Chapter 170
Doctor Ming was definitely the key to finding out what happened back then.
Jin Ling nodded and left.
Wei Yuewu brought Huamo with her into the shop and picked gifts for Wei Luowu.
She had picked a jade paperweight that was in the shape of a tiger. This paperweight was very unique in terms of both style and carving skills, and the tiger was especially eye-catching and lifelike.
“I will take this one!” Wei Yuewu pointed at the jade paperweight in the cupboard and said smilingly.
“I will take this one, wrap it up for me!” Almost at the same time, another voice was heard.
Hearing this familiar voice, Wei Yuewu tilted her head and saw that the person beside her had also turned his head and his eyes flickered with surprise.
“Sixth Miss Wei?”
“Greetings, Your Heir-apparent!” Wei Yuewu bowed. She wore a veil and only revealed her eyes. But she didn’t expect this Heir-apparent of Duke of Lu to recognize her at a glance.
“Sixth Miss Wei also wants this paperweight?” Lu Yeli waved his hand as a signal for Wei Yuewu not to stand on ceremonies, and his gaze fell on Wei Yuewu’s eyes.
It was a pair of extremely beautiful eyes. A breeze blew into the shop and slightly raised the veil on her face, so that he saw the corners of her lips slightly pursed, revealing a charming and alluring aura that carried a mixture of elegance and childishness.
“Yes, my Second Uncle’s birthday is approaching. I want to buy this as a gift for him.” Wei Yuewu said generously.
“It seemed your uncle didn’t invite many guests. Isn’t him going to make his birthday a big show?” Lu Yeli leaned against the counter and the corners of his mouth hooked slightly. A faint smile actually appeared on his usually cold and handsome face.
The eunuch who followed him was stunned. He had never seen his master smiling so kindly towards a woman, although the smile was so faint that it could be taken as non-existent.
Furthermore, hadn’t the heir-apparent already been well-informed about this Second Master of the Wei Clan? He already knew that this Minister of Rites did not intend to make a big show, and he only invited some of his own relatives to his birthday banquet.
“Second Uncle has always been frugal. He doesn’t like to do things in an extravagant way. This time, he is going to celebrate his birthday in the same manner as in previous years.” Wei Yuewu explained softly. She leaned back and kept a proper distance from the Heir-apparent of Duke of Lu.
Wei Luowu’s birthday celebration was indeed very frugal. Almost every year at this time, he would hold a low-profile birthday banquet. This was also the time when many officials returned to the capital to report on their work, and Wei Luowen was also returning to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang at this time.
“I’m afraid your Second Uncle won’t be able to celebrate his birthday in the usual frugal manner!” Lu Yeli restrained the faint smile on his lips and said meaningfully.
“Excuse me…” The clerk at the counter held the jade paperweight in his hand and looked at the two of them and asked cautiously.
“Give it to Sixth Miss Wei!” Lu Yeli waved his hand.
The clerk heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to the side to pack up the jade paperweight. Huamo followed him to make the payment.
“Thank you, Your Heir-apparent. I will go first then!” Wei Yuewu also stood up and was ready to leave. This heir-apparent was also a dangerous person. It could be said that none of the heirs-apparent of the four powerful dukes who had come to the capital this time was simple. Wei Yuewu did not want to get close to any of them.
She didn’t like the feeling of being examined by others.
“Sixth Miss Wei, aren’t you going to pick some other gifts?” Lu Yeli raised his eyebrows.
“No, thank you, Your Heir-apparent.” Wei Yuewu refused. Then, she calmly bowed to Lu Yeli before turning around and heading towards Huamo.
Lu Yeli couldn’t help but land his gaze on Wei Yuewu. A moment ago, her pair of shining eyes seemed gentle, but they carried a bit of alienation and coldness, which made him even more interested in this mysterious Sixth Miss Wei. He heard that she was abandoned by her own father, Marquis Hua Yang since she was a kid and was raised up in her maternal grandparents’ house. This kind of bearing really didn’t seem to be something that a young lady from an ordinary small aristocratic family could possess.
According to the popular rumor, the daughter of Marquis Hua Yang was neither talented nor good-looking, so that she was disliked by her father Wei Luowen. Twenty years ago, Wei Luowen gave up so much for that Marquise Hua Yang. Was he really so cold and heartless towards the daughter of his beloved woman?
“Your Heir-apparent, do you want me to investigate her?” A guard silently approached Lu Yeli and asked in a low voice.
Seeing that Lu Yeli’s eyes were glued to Wei Yuewu’s back, the guard felt that this was a great opportunity to please his master.
“No need!” Lu Yeli shook his head. Whether Wei Luowen liked this daughter or not, it had nothing to do with him. “What are Yan Huaijing doing these days?”
In Lu Yeli’s eyes, Yan Huaijing was his true opponent.
“The Third Princess and the Fourth Prince have been to the Duke of Yan’s Mansion before. The Heir-apparent of Yan went to the gathering place of notable scholars in the capital alone and won the praise of those notable scholars. There was nothing unusual that needs special attention.” The guard reported in a low voice.
“A gathering place of notable scholars? When did it happen?” When it came to business, Lu Yeli’s face sank.
“It happened yesterday, Your Heir-apparent…” Seeing Lu Yeli’s expression becoming serious, the guard hurriedly explained. “Heir-apparent of Yan just went to take a look and talked to those famous and arrogant scholars. No one expected that those famous scholars would actually identify with the Heir-apparent of Yan.”
“What did Master Fenghe say?” Lu Yeli’s voice became gloomy.
“Master said…he said…” The guard looked around and saw that no one noticed them, and he moved closer and lowered his voice. “Master said that the lady held the universe in her hand and her fate was noble beyond description!”
What kind of woman held the universe in her hand and was noble beyond description? If there was any woman in this country who deserved this comment, she would definitely be the empress, or in other words, she was destined to become the next empress.
There were many ambitious people in this world, but there was only one woman who was noble beyond description!
“Did Master Fenghe mention the exact location of that woman?” Lu Yeli frowned and said coldly.
“He didn’t, but I heard that the other heirs-apparent brought some women over to see Master Fenghe. However, I heard that they didn’t find the right person. Until now, nobody knows who that mysterious woman is!” The guard resisted the chill on his back and hurriedly explained.
“Do not investigate this now.” Lu Yeli snorted coldly. Actually, he did not believe this story. He believed that Yan Huaijing didn’t buy this story either. A woman born to become the next empress? If there was such a woman in this country, Master Fenghe would have to keep that title for the Crown Prince no matter what. Master Fenghe had royal blood flowing in his body.
However, the rumor that there was a woman born to become the next empress had been spread out. This was more like a trap, a trap that caused everyone to become excited and eager for action!
There were quite a few people who were secretly searching for this heavenly woman.
“What about that thing?” Actually, Lu Yeli’s focus was not on the so-called woman who was noble beyond description. He had discovered a secret matter related to Master Fenghe. However, Master Fenghe was a member of the royal family and he must not act rashly and blindly. No one could guarantee that Master Fenghe had no secret guards around him.
Lu Yeli got the message that Prince Huaijun’s Mansion was still kept, and Prince Huaijun had not been removed from the royal family’s Renunciation Certificate.
“I did not find any contact between Master Fenghe and the nuns of the Plum Blossom Nunnery. Normally, there was only a deaf and mute old nun who took care of his daily life. He also lived in the courtyard of Plum Blossom Nunnery and never went out. When someone came looking for him, they also came directly to his courtyard, so that thing hasn’t been found yet!”
“Keep an eye on him. If any other nuns of the Plum Blossom Nunnery come over, you must keep an eye on them. That thing is most likely in the Plum Blossom Nunnery.” Lu Yeli said coldly, his eyes flashing with a trace of sharpness. No matter what, that thing was the key.
The guard’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. He nodded and said, “Yes, I understand. I will send someone to keep an eye on him.”
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
“Don’t get too close. Don’t attract the attention of others.” Lu Yeli instructed coldly.
“Yes, I understand!” The guard nodded and quietly retreated when he saw that he didn’t attract the attention of the surrounding people.
Wei Yuewu did not notice Lu Yeli’s movements. Her attention was currently focused on the jade paperweight in front of her, because jade paperweights existed in pairs.
A pair of similar jade paperweights could not attract her attention. She was attracted by the jade thumb ring hanging on another jade paperweight taken out by the clerk.
There was a jade thumb ring hanging on her chest, and this one in front of her actually looked somewhat similar to hers. How could she not be shocked…
“Miss, this pair of paperweights are actually a set. They were originally pawned here by someone. Previously, it was agreed that the owner would get them back in a month, but now, half a year has passed and no one has ever come. The boss took out one of them and put it in the counter. If there really is a guest who likes the paperweights, we will sell them!”
The clerk pushed the other paperweight to the front of Wei Yuewu.
This paperweight was also carved excellently and looked lifelike. One of the tiger’s claws was slightly raised. There was also a thumb ring on the slightly raised claw. It was not big, and it just happened to clasp onto the tiger’s claw. It was somewhat incongruous. However, because the thumb ring was carved from the entire piece of jade, it made people feel that it was not so discordant.
This thumb ring was very similar to the one hanging on Wei Yuewu’s chest.
Although it looked a bit smaller, it was basically of the exact shape as the one hanging on her chest.
She usually looked at this thumb ring when she was free, but if she couldn’t see that this thumb ring was exactly the same as her own.
“Will that person come again as ask for the jade paperweights?” Wei Yuewu asked with a smile.
The clerk shook his head affirmatively. “It’s impossible. If he really wanted them back, he would have come much earlier. Besides, he was the one who broke his promise, so we have the right to sell them.”
“I want this pair of paperweights. Wrap them up for me. However, if that person really comes to ask for them, you can ask him to come to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang to find me.” Wei Yuewu said leisurely.
“Our Miss is the Sixth Young Lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.” Huamo added at the right time from the side.
“Yes, yes, yes, I know. If that person comes looking for the paperweights, we will tell him.” Upon hearing that the girl in front of him was a young lady of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, the clerk became more and more flattering and kept nodding in agreement.
Wei Yuewu chose another jade pen holder and paid before leaving with Huamo.
“Uncle Li, let’s go to a big powder shop.” After getting into the carriage, Huamo instructed Old Li through the curtain for Wei Yuewu.
“Good!” Old Li replied. He raised the horse whip and drove the carriage to the largest powder shop on another street.