Chapter 156
She didn’t expect the Fourth Princess to explode so quickly.
But no matter what happened over there, she couldn’t be involved in her current situation.
“Yes!” Huamo replied. She supported Wei Yuewu and turned into another small path. Their courtyard was close to the back door, and the path they took was also less traveled and close to the wall that enclosed the courtyards. Besides, the direction in which the ladies hurriedly went led to the center of the Plum Blossom Nunnery, so it was basically impossible for them to meet anyone else.
After Wei Yuewu returned to the courtyard, she called Yan Feng out as well. After giving him a few instructions, she sent him and Jin Ling out together!
Since the Third Princess was so idle as to scheme against her, then she would also make an idle chess move…
Wei Yuewu freshened herself up with the help of Shufei and Huamo.
Her body had not recovered yet. Although the fever had subsided, she was still very weak. After eating dinner, it was getting late in the evening and she went to bed early.
“Miss, I am back.” As soon as her head landed on the pillow, she heard Jin Ling’s voice.
She opened her eyes and asked Shufei to help her sit up. Then, she put on a piece of clothes and asked, “Have the two princesses made a fuss?”
“Miss, you guessed correctly. However, it wasn’t the two princesses who started the fight. It was the two young ladies who accompanied the two princesses as their study mates. Nobody knows who stepped on whose clothes. Then, they quarreled at the entrance of the two princesses’ courtyards. Afterwards, other study mates also joined in the quarrel and they made such a fuss that even the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were alarmed.”
Jin Ling reported.
Wei Yuewu thought for a moment and a smile appeared on her face. Well, people who grew up in the Imperial Palace were indeed unusual. Even though the Fourth Princess had a violent temper, she also knew how to make trouble for the Third Princess in a roundabout manner.
So, the situation had developed into a group fight?
“How was the matter handled?” Wei Yuewu asked.
“When I went over, those young ladies were still quarreling. Two young ladies sat on the ground crying. Nobody knew if they were pushed down by others or fell to the ground by themselves. It was really a mess. The young ladies who were watching came over to persuade them and help them up. The Third Princess and the Fourth Princess both looked angry.”
“Later on, the Crown Prince asked the reason and scolded the study mates of the Third Princess. The Third Princess also ordered them to back to copy the female commandments and rules as a punishment.”
That meant the Third Princess had lost this time! She was caught off guard by the Fourth Princess.
“What about the situation now?” Wei Yuewu looked at the sky outside the window and pondered for a moment. She raised her head slightly and asked, “Is there anything else?”
At this time, the sky outside had already darkened, and Jin Ling had been away for some time.
Her idle chess move might have worked as well.
“Yes, another accident happened.” Jin Ling looked at Wei Yuewu with admiration and nodded her head repeatedly. “Speaking of which, the Third Princess’ study mates were the first to cause trouble. Since the Crown Prince had punished the Third Princess’ study mates, and the Third Princess herself also said that she would teach those ladies a lesson, the matter was settled. However, something unexpected happened: a palace maid who was badly beaten and had blood all over her body rushed out of the wing room in the Third Princess’ courtyard.”
Sure enough, her guess was correct. The Third Princess had always pretended to be amiable and magnanimous in front of others. How could she suffer such a hidden loss in Wei Qiufu’s matter?
Wei Yuewu took the cup of hot water from Huamo; she lowered her eyes and took a sip before asking casually, “The Third Princess has always been generous and kind to others. What was wrong with this palace maid who was beaten up?”
“That’s right. Everyone thought the same, so they were dumbfounded when they saw this palace maid. Moreover, many young ladies with keen eyes noticed that this palace maid was one of the servants of the Third Princess.” Jin Ling laughed when she remembered how the Third Princess’ face went from pale to blue at that time.
Jin Ling didn’t have any good impression of the Third Princess who had been plotting against her mistress. Seeing the Third Princess ended up in such a state, she naturally felt glad and took pleasure in her misfortune.
“How was this matter handled in the end?” Wei Yuewu also revealed a smile. She had asked Yan Feng to go to the Third Princess’ courtyard to investigate and to secretly release the palace maid who had been detained after finding her. This was just the right time to release the palace maid. People liked watching fun. The more fun, the more onlookers.
“The palace maid stumbled out and knelt in front of the Third Princess. She kept begging for mercy, saying that she really didn’t know anything. She begged the Third Princess to spare her life.” As long as she thought of the scene at that time, Jin Ling felt like laughing.
Her Miss indeed had wonderful foresight. Although she was not present, she landed the hypocritical Third Princess in such an awkward situation that she was unable to speak anything.
Wei Yuewu leaned back. She narrowed her eyes and slightly curled up the corners of her lips. This palace maid was also very smart. She knew that the Third Princess could not do anything to her in public.
“Did the Third Princess say that she wasn’t clear about this matter and then made someone else a scapegoat?” Wei Yuewu could imagine the Third Princess’ wronged gaze. Moreover, Wen Tianyao should also know about this matter.
“Yes. The Third Princess’ face alternated between green and pale, and then she cried. She acted as if she was wronged, saying that she knew nothing about this matter. After having someone call the nurse in charge to the scene, she found out that this matter was done by the nurse in charge without asking for her permission. The Crown Prince had someone beat up the nurse in charge and drove her down the mountain overnight, saying that she would never be hired.”
Jin Ling replied.
Wei Yuewu couldn’t help but laugh. That meant there was one less confidant beside the Third Princess!
This was no good news for the Third Princess…
Wei Yuewu recollected her thoughts. She leaned back, raised her hand and said, “Jin Ling, take Shufei and the others with you and tidy up our things. We should be able to go down the mountain and return to the mansion soon.”
“So soon? Aren’t we going to stay here for a period of time and enjoy the plum blossoms?” Jin Ling asked in astonishment. She had already inquired about it and was informed that they would be staying for another ten to fifteen days.
“No, we should be leaving in a couple of days!” Wei Yuewu shook her head. A number of incidents had occurred on the mountain. Now, even the Third Princess who had always appeared dignified and magnanimous in front of others was involved. What was the point of continuing this banquet?
Sure enough, at noon the next day, Wei Yuewu received news that everyone could return home at their own discretion.
When she received this news, the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess had already left the mountain with the Crown Prince, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince.
Wei Yuewu’s luggage had already been packed, so she immediately took her staff to get on their carriages and slowly drove down the mountain.
It felt so good to be able to avoid congestion by leaving before the other young ladies who were now confused and in a mess.
When Wei Yuewu went up the mountain, she brought a carriage with her. Later on, when the Madam Dowager sent some additional servants to her, the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang sent over two more small carriages, one for Wei Yuewu’s staff and the other for Wei Qiufu’s staff.
The parking lot was a large open space right outside the east gate of the Plum Blossom Nunnery and was almost fully occupied by carriages. Except for the members of the royal family who had already left, the other young ladies were still in a mess and weren’t ready to leave yet.
Seeing Wei Yuewu and the others coming out, the coachman immediately bowed respectfully. Wei Yuewu nodded and was about to board the carriage in front of her on Jin Ling’s arms.
“Sixth Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady was here a moment ago. When she saw me, she even asked when you would leave.” The coachman, Old Li, said from the side.
Wei Yuewu paused for a moment, but she still got into the carriage. Jin Ling also jumped into the carriage.
“When did that happen?” Wei Yuewu asked softly through the curtain.
“Just a moment ago. Fourth Young Lady said that she had something urgent to attend to, so she didn’t wait for you. She brought her staff to leave first and asked you to be quick and catch up with her.” Old Li scratched his head and answered confusedly. He was wondering what urgent thing the Fourth Young Lady could have. She seemed so anxious that she didn’t even wait for Sixth Young Lady, although he had clearly told her that Sixth Young Lady was coming out soon.
“Therefore, Fourth Elder Sister knew that I was going down the mountain very soon.” Wei Yuewu looked at the parking lot. Although there were many carriages in the parking lot, it was very quiet. Other than her party, there was no one else. A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.
“Yes, Fourth Young Lady asked twice.” Old Li didn’t know what Fourth Young Lady meant, but he still told everything to Wei Yuewu.
“Alright, let’s go down the mountain too!” Wei Yuewu nodded. Jin Ling put down the curtain of the carriage. Shufei and Huamo also boarded the small carriage with luggage. The coachmen raised their whips and the two carriages left the Plum Blossom Nunnery one after the other and drove down the mountain road.
The Plum Blossom Nunnery had been famous for a long time. There were quite a few people coming and going. This mountain road was well built and its surface was both smooth and spacious. There were few big curves along the way. The road was flat and even, and the carriages traveled neither too fast nor too slow. However, after quite a while, they still did not catch up with Wei Qiufu, nor did they see the back of Wei Qiufu’s carriage.
Even Jin Ling couldn’t help but be puzzled. “Miss, did Fourth Young Lady really have something so urgent that she went down the mountain in such a hurry? Could it be that the Madam Dowager had something urgent for Fourth Young Lady?”
“The Madam Dowager won’t have anything for her.” Wei Yuewu shook her head. Her gaze fell on the slightly raised curtain. Her expression was cold. Wei Qiufu seldom asked others questions casually, but she asked Old Li the same question twice. Was she confirming something? Besides, almost all the road they had traveled down the mountain was smooth.
Wei Yuewu paused for a moment, her eyes turning cold. “There should be a sharp bend down there. I remember that Imperial Academician Xie rushed down like this last time, right?”
At first, Jin Ling did not understand what Wei Yuewu was talking about, but when she figured out the implication, her eyes immediately widened.
“Imperial Academician Xie knows that bend, so does she!” Wei Yuewu rubbed her fingers carefully and said indifferently. “Tell the coachman to stop at the bend. Don’t drive past.”
“Yes, I know.” At this moment, Jin Ling understood the situation. She nodded her head repeatedly and lifted the curtain. She leaned out and gently said something to Old Li outside.
Old Li didn’t dare to take the instructions unheeded, and he started to drive more and more carefully.