"You care for her." Baili Jia Jue grabbed her hand and toyed with it in his palm. His voice was indifferent but penetrating.
Helian Wei Wei's fingers fiddled with the collar again as she asked, "But won't it be strange when you look at me? Wearing this thing?"
"No." Baili Jia Jue frowned his long eyebrows. The way he looked at Helian Wei Wei was as though she was a disobedient pet which was unsatisfied and displeased. "Initially, I wanted to get you a chain. It would be best to lock you up, but you do not seem to like it."
Helian Wei Wei was again rendered speechless. There won't be anyone who likes it! I feel like overturning the table! Why can't there be normal presents?
"This collar is not bad." Baili Jia Jue eyed Helian Wei Wei indifferently. "You like it a lot."
The corners of Helian Wei Wei's mouth slightly twitched, "When did I say I like it?"
"Didn't you looked at yourself in the bronze mirror for some time just now," Baili Jia Jue replied in a matter-of-fact tone, making Helian Wei Wei want to vomit blood. His Highness had an exceptional talent for misunderstanding others, there was simply no way to communicate with him.
Helian Wei Wei felt defeated.
Baili Jia Jue patted her head. "There's no need to be shy."
Helian Wei Wei only felt like mocking him.
Then, an exquisite and magnificent ray of light glowed in front of her eyes. When she looked again, a black ring appeared in his palm. It was shaped like a key. It seemed that the ring and the collar on her neck came in a set.
Yet again, Helian Wei Wei was dumbfounded.
What kind of stupid territorial awareness is this?
Wet Nurse Xu, who was standing beside them, could no longer contain herself, hence she smiled at Helian Wei Wei. "His Highness really treats the princess consort well. I don't think this set can be duplicated again in the entire world."
Helian Wei Wei believed her words. Mysterious Ice Tungsten Iron was extremely rare and it would cost an exorbitant amount of money to craft it with such finesse.
However rare it was, a collar was still a collar.
Yes, the world's finest collar.
Helian Wei Wei pondered for a while as she glanced at Baili Jia Jue. He was squinting his starry eyes under the glow, a ray flashing by in his eyes as he stared at her neck. His light-colored lips arched slightly with an elegant demeanor, exquisite like a jade.
Fine. It's rather pretty anyway. I'll just wear it.
Helian Wei Wei had always been quite open-minded about these matters. She wore a smile on her face as she chattered with Wet Nurse Xu.
Baili Jia Jue was sitting on the wooden chair as he listened. He supported his chin with his left hand while holding an ancient book in his right hand, returning to his usual noble self. Clad casually in a white shirt and a green robe, his pose was straight while his handsome face was regal and elegant. He had a profound, down-to-earth temperament but his expression was placid and tranquil as usual.
As she held the robe in her hand, Wet Nurse Xu deliberately lowered her voice and stopped talking about her work. She seemed relieved as she looked at Helian Wei Wei, and uttered, "There are some things that I'm not sure if an old lady like me should say. If I have made any mistakes, I hope the princess consort can forgive me."
Helian Wei Wei put the clothing aside, "Is Mistress Xu referring to Yun Biluo?"
Wet Nurse Xu's fingers froze. Then, she smiled, "There is nothing I can hide from the princess consort's eyes." Others claimed that the Helian family's first young lady was a truly unsightly lady, without beauty or a brain. However, Wet Nurse Xu could see that she was a bright and sharp individual.
Helian Wei Wei grinned, "Mistress Xu, I'm not interested in her. You can tell Baili Jia Jue whatever you want directly."
Wet Nurse Xu was stunned. She did not expect such an answer.
She thought that she was a selfish lady and would be enraged.
She also thought that the princess consort was aware of everything, and wanted to find someone to discuss how to help Young Lady Yun settle down.
However, it seemed that Helian Wei Wei's reaction did not fall within these two possibilities.
"Has the princess consort not thought about letting Young Lady Yun settle down?" Wet Nurse Xu had been in the palace for a long time, witnessing the Third Prince and Yun Biluo growing up.
Helian Wei Wei simply laughed, "Settle down?"
Wet Nurse Xu explained hurriedly, "Princess consort, this old servant has no other intentions. His Highness has a solitary character since young and rarely asks for something that he wants. Previously, I thought His Highness only married you because of the Retired Emperor's wish. However, it seems that His Highness really treasures the princess consort now. I simply hope that the princess consort can give Young Lady Yun a chance when it is time for His Highness to wed a secondary consort."
Helian Wei Wei stared at Wet Nurse Xu, partially smiling. "It seems that Granny Xu really takes care of Miss Yun like your own child."
Wet Nurse Xu knew that her request was too much, "Please do not be angry, princess consort."
"I'm not angry," Helian Wei Wei smiled indifferently. "Every mother will do things they usually won't for her child. However, I also have the right to refuse such matters. If Baili Jia Jue really wanted to marry a secondary consort, I would not interfere. I would neither help nor disapprove anyone, so Granny Xu does not need to worry about this." She would have left instantly at that point in time. She had no care about such matters.
Wet Nurse Xu's limbs froze unnaturally. "It was very out of bounds for me to make such a ridiculous request from the princess consort."
Helian Wei Wei did not refute this but merely glanced at her, "Since you know you are asking for too much, do not mention this again. I do not know if Baili Jia Jue would wed a secondary consort, but do you think he would do this, Granny Xu?"
"The princess consort knows His Highness the best after all," Wet Nurse Xu lowered her gaze. The smile on her face looked consoled but also sad, "Young Lady Yun is too infatuated that she overthinks it. I have never seen His Highness smile as he did just now, even after taking care of him for so many years. He would only sneer at best. It was unbelievable for His Highness to bring the princess consort to the Royal Wardrobe personally like this. Even after serving him for so long, we, the servants, still feel intimidated by him. He was as scary as a tiger. His Highness must have also realized that, so no one could become close to His Highness. From the very beginning to the end, His Highness has been alone..."
Chapter 359 - Madam Su Conspired Against Wei Wei 1
After hearing what Wet Nurse Xu had said, Helian Wei Wei set aside the clothes that were in her hands. She unconsciously tilted her head and peered at Baili Jia Jue who was sitting outside, noticing that his eyes were closed. His long eyelashes and elegantly noble handsome face bathed under the light, radiating a refined aura.
"Ultimately, he would have the final say in these matters." Helian Wei Wei retracted her gaze. Then, she spoke with a normal and casual voice, "If Granny feels sorry for anyone again in the future, you do not have to inform me. It's meaningless."
Wet Nurse Xu paused for a moment as her gaze dimmed. However, she did not forget her duty. She merely bowed and continued to look on respectfully as Helian Wei Wei chose her items.
However, Yun Biluo never expected that person to bring anyone to the Royal Wardrobe.
She thought that she understood His Highness's character better than anyone.
Yet now...
Yun Biluo stared at the white flowers that were blooming outside the window. Her crystal clear eyes darkened as her fingers that were hidden under the long sleeves clenched tightly.
In spite of that, Helian Jiao Er who was sitting beside her still questioned indirectly, "Was that His Highness just now? Why would His Highness bring Helian Wei Wei to the Royal Wardrobe?"
Yun Biluo understood the reason Helian Jiao Er would ask such questions. Before they came to the Royal Wardrobe
, she had told Helian Jiao Er about the purpose of the wardrobe.
The wardrobe was exclusively for the royal family to use. Whether it was a robe or a scarf, every single piece was custom made. It would be very rare to find another wardrobe like this in the capital.
Most importantly, only the royal families were able to enter the Royal Boutique.
However, Yun Biluo was different. She was His Highness's personal servant and the only girl that His Highness had ever brought into the wardrobe.
Yet now, she was undoubtedly not the only one anymore.
However, Helian Wei Wei was different.
She was personally brought in by His Highness.
Furthermore, His Highness even waited at the side for her to choose her clothes.
Even if His Highness was simply playing along with the Retired Emperor, what His Highness did was unduly excessive...
Yun Biluo unconsciously scratched her finger at the thought of it, inflicting a sharp pain that woke her up from her wandering mind. She flashed a smile at Helian Jiao Er, "Since he is putting on an act, he wants to act convincingly."
"Are you implying that His Highness was acting?" Helian Jiao Er's eyes brightened, "That's definitely possible. I saw that the shadow guards of the Retired Emperor were following them all the way."
Yun Biluo absent-mindedly gave an affirmative noise, but she still felt uneasy.
It was probably because His Highness had yet to forgive her.
She had never spoken to His Highness alone since Helian Wei Wei appeared.
However, Yun Biluo was very certain about one thing. This situation could not continue on like this...
"Jiao Er," Yun Biluo smiled gently and her voice was sweet, "You could not go to the academy and was forbidden from leaving the house, aren't you bored?"
Helian Jiao Er was very adept at acting pitiful, as she said with self-mockery, "How could I not be bored? Elder Sister Yun, you should know too. I angered His Highness because of what happened with Helian Wei Wei the other day. If it wasn't for Father and Mother, I would have been married off to that castrate, Huai'an. Now that Helian Wei Wei has someone behind her, I don't know how she would conspire against me if she sees me again."
"Miss Wei Wei does have some nerves." As Yun Biluo took a sip of tea, she said, "I was very shocked when I heard the news too."
Helian Jiao Er was quick to notice that there was an underlying meaning behind Yun Biluo's words. For the past few days, all of them were constantly talking about that whore, Helian Wei Wei. Father especially hoped that the whore would make a mistake and lose her right to inherit the royal family. It would do her father a favor if she could lay her hands on some rumors about Helian Wei Wei.
"Elder Sister Yun knew what happened?" Helian Jiao Er lowered her voice, "Please tell me, I won't tell anyone."
Yun Biluo pondered and said, "I received some information that claims Wei Ze World has been purchasing a huge amount of heat-resistant steel lately. Helian Wei Wei covertly stored the heat-resistant steel in a cottage outside the capital. She is probably secretly concocting a scheme."
"It shouldn't be a problem." Helian Jiao Er frowned, slightly confused, "Hasn't she been practicing martial arts all this while?"
Yun Biluo glanced at her and spoke plainly, "Making a martial arts weapon is fine, so is making ten of them. However, making too many would be a different matter. Try thinking about it, would the Retired Emperor allow anyone to threaten the royal sovereignty? After purchasing such a large quantity of steel and smelting them, won't they all become weapons in the end? Will the Retired Emperor be happy to hear this?"
"Elder Sister Yun is so knowledgeable, no wonder Helian Wei Wei would take such careful measures." Helian Jiao Er normally spent most of her time fighting with the women from the inner chambers. She originally thought that she was clever enough, having fooled so many of them. However, after hearing Yun Biluo's words, she realized that everything she did in the past was merely child's play if compared to the matters that involved the imperial court.
One wrong move and heads would roll.
As this crossed her mind, a poisonous look flashed upon Helian Jiao Er's gaze, causing her shy beautiful face to look distorted...
All Helian Jiao Er could think about was that she must relay this information to her mother. Then, her mother could contrive a plot and take advantage of this golden opportunity to finish off that whore, Helian Wei Wei, once and for all.
Meanwhile, Su Yan Mo's face turned sour when she noticed that Helian Guang Yao took another glance at a young servant in the Hei family.
She did not know what was going on lately as Helian Guang Yao seemed to be dissatisfied with her. He warned her not to throw a tantrum when they were out.
Su Yan Mo knew that she should not be revealing her anger in front of other people.
However, her pair of beloved daughters were 'framed' by the evil creature, Helian Wei Wei. From then on, she would be wary of the gazes that the 'ladies' gave her every time she went outside.
The ladies in the Hei family seemed to be hiding some things from her as well.
The more Su Yan Mo was treated so, the greater her intention to re-enter the social circle.
"What is wrong with you today? Can't you say less when we are outside?" Helian Guang Yao was furious. He thought that Su Yan Mo's actions were depreciating, and he was scared that Su Yan Mo might accidentally discover the fact that he was having an affair. It would be difficult for him to explain to the Su family later.
"What did I do wrong? All this time, what has our Jiao Er become? Looking at it, only the master of the Hei family is suitable for her in this capital. If she could be married into the Hei family, we can erase whatever that had happened previously and start afresh." Su Yan Mo had never experienced this. No matter where she went, everyone seemed to be looking at her weirdly. She desperately needed something to prove her worth. Thus, all her words and actions seemed to be cottoning up to others. She failed to see that she was in the wrong and even thought that it was the right thing to do.
Chapter 360 - Madam Su Conspired Against Wei Wei 2
Helian Guang Yao was greatly irritated at the sight of her behavior. He was especially embarrassed when his wife enthusiastically greeted the others.
When he married Su Yan Mo into his family, some people in the Capital's social circle looked down on him.
It was only when his influence gradually grew that people slowly forgot about it.
No matter how great the Su family was, they were still incomparable to the Helian family as they were a genuine aristocratic family.
Primitively, time was necessary to nurture some qualities.
He used to think that Su Yan Mo was the type of woman that a man needed the most. She was gentle and understood how to react according to circ.u.mstances.
However, she was still a mere maiden from a small family.
These maidens from a weaker background were indeed pitiful when they were younger.
This would remind him of his affectionate little mistress. Compared to her, he felt that Su Yan Mo was increasingly needy.
Su Yan Mo did not want to start a fight with Helian Guang Yao outside. She absolutely forbid herself from arguing openly with a man.
She unconsciously softened her voice, "Old Master, I was merely very worried for Jiao Er."
"Did I not advise you to wait? It won't be too late to do all this when I truly acquire the right to inherit the Helian family," Helian Guang Yao's attitude was coated with annoyance.
Naturally, Su Yan Mo was not pleased.
Helian Guang Yao glanced at her again and added, "You should go back and mull over it. Come out when you have thought things through." As he said this, he called for his servants, "Send madam back."
"Yes, sir," the servant lowered his gaze and walked over to Su Yan Mo respectfully, "Let us return first, Madam."
Su Yan Mo stared at Helian Guang Yao's back, a venomous look darted through her lowered gaze as she clenched he
r fists. However, she had no choice but to follow the servant and return.
Helian Jiao Er was waiting in the room when she saw the gloomy look on Su Yan Mo, but she was not sure what had happened.
When she mentioned the name 'Helian Wei Wei', Su Yan Mo flung the cup of tea in her hand and shouted, "Don't bring up that little whore's name!" It was all that whore's fault that the three of them were forced into this position! She wanted nothing but to strangle that whore to death!
"Listen to me, Mother. This time we can make sure that this little whore can never recover..." Helian Jiao Er moved nearer to Su Yan Mo and told her all the information she had.
Su Yan Mo's eyes brightened upon hearing it. She pondered for a while and ordered the previous servant, "Go to the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs and bring Minister Li Meng here."
Li Meng was a distant relative of the Su family in Jiang Nan.
He was transferred to the capital recently. The Su family gave him a lot of support in his work as well as advancement in his career.
Prime Minister Su placed him in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs so that he would one day be useful to the Su family.
Obviously, Su Yan Mo would not let this chance slip away. When it was time for her pawns to make a move, she would command them accordingly.
When Li Meng heard the news from the servant, he immediately came to the General's residence.
He had helped Madam Su in completing countless things. He was the one who spread the rumors about Helian family's eldest young lady deep into the imperial court.
When the ministers heard the rumors, they would naturally forbid their son from marrying such a profligate and ugly woman into their families.
However, he could not understand the reason why Helian Wei Wei would suddenly become the Third Princess Consort, even after mulling over it for a long time.
Later, he heard that the Third Prince was simply playing along with the Retired Emperor.
However, even if it was to play along with the Retired Emperor, he could have married his cousin. Every man could not help but fall for her beauty. Why would he pick that hideous woman?
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 160