Listening to these words, Wei Wei also couldn't help but admire Madam Su's intelligence.
If she used anything else to pressure Retired Emperor, Retired Emperor might've only penalized Helian Jiao Er even more severely.
However, in bringing up the empire's glory, even Retired Empire also have to reflect on the bigger picture and reduce Helian Jiao Er's punishment. Otherwise, it'd be difficult to justify himself before the populace.
As expected, Retired Emperor's eyebrows furrowed together. It's not difficult to see he's enduring silently.
Madam Su knew that her gamble had paid off, the corners of her mouth and was just about to curve up.
When she heard a statement echoing flatly. "Since that's the case, then let's just have the madam take her beloved daughter's place and suffer the punishment in her stead."
Chapter 193 - Slap Madam Su’s Face
Two voices echoed simultaneously.
One was Helian Wei Wei's, languid and indolent, a smile on her lips.
The other one was Baili Jia Jue's, he stood straight with head tilted, a silver face like a perfect ice sculpture, leisurely rolling up the cuffs of his sleeves as the corners of his mouth curved in an enchantingly cold manner, his voice s.e.xily deep and low, yet emotionless.
Wei Wei actually didn't expect that Third Prince wanted to say the same thing she did and glanced sideways to take a look at the man.
Third Prince actually appeared indifferent and only faced her with a raised eyebrow.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang, however, stared eyes wide. What did he say, this girl and this stinky fellow were truly a bit alike!
Look, the arrangement that they suggested was astonishingly exactly the same!
Retired Emperor also stared blankly, after which he laughed. "Then just as what this lass, Wei Wei has said, let's have Madam Su suffer instead of her daughter."
"Retired Emperor." Wei Wei unsurprisingly glanced back to salute him with with honor.
Su Yan Mo held tightly onto Helian Jiao Er's fingers, the light in her eyes brimming with hatred. To have her, a grand official's wife, retained at the temple to chant the sutra and abstain from meat, if this wasn't extraordinary shame and humiliation, what was!
She forced herself to remain calm as she turned to face Retired Emperor and was going to speak.
When Wei Wei interrupted her. "Madam Su shouldn't have a competition to participate in, right?"
Su Yan Mo slowly breathed, the corners of her mouth rigid. "No."
This vile spawn was purposefully using the words she'd just spoken to stop her up. She's already so old, how could she still have any competition to participate in!
Wei Wei seemed as if she didn't see Madam Su's fury as she said levelly. "Since it's like that, a mother paying her child's debt is more than fitting."
Helian Jiao Er was filled with so much resentment, all of her teeth hurt. She truly wanted to gather all of the martial qi within her body and immediately dash over to slaughter Wei Wei!
However, on the surface, she only gripped Madam Su's hand, and shook her head back and forth. "How can I have Mother take the punishment in my place. The one who was wrong was clearly me."
Her pair of eyes were reddened, her eyelashes drooped down as a layer of tears moistened them. In spite of everything, it kind of made people feel like they didn't have the heart to watch.
Wei Wei knew that Helian Jiao Er was acting again.
However, things having reached this stage, no matter how she's acting, she still couldn't cover up the true cause of her existing misfortune. Everybody weren't fools. Having witnessed this incident, everybody more or less knew that Helian Jiao Er certainly wasn't as naive or magnanimous as she appeared on the surface.
Of course, some people were still misled by her appearance, especially those who easily felt sorry for beautiful damsels, such as the young lords.
Wei Wei straightened her collar, and inclined her head as she laughed. "Then what Younger Sister mean is that you want to be the one to stay at the temple? Such filial piety is truly moving."
"I..." Helian Jiao Er's complexion changed as she choked on Wei Wei's words, her lips scarlet from getting bitten, she gnashed her teeth with hate and resentment.
How was that her intent. What she wanted was to weep for a bit until maybe someone would help her mother and daughter plea for leniency. After all, the people standing here were all young lords from the capitol. No small number of them got along well with the Su family, if they opened their mouths, Retired Emperor more or less would have to reconsider.
Yet without waiting for anyone to open their mouths, this lowlife already took away any escape route she might have had.
After this, she truly didn't know what else to do.
Helian Jiao Er clenched both hands at a loss for what to do and turned to look at Su Yan Mo. "Mother..."
Su Yan Mo heavily closed her eyes then opened them again after having carefully weighed her gains and losses.
This daughter of hers was important to the four great clans.
Someday in the future, she's bound to the indescribably exalted.
If she were to suffer today's punishment, Madam Su's afraid that Helian Jiao Er wouldn't be able to cleanse herself of today's humiliation for the rest of her life.
Also, she's already somebody's wife. Even if she lost face, and would feel as if needles prick at her flesh everytime she left the house in the future and recall today's events, however, that's but a trivial matter. As long as the Su family was strong enough, no matter how many rumors there'd be, no one would dare speak of them in front of her, same as when she dealt with that Helian loser at the time.
That's why Su Yan Mo finally still chose to save her own beloved daughter. She humbly looked down, her intent was as it'd been pointed out. "Jiao Er grew up to be what she is all because this mother of hers failed to teach her how difficult it is to fathom a person's heart. If Wei Wei, you just won't consent to forgive me, then let me take the blame on her behalf."
On the surface, these words seemed to represent that she'd acknowledged her mistake. However, people who didn't understand the circ.u.mstances, when they heard this, would feel that Wei Wei wasn't magnanimous enough in this matter, being firmly set on punishing Helian Jiao Er.
Wei Wei coldly laughed, her eyes on Su Yan Mo's face, pausing after each word. "Madam, I think you must have been mistaken in regards to the circ.u.mstances. Right now, it's not a question of how difficult it is to fathom a person's heart, rather, it's a matter of Younger Sister's dishonorable behavior, of her attempt to frame another person. Did Madam say all of that because you felt that Retired Emperor judged unjustly?"
"Of course not." Su Yan Mo's fingers stiffened, saw the gaze Retired Emperor cast in her direction, and was afraid of saying something wrong, allowing Retired Emperor to find another pretext to punish Helian Jiao Er more severely. She had no choice this time. In order to protect her beloved daughter as much as possible, she could only soften her attitude before Wei Wei. "What I wanted to say is that you can blame me and can also blame your Second Sister for being wrong this time, however, we still look upon you as a member of the family."
After she finished speaking, Su Yan Mo only felt that she'd lost her whole face.
But what other way was there!
There wasn't any other way!
This affair had already progressed to this point, this is the only thing she could do!
She hadn't anticipated that this little vile spawn would be clever and eloquent to this extent!
Unexpectedly, even she was finally forced by her to a spot where she could neither advance nor retreat.
If she knew earlier that this vile spawn was still struggling against her fate like this, at that time, she wouldn't have set her mind on that bit of Helian blood in her body. In keeping Wei Wei alive, she failed to completely eliminate a weed at its roots. She only disabled her martial qi and broke her meridians, with the thought that Wei Wei already became a cripple who could live
peaceably with them until Jiao Er needed to advance. That way, it'd be easier for them to draw Helian blood from that cripple's body anytime it's needed to help Jiao Er make a rapid breakthrough.
Looking at it now, she shouldn't have spared this little bane of their existence who'd been giving them heartburn. She should've killed her with poison the way she killed her lowly mother and have her fall together with her mother!
The light in Wei Wei's eyes fell on Su Yan Mo's pair of brimming with maliciousness eyes, and very lightly, very lightly laughed. "Madam, you're overthinking it. I've never blamed you guys."
I hated you. I wish I could have all of you stripped of your bones and turned to ash and offered as a sacrifice to the hundreds and thousands of loyal souls who were persecuted by you guys in order to take over the clan!
"Madam took care of me for such a long time, I'd still like to repay Madam."
In those days, the way you angered my Mother to the point of falling gravely ill, I'll have you taste the very same flavor!
"When you speak of forgive or not forgive."
This was what's called putting things in their place. Without having unmasked you guys and exposing the truth, putting you in a tight spot, how could it be worthy of the humiliation you've piled on me for so many years!
"I'm truly being regarded as too much of an outsider."
This was merely just the beginning. Having only slapped your face once, having only cracked your reputation once, how's that enough.
Wait a bit longer. Wait for me to ascend step by step and hollow out your Su family. Your expression at that time would surely be interesting to see...
Chapter 194 - Who’s The Real Female Phoenix
Thinking up to this point, Helian Wei Wei's fingers streaked across the calluses on her fingertips. Facing Su Yan Mo's slightly stiff face, she slowly smiled.
Even though hatred filled Su Yan Mo's heart, she could only suppress it and push up the corners of her mouth slightly. Wait until this incident quietly passed. Fortunately, Retired Emperor accepted her excuse. No matter how bad things looked now, her beloved daughter was still the one everyone supported, and the genius most likely to become Third Prince's Consort.
She's convinced that Retired Emperor also had apprehensions regarding this point.
Within Dragon War Empire, it didn't matter how intelligent a person was, only when they possessed a martial qi cultivation surpassing others, would their words matter.
That little vile spawn, sooner or later, would repay with interest for all that transpired here today!
She wasn't anxious.
Su Yan Mo looked down as she moved the Buddhist beads in her hand and followed the novice monk to the most remote courtyard in the temple.
Generally speaking, women weren't permitted to stay overnight in a temple, the concern was that it'd destroy the purity within the temple.
However, Hidden Spirit Temple was different from others because of its reputation as the imperial family's preferred temple. That's why every year, people who came to pray were basically either from the imperial family or had powerful connections. Included among these were many womenfolk for whom it'd be dangerous to go down the mountain at night, so one remote courtyard was reserved to house the women.
It's just that this courtyard looked too bleak, the interior decor was awfully simple, just like a very cold, cold palace.
The only thing that's slightly tolerable was that the room didn't have any unusual smells.
However, this kind of simplicity was unbearable for Su Yan Mo. Since childhood till now, she'd been a golden branch treasured in the palm of a hand. Even after she'd snatched Helian Guang Yao, she'd still been pampered and respected. Even within the circles of influential people, who among those high officials and nobles didn't fawn on her.
Now, she's made to live in this kind of place even inferior to a firewood house. The hatred that Su Yan Mo had just suppressed all instantaneously bubbled up without exception!
Helian Jiao Er came along with her mother. After she saw that house, she unconsciously used her handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose as she reached out to pull on Su Yan Mo's sleeves. "Mother, let's go look for grandfather, have him immediately enter the palace to hand over the accounts book! How could a person live in this kind of house! This won't do, Mother, you can't live here!"
"If I don't live here, then you'll have to live here." Madam Su glanced at her, after that she pulled away her hand, and lightly closed the wood door, before maliciousness from the depths of her eyes leaked out. "Right now, your grandfather has been thinking of a way to get his hands on military power. He needs to coax and deceive the emperor. No mistakes are allowed. To have him take out the accounts book over such a small matter, Retired Emperor won't be pleased."
Helian Jiao Er clenched both hands tightly. "Then what's to be done? Is it possible that Mother truly wants to stay here for the next month!"
"Mother can only find someway to leave here within a month's time, in your place."
Madam Su looked at her, a slight chill in her eyes. "How many times have I said, no matter what happens, in front of other people, you must appear wronged to the end and can not so easily leak out your true nature. You've done a good job of this for so many years, Mother hasn't taught you anything more. However, today, you almost made Mother unable to stay on the stage!"
Helian Jiao Er looked down and bit on her lip. "Mother, I was wrong." After speaking, she fiercely bit her teeth down. "It's just that the little s.l.u.t was too hateful, look at those words she spoke. They didn't merely target daughter, they even targeted you, Mother. She put us on the spot in front of everybody. I won't let this matter pass this way!"
"It's indeed surprising that the little vile spawn can m.a.t.u.r.e in this manner." Su Yan Mo extended her hand and pat the back of Helian Jiao Er's hand. "Don't worry, her temper is so savage, she won't end well. The martial qi competition is coming up. Your father should've already told you to concentrate and focus your attention on this. Jiao Er, you need to understand, in our Dragon War Empire, only family background and martial qi are most important. No matter how that little vile spawn struggles, she won't be able to produce any fruits. Now that she's been removed from the clan's name list, it's impossible for her to participate in any convention, unless she truly has some innate skill or ability. Yet you already saw, during the exam at the academy this time, she didn't even dare to touch martial qi. It's indeed astonishing that she could make armaments, however, as long as she doesn't possess martial qi, then the things she made won't receive the elders' approval. Even if she's Grandmaster Zi Zun's sole official disciple, she still can only stare blankly at that pile of scrap iron, that's her fate. That's why, Jiao Er, you don't need to dirty your own hand for the sake of this kind of little vile spawn. Wait until you excel at the martial qi competition, who knows where she'll be. Do you understand what Mother's saying?"
Helian Jiao Er nodded her head as her fingers clenched again. "Daughter understands everything that Mother's said, however, how can daughter swallow this grievance. I really can't choke down this anger! If the people at the capitol knew of this matter we don't even know how they'll point at us daughter and Mother."
"That's why you must win even more!"
Su Yan Mo looked into the distance, her tone of voice determined. "Your father already made connections with people at Tiny Pond Under Heaven. You just wait to bring the best armament on stage!"
After so many days now, Helian Jiao Er finally heard news that made her feel comfortable as she extended a hand to support Su Yan Mo's arm. Her manner of speaking contained the hint of a spoiled child. "But I heard that recently, an unnamed beggar appeared within the capitol, rampant and difficult to deal with. Every influential family got in a fight with him. What should I do if I encounter him during the competition?"
"Why would you have to worry about this." Su Yan Mo chuckled. "Jiao Er, you need to remember. You have the constitution of a phoenix in your body. Even the elders from
the four great clans need to protect you. A small little beggar, your grandfather will find a way to dispose of for you."
Once Helian Jiao Er thought of the matter of the phoenix, her face didn't become happy at all, instead the light in her eyes sunk deeper as she dispiritedly whispered. "But at that year, I wasn't the only one who was divined to be a phoenix. Didn't Mother also hear that at that time, the godly monk said that I and that low life both were possibilities."
"Jiao Er!" Su Yan Mo suddenly shouted out in a stern voice. Her grave expression was never seen before. "Never talk about this again in the future!"
Helian Jiao Er naturally also knew that she'd said the wrong words. In an instant, her complexion turned pale and she nervously looked back and forth.
Su Yan Mo breathed a long sigh and extended a hand to stroke her beloved daughter's hair. "Right now, only the two of us are here, so there's nothing to be anxious about, but who knows how the walls have ears, Jiao Er, remember, at the time, the godly monk said that the one who's a reincarnation of the phoenix was you, and also can only be you! Understand?"
"I understand." Helian Jiao Er's head hung down as she became even more taciturn.
Su Yan Mo looked at the bamboo forest outside the window, and narrowed her eyes brimming with with insidiousness. It seemed that the little vile spawn really couldn't be spared…..
Chapter 195 - Why Did His Highness Choose Wei Wei
Su Yan Mo knew more than anyone that the reason Helian Jiao Er had received so much protection was because it's rumored that she was the reincarnation of the phoenix.
Even though the imperial family was in power in Dragon War Empire, however, there were many, many affairs which, before they carry them out, they couldn't help but carefully consider the four great clans' positions.
This is the situation that'd been present ever since the founding of Dragon War Empire. No one could break it.
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