Chapter 388
The painting was unfolded. It was a painting of a woman gracefully standing at the gate of the courtyard. The green scenery filled the gate, but they were no match for the woman’s sweet smile.
Wei Yuewu drew this painting herself, and the woman in the painting was her biological mother, Qin Xinrui. She once saw the portrait of her mother by chance in Wei Luowen’s study. After returning to her room, she drew a picture of her mother based on her memory.
In fact, if one looked closely, one would find that they did not look alike, but at first glance, they had some similarities.
This was the portrait that she intended and had promised to give to Wen Tianyao. However, she could not give this portrait away in person, so she had figured out another way…
Early in the morning, a carriage, which had been prepared beforehand, was parked in front of the mansion. Wei Luowen and Wei Yuewu got on the carriage and headed to the mansion of the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State along with a group of bodyguards in splendid uniforms.
With such an eye-catching demeanor, the massive convoy attracted the attention of the passers-by, causing them to guess whose carriage this was. After looking closer at the symbol on the carriage, they realized that it was the carriage of Marquis Hua Yang. Now, they wondered where the carriage was heading or if they were going somewhere to apprehend criminals.
Wei Yuewu stole a few glances at Wei Luowen, who brought so many people with them to Duke of Yan State Mansion, and giggled in amusement. She knew that by doing so, her father wanted to make it clear in public that Yan Huaijing and Wei Yuewu were not in any kind of relationship. That was why he brought her to thank Yan Huaijing with such great fanfare.
Yan Huaijing had already received the news about Wei Luowen’s overly presumptuous visit.
“There’s no need to open the front door to welcome them!” He put down the writing brush in his hand and smiled lazily. He was as handsome as ever and looked perfect from all angles.
“Really?” Lin Fang muttered in confusion. “But Marquis Hua Yang is a favored minister nowadays. Maybe it will do good to us by welcoming him warmly.”
“No need. He comes to thank me for saving his daughter, doesn’t he? So, he won’t be mad at me for not being courteous,” Yan Huaijing said indifferently. He got up and walked to the living room of the outer courtyard.
“Sixth Miss Wei is Marquis Hua Yang’s biological daughter, and I heard that he loves her very much!” Lin Fang jogged up to Yan Huaijing and reminded him with a smile.
Of course, he did not do this out of kindness, but simply out of curiosity and amusement. He could tell that his master treated Wei Yuewu differently, but Yan Huaijing seemed aloof and uninterested now that her father came to visit him in person. He didn’t know what Yan Huaijing was thinking about.
“Loves her very much? Do you call it love by abandoning her for decades?” Yan Huaijing gracefully turned his head to look at Lin Fang, whose face was full of curiosity. “How about you bring up this past when they’re here?”
“What?!” Lin Fang was taken aback. Then, he came to his senses and stammered while waving his hands, “N-No, Your Heir-apparent, I’m very busy!”
“How is the progress of the matter I asked you to do last time?” Yan Huaijing asked gently.
However, it made Lin Fang feel sheepish. “Your Heir-apparent… I… I’m actually very busy these days. I have to deal with the matters inside and outside of the mansion. Also, there are always people who want to spy on the young lady of the mansion. I… I have to keep an eye on her every day so that no one finds out about it!”
Of course, Lin Fang felt sheepish because he had not settled that matter yet after so long!
“Can you hurry up?” Yang Huaijing urged leisurely as if he didn’t hear the complaint in Lin Fang’s tone. “If you really can’t do it, you can go back to the country, lest you are too busy here.”
“No, please don’t send me back! I’m okay, I can do it! Actually, I have the strength and ability to help you. I’ve already delivered the message to my father about this matter, but their reply is a bit slow. It’s actually beyond my control.” Lin Fang patted his chest and avowed with a serious face, “Your Heir-apparent, I can do anything for you no matter how tired I am!”
What, the heir-apparent was not kidding, right? Did he really want to send him back at such a critical moment?
He was sensitive enough to sense that the heir-apparent was different from usual. He would miss the fun if he went back now! Therefore, he would not go back no matter what.
“Are you sure? It’s going to be very exhausted. Are you not afraid?” Yan Huaijing glanced at him.
“No, I’m not!” Lin Fang hurriedly shook his head.
“Alright then. When Marquis Hua Yang arrives, invite him in. I’ll be waiting for him in the living room in front! After that, don’t come over. Also, go and speed up the matter. If you don’t do it well…” Yan Huaijing raised his eyebrows and looked at Lin Fang with amusement.
“Alright…” Lin Fang grunted in disappointment, and his spirit immediately dissipated. So, the heir-apparent had no intention of letting him stay to watch the drama unfold. However, he felt guilty again when that matter was brought up. He planned to push this matter aside as he had been very busy these past two days. Now, it seemed that the heir-apparent had been paying close attention to this matter and could not allow it to be delayed for even a second.
In that case, he should increase his momentum and speed things up too!
Wei Luowen and Wei Yuewu were welcomed to the living room by Lin Fang. Just as they arrived at the door, they heard a laugh from inside. Yan Huaijing appeared at the door, dressed in a white brocade robe.
“Welcome to my humble mansion, Marquis Hua Yang! Your presence brings honor to my dwelling!”
The simple white brocade robe did not look simple at all on his body. It actually emphasized his good looks, tall figure, and extraordinary temperament.
His pair of enchanting eyes were gentle and calm. With a faint smile, he looked at Wei Luowen before turning to Wei Yuewu, and there seemed to be a flash of light in his eyes.
Wei Luowen was very unhappy that Yan Huaijing had rudely turned his eyes to his daughter. He snorted coldly and moved to block Yan Huaijing’s line of sight.
“You’re welcome, Your Heir-apparent. I’ve been wanting to bring Yuewu over to thank you, but I was too busy recently because of some personal affairs.”
“Marquis Hua Yang, you don’t have to be so polite. This way, please!” Yan Huaijing leisurely withdrew his gaze, not minding Wei Luowen’s obvious gesture. He retreated to the side with a faint smile.
With that, everyone walked in and took their seats. Wei Yuewu sat next to Wei Luowen and slightly lowered her head without saying anything.
Her father was the main cast today, and she was simply the walk-in.
“I heard that you saved Yuewu several times. I brought her here to express my gratitude to you as well as some gifts for you!” Wei Luowen gestured at the bodyguard beside him, who nodded and walked to the outside of the living room to nod to the few bodyguards. After that, the bodyguards walked in two by two carrying four boxes in.
Then, they lined up the boxes one by one in the living room and opened them.
There were all kinds of silk, gold, silver, and valuables that fit into four boxes. Wei Yuewu was mesmerized by the sight and her father’s generosity. These items were very expensive in total.
“Marquis Hua Yang, you…” Yan Huaijing looked up at Wei Luowen and asked leisurely, “Is this money worth as much as Sixth Miss Wei’s life?”
His question made Wei Yuewu blink in bewilderment, and the smile on her face became stiff.
Yan Huaijing looked extremely elegant and was suspected to be an immortal from heaven who had entered the mortal world, but his words were extremely sharp. In fact, his question was a direct hit to Wei Luowen.
Although these treasures were quite precious, one couldn’t say for sure how valuable they were compared with human life.
These items would be way too valuable if he was referring to someone whom Wei Luowen did not value.
But if the person was someone he cared for and loved, her life was worth much more than any item in the world.
Wei Luowen’s face twisted in a resentful grimace, and the hideous scars on his face seemed fierce and ruthless. Wei Luowen gritted his teeth and glared at Yan Huaijing. “What do you mean by that, Your Heir-apparent?”
The atmosphere in the living room became a bit heavy. It felt as if they were going to fight soon.
Yan Huaijing suddenly laughed. “Marquis Hua Yang, I’m just asking if you value Sixth Miss Wei. I heard that the assassination of Sixth Miss Wei on the way to the capital was premeditated. I wonder if you have discovered anything about this.”
These remarks made Wei Luowen change his expression slightly. He looked at Wei Yuewu and felt a little ashamed. He did investigate the matter, but his men couldn’t find anything. The only information they obtained was that Yan Huaijing and Mo Huating were both there at that time.
However, Mo Huating was going to pick up Yuewu, while Yan Huaijing was on the way to the capital. Therefore, it was hard to say which one of them was involved with this matter!
Previously, Wei Yuewu had told him that Mo Huating had something to do with this assassination, but no matter how he investigated this matter, he couldn’t find any traces or clues. Mo Huating was there to pick up Wei Yuewu in the first place. As for why Wei Yan’s maid was with Mo Huating, he deduced that the maid was there for some ulterior motives.
Otherwise, why would the person who had gone to pick up Yuewu join Mo Huating’s group, making Mo Huating have no choice but to bring her back to the capital?
He was working in the military. Only when he obtained any evidence could he determine that Mo Huating was guilty. Although he was a little suspicious, he couldn’t prove anything, and he was suspicious of Yan Huaijing too.
Why did he appear there so coincidentally? He heard that place wasn’t on his route to the capital. Why did he suddenly make a detour and change his route?
As he put two and two together, Wei Luowen suspected Mo Huating as much as he suspected Yan Huaijing. However, it was a fact that Yan Huaijing had saved Wei Yuewu. In fact, when Wei Yuewu fell from the high platform at Madam Dowager’s birthday banquet, it was also Yan Huaijing who grabbed her.
There were witnesses who saw these things with their own eyes. Therefore, Wei Luowen came to thank Yan Huaijing.
“No, I haven’t found anything yet, but I’m curious to know why you suddenly changed your route and went to that small town at that time.” Wei Luowen pondered for a moment, and then his eyes turned back to Yan Huaijing.
“Marquis Hua Yang, do you suspect me too?” Yan Huaijing cut to the chase with an enchanting smile on his face.
“Actually… I’m just curious about your schedule. How did you coincidentally appear at the place where Yuewu encountered an assassination?” Wei Luowen coughed dryly before answering due to Yan Huaijing’s obvious statement. Originally, there were some things that he wanted to say, but Yan Huaijing’s provocation made him unable to say them out loud.
Yan Huaijing laughed, his slender fingers lightly tapping on the table twice. Then, he raised his head and confided meaningfully, “Of course, I have a reason, and it is an important reason. Perhaps this matter has something to do with you, Marquis Hua Yang!”
“What do you mean?” Wei Luowen’s face tightened slightly.
Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Luowen’s somewhat nervous expression and then at Yan Huaijing who seemed to figure out everything. Her eyes were deep, and she clenched her hands, which were on her knees. Maybe this matter could solve her doubts.
“I heard that the place used to be the residence of a Prince…” Yan Huaijing stared at Wei Luowen and smiled slightly.
Before Yan Huaijing finished speaking, Wei Luowen suddenly stood up and slammed the table with one hand. The scar on his face looked particularly ferocious…