Chapter 98 - Was Seen Through
"Your Highness, we've found Young Master Hei."
One shadow ran over, leaned over by the side of Baili Jia Jue's ear and said some things.
Within Baili Jia Jue's beautiful eyes, there wasn't a single movement. There were only those wide and spacious sleeves which carried the cold winds and made the figure of his back even more difficult to approach, completely ice-cold.
With his skill, soon, Baili Jia Jue arrived in front of Hei Ze, who was being detained.
The shadows naturally wouldn't really do anything to the Hei family's young master.
They only obstructed him from leaving, that's all. However, merely doing this was already extremely daring.
Within the entire capital, probably the only person who dared to obstruct the Hei family's second young master was Third Prince, Baili Jia Jue.
Having seen him, the corners of Hei Ze's mouth curved up. "His Highness is indeed very refined, it's so late and still not sleeping?"
"Isn't Second Young Master also still not asleep?" The tone of Baili Jia Jue's voice was very level and almost appeared as if he was indifferent about everything, yet carried a demonic chill that was not easy to withstand. "Where is she?"
After that, he then started to think of every possible script he could use. He thought about the kinds of exchanges he would have with Third Prince when he arrived. No matter how the conversation progressed, he would, step by step, skillfully deflect it.
However!
Third Prince simply didn't deal the cards according to convention. He approached and asked at once "Where is she?"
Three such graceful and direct words, made Hei Ze thoroughly stunned.
All of the scripts he'd previously devised, became totally useless!
What Third Highness knew was clearly much more than he'd imagined. Thinking up to this point, Hei Ze bluntly smiled devilishly. "If the one Third Prince is referring to is Helian Wei Wei, then she already left the academy."
The two words, Wei Wei, made Baili Jia Jue's eyes sink deeper. The smile at the corners of his mouth was even deeper than usual. "Already left?"
"That's right, she already left." Hei Ze couldn't have spoken in a more sincere manner. "We originally mutually agreed to go down the mountain. Later, however, she seemed to be very anxious, and left in advance. At the moment, she most likely has already reached the main road. If Your Highness sends people to give chase right now, they should be able to bring her back."
Baili Jia Jue profoundly glanced at him, and gracefully and calmly said, "I should thank Second Young Master for offering such an important clue to me."
"A commoner should only do the things a commoner ought to do." Hei Ze curved his lips and smiled. A trace of complacency crossed his face as he was thinking of how he'd never been so resourceful before.
Baili Jia Jue leisurely turned the black jade ring on his finger, faced Shadow and levelly commanded. "Allow Second Young Master to leave."
"Yes." Shadow hesitated a bit. He somewhat didn't dare to believe that His Highness would allow Hei family's young master to leave just like that. There clearly was something going on between him and Miss Helian. If they investigated, maybe they could discover something.
Baili Jia Jue didn't think that way. That 'little sly fox' deliberately let loose Hei Ze, sending him forth as a smokescreen precisely because she wanted to hold him up. It wasn't necessary for him to waste his time on Hei Ze. What's more...
"Continue to search for me. Reduce the range; she hasn't gone anywhere and is still at the academy."
After hearing that, not only did Hei Ze, who was going to leave, become motionless, even the pit of Wei Wei's stomach, while she was concealed within the troops, also trembled!
Hei Ze's lie was seen through!
Not only that, that guy surprisingly even made use of Hei Ze's words and employed reverse analysis on them to target her real position!
This time, her situation had become even more precarious...
Moreover, since Third Prince already gave the command to allow Hei Ze to leave, then Hei Ze needed to leave.
Wei Wei chewed on her lips, looked into the dim light of night before she composed herself as before, as upright and tall as a pine tree's silhouette. Her lanky body's every graceful movement was calm and unhurried as she immediately straightened out her sleeves, as if everything was within her control.
Also, it could be that he did it on purpose. He deliberately got rid of Hei Ze, thereby cutting off the link she had with Hei Ze.
Heh.
Without Hei Ze, she'd still be able to succeed as before. Even though it'd be a bit more challenging, but it's no more challenging than just remaining concealed!
Wei Wei lowered her head, and followed those imperial guards to turn around and return to the institution.
What a pity. She and the entrance gate was merely one step's distance away from each other.
Yet even if it's only one step's distance like that, she still could only helplessly look on as the academy's entrance gate closed in front of her, because right now, any abnormal movement would cause her adversary to be alerted. She couldn't risk even the tiniest bit of exposure.
This guy, Third Prince, was just too smart, making it difficult for a person to break loose from his methods.
Right now, she can only cope with thousands of changes by being unchanging (remain inactive amidst activity), watch six roads and listen in all directions (be observant and alert), and wait for the right opportunity before figuring out how to get away.
However, Wei Wei certainly didn't see the ice-coldness that flashed through Baili Jia Jue's eyes when he looked up.
He slowly curved his lips, as if he was annoyed, but also as if he was pondering.
He actually wanted to see, after he incited Hei Ze to leave, how she would respond.
Would she look for him?
Or would she continue to hide like this?
However, no matter what she did.
If she was smart enough, then she shouldn't involve other people.
Because that would make him very, very unhappy!
Shadow, who followed by Baili Jia Jue's side, when he saw his master's expression, he couldn't help but perspire a burst of cold sweat in his heart on behalf of a certain person.
This time, His Highness truly got angry.
For so many years, there had never been a time like this time, when his His Highness grabbed on and just wouldn't let go.
In the past, His Highness was neither cold nor hot (indifferent) towards everything. No one was capable of guessing his thoughts, so much so that no one could arouse any of his emotions.
Wei Wei was the first one, the first one who could cause His Highness to go through so much trouble.
Shadow hardly dared to imagine. At the moment she'd have been truly captured by His Highness, what condition would she be in when exiting the stage (what condition would she be in when the play ended)...
"Achoo!" Wei Wei covered her mouth and softly sneezed. From the time she started to plan this play, her evasion had already lasted twelve hours.
She needed to hurry. Right now, Baili Jia Jue hadn't withdrawn his hand. She'll wait until he became idle, then her first reaction would be to check herself. It's almost the time when the artificial skin on her body could no longer be maintained.
Sigh, should she be happy, or should she believe that she's out of luck.
She'd done so many things so many times, yet this was still the first time she'd been forced by someone to this extent.
However, the main good show was only just about to start.
This is the time when humans were most tired, the wee hours when it's also easiest to make a mistake.
Pitter patter.
Suddenly, a light rain fell from the sky.
Shadow quickly opened an umbrella for Baili Jia Jue. As he was walking forward, he reported. "His Highness, we've thoroughly searched the entire Superior Compound, but didn't discover
any trace of Miss Helian at all."
"Still not found?" Baili Jia Jue's hand was slightly more sluggish. Heh. He actually underestimated that 'little fox's toughness.
Good. Very good.
Baili Jia Jue's eyes narrowed, his voice was neither cold nor warm. "Change the group of imperial guards and keep searching. The imperial guards who've been switched out are forbidden to leave the academy. Have them remain at their station and rest."
People who were exhausted will most easily show weaknesses.
He absolutely won't permit this kind of weakness to arise within his plan.
Wei Wei originally thought that when she got switched out she'd be able to return to her room. She didn't expect...Third Prince was not only smart, he simply was ridiculously two-faced. Even while he was being kind, he was being evil at the same time, so ruthless it made a person almost unable to stand it anymore...
Chapter 99 - She Couldn’t Jump Down
Just at this time.
A group of enchanting figures with differing poses approached. Walking behind were two servant girls. One servant girl carried a lantern. The other one held an umbrella. This image occurred within White Academy, yet seemed like a painting of misty rain from the southern regions.
It was Helian Jiao Er. A large red cloak was dr.a.p.ed on her shoulders. Even though there was no makeup on that little face, however, there was more of a gentle, calm beauty compared to usual.
She saw Baili Jia Jue and shyly curtsied in greeting. After that she faced the hectic Eunuch Sun and said, "I heard that Elder Sister is missing, so decided to come out to look for her. Does Eunuch Sun have news of her?"
Eunuch Sun was already so busy that he was about to faint. It was already so late. All he could think of right now was sleep. He tiredly shook his head a bit, but still didn't say anything.
Wei Wei, standing within the imperial guards troop, changed her position. Her gaze was fixed on Helian Jiao Er's back and those two servant girls. No matter what the reason for Helian Jiao Er coming out at this time was, for her, this could be a good opportunity...
"Was the Hei family's young master found?" Helian Jiao Er continued to talk. Her beautiful eyebrows slightly creased, almost as if she was concerned about Wei Wei's behavior. "My Eldest Sister had always been careless and mindless in doing things. Elder Hei disapproved of her and Hei Ze's affair, yet she still went to the Superior Compound so late at night like this. Now, she's disappeared again. I'm really worried that she'll destroy her reputation in a moment of short sightedness."
Eunuch Sun raised his eyebrows. So her words meant that all these things Miss Wei Wei did today was for the sake of eloping with Hei family's young master?
At this time, His Highness had just given her a white cherry blossom, yet she eloped at once with another man...
Eunuch Sun very carefully looked up and after that, within that emotionless moonlight, faced His Highness' direction to take a glance.
Present was the tall and graceful body. Present was the difficult to approach coldness. Present was that kind of aloof nobleness and arrogance that caused people to be enchanted....
However, the chilliness that penetrated from the depths of his eyes made Eunuch Sun's neck contract and turn his head back to respond to Helian Jiao Er. "Miss Jiao Er, these words should not be said carelessly. Hei family's second young master already descended from the mountain. We personally obstructed the carriage and did not discover Miss Wei Wei at all. If these words of yours were to be heard by other people, then it'd certainly become a major event, making people misunderstand that you sisters don't get along well and that's indeed not a good thing."
Why was he so meddlesome today. Usually, Eunuch Sun would shake in fear and just let things pass.
If this exchange had taken place during ordinary times, he definitely wouldn't have spoken out so frankly.
After all, the other party was the Defense Division's young miss. One of the four great clans' people were protecting her and rather ferociously at that. Even Retired Emperor already viewed her as the person of choice as Third Prince's consort.
However, this Helian Jiao Er truly was really overboard. His Highness' mood was originally already not good, and yet she came over here to add fuel to the fire.
Those moves of hers truly wouldn't be seen through by other people. However, they're merely those same kinds of back and forth fighting and power struggles found within large mansions and courtyards. To people who had stayed within the palace for years on end like them, those tricks were but boring child's play.
Even an old Eunuch like him held them in contempt. Not to mention His Highness, whose thoughts were rather profound.
He reckoned his master simply wouldn't want to waste words with this Helian Jiao Er.
Eunuch Sun also didn't say anymore, brushed the dirt from his hands, and left with Baili Jia Jue.
Probably, it was because they were annoyed with Helian Jiao Er's appearance that none of them discovered that after they left, one imperial guard actually already mysteriously disappeared...
Helian Jiao Er, who'd just eaten a soft nail (tactful retort) from Eunuch Sun, gripped the handkerchief in her hands tightly, her eyes brimming with poisonous thoughts. However, her goal had already been accomplished. After having heard her, she didn't believe that Third Prince would be unconcerned with what she'd just said.
That s.l.u.t's reputation could just disappear along with today.
Staying out at night was punishable at White Academy. If that s.l.u.t still hadn't appeared by the time day breaks, that'd also turn her and the Hei family's young master having some kind of shameful relationship between them into reality.
She certainly didn't care about what Eunuch Sun had just said. Even though that s.l.u.t was innocent, she'd still borrow this opportunity to once again stink up her reputation!
Self satisfaction was reflected in Helian Jiao Er's eyes. She was just about to leave when she discovered that her lantern carrying servant girl was lowering her head without any reason to. With annoyance, she berated her. "Why aren't you bringing the lantern over here quickly, don't even have a bit of common sense!"
"Yes." That 'servant girl' deferentially came over. Don't know if it was because the sky was too dark, so she was afraid that Helian Jiao Er would fall, but from beginning to end, her eyes were lowered and knowing her place, fetched the lantern, not even raising her head for a bit.
And Baili Jia Jue, who had just strolled into the Superior Compound, seemed as if he'd just thought of something, suddenly tightened his pair of eyes and said in a voice cold to the extreme, "Assemble all of the imperial guards over here and take a headcount."
All of the shadows blanked out not understanding why their master would give this kind of order.
Not until after they'd really gathered did they perspire a thin layer of cold sweat on their forehead. "Reporting to His Highness. We are short one."
"We are short one." Baili Jia Jue coldly smiled as he repeated this sentence, within his voice, there penetrated a bone-chilling coldness, making everybody retract their necks a bit.
Especially Shadow, who'd followed by Baili Jia Jue's side for years on end. The imperial troops was short one person, what did this represent?
This indicated that it's very possible that Wei Wei had just disguised herself among them and listened to their plans right under their noses.
Yet they weren't aware of these things at all!
Should he really praise that Helian family's eldest miss for her top notch disguise techniques, or should he infer instead, that she's reckless and unafraid to die?
This Wei Wei was still the first person who dared to look down at the people who represented his master's imperial power.
"Good. Indeed, very good." Baili Jia Jue slowly pulled off a plastered smile. That kind of evil, ice-cold smile, without reaching the eyes at all, on the contrary, caused people all the more to be able to be aware of his entire body becoming stiff.
So that even Eunuch Sun w
as finally aware of this matter's oddness. How was there one imperial guard short at this time, oh my dear mother, by all means don't let it be what I was thinking.
How could the Helian family's eldest miss be so fearless in this way, my God!
Even so daring as to pose as His Highness' imperial soldier!
Baili Jia Jue's pair of stiffened hands slightly loosened and along with that, the tree behind him swayed without a reason as if a fierce wind struck at it impatiently.
After a while, that kind of bone-penetrating cold voice sounded out again. "Just now, how many servant girls followed by Helian Jiao Er's side?"
How many servant girls? Eunuch Sun blanked out. This kind of thing ordinarily simply wasn't noticed by anyone, right?
"Reporting to Your Highness. There were two." Shadow recollected for a bit, then finally resolutely responded with a number.
"Arrest them all." Baili Jia Jue retracted his gaze from the imperial guards' bodies. His tall and straight back, was as bolt upright as a pine tree, so indifferent and detached that it prevented people from feeling the slightest bit of temperature.
Chapter 100 - Towards Her...
The Superior Compound was only so big. It should've been very simple to catch anyone.
Not only that, Third Highness was even looking for two servant girls. Besides Helian Jiao Er, who was somewhat surprised, the remaining people were all in the dark regarding what was going on.
Right now, basically everyone at the Superior Compound had awoken. There were some girls from noble families who, for the sake of being able to see Baili Jia Jue, also dr.a.p.ed on a cloak at the last moment and had their servant girls fetch an umbrella for them. They were standing by the side waiting and watching.
Helian Jiao Er looked at those two servant girls of hers. Her gaze was filled with contemplation.
At this time, why would Third Prince suddenly think of wanting to see her servant girls, could it be that...?
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 49
