Chapter 39 - A Special Bolt of Cloth (1/2)

Chapter 39 A Special Bolt of Cloth

“I want these bolts of cloth.”

Wei Yuewu calmly skipped over the bolt that the old maidservant had brought over to her. Instead, she chose a few other bolts of cloth that didn’t stand out from the rest.

She picked pink and green colors just like average girls. These colors looked very jubilant and thus were suitable for wearing during the spring festival. There were patterns of dancing butterflies on the pink bolt, patterns of peach blossoms on the light green bolt, and patterns of lotus flowers on the cyan bolt…

“Sixth Young Lady, the ones you picked are not as beautiful as that one.”

The old maidservant looked at the bolts Wei Yuewu had picked. She pushed the previous one over and suggested with a smile.

Judging from the overall appearance, it was true that the one that the old maidservant had brought out was far more eye-catching. Whoever wore it would definitely look exceptionally beautiful. There would be many banquets during the spring festival. Considering that these occasions might have positive bearings on their future marriage, which girl didn’t want to stand out at these banquets?

Wasn’t it natural for girls at thirteen or fourteen to hope that a suitable marriage could be arranged for them after they attended these banquets? Therefore, it was of utmost importance for them to pick a beautiful dress.

“These bolts are fine.”

Wei Yuewu shook her head. She said so as she pointed at the bolts she had chosen.

The old maidservant could say no more but bring the ruler over.

She had intended to continue her persuasion. However, after seeing Wei Yuewu’s displeased expression, she shut her mouth consciously.

It was said that this sixth young lady was not someone to be trifled with. Two days ago, even the Second Lady and the Second Young Lady had been scolded because of her. What was more perplexing was that the most favored Second Young Lady was even grounded after that?

It was also said that the Madam Dowager had called in the Second Lady and the Second Master and severely censured them.

This kind of thing had never happened in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. All servants in the mansion were thrown into astonishment. Consequently, no servant dared to be disrespectful to this newly-arrived Sixth Young Lady.

The old maidservant from the sewing room behaved herself and took the measurements, noted the numbers down and respectfully retreated.

“Shufei, go and see where they are going next.”

Looking at the fluttering curtain, Wei Yuewu drooped her eyes. She said coolly as she carefully used the lid of the teacup to scatter the tea foam.

She had picked Shufei and Huamo to be her maids because of their steady manner and cleverness when they were standing in the crowd.

However, what counted most was not smartness but whether they could be useful to her. The only way to draw the conclusion was to observe them through time. Of course, smartness alone was not enough. The most important was loyalty!

“Yes, I will go immediately.”

Shufei put down the clothes she was tidying up and answered. Then, she followed the old maidservants out.

Not long after that, Shufei came back. “Miss, the old maidservants from the sewing room went to the Third Lady’s place first after they left here. I followed them for a while and found that they seemed to have remembered something when they were about to reach the entrance of the Third Lady’s courtyard. Then they turned around and I followed them up again. I saw that they finally entered the Second Lady’s courtyard.”

Wei Yuewu was very satisfied with Shufei’s detailed answer. At least, Shufei was not so imprudent as to come back after only taking a careless look.

Actually, Wei Yuewu asked Shufei to follow the old maidservants because she wanted to verify if she had guessed correctly. Just as she had expected, before those old maidservants from the sewing room came to her, they had met Lady Li and Wei Yan.

The colors that were fewer in number than the other colors must be Wei Yan’s favorite colors and picked by her!

The back courtyard of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang was divided into three sections. The yards on the right side of the mansion were occupied by Lady Zhang, along with the Third Young Lady, the Fourth Young Lady and her two sons, as well as the Third Master’s concubines.

Lady Li, together with the Second Young Lady, the First Young Master, and the Second Master’s concubines lived in the yards on the left side of the mansion.

The branch of Marquis Hua Yang, the nominal master of the mansion, occupied the middle part of the mansion.

It sounded like Marquis Hua Yang was still most respected among the three branches. However, the combined number of the yards on the right and in the middle was in fact lower than the number of yards on the left.

Marquis Hua Yang, Wei Luowen, rarely stayed in the capital. His wife had long since passed away. The marquis did not remarry after that. Although there were a concubine and a daughter born to the concubine beside Wei Luowen, they had been living with him in the border town. As for Wei Yuewu, she had been raised in her maternal grandparents’ home.

It could be said that the bloodline of Wei Luowen, namely the first branch of the family, existed only in name in the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang in the capital.

Everyone knew that the second branch was in real charge of the back courtyard. Moreover, the Second Master was now the Minister of Works in the capital, and his eldest daughter was married to the Heir-apparent of the Prince of Nan’an!

By contrast, Wei Luowen didn’t even have a son to succeed him.

The second branch seemed the true owner of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang in every perspective.

If Wei Luowen still didn’t have a son when he died, his title would most likely pass on to the eldest son of the second branch!

Marquis Hua Yang himself was also aware of this possibility. That was why he let the eldest son of the second branch follow him and treated him as his own son.

As for the third branch, the Third Master only held an insignificant position. His two daughters were unmarried. His two sons, though they were studying, were also not outstanding. Therefore, the third branch was overwhelmed by the second branch in every aspect.

The Lotus Courtyard, where Wei Yuewu was currently living, had belonged to the first branch.

However, Lady Li had her eye on this courtyard and gave it to Wei Yan with just a few tricks. No criticism was heard from anyone!

It was evident how powerful the second branch was in the mansion!