Chapter 424: Chapter 424: It’s No Longer Possible to Keep Her Out_1
“The young miss and her party were robbed by bandits while passing through Xuzhou Prefecture. Their luggage was looted, and the young master’s life was almost lost. However, everyone was safe in the end, and there were no injuries,” Xiaobei replied.
“I understand.” Upon hearing no one was injured, the killing intent flashed in Wei Jinyi’s eyes immediately disappeared.
Xiaobei hesitated for a moment before proactively asking, “Master, what about the marriage proposal that the Loyal and Righteous Duke Duke Residence arranged for the young miss? In a couple of days, the Xuanping Marquis Residence will officially propose the marriage to the Duke Residence. The Marquis Xuanping is not only old, but he has also lost two wives and is a supporter of the sixth prince. How can they arrange such a marriage for young miss?”
The depths of Wei Jinyi’s eyes were profound. He did not want her to get involved in these affairs, but it seemed to be inevitable now.
The Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence has already chosen to stand by the sixth prince. As a daughter of the Duke Residence, even if she got married, she could not escape this relationship.
If the Duke Residence were to overstep in the future, she would still be implicated.
“Summon Ke Chongshan and Lin Fang,” said Wei Jinyi.
“Yes.”
Not long after Xiaobei left, Ke Chongshan and his wife Lin Fang arrived in the courtyard…
###
On the other side, Wei Mingyong was pulled back into the room by Bai Family’s Madam, who asked him curiously after the door closed.
“What’s going on? Didn’t you just tell me that our niece is an obstinate, unsophisticated country girl with a bad temper and little knowledge? I was waiting to see the drama between her and the third wife today. Why does it not match what you told me at all?”
“I’m also puzzled. She gave me a hard time on the way here. She relied on herself for having some silver and plenty of supplies. She showed me her displeasure when we were in danger!”
Wei Mingyong became upset thinking about what happened on the road.
That stinky girl, daring to treat him like that, was not simply an issue of disrespect to her elder. It was a sheer insult to him!
“Don’t mention the money anymore. You said before we went to Taizhou prefecture that you would certainly open up the trade channels in the Jiangzhe Region. But in the end? You didn’t earn a penny, and even the silver you brought with you was all lost!”
Wei Mingyong’s face showed embarrassment. “Indeed, it was my mistake. I did not expect the situation in the Jiangzhe Region to be so terrible, and it would be so hard to do business. But not all my money was lost due to business failure. I gave five hundred taels of silver to Qingwan.”
“Why would you give her so much silver? That’s five hundred taels of silver! Have you gone mad?”
“Of course, I haven’t gone mad. Wanwan will become a concubine of the sixth prince! Future honor and wealth are immeasurable. If we lend her some silver now, the return she can bring us in the future will be far beyond these five hundred taels.”
“It seems like you’re making some sense… But she’s only a concubine, the principal wife is still the daughter of the Qi Family, can she compete with that?”
“If in a regular household, the concubine naturally couldn’t compete with the principal wife. But this is the royal family. The sixth prince is the person with the highest chance of becoming the crown prince. If the concubine is favored, nothing is impossible.”
Bai’s Madam did not cheer up upon hearing this, but showed a worried expression instead.
“Before, it was true that the sixth prince was the one with the highest chance to become the crown prince, but the situation has changed now with the emergence of the ninth prince,” Madam Bai said.
“Isn’t the ninth prince just a sickly individual? He can’t even walk properly and faints easily. Are you scared that he could compete for the position of the crown prince?” Wei Mingyong questioned dismissively.
“The health of the ninth prince is indeed poor, but he truly has the Emperor’s favor. On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the sixth and seventh princes were granted titles, and the ninth prince nearly fainted. The Emperor left before the ceremony was even completed,” Bai’s Madam expressed her worries.
They were betting on the sixth prince. If anything went wrong, it would be a significant loss for them.
“There’s no need to worry incessantly. Even if the ninth prince suddenly shows up in sturdy health, he still lacks any foundation. He doesn’t stand a chance in court.”
“That seems right.”
###
Wei Minghong returned home with a troubled heart.
“The third brother’s household is really something now. One son became a scholar, and two daughters are engaged in high-ranking marriages. If this continues, I’m afraid the person who inherits the title might become the third brother!”
Unlike his honest demeanor just now, Wei Minghong appeared calculating and unkind at the moment.
Madam Mo advised in a low soothing voice, “My Lord, don’t worry too much. The achievements of the third brother’s house is a good thing, proving that the Wei family’s revival is hopeful.”
Wei Minghong reprimanded angrily, “What do you know as a woman? The achievements are all from the third room! What does it have to do with us? Didn’t you see the attitude of the old master to the third room today? Do you want me to live at the mercy of their whim?”
“I meant something else…”
“Humph!” Wei Minghong huffed, and then scolded, “All blame yourself for being useless and birthing sons who are each more useless than the last!”
The rebuked Madam Mo dared not buzz, silently bowing her head.
Tiring of scolding after a couple of words and seeing Madam Mo not reacting, Wei Minghong felt it pointless and left the room, intending to stay the night at his concubine’s again.
###
After leaving the Shou’an Hall, Wei Ruo was led back to the Changchun Garden by Mingzhu, the maid assigned to her by the old Duke.
Early the next morning, just after Wei Ruo got up, Mingzhu came.
“Young Miss, from now on, I will be your personal maid. My name is Mingzhu. If you have any questions, you can ask me, and if you need something done, you can tell me in advance, to avoid misunderstandings and an awkward scene. The Capital City has a lot more rules than the remote small towns.”
“There’s no need for this. I already have a maid that I am accustomed to. I do not wish to change maids,” Wei Ruo said.
“Young Miss, I was sent by the Old Duke and Madam to specifically teach you the rules of Capital City and help you prepare the dowry. Please do not let the Old Duke and Madam’s expectations down.”
Mingzhu used the names of the Old Duke and Madam as leverage.
She then ordered Xiumei to do work, “The not very valuable items that you all brought back from Taizhou Prefecture do not need to be brought in. There is simply not enough room to put them in the mansion.”
Xiumei, of course, would not listen to her. Standing by Wei Ruo’s side, she showed no intention of moving.
Wei Ruo asked Mingzhu: “Who told you the object I brought back are worthless?”
“I’ve already heard from the servants who helped Young Miss load the luggage say that Young Miss brought back many old jars. Is the young miss trying to say that those old jars are valuable?”
“I am the miss, and you are the maid, I am the master, and you are the servant. Whether the item is valuable or not, I have the final say. What right do you have to talk back to me?” Wei Ruo asked.