Chapter 352
Although they were all young ladies of aristocratic families, they were not as noble as the Masters in the Palace.
Wei Qiufu had also been very reserved these days. After the prayer, she basically locked herself in her room, only appearing in front of everyone unless necessary.
Tomorrow was the last day, which was the most important day of accompanying the Third Princess to pray. They heard that not only Zhaoyi Tu, but the Empress and even the Emperor would also attend the session on the last day. Therefore, it could be considered a grand ceremony.
Not only did the Third Princess have to dress up graciously, but even the young ladies of aristocratic families had to dress up beautifully. After that, there was a banquet. After the banquet, they could go out of the Palace and return to their respective home.
Therefore, after the prayer, Jin Ling had been choosing suitable clothes and ornaments for Wei Yuewu.
When Wei Yuewu entered the Palace, she brought many dresses. The most outstanding ones were the dresses that were made of special fabrics sent by Concubine Dong. She also had a dress that was sent by Madam Dowager. Wei Qiufu and Wei Yuewu each got a set.
“Miss, I think the dress that Madam Dowager prepared for you is the most appropriate. Concubine Dong’s dresses are quite shady and worrisome,” Jin Ling suggested to Wei Yuewu, who was sitting at the side, after looking at the dresses carefully.
“Okay. I’ll wear that one then.” Wei Yuewu nodded. Both of them were wary of the things Concubine Dong had prepared for her. Back then, Concubine Dong even used a trick to ask her father to tell Madam Dowager that she wanted to make a few more dresses for Wei Yuewu, but she did not bring any fabrics. It was obvious that she wanted Wei Yuewu to use those fabrics to make the dresses.
“Is Sixth Miss Wei here?” There was a sudden knock at the door, and Wei Yuewu motioned Jin Ling to open the door.
After Jin Ling opened the door, she was surprised to see Zhao Ruo’e standing at the door. Behind her, her maid was holding a dress.
“Is your Miss inside?” Zhao Ruo’e asked.
“Yes, she is. Miss Zhao, please come in!” Jin Ling turned aside and made way.
Zhao Ruo’e nodded and walked in. She squinted slightly after seeing the dresses on Wei Yuewu’s bed with those small but outstanding patterns.
Zhao Ruo’e could tell at a glance that these dresses were made of material similar to the material of her own dress. Her expression immediately eased up. In fact, she was skeptical about what Wei Yuewu had said that day.
“Don’t tell me you really want to wear these dresses?” Zhao Ruo’e walked over, picked up a set of clothes, and looked at it.
The patterns were definitely different, but the red flowers that appeared here and there were completely the same.
“Concubine Dong asked someone to make these. They’re not bad compared to the ones Grandmother carefully selected.” Wei Yuewu’s clear eyes showed a trace of a mocking smile. “I’m afraid that I would have picked these dresses today had it not been for what you said to me the other day.”
Although the dresses Madam Dowager picked were luxurious and elegant, the dresses Concubine Dong prepared suited the young girls more due to their colorful fabric and youthful patterns.
“Sixth Miss Wei, is that concubine from the Central Plains?” Zhao Ruo’e walked to the chair and sat down. She gestured for her maid to come forward and display the dress she had brought. It was indeed the said dress.
“I-I think so…” Wei Yuewu’s heart skipped a beat, but she did not show her excitement on her face. She shook her head and said, “She used to be my grandmother’s maid and was later married to my father. I think she is from Central Plains.”
“I see. Someone told me that she had never seen such a flower before. Perhaps, our country doesn’t have this kind of flower. I couldn’t figure out the origin of the flower, so I want to send this dress to the Third Princess,” Zhao Ruo’e said while tidying up her sleeves.
“Why did you send it to the Third Princess?” A trace of surprise appeared on Wei Yuewu’s face.
“I told the Third Princess about this in private before. The Third Princess asked me to bring it over for her to see,” Zhao Ruo’e sighed.
Her remark dawned upon Wei Yuewu. Supposedly, Zhao Ruo’e was scolded by the Empress just like Wei Qiufu. They couldn’t plead their cases to the Empress immediately, so they thought of the Third Princess and went to the latter instead.
However, was the Third Princess collecting the items one by one just out of curiosity or sympathy?
“How about you taking two of my dresses to the Third Princess too?” Wei Yuewu blinked and looked at her dresses.
Since both of them went to the Third Princess after being wronged, she could chase the tail end of the matter.
“Alright. Are you coming with me, or do you want me to bring them over for you?” Zhao Ruo’e came to Wei Yuewu today to find something to prove that what she said to the Third Princess was the truth.
Since Wei Yuewu had this intention, Zhao Ruo’e would definitely bring her dresses along. With Wei Yuewu’s dresses, she could prove to the Third Princess that she was innocent.
“Thank you, Miss Zhao, for the trouble.” By saying so, Wei Yuewu was letting Zhao Ruo’e bring her dresses to the Third Princess. She didn’t care about what Zhao Ruo’e would say to the Third Princess since Concubine Dong was the one with ill intentions.
Miss Tu from Zhaoyi Tu’s family wanted to marry Wei Yuewu’s father, so she definitely did not like Concubine Dong. Now that Wei Yuewu had something against Concubine Dong, there were some things that she did not need to personally do.
For Wei Yuewu, it was a good thing!
Sometimes, she did not have to have the evidence in her own hands. Someone else’s evidence might be more convincing than the one she had provided…
All the matters related to Concubine Dong. Thinking about what happened this time, Wei Yuewu sneered coldly. Concubine Dong’s scheme with the hairpin and the dresses was really vicious. Just looking at the hairpin alone irritated the Empress so much that she lost her composure. Wei Yuewu wondered how angry the Empress would be if she wore the dresses Concubine Dong had given her.
“I’ll help you take them to the Third Princess then. The concubine in your family must have bad intentions. Sixth Miss Wei, you have to be careful. The most vicious is a woman’s heart. This kind of woman is the evilest and most sinister,” Zhao Ruo’e reminded Wei Yuewu while asking her maid to take away two sets of dresses. She seemed to forget that she was also a woman.
“Thank you, Miss Zhao!” Wei Yuewu nodded.
After packing up the dresses, Zhao Ruo’e did not stay back for long. After pondering her options for a long time, she finally decided to spill the beans to the Third Princess, wanting the Third Princess to take her side and explain it to the Empress on her behalf. She wanted the Empress to know that the problematic dress was not made from her own fabric, but Wei Yuewu’s.
And Wei Yuewu had obtained the fabric from a concubine in her mansion.
Now that Zhao Ruo’e had this piece of solid evidence, she must present it to the Third Princess as soon as possible to prove her innocence.
“Sixth Younger Sister, what are you…” When Wei Yuewu sent Zhao Ruo’e to the door and was about to say something to thank her, she found Wei Qiufu was standing in the corridor near the door. When Wei Qiufu spotted Wei Yuewu, she quickly greeted her and looked at the dresses in Zhao Ruo’e’s maid’s hands.
“These dresses are Miss Zhao’s.” Wei Yuewu smiled faintly and directly interjected.
“These are my dresses,” Zhao Ruo’e immediately admitted as she did not want to complicate the matter. “I came to ask for Sixth Miss Wei’s help to pick out a dress for me to wear tomorrow.”
“So, they are Miss Zhao’s dresses!” Wei Qiufu’s eyes flashed slightly as she smiled.
“Sixth Miss Wei, I won’t be in your way. Enjoy your chat. I’ll take my leave first,” Zhao Ruo’e quickly took her leave and swaggered off with her maid under Wei Qiufu’s suspicious gaze.
“Sixth Younger Sister, those dresses are so beautiful!” After Zhao Ruo’e left, Wei Qiufu looked at Wei Yuewu with envy, and then changed the topic, “Which dress are you going to wear tomorrow?”
“I’ll wear the one that Grandmother prepared for me last time.” Wei Yuewu secretly looked at Wei Qiufu and found that Wei Qiufu was wearing the dress that Madam Dowager had given her before. In other words, she would not wear the same dress tomorrow.
“I don’t want to wear the dress Grandmother gave us!” Wei Qiufu swayed awkwardly and pointed at her own room. “Well, since you have helped Miss Zhao choose her dress, can you also help me choose which dress I should wear?”
“Fourth Elder Sister, did you bring many dresses into the Palace?” Wei Yuewu glanced at her and asked.
“No, but there are many now!” Wei Qiufu said with a slightly embarrassed expression. “Sixth Younger Sister, help me take a look!”
As Wei Qiufu spoke, she walked into her own room. A trace of hesitation flashed through Wei Yuewu’s eyes. Since Wei Qiufu did not bring many dresses into the Palace, they must be the rewards Crown Prince had given her not long ago. However, Wei Qiufu was waiting outside her room at this time. Wei Yuewu was certain that Wei Qiufu wanted to do something more than to show off.
“Sixth Younger Sister, come and help me take a look.” Wei Qiufu stood at the door and waved to Wei Yuewu as she felt that Wei Yuewu did not follow her.
Wei Yuewu looked at her coldly and walked over.
After entering the door and bypassing the screen, Wei Yuewu saw that Wei Qiufu’s bed was covered with dresses. Each set was extremely beautiful. Not only was it not worse than the ones Madam Dowager had prepared for them, but the color was vibrant and more suitable for young girls.
“Fourth Elder Sister, you brought so many dresses into the Palace.” Wei Yuewu lightly praised, but her indifference was apparent.
“Actually, I didn’t bring all of them. T-They were bestowed by the Crown Prince!” Wei Qiufu lowered her head shyly.
“The Crown Prince really thinks highly of you, Fourth Elder Sister,” Wei Yuewu said calmly.
“Actually… it’s not all about me. It’s mainly because of Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle.” Wei Qiufu said sincerely. “Sixth Younger Sister, sit down first. I have something to tell you.”
“What’s the matter, Fourth Elder Sister?” Wei Yuewu sat down on a chair and asked calmly. However, when she heard Wei Qiufu’s next question, her hands on her legs suddenly tightened, and her eyes turned cold!
“Sixth Younger Sister… Actually, I didn’t ask you to come here because of these dresses!” Wei Qiufu also sat down, looking as sincere as she could muster. “Do you know why Eldest Aunt is childless even after being married for so many years?”