Chapter 325

“Fourth Miss Wei, your maid is so rude. I’ll teach her a lesson for you, okay?” The Third Princess said with a smile. Her attitude was as gentle as ever.

The palace maid, who was standing next to the Third Princess, calmly withdrew her hand.

After being slapped, Ming Yan fell to the ground. She covered her face and sobbed, but she didn’t dare to make a sound. Meanwhile, Wei Qiufu was bowing at the side, but she froze in shock and looked at the Third Princess in disbelief, her mouth trembling. She never imagined that the gentle and soft-spoken Third Princess would take this opportunity to reprimand her.

“Y-Your Highness…” Wei Qiufu stammered.

“Fourth Miss Wei, do you think this is the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang? This is the imperial palace. You can’t just let your maid do whatever she wants. You should be thankful that you bumped into me. If you offend other princesses, it won’t end this well,” The Third Princess jeered leisurely.

“Y-Yes… I-I will teach her some manners,” Wei Qiufu lowered her head and stuttered.

“Alright, I’ll take my leave first. You can just send your maid to inform me if there’s anything. Don’t disturb Royal Brother. He has more important things to tend to as compared to the matters in the harem. Furthermore, you don’t have anything in connection with him even though you are from the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.”

The Third Princess asserted in a mocking tone.

Only Wei Qiufu and Wei Yuewu lived here. Wei Yuewu was still lying inside, and the Third Princess did not feel that there was a need to pretend herself when she was facing Wei Qiufu alone.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness!” Wei Qiufu lowered her head even more in fear when she heard the Third Princess’s hint and warning.

In the past, Wei Qiufu had communicated with the Third Princess, so she knew that the Third Princess was not as gentle as she appeared to be. Moreover, when it was time to strike, she was definitely more ruthless than the Fourth Princess. At this time, she could only swallow her frustration in aggrievance as she respectfully sent the Third Princess away. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As the Third Princess walked all the way to the door of Chu Xiu Palace, she didn’t return to her palace. Instead, she directly went to Jinxiu Palace where Zhaoyi Tu lived.

When the palace servants at the door of Jinxiu Palace saw the Third Princess, they hurriedly went forward to salute.

“Is my mother inside?” The Third Princess asked softly.

“Yes, she is, as well as Ninth Miss Tu,” the palace maid reported.

Ninth Miss Tu was Tu Yuzhen who was very close to Zhaoyi Tu.

“What a coincidence!” With a bright smile, the Third Princess walked in. The palace maid retreated to the side.

“Yuzhen, His Majesty has already stated his opinion, so now it is up to Marquis Hua Yang. Also, you are so much better as compared to the other side. So, if Marquis Hua Yang gets to know about you, you can rest assured that he’ll definitely choose you.” In the hall, Zhaoyi Tu smiled and said to the timid Tu Yuzhen.

They were discussing the marriage, which was a lady’s private matter. Even Tu Yuzhen, who was a little taller than ordinary women, was flushed and extremely shy.

“Mother, what if Marquis Hua Yang chooses no one?” The Third Princess came to the door and asked, then walked in.

“Die’er, why doesn’t he? The mansion of Marquis Hua Yang hasn’t had a lady of the house for so many years. He can’t keep on like this.” Zhaoyi Tu bleated, a light flashing in her eyes.

After understanding the meaning behind the Third Princess’ words, Tu Yuzhen suddenly raised her head, disregarding her shyness.

“Mother, you do know that Marquis Hua Yang has a concubine.” The Third Princess came over and bowed to Zhaoyi Tu, who nodded and gestured for her to sit down.

“Concubine Dong?” Zhaoyi Tu mouthed.

“Yes. I heard that she is quite scheming. She actually encouraged Madam Dowager of the mansion to burn down Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard,” the Third Princess satirized with a mocking tone. She did not believe the words of that geomancer at all.

“What do you mean?” Zhaoyi Tu did not understand for a moment, but she looked rather annoyed. Tu Yuzhen looked even more upset, but it was not her place to say anything.

“I heard that they hired a geomancer to look around the mansion, and he claimed that the deceased Marquise Hua Yang was a jinx, so they needed to burn down the courtyard where she lived or bad luck would come to the people in the mansion.” The Third Princess picked up the tea that the palace maid served and took a sip.

“Nonsense!” With an aggressive change of her expression, Zhaoyi Tu slammed the table and barked furiously.

“How could he say that a person who has been dead for so many years was a jinx?! If she were a jinx, everyone in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang would have died long ago!” Tu Yuzhen pinched her handkerchief in dismay.

Both of them were not naive. The reason why Marquis Hua Yang’s concubine did such a thing at this critical moment was that she was trying to influence Marquis Hua Yang’s thoughts.

This matter would discourage Marquis Hua Yang from thinking about marriage for the time being.

“Mother, what should we do now? Will Marquis Hua Yang be fine if they burn down Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard?” The Third Princess did not know Wei Luowen’s character, but she knew that he loved his deceased wife very much and had not married for so many years after her death.

“How can he be fine? If Concubine Dong burns the courtyard, I’m afraid that Marquis Hua Yang will not be in the mood to marry again for half a year!” Zhaoyi Tu snorted coldly. She had been on good terms with Marquise Hua Yang back then, so she knew how much Wei Luowen loved his wife.

Since Die’er’s marriage was in place, she couldn’t wait for half a year. Her hand gently stroked the corner of the table, and a fierce look flashed through her eyes. A small concubine actually dared to challenge her.

“Yuzhen, will you pay a visit to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang?” Zhaoyi Tu looked at Tu Yuzhen who was sitting at the side.

Although Tu Yuzhen was very anxious, she was caught unawares and blinked in confusion. “Your Highness…”

“I want you to bring some gifts to Madam Dowager on my behalf and tell her that I want to pay my respects to Marquise Hua Yang,” Zhaoyi Tu informed as an idea flashed in her mind.

“Mother, you’re not allowed to leave the Palace as you please, right?” The Third Princess asked in surprise. Once royal concubines and consorts entered the Palace, they could not leave the Palace at will unless they were granted by His Majesty, Empress, or Empress Dowager. This was a commonly known rule.

Therefore, the Third Princess could not believe Zhaoyi Tu’s remarks.

“I can’t, but you can, right?” Zhaoyi Tu exhorted confidently.

Her remarks expressed volumes, and the Third Princess’s eyes instantly lit up. “Yes, you’re right. You can’t leave the Palace, but I can, so I can go to pay respects on your behalf.”

Although the Third Princess was preoccupied these few days, she could make a trip to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang after the coming of age ceremony. Compared to the concubines in the harem, the princesses enjoyed more freedom in traveling, especially the Third Princess and Fourth Princess, since they might be able to marry into the land of dukes soon. They could choose a better husband if they interacted more with the heirs-apparent, their candidates.

“You can also have a chance to meet Marquis Hua Yang and try to leave a good impression on him,” Zhaoyi Tu looked at Tu Yuzhen with a smile and asserted. “Do you want to go?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you, Your Grace!” The shy Tu Yuzhen was different from ordinary girls since she had been practicing sword and knife since she was a child. She stood up and bowed deeply to Zhaoyi Tu, accepting her offer gracefully.

She liked that man, including the eye-catching scar on his face. Since the first time she met him at the fate of the city, she was mesmerized by his charming appearance and had firmly remembered him, Marquis Hua Yang, Wei Luowen!

“Miss, I have borrowed the book about the orchids. Please take a look!” Jin Ling hurriedly came from the outside and walked to Wei Yuewu’s bed. She took out a book from her arms and handed it to Wei Yuewu, who was reading a book by the bedside.

“Is there someone this time?” Wei Yuewu put down the book in her hand and asked with a smile. She had asked Jin Ling to borrow the book several times.

“Yes, she just happened to be there. The palace maid, who is in charge of the key, seemed to be very busy. She hurriedly gave the book to me and told me to be careful not to damage it. Then she left!” Jin Ling reported.

Wei Yuewu nodded and took the book from Jin Ling’s hand. It was an atlas of the orchids collection.

Or rather, it was an atlas of the orchids in Orchid Courtyard. Not only did it have a description, but it also had a marking at the side, which was easy to read and take notes.

Wei Yuewu casually flipped through it and pondered as she read it. She was amazed and surprised that Orchid Courtyard had so many varieties of orchids.

It included almost all the varieties of orchids she knew, and there were many varieties that she had never heard of.

Sure enough, the Palace had to specially build an Orchid Courtyard there. The orchids there should be the most complete.

She looked down and finally landed on the next picture. She carefully read the explanation below, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

It was Fallen Leaves Orchid, whose shape of leaves was only slightly curled on the branches of the leaves with a faint white color. The bright-colored flower bloomed in early spring, which was different from ordinary orchids. It was elegant and beautiful with a more vibrant color of the flowers.

There was almost no fragrance, but if it were placed together densely, it would produce a very light fragrance, which would make one dizzy if they smelled it for a long time.

Wei Yuewu’s gaze stopped on the page, and her eyes darkened. Was this the reason why Wei Qiufu had gone through so much trouble to go to Orchid Courtyard?

Or it was perhaps part of Wei Fengyao’s plot too. No wonder the orchids were placed in complete disorder as if the only purpose of such arrangement was to place the orchids densely…

With Wei Qiufu’s character, her most urgent target now should be the Crown Prince, Wen Tianyao. Even though she had suddenly fainted today, she had hurriedly made a trip to the Crown Prince Mansion in person. Wei Qiufu’s anxiety should have something to do with Wen Tianyao.

No wonder no one else had gone to Orchid Courtyard to admire the flowers. If the Orchid Courtyard belonged to the Crown Prince, the imperial concubines would not specially go to admire the flowers to avoid suspicion.

Only Wen Tianyao had the ability to set up such an Orchid Courtyard in the Crown Prince Mansion.

The main entrance of Orchid Courtyard was indeed leading toward the Crown Prince Mansion…

However, how did Wei Qiufu know that Wen Tianyao would come near these flowers to admire them?

“Miss, is this it?” Jin Ling came over to take a look when she saw that Wei Yuewu was fixed on that page, and she also recognized the flower.

“Yes, it is!” Wei Yuewu nodded. Her watery eyes flickered slightly under her long eyelashes, and she got up from the bed.

Jin Ling quickly took the outer clothing from the side and helped her get up.

Wei Yuewu walked to the window, opened the book in her hand, and placed it in front of the table. She took out a writing brush from the brush container, which was in front of the table. Jin Ling had already laid the paper on the table and produced the ink for her.

Wei Yuewu pondered for a moment. Then, she picked up the brush and began to draw according to the book. It was not difficult since she was copying the image from the book. It was just that in the last few strokes, Wei Yuewu thought about the real thing she saw in her memory and changed a few strokes.

After a while, Wei Yuewu finished drawing and put down the brush in her hand. She stood up and carefully examined it.

“Miss, why don’t you add the notes?” Jin Ling pointed to the lines of notes on the page in surprise.

“No need. It’s redundant,” Wei Yuewu raised her clear eyes and said leisurely. She could imitate the flowers, but she shouldn’t copy the notes.

“Sixth Young Lady, Sixth Young Lady…” There was a sudden knock on the door.