Not only Little Lian, who was slapped senseless, even Eunuch Sun standing at Retired Emperor's side was shocked.
According to logic, under this kind of circ.u.mstance, shouldn't she apologize to Retired Emperor as quickly as possible.
This oldest daughter of the Helian family not only didn't apologize, she even slapped that maid, so rampant, so unbridled, did she want Retired Emperor to sentence her with a capital offense!
"You!" LIttle Lian simply couldn't believe that Wei Wei would have such nerve and dared to slap her in front of Retired Emperor. She was the personal maid beside Madam Su. For so many years, at the Defense Division, whatever she wanted she had. Her life was even more comfortable than those young ladies at the capital. When did she ever receive this kind of treatment!
Little Lian trembled from head to toe, so angry she couldn't speak!
Retired Emperor also didn't think that this would happen, and was just about to get angry.
When he heard Wei Wei's voice speak levelly. "I'm speaking to Retired Emperor, when is it up to a maid like you to interrupt. Or should we say that you believed your somewhat good looks could keep Retired Emperor from distinguishing right from wrong?"
Just as the sound of her voice dropped, the surrounding people stiffly s.u.c.k.e.d in a breath of cold air.
Especially Eunuch Sun serving by the side. Even his hand also trembled. This Oldest Miss Helian truly had a lot of nerve, to say that so impertinently!
How could Retired Emperor not know that these words were basically for him to hear!
In a split second, his face became green, and words continuously came out of his mouth. "Good, good, good! The oldest daughter of the Helian family's truly as they say, rude and unreasonable, rampant and unbridled, with disregard for consequences. An old man like me actually wants to hear, how is it that I'm unable to distinguish right from wrong!"
"Retired Emperor, don't get angry like this, there are times when someone's acting skills are just too good, such that it's truly difficult to see through. What's more, you're also getting old, to it's difficult to avoid making a mistake for once." Wei Wei smiled lightly, regardless who stood before her, her imposing manner like a queen wasn't reduced in the slightest.
Besides his treasured grandson, there wasn't anyone else who dared to make him angry like this!
Retired Emperor laughed coldly. "Helian Wei Wei, did you know or not, these words of yours alone are enough for me to take your life!"
"Of course Wei Wei believes in the broad and powerful imperial might." Wei Wei's tone of voice turned around. "However, in my heart, Retired Emperor has always been a monarch with keen mental perception, and wouldn't casually nor randomly take someone's life. I won't conceal from Retired Emperor in saying, when I was a child, the person I worshiped the most was you, Retired Emperor."
Retired Emperor stared blankly, how's there this kind of way of slapping a person, then feeding them sweets. So now, how the hell could he command someone to have her dragged out and beheaded!
"Cough cough." Standing by the side, Head Abbot Fang Zhang wanted to laugh when he heard this, yet couldn't help but not get involved too much. He only tactfully cleared his throat.
Actually, Head Abbot Fang Zhang especially wanted to ask where this girl sprung up from, possessing the same character as that stinky fellow, in regards to her words making people both hate and tickled, yet still couldn't do anything about it!
Thinking about this, Head Abbot Fang Zhang glanced at a certain someone, only seeing that person faintly narrowing his eyes, his dark pupils contained a dense dangerous aura.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang was puzzled and knit his brows. Why did this stinky fellow have such a murderous aura?
Nobody provoked him, right?
Could it be because that the girl's words offended Retired Emperor?
Head Abbot Fang Zhang was still guessing when Helian Jiao Er already opened her mouth, fingers stroking Little Lian's to pacify her, speaking in an angry voice. "Oldest Sister, you're a bully! Do you think that saying this will cause Retired Emperor to pardon you? You cursed my mother. Little Lian was merely telling it like it is and you just slapped her like that. Is there still any justice in this world!"
Saying this, Helian Jiao Er walked to stand before Retired Emperor, and with a 'putt' fiercely kneeled on the ground. "Retired Emperor! Little Lian has followed my mother for over ten years, and has never committed any wrongs, yet ended up this way. Jiao Er earnestly requests that Retired Emperor bring justice to this commoner!"
After hearing this, Retired Emperor pressed at the space between his eyebrows, and didn't even take another glance at Wei Wei as he brandished his sleeves, somewhat fed up.
He's normally not like this. After all, that grandson of his had never specifically made any request on behalf of someone before.
But this Wei Wei truly made a person less than impressed.
Such a vicious and merciless girl, in addition to having no brains. How could he be at ease and have her placed at his grandson's side!
Shadow following by Baili Jia Jue's side saw Retired Emperor wave his hand, paused in his steps, and subconsciously turned to take a glance at His Highness.
It's just that before Baili JIa Jue opened his mouth, Wei Wei already laughed lightly. "Younger Sister, every time you open your mouth, you talk about cursing. From the start, I wanted to ask Younger Sister, you only saw a corner of that piece of wood and don't even know what's written on there, yet you already arbitrarily asserted that I'm carrying witch wood on my body. Do you want Retired Emperor to sentence me with a crime so much that you spare no effort in this way!"
Wei Wei spoke the last sentence very flatly.
But when it passed through Helian Jiao Er's ears, it seemed very ridiculous. The situation had already progressed to this point, yet she still tried to justify herself, truly, really was too ridiculous.
Could it be that she couldn't tell that in the current situation, no matter what she said, it's still impossible for Retired Emperor to pardon her!
The maid Little Lian also thought of this as she sneered in her heart. She spoke while her face dripped with pearly tears. "Eldest Miss, something terrible happened, so it doesn't matter that you accused me wrongly. After all, I'm merely a maid. Even if you force me to die unjustly, it's still not a big deal. It's just that Miss Jiao Er is kindhearted, pure, and innocent, yet you talk of her this way. Eldest Miss, you're really too much!"
Chapter 187 - Slaps To The Face
Not only was it too much, it's simply malicious!
The young misses and young masters were disgusted and one after another, turned to look at Helian Wei Wei. Each of those hateful eyes wanted Wei Wei, this evil girl, to be punished without a second's delay!
"Accused wrongly?" Wei Wei smiled, her voice neither anxious nor slow. "Whether you were accused wrongly is not up to you to say, a witness is needed." After saying this, she looked up, turned to Head Abbot Fang Zhang and curtsied. "Great master, ever since this commoner entered the temple, my heart has been disturbed. After I received this package of jewelry, I immediately asked that young master who followed by your side to help me perform a blessing, in order to pray for blessings and ward off evil spirits. I didn't expect that this would become the proof of my innocence. Is it possible to ask the young master to come now?"
What? !
Little Lian couldn't believe it as she looked up, that little face full of tear stains instantly paled!
Retired Emperor knitted his brows and didn't say anything.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang saw Wei Wei's eyes turn towards him, steadily and calmly, professing to have been pure and honest, peaceful and unmoving. He felt that this matter was quite interesting, so he laughed. "Of course it's possible, Wu Dao, you go call Wu Fan over here."
"Yes, Abbot Fang Zhang." The novice monk accepted the order.
Soon, he brought a person back.
"Abbot Fang Zhang, were you looking for me?"
"I'm not the one
looking for you. It's this female benefactor who's looking for you."
The novice monk followed the direction of Fang Zhang's gaze. After he saw that it was Wei Wei, his fair and clear face became bashful. "Female benefactor, it's you."
"It's me." Wei Wei placed her palms together and bowed in respect. "Young master, please look at the things on the ground. Are these the jewelry I've asked you to bless."
The young novice monk didn't know why she'd asked this. As he looked at the jades and bracelets scattered on the ground, he couldn't help but sigh. "Amitabha. Having been blessed, they've become blessings from Buddha, how can female benefactor not cherish them this way!"
"Young master, you misunderstood. It's not that she didn't treasure them. Someone wanted to frame her, so they bumped into her on purpose, and even insisted that these things were stolen by her."
A deep, thoughtful voice echoed by the side of the door.
Everyone looked over and only saw Hei Ze, who hadn't spoken before, lazily leaning on the wood door, with hands crossed at his c.h.e.s.t, as he looked up with a level gaze.
Once Hei Ze's words dropped, not only did Little Lian shake all over, even Chen Wen Wan's complexion became pale as she took a large stride backward.
Why!
The young novice monk stared blankly and intuitively answered. "These were all things that this benefactor." Saying this, he pointed at Little Lian, then pointed at Wei Wei. "Gave this female benefactor. At the time, I was fasting outside the room and personally saw it. How did it become stealing?"
"Then, in other words, someone indeed lied, and even kept saying that they've been accused wrongly without honor, nor shame." Hei Ze was wearing a smile that's not a smile as he glanced at Little Lian. "This maid of Madam Su really broadened my horizons."
Clang.
The jade bracelet in Little Lian's hand dropped, f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y broke into pieces on the ground, as her pupils trembled. With great effort, she suppressed the fl.u.s.tered appearance on her face.
She'd never thought that this girl would, in the moment that she barely left, she already asked someone to have these jewelry blessed!
This...was this still that same uncivilized girl who didn't understand anything?
How did she possess such profound shrewdness!
Little Lian lifted her head and looked over, only saw Wei Wei smiling lightly looking back at her. Within that gaze, there wasn't any bit of a smiling expression.
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something, as an unprecedented fear flashed through the depths of her eyes.
No, it couldn't be.
She couldn't possibly be that clever!
Yet the things that Wei Wei had done made her couldn't help but think that!
Since this girl had already asked the novice monk to bless the jewelry, then just now, why didn't she immediately ask the novice monk to come identify these jewelry instead of having her called to testify first.
Not until after she'd lied according to the madam's prior instructions did that girl say that actually, she'd already have someone bless these items early on!
Was she overthinking it?
Why did she feel that everything, everything was a scheme Wei Wei deliberately set up!
In order to beat them at their own game, she had them all gathered here!
Otherwise, from the beginning, Wei Wei could've called the novice monk over to prove her own innocence. She simply didn't need to be superfluous like the way she's been!
Thinking up to this point, Little Lian indescribably shivered from head to foot. Her body trembled as she looked at Wei Wei, a look that appeared as if she's looking at a demon!
However, Chen Wen Wan, who hadn't experienced these schemes before, still hadn't seen through the situation and only turned towards Hei Ze's direction to take a look. Her white teeth tightly bit on her red lips. "Isn't the Young Master jumping to conclusions too quickly in saying that? The novice monk said that he'd performed blessings on behalf of Younger Sister, but who's there to witness it? That pitiful maid even said that the jewelry she brought were different ones, also without anyone witnessing otherwise. How can we say that she's lying and not someone else who's being deceitful."
Hei Ze didn't even get a chance to speak.
That novice monk became angry and declared with a red face. "Benefactor, monks don't act with deceit. I'm a Buddhist disciple and disdain telling lies to cheat people! If you don't believe this, you can ask Abbot Fang Zheng. As long as an object has been blessed, a faint smell of sandalwood will remain."
"Ha ha ha, this disciple of mine is correct." Head Abbot Fang Zhang laughed heartily, then immediately bent over to pick up a jade bracelet from among the group, held it up to his nose and smelled it. "It indeed has been blessed."
The novice monk turned towards Chen Wen Wan and fiercely harrumphed, as if he's saying you can slander me, but you can't slander my Buddhist's integrity! Monks don't tell lies!
After they saw this scene, everybody became silent. Their gaze couldn't help but turn towards Little Lian, a maid who after she delivered the jewelry, she'd lied.
Everybody weren't fools. They naturally guessed that this matter wasn't so simple.
Looking at Helian Jiao Er, they also started to surmise.
How could Helian Jiao Er accept this kind of looks. 'Pow', she turned her hand over and slapped Little Lian's face, with an appearance of disappointment towards Little Lian, and spoke with trembling lips. "It's too bad that my mother trusted you as much as she has, how could you, how could you speak without thinking!"
That slap was even more ruthless than the one from Wei Wei.
When Wei Wei slapped her, she didn't intend to slap her speechless. After all, in this show, Little Lian was not the main character.
After Helian Jiao Er made her move, a humming noise from martial qi sounded out.
Little Lian's entire face became swollen, the corners of her mouth spilled blood. Don't mention opening her mouth to speak, even maintaining her kneeling position had become somewhat difficult. She also didn't dare to say anything, and only unceasingly knocked her head on the ground, beseeching Retired Emperor to be merciful. "It's this maid who's failed to live up to the miss and madam's expectations. It's just that the eldest miss ordinarily had such a fierce temper that this maid can't put up with it any longer. That's why I lied."
Wei Wei listened calmly, as she curved her lips up emotionlessly. So she wanted to suggest that Madam Su and Helian Jiao Er's innocent?
Chapter 188 - Wei Wei Strikes Back
How could it be that easy.
She'd said before, she, Helian Wei Wei, had always been a person who wouldn't provoke others if others didn't provoke her. If someone provoked her, she'd eliminate them completely!
They wanted to scheme against her, heh, since they've already entered, then don't think about getting out so easily...
Wei Wei played with the jade bracelet in her hand, her tone of voice was level. "You've truly disappointed your madam and young miss."
Little Lian looked down, didn't say anything else. She clamped up because she understood that with this kind of situation right now, as long as she could save the madam and young miss, Retired Emperor also would only deal with her as a very small servant girl who'd lied.
However, if the madam and others were implicated, ten this wouldn't merely be a matter of telling lies to deceive others.
This would basically become a scheme to deceive an emperor, punishable by death!
That's why when she heard Wei Wei say those words, she inwardly loosened a breath of relief and thought that this matter is over. As she was thinking this, Wei Wei's next sentence surprisingly was. "Because the responsibilities they've given you, you haven't accomplished in the least, and has even been caught by me. If this isn't considered failing to live up to their expectations, what else can it be?"
Little Lian's figure shook severely and immediately lifted her eyes. "Telling those lies were all my idea and has nothing to do with
the madam and young lady. They also haven't given me any assignments!"
"You're actually so loyal and know how to protect your master." Wei Wei indifferently smiled. "It's too bad that the person you're protecting doesn't think that way of you at all. Otherwise, when she slapped you, she wouldn't have imbued it with martial qi. This obviously is her anxiousness in wanting to kill to silence." After saying this, she turned to face Helian Jiao Er and looked at her. "Isn't this so, Younger Sister."
Helian Jiao Er clenched her hands, yet her face didn't change in the slightest. The plan with Little Lian didn't pan out. However, there's still the plan with Chen Wen Wan.
Chen Wen Wan admired Hei Ze. The Chen family could come to the capital also because they relied on the Su family.
They simply didn't think that Wei Wei really would get on that horse carriage, which merely gave Chen Wen Wan an opportunity to get close to Wei Wei.
Now that the witch wood they've set up is on the ground, no matter what had happened in the interim, as long as such an item was here, Wei Wei could only die!
Thinking to this point, Helian Jiao Er walked composedly in graceful little steps forward. Her voice sounded extremely gentle and magnanimous. "A culprit naturally should be punished. It doesn't matter that Oldest Sister suspected me and mother, it's just that the crux of this matter doesn't lie with where the jewelry that oldest sister has dropped came from, but rather, why would Older Sister bring such evil as the witch wood into the temple."
"Miss Jiao Er is right." Going through this incident, Chen Wen Wan's jealousy towards Wei Wei became even deeper. However, she covered it up really well, so much so that her tone of voice even faintly trembled and seemed as if the thing she'd just seen still left her with lingering fears as she turned towards Retired Emperor to say. "Retired Emperor journeyed to Hidden Spirit Temple this time in order to pray for rain to relieve the drought. He's cleansed himself, burned incense, and abstained from meat for a day all for the sake of demonstrating his sincerity to the gods. Yet, someone brought witch wood with the intent of harming others the whole time. Not only did this evil method completely negate the older person, Retired Emperor's efforts, it also negated the fortunes of the victims of the drought!" After saying this, she turned to look at Wei Wei. "Although Wen Wan's family background not much, yet, I also have no choice but to say that it's basically useless for Miss Wei Wei to make use of a maid to divert everyone's attention. This witch wood harms people. This isn't something Miss Wei Wei doesn't know. Then why do you still want to carry it on your person?"
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