The cloak on Retired Emperor's body fluttered and made sounds in the wind, possessing wisdom and a gentle imposing manner that ordinary old people didn't possess. Occupying the seat of honor at all times made him appear as if he's much taller, and also his face appeared sharp and defined, enough to see that when he was young, he was also an unparalleled attractive man.
Behind him was reigning Empress Murong, Murong Chang Feng's aunt. Reportedly, during that year, after she entered the palace, the previous empress subsequently passed away. Only then was she elevated to take charge of the empress position.
Certainly, no one knew what the specific circ.u.mstances were.
In addition, this empress also wasn't Third Highness' birth mother...
In short, within the harem those matters were awfully messy. Even if as a prerequisite, it was forbidden for the palace maids to talk, there were still news which leaked out from within. That's why these matters were no longer a secret.
Seeing them coming, every single person shouted, "A thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand thousand years old."*
The flower gifting banquet's atmosphere was ignited all at once!
Retired Emperor laughed 'ha ha' as he sat down and lifted his hand in an amiable and approachable manner. "All rise. This is not the palace, don't need to be over-courteous."
"Yes." All of the young girls answered sweetly, and stood to one side in a well-behaved manner.
Seeing this scene, Retired Emperor nodded his head contently. After that, his gaze fell on the icy youngster whose face was apathetic from beginning to end as his beard angrily puffed and puffed.
Standing by his side, Tusu Feng naturally knew what Retired Emperor was thinking, so he gently reminded in a refined manner, "What do you think, should we have them continue to gift the flowers. This humble servant just took a look. A lot of young lords' white cherry blossoms haven't been given out."
"Continue, they naturally should continue." Retired Emperor readjusted his expression and said to Baili Jia Jue, "Ole Third**, you also choose one."
In the twinkling of an eye, everybody's gaze concentrated on Baili Jia Jue's body!
In other words, this could become the outcome of the consort selection!
After all, every year, Third Prince had never given anyone a white cherry blossom. Now that Retired Emperor made such a request, he had no choice but to gift one out.
As if she was sure he would choose her, Helian Jiao Er's pair of watery eyes, a pair of faintly blushing red cheeks...
*'A thousand years old' or 'ten thousand years old' is the Chinese traditional way of saying 'long live the king'.
** 'ole' + number corresponding to birth order is often used address the children which in turn often becomes a nickname.
Chapter 90 - Chose The Wrong Person
On the other hand, Wei Wei's face appeared indifferent. In any case, whoever Third Prince chose, it wouldn't be her...
"Helian Wei Wei."
Huh? Huh? !
"Stand up."
Whew, so it turned out she was obstructing his path. She even thought something happened to Third Prince's brain.
Wei Wei was still very self-aware and knew that in order to reach Helian Jiao Er, he'd need to pass by her location. She stood up from her seat while a piece of pastry was still held between her lips. Her eyes even shined limpidly, a little bit like a silly cute fox, just about to make way.
"For you."
The white cherry blossom arriving suddenly in front of her eyes was more subdued compared to any other blossom, yet faintly appeared noble and luxurious, probably because the person holding it was absolutely too exceptional. A single common white cherry blossom could even cause people to feel it was elegant.
Wei Wei blanked out. Wait a minute.
Oh dear. She must be mistaken about something.
What's up with this Third Prince giving her the flower?
Could it be that he's lost?
Wei Wei gave moving her seat a try.
The pair of long and narrow deep eyes beneath the silver mask submerged lower.
Eunuch Sun looked worried again and immediately gave her a push.
Wei Wei looked up and faced those emotionless lips of his.
Sh*t!
He's really giving it to her?
What damnable thing!
Hey, it's been agreed she's only here to go through the motions!
"Cough!" Because she wanted to speak but couldn't get the words out, Wei Wei instead choked on the osmanthus flowers pastry that she had between her lips.
She could clearly see that when the man's gaze looking at her saw this confused appearance of hers, he became incomparably chilly and aloof.
What's Third Prince's intention? Giving her the cold shoulder?
Giving her the cold shoulder yet giving her the flower!
"Ole Three." Retired Emperor's complexion when Baili Jia Jue stopped in front of Wei Wei changed completely at once!
Baili Jia Jue, on the other hand, didn't change at all and calmly brushed away dust that wasn't on his body. The tone of his voice was apathetic, "If I have to choose one, then just choosing her is fine."
What! ! !
Everyone couldn't help but cry out in surprise, their gazes were brimming with astonishment as they faced Wei Wei, and even revealed some anger.
Helian Jiao Er's little face became even more pale. The pearl pin in her hair almost seemed to feel its owner's resentfulness as it swayed to and fro. Compared with her disbelief, what's more apparent was the lack of color on her face.
That s.l.u.t was only a good-for-nothing who's been driven out of the clan!
How could Third Prince just casually choose her!
What's more, she was so unbecoming!
Wei Wei raised her eyebrows, what did he mean by if he had to choose one then just choosing her is fine.
Matrimony was such a major affair, yet he just used such a casual attitude?
Maybe it truly didn't matter to him who he chose, however, don't just drag her into it. She, Helian Wei Wei, had always felt it beneath her dignity to be any kind of accessory.
Seeing this scene, the empress' eyes flashed once and said, "Ole Three, you and this Miss Helian still don't understand. It's possible to give her a flower, but that still doesn't mean that the one who received the flower is the one who's been chosen. You just misunderstood your Imperial Grandfather's intention." After speaking, the empress turned her head and brought her gaze upon Wei Wei. Her delicate eyebrows creased, "Wei Wei, your engagement's already been broken by our Murong Prince's Mansion, yet you don't even understand a bit of our established customs. Third Prince's merely giving you a flower in passing yet you go so far as to helplessly show this expression? This can actually easily make others misunderstand."
Wei Wei chuckled a couple of times in her heart, this woman planned to push all the blame in her direction to allow Third Prince to choose another person.
However, this time, she was quite happy to cooperate with the other party, as her thin lips curved up, "The Empress is right."
Empress Murong wasn't aware till now, when had this Wei Wei learned to read other people's expression so well. She smiled, "In all likelihood, even now, Miss Helian's body still doesn't have one bit of qi, right?"
"Mm hm. No." After Wei Wei answered, Wei Wei laughed lightly and added, "Moreover, I'm currently still at the Inferior Compound, whether I could pass the exam or not is still unknown."
The exam must be passed. Not merely the exam, she planned to even seize first place at the Armament Competition.
However, at this moment, she didn't mind telling a little lie.
Empress Murong seemed to have anticipated that she would say this and the satisfaction at the corners of her mouth became even more distinct. What Helian Wei Wei's worth was, she understood more thoroughly than anyone else. Within her voice was a bit of a smirk, "It can be seen that you still fall a bit short if paired with Third Prince."
"Ah
, aye yes." Wei Wei let out a long sigh, seemingly very vexed, yet without any bit of disappointment. On the contrary, the smile in her eyes became even deeper. Where was there the disappointment of being looked down upon on her face, there was only a hint of mockery.
Baili Jia Jue looked up. When he caught the trace of a smile on her face, within his long and narrow lovely eyes there seemed to be a tiny thread of anger which covertly passed quickly.
"Then shouldn't the flower in your hand be returned to Third Prince?" When the empress finished saying this, she felt that it was a bit unexpected that this girl surprisingly could cooperate so well with her.
This time, Wei Wei replied even more quickly. That voice of hers spread throughout the courtyard, "Of course."
Two words. Clear and limpid.
After saying this, she took that white cherry blossom and delivered it into Baili Jia Jue's hand. Within the gaze she used to look towards the empress, there was even more of a mocking cold smile.
It was obvious that they looked down upon her.
It was also obvious that they felt that she didn't deserve their treasured son.
Also, what they wanted had never been a woman, but the power that the family behind this woman represented.
The power in their daughter-in-law's hands was what they actually wanted.
And she, in their view, she was only a good-for-nothing whose engagement had been broken.
The reason why she was so cooperative with the empress was only because she didn't want to get married.
She had never thought about wanting to marry someone before. Even if she wanted to marry, she still absolutely wouldn't marry someone like Baili Jia Jue.
This certainly wasn't because he wasn't good enough.
On the contrary, he was handsome and cool-headed in distinguishing right from wrong, truly was a good man.
Yet, it's actually because he was so outstanding that in the future, he very probably will succeed the throne.
When that time came, the harem of three thousand women will fight and scheme against each other, this one comes, that one goes.
She really didn't feel like sharing the same man with other women.
Even more so, she disliked being involved with fights and conflicts over the man.
This kind of thing was not something she's willing to do!
Moreover, what she wished for was absolute devotion!
Having someone who was fond of her, loved her, treasured her, would be more important than any rank or wealth.
I won't wish for much in life, but I wish for a faithful heart, not to part even in old age*...
It's very obvious that Baili Jia Jue didn't suit her!
A person who didn't have her in his heart, even if he was perfect, she would still reject!
Sitting at the seat of honor, Retired Emperor hadn't spoken all along. It's unknown what he was pondering.
Helian Jiao Er, on the other hand, let loose a breath of relief. At the same time detesting Wei Wei, her heart hiddenly rejoiced somewhat. This good-for-nothing could be said to have been tactful!
And at that moment, acting as if he was uninvolved, Baili Jia Jue didn't even say one word. The silver colored mask perfectly hid his state of mind completely within his pair of deep, profoundly composed shapely eyes. He saw the white cherry blossom approaching him, while under his sleeves, fingers slightly stiffened, seeming as if he's patiently enduring something...
*line from a Chinese poem
Chapter 91 - His Highness Angered
"Ole Third, Miss Helian already extended her hand. How about you take back the flower. After all, this cherry blossom actually is not a small matter." Empress Murong faced Baili Jia Jue and said in a conversational tone, "Luckily, this child, Wei Wei, has good common sense and understands that you've never participated in the Flower Gifting Festival before, so you don't know the meaning the white cherry blossom represented." After she finished speaking, she looked towards Wei Wei, smiling sincerely, "Right? Wei Wei?"
"Yes." Wei Wei faced forward and took a step, facing Baili Jia Jue and said elegantly and open-mindedly, "Third Prince. How about you gift this flower to someone else."
It certainly hadn't crossed her mind to marry him.
Moreover, from his perspective, it was all the same whoever he married, wasn't it.
She had already heard previously that Retired Emperor already pressured Third Prince to marry countless times.
It couldn't be helped that in Third Prince's eyes, there'd never been any woman.
That's why Retired Emperor had to make an arrangement like this, and had him directly choose a consort at the Flower Gifting Festival.
Merely, he faced Retire Emperor and raised a condition. As far as what that condition was, no one knew.
In any case, his choosing a consort was also only in response to Retired Emperor's demands.
From his standpoint, there was fundamentally no difference between women.
The most they could do was help him resolve his current predicament.
The reason why he chose her, probably was also because he was acting out at Retired Emperor.
She believed that he was also unwilling to gift her the flower. If it weren't for the fact that she was such a 'wanton good-for-nothing' and was 'unbearably ugly', he wouldn't have been able to put Retired Emperor in a bad mood as a result.
He wouldn't have shocked people with such words.
Perhaps, he's already regretting it right now.
Wei Wei mockingly curved the corners of her mouth, smilingly looked at Baili Jia Jue. She was very happy for him to make another choice. Actually, those aristocratic young girls wanted to marry him even in their dreams, especially Helian Jiao Er...
"Don't want this flower?" On Baili Jia Jue's s.e.xy thin lips hung an arc that was a smile yet not a smile, his manner chilly, seemed like the north wind that blew in winter, a cold that penetrated the bones.
Standing behind him, Shadow's body stiffened.
He knew master became angry.
A person like His Highness, when he was angry he contrarily used even more effort to smile. That kind of smile was coldness that penetrated to the bone, making people shudder.
It's been a long time since he's heard master use this tone of voice to speak.
But this time, master was truly furious!
The consequences of His Highness' anger...
Shadow didn't dare think about it. His Highness' methods had never been gentle. Sometimes, they were so ruthless that they were abnormally brutal.
He conducted himself in a nonchalant manner, but that didn't mean that he didn't have a temper!
The oldest daughter of the Helian family had truly indeed ruffled master's feathers...
"A thing that is unwanted, what value can it still have." Baili Jia Jue continued to speak under everybody's staring eyes. He moved his fingers. Following his ice-cold bone chilling voice, the white cherry blossom was knead in the palm of his hand little by little and was ground by him into fine powder.
The surrounding voices immediately came to a stop. The empress looked at the side of his face which was so grave and stern as to reach the freezing point and the bottom of her heart couldn't help but go 'clump thump'. Seeing those deep sharp eyes so thoroughly chilled as to not have slightest bit of temperature, she truly was unable to figure out, at this moment, what in the world he's thinking of.
The empress didn't even feel this much pressure that year when she dealt with his birth mother, yet often when she saw him, she would always feel a lingering fear.
Wei Wei frowned as she looked at him, her eyes looked up slightly. What's the meaning of these words of his?
Baili Jia Jue wore a classic black robe as before. Besides the black jade thumb ring fastened by his fingertip, there plainly wasn't any other unnecessary jewelry. The colors as dark as night against his skin added even more of an ice-cold gracefulness.
In the silence, his very long dark black wavy hair, without a strand out of pla
ce, cascaded down neatly to his waist. His perfect features were like the moonlit night, chilly and cold, making people can't help but shudder.
Wei Wei wanted to move her gaze away, but his movements were even quicker than hers. All of a sudden, he had already pulled firmly at her arm. His long and slender fingers grasped her chin upwards and forced her to have no choice but look straight at his eyes.
Those were a pair of eyes as ice-cold as a winter stream, deep and quietly secluded, just like a bottomless ancient well. Once it's been encountered, one would be deeply mired within.
It seemed it wasn't anticipated that he would act his way.
In an instant, within the main hall echoed the undulating sounds of air being drawn one after another.
Helian Jiao Er's originally pale and colorless face, for a split second, seemed as if air was s.u.c.k.e.d out of it. She tightly gripped the white handkerchief in her hands. That pair of lips were bitten until they nearly bled.
And even the empress couldn't believe it as her pair of eyes opened wide.
Yet Baili Jia Jue's expression was actually apathetic, acting as though nobody else was around.
The two people then looked at each other face to face in this way.
In that moment, it seemed as if even the air stood still.
Within ten thousand sounds of silence.
Wei Wei suddenly had a kind of illusion and felt that only two people were left between heaven and earth, the two of them, him and her.
"Don't want to be my consort?"
Wei Wei was dazed, and answered per etiquette and customs, "This commoner wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't dare….." He laughed deeply, the strength of his hand couldn't be considered small at all, to the extent that it gave a person a kind of vicious current that was cold down to the bone.
Wei Wei was unable to figure out why he would repeat her words.
Then she heard him say in a deep voice by the side of her ear, "In this world, what would you still not dare to do."
She truly didn't want to have this relationship with him at all.
Speaking even that sort of lie.
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