As Wei Wei watched her, the light in her eyes radiated an icy chill. "Madam, should I remind you again that my mother, who formerly treated you like a sister, had her husband stolen by you, was defamed by you, which became a chronic illness and departed this world. Even when she already had one foot in the grave, you started a rumor and claimed that she couldn't tolerate you. It would seem that your beloved daughter truly inherited your personality, incapable of other things, yet proficient in all kinds of ways to slander and frame other people!"
Having heard that, everyone couldn't help but turned towards Madam Su and sized her up, especially the remaining two or three girls from noble families. They still didn't know that there's surprisingly such an incident within the capitol.
The mother of the incomparably grand martial qi genius, Miss Helian Jiao Er's mother actually attained her position by relying on this kind of method.
Truth be told, this kind of method was considered the most shameful by them. Even within this capitol's social circles, everyone wanted to marry a good husband, however, snatching one's own sister's husband, this kind of thing, was something they wouldn't want to do.
They truly couldn't tell that Madam Su had done this previously...
These were the things Su Yan Mo was most unwilling to have people bring up. Clearly, each statement spoken by Wei Wei exposed her weakness.
Su Yan Mo wished that she could tear Wei Wei to shreds at this instant, yet had no way of flaring up in front of so many people.
In addition, she didn't know at all the details of what had happened here prior to her arrival, so she could only silently endure. She turned her head towards Retired Emperor to say. "Retired Emperor, I know that daughter of mine. Her temperament is awfully gentle, can there be some misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding?" Retired Emperor's gaze was steady, the tone of his voice grave. "Your daughter prompted the Chen family's daughter to have her bring witch wood into the temple, in order to harm another person. Your personal maid also is kneeling here. What kind of misunderstanding do you think there can be? Not to mention pouring out lies, they even harmed another person. Su Yan Mo, is this how your Su family educate it's members?"
Chapter 191 - Sincerely Want to Take a Wife
Su Yan Mo hadn't anticipated that Retired Emperor had become so furious. She represented the two Su and Helian families. Even if this matter had been exposed, in order to maintain the balance in court, Retired Emperor would keep his temper in check and would control the impact of this matter to a certain degree.
Yet today, Retired Emperor clearly wanted to punish them severely!
This caught Su Yan Mo extremely unprepared. She didn't know what Helian Wei Wei had done after all. Unexpectedly, it made the Retired Emperor, who'd always weighed everything carefully, resolved to become this angry. She could only kneel on the ground and sounded as if she'd been wronged. "Retired Emperor, this female official hasn't been here just now, and also don't understand why Little Lian's kneeling here. As for harming others, this female official understands even less of what I've heard."
"Good, good." Retired Emperor stood up. "Since you don't know anything, then go back and tell Prime Minister Su, in the trip to Hidden Spirit Temple this time, what I'd wanted was to handle everything in a subdued manner, that way I can prepare matters to hand over for him to manage, it would seem...we should give some people suitable responsibilities. In the future, he need not concern himself with matters at the Bright Brilliant Palace. He can concentrate on being prime minister."
These words sounded like there wasn't any deterrence of power.
However Su Yan Mo actually understood that this kind of decision actually weakened the Su family's power!
Her heart rattled!
She looked up and over at her beloved daughter's paled face.
It ought to be known that there's no limit to her daughter's future prospects. She absolutely couldn't lose due to this girl's designs.
Thinking to this point, Madam Su heavily kowtowed her head on the floor as she faced Retired Emperor to say. "Retired Emperor, something bad happened, therefore you're angry. It's just that, who saw my daughter incite people? What evidence is there?" After saying this, Madam Su faced Chen Wen Wan and looked at her. "Miss Chen, my Su family have no enmity and no grievance with you and it's also out of the question that we're intimate. You've done wrongs, but why did Retired Emperor say that you've been incited by my daughter?"
Having heard these words, Chen Wen Wan shook from head to foot. How could she not understand that Madam Su was prodding her.
Have her speak after sizing up the situation.
For such a long time, the Chen family was able to reach this level all thanks to the Su family.
Madam Su's intention was very clear. The Su family could elevate the Chen family, they could also cause the Chen family to fall through the mud, even to the point of death and ruin!
Chen Wen Wan burst into loud laughter. Suddenly her pupils submerged. The sound of her voice was filled with pain. "All of these things were caused by me, no one prompted me at all. It's only because a disgraceful girl, without any bit of good looks even fooled around with people all day, hooking up with this one and that one, so much so that she didn't even spare Young Master Hei Ze. Truly disgusting enough to make a person puke. This kind of person, if no one taught her a lesson, my heart could not be free.
It's just that I underestimated a certain person's deviousness. On the surface she seemed to have accepted my good intention and warmed up to me, when in fact, she'd always guarded against me. In the end, I'm the one who's too naive. Whether I'm to be killed or punished, go guys go ahead!"
"You used the witch wood, because you were jealous?" Madam Su suddenly saw the light. Intentionally or otherwise, her gaze swept over Hei Ze. "So it turns out the one you like is the second young master of the Hei family."
Hei Ze's expression didn't change as he watched this scene.
At that moment, Chen Wen Wan's head pressed even lower as she looked blankly at the dripping wet bluestone path before her.
When she first entered the capitol, she already liked that Young Master Hei Ze, who could handle any matter with ease no matter what it was.
She understood more than anybody that his future wife would come from either an aristocratic family or a regional lord.
Her family background certainly matched his.
During that tea party, Madam Su saw through her thoughts and later told her that recently, Grandfather Hei was anxious to find a wife for that person. As long as she completed this assignment, not only would her father's career advance, she could fulfill her own wish to become a part of the Hei family.
But during the trip to Hidden Spirit Temple this time, she finally discovered that even if she climbed even higher, in that person's eyes, not even a reflection of her would be present!
Why!
She could forget it if she'd lost to other people!
An ugly girl who'd been driven out of her clan, without power without influence, even that face of hers made people lose their appetite. Yet she could make that person carve a special place for her.
She thought that as long as she eliminated this ugly girl, she would have an opportunity.
Yet unexpectedly, all of these hopes were but a dream.
Right now, she'd awoken from her beautiful dream.
He simply couldn't remember that young girl who he'd lent an arm of support to at the tea party.
When he faced her now, there's only loathing in his eyes, which made her wished with all her heart that everything hadn't happened!
Chen Wen Wan never felt any regret like this before. She shivered as she waited for Retired Emperor's rage!
On the contrary, Madam Su was very satisfied with Chen Wen Wan's grasp of the big picture as she lifted her head to speak. "Retired Emperor, everything has been clarified now. It's merely jealousy between the children and mischievous hearts which caused Miss Chen to do something she shouldn
't have done."
Retired Emperor didn't say anything as he lowered his eyes.
Wei Wei just smiled. She'd never thought that Madam Su would thoroughly fall on the basis of this incident alone. If it were that simple, she wouldn't have established Tiny Pond Under Heaven.
She understood more than anyone Madam Su's scheming capacity as well as the Su family's status in the imperial court.
Even if this incident directly pointed at Madam Su, Chen Wen Wan still wouldn't confess it. This much was clear.
Because within the Dragon War Empire, the power of the four clans was expansive, causing Chen Wen Wan to worry that after she told the truth, the Chen family would be eliminated.
Madam Su was indeed clever and knew how to use power to pressure people.
But what she didn't know was that, precisely because of this point, Retired Emperor would take these troubles to heart even more!
A power which already vaguely started to pressure the imperial family, how would the Retired Emperor permit it.
What Wei Wei wanted was precisely this outcome!
In the future, she wanted to wrest back control of the Helian family, the ones she'd have to face were the four great clans.
How could she succeed based on her strength alone?
It's only possible if she pulled Retired Emperor to this side...
She seemed to have understood something. She actually forgot that her purpose in having done what she'd done was something the Retired Emperor very likely also had become aware of.
As the proverb went, this sovereign's experience, compared to her, was as someone who'd eaten more salt than she'd eaten rice. How could he not have perceived the twist and turns within this incident?
Of course she puzzled over what Retired Emperor's attitude over all of this would be.
Retired Emperor looked at that expressionless little black painted face and felt that there was some resemblance to that little third grandson. His heart also softened immediately, thinking that he couldn't dissuade that resolute icy grandson anyways. From the moment he started to speak, that icy youngster had stood next to him and sneered from time to time. It was evident that he wasn't satisfied.
He's already so old, basically everything he'd done had been for the younger generation's sake. Since his treasured grandson had made a choice, no matter what his objective was, forget it, he should just go along with his choice.
Right now, he actually hoped a little, that the icy youngster was sincere in his d.e.s.i.r.e to marry this young girl, and wasn't doing this for something else...
Chapter 192 - Breathtaking Wei Wei
When he saw this girl previously, he was left with an extremely displeasing impression.
In general, women were like this, only concerned with romance in their hearts. At that time, this girl's heart was hung up on her engagement with Murong Chang Feng. Everything she did was a huge joke.
Meeting her today, Retired Emperor felt that he seemed to have just gotten to know this girl only now.
Each of her steps were prudent and measured, neither panicky nor impatient. Despite her young age, she actually understood the weight of a matter and controlled it. Most important of all, she valued relationsh.i.p.s and righteousness. If Ole Third married her in the future, he'd be able to find happiness.
Retired Emperor also thought, his grandson's temperament was as apathetic as ice, who could possibly suit him for a lifetime.
Considering all options, there were plenty of girls with good family backgrounds.
As for one who could enclose and warm up his heart, there truly wasn't any.
For so many years, Retired Emperor had always worried that Baili Jia Jue would go astray and become a tyrant.
After all, that kind of deep and immeasurable personality was indeed suitable for a monarch. Yet it's too cold, so cold that all of the people in the world seemed to be of no importance to him at all.
Everyone said that it's not important to have feelings to be a monarch.
However, that didn't necessarily mean that it's necessary to be completely cold-blooded in order to dominate the world.
If this was so, the ones to suffer would be the common people.
This icy youngster needed a person who could make him soften once in awhile.
It's not enough for that person to rely solely on innocence and naivety.
In the imperial palace as well as in the court, there were just too many lures. The slightest lack of caution could cause one to fall into a trap.
This girl must be strong, yet not unbending, powerful, yet not brutal. She must have something to help her persevere, so she wouldn't easily be engulfed.
Until now, he'd only discovered the signs of some of these qualities first within this girl.
Thinking to this point, when Retired Emperor looked at Wei Wei, many expressions also unfolded.
This caused Wei Wei to be at a loss and immediately subtly stroked the bridge of her nose in confusion. What's the meaning behind Retired Emperor's satisfaction within that unfathomable gaze?
One couldn't help but say that this person, Wei Wei, was born with a pair of eyes that made people like her. Even though that face was a little black, however, that pair of eyes was quite dazzling when she became astute, and when she's dazed or blanked out, she then looked awfully adorable.
The more Retired Emperor looked, the more he was pleased. In his heart, he already categorized Wei Wei as someone who's straightforward and smart. He retracted his gaze and casted it on Chen Wen Wan. "I'm asking you one final question, have you only told the truth?"
"Yes!" Chen Wen Wan bit her thin lips, only aware that all strength already left her as she bowed and kneeled on the ground, without even looking up. "All of these things were done solely by me, with no relation to anyone else."
Retired Emperor's expression was indifferent. "Someone come, drag her away for me and detain her in prison until we return to the capital, before meting out her punishment."
"Yes." The shadow guards accepted the order.
Retired Emperor continued to say. "Write a letter to the emperor to remove Chen Hui from office. Send his entire family back to their hometown, barred from entering the capitol within seven years."
Chen Wen Wan's eyes were originally looking down dully. When she heard these words, she suddenly turned her head around. "Retired Emperor, this matter is unrelated to Father, yet you want to punish him!"
"How your father obtained this position of his." When Retired Emperor made this statement, his gaze flit across Madam Su's back. "I know in my heart. Your father's loyalty should also be questioned."
Chen Wen Wan stiffened. The light in her eyes swayed as she looked towards Su Yan Mo and clearly wanted to have her plea for leniency on behalf of the Chen family.
Su Yan Mo didn't speak at all. She didn't even spare Chen Wen Wan a glance as her eyes unblinkingly maintained their original position.
How could this be? !
Chen Wen Wan did everything she could to bend forward while realizing that the only thing she'd done was touch Madam Su just now. That little face became utterly distorted and seemed as if she wished she could chew Madam Su to bits then swallow her!
She actually believed that as long as she didn't confess, she could save the Chen family!
She didn't expect that from the start, all this cruel, poisonous, woman wanted to do was kill and silence her!
Chen Wen Wan could feel her blood vessels hurting throughout her whole body, so she couldn't even cry out a grievance while she was dragged out by the shadow guards.
Su Yan Mo saw that the only person who's capable of threatening her had turned into dead evidence. The rattle that's been in her heart also calmed down. When she looked at Retired Emperor again, she also relaxed quite a bit. "Retired Emperor is brilliant!"
She didn't expect that Retired Emperor actually only glanced at her indifferently, his presence undiminished. "As for Helian Jiao Er, as a student at the Superior Compound, yet lacking in mor
al conduct, not distinguishing right from wrong, and recently slandered another person, tomorrow, let's have her remain at Hidden Spirit Temple's firewood room to reflect on how she's been wrong. After she's thought things through, she can then return to the capitol."
Having heard what's been said, Helian Jiao Er shook all over and suddenly turned towards Madam Su to look at her!
She couldn't remain here!
Would anyone still marry her in the future?
What's more when would be considered the time when she'd 'thought things through'?
The martial qi competition was about to start soon, the champion could become the Third Prince Consort. This was a promise Retired Emperor made before thousands of witnesses at the time. His mouth of gold and words of jade* simply couldn't be changed!
(*a Chinese expression which meant that an emperor's promise is immutable)
She's someone who wanted to be champion, yet was stranded here, how could she still participate!
Helian Jiao Er's entire being panicked, her pair of limpid autumn water filled eyes was restless as she faced Wei Wei's gaze, emitting an unprecedented malevolence.
It's all because of that lowlife!
If it weren't for her, Retired Emperor also wouldn't have made this decision!
Retired Emperor had always praised her, so much so that he even revealed before that he had her in mind as Third Prince Consort.
Helian Jiao Er bit that bit of tender flesh inside her mouth, her fingertips also imprinted against the hollow of her palms.
Madam Su was afraid her beloved daughter could no longer endure it and extended her hand to steady her arm, with great difficulty, she gloomily said. "Retired Emperor is right, this time, she's been too insensible, warm hearted, and unintentionally fell into another person's scheme. Again, I ask that Retired Emperor give consideration to my brother and the Defense Division and lighten her punishment. Not long from now, the grand martial qi convention will start. The elders already chose Jiao Er to represent our Dragon War Empire. Again I request that Retired Emperor give it careful consideration."
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 92
