Chapter 52: Dressed As A Pig, Eating A Tiger
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
As she dropped her head, her pretty, lightly blushed face seemed like a lotus bud that was just about to blossom. Her pretty eyes were bright as they looked at Baili Jia Jue. Her eyelashes were as dark as ink.
It's just that Helian Jiao Er didn't know that the person in front of her wasn't any other person, but was instead His Highness the imperial son who had never been interested in beautiful women before.
Any attractive woman facing him basically would be totally ignored by him. action
Using Nangong Lie's words, "If a certain highness wanted to look at a beautiful face, he just needs to look at a mirror everyday. Anyone else really can't compare, be it male or female."
However, strangely, this time Baili Jia Jue surprisingly looked at Helian Jiao Er's face and lingered for quite a while.
Helian Wei Wei knitted her shapely eyebrows. She didn't think that this guy would be someone who looked at the face and not the heart. If he was just like other people, then this rice didn't need to continue to be eaten. In other words, their relationship didn't need to continue.
The longer Baili Jia Jue looked at Helian Jiao Er, the more satisfied Helian Jiao Er's face appeared. A nice looking pink surfaced on her pair of cheeks while her heart pounded. She was going to open her mouth again.
When she noticed Baili Jia Jue supporting his chin with his palm. He earnestly knitted his brow and spoke neither hastily nor slowly, "Who are you?"
His tone sounded nice, mildly cool and indolent, and carried a distinctive gracefulness.
Making everyone who heard it feel that it was a delight.
However!
Who are you?
Who are you!
Who are you ! ! ? ?
Having heard these three words, Helian Jiao Er's little face 'swish' was instantly drained of all color as her pair of hands rigidly gripped and wrung her handkerchief. The bashful eyes which were gazing in Baili Jia Jue's direction now became dumbfounded. Finally unable to bear it, she wished that she could just turn and leave!
Wei Wei was also stunned. She turned her head and looked at Baili Jia Jue's wickedly smiling face.
This guy must still remember Helian Jiao Er. It's because he remembered her that he purposefully asked that way!
Amazing, too impressive!
If there weren't so many people around, Wei Wei would've really wanted to give him a thumbs up and some praise.
Such beguilement and shrewdness was not easily seen whether in ancient or modern times!
Baili Jia Jue naturally noticed the way Wei Wei looked at him. He turned towards her and curved his lips as bewitching coldness radiated from him.
For a minute, Wei Wei wondered if she had better distance herself a bit further from this guy.
Afterall, he being too clever was dangerous.
Baili Jia Jue was very high leveled. He only glanced at that 'little fox's appearance and already knew what she was thinking. He withdrew the smiling expression and filled his eyes instead with a completely clueless look, "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Wei Wei felt she must be thinking too much. It was probably because during the first time she met this guy, the sense of a crises was too strong. That's why she was constantly on guard against him. After careful consideration, this guy still seemed to be not bad. She should not have ideas about people, "Eat a bit more. If you don't know her, then don't worry about it."
"Alright." Baili Jia Jue replied indifferently. Within his lowered gaze was a bit of surprise. He didn't expect that he'd already pretended to this extent, yet this 'little thing' still had doubts about him.
Abandon it?
Heh, how's that possible.
The more cunning the prey was, the more satisfaction one would feel when taming it.
Baili Jia Jue curved his thin lips. On his face hung a shining smiling expression. He intended to be like a marshal who sat in a command tent to dictate and be in control of everything. Therefore, he had enough patience to wait.
No one had so much difficulty enduring as Helian Jiao Er. She only felt that everyone in the cafeteria was staring at her, including her friends from the Superior Compound, those girls from influential families. Helian Jiao Er had grown up to this age, yet this was the first time she'd lost so much face!
This made Helian Jiao Er so angry even her hands were shaking. She absolutely had no idea how to vent her anger!
"Second Sister, what is there to say between you and this guy who can't even afford a student's hat." Helian Mei had stayed at the Defense Department for such a long time. Even if she was stupid, she still knew that she must talk to help rescue Heilian Jiao Er from her predicament at this time. She glanced at Wei Wei with disdain, "They're just traveling the same road to the grave."
Helian Jiao Er, having received Helian Mei's message, immediately changed to appear like someone who felt wronged, "I, I only saw that this young sir dressed so shabbily, that's all. Nothing else. Our backgrounds are not the same. I was too meddlesome."
Shabby?
Wei Wei's elegant eyebrows knitted together. It's enough that they spoke about her. Now, even the person by her side was sneered at. Did they really think she wouldn't get angry?
Wei Wei pinched the bamboo chopsticks in a vertical position, as a thread of viciousness streaked across her righteous pupils.
But just then, Master Jing Wu Wang from the Superior Compound arrived at the cafeteria accompanied by Eunuch Sun. When he heard the word "shabby", he was so spooked he almost threw away the horsetail whisk in his hand!
Jing Wu Wang looked absolutely strange, "Eunuch Sun, what do think? Do you feel that this cafeteria in the academy is not good? In regards to this, Eunuch Sun should rest assured. Wait until the Third Prince arrives.There will be a specialized chef to prepare imperial family quality food for His Highness." After having spoken, he stroked his white beard and laughed, "Actually, Eunuch Sun, you didn't have to come up here personally. With me supervising this place, there wouldn't be any problems."
"....."
Eunuch Sun wanted to cry but had no tears.
[You think I was willing to come here, boo hoo, I'd accompanied the imperial troops at the foot of the mountain and waited one whole day. Waited until now, yet that person had now appeared wearing a black gown made of plain cloth mixed within a crowd of students.]
As soon as he entered the hall, the pit of his stomach totally shivered, ok? After swallowing two pills at once to steady his heart, only then did he not lose control and scream out loud!
How did His Highness, who should be staying inside the palace, appear here? How come he couldn't even send a greeting. Hey, hello!
He wasn't even prepared in the least. He hadn't finished seeing academy's layout, and also hadn't gone to where the President was. The Retired Emperor still had time....in short, how come f*cking d*mn it that no one reported to him that Third Prince already entered White Academy. And even came as an "ordinary student" ! ! !
So could he now return to the palace and report to Retired Emperor that he already found Third Prince? !
After thinking to this point, Eunuch Sun's entire body became excited and was just about to advance when he was stopped in his tracks by a single casual glance from Baili Jia Jue!
Within that extremely cold gaze, a monstrously chilly and unsympathetic warning fully issued forth.
Eunuch Sun was such a smart person. Sigh, he had spent most of half of his life within the palace, his master's every word and deed, even if he couldn't guess 100%, he could still see through 70% of them.
Right now, His Highness' intention clearly was to want him not to approach...
"Eunuch? Eunuch Sun?" Jing Wu Wang saw him blanking out and gazing into the distance. He couldn't help but fling his gaze over to where Eunuch Sun's line of sight was, afterwhich he contentedly laughed, "The one Eunuch Sun is looking at is actually the Helian family's genius young daughter? Right now, she's already become my official disciple."
Originally, Eunuch Sun was still worried about how to pretend that he hadn't seen His Highness when this teacher from the Superior Compound found a good cover for him.
He ha ha, he laughed and nodded his head, forcing himself to retrieve his gaze away from His Highness' person, and answered along, "I had previously heard about the Helian family's second daughter who was as beautiful as a deity, and had a lovely disposition, unlike girls from ordinary families. Having seen her today, sure enough, she's out of the ordinary. Master really is fortunate, having accepted a disciple with boundless prospects."
"You're too kind." Promptly making a gesture of hopelessness, while the smile on his face didn't reduce in the slightest, "This child is actually very bright. When the time for the consort selection comes around, I'll still look to Eunuch Sun to keep an eye on her a bit more."
Hearing the two words 'consort selection', everybody within the cafeteria turned and looked over. Among them, Helian Wei Wei was also included......
Chapter 53: His Highness Pretends
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
Looking at how everybody flung their gazes over, Eunuch Sun only felt like thorns were stabbing at his back. This Minister Jing could've mentioned the consort selection at any other time, yet he insisted on mentioning it at this moment!
If you keep talking, maybe Third Prince really would misunderstand that he was receiving bribes from people behind his back!
When he thought of this possibility, Eunuch Sun immediately turned to Baili Jia Jue's direction and looked over, as he ardently used his gaze to express his intent. Your Highness, you
absolutely must believe in me! I really am completely devoted to you, no second thoughts and will even accompany you until death! I've never received any minister's.....cough, cough, even though I did receive some benefits once in awhile, but I also wouldn't do it in your presence!
Baili Jia Jue only attended to himself drinking tea, and absolutely did not look at Eunuch Sun while casually playing with the porcelain white teacup with his fingertips, as if he understood the general idea.
Eunuch Sun turned around, almost reduced to tears! Boo hoo hoo, he was just given the cold shoulder by His Highness!
Standing next to him, Minister Jing, didn't understand and furrowed his brows. What's up with Eunuch Sun today? Ever since they entered the cafeteria, he's been acting really strange...
Having missed the chance to attack, Helian Wei Wei just simply took the bamboo chopsticks that she was going to use and slowly put them back down. She wasn't so stupid as to want to make a move in front of Minister Jing. Before entering the academy, the academy president had already stated very clearly. They might make trouble. But they'd better not get caught.
This Minister Jing ordinarily already looked down on students like them from the Inferior Compound, looking down at everyone in disdain.
It's rare to see him with an affable attitude like today's. This also makes it all the more clear that the old eunuch following by his side was not simple.
Wei Wei fiddled with the bamboo chopsticks in her hand. Actually, she'd already analyzed everything clearly.
Minister Jing was laughing on this side as he turned towards Helian Jiao Er and pointed with his hand while saying, "Hurry over to greet Eunuch Sun."
Helian Jiao Er was quite proficient at making connections like this and promptly walked over with footsteps that swayed as delicately as a lotus flower, lightly smiled, and was going to open her mouth.
Eunuch Sun immediately exclaimed, "My goodness, Miss Jiao Er, you shouldn't be like this. It just overwhelms me. In the matter of His Highness choosing a consort, how can those of us who are servants say anything."
While he spoke on this side, he averted his gaze and turned towards Baili Jia Jue's direction again and again to take a look at him.
Baili Jia Jue was just as before and didn't look back at him. However, he finally changed posture and lazily leaned backwards a bit against the wooded table top.
Eunuch Sun's heart jumped and couldn't relax, totally wishing that he could kneel in front of his master at this instant and wrap himself around His Highness' thigh as he wailed his heart out!
When it's all said and done, he's but an eunuch who had groped and crawled and rolled about within the palace for many years. He's reached the highest level of proficiency in how to weigh somebody's words and observe their expression. So he knew that if he walked over right now and revealed His Highness' identity, he would die an even more miserable death compared to now!
Therefore, Eunuch Sun could only brace himself while he continued to deal with the
old one and a young one in front of him.
Helian Jiao Er wouldn't believe that sort of excuse from him. A long time ago, she'd heard Grandfather say that in fact, these eunuchs within the palace truly did come from lowly backgrounds. However, they also couldn't be looked down upon, especially this Eunuch Sun in front of her. A lot of the time, his words represented the opinions of the one from above. Clinging to him was the same as directly clinging to that Highness. That's why she had to maintain a smiling and welcoming face. If not, how would an eunuch who couldn't help her rise in power deserve this kind of treatment.
"Eunuch Sun is too modest. Within as well as outside of court, who doesn't know of Eunuch Sun's capability. A few days ago, I followed my grandfather into the palace and saw Eunuch Sun from afar. Eunuch Sun had been so capable at accompanying Third Prince, taking care of everything in serving him. In the future, if Jiao Er has the chance to enter the palace, I will also need to get eunuch's advice when there's something I don't understand." Helian Jiao Er spoke these words bashfully, her voice getting softer and softer from beginning to end while her cheeks turned red.
How could Eunuch Sun not understand her intention? Within this period of time, the Su family had presented to him no small amount of gifts. However, after all, he also was not an eunuch who just recently entered the palace. Which gifts could be accepted and which gifts should not be accepted, he did know clearly in his heart.
This Helian family's second miss actually had pretty good looks. Her background and facial features were good enough, especially that pair of eyes which seemed to be brimming with tears.
If he polished her up maybe His Highness would like her style. He should just put in a bit of effort.
After all, who would be favored, or who wouldn't be favored in the future was hard to say.
He refused those gifts nonstop, yet still accepted them in the end, to save himself from that time when he won't be favored by anyone in the harem.
Of course, his doing these things had also always been done with his master in mind. If it was someone ugly, or who had a poor background, he wouldn't even mention her to His Highness.
However!
These were all his thoughts prior to coming to the mess hall!
Right now, he only prayed that His Highness could consider and give credit to his many years of thoughtful and conscientious service, and have mercy on his old life!
Eunuch Sun's hands trembled. He again turned towards Baili Jia Jue and glanced in his direction.
Helian Jiao Er saw that he didn't talk, so she was a bit unhappy in her heart. She had already lowered herself so much to give this old thing face, and this old thing didn't even open his mouth. What was the meaning of this!
"Eunuch Sun? What are you looking at?" Helian Jiao Er's patience seemingly had run out. Seeing the old one focusing his attention at the table where Wei Wei's group sat, her shapely eyebrows twisted, "Do you know that young man?"
"No! Not at all!" Eunuch Sun saw His Highness' eyes instantly turn cold. The eunuch's heart and liver trembled and he quickly gathered up a laugh, "It's only that I felt as if I saw someone familiar, but after looking carefully, I then discovered that I've been mistaken. Oh my, this old pair of eyes has been getting blurrier and blurrier!"
Helian Jiao Er saw that the atmosphere had improved, so she also smiled in response,
"Precisely. You couldn't possibly be acquainted with this young man. I also don't know what's going on with the academy this year, expending so much effort to recruit common people. Your eyes being mistaken here is normal."
Eunuch Sun, after hearing these words, smiled even more unnaturally. This time, he didn't even have anymore courage to glance at one of the 'common people'. His palms overflowed with layer upon layers of sweat.
"Let us also go for a stroll around other places, it's too noisy here." Minister Jing's pure white long sleeves moved as a smile was contained in the sound of his voice, "Please, Eunuch Sun."
"Good!" Eunuch Sun immediately nodded his head, his appearance of wishing he could leave as early as possible made the others very puzzled. action
How could they know, if they had continued talking, he'd probably really die without any trace of his remains!
Minister Jing also didn't linger any longer, and only opened his mouth to call Helian Jiao Er, to have her accompany them.
After the honored guest left, the cafeteria then resumed its usual atmosphere.
Helian Mei coldly took a glance at Wei Wei, "There are some people, jeez, who always fail to estimate their own strength and preposterously want to compete with Second Sister. They don't properly look at themselves in the mirror, thinking other people were like them, who only had eyes for Lord Murong. It's fine now, Second Sister will become the Consort to Third Prince. A certain person can only become second hand goods after cancelling her engagement." After speaking, she was busy covering her mouth, then raised her hand and lightly patted it twice, "Look at this mouth of mine. Oldest Sister, the one I talked about may not be you. However, as your younger sister, I still offer some words to sober you up. Even if no one wanted you, you still shouldn't find a poor and pedantic young man to make do for yourself. Rather than that, it would be better for you to say a few soft words to Lord Murong. In any case, you've already said many things to him in the past anyways. It's possible that Lord's heart may soften, and will still forgive you. What do the rest of you think?"
Chapter 54: Black-Hearted Highness
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
Helian Mei guffawed as she asked the young girls from prestigious families standing behind her.
They held their handkerchiefs. Their thin lips slightly curved. Looking at Wei Wei was like looking at a puddle of mud that wouldn't be able stand up no matter how she tried.
Helian Mei smugly raised her chin triumphantly, "Aah, I should stop, I should stop talking. This environment is no good. Let's go find a chef to give us preferential treatment. Let's go, sisters."
They again skillfully strung together a series of ear piercing laughs.
Only, that foot of Helian Mei's had yet to step away when immediately after, it seemed as if her whole body didn't follow her command anymore. 'Putt!' all of a sudden, she was kneeling on the ground. In front of her, leftovers also somehow spilled and splashed her face and hair full of oil.
"Miss!" The maid following her quickly went to support her body, but couldn't redeem anything.
"My face, my hair! Helian Wei Wei, just you wait!" Helian Jiao Er couldn't control herself and screamed, as she rushed out of the cafeteria like a lunatic.
Wei Wei seemed lost in thought as she looked at the wood chopsticks that hadn't left her hand, yet. She slowly faced Baili Jia Jue with eyes that carried a bit of a protest, then she immediately declared her position, "It wasn't me."
"Really." Baili Jia Jue retrieved his hand. The drop of water on his fingertip hadn't dried. He calmly used a towel to wipe his hand. action
Wei Wei viewed herself as a well-behaved girl who didn't tell lies, "I was planning to take action, but I hadn't acted in time, yet she already fell."
"Mm hm." Baili Jia Jue nonchalantly sipped a mouthful of herb tea, "The ground was too slippery."
Wei Wei nodded, "It must've been. Hey! Speaking of which, not personally taking action really also makes me feel a little off. Man, how could she just fall like that."
On this side, Wei Wei still seemed to be at a loss. At the other side, hiding in a covert place, the corners of Shadow's mouth twitched fiercely. He didn't know why, but he seemed to feel that a plastered smiling expression was emerging from the corners of his master's mouth, making a person feel chilly, very chilly. He really didn't believe in any "the ground was too slippery" and such nonsense! His Highness must've acted!
"However, thinking it over carefully, Helian Jiao Er will be getting married to the Third Prince soon. That still makes a person very happy." Wei Wei seemed as if she thought of something and suddenly laughed out loud.
Baili Jia Jue's hand holding the teacup slightly tensed. His voice became devoid of any temperature, "Makes a person happy?"
"Hm?" Wei Wei glanced at him meaningfully, "Don't tell me, you don't know the reason behind this."
Shadow's body hiding at a distance fiercely stiffened.....why did he have a very bad premonition.....this oldest daughter of the Helian family wouldn't declare some shocking opinion and criticize His Highness to his face, right?
Shouldn't he immediately intervene?
So as to avoid His Highness' feelings being hurt after he heard it?
As if he became aware of his intent, Baili Jia Jue turned towards Shadow's seat and glanced at him. Within that pair of disciplined cold eyes, a strong warning was conveyed.
Shadow's body immediately retreated. His back was covered with cold sweat.
The young man turned his head around. The side of his face was suffused with graceful radiance and with a level tone, he casually spoke, "I really don't know." He actually wanted to hear it. What reason would she have to be happy about another person marrying him!
"Then I'll tell you this matter. You shouldn't tell other people. I suspect that the Third Prince, he..." Wei Wei looked left and right, after which she lowered her voice, "He could very well have homosexual tendencies."
AwwK!
Shadow almost gasped for breath, choking to death at his corner.
Homo, homosexual, tendencies? ! !
His Highness? Has homosexual tendencies? !
Shadow raised his head, scared witless as he looked at the appearance of the young man not far from him, his heart in a fit of quivering.
Oh no! My God! This time, His Highness will really lose control and choke this Helian family's eldest daughter to death!
This, this, compared to using ten taels of silver to pay for His Highness' kiss, required a person to endure even more beyond the limits of what they can bear!
Baili Jia Jue was also stunned. His handsome dense brows furrowed, and seemed as if he didn't dare to believe what he had just heard. It's unknown if he was angry or if it was something else. He unexpectedly laughed demonically coldly, "What did you say?"
"I said the Third Prince, that fellow, could be gay." Wei Wei glanced up and down as she sized the guy up, her thin lips slightly curved up, "Even if Helian Jiao Er married over there, she still wouldn't obtain any advantages. You, on the other hand, if you also participated in the consort selection, though, you definitely would be chosen. Relying on this face of yours to seduce that Third Prince a bit shouldn't be a problem."
Good, very good. What 'definitely would be chosen'! What 'seducing shouldn't be a problem'!
Baili Jia Jue's long and slender sensuous eyes dangerously squinted, flashing an unknown light, "How did you perceive that the Third Prince has homosexual tendencies?"
"Everybody in the world knows that the Third Prince had never approached beautiful women. Allegedly, even the Ghost Palace only had male servants, and all of them are young and handsome lads. If he wasn't gay, and he was a man full of vigour and vitality, at the very least, he should have a servant girl to warm his bed, right?" Wei Wei's suspicion was also not unfounded.
However, the conclusion still made Baili Jia Jue laugh coldly in his heart. Inevitably, there'll be a day when he'll make her personally thoroughly experience his 'homosexual tendencies'!
Seeing that the young man didn't talk, Wei Wei even thought that he was dumbfounded by the secret that he'd just heard from her.
Ah, sure enough, no matter if it's ancient times or in modern times, or whether it's a man or woman.
In regards to these gossipy kinds of things, one would never get tired of enjoying it.
Wei Wei had on an expression of 'I understand' as she patted Baili Jia Jue's shoulder, "You shouldn't be too surprised. If you feel that you can no longer keep quiet after hearing this news, you can also tell other people."
"Don't worry...." Baili Jia Jue indifferently glanced at the hand she placed on his shoulder as his thin lips curved up half way, arched into an arc that was a smile yet not a smile, "I will find a suitable time to tell someone." However, that someone wouldn't be anyone else, but rather...you!
After hearing these words, Wei Wei was going to say something.
When she heard a muffled laugh coming from a small door on the left side.
Wei Wei turned towards Nangong Lie standing at the doorway with his eyebrows raised.
Nangong Lie lifted his hand. It wasn't easy to swallow the laugh in his throat back down, his voice was distinct, "You guys continue with your discussion. Ha, continue, ha. Ignore me. You can completely treat me as if I don't exist!" Ha ha ha Ha. Fortunately he came back early, otherwise, he would've missed such a good scene. It's simply too funny. He's got to turn his head and personally ask Ah Jue what he felt when he heard someone talk about him having homosexual tendencies, ha Ha ha, "Pffff!" Oh no, he couldn't stop laughing again!
"What in the world are you laughing about?" Wei Wei really didn't get it.
Baili Jia Jue appeared apathetic as he glanced at Nangong Lie, raised the teacup in his hand, lightly sipped a mouthful as he said, "Laugh again at the time of your death."
Nangong Lie's body abruptly stiffened.
"However." Baili Jia Jue paused a bit, then suddenly smiled, "In regards to what you were saying, I think the Third Prince would, be, very, interested."
"How could I be so stupid as to say these things in front of him, unless I don't value my life."
Wei Wei didn't pay anymore attention as she bit into the newly arrived roasted lamb ribs.
Nangong Lie and Shadow simultaneously 'huh huh'd twice. [Then what are you doing right now? It's already too late, OK?! You absolutely! Totally! Absolutely will die for sure!]
Yet, Baili Jia Jue surprisingly actually curved up his pale lips. That kind of smile, arrogant and demonically charming, seemed as if he'd found a fun plaything...