Chapter 112

“Madam Dowager, this letter is not from Wei….” Xie Qingzhao argued.

“I know that this letter is between you and Wei Yan!” The Madam Dowager unquestionably interrupted Xie Qingzhao to make Wei Yan the scapegoat.

Wei Yuewu knew that the Madam Dowager was shifting the blow from Wei Qiufu to Wei Yan by pushing all the blame onto Wei Yan. If there was anyone else in the mansion who would have correspondence with Xie Qingzhao, this person had to be Wei Yan under current circumstances.

In Wei Yan’s current situation, it was impossible for her to marry into a decent family. By doing this, the Madam Dowager had sort of arranged a marriage for Wei Yan.

This letter between Wei Qiufu and Xie Qingzhao could be leveraged by the Madam Dowager as an effective handle against Xie Qingzhao. That was why she had spoken so resolutely.

Xie Qingzhao was really going to explode. The veins on his forehead bulged out as he thought that he was going to form a couple with Wei Yan for no reason. However, when his eyes fell on the letter in the Madam Dowager’s hand, he was speechless. He was sure that the letter was written by him to Wei Qiufu, but he didn’t know why it had fallen into Wei Qiuju’s hands.

At this time, he regretted to the extreme. He suddenly realized how stupid it was for him to come to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang and help Wei Qiufu plot against Wei Yuewu. He had thought that Wei Yuewu was just a girl from the countryside, and that it wouldn’t be a problem for him to be malicious to her, because it was absolutely impossible for her to outwit him. However, he didn’t expect that things would end up like this.

His eyes involuntarily moved to Wei Yuewu on the side. Her facial features were amazingly exquisite. There was no smile on her face, only a faint and slight coldness. Sensing his gaze, Wei Yuewu raised her eyes. There were traces of coldness in the depths of her clear eyes that had long eyelashes.

Did he underestimate this girl or was it only a misunderstanding?

However, under these circumstances, Xie Qingzhao had no choice but to admit defeat. However, he had a bottom line in making his concession. After making up his mind, he took two steps forward and bowed deeply to the Madam Dowager. “Madam Dowager, since you’ve said so, I’ll take it. However, I’ve been engaged since childhood. I’m afraid I can’t take Second Young Lady as my wife.”

In order to protect Wei Qiufu, he had no choice but to concede.

Wei Yan could only be a concubine to him. Wei Yan was a first daughter of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Her identity as the daughter of the Minister of Rites and the younger sister of the wife of the heir-apparent of the Prince of Nan’an was enough to prevent people from having the heart to underestimate her. Ordinary aristocratic families, even if they offered her the position of wife in their families, would be deemed not good enough for her.

However, now, Wei Yan’s reputation was ruined!

Yet in such a situation, the Madam Dowager did not want Wei Yan to be a concubine. After all, Wei Yan was a first daughter of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. Therefore, the Madam Dowager’s brows furrowed tightly.

“She can’t be your wife?” Wei Yuewu said with surprise, as if she was shocked by Xie Qingzhao’s words.

“Then… does it mean that Second Elder Sister can only be a concubine?” Wei Qiuju whispered to echo the Madam Dowager.

“Grandmother, I don’t want to be his concubine. I didn’t write to him. There must be someone else in this mansion who didn’t observe the rules and wrote to a man from outside the mansion. Grandmother, believe me. It’s not me. Ask that person who wrote to him to stand out and let her be his concubine.” Hearing what the two of them had said, Wei Yan jumped to her feet and called out anxiously.

Although Xie Qingzhao was once regarded as an ideal candidate husband by many young ladies, he was never Wei Yan’s dish. Wei Yan favored those who were tall and powerful, like Mo Huating, rather than a weak scholar. The thought of being Xie Qingzhao’s concubine made her disregard the Madam Dowager’s reprimand and pushed her to jump out immediately.

“You impudent girl!” The Madam Dowager went furious. She slapped her hand on the table and harshly scolded Wei Yan. Her face darkened. There was no hope for Wei Yan anyway, but no outsider knew about the scandal concerning Wei Qiufu. Wei Qiufu could still marry into a powerful family in the future.

As for Xie Qingzhao, the Madam Dowager believed that the letter in her hand would stop Xie Qingzhao from spreading the scandal out for the sake of his reputation and dignity as an official.

“Grandmother, I really don’t want to be his concubine. If I have to be a concubine, I would rather be Marquis Jing Yuan’s concubine. Grandmother, please, I don’t want to be a concubine of this useless scholar.” At this moment, Wei Yan only thought that if she didn’t make it clear, she might be going to be Xie Qingzhao’s concubine. Therefore, how would she listen to the Madam Dowager’s words?

“Someone, send the Second Young Lady back and lock her up.” The Madam Dowager had made up her decision in her heart. After Wei Yan made such a fuss, she felt that she could not keep Wei Yan in the mansion any more. She could not allow Wei Yan to stay in the mansion and let her damage the mansion’s reputation, even if that meant Wei Yan was to be a concubine. Wei Yan was a first daughter of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, but she actually degraded herself so much as to say that she was willing to be a concubine.

Nanny Hong took two old maidservants over and pulled Wei Yan to leave. Wei Yan struggled and refused to go. “Grandmother, I am willing to be Marquis Jing Yuan’s concubine. Please help me!”

“Pull her away. Pull her away!” The Madam Dowager did not expect Wei Yan to say such words in front of Xie Qingzhao again and again. She trembled with anger.

Nanny Hong didn’t dare to hesitate any longer. She had the old maidservants drag Wei Yan out, who was still unwilling to leave.

“Madam Dowager, look, Second Young Lady is not willing to be my concubine. Let’s forget about it. As for the Fifth Young Lady’s incident, I can pretend that nothing happened at all.” Seeing Wei Yan making such a scene, Xie Qingzhao couldn’t help but reveal a hint of mockery on his face. Yet his words were quite flawless.

His eyes landed on the letter on the Madam Dowager’s desk to hint that both sides should make compromises. Thus, more hope rose to his eyes.

Wei Yuewu sneered as she watched from the side. Her fingers gently slid across the embroidered patterns on her sleeves. Xie Qingzhao was really naive. The Madam Dowager let him see Wei Yan’s ungraceful side. This meant that the Madam Dowager had made up her mind that Wei Yan must become Xie Qingzhao’s concubine no matter what.

Those emotional words said by Wei Yan even pushed the Madam Dowager to make up her mind.

“Alright, Wei Yan will be your concubine!” The Madam Dowager gave the final word.

Xie Qingzhao’s mocking expression froze. He had thought it would be difficult for Madam Dowager. Given Wei Yan’s status, he though the Madam Dowager would absolutely not agree to let Wei Yan be his concubine, even if Wei Yan was infamous now.

“Madam Dowager….”

“Imperial Academician Xie, you were a bangyan once. As a famous man of talent in the capital, you are quite learned and erudite. Maybe you will be a prime minister in the future. I believe you wouldn’t do anything despicable. As for what happened today, we won’t mention it anymore. Wei Yan will be sent to your mansion in a few days in a sedan chair. Imperial Academician Xie, it is best for you to go back today and make preparations.”

The Madam Dowager said with a serious face.

The threat hidden in those words was obvious. In other words, whether Xie Qingzhao agreed or not, the matter was decided.

Moreover, it implied that the Madam Dowager was driving Xie Qingzhao away.

After the Madam Dowager finished those words, she did not wait for Xie Qingzhao to reply. She said to Nanny Hong, “Let the servants in the mansion pack up Imperial Academician Xie’s luggage and send him out of the mansion.”

Nanny Hong received the order. She smilingly walked to Xie Qingzhao. “Lord Imperial Academician, please come this way with me.”

Xie Qingzhao had always considered himself talented. He was young and successful and had a handsome face. Wherever he went, he was highly praised. Never had he been treated like this. His face immediately blushed at this moment, and he felt embarrassed to say anything else. In this situation, he had no choice but to compromise. He cupped his hands at the Madam Dowager, turned around and left with Nanny Hong.

After Xie Qingzhao left, Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Qiuju with her watery eyes. Wei Qiuju understood immediately that she should go up at this time. She addressed the Madam Dowager in an aggrieved tone, “Grandmother, I….”

“Alright, I know that there must be someone in this mansion who wants to hurt the two of you. Last time, it was you and this time, it’s Yuewu. I will give you an explanation later. As for your marriage, don’t worry. I will definitely find you a better one. As young ladies of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, all of you can marry into a good family and be a wife as long as you act in line with a young lady’s etiquette.”

These assuring words of the Madam Dowager could be considered a promise to Wei Qiuju.

After going out of the Madam Dowager’s courtyard, Wei Qiuju was still a little worried. She followed Wei Yuewu for a few steps and asked in a low voice, “Sixth Younger Sister, this… will Second Elder Sister’s maid Shuiyue say that it was my maid who took the clothes?”

“Fifth Elder Sister, has your maid ever been to Second Elder Sister’s place?” Wei Yuewu raised her eyebrows, looking at Wei Qiuju and smiling faintly.

Wei Qiuju was choked by Wei Yuewu’s words. Yet when she thought about it carefully, she found Wei Yuewu was indeed right. As long as Yueya insisted that she had never been there before, what could Wei Yan do to her?

Both of them were maids. Would Wei Yan’s maid be more credible than her maid?

The situation now was different from the past. Wei Yan was no longer the proud first daughter for the entire mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.

Wei Qiuju was completely relieved now. However, in the next moment, her expression froze because of Wei Yuewu’s subsequent words.

“However, Second Aunt will trust Second Elder Sister’s maid more.”

“Then… what should I do?” Sweat appeared on Wei Qiuju’s forehead. She had thought of the possibility of Wei Yan blaming her for this matter. She thought of betraying Wei Yuewu if things went bad for her. In that way, she could make Wei Yuewu and Wei Yan fight each other and she herself would just stand by and watch.

Maybe some pleasant surprise would even arise.

However, she had never thought there was still Lady Li, who was shrewd enough to discover that she had secretly played a role. When she thought about this, Wei Qiuju immediately became uneasy.

Wei Yuewu stopped and looked at Wei Qiuju, whose face was frozen. She turned the conversation to another course and said, “Fifth Elder Sister, Second Aunt is locked up by grandmother and Second Uncle. But who knows if Second Aunt will be released after Second Elder Sister is sent to Imperial Academician Xie’s mansion?”

For Wei Qiuju who did not know why Lady Li was locked up, that was almost as sure as a gun. Lady Li was held in confinement because she wanted to accompany Wei Yan. When Wei Yan was sent away, how would Lady Li continue to stay in that courtyard?

Wei Qiuju felt that Wei Yuewu’s stunningly beautiful eyes were like quiet ancient wells. Her heart trembled as she looked into them!