Chapter 233

“That place… has long been deserted. There is nothing special about it that is worth seeing!” Wei Luowen said with a faint gaze, his expression cold and indifferent.

“Father, you are wrong. I think that courtyard is the best place to hold a memorial ceremony for my mother. No matter how well the eternal lantern is taken care of in the Plum Blossom Nunnery, my mother has never lived there before. Visiting the courtyard where my mother used to live when she was alive is a much better way to remember my mother.” Wei Yuewu said softly, her long butterfly-like eyelids flashing, her eyes slightly red.

Although she had thought of these words in advance, her words did sound reasonable.

Seeing Wei Yuewu’s sad appearance, Wei Luowen felt a little sad and he hesitated for a moment before saying, “But…”

“Father, you can take me to the Plum Blossom Nunnery after you feel better. However, I do hope to frequently visit the place where my mother used to live. If Father doesn’t want me to go there, then I will forget it.” Wei Yuewu lowered her head and her lips curled up in bitterness, but she was still trying to find an excuse for Wei Luowen. “Perhaps Father doesn’t want to disturb my mother!”

Seeing his daughter was so sensible and obedient, Wei Luowen felt sad no matter how well he could keep his self-control. He made up his mind and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go there with you!”

“Father, are you really willing to take me there?” Wei Yuewu raised her head in surprise, perfectly expressing her joy and excitement. “I knew Father would agree. I even specially asked Nanny Hong for the key and took a few maids with me to clean up the courtyard. It took us an entire day to do the cleaning.”

Wei Luowen suddenly recognized the meaning behind these words. His face darkened and he asked, “Didn’t anyone clean your mother’s yard?” He couldn’t help but get angry, his face looking harsh and ferocious.

He had been to Concubine Dong’s courtyard. The courtyard was quite clean, and it looked as if there had always been people living in it. There was not the slightest sign of desolation. He could tell at a glance that someone had been taking care of the courtyard.

Although he seldom went to see Rui’er’s courtyard, he had always instructed people to take care of it. Although Rui’er was no longer around, he hoped that one day, when he was no longer obsessed with the past, he would be able to see the courtyard in exactly the same shape as it looked like when Rui’er was still alive.

“Mother’s courtyard might have been left unattended for a long time. The dust in the house was very thick. Fortunately, there is no major damage. Mother has passed away for so many years, and her courtyard is still kept in such good conditions. It can be seen that the mansion has attached much importance to my mother.” Wei Yuewu’s face was filled with gratitude.

However, when this gratitude fell into Wei Luowen’s eyes, it was nothing but dense mockery.

Concubine Dong only came back to the mansion once a year, but her courtyard was still tidied up as if it was occupied. As for Rui’er’s courtyard, despite his instructions to keep it clean and tidy, it had fallen to such conditions that Yuewu had to personally clean it. This drastic difference made him feel a little annoyed at Concubine Dong while he was unhappy with the Madam Dowager at the same time.

She was merely a little concubine. Who gave her the right to step on Rui’er?

“Let’s go take a look!” Without hesitation, he stood up and strode out.

For so many years, he had indeed not been to Rui’er’s courtyard. On the one hand, he was afraid of the painful memories of the past once he saw the courtyard, and on the other hand, there was much inconvenience… But this could not be the reason why the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang abandoned Rui’er’s courtyard!

Wei Yuewu stretched out her hand and pulled at Wei Luowen’s sleeve. Then, she asked uneasily, “Father, should we ask my grandmother first?”

“No need!” Seeing Wei Yuewu’s expression, Wei Luowen became even angrier.

“But, Father, I don’t have the key. It is kept by Nanny Hong.” Wei Yuewu bit her lips in embarrassment.

“I’ll send someone to get it!” Wei Luowen turned around and signaled Wei Yuewu to follow him. Meanwhile, he instructed a lad servant to ask Nanny Hong for the key.

The lad servant received the order and hurried away.

“Father, how about waiting here for a while longer. Grandmother’s courtyard is a distance away from my courtyard. Why don’t we sit here for a while longer and wait for the key to arrive before we go?” Wei Yuewu suggested as she instructed Huamo to make a new cup of tea for Wei Luowen.

Thinking about the time it would take the lad servant to run back and forth between the Madam Dowager’s Tranquility Courtyard and Lotus Courtyard, Wei Luowen nodded and sat down again.

“Miss, I will immediately serve tea to Lord Marquis.” Hearing Wei Yuewu’s instructions, Huamo came out of the inner room and bowed respectfully to Wei Luowen. After that, she retreated. Not long after, she brought in a cup of fresh tea and placed it in front of Wei Luowen. Jin Ling put away the other cup of tea that was served to Wei Luowen earlier.

“Father, try the tea made by Huamo. It tastes good!” Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Luowen expectantly and smiled.

“Alright, I’ll try it!” Seeing her daughter’s expectant gaze, Wei Luowen took the tea that was still hot. He took a sip and tasted it. He praised, “Not bad, Yuewu’s maid makes good tea!”

“Thank you, Lord Marquis!” Huamo immediately bowed respectfully to Wei Luowen.

“When I was in my maternal grandparents’ mansion, I liked drinking tea. The tea Qin Ruo made at that time was also good… But… on the way to the capital, Qin Ruo sacrificed her life to save me…” Wei Yuewu choked slightly.

Her words reminded Wei Luowen that she had left home since childhood and had been raised in her maternal grandparents’ mansion. The maid called Qin Ruo should have served her since childhood and have an extraordinary relationship with her. Otherwise, the maid would not die for Wei Yuewu. When she thought of this maid now, she would naturally feel sad.

Wei Luowen changed the subject. He pointed at Huamo and said with a smile, “This maid of yours is also not bad, she is quite competent!”

“She is really not bad. Not only can she make tea, but she is also good at making embroidery. A few days ago, I saw a screen in Third Elder Sister’s courtyard and thought it looked good. When I came back, I drew a picture of the screen and asked Huamo to embroider it. When Father came here, she did not come out immediately because she was embroidering the screen.”

Wei Yuewu touched the corner of her eyes with her handkerchief and said with a smile.

“Screen?” Seeing that Wei Yuewu was no longer sad, Wei Luowen carried on the topic and asked as he put the tea on the table.

“Huamo, go and show your embroidery to my father.” Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Wei Yuewu turned around and smiled at Huamo.

Of course, Huamo was prepared. She turned around and entered the inner room. Soon, she took out an embroidered drawing whose outline could be roughly seen and presented it to Wei Yuewu. Then, Wei Yuewu unfolded it in front of Wei Luowen.

“Father, look at this picture. How do you like Huamo’s embroidery? I also applied a few needles myself, but it took a long time to embroider only a small piece. Huamo embroidered day and night, and even her eyes hurt. That is how she has been able to embroider such a picture.”

Actually, this picture had not been completed yet. It was only just beginning to take shape. Many details still required a lot of effort. It would at least take several times more effort to complete the whole embroidery.

Wei Luowen was actually not interested in this, but when he saw Wei Yuewu’s eager and wishful gaze, he unconsciously turned his gaze to the embroidered picture, and his expression immediately changed.

“Did you see this screen in Yuejiao’s courtyard?” Wei Luowen’s face darkened.

“That’s right. Before Third Elder Sister came back, this screen was already there. Grandmother told me to go check it with Fifth Elder Sister. We both thought it was very beautiful, so I deliberately drew a picture of it.” Wei Yuewu sighed. “I wondered where Concubine Dong and Third Elder Sister found such a beautiful screen. Who knows how long it would take to embroider such an exquisite screen?”

“Miss, I roughly estimated. Even if I could obtain extra help, it would take me at least two years to embroider that screen.” Huamo replied with a smile at the side.

“Two years? That’s a long time!” Wei Yuewu exclaimed.

“Yes, Miss. There are several scenes on the screen.” Huamo replied.

Wei Luowen abruptly stood up and said, “Yuewu, I suddenly remembered that there’s something else I have to do. I also need to order the kitchen to make some snacks that your mother liked and take them to worship your mother. Wait here. After I finish my work and the snacks are ready, I’ll take you to your mother’s courtyard.”

“Yes, Father!” Wei Yuewu nodded as if she really didn’t see the harsh look in Wei Luowen’s eyes. She respectfully saw Wei Luowen off at the gate of the courtyard. However, she didn’t immediately turn around. As she coldly watched Wei Luowen leaving, she fell into a deep thought. Well, it seemed that her father remembered her mother’s screen…

“Miss, is Lord Marquis really going to Third Young Lady’s courtyard?” Jin Ling and Huamo both came out with Wei Yuewu. At this time, Jin Ling looked in the direction for which Wei Luowen headed and asked uneasily.

“Yes, of course he is going there! He must go and see if I’m telling the truth. After all, she is his beloved daughter!” Wei Yuewu sneered. Well, he had said that he would listen to his daughter’s words, hadn’t he?

“Will the Third Young Lady deny having anything to do with the screen?” Huamo blinked and asked.

“Yes, she will!” Wei Yuewu sneered and turned around to walk into the courtyard. Of course, Wei Yuejiao would say this screen had nothing to do with her or Concubine Dong.

Huamo got anxious. She stamped her feet and turned around to catch up with Wei Yuewu and asked anxiously, “Then what should we do? Lord Marquis will definitely listen to the Third Young Lady.”

“Of course he will listen to the Third Young Lady, but facts speak louder than words.” Wei Yuewu said meaningfully. She had already thought of this point. Wei Yuejiao had grown up beside Wei Luowen and was doted by him. How could Wei Luowen easily believe her, a daughter who had been separated from him for years?

Therefore, her words were of course supported by a fact, and it was also a fact that Wei Yuejiao could not refute. No matter what Wei Yuejiao said, it would be in vain.

Of course, this evidence was also in Wei Yuejiao’s courtyard. Wei Luowen would understand everything at a glance, and there was no need for her to speak anything. Anyone with eyes would know the truth at a glance.

When Concubine Dong returned this time, she was determined to become the new Marquise Hua Yang. Well then, she would let her father see clearly what kind of a person Concubine Dong was! Concubine Dong was definitely not innocent regarding the screen…

Huamo didn’t understand at once, but seeing Wei Yuewu’s confident appearance, she felt that it wasn’t appropriate to ask further questions. She then looked at Jin Ling, who only gave her a meaningful smile before unhurriedly following Wei Yuewu into the room.

“What? Why is my father coming to my courtyard?” Wei Yuejiao really didn’t expect Wei Luowen to come at this time. She hurriedly went to welcome him at the door of the house. Before she could speak, a maid had already lifted the curtain and Wei Luowen walked in angrily with a cold face.

Without speaking anything, he landed his gaze on the screen that was placed by Wei Yuejiao on the side. His expression first turned cold, and then his entire face darkened. The veins on his forehead started to beat fiercely…