Chapter 417

Chapter 417 Inquest, Dilemma

“The gift…” Nanny Hong was taken aback for a moment. Then, she instantly came to her senses and chuckled. “You’re right. I need to ask them why they delivered the other young ladies’ gifts so late!”

Nanny Hong assumed that Wei Yuewu had expressed her agreement, so Madam Dowager could rest assured. As for the other young ladies in the first branch, Madam Dowager had always been circumspect and discreet because she did not want anything unexpected to happen in case she absent-mindedly made a mistake.

It was great news now that Wei Yuewu expressed her interest in the Fourth Prince.

Wei Yuewu was shy, so she came up with an excuse to ask the Fourth Prince about the gifts for other sisters. Nanny Hong took it as an obvious hint that Wei Yuewu took a fancy to the Fourth Prince.

Nanny Hong decided to inform Madam Dowager about this later and ask her to invite the Fourth Prince to appear at Prince Nan’an Mansion tomorrow. It was also a good opportunity to observe the Fourth Prince’s reaction. If the Fourth Prince was as enthusiastic as Marquis Jing Yuan, he would come over no matter how busy he was. If he wasn’t enthusiastic about this arrangement, Madam Dowager would have to reconsider this matter.

With this thought in mind, Nanny Hong said a few more words and left with a smile.

“M-Miss, is everything okay?” Seeing Nanny Hong leave, Shufei immediately asked worriedly.

The palace flowers on the table were shining flamboyantly, creating a beautiful sight. The flowers were of different colors and shapes, and some tiny gold ornaments and pearls decorated the bouquet. It was mesmerizingly breathtaking. However, Wei Yuewu looked at the fascinating flowers with a calm gaze and a light smile on her lips.

The other day, Mo Huating came for the Fourth Prince.

“They must be scheming against me, but it’s just as well the Fourth Prince will be there tomorrow. If I want to get away, Madam Dowager and Wei Fengyao won’t be able to say anything to stop me!”

Wei Yuewu was certain that there was something going on since Mo Huating was a part of this matter now. If the Fourth Prince really took a fancy to her, he did not have to be secretive about it. He could go to the Empress to express his interest in her. If the Empress respect Marquis Hua Yang, she would invite Madam Dowager into the palace to discuss the matter.

If the discussion went well, the palace could directly issue an imperial decree. All the Fourth Prince needed to do was express his interest in her to the Empress. He did not even need to go through the trouble and ask Mo Huating to come here and convey his message in private.

“What should we do then?” Shufei was shocked.

“Don’t worry. Put these away first!” The other day, Wei Yuewu saw clearly that Mo Huating came with only one lad servant, and they came empty-handed. Hence, these so-called gifts from the Fourth Prince must be something that Madam Dowager had obtained from the palace. Madam Dowager gave these gifts to her in the name of the Fourth Prince to observe her reaction and response after receiving the gifts.

Just now, Wei Yuewu told Nanny Hong that she wanted to ask the Fourth Prince about the gifts for other sisters with the sole intention of wanting to see the Fourth Prince in Prince Nan’an Mansion.

Tomorrow, a thrilling drama would unfold in Prince Nan’an Mansion. Wei Fengyao, Wei Yuejiao, the Fourth Prince, and even Madam Dowager would gather there tomorrow, each with their own hidden agenda against her.

Wei Yuewu picked up the writing brush again, lowered her head, and wrote something on the paper. Then, she asked Shufei, who walked into the room, “Have you prepared the things for tomorrow?”

“Yes, Miss. Don’t worry, I’ve prepared everything.” Shufei nodded keenly and looked at Wei Yuewu with pride. Despite Madam Dowager’s endless schemes, Wei Yuewu dealt with the problem by remaining calm and composed. She was certain that Wei Yuewu could destroy Madam Dowager’s trap ultimately.

Shufei didn’t expect that Madam Dowager, who looked so dignified, would actually do such heinous things. She actually ganged up with Concubine Dong to embezzle the deceased marquise’s dowry. How abominable!

Wei Yuewu looked up at the several accounting books placed by the window and curled up her lips slightly…

“Later, go to the kitchen, prepare some pastries, and keep them warm. Ask the maids at the door to keep a close eye on my father. If he comes back, report to me immediately!”

“Why did you do this?” Wei Luowen looked at the person in front of him coldly and asked angrily. He slammed the medicine bottle on the table heavily. The table even shook because he exerted too much force.

The nun took the medicine bottle and took a look under the sunlight. “W-Was this custom-made in the palace?” She asked in a low voice.

“Yes, it was, but I didn’t know why it ended up in Rui’er’s possession and what kind of medicine was in it! Rui’er had always been healthy. Was it because of the medicine that made her weak day by day?” Wei Luowen glared at the person in front of him aggressively.

“I have no idea, but I can tell you that this matter has nothing to do with me!” The nun shook her head decisively.

“You have no idea? Who else knew about this if you didn’t?! Are you trying to tell me that the Empress gave her the medicine? Even if it was true, Rui’er would not take the medicine casually!” Wei Luowen roared fiercely, and his body trembled in rage.

The pain in his eyes seemed to materialize as he glared at the person in front of him hatefully.

“Well, you know that I won’t do such a thing. I’ve actually been doing it for your good!” The nun sighed with a bitter expression on her face.

“My good? I don’t think so. He wouldn’t either, I suppose. What happened between us was a true tragedy. Rui’er was innocent. My matter had nothing to do with her. I’d implicated her, and she died because of me!” Wei Luowen’s face was ashen, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

“I know, so I wouldn’t hurt her, although she didn’t like me…” The nun lowered her head and murmured.

“Like you? Haha, that’s so funny. Do you think I can decide my current life by just liking her? If I could, I would have ditched such a life immediately. I would have taken Rui’er and left forever. I don’t want to be in your fights at all.”

Wei Luowen gritted his teeth.

“No matter what, I didn’t do anything to her. I didn’t give this medicine bottle to her! Even though I didn’t like her, she did nothing wrong. You know that I have always protected your lineage!” The nun raised her head. Her eyes were filled with pain, but her expression was stern.

“So, you didn’t…” Wei Luowen slowly calmed down.

“It wasn’t me!” The nun shook her head with certainty.

“Who else could it be? Would Rui’er have taken the Empress’…?” Wei Luowen snapped.

“No, it shouldn’t be the Empress’ either. Qin Xinrui wouldn’t want the Empress’ food, nor would she eat it. I’m afraid that it was given to her by someone close to her!” The nun shook her head.

Someone close to her? Wei Luowen’s face darkened. Rui’er did not have many close friends. He noticed that she only had a few close friends after she entered the capital.

Zhaoyi Tu? Assistant Minister Yang’s wife? Marquise Jing Yuan?

Two of these three people were dead. Was it Zhaoyi Tu? But why did she do this? He didn’t have much contact with her. She was Rui’er’s friend even before Rui’er married him. They met by chance and became best friends, so he had nothing to do with their friendship.

“It really wasn’t you?” Wei Luowen glanced sideways and asked.

“No! It definitely wasn’t me!” The nun shook her head again.

After saying this, Wei Luowen fell silent. He believed the nun’s words. She was still a proud and arrogant person despite her current look.

But Wei Luowen could not think of another person if it wasn’t her. Of course, he doubted Concubine Dong, but Concubine Dong was just a maid in the mansion at that time. He did not believe that she could get such a medicine bottle.

On the way back to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, Wei Luowen had been thinking about this problem.

When he returned to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, the lights in the mansion had already been lit. Along the way, all the servants he met on the road bowed to him. He hurried forward without looking at them.

Then, Wei Yuewu suddenly appeared from the corner of the study’s door.

“Father,” Wei Yuewu bowed and greeted him softly. Wei Luowen looked at her and then at the maid behind her, who was carrying a food basket. He recognized the maid. She was Wei Yuewu’s personal maid.

The wind on a winter night was very strong. Wei Yuewu looked so fragile and thin as if the wind would take her away with it. Wei Luowen’s gaze softened a little. “Yuewu, why are you here at this time?”

“The chef made some pastries. They are very delicious. Then, I heard that you returned to the mansion, so I specially brought them here for you to try,” Wei Yuewu said softly.

“It’s cold outside. Come in and talk!” Wei Luowen nodded and pointed to the room where the lights had been turned on. Then he turned around and strode inside.

“Yes, father,” Wei Yuewu answered and followed behind.

In the study, the lad servant poured two cups of tea. Wei Yuewu took the food basket from Shufei, took out a few plates of delicate pastries, and placed them on Wei Luowen’s desk one by one.

“Father, please have some.”

Under the warm light, Wei Luowen watched as Wei Yuewu served him tea and pastries, and he felt a lump in his throat all of a sudden. It was the warmth that he had not felt for a long time. Only Rui’er could give this kind of warmth to him. It was during the time when they got married. But later, Rui’er slowly became wary of him and distanced herself from him…

He picked up a piece of the pastry and took a few bites before putting it down.

“Father, are you done? The pastries are very delicious, right? I’d never eaten such delicious pastries when I was at my maternal grandparents’ place. Oh, and the palace flowers too! Today, Grandmother gave me a box of palace flowers! I was the only one who got them!” Wei Yuewu beamed, and a childish and pure smile appeared on her face. She sounded like what she said was just a casual remark.

“She gave the palace flowers only to you? Where did they come from?” Wei Luowen frowned and raised his head.

“She said they were a gift from the Fourth Prince. His Highness gave me a very beautiful box of palace flowers. I wonder why the Fourth Prince gave the flowers to me.” Wei Yuewu casually served Wei Luowen another piece of pastry. “Father, try this. This is also very delicious.”

However, Wei Luowen pushed away the pastry in front of him and asked with a serious face, “Yuewu, do you know the Fourth Prince well?”

“No. I only met him a few times. I talked to him when we met in Prince Nan’an Mansion, and then we talked briefly when we met in the palace too.” Wei Yuewu smiled gently. “Well, it’s not a big deal, but I wasn’t sure if I should accept the flowers or not.”

“Where are the flowers now?” Wei Luowen’s face turned stern.

“They are in my room,” Wei Yuewu blinked her watery eyes and said.

“Send them to me later!” Wei Luowen ordered decisively. He didn’t want his daughter to marry any prince right now. Neither Yuejiao nor Yuewu should marry into the imperial family. No matter whose idea it was, he would make them get rid of this idea.

But he couldn’t figure out what the Fourth Prince was thinking about. Why was he suddenly so interested in Yuewu, so much so that he sent gifts over? How could a prince decide on his own marriage so easily? Only the one who went through the official marriage procedure would be his official and legitimate wife, yet the ones who secretly hooked up with him would become his concubines. Was the Fourth Prince trying to take Yuewu as his concubine?

“Okay,” Wei Yuewu answered softly. Then, she hesitated for a moment before saying, “I heard that the Fourth Prince will also go to Prince Nan’an Mansion tomorrow.”