Chapter 31 - No Escape from a Broken Engagement (2/2)

Early in the next morning, a female servant seller brought a group of maids over to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang.

This was of course an arrangement of the Madam Dowager, which was also intended to show Lady Tu that she never had the slightest intention to ill-treat Wei Yuewu, the first daughter of the mansion. Her granddaughter was displeased by the servants yesterday, so she immediately brought in new ones today for her to choose until she was satisfied.

The Madam Dowager was especially gracious to allow Wei Yuewu to pick by herself, and she herself sat down under the porch watching, without saying one word. Neither Lady Li nor Wei Yan came. Lady Zhang brought Wei Qiufu, the Fourth Young Lady, and Wei Qiuju, the Fifth Young Lady, to accompany the Madam Dowager.

Wei Qiufu was Lady Zhang’s daughter, and Wei Qiuju was the daughter born by a concubine from the third branch of the family.

The Lotus Courtyard had very few servants at present. Most servants were driven out yesterday, and only some unflavored menial servants were retained.

There were elderly maidservants as well young maids in the group of servants who were brought here by the servant seller. Last night, Lady Zhang received the Madam Dowager’s order, and she specially sent for them.

After choosing four maids and four maidservants, Wei Yuewu brought them to the corridor for the Madam Dowager to have a look.

“The Sixth Young Lady really has a good eye. These maids are all good choices. Other mansions also wanted clever maids. You know, they all want smart maids to serve them during festivals. Nobody wants clumsy servants, who are unable to do their errands properly. Anyway, it’s the owners who would lose face in the end. The young lady at the mansion of Marquis Jing Yuan also asked for servants from me not long ago.”

The female servant seller was overjoyed that Wei Yuewu chose so many servants, so she flattered the young lady as much as she could. Folks like her who frequented various mansions were naturally aware of the rumored reputation of this Sixth Miss of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang. However, what she saw from the young lady was completely inconsistent with the rumors outside, and moreover, she felt that the rumors were utter nonsense.

This young lady in front of her was extremely beautiful; coupled with her graceful air, she was truly too far away from being ordinary-looking and untalented.

As for her mentioning of Marquis Jing Yuan, it was simply because of the news of the matrimonial relations between the two mansions.

Of course, she wouldn’t babble about the disputes in the mansions she made deals with. She had keen eyes, and was shrewd enough to figure out it must be the powerful Madam Dowager who allowed this Sixth Young Lady, who had just arrived at the mansion, to pick servants by herself. Surely, the Sixth Young Lady wasn’t a simple girl.

Wei Yuewu naturally understood that the woman was trying to curry favor with her, and she was just waiting for her to mention the mansion of Marquis Jing Yuan. She smiled and winked at Jin Ling. The maid got her signal and pulled the woman aside. She gave the woman a tip and smilingly asked things about the mansion of Marquis Jing Yuan.

No one paid attention to Wei Yuewu from the moment her maid gave a tip to the woman, since it was unnecessary to watch out on a maid, especially a maid of Wei Yuewu. It was natural for her to speak a few words with someone who flattered her mistress Wei Yuewu.

“Qiufu, didn’t you say you wanted to pick one or two servants as well? Go pick now.” The Madam Dowager said to Wei Qiufu, who had been standing aside quietly with a smiling face.

“Yes, Grandmother, then I’ll not stand on ceremony with the Sixth Younger Sister.” Wei Qiufu replied to the Madam Dowager and then smiled at Wei Yuewu before walking out gracefully. She picked only two servants, who looked quite ordinary. It seemed that she was looking for third-class maids rather than personal maids.

Wei Yuewu’s bright eyes flashed with a trace of penetrating serenity. That was a good time for this Fourth Young Lady to pick: she had waited patiently to let the younger Wei Yuewu pick servants first, whereas Wei Yuewu herself was completely ignorant of it. She had uttered those words with such politeness and specially mentioned Wei Yuewu, which implied Wei Yuewu acted against the rules of etiquette and was impolite to her elder sister.

Did this Fourth Young Lady say those words accidentally or intentionally?

After they all finished picking servants, the female servant seller finished talking with Jin Ling and came to Wei Yuewu to say a few more flattering words. Then she left with the remaining servants. With those new servants in the Lotus Courtyard, there would be enough hands for the time being.

“Yuewu, you must think it over. If you really break the engagement with Marquis Jing Yuan, there might not be such a good choice in the future.”

The Madam Dowager remarked straightforwardly after they entered the room again.

In the Madam Dowager’s opinion, Marquis Jing Yuan was one of the few promising young men in the capital who also owned a title of nobility. Wei Yuewu would only be left with a slimmer chance for a better marriage if she gave up this time. In the Madam Dowager’s heart, Wei Yuewu, in spite of her good looks, could not compare with Wei Yan who was carefully raised and educated in front of her.

It was surely lucky enough for Wei Yuewu to have such a fiancée!

The next day, they were going to the mansion of Marquis Jing Yuan to settle this matter. The Madam Dowager would go in person because Zhaoyi Tu was involved. She decided to go there personally not to show respect to Marquis Jing Yuan, but to Zhaoyi Tu in the Palace.

“Grandmother, Yuewu wants to live.”

Wei Yuewu’s voice was gentle, but her expression was extremely calm.

This single sentence shot at the heart of the question. Hearing her words, the Madam Dowager blinked faintly, not knowing what to say…