Bestowing favours and disfavours, since ancient time, this was an emperor’s method.
Helian Wei Wei observed this scene and took it all in without saying anything and merely curved her lips up. She’s afraid this stay at Hidden Spirit Temple wouldn’t be as peaceful as Retired Emperor desired…
“Eldest Miss.” Wei Wei was just going to enter the side room to dine when she was stopped by a noticeably pretty maid’s voice.
That maid was none other than Su Yan Mo’s personal maid of many years, Little Lian.
She slowly walked towards Wei Wei, wearing light pink long skirt, covered in silk and satin, although she couldn’t be considered outstandingly beautiful, she still always radiated a cultivated bearing.
She was only a maid, yet everything she ate and used was better compared to the one who truly carried the Helian family’s blood.
“Eldest Miss, My Lady knows that you’ve been driven away from the clan, and is suffering, probably without much money to use, so she had me give you these jewelry. They lady said that you’re also already at marriageable age, so you’ll need these things for your dowry.”
She deserved to be the head maid who’d followed by Lady Su’s side, clearly concealing disdain within her eyes, yet each word spoken was appropriate to the circumstances.
Wei Wei didn’t immediately immediately receive the jewelry from her hands at all and only smiled, seemingly absent-mindedly. “How many years have you worked for the Defense Division?”
Little Lian obviously didn’t foresee that she’d ask this kind of question, and only stiffened slightly, after which she replied. “I’ve entered the Defense Division for almost eight years now.”
Has it been eight years.
When she was seven years old, Mother passed away.
The Defense Mansion then changed owners, and Lady Su assumed power. Even though she’s alive, yet she’s a good-for-nothing who couldn’t cultivate anything.
She looked on helplessly with a hatred that couldn’t be revenged, an injustice yet couldn’t cry out!
So it turned out that it’s already been eight years…
Wei Wei profoundly inhaled a long breath. There seemed to be a slight chill while she breathed. The more it’s like that, the more harmlessly she smiled. “I’ll accept these jewelry then. Go back and tell Madam Su, just tell her that I thank her for taking care of me all these years.”
Little Lian creased her long eyebrows and watched the retreating Wei Wei’s back. Why did she feel that there were overtones in the words that person spoke. However, after carefully thinking about the way this good-for-nothing had been in the past, Little Lian then felt at ease. It’s not that she hadn’t heard. She’d also heard recently of Wei Wei’s achievements, but no matter how awesome they were, there’s still been no progress in the way she handled matters. This kind of temper that disregarded consequences would easily be caught in people’s schemes. Taking all things into consideration, she merely had a bit of talent in armaments, and didn’t possess the least bit of anything else.
A young silly girl relying only on this little bit of talent dared to make life difficult for Miss Jiao Er, was simply acting too recklessly.
In the past, the madam disdained to deal with her because simply by praising her in a way that put her at a disadvantage was already enough to disorient this girl.
Now, this girl unexpectedly didn’t want to live that way anymore, therefore the time had come for her to die.
Little Lian looked down, malicious intent densely imaged within her eyes.
“Madam.”
“Yes.”
Walking among the crowd, Su Yan Mo slowed down her steps as Little Lian leaned over and spoke in a muffled voice. “According to your instructions, this servant already took the box of jewelry and gave it to that girl. It’s really as Madam expected, in regards to money, that girl has never refused.”
Su Yan Mo circulated the beads in her hands.
As the setting sun descended, the temple’s radiance became fully shaded. The dim light of night gradually enveloped everything. The temple after the rain actually looked a little bit sinister.
After eating vegetarian food, according to the customs from previous years, the students were able to take a break and could go to another courtyard to burn incense to seek a prophecy regarding their predestined marriages.
They waited until after Retired Emperor finished praying for blessings before they headed for the pavilion.
Wei Wei had just arrived at her room. She casually grasped the teapot on the wood table and was going to pour out some tea, when she heard a knock on her door.
After opening the door, she only saw the person who rode in the same carriage as her, Chen Wen Wan, standing outside holding an umbrella in her hand wearing a change of clothes, her voice low. “Younger Sister, it’s time to make a move…”
Zaa zaa, a burst of heavy rain arrived.
All of the students had no choice but to drape on a cloak and carried an umbrella into the main hall of the Buddhist temple. It’s difficult to avoid disrespecting the deities, but what made the students wait outside with their umbrellas open was that Retired Emperor also wasn’t someone who adhered strictly to convention without considering the circumstances. Seeing that the rain was so big outside, he immediately instructed Eunuch Sun to have everyone called to the side chamber to avoid them being showered by the rain.
The little eunuch who passed on the message happened to be the one who arranged a horse carriage for Wei Wei. He shook his head and said. “This is so strange. How come this year’s rain is so big. Usually, such a big rain hasn’t been seen before.”
“It’s just heavy rain, you make it sound a bit too bizarre.” Another person objected.
The little eunuch’s eyes rolled, an acted seriously. “How am I exaggerating. Look at how when we arrived, there were trees on the road. The trunks were so thick, yet they still fell. According to what’s commonly known, this is actually an extremely ill omen.”
“Really?” That person looked left and right, and felt himself getting chills all over.
The little eunuch lowered his voice. “Generally speaking, females aren’t permitted in a temple. However, these young ladies are all treasures, so there shouldn’t be any problems. The only thing that we should be afraid of is someone born fated to be a scourge to others, whose appearance could offend the deities.”
“What you’re saying seems to make some sense.”
Those two people muttering to each other beneath the eaves couldn’t avoid being overheard by others.
Under this atmosphere, no matter whether it was the males or the females, they all loved to gossip. It just so happens that they also used this subject to lead into others. The more they chatted, the more their spirits rose, and also the more excessive their words became.
Wei Wei stood to one side, her body leaned by the side of the window, looking out at the falling rain outside, lightly creased her shapely eyebrows.
Don’t know whether it’s because the weather was bad, but from the start, Wei Wei felt that ever since she entered the temple, her heart already felt something difficult to define.
It’s probably because Yuan Ming was asleep again. She truly wasn’t accustomed to not hearing his constant ‘need a spanking’ voice.
This time, it’s not because he wanted to cultivate, but rather because the demon and Buddha were supposed to clash…
“Younger Sister, Retired Emperor will soon come out. You should watch carefully.” Chen Wen Wan was standing by Wei Wei’s side, reminding her quietly. “Don’t forget the thing I gave you.”
Wei Wei levelly ‘mm hm’d once, and immediately stood straight up afterwards.
The wood doors opened.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang led Retired Emperor and walked out. His two palms were placed together. One couldn’t tell at all that he was that irascible man they met when they first came up the mountain. On the contrary, his demeanor belonged to a great master, with a merciful state of mind. “Amitabha, Buddha be praised, the Retired Emperor is dedicated to Buddha, truly is a blessing for us Buddhists.”
“The great master is too polite.” Retired Emperor’s palms were also together, as he faced Fang Zhang he even bowed in ceremony. The smiling expression on his mouth seemed extremely forgiving and magnanimous.
Head Abbot Fang Zhang laughed and continued to lead the way. “According to your habits each year, I already had people prepare green tea made with spring water. Please.”
“I’m already getting old and am only fond of the great master’s peace and quietness here. This time I’ve brought a bit more people, I hope this won’t be to much trouble for the great master.” As Retired Emperor was speaking, he was walking outside. “Will the great master also take a look and see which of these daughters have good fates. That grandson of mine should be set up already.”