Wei Wei casted a sidelong glance, then turned to look at Chen Wen Wan. "I don't know how I've offended Miss Chen, to have Miss Chen pressure me like this. Prior to entering the temple, Miss Chen even called me younger sister, younger sister, yet after entering the temple, you insisted that I'm a person who's wicked beyond redemption. Then should I not become suspicious of the reason Miss Chen approached me at the time."
"Miss Helian, you...you surprisingly thought of me this way." Chen Wen Wan's pupils swayed, and water seemed to spin within it. "Outside the temple, I saw that you met with trouble, so I allowed you to share my carriage. Now, unexpectedly, Miss Helian turned this into some ulterior motive." After saying this, she simply turned her head away, and used the handkerchief in her hand to dab at the corners of her eyes, appearing to have been greatly wronged.
Helian Jiao Er shook her head and saw the criticism in Wei Wei's eyes. "Oldest Sister, I really don't understand how you turned into the way you are now. We've helped you, yet you felt that we had ulterior motives. You hated us in your heart, so you carried that vile thing on your body. Oldest Sister, do you know how my heart aches seeing you like this."
"This thing on the ground hasn't even been picked up, yet you and Miss Chen is already so sure that it's witch wood." Wei Wei smiled, a trace of chilliness emerged in her eyes. "You're such a great sister. I've never seen a sister like this before, so eager to kill her older sister." After saying this, Wei Wei stooped down to pick up that 'witch wood' still mostly concealed in the yellow cloth bag and pushed up on it lightly. That 'witch wood' now emerged completely.
"This is the thing you guys kept saying is the 'witch wood'." Wei Wei raised her eyebrows and smiled. "I ask that Eunuch Sun step forward to take a look. Is this really that evil wood."
Eunuch Sun also stood there dazed. Where was there any witch wood inside that yellow pouch, there wasn't any cinnabar, there wasn't any birthdates, or incantations and moreover there wasn't anything related to witchcraft. Surprisingly, words were engraved on that piece of wood. Powerfully skilled, close set, with a peaceful spirit and in good taste, strong yet delicate, each word was written with very sloppy handwriting, yet deeply penetrating. 'Peace and prosperity to our country'!
Very simple six little words, yet made Eunuch Sun take another look at Wei Wei.
Nowadays, there were very few such broad-minded women in the world. He couldn't help but laugh. "Ms. Helian can be so enlightened, it fills me with admiration. If I haven't guessed incorrectly, This should be Hidden Spirit Temple's incense wood, having absorbed the fumes from incense year-round. He looked up with rapt attention. It's just that I don't know how Miss Helian obtained this piece of incense wood?"
Once Eunuch Sun's voice dropped, the people present started a commotion.
So it's not witch wood?
How did it change to incense wood?
"Incense wood?!"
Chen Wen Wan was even more startled and turned around to take a look. The color of her lips paled and they trembled somewhat. How's this possible, that yellow pouch clearly was given to Wei Wei by her. It was supposed to contain a piece of cursed witch wood. How could it change into incense wood!
"Eunuch Sun, could you have been mistaken?" Chen Wen Wan panicked, and anxiously stepped forward to take a closer look.
Wei Wei's body turned to the side right in front of her and smiled. "Miss Chen, how much do you hope that this would be a piece of witch wood. You hope for it so much that you don't even believe Eunuch Sun's words anymore."
"Helian Wei Wei!" Chen Wen Wan inhaled a deep breath. "Don't speak rubbish, I was merely concerned that Eunuch Sun's eyes may have blurred for a moment, and let an evil person slip away."
Chapter 189 - Left Speechless
She bit her lip, and was going to say something more.
When she heard a deep and low, apathetic voice transmit to her ears, lazy, yet extremely s.e.xy. "If you don't trust Eunuch Sun's eyes, then how about this Highness?"
Baili Jia Jue emerged from the dark shadows, his distinctive body set of under the fur cloak appeared exceptionally handsome, with dense eyebrows and eyelashes, deep dark eyes, imposing presence, and ice-coldness that terrified others.
Chen Wen Wan trembled all over, her legs became limp and wanted to kneel on the ground!
Upon seeing this, Retired Emperor frowned, his expression also immediately became cold. "Bring the thing here."
"Yes. Eunuch Sun lifted up both hands and presented that incense wood to him. When he saw the words engraved on there, the light in Retired Emperor's eyes flashed then turned towards Wei Wei's direction. "This is..."
Wei Wei responded with a faintly smiling expression. "Wei Wei said previously that I admired Retired Emperor. This time, there's been a big drought and you personally journeyed up the mountain to pray for blessings, a heart of worry for the country, worry for its people, filled Wei Wei with admiration. This commoner's strength is limited, there's not much I can do. I only heard that the incense wood inside Hidden Spirit Temple was very effective in answering prayers, so I asked the little master to bring me to that courtyard in order to beg for a piece."
The novice monk stood by Wei Wei's side, and furiously nodded his head, after reciting 'amitabha' he then responded. "On the way, this benefactor endured one hundred and ninety stair steps and kowtowed a total of nine hundred and ninety times. Such sincerity will certainly gain Buddha's favor."
As he held the incense wood in his hand, Retired Emperor only felt like he'd been slapped and was silent for a moment before he turned to take a look at Wei Wei. For the first time, the always unfl.u.s.tered eyes expressed an apology. "Good child, you're truly considerate."
Having heard that, Helian Jiao Er's complexion became exceptionally unsightly. She suddenly clenched her hands firmly, then slowly loosened them. She suddenly realized that whether it was her, Little Lian, or Chen Wen Wan, they've all been dealt with by Wei Wei!
As early as prior to entering the temple, Wei Wei already foresaw everything and kept her emotions to herself. She wasn't fl.u.s.tered, and instead, was waiting for them to walk right into her trap!
At this time, Helian Jiao Er finally was extremely regretful. This girl before her truly wasn't one bit like how she used to be, not merely in regards to martial qi, but also in her shrewdness!
Originally, she wanted to frame her before Retired Emperor, to have her thoroughly provoke Retired Emperor, so that not a single good day will be left for her, yet now, she unintentionally helped that girl set up a good road!
After this matter, Retired Emperor would certainly feel guilty towards Wei Wei, and in the future, he might even start taking care of her.
Thinking of this, Helian Jiao Er's heart was filled with hate as she stiffly bit through the flesh inside her mouth, a mouthful of blood, which she had no choice but to swallow!
Wei Wei watched her, and smiled lightly. "Right now, everything has confirmed that I'm innocent. I actually have something to ask Younger Sister and Miss Chen. I'm clearly carrying a piece of incense wood. Why did the two of you insist that it's witch wood before even taking a look at it? What is the real reason for this?"
Chen Wen Wan's pale lips simply couldn't utter a single word.
Helian Jiao Er forced the side of her lips into a smile. "Looking at it from a distance, that incense wood resembled witch wood, that's why Younger Sister thought..."
"Younger Sister." Wei Wei neither anxiously nor impatiently interrupted her. "You're going to say that all of this was a misunderstanding?"
Helian Jiao Er nodded, the rim of her eyes slightly red. "I've wronged Older Sister, we've indeed seen incorrectly."
"Seen incorrectly? I think it's more like Younger Sister don't understand why the witch wood in my pouch has become incense wood, right?"
Speaking to this point, Wei Wei turned her head to look at Retired Emperor. "I won't conceal from Retired Emperor. I really have a piece of witch wood here."
What? Everybody looked at each other, one
after another. They honestly didn't understand. Wei Wei had just dispelled rumors of her having witchwood, why would she now admit to having a piece!
However, only Chen Wen Wan realized what she wanted to say, and immediately stood up.
Wei Wei lightly swept her a glance and continued. "It's just that this piece was actually given to me by Miss Chen as we entered the temple."
"Helian Wei Wei you shouldn't spit blood on people!" (accuse others wrongly)
Chen Wen Wan looked down, that kind of twisted face, where's the least bit of gentle aura from before.
Wei Wei smiled, her eyes so bright it seemed to be overflowing with a layer of dazzling light. "Miss Chen, from start to finish, the one who's spitting blood on people are the two of you. Why should I cooperate with you and enter your horse carriage? I merely wanted to see what cheap trick you're playing at. I really didn't think that for the sake of dealing with me, she unexpectedly sent a young lady from a prestigious family. Miss Chen, you're certainly not a student who's participated in White Academy's competitions, yet you appeared now to accompany us. Surely, only a person who can hide the sky with her hand (hide the truth from the masses), like Madam Su, can help you accomplish this. It's just that you guys have underestimated me too much. With merely a piece of witch wood, you intended to put me on the road to death? You really think I'm still someone who'd allow you to bully me like before, the lonely child who wouldn't talk back? !"
After speaking, she took a step forward and fiercely knelt on the ground!
The sound she made was even louder than when Helian Jiao Er kneeled, even more heartfelt!
Her long skirt fell on ground as if it incited a flower to bloom!
Fine rain fell, an evening wind burst forth. Wei Wei lifted her head, her long sleeves fluttered and echoed in the wind.
"Retired Emperor, that year, my grandfather was sixty years of age,. In order to protect the Dragon War Empire's territory, his cavalry collapsed at the border, blood dyed the landscape, brandishing his battle blade, spreading the valiant battle spirit. Therefore, you conferred the Defense Division upon those of Helian blood. Your intent was to protect the family who served the country, who wholeheartedly served the people. Yet clearly I was a good-for-nothing from childhood, without grandfather, and without a mother, and even had to offer my position to another person. That's why I deserve to be humiliated by others and was scolded as barbaric and wanton. After all, I threw away my own inheritance."
As Wei Wei spoke, her back was exceedingly straight. Even though she was in a kneeling position, in everyone's eyes, she was dashing in a way that's hard to describe. "But I've grown up now, and understand what's honor and disgrace. I don't want to have people discredit my reputation as they pleased like this again, yet I haven't said anything. I think that year when Grandfather brandished his blade to guard his home and defend the country, he certainly didn't do it so as to have me stand here one day and be schemed against without good cause. When I was little, he held me in his arms and what he said most often was 'young one, when you grow up, you have to become the best martial artist and serve Retired Emperor as his left and right hand. This way, you can support and protect our Dragon War Empire to grow and multiply, bringing people peace and prosperity! For the past many years, no matter what happens, I've always remembered these words, thinking that when I reach a high enough level, I can tell you of this, but it seems that now, you may not want to hear it. After all, right now, the master of the Defense Division's last name is Su. Retired Emperor, you probably also have apprehensions."
Retired Emperor looked at this face before him who resembled the old man Helian's face three parts out of ten. His heart received a great shock. Suddenly, he actually wondered that when he previously refused his grandson's request to marry this child, did he indeed make a mistake...
Chapter 190 - Denouncing Lady Su
The previous lass from the Defense Division was someone he'd watch as she grew up. How could that lass' daughter be as unbearable as the rumors say.
It's he who'd been situated in this position for too long a time. The more he heard, the more he believed.
He believed that he was a wise and sympathetic monarch. During those years, in regards to those generals who'd assisted him in his conquests, he's never treated any of them unfairly, yet today, he actually discovered that surprisingly, his most meritorious official's granddaughter had received endless grievances.
Thinking of what's just happened, Retired Emperor's heart continuously raged even more. If it weren't for this child's composed way of handling things, he might've really allowed the Su family to leave unscathed in the end.
Su family, Su family!
Retired Emperor inhaled deeply. Bang! The Buddhist beads he's been fiddling with in his hands was slammed against the tabletop. Even the tone of his voice was saturated with fury. "Go bring Lady Su to me!"
"Yes."
In the wake of Eunuch Sun's voice dropping, Helian Jiao Er's whole body seemed as if it's been hit with a gust of frost, as she took a step backwards in a daze.
By the time Eunuch Sun brought Madam Su, from a distance, Madam Su already saw her personal maid kneeling on the ground. Her heart chilled all at once.
Originally, Madam Su felt that Wei Wei was only a silly girl and wasn't much to deal with, so she sent the maid under her command to handle the matter. Everything should've been flawless. How come Little Lian was the one kneeling on the ground?
Something must've gone wrong!
As clever as Madam Su was, she used only a few seconds to scan her beloved daughter and Chen Wen Wan's faces. In merely a split second, she already understood what's going on.
Her first reaction was to turn big problems into small ones, and small ones into no problems at all, because if this matter was pushed onto the younger generation, she could use the excuse of the rashness and willfulness of youth.
If she was also implicated, then the matter would be entirely different.
That's why, even if it was a pity, she could only abandon them.
Madam Su grasped the handkerchief in her hands tightly, yet her appearance didn't lose its composure, as she kept herself under control and greeted according to propriety. "This female official pays respects to Retired Emperor, thousand years, ten thousand years."
Retired Emperor also didn't command her to stand up and only watched her from on high, his tone of voice level. "I remember that Official Chen has just recently entered the capital. He was promoted all thanks to your Su family."
"What happened between the senior generation is also unclear to me." Su Yan Mo clenched her handkerchief, allowing no changes to her expression. "Older brother hasn't talked about these things."
Retired Emperor narrowed his eyes. "Then that Miss Chen before us, do you also not know her?"
"I haven't met up with her before." Su Yan Mo indeed hadn't met up with Chen Wen Wan before. Ministers ganging up for personal interests was a major event. Womenfolk getting too close to each other would also bring forth suspicion. What's more, her brother had just promoted the person with last name Chen. Even if she used the Chen family, she always only exchanged letters and always avoided meeting them face to face.
If it weren't for the fact that this little vile spawn had caused too big of a wave within White Academy, time and time again causing Jiao Er to lose face, she wouldn't have used this chess piece buried inside White Academy ahead of schedule.
Retired Emperor watched Su Yan Mo's appearance, and knew that asking anymore wouldn't yield any results, so he just laughed deeply. "Then you also don't know of your beloved daughter colluding with the daughter of the Chen family to harm another person?"
"Was there really such a thing?" Su Yan Mo's eyes shook and seemed as if she couldn't believe it as she turned to look at Helian Jiao Er. "Jiao Er, who did you harm? What has Mother been teaching you everyday, you're naive by nature so it's hard to avoid being exploited by others. What's happened now?"
If it weren't for the f
act that Wei Wei knew what kind of person Madam Su was, she's afraid she also would be deceived by her acting. Compared to Helian Jiao Er, her mother had indeed already practiced her skill to the highest level, beyond shamelessness.
"Madam Su." Wei Wei slowly turned and walked towards her, a smile on the corners of her mouth and with a pressuring composed demeanor. "I've already studied a book. This was written on that book, if a person was truly surprised, their expression would be maintained for two seconds at most. Exceeding two seconds meant that this person isn't truly surprised, but is pretending instead. Madam, I've been counting time. I'm afraid this expression of yours has already been maintained for at least five seconds."
Su Yan Mo hadn't thought that the little girl whose hands and feet used to tremble at seeing her could suddenly become so strong. Thinking of all the news she'd received recently, she narrowed her eyes slightly and restored her usual attitude. "Wei Wei, can you talk like this to the head of your family. What kinds of things have you been learning at White Academy, provoking your elders?"
Wei Wei smiled. "Me? The Madam has probably forgotten. Early on, your treasured daughter has already instigated the elders to remove me from the clan. Nowadays, this Helian Wei Wei is only a solitary individual. Besides my master, those who can be considered my elders have all been buried in their tombs. Or perhaps Madam wants to go and accompany them. In that case, I can consider calling you 'elder'."
"You!" Madam Su inhaled deeply. "You've truly changed too quickly. Even I, as your mother, almost can no longer recognize you."
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 91