One ought to know that it wasn't that easy to have their fortunes told at Hidden Spirit Temple. This temple was known for only reading three fortunes per day, beyond that, it wasn't possible no matter how powerful you were.
However, they had no choice but admit that the fortunes told by Hidden Spirit Temple was indeed exceedingly accurate, within the capitol no few high officials and nobles made nothing of hardsh.i.p.s to travel severals days just to wait in the early morning for these three chances to have their fortunes told.
That's why once they heard that Head Abbot Fang Zhang will interpret their fortunes, each of those young ladies who'd obtained a bamboo stick became quite excited.
After all Fang Zhang rarely ever told fortunes. Even having him preaching a few words of exhortation here was more difficult than difficult.
It could be said that this time, he's doing this for the sake of their convenience.
Each of them brought forth the fortune stick that they'd prayed for. Even though they hadn't said what they'd prayed for, however, everybody knew that eight or nine times out of ten, they prayed to know their fate in marriage.
When Helian Jiao Er handed over her own fortune stick, she turned her face to the side and glanced at Baili Jia Jue, her pupils swayed bashfully, yet also seemed like she's extremely lovable, as she stood by his left hand side in a natural manner.
Her maid was pleased to see her make this move. In the past, her lady was too reserved. Now, she finally knew to take a bit of the initiative, very good, very good.
Some of the young lords also saw this scene, and sadness clearly flashed in their eyes.
Wei Wei was still standing there mulling over what she could've done to have provoked Third Prince when she heard Hei Ze say. "Girl, why don't you go draw one." (obtain a fortune stick)
(*Many Chinese temples provide a way for visitors to pray and obtain an answer to their questions or requests by virtue of a bamboo cylinder containing a bundle of flat bamboo sticks inside. The person making the requests shakes the cylinder until one bamboo stick falls out. Interestingly, almost always, only one of the sticks will fall out first. On the stick are coded words which a monk can decipher and explain to you the chances your prayers would be answered or whether you'd meet with fortune or misfortune. Also search 'Kau Cim' or 'Chinese fortune sticks')
Chapter 202 - Divining a Marriage Predestined by Fate
"I'm not interested in marriage." Wei Wei was telling the truth.
Hei Ze looked at her as if he's looking at a freak. "Weird girl."
Wei Wei lazily glanced at him. "Still better than a certain person who doesn't even dare to admit who he likes."
Hei Ze was immediately stumped. Hey, hey, hey, can we just chat cheerfully!
Even though the two of their voices were very quiet, however, it's also difficult to avoid drawing the attention of the surrounding people.
Especially Baili Jia Jue, who hadn't looked away from them from beginning to end.
Eunuch Sun's eyes saw the more the arc at the corners of his master's mouth curved up, the more horrifying it was and straightforwardly spoke. "Will Miss Wei Wei also draw one, maybe you'd benefit."
Eunuch Sun didn't think that his own words would cause all eyes to turn towards Wei Wei.
Abbot Fang Zhang stroked the white beard under his chin even more and smiled. "This female benefactor indeed should also draw a fortune stick, I've stayed at this temple for many years. This is the first time that I've seen a profile that's so auspicious for her husband*, forehead and area between brows exudes intelligence, could turn all misfortunes into blessings, brows and eyes carry healthy energy, should foster great prosperity and nobleness."
Everybody was astonished at Fang Zhang's declarations. One ought to know that Wei Wei had just been kicked out of the Defense Division. Right now, she could be considered to be penniless, without a single thing to her name, if it weren't for that fact that she won the intra-academy competition this time, how would she even be included in the trip to Hidden Spirit Temple.
How was it that from Fang Zhang's mouth, she became a tycoon?
However, someone who could make Fang Zhang opened his mouth to analyze her physiognomy was probably few and far between.
Could it be that Wei Wei's fortunes would still change?
The young lords' gazes were full of doubt.
But Helian Jiao Er hated so much she distorted a corner of her handkerchief, teeth ferociously bit at her thin lips, eyes like they're steeped in poisonous arsenic, yet when she looked down, everything was concealed thoroughly.
However, in the beginning, Abbot Fang Zhang, only because he heard Third Prince's words, after that, he became interested in finding out about this girl, Wei Wei, a student from the Inferior Compound.
But when he genuinely went and saw her, he felt that her countenance indeed, truly stood out from the masses. He continued. "As for other aspects, this female benefactor needs to draw a fortune stick before we it could be divined."
Wei Wei indifferently received the gazes casted from all around. She faced Head Abbot Fang Zhang and smiled politely. "Many thanks for abbot's good intentions. It's Wei Wei who doesn't have an affinity with Buddha. I'm accustomed to being laid-back, and has always believed in only one thing, my fate is dependant on me, not on the heavens."
Suddenly, the temple hall came to a standstill in an instant.
All of the people looked at Wei Wei in a way that couldn't be described in words.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang was stunned, after which he burst into laughter. That laughter reverberated within the temple hall and didn't fade for a very long time. "Deserves to be of Helian blood, a talentless golden carp encountering storms turning into a dragon**, Helian Wei Wei, the future you, it's truly making me look forward to it!"
"Thanks for Abbot Fang Zhang's auspicious words." Wei Wei chuckled, neither alarmed by honor nor disgrace made Retired Emperor take note.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang then turned and glanced towards Baili Jia Jue at the not so distant place, deep meaning fully written on his brows, eyes, and mouth. No wonder this icy fellow favored this girl. There were plenty of people who believed in Buddhism in the world, yet they didn't understand cause and effect. How did this Wei Wei not have an affinity with Buddha, clearly her heart was fearless, her understanding was even more profound than other people. She's actually quite compatible with this cold mannered, heartless icy fellow. Retired Emperor had finally thought it through, maybe also because of this point.
Yet Baili Jia Jue didn't look at him, eyes downcast, making people unable to perceive his state of mind whatsoever.
Listening at the side, Helian Jiao Er's whole heart twisted, but a smiling expression still covered her face. It's just that unnoticed by people, her hands clenched and somewhat deformed.
Her maid didn't know what to say, and only moved to move Helian Jiao Er's fortune stick forward.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang smiled as he picked up this fortune stick, a couple of succinct words told her fortunes.
What Helian Jiao Er obtained was the highest high fortune, and was also the only highest high fortune among those girls from influential families. It drew everyone's exclamation of admiration.
The highest high fortune was indeed not easy to find, so it could be seen just how good Helian Jiao Er's fate was.
However, one had no choice but to admit that Helian Jiao Er's fortunes seemed to be the best here.
Those aristocratic ladies who were already previously vigilant of Helian Jiao Er turned towards this side again, envy and admiration written in their eyes. That personal maid by Helian Jiao Er's side, lifted high her chin, and seemed to deliberately swept her glance over Wei Wei.
Wei Wei wasn't so idle that she'd bother about these things about a maid, her eyes fixed on a corner of the statue of Buddha as eyebrows raised.
"Some people are incapable of drawing out a highest high fortune and doesn't even dare to touch the bamboo cylinder."
Women, even if they did
n't want to admit it, however, they truly would have that kind of tendency to step on the lowly fawn on those higher, fond of laughing at people, added to that envy, when they got together, they're unable to control themselves and wanted to speak.
Wei Wei raised the corners of her mouth, as if she absolutely didn't attach any importance to this kind of provocation.
The maid standing beside Helian Jiao Er also couldn't put up with it any longer. Because of Helian Wei Wei, this s.l.u.t, she recently suffered no small amount of anger. Now, she wanted to grab this opportunity even more, and spoke in a shady, provocative tone. "That's just the way it is, she's afraid of pulling out a poor fortune."
Hearing these words, Helian Jiao Er hypocritically reprimanded. "Withdraw! Truly failing to understand good behavior more and more!"
That maid's shoulders withdrew and shrunk back, but seeing that there wasn't any trace of disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e upon her young lady's face, knew that her actions this time concurred with her lady's inclinations.
"Oldest Sister, you don't need to bother about these lowly people." Helian Jiao Er said gently. "Yesterday's matter, I already thought a lot about it, Mother also instructed me that in the future, we need to be kind and love one another. Just now, even Abbot Fang Zhang said that Oldest Sister's fortunes are out of the ordinary. If you touch the fortune cylinder and ruined your fate, that wouldn't be good."
When Yuan Ming woke up, he happened to hear these words and smiled evilly. "Girl, she's provoking you, if I were you, I definitely wouldn't endure it."
"Huh? If I were you, I wouldn't come out at this time, we're actually in Buddhist territory." When Wei Wei laughed, it's very easy to make people think of the word demon.
Yuan Ming coldly harrumphed. "Would this venerable one fear these Buddhist statues. It's merely because I haven't fully recovered. Wait until I've fully recovered, I'll completely break these toys to pieces!"
"I wonder who it was who when I just entered the temple, he already hid in the Celestial Boundary Space." Wei Wei spoke indifferently.
Yuan Ming's lips twitched. "Girl, right now, I'm not the one being looked down upon, it's you."
"Looked down upon?" Wei Wei's beautiful phoenix eyes looked up then strolled to finally arrive before the bamboo cylinder, picked up the inscribed wood sticks arranged in a row, and put them all inside the bamboo cylinder.
Helian Jiao Er's red lips were half raised in anticipation of Wei Wei being laughed at. One ought to know that in the past, this little s.l.u.t, whenever she requested a fortune, the one to fall on her had always been the lowest low fortune. There's never been a change in ten years. This time, she's going to wait for her to lose face!
*The abbot was analyzing Wei Wei's physiognomy. In China, some believed that not only can a person's facial features reflect their personality and character, it can also indicate their potential, future prospects, and especially for women, whether they're auspicious for their husband and family, or deleterious.
**Reference to the myth of the golden carp leaping over the dragon's gate.
Chapter 203 - If His Highness Can’t Get It Then Voila!
Helian Wei Wei's left hand grabbed the bamboo cylinder, and casually shook it around.
Her movements didn't look as pious as other young ladies', yet it contained an elegance that was difficult to describe.
Eunuch Sun sighed, and muttered in a quiet voice. "How come this person's style doesn't seem like she's requesting her fortune stick. Instead, it seems like she's swirling a goblet."
Hearing this, Baili Jia Jue looked up, a trace of light streaked through his apathetic eyes, faintly discernible.
Moving around this cylinder of bamboo sticks and so on made Wei Wei truly feel a bit awkward, she then casually adopted a posture of entering a casino. After shaking a number of times, once she found the feeling, she raised her hand.
The bamboo stick fell down.
The little novice monk standing by the side took that fortune stick and gave it to Head Abbot Fang Zhang.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang saw the words on the fortune stick and burst out into loud laughter. "Excellent, excellent."
Retired Emperor uttered 'oh?', until after the wood stick was brought to him did his eyebrows jump in astonishment.
Helian Jiao Er realized that something's not right, suddenly turned to look at Wei Wei.
And only saw those smiling eyes looking back at her directly before she shook the cylinder in her hand again, with a purely evil appearance.
Pa!
It's already outstanding to obtain one excellent divination.
At this time, even the little novice monk was a bit perturbed when he looked at the words written on the fortune stick. He couldn't help but take another look at Wei Wei.
"Both are highest high fortunes." Head Abbot Fang Zhang stroked his beard. "It's indeed rare to see."
Both were the highest high fortunes? !
Within the temple hall, there was an uproar, as people looked at one another in dismay. When they looked at Wei Wei once again, there's faintly more envy and admiration.
That maid standing by Helian Jiao Er's side was stunned, and subconsciously looked at her lady's face.
Sure enough, it ashened.
Why was it like this? !
The maid's entire body was a little dazed, because in the past, they'd used the matter of drawing fortunes to mock the Eldest Miss.
At the time, Eldest Miss accompanied the young ladies to the temple every year and ran inside. The young ladies were disgusted with her but she didn't know it. She was more energetic than anybody when it came to this kind of thing like praying for her own fortune. As if afraid other people didn't know she adored Lord Murong, she only ever prayed for a marriage predestined by fate. Each time she made a wish, was a time she was humiliated, noisy mockery would ensue.
What happened with this s.l.u.t today?
Could someone's fate even be changed? !
How come she'd never heard of this kind of thing before!
Helian Jiao Er gripped her hands, since even if she wasn't willing, she still needed to muster a smile.
On the contrary, Wei Wei was direct and efficient. When she passed by Helian Jiao Er's side, she suddenly inclined her body as her fingers lightly helped her sweep away the dust on her shoulder, the sound of her voice neither low nor high, as if she didn't care if other people heard her as she spoke clearly and drawn out. "Younger Sister? How is it? Does your face hurt?"
These subtle and ineffable words made people listening by the side a bit confused.
Nevertheless, Helian Jiao Er understood and that little face became completely rigid as that originally forced smile disappeared from the corners of her mouth. The previously refined eyebrows became somewhat malevolent.
Wei Wei definitely didn't didn't care how she's doing as she returned again to her original position, as calm and composed as before, a lethargic and indolent appearance.
Helian Jiao Er wrung her handkerchief, in a way that wished she could eat Wei Wei.
It could be assumed to be true if Wei Wei drew a highest high fortune after no one said anything, then maybe Helian Jiao Er wouldn't have felt so humiliated.
Since a moment ago, basically, astute people could see that this Helian Jiao Er clearly wanted to see Wei Wei humiliated.
In the end, not only was Wei Wei not humiliated, she even drew two highest high fortunes from the bamboo cylinder, this was even better than Helian Jiao Er.
As for Helian Jiao Er, her heart originally already almost bled from anger, yet Wei Wei asked her if her face hurted.
That tempo made her angry enough to die!
Head Abbot Fang Zhang watched this scene and spiritedly casted a look at Baili Jia Jue, seemingly to convey [how is it that the person you favored is just like you, if she won't open her mouth then she won't, but once she does, she could make a living person choke up blood!]
Baili Jia Jue indifferently returned his gaze. [What? You have a complaint?]
Head Abbot Fang Zhang silently looked at the sky, how could he have any complaint, he only wanted to ask him how in the world he found such a girl!
Under all of the heavens, finding a person with as poisonous a tongue as Third Prince certainly wasn't an easy thing to do!
Baili Jia Jue didn't look at Head Abbot Fang Zhang again, only steadying his eyes which completely lacked any trace of a smile.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang traced the direction of his gaze only to see Wei Wei leaning her head to speak with Hei Ze, no one could hear what she's saying.
But Hei Ze could be seen smiling as he turned towards her, an appearance of couldn't help but pamper and indulge her.
Kacha.
Abbot Fang Zhang heard the little statue of Buddha next to his hand appeared to f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y crack. His white eyebrows furrowed deeply. He seemed to have oversimplified things previously.
No, not just him.
Rather it's they, they'd always thought that if there's someone like this by High Highness' side, it'd be most fitting.
Yet they'd never thought before that maybe that person wouldn't be willing.
However, based on His Highness' personality, whatever thing that he wanted, he must obtain, moreover he must possess it completely!
Complete, completely, in other words, meant that this thing must be spotlessly clean.
It didn't matter that he considered Wei Wei as a prey right now, or if he had a slight interest in her.
He's truly afraid that His Highness would do something, for example...destroy Helian Wei Wei!
The more Head Abbot Fang Zhang thought about it, the more worried he became, he glanced to the side and exchanged a look with Retired Emperor.
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 97