"These elders are not making any sense. After so many men were killed, will reading the scripture be of any use?" Yuan Ming's voice of mockery rang out.
Helian Wei Wei, however, curved her lips upward. "It may not be helpful to apprehend the murderer. But, it works for a possessed person like me."
All of a sudden, Yuan Ming narrowed his eyes. "It looks like we share the same idea. The elders most probably hired these eminent monks to manage you."
Helian Wei Wei acknowledged him before she lifted the teacup and lay back on the chair. Then, she asked Eunuch Sun in an indifferent tone, "Has The Retired Emperor agreed to it?"
"He has agreed." Eunuch Sun chuckled, " The elders sounded confident, leaving the Retired Emperor with no reason to ban their ideas. Princess Consort, you know how things are. As long as the old officials are content with their lot, the Retired Emperor cannot be bothered to discuss with them further."
Helian Wei Wei nodded, "Yes, he should agree to them." If he rejects their idea, he will put the people in doubt and we'll end up in a bad situation.
"The Retired Emperor has requested me to notify Princess Consort to not get confused when you hear the Buddhaghosa. I heard that they have the intention to recite the scripture for the entire day. But, I don't know if it's effective." Eunuch Sun heaved a sigh before he continued, "We met the deceased maids before. It's such a shame that they were all of a young age when they died."
Helian Wei Wei tapped the edge of the cup rhythmically with her forefinger. This was her habit when she cogitated. "According to you, the bodies were discovered in the river. I have been living in the palace for a long time. Why haven't I noticed any river within the imperial palace's compound?"
"The place is secluded. Only those who have resided in the palace for some years have knowledge about the river," said Eunuch Sun. He looked around before he proceeded, "It is right behind the Cold Palace. Speaking of that, it's strange because the river started off as a puddle derived from the moat. Nobody can explain why the water level continues to rise and eventually it forms a river. However, if the water level had not risen, we would've discovered the bodies much later. This is such a fortunate coincidence. I guess this is all destined!"
Upon hearing this, Helian Wei Wei put on a meaningful smile, "Yes. It's really a fortunate coincidence."
"Hmm?" Eunuch Sun was not an astute person. Although he failed to analyze the case, he detected the change in Helian Wei Wei's intonation. Realizing something was going on, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Princess Consort, are you hinting that the issue is not that simple?"
Helian Wei Wei put down the teacup in her hand and answered, "Eunuch Sun, do you remember the task that the Retired Emperor assigned to His Highness and I when we visited Fuping?"
"Yes, I remember," Eunuch Sun immediately replied. "There is a large area in Fuping, which is suitable for plantation. However, there had been a severe drought at Fuping that significantly affected the production of the crops. For some time, the Retire Emperor was agonizing over the climate crisis at Fuping. Fortunately, Princess Consort and His Highness visited Fuping personally and solved the problem."
Helian Wei Wei gave a half-hearted laugh, "Fuping was not the only area that is affected by the drought. It has been a while since the last rain fell on the Capital too. This is all due to the change of season. Don't you find it strange, Eunuch Sun? It was raining last month and the water level of the puddle did not rise at all. However, this month, after more than 10 days of dryness, the water level rose notably. Do you not find this unusual?"
Eunuch Sun was surprised by the statement. Then, he stood up abruptly while his face appeared flustered, "Princess Consort..."
"Eunuch Sun," Helian Wei Wei interrupted him before he could finish his words, "Eunuch Sun, please forget about what I've just said. If the rising water level is not a result of the rain, there is probably a flaw in the management of the moat. Without an order from the superior, no one will have the audacity to disturb the moat."
Eunuch Sun's fingers trembled gently. "This is not a minor issue."
"Yes, it's not a minor issue," Helian Wei Wei took a sip of tea and continued, "And that's why you should keep it to yourself."
Eunuch Sun glanced at Helian Wei Wei before he dropped his gaze and said, " I understand."
The moat was an area managed by the Emperor's most trusted aide.
That was an area where even the Retired Emperor could not interfere in spite of his status.
Sometimes, it would be better for the servant to know their place and not comment excessively.
But, why did the problem only occur to the moat?
"When will the eminent monks arrive?" Helian Wei Wei chuckled before she swiftly changed the topic, apparently trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Eventually, Eunuch Sun halted his racing thoughts and replied, "I reckon that they will be here tomorrow at noon. It's not easy to invite these many reputable eminent monks and the people of the palace need more time to prepare for their arrival."
"You're right." Helian Wei Wei lowered her gaze and took another sip of tea before she painted a frigid grin on her lips.
Knowing that he was invisible to Eunuch Sun, Yuan Ming approached Helian Wei Wei and whispered to her ears with a wicked smile on his face, "They have prepared thoroughly. It looks like they are determined to end you."
"Elder Yun's death has perturbed them." Helian Wei Wei gazed into the distance and proceeded, "Their heightened anxiety is a clear sign of their fear. My grandfather was a military man, but his death has remained a mystery until today. But now, the identity of the culprit is rather obvious."
Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows and continued to laugh, "I was only able to reach you because of the intense grudge within you that awakened me. After Madam Su's death, your conscienceless father was butchered by Prime Minister Su and his body was left lying on the roadside. Subsequently, you managed to retrieve the ownership of the Helian family. But, due to our ongoing contract, I will not be able to leave before you successfully achieve your goal."
"This matter has always been complicated." Helian Wei Wei played with the teacup in her hands as she continued, "Otherwise, I would not have kept the Su family for long."
Yuan Ming shrugged. "Well, you're not wrong. With your current capability, you may be able to fight against them separately. However, once they join forces, it'll be very tough for you. Before this, your presence has always been considerably inconspicuous. They have not been keeping an eye on you. However, now they are initiating the attack. Do you really think that you can withstand it?"
"How long do you think I can last tomorrow?" Helian Wei Wei asked Yuan Ming in return.
Yuan Ming stretched his back. "You are now a different woman compared to the girl you were on your wedding day. If it isn't for the potent resentment that is lurking around the Palace, the scriptures will not be able to affect you. But, I'm concerned because of your frequent dreams lately and your soul is no longer stable like before. If it is not too powerful, you might be able to hold it together for an hour."
"An hour..." Helian Wei Wei narrowed her eyes. "These eminent monks will be chanting the scriptures at dawn and at night. It isn't necessary for me to attend the ceremony during these times. However, if they are trying their utmost to enter the palace, I reckon that they have already made up an excuse to make my presence compulsory."
Yuan Ming giggled, "Regardlessly, you are fighting a losing battle. Why don't you just hand me your soul? I will kill them on your behalf."
"Yuan Xiaoming, I've said many times that I'm not interested in your suggestion." Helian Wei Wei stood up and replied with an emotionless voice, "As long as I am still standing, the situation is not hopeless yet."
Yuan Ming was intrigued by what she said, "What are you going to do?"
"We will utilize their presence to amplify the case that is happening in the Imperial Palace. Then, only will the case be investigated in a detailed manner," Helian Wei Wei said as she played with the ring on her finger. "However, I reckon that this case is not as simple as it seems."
"Indeed, it's not that simple." Whitey jumped to the front of Helian Wei Wei and said in a chilly tone, "I went to the river that Eunuch Sun mentioned. The aura of resentment is very prominent. The bottom of the river has turned red because of the blood. Based on the Eight Trigram of Five Elements, the sun is Yang, water is Yin. Now that someone has died in the water, it has formed an ominous array." Followed by that, it leaped forward, "Look over there."
Helian Wei Wei followed Whitey's gaze. She squinted upon seeing what was lying ahead of her. "The fish are dead."
Overhearing Helian Wei Wei's words, Eunuch Sun chimed in, "Ah, let's not talk about it. We don't know what is going on, but, for the past few days, the fish have been dying in groups."
"It's probably a result of the poor quality of water." Helian Wei Wei withdrew her gaze and waved her hands to beckon the little one over.
The Little Seventh Prince was eating the meat buns attentively. When he noticed Helian Wei Wei's signal, he walked toward Helian Wei Wei with footsteps that went pitter-patter. He lifted his gaze and said in a smug tone, "Third Aunt, do you want to beat someone up? Let's go!"
Flustered, Helian Wei Wei was at a loss for words. He only knows how to beat people up other than eating. Is this really good for him?
"No. I only want to advise you to never eat fish that are floating in the water but you can eat all the other fish. Do you understand?" Helian Wei Wei bent down to look at the little one in the eyes. Her gaze was brimming with love and affection.
The little one took a glance at the lake before he turned to look at Helian Wei Wei. With a serious expression on his face, he replied, "Yes, I know. These fish smell really funky and the stench can be smelled from afar. The third Brother told me a long time ago to not touch anything that stinks."
"Do they stink?" Whitey flared its nostrils, trying to sniff around. Then, it gently closed its silver cat eyes. How come I can't detect the smell?
Logically, its sense of smell should be better than a child's...
Meanwhile, Yuan Ming let out a laugh as he put on a malevolent expression, "The Little Seventh Prince seems to be an interesting boy. Don't you think so? "
Whitey raised its head. It narrowed its cat eyes into a thin line. "Do you know about any undisclosed information? Is he one of you? "
"I do know a little bit more than you." Yuan Ming laughed wickedly, "That bit of knowledge assures you that he's not one of us. What I know is that he is not one of us. He does not carry any trace of magic."
Whitey was faintly suspicious of Yuan Ming's statement. "What is he if he's not a magical beast?"
"Regardless of his identity, Woman has always let her guard down when she's around him. She loves and cares for him like her own baby. I guess we can stop watching him so closely." Yuan Ming looked at his reflection in the lake and heaved a long sigh, "I am getting increasingly attractive."
Helian Wei Wei walked toward them, threatening to burn the ancient book. "Attractive man, can you tell me what do you know? What is Little Seven's true identity?"
"Hey!" Yuan Ming jumped with fright and flew out of the flame. "Let's discuss this in peace. Please don't always threaten me."
Helian Wei Wei put down the ancient book. With her arms crossed, she raised her eyebrows as she commanded succinctly, "Spill it out."
"I am only speculating." A hint of mischief was painted across Yuan Ming's grin. "As a young boy, he is unusually strong. His sense of smell is also very sensitive, even better than Bai Ze's descendants. Since the moment he was born, his body has always been filled with vital energy. None of the devil and monster can corrode his soul Other than the mythological beast, I cannot think of any other creatures that possess these traits."
Helian Wei Wei wrinkled her thin brows and responded, "You're saying that Little Seven is not a human, but a beast? "
"Mythological beasts have their human forms as well," Whitey spoke with a mellow voice. "We have two basic forms, namely the beast form and the human form, and we will usually present ourselves in the more appropriate form according to the circumstances. However, I find it strange that I cannot detect the aura of the mythological beast in him."
Yuan Ming continued as the sinister grin remained on his face. "You fail to detect its aura only because it is extremely omnipotent. It can even bite off the thick skin of the Fire Qilin. What do you think it is? "
"You think it is..." All of a sudden, Whitey suddenly lifted its gaze to look at the little boy who was squatting at the side as he played with the ants. "No, that's utterly impossible! Back then when the Divine Exorcism Seal was applied and the man vanished, even the Ksitigarbha failed to pacify it. They had then risked everything to summon the Flame of Hell in order to hunt it down and kill it. Consequently, it was engulfed by the flame. Am I wrong?"
Yuan Ming chuckled, "Who can prove an incident that happened many years ago? Moreover, it's unlike the Fire Qilin. Even the Fire Qilin, which was inseparable from the man, rarely appeared in public unless the man was in peril. Everyone said that the Fire Qilin was the leader of the four grand mythical beasts only because it was usually forgotten by the people. Come to think of it, it stood by the man for the longest time, yet it was the most difficult one to deal with. Otherwise, why did Ksitigarbha fail to pacify it even with his powerful strength? "
"But, how did it transform into a child?" Whitey looked at the little one doubtfully.
Inevitably, Helian Wei Wei overheard their conversation. She said nonchalantly, "Maybe it didn't transform into a child."
"That's right. No one says that it has to undergo transfiguration." Yuan Ming's eyes lit up. "Its human form can possibly be a child. Therefore, only the person, who doesn't acknowledge the existence of gods and demons, spoils it abundantly."
Helian Wei Wei continued emotionlessly, "None of these are important. What matters is that Little Seven's skills are remarkable compared to normal human beings. However, he doesn't have complete control over it. In the future, both of you need to keep an eye on him. Do not let the four great elders discover him."
"It's not necessary for us to watch him." Yuan Ming looked at woods on his right, "Your man has done a good job in protecting the boy. I'm certain that the boy has shown his ability way earlier. His ability has not been deliberately magnified and utilized because your man has strategically handled and contained the circumstances. The situation has only gotten out of hand because of the immense aura of resentment that was lingering around the palace. It's similar to when someone attempted to tame the dragon god with the aura of resentment in the White Academy. However, this time, the attack doesn't seem to be targeted at him..."
Noticing that Helian Wei Wei had been standing at the same spot for a long while, the little one picked up his ears and yelled, "Third Aunt, I've finished the meat buns!"
Helian Wei Wei turned to look at him and replied with a smile, "Come here. I need to wipe your hands before you can eat the second one."
"Alright!" The little one gave a firm nod before he obediently extended his little hands.
Helian Wei Wei giggled. She held the little one's hand and wiped them clean with her handkerchief. Then, she split the meat buns into two and handed him half of the meat bun. "Don't overeat. I will make black pepper beef for supper later."
"Beef!" The little one's eyes beamed with joy. With a roguish face, he began to search for something all over his body.
Initially, Helian Wei Wei was puzzled, not knowing what he was looking for.
She got the answer when he took out a snake from his pocket and tossed it aside arrogantly. Bewildered, Helian Wei Wei massaged her temple. "Little Seven, why did you catch this venomous creature? "
"I was about to eat it!" the Little Seventh Prince said in a serious tone. "However, I don't need it anymore because it is not as delicious as the beef."
The green snake grunted. Unruly brat! Have you ever cared about our feelings?!
Noticing that the snake was lying on the ground motionlessly, Little Seventh Prince bent down and poked the snake with his finger. He said menacingly, "Go away now or I will feed you to the Fire Qilin! "
Upon hearing Fire Qilin's name, the green snake was terrified. Then, it quickly slithered into the bush.
Helian Wei Wei found it very amusing. She held the little one's hand as they walked side by side. "Is there anything else you want to eat?" she asked.
"I'm fine with everything." The Little Seventh Prince could be rather mature at times. For instance, he was not a picky eater.
Helian Wei Wei spoke in a gentle voice, "Do you want me to fry some potato sticks for you?"
"Fried potato sticks?" The little one's eyes lit up as he scratched his ears and said gleefully, "Of course I want!"
Seeing that the boy had been scratching the same spot, Helian Wei Wei ordered her servant to bring over the ointment that was supposed to cure the itchiness. Then, she said, "I'll prepare the fried potato sticks for you first so you can have the fried potato sticks while I cook supper. Is that alright?"
"Sure!" The little one nodded obediently.
His loveliness almost melted Helian Wei Wei's heart. She wore a faint smile as she leaned forward and applied the ointment on his ears.
Surprisingly, the little one stayed still although he pouted and ranted like a cosseted boy, "The mosquitoes are so annoying! "
"They bit you. Of course, you will find them annoying." Helian Wei Wei gently rubbed the pair of small and soft ears.
The little one shook his head and said, "Third Aunt, you are wrong. I'm not annoyed because they bit me, but because they are so dirty that I can't eat them! "
Helian Wei Wei was flustered. Fine. I'm wrong again. I should have perceived him as a glutton instead of a normal person.
To stop the little one from making more astonishing comments, Helian Wei Wei immediately cut the potatoes into pieces once she returned to the palace.
Her knife skills were exceptional. The potatoes were neatly cut into sticks. She coated the potato sticks with flour and deep-fried them.
The fried potato sticks were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. When bitten, it was crunchy and fragrant as the flavor of the potatoes burst in one's mouth. A jar of grape jam was placed at the side. It was one of the ingredients that they always used in the Imperial Kitchen to make snacks.
The little one was eating happily as he followed Helian Wei Wei around. He nibbled the fried potato sticks as he stared at the chopping board, appearing rather innocent and adorable.
Eunuch Sun stood by the side was in awe, "Princess Consort, you are incredible!"
"This will make things easier for the chef." The young eunuch, who was following Eunuch Sun around, instinctively delivered a cup of tea to Eunuch Sun.
Eunuch Sun received the teacup and took a sip out of it, "Well, you're right. On normal days, when the Third Prince is occupied with other affairs, I have to chase behind the Little Seventh Prince all over the palace. It's good that there is someone who can tame him now. Other than His Highness, he only listens to the princess consort. He is naughty even in front of Tu Sufeng, the dean. Speaking of that, keep an eye on Little Seventh Prince. Recently, the palace has been in turmoil. Some areas are off-limits to the little prince. You need to take the necessary precautions. I am afraid that the palace is going to undergo a radical change."
"Yes." The junior eunuch answered before he retired from the scene.
In the evening, a man in white stood at the brightly lit hall. He said gently and politely "Elders, have you thought this through? Are you positive about inviting the eminent monks into the palace?"
"Master, even you suspect that Helian Wei Wei is possessed." One of the elders let out a chilling laugh, "If Helian Wei Wei is contented and placid with her current status, we will leave her undisturbed. However, she has been getting increasingly aggressive and we can no longer tolerate her behavior. We have underestimated this girl. We didn't expect her to be able to cause much ruckus in less than two months. Tu Sufeng recruited her into the Battle Spirit Forces and she has been antagonizing us since then. No one can foresee what she'll do to us in the future. We have spared her life once as a courtesy to her grandfather. However, it's time to eliminate her now! "
The man in white chuckled, "Elder Wu, do you really believe that Helian Wei Wei's hostility against the four great elders is a work of Tu Sufeng?"
"Master, what do you mean?" The other elders paused their actions in synchrony, leaving their hands which were holding the teacups hanging midair.
The man in white turned around. His sickly pallor could not be concealed by his fair and pretty face. He explained, "When the Helian family was annihilated, Old Master Helian died mysteriously as well. Helian Wei Wei was the sole survivor of the family. You did not spare her life as a courtesy to her grandfather. Rather, it was because of the blood she was carrying, the blood of Helian. The blood of Helian is reputed for being able to achieve exorcism. Anyone who obtains it will be able to increase his or her martial Qi significantly. However, she was only a young girl. Killing her would be such a waste. It was a better idea to keep her alive to serve as a blood bank. Furthermore, the elders have definitely left your traces behind during the incident. When I've successfully discovered the truth, it is certain that Helian Wei Wei has found out about it as well. It is not Tu Sufeng's idea to overthrow the elders. He is never a man with clear goals. The true mastermind who wants to eliminate all of you is Helian Wei Wei herself."
"That's a more concrete reason for us to remove her." Elder Wu narrowed his eyes as he put down the teacup. His eyes were now filled with bloodthirstiness.
The other two elders also lowered their gazes. The murder that year left contrition in their hearts. If the public found out about it, the four elder's long-standing reputation as the protectors of the War Dragon Empire would be shattered.
Consequently, their supreme status and infinite power would also be revoked. Now, they were more determined than ever to end Helian Wei Wei.
The man in white clothing faced away from them, lowered his eyes and coughed, "Helian Wei Wei is no ordinary girl. It is not an easy task to defeat her. I believe that all of you know which prince is the hardest to deal with. How can you make sure that it'll be smooth-sailing from here on? "
"Master, you don't have to worry about that." Elder Wu took a sip out of the teacup as he grinned wickedly, "With the Emperor's assistance, even the Third Prince cannot abet her in spite of his power. When the eminent monks begin to chant the scriptures, Helian Wei Wei will revert into her original form."
The man in white paused his action and answered the elders with silence, all this while wearing a disdainful grin on his face.
After the sunset, Elder Ming was the only one left in the hall. He opened his mouth and said, "When you enter the palace tomorrow, remember my advice. Once the eminent monks are done with their ceremony, you have to lure Helian Wei Wei to the riverbank regardless of whether Elder Wu accomplishes his goal."
"I'll make sure to complete the duty Master assigned to me." Elder Ming stood with a strange posture with his head dropped. Then, he let out an eerie husky cackle.
The man in white threw a brief glimpse at Elder Ming and said, "You have been a human for so many days. Yet, you still haven't gotten a gist about the nature of human beings. You must remember to never reveal even a bit of your true self, especially the way you stand and sit. You know what the consequences will be if you accidentally expose yourself."
"Don't worry, master. I'm only like this when I'm with you. I act very normally in front of other people." Elder Ming stuck out his tongue and licked his hand. There was a suffocating aura of evil that blanketed his entire body. "However, I feel so uncomfortable in this suit of skin. When those monks start chanting, I'm afraid that I can't stop myself from devouring those humans."
Hearing this, the man in white flicked his finger. Following that action, an invisible seal appeared on Elder Ming's body. "With this seal, the monks can chant all they want without affecting you."
"I knew that Master would have a way," Elder Ming crooned as he twisted his neck back into a straight position. Still feeling a little wary, he said, "Regarding Baili Jia Jue..."
A glint flashed through the eyes of the man in white. "The more he cares, the more he will lose his composure. With how Elder Wu is going after Helian Wei Wei, Baili Jia Jue will surely do what it takes to protect Helian Wei Wei's soul, overlooking you in the process. What I want is for you to settle everything in this period. Go, go and bring Helian Wei Wei to me. With her blood, we can finally release the Divine Exorcism Seal..."
"Yes, Master!" An eerie grin appeared on Elder Ming's face. In the shadows, his eyes glowed with a demonic crimson that looked like blood...
Outside the hall, Elder Zhan looked back over his shoulder, finding the situation unusual after he thought about it. He voiced out his doubts, "Elder Wu, did you notice that this time, that guy seemed like he was keeping something from us when he spoke?"
Elder Wu's eyes darkened as he looked sideways toward the west. "His ways are often mysterious, so there's nothing special about that. However, this time we cannot just force out Helian Wei Wei's soul and consider that matter settled. The Third Prince had cut off most of our connections and resources at the provincial capital. If things continued on like this and he ascends to the throne one day, what do you think will happen to us? If he orders a thorough investigation of the palace fire that happened years ago, both of us won't be able to escape!"
"So you're saying that..."
Elder Wu's voice turned cold. "We're dragging the Third Price down with us!"
"I don't think we can just drag the Third Prince down like this, since he has the favor and protection of the Retired Emperor."
For the elders to achieve the status they have right now, every one of them had their own smarts and intelligence. Therefore, it was only reasonable that Elder Zhan would have his own thoughts about this.
Elder Wu chuckled before he lowered his voice, "What if the current emperor wants him dead?"
"You intend to use Helian Wei Wei's incident to accuse the Third Prince of treason?" Elder Zhan quickly understood what his peer meant. However, he felt that this idea was way too risky. "It's not going to be so easy, right?"
Elder Wu glanced back at him. "When there's a will, there's a way. The Third Prince married a possessed woman and brought her into the palace, which had already broken one of the most severe royal taboos. Adding that to his recent performance, it would be difficult for the emperor to tolerate this any longer."
He paused before continuing, "In recent years, His Majesty had been obsessed with immortality, like us, which was why he had been so engrossed in distilling elixirs. Everyone else may not understand his true intentions, but don't tell me that you can't perceive it! It is clear that he does not want to be like the Retired Emperor, who passed on the throne to the next generation when he grew old. Third Prince had performed exceptionally well recently, while the Fifth Prince and the empress are no more, which meant that there is no one left to help the emperor in maintaining the power balance in the palace."
Elder Wu's tone hardened as he enunciated his last sentence slowly, "Knowing His Majesty's character, it is unlikely that he did not have any intention to eliminate Third Prince right now. It was just like how he did not oppose it when we made a mess of the Helian family..."
Elder Zhan's eyes darkened when he heard that. "What do you have in mind?"
With this, Elder Wu knew that he had agreed. He leaned over and whispered something to Elder Zhan.
Upon hearing what the other whispered in his ear, Elder Zhan nodded lightly and praised, "You're indeed deserving of the title of elder. This is such an impeccable plan!"
"Well, this couple of days had been rough for the emperor. After the incident at the provincial capital, quite a number of ministers has been making noise about promoting the Third Prince to the position of crown prince. How is he going to sleep with ease like this?" Elder Wu started to laugh, as if victory was already in their hands.
"Currently, the Fifth Prince had been stripped of his title, while the empress is imprisoned in the Cold Palace. It is normal for a powerless prince to make his last bid on the throne by invading the palace with his troops, and it is certain that when that time comes, the Third Prince would mobilize his own troops to defend the palace. However, the situation is a lot trickier now. Since the emperor was already thinking of eliminating him, anyone could spearhead the defense of the palace but him. Anyway, once the Third Prince takes action, my people will sneak into his residence and plant a set of royal dragon robes there. After that, the emperor can launch an investigation and claim that the Third Prince is the one who has the true intention for treason!"
Elder Zhan stroked his beard as he countered, "What if the Third Prince does not mobilize even a single soldier? His actions are often carefully measured yet unpredictable. Even after so many years, I've never understood how that man works. This plan seems perfect, but it's a tad too hasty of us to implement it right away. There is a possibility that he will notice that something's off."
"If he doesn't mobilize his troops or step forward to assume command, choosing to just stand aside without doing anything, then the plan will run even more smoothly," Elder Wu replied smugly. "If that happens, I will speak up in court and point out that those so-called 'rebellious soldiers' are just using the Fifth Prince as a figurehead. The real culprit must be the Third Prince, otherwise why would he not mobilize his troops to protect the emperor?"
Elder Zhan could not help but give a thumbs up after hearing this. "This plan is foolproof indeed! If he takes action, then it amounts to treason; but if he doesn't take action, then it shows that he has other nefarious plans in mind. Unless there is someone who can fight off the invasion for him before he gets involved, but if otherwise, then the emperor would have the perfect reason to get rid of the Third Prince!"
"That is exactly my intention." A sinister smile blossomed on Elder Wu's face.
Elder Zhan thought for a while before saying, "This plan needs to be executed flawlessly. It is best if we can nail down the criminal charge on Helian Wei Wei, so that the Third Prince would be too busy trying to save her instead of thinking about anything else!"
"You don't have to worry about that, Elder Zhan," Elder Wu laughed. "On their wedding day, Helian Wei Wei did not reveal anything suspicious because of the Fire Qilin's appearance. For the chanting ritual tomorrow, all of us, including the Third Prince and Helian Wei Wei, will be inside the palace. Since the emperor is present, nobody is allowed to bring any sacred beasts with them. When that moment arrives, it will be the death of Helian Wei Wei..."
Clatter!
The emperor sneered as he tossed a report to the side. His voice was laced with a clear undertone of fury as he snarled, "Another idiot insisting that I appoint a crown prince as soon as possible. Heh, I'm still sitting on the throne, but they're already so bold!"
Crash!
With a swipe of his sleeve, all of the reports that were on the sandalwood table were swept unceremoniously to the floor.
Eunuch Gao, who was standing at the side, trembled in fear.
Everything was a sore sight in the emperor's eyes right now, especially a mere slave, so he gave the eunuch a vicious kick to release his anger. "Not only that, the Retired Emperor is also a senile old geezer! Instead of favoring me, his own son, he would rather favor his grandchild?"
"Crown prince?" The emperor laughed maliciously. "He will never become the crown prince without my agreement!"
This night, there would be no peace at the Sunrise Hall.
Eunuch Gao dragged his aching body away in silence. Who could have understood the pain in his heart? He had served the emperor for at least 30 years, yet even now, he was still seen as nothing more than livestock.
"From what I see, I think the emperor is getting impatient." Nangong Lie, who had been staying in the Holy Worship Temple all this while, immediately brought the news to Baili Jia Jue after he received it. "Ah Jue, I think that there must be more to this incident. Please be on high alert for these few days. Even though His Majesty has been incompetent and obsessed with elixirs since the last couple of years, the palace still belongs to him."
Baili Jia Jue sat with his legs propped up on a wooden chair, his handsome face plastered with its usual icy coldness.
Nangong Lie did not attempt to advise him any further. After all, there was no one that he understood more than Baili Jia Jue.
When he was young, the empress had never been fond of Ah Jue.
Now that he had grown up...
Even the emperor was wary of him.
Nangong Lie shook his head and heaved a deep sigh in his heart.
When he left, it was already late into the night.
Baili Jia Jue returned to his chamber, bringing with him the chill of the night mist. All of the servants could notice the coldness in his eyes, therefore they quickly lowered their heads and stood aside.
When he approached his bed, the ice in his eyes finally thawed.
It was all because of the person who lied there in the cage.
Her wrists were restrained by metal chains, but she could still fall into a deep slumber. Next to her was an empty space, like it was left for him.
If it were somebody else in the cage, they would probably be unable to tolerate his peculiarities by now.
She was the only one who could.
Baili Jia Jue felt a certain warmth blossom in his heart. He climbed into bed and pulled her into his arms.
Helian Wei Wei was very docile in her sleep, allowing Baili Jia Jue to manipulate her body however he liked until she was leaning against him. He wrapped his arms around Helian Wei Wei's waist, as if it was only natural for him to do so.
Baili Jia Jue's lips curled devilishly. Then, he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
Right now, she felt completely at ease around him. Her guard was finally down.
Previously, to have her belong to him, he went against his usual principles and claimed her hand in marriage. All of that, just to get her into his bed.
When they first got married, she was still wary of him. Although they were sleeping in the same bed, she kept leaning against the wall, refusing to touch him at all. Now, she had become so compliant that he could not help but love her even more.
This proved that patience and some scheming were needed to take care of a cunning animal like a fox.
"Ugh..." Helian Wei Wei shifted slightly, disturbed by the chill of his body. The fair skin of her stomach was exposed to the air, rising and falling gently with the breaths that she took, making her seem like a defenseless little animal. "Is it already morning?"
Baili Jia Jue felt like he was an outstanding caretaker indeed. He pulled her over and patted her back lightly, speaking with a voice as low and smooth as a pre-recorded lullaby, "Not yet, you can go back to sleep."
"Wake me up when the sun's up. I'll make you some bean..." Her voice faded away as she spoke, so the last few words she said was murmured inaudibly.
Baili Jia Jue gazed down at her, his lips softening into a faint smile.
The moonlight shone through the wooden windows, casting light on the pair that clung to each other in their sleep. Anyone who saw this scene would definitely think that they were a match made in heaven indeed...
*****
"Achoo!"
Who knew if it was because she woke up too early, but Helian Wei Wei sneezed loudly upon getting out of bed. As a result, her foot jerked suddenly and kicked the headboard, sending waves of pain up her leg.
Baili Jia Jue was standing by the window with a cream-colored towel in his hands when this happened. Upon hearing the commotion, he turned to look at Helian Wei Wei, whose neck was stretched tantalizingly as she tried to survey the damage. He beckoned in a deep, low voice, "Come here."
Helian Wei Wei swallowed instinctively and turned her head aside as she asked, "Why should I?"
"Let me look at your feet," Baili Jia Jue coaxed as he handed his towel to a servant who was standing by the side.
Helian Wei Wei made a noise of agreement as she bent down to put on her shoes. However, before she could do that, a hand curled around her waist and hoisted her upward. When she realized what was happening, she was already lifted up to sit on the sandalwood vanity.
Baili Jia Jue caged her in, his arms pressing down on both sides of her body. He leaned down, capturing her eyes in his mesmerizing gaze, his low voice murmuring softly, "Lift up your leg."
In this kind of position?
Of course, Helian Wei Wei would never do that. She looked at him and protested, "It doesn't hurt, it was just a light knock."
"It got all red just from a light knock?" Baili Jia Jue pressed in even closer, practically forcing her into a corner. His presence was overpowering, so much so that Helian Wei Wei could not ignore him even if she wanted to. Perhaps it was due to the morning glow of the sun, which made his face look even more stunning and defined than usual.
Helian Wei Wei realized that she finally got to witness what was known as a self-beautifying filter. People who looked like a certain prince would definitely be thought to be a succubus, no matter where they went.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want me to continue what I was doing last night?" Baili Jia Jue drawled into her ear. His voice was low and seductive, with a hint of amusement.
Helian Wei Wei felt her heart skip a beat. She tried to push him away, but he countered it by pressing down even more on her.
Baili Jia Jue tilted his head slightly and closed the distance between them. The nearer his eyes were, the faster her heart raced.
Helian Wei Wei grasped his clothes tightly as she leaned backward. "Wait..."
"Hm?" Baili Jia Jue did not give her any chance to escape. He freed his right hand and curled it around the back of her head, which was followed by his lips imprinting onto hers.
The slightly chilly sensation and the familiar scent of sandalwood intoxicated her.
Helian Wei Wei panted softly as he pulled her completely into his arms. When he started to pepper her neck with kisses, she finally extended a hand to stop him. "Hold on, I still need to make bean paste buns for you and Little Seven.When he wakes up later, it would be ready for both of you to eat together. Don't you like bean paste buns? You can have it as a filler before lunch."
Upon hearing that, Baili Jia Jue loosened his grip. He observed the beautiful face in front of him as he pondered on what she said.
When did he say that he liked bean paste buns?
She's making assumptions again.
Although that was true, but when the Third Prince got his hands on those bean paste buns, he ate more of them than anyone else. This was enough to prove that the buns were indeed to his taste.
After everyone had their fill, the leftovers were taken away by Little Seven. He held a bun in his right hand, a pair of chopsticks in his left, while another bun was stuffed into his mouth. He sat in front of Helian Wei Wei and Baili Jia Jue, with a sitting posture that was as dominating as ever.
Eunuch Sun took the opportunity to mention the imperial officials who were requesting a presence with Baili Jia Jue. He wanted the prince to meet them so that they could be of some help to him in the future.
Baili Jia Jue looked at the crumbs on Little Seven's face, his brows furrowing lightly. Then, he answered in his usual apathetic tone, "Reject all of them."
Eunuch Sun was stunned for a moment. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "But there are military officials among them..."