"Elder Ming? Elder Ming, are you alright?" Elder Wu furrowed his thick eyebrows in question as he gazed at his colleague who was shivering beside him.
The elder whose surname was Ming desperately tried to control the turmoil that was happening in his blood. He withdrew his arms, covering his black nails under his long sleeves and gave a fake laugh, "Nothing, I'm just not feeling well recently so I can't withstand the wind." What was that unrest just now?
Elder Ming's face was unsettled as he lowered his eyes, covering the red glow in them.
Elder Wu did not notice this abnormality, he merely responded, "Elder Ming should take care of yourself." Upon finishing that, he turned his gaze to Elder Zhan.
Elder Zhan nodded at him discreetly, signaling him to look at Helian Wei Wei who had just walked in.
Elder Wu smiled, his voice was not loud but it was enough for everyone to hear him, "Why was the Third Princess Consort unwilling to come to the Great Hall? Was there anything that you were hiding from the eminent monks?"
"You, shut up!" Before Helian Wei Wei could open her mouth, Little Seven coolly retorted Elder Wu.
To one's surprise, the innate forcefulness made Elder Wu subconsciously take a step back!
"What could I possibly hide from the eminent monks?" Helian Wei Wei held Little Seven's hand and with a smile, she asked rhetorically, "Yet, it's strange for Elder Wu to make such arrangements. The recent events that had happened in the palace was beside the river but Elder Wu did not summon the eminent monks to hold the chanting session near the river but asked us all to gather in the Great Hall. What is Elder Wu trying to achieve with this?"
Elder Wu was good at masking his thoughts and after hearing what Helian Wei Wei said, his face remained unchanged. The white long robes looked fair and just on him as usual, "The eminent monks were wise to hold a chanting session in Chaoyang Palace. This is to help the imperial concubines and princes to clear away any bad luck attached in order to prevent any evil from entering the harem. It is just a chanting session with the eminent monks for an hour yet it's strange that the Princess Consort seemed very much against it. That was why I was curious. Could it be that the Princess Consort was really hiding something from the others?"
Chapter 554 - Wei Wei Is In Danger?
"Since I set foot in the hall, Elder Wu had been going on and on about me hiding something." Helian Wei Wei flicked away the dust on the tip of her finger and composedly continued, "Could Elder Wu provide any evidence?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Wu narrowed his eyes. With her sharp tongue and her ability to divert attention away from the main focus, he was right to not underestimate this girl any further.
Yet, she may be able to handle the inner household with her skills, but to argue with him in the Great Hall...
Huh, how reckless!
Elder Wu gradually opened his mouth, "I don't have any evidence but I always had a question all these while. Everyone in the Capital have said that the Princess Consort's personality changed drastically since falling into the river. The Princess Consort is no longer arrogant or ill-mannered and even those things that were produced by the Princess Consort were astounding. I could not help but wonder if the Princess Consort's soul was stolen away by some sort of evil being. How does the Princess Consort explain this?"
"What does Elder Wu want me to explain?" The corner of Helian Wei Wei's mouth curled up, "Because I was arrogant and ill-mannered, I was laughed upon for seven years. When my grandfather passed away, I was still young but I did not forget the Helian family's ancestral teaching, that the Helian family will never produce any useless imbeciles. I cannot decide for myself but if Elder Wu wishes to see my arrogant and ill-mannered behavior, as long as the Emperor agrees to this, I could stain you with blood here and now. As for the things that I had made, you will have to ask my master, the Supreme Master, who had taught me too well to the point where some people see it as a problem."
"The Princess Consort sure knows how to talk." Elder Wu squinted his eyes and his hands were balled into fists.
Helian Wei Wei calmly smiled, "Elder Wu flatters me but I'm just a little arrogant and ill-mannered."
"You..." Elder Wu clenched his fingers but released them again. A smile appeared on his face once again, "I never believed this but I just find it strange when I saw the Princess Consort's behavior. Since the Princess Consort says so, then why don't you simply agree to the chanting session which could prove your innocence as well."
"Elder Wu is right," the Emperor who was sitting on the main seat said in a deep voice. The long term consumption of medicine likely had an effect on him as his facial features seemed to be worse than others. His eye bags were heavy and dark, giving an impression of a modern day drug addict, "It's just a chanting session with the eminent monks for an hour. If you refuse any further, the meaning would be different..."
It was a s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e time and naturally Helian Wei Wei would not oppose the Emperor's order.
She shifted her gaze sideways to glance at Elder Wu before saying to the Emperor, "Wei Wei would naturally not turn down the Emperor's order. Yet, it's too assertive for Elder Wu, who had no evidence whatsoever, to accuse Wei Wei of having my soul stolen away by some sort of evil being."
"Please don't dislike me for my attitude since possession is not something that can be taken lightly. However, if the Princess Consort is in good condition after all this, I will personally apologize to you." The corner of Elder Wu's eyes were tinted with glee when he noticed that Helian Wei Wei's retorts were slowly getting weaker and weaker, "Princess Consort, please."
Helian Wei Wei's crystal clear eyes darkened.
The little figure who was chewing off a bean paste bun looked to the left and right and he was about to start a fight when Helian Wei Wei stopped him.
"It would be a real problem if the Princess Consort is still unwilling to move." As Elder Wu finished this, many turned their attention over to her and fear was hidden in their eyes.
"I heard that people who were possessed like blood. I mean, look at all those dead palace maids in the palace, didn't all of them had their blood s.u.c.k.e.d dry?"
"You mean, Helian Wei Wei is really..."
"Who knows? We'll know when the eminent monks start chanting."
Helian Wei Wei held the little figure's hand and moved forward, kneeling on the place that was designated for her.
"Third Aunt." The little tiger-like figure held up the bean paste bun in his hand, "You should eat the bun first. Don't worry, I promised Third Brother to protect you."
Helian Wei Wei smiled and pinched his puffy face, "Alright, I'm not worried. Why would I be worried when Little Seven is here?"
"I will tell Third Brother about what Third Aunt said." The little figure took another bean paste bun from his c.h.e.s.t and having noticed that his brother was not around, he asked very seriously, "Third Aunt, frankly speaking, am I more handsome and more capable than Third Brother?"
Helian Wei Wei suppressed her laughter, "What do you mean?"
"If not, he wouldn't ask me to do the b.u.t.t dance. So, he must be jealous because I'm more charming than him!" The little figure tore a section off the bean paste bun with his teeth, "Hmph!"
Helian Wei Wei was increasingly sure that these two brothers had the tsundere character build into them as she extended her hand to pat his hair.
It was then that countless mantra chanting rang in the hall.
She was very familiar with the mantra and every word surged into her ears...
Elder Wu's poisonous gaze was eyeing her. Give it some time and she won't be able to take it anymore...
Judging by the time, the Third Prince and the retired Emperor should be arriving soon as well.
He was excited to see how those two faces would turn out after discovering that the Princess Consort that they had carefully elected was possessed!
Yet, the smug look on Elder Wu's face did not last for another minute.
His neck was seized by Baili Jia Jue wh
o had strode in.
Baili Jia Jue's speed was so fast that no one could react and they could only see a shadow that flashed by them.
When Elder Wu came to his senses, he realized that he was being held up from the ground.
"Your, You Highness… Cough, you, what are you... doing?" Elder Wu struggled to breathe but he could not break free from the fear that had overwhelmed him. The suffocation was crushing him and without a second thought about his image, he pleaded with the Emperor, "Your, Your Majesty! Please, please help me!"
The Emperor was not pleased either, "Third Prince! Put Elder Wu down this instant!"
"I wouldn't mind letting him down." Baili Jia Jue had a seemingly faint smile on his face. On the surface, he appeared to be very gentle but at the same time, he gave off a bloodthirsty air, "I want a valid explanation after he defiled my Princess Consort. Elder Wu, you are just an elder and it's your duty to help the royal family to solve problems, so what authority do you have to threaten a Princess Consort? Hmm?"
No, he must think of a plan!
Elder Wu was coughing non-stop and turning green when he rolled his eyes and desperately tried to tiptoe, "I, I promised the Princess Consort… Cough, if, if the Princess Consort is not possessed, I will personally apologize to her, cough... Your Highness, don't you want to know whether if the Princess Consort is possessed or not?"
Chapter 555 - First Smack In The Face By The Truth
"I'm not interested in your speculations." Baili Jia Jue turned and glanced at the little figure that was beside Helian Wei Wei. Unexpectedly, his eyes darkened and his voice became slow, he let go of Elder Wu and lazily adjusted his robes, "However, since the Princess Consort had agreed to your promise, then I'll see what kind of preposterous possession this is."
Preposterous?
Elder Wu held his hand over his neck and coughed violently while thinking menacingly to himself, wait till you see the shadow of the demon that will appear behind Helian Wei Wei and you won't think that all of this is preposterous!
"Go and tell the eminent monks to chant louder."
"Yes!"
In a blink of an eye, the mantra that was circulating the hall rang louder!
The actions of Helian Wei Wei's fingers paused as she held onto Little Seven. Nonetheless, she still sat steadily on her seat.
Elder Wu stared at her rigid back and sneered silently. He wanted to see how long she could last!
Not to mention it was time to let the Third Prince, this fortune's favorite child who was beside him, know what it's like to be smacked in the face by the truth!
No matter what, he was still an elder.
Yet, Third Prince did not even bother to give him face.
Just wait and see. After finishing off Helian Wei Wei, he will proceed to finish off Bali Jia Jue!
"Your Highness, please do observe carefully," Elder Wu said with a smile, acting as if he cared for Baili Jia Jue. "Those who are possessed would usually sweat excessively and a shadowy figure would appear behind them. We wouldn't be able to capture the shadow but we would be able to see it with our n.a.k.e.d eyes. Your Highness would not want to be absent-minded and miss any interesting sights."
Baili Jia Jue looked up and slowly give him a glance.
His gaze was icy cold!
It was so chilly that Elder Wu's scalp had turned numb from the stare and a short moment after, he heard that person's mild voice, "If there's nothing interesting, I'll use Elder Wu's head as compensation."
Upon hearing that, Elder Wu further narrowed his eyes.
He knew from the start that no matter who became the Emperor.
The four great elders from the Elder Compound would receive power and rights that others could not achieve and they would gain respect from the people of the country.
Yet, only this Third Prince, who were immune to both soft and hard tactics, would ruin everything that they have.
That was why he made this huge decision today!
It is nearly time now...
Elder Wu paced toward Helian Wei Wei and when he saw the cold sweat on her forehead, the smirk on his face widened, "Princess Consort, you shouldn't force yourself. It's not even been half an hour yet. If you can't take it, you might as well confess it yourself. No matter what you do, you'll still be punished, so why not lighten your burden to decrease your sin?"
"Do I look like I'm forcing myself, Elder Wu?" Helian Wei Wei smiled lightly and pinched Little Seven's hand, "I was just listening to the mantra and thought it would be best for me to use this opportunity to chant and pray for the well-being of His Highness. This is just me sweating slightly from the chanting but Elder Wu sure is exaggerating."
"Huh, hopefully the Princess Consort was just sweating like what you said earlier. Then, I hope the Princess Consort would be willing to wait because the chanting session of the eminent monks would not end until an hour is up. I'm worried that the Princess Consort might not be able to take it..." Elder Wu was beaming when he stood up and asked for the volume of the mantra to be raised.
In his heart, he was sure that Helian Wei Wei was at her wits' end and she was just toughing it out to no avail.
However!
As time gradually ticked away.
Helian Wei Wei really did not show any other signs other than sweating!
This made Elder Wu slightly uneasy and he lowly ordered the eminent monks.
Yuan Ming was observing at the side and he laughed wickedly, "Woman, you really are brilliant to come up with this method. I think that old man would never have dreamt the reason why you could sit here so calmly."
"There is much more to come that he cannot foresee," Helian Wei Wei replied nonchalantly. "I had thought about bribing those eminent monks but after thinking about it carefully, it was too dangerous because there might be the elders' subordinates among them. If I were to bring them money, it would become an evidence to pull me down and that was why Baili Jia Jue did not do so. Besides, you and Whitey said that Little Seven was stronger than Fire Qilin. So, he would definitely block some of the eminent monks' chanting if he's around me. Since he can handle it, of course we should put him to use. Plus, Little Seven is far less conspicuous than Fire Qilin."
Whitey's voice was cool when he continued where Helian Wei Wei left off, "If Little Seven is really 'it', then 'it' is definitely not low-key at all."
"Which 'it' is this that you guys have been talking about?" Helian Wei Wei raised her eyebrow, "All in all, you guys think that Little Seven is that beast?"
The little figure's ears twitched when he heard Helian Wei Wei brought up his name. Essentially, he furrowed his brows at first because he was unsure why his name was mentioned. Then, he seemed to have figured things out when he turned his small handsome tiger-like face and said in an authoritative way, "Third Aunt, do you want to have a bean paste bun?"
"Third Aunt, you don't have to be shy, just let me know if you want to eat, I brought a lot of bean paste buns!" the little figure said as he beat his c.h.e.s.t.
The corner of Helian Wei Wei's mouth twitched. He appeared to have carried all the bean paste buns from the imperial kitchen and had hid them all away despite his small figure.
"Third Aunt doesn't want to eat them, you should eat them instead." Helian Wei Wei smiled and patted him on the head. She felt the spikiness in her palms, "Little Seven, isn't it about time you shave your hair?"
The little figure stopped eating his bean paste bun and widened his tiger-like eyes, "Not shaving."
"How could you not shave it? Won't the dean tell you off?" Helian Wei Wei did not forget how strict that person was with him.
The little figure shook his head, "Third Brother took me back so I don't have to follow the dean anymore. Actually, I knew that those uncles in the White Academy who had fought with me before would miss me."
Helian Wei Wei: ...You think too much! They would be launching fireworks to celebrate your leave!
As the a.d.u.l.t and child was happily chatting away, Elder Wu's face dark
ened!
How could this be?
It shouldn't be like this!
Shouldn't Helian Wei Wei be agitated and scratching her own face by now?
Why does she seem like she's fine!
No!
Where did it go wrong?
Did the eminent monks recite the wrong mantra?
Impossible, he had compared them one by one.
Besides, the eminent monks who entered the palace this time round were the subordinates of the Elder Compound so it was impossible to have anything go wrong.
Yet, why did Helian Wei Wei not show any reactions?
Secretly in his mind, Elder Wu had a bad feeling about this...
Chapter 556 - Elder Wu Apologizes
"How long has it been?" Elder Wu was clearly fl.u.s.tered as he turned to the side to ask the eunuch who was serving him, even cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Elder, it's nearly an hour now."
Once an hour was up, the eminent monks would stop chanting.
When the time comes, if Helian Wei Wei remains unaffected, then he...
No!
He would never let that happen!
It was then when the eunuch beside Elder Wu reminded him, "Elder, I think it's time."
Elder Wu abruptly turned around and glared at him fiercely, "I will know whether the time is up or not!"
Elder Wu glared at Helian Wei Wei's back.
This was impossible!
Something must have gone wrong somewhere!
"Elder Wu seems to be very disappointed because I'm unaffected," Helian Wei Wei smiled at him effortlessly. The arch on her lips was like a smack on Elder Wu's face.
He clenched his fists and ordered with gritted teeth, "Chant again!"
The eminent monks naturally heard him, but there was bound to be a pause before they could continue.
With this pause, his voice was apparent enough for everyone to turn and look at his direction.
In spite of that, Helian Wei Wei looked up and her lips formed a smile, "Elder Wu, it is time. The eminent monks should have expelled all the bad luck by now. Yet, Elder Wu had requested for the eminent monks to continue chanting. Is Elder Wu sure that this is for praying purposes and not because you are unsatisfied with me and is therefore trying to frame me?"
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 241
