!” The Empress Dowager’s gaze moved from Wei Yuejiao to Wei Qiufu before finally landing on Wei Yuewu’s face.

Although there was not any trace of makeup on her face, she possessed the kind of beauty that could be compared to a graceful hibiscus flower with drops of rain on its petals. There was no doubt that this Sixth Young Lady, who had reportedly been raised in her maternal grandparents’ family, was the most outstanding young lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.

She was not only a legitimate daughter but was also born by Marquise Hua Yang. With such a noble identity, she surely deserved the position of Crown Princess. But the problem was that Master Fenghe’s words made the candidates for the position of Crown Princess quite a mysterious story. In face of such a dilemma, even the Empress Dowager could not make the decision on her own. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Madam Dowager was extremely glad, but she maintained her composure and flattered the Empress Dowager, “Your Majesty, I am overwhelmed by your praise. They are just a few naughty girls. They usually make a lot of noise in the mansion. I didn’t expect that when they are in front of Your Majesty, they are all so gentle. You really know how to teach people!”

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face became more and more amiable. She turned to look at her grandson, whom she was really proud of. “What do you think, Crown Prince?”

Wen Tianyao looked at Wei Yuewu and smiled gently as he answered, “All of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s young ladies have been taught well!”

“Madam Dowager, you are also good at teaching people. See how bright and beautiful your granddaughters look. In a month, the Fourth Princess will be praying for the prosperity of the country. She needs outstanding daughters from noble families to accompany her. How about letting all the four young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang be her companions?” Empress Tu teased from the side.

In fact, everyone knew that it was impossible. The Third Princess was also having a praying ceremony, and among her companions, there were daughters from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Therefore, when the Fourth Princess prayed, her companions must come from other mansions. After all, the honor of serving the royal family had to be distributed among various aristocratic families.

However, after hearing the Empress’ words, the other old ladies all felt a little embarrassed. Just now, a few young ladies from several families had already been summoned. Although the Empress Dowager and Empress also expressed their appreciation, they did not say anything about accompanying the Fourth Princess to pray for the prosperity of the country.

“Your Majesties, I am really overwhelmed by your kindness. It is a great honor for the entire mansion of Marquis Hua Yang!” Hearing the Empress mention the praying event, the Madam Dowager stood up and wanted to kneel down to express her thanks, but she was held up by an old nanny beside the Empress Dowager.

Wei Qiufu and the others all came out and knelt down together to thank the Empress Dowager and Empress for their kindness!

“Madam Dowager, you are old. You don’t have to stand on ceremony!” The Empress Dowager smiled and gestured for the nanny to help the Madam Dowager sit down again.

The Madam Dowager sat down and said, “Your Majesty, I feel deeply guilty about receiving such a big honor from the royal family. I am afraid that not all the four young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang were eligible for this great honor!”

The Madam Dowager was euphemistically refusing to have the honor of letting all the four girls to participate in the praying event.

It was too great an honor that would arouse envy from other aristocratic families. Although the Madam Dowager attached great importance to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang’s reputation, she also knew that this kind of thing was like a double-edged sword. Looking at the displeased eyes of the old ladies over there, she knew that it was impossible for all her granddaughters to marry into the royal family.

“What do you mean, Madam Dowager?” The Empress Dowager asked with a smile, looking quite open-minded.

The Madam Dowager already had an answer in her heart. She replied respectfully, “It is an extremely great honor for the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang to have two of its daughters to accompany the Third Princess to pray for the prosperity of the country. The mansion of Marquis Hua Yang dare not ask for more from the royal family!”

“Only two?” Empress Tu’s eyes fell on the girls who were kneeling in front of her again, and the look in her eyes slightly changed.

Wen Tianyao sat on the chair and did not say anything. He leaned back, switching his handsome eyes from Wei Qiufu to Wei Yuewu. Compared with the other two, it was obvious that the two of them had a higher status. Therefore, everyone understood what the Madam Dowager meant.

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, “Since the Madam Dowager has said so, then the Fourth Young Lady and Sixth Young Lady from your mansion shall be selected!”

Legitimate daughters were naturally the ones who were expected to attend such an event. Concubine-born daughters were not an option for their low status.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” The Madam Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, she also wanted Wei Qiufu and Wei Yuewu to be selected.

“Now spare the ceremony. It’s better not to make the four of you feel restrained here. You may go down now!” Empress Tu said with a smile when she saw that the Empress Dowager had made up her mind.

Wei Yuewu and the others stood up and respectfully left.

As soon as they were outside the hall, they saw a few young ladies entering with their heads drooped. They should be the young ladies of another aristocratic family.

“Third Elder Sister, I didn’t expect grandmother to make such a request.” Wei Qiufu said in a low voice, as if she really regretted that Wei Yuejiao wasn’t selected.

Since the two of them had just argued and made a scene in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, she was apparent making a ridicule of Wei Qiuju with those words.

Wei Yuejiao wasn’t someone to be trifled with. She coldly retorted, “Congratulations, Fourth Younger Sister, you are about to enter the Crown Prince Mansion!” However, she landed her gaze fiercely on Wei Yuewu.

Although it was Wei Qiufu who provoked her, the real reason was Wei Yuewu. If the bitch Wei Yuewu hadn’t returned to the capital, she would definitely be selected this time. After all, she was the only daughter of her father.

However, the situation was different now with the existence of Wei Yuewu. When other people mentioned her father, they would always mention Wei Yuewu. This was really unbearable for Wei Yuejiao, who had always thought that she was Wei Luowen’s only daughter.

As long as Wei Yuewu was alive, there was no chance for her to stand out!

Hearing Wei Yuejiao’s words, Wei Qiufu’s face turned cold and she scolded harshly, “Third Elder Sister, there are some things you can’t say casually. This is the imperial palace, not the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang!”

Wei Qiufu had always been dignified and generous in front of others. She was gentle and polite when speaking with people. Now that she scolded Wei Yuejiao with a cold face, Wei Yuejiao felt she looked awesome. Then, she realized that Wei Qiufu was highly likely to enter the Crown Prince Mansion. Besides, Concubine Dong had repeatedly reminded her not to provoke Wei Qiufu. As a result, despite casting a fierce glare at Wei Qiufu, she did not dare to provoke her again.

This was the imperial palace, and they were in the Empress Dowager’s Jing Chen Palace. If she made a mistake here, no one would be able to save her. Wei Yuejiao was very clear about this.

A eunuch came over to pass a message, “Young ladies, please take a walk around here. The Empress Dowager still has other instructions later!”

As a result, they all rested in the corridor at the side of the main hall, and no one dared to go away.

Wei Qiufu always had a magnanimous and dignified appearance in public. Whoever saw her would have a nice impression of her. At this time, when the four of them gathered together, she smiled and said to Wei Yuewu, “Sixth Younger Sister, after three days, we shall enter the imperial palace to accompany the Third Princess. Have you prepared your things?”

She appeared as if she really had nothing to do with those conspiracies against Wei Yuewu, nor had she ever secretly tried to hurt Wei Yuewu time and time again.

“I don’t know what to prepare, so I just casually brought a few dresses with me.” Wei Yuewu smiled slightly and replied softly. Since Wei Qiufu had started a play of sisterhood, she would naturally cooperate.

“A few dresses may not be enough. I don’t know if grandmother has prepared some gorgeous dresses for you. On the last day, we are going to worship the mountains and rivers with the Third Princess. The dress you are wearing now may not be suitable.” Wei Qiufu’s gaze fell on the light lotus-colored dress that Wei Yuewu was wearing.

It was an eight-folded plain-colored dress, which actually fitted well with Wei Yuewu’s elegant and beautiful look. She had tender skin and exquisite facial features. At the sight of her, anyone would be deeply impressed and admit that she was an unadorned but stunning beauty.

However, this also made people jealous of her.

“Thank you, Fourth Elder Sister. I will ask grandmother after going back!” Wei Yuewu smiled at Wei Qiufu and said calmly.

“Third Elder Sister, I wonder if you have such a suitable dress. If you have…” Wei Yuewu suddenly turned to look at Wei Yuejiao, who was stunned at first. But after seeing the faint smile on Wei Yuewu’s face, Wei Yuejiao immediately became angry.

“What do you mean?” Wei Yuejiao asked angrily.

“Third Elder Sister, I don’t mean anything else. I just want to ask if you have it or not. If you have, then there is no need for me to bother grandmother!” Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Yuejiao in surprise, looking innocent as if she did not understand why Wei Yuejiao was angry.

However, this expression made Wei Yuejiao even angrier. Wei Yuewu was showing off! How could the proud Wei Yuejiao endure this?

She had always believed that she would marry better than Wei Yuewu.

She never thought that she would be suppressed by Wei Yuewu one day. At this moment, her face turned red with anger. She pointed at Wei Yuewu and shouted angrily, “Wei Yuewu, don’t be proud because you can accompany the Third Princess to pray…”

“Third Elder Sister, please be careful with your words!” Wei Qiufu suddenly raised her voice and shouted.

At this time, the four of them were facing each other in two pairs. Wei Yuewu and Wei Qiufu stood side by side, while Wei Yuejiao and Wei Qiuju were together. At this time, a eunuch came out. Seeing them in the corridor, he hurried over. It seemed that the masters in the hall had some instructions.

After what happened yesterday, Wei Qiufu deeply looked down upon Wei Yuejiao. However, Wei Yuejiao was still useful to her, and she did not want Wei Yuejiao to really run into trouble here. That was why she reminded her.

Normally, Wei Yuejiao would listen to her. However, the two of them just quarreled yesterday. In addition, Wei Qiufu also provoked her just now. Therefore, Wei Yuejiao didn’t pay any attention to Wei Qiufu.

“Fourth Younger Sister, you haven’t even entered the Crown Prince Mansion yet and you’re already acting as if you are the Crown Princess? You’ll have to wait until you become the real Crown Princess!” Wei Yuejiao exploded and vented all her anger on Wei Qiufu with a sneer.

Wei Qiufu did not expect Wei Yuejiao to be so outspoken. When she saw the shock in the eunuch’s eyes, her face turned green and white. She almost flew into a rage out of humiliation. However, she had always been very scheming. At this time, she suppressed the anger in her heart and lowered her head. The corners of her eyes immediately turned red.

“Third Elder Sister, you… How can you say those words? I… I was just reminding you that this is the Empress Dowager’s Jing Chen Palace. We can’t speak casually!”

At this time, Wei Qiufu put on a nice play and acted as a younger sister who had been wronged. Needless to say, Wei Yuejiao was the arrogant and domineering evil sister who acted against the etiquette.

Although Wei Qiufu wanted to help save Wei Yuejiao’s reputation, she naturally cared more about her own reputation. At this time, she followed Wei Yuewu’s example and stepped on Wei Yuejiao.

Wei Yuewu saw Wei Qiufu’s performance and sneered in her heart. Wei Qiufu still wanted to gang up with Wei Yuejiao and Concubine Dong to deal with her. With today’s incident, even if Concubine Dong would try her best to improve the relationship between Wei Yuejiao and Wei Qiufu, it would be difficult for the two of them to be as intimate as before.

She must deal with Concubine Dong and Wei Qiufu separately…

“Young ladies, please come to the side hall for an inquiry procedure!” After the initial shock upon hearing what Wei Yuejiao said, the eunuch announced.