Chapter 202: Clear Sky Day Chapter 179 I'm Not That Easily Deceived

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Not long after finishing the morning meal, people from the palace arrived at the Jiang Residence to visit; because there was an imperial verbal decree, Shaowei came out to receive them.

Middle Attendant Guo Shi came in person, wearing a face full of smiles.

"After the Tai Puzhe prayed for rain and fell unconscious, His Majesty was deeply worried, sending people to inquire daily... Now knowing the Tai Puzhe's body is gradually recovering, the imperial heart is at ease, so he ordered us to come and convey the message: just wait for the Tai Puzhe to rest and recuperate for two more days, then she may enter the palace for an audience to receive rewards."

"Besides that, your revered master this time narrowly escaped a great calamity and managed to turn danger into safety; this is also a great fortune amidst misfortune... Being able to save and raise the Tianji Incarnation, such an unparalleled high person, truly inspires admiration. His Majesty has the desire to meet him, so we also request the Tai Puzhe to bring your revered master along when entering the palace."

"Please report back to His Majesty, I have noted all of it." Shaowei replied briefly.

The smile on Guo Shi's face deepened; with the official business concluded, he then sighed with emotion: "I still remember the first time the Tai Puzhe entered the palace for an audience, Guo Mou was also present. At that time, seeing the Tai Puzhe at such a young age, yet daring to prophesy boldly, and remaining so unperturbed by honor or disgrace, Guo Mou determined that the Tai Puzhe would surely become a great talent in the future."

"Is that so." Shaowei looked at him, recalling: "That day I was wholeheartedly answering, and did not notice the Middle Attendant."

Guo Shi's smile did not diminish; instead he let out a light laugh.

This way of responding was rarely interesting; he said he had paid attention to her that day, and she replied that she had not noticed him, placing the two on equal footing, rather than her being the lowly little shaman unilaterally scrutinized and evaluated.

It seemed like a youth's arrogant self-confidence, but she had not deliberately put on a haughty attitude; this was more like a bone-deep conviction that no matter what position she was in, she was never inferior to anyone.

Amidst Guo Shi's light laughter, Shaowei added: "However, from now on, I will remember the Middle Attendant firmly."

Meeting those eyes, still pitch-black, clear and spirited like something from the mountain forest, Guo Shi's smile faltered slightly; he hurriedly laughed "aiyo" and bowed in salute: "That is truly Guo Shi's good fortune!"

Shaowei looked at him; she had indeed remembered him seriously.

Middle Attendant, Guo Shi, that night at the Lingxing Gong Great Sacrifice, facing Chiyang's slander against her and Jiang Fu, because he harbored the intention to seize the opportunity to target Liu Qi, was one of those who fanned the flames from the middle.

In addition, last night Liu Qi also mentioned this name to her; back in the Ling Taizi case, it was precisely this person who went to Xian Tai Gong to deliver the edict together with Zhu Zhi.

Her gaze shifted away, past the back of Guo Shi who was bowing to show goodwill; Shaowei saw a familiar inner attendant, who nodded lightly to him.

Quan Wa hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to display his joy openly.

As Guo Shi straightened up, he said with a smile: "The message has been delivered, so I will not disturb the Tai Puzhe's recuperation any longer; Guo Shi will return to the palace first to await the Tai Puzhe."

Shaowei nodded, and had Yong Er see them off.

Just as Guo Shi and the others turned to leave, Shaowei thought of something and casually instructed: "Today people from the Taiyi Shu will come to administer acupuncture and regulate my master; please convey a message to bring that child of Que'er along to me as well."

Palace personnel comings and goings are managed by the Shaofu Office; this matter could not avoid going through official channels.

Guo Shi thought for a moment, then remembered who Que'er was; she was originally a useless sick child who should have been led out of the palace long ago, so he readily agreed, and also laughed and praised the Tai Puzhe for being truly kind-hearted. Upon returning to the palace, he immediately passed this order down casually.

Quan Wa very actively ran to the Taiyi Shu to deliver the news.

When the Spider Woman went to see Que'er, she only saw that frail girl hugging her knees sitting on the bed in a daze.

"Go on, follow me out of the palace." The Spider Woman spoke.

Que'er then got down from the bed, not saying much, not asking much.

"Taking you to see the Great Shaman God."

Hearing this sentence, Que'er finally raised her head to look at the Spider Woman.

The Spider Woman smiled knowingly.

This child, due to being a test subject for medicine, had lost her emotions; only when hearing words related to the Great Shaman God would she show a different reaction — presumably an imprinting dependency complex born from being saved by the Shaman God when on the brink of death.

Such a complex, the Spider Woman could deeply empathize with; she took this child by the hand and walked out of the Taiyi Shu.

At the same moment, a household servant left the Jiang Residence, and due to a piece of news that had just arrived, rushed to the Small Courtyard to check.

People from the Lu Hou Fu arrived, bringing many things, nearly filling the not-large front hall; there were pearls and jewelry, daily necessities, and additionally several boxes of Five-zhu Coins strung neatly and evenly.

Pei said with a smile to the young master: the jewelry was sent by the Old Madam, the daily items were selected by the Young Lady, and those several large boxes of money were the Old Marquis's claim.

She also said: "If the young master has time, you may return home early tomorrow for a meal; the Young Lady wants to measure you for tailoring, the weather is turning cold, and autumn and winter thick clothes should be made."

Shaowei's eyes brightened; she nodded in agreement.

Pei looked at the hair bun on her head and couldn't help but praise: "This Nine-Ring Bun is truly beautiful; worn on the young master's head, it is truly like a fairy from the nine heavens descending to the mortal world."

This time Shaowei restrained herself from touching it, only saying: "It was my master who combed it for me."

While praising, Pei couldn't help but think secretly: unexpectedly this female monarch surnamed Jiang actually possessed such superb hair-combing skill, even more intricate and exquisite than what the Young Lady combed yesterday; must tell the Young Lady and prepare more hairstyles for the young master to have combed.

And besides sending the items, Pei additionally handed an object to Shaowei with both hands; it was precisely that Birthday Wood Token.

The maidservant left by Feng Xu at Xian Tai Gong to serve Ming Dan had already returned to the Hou Mansion; this wood token was also brought back along with her.

Shaowei held it in her hand, and saw the wood color had already darkened, as if it had been rubbed countless times, carrying endless apprehension, greed, and entrustment.

Pei had just left on her front foot, and Shaowei had not yet left the front hall, when an Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived at the door to deliver a message.

Feng Xu, for seizing the family property, hired assassins to harm the Lu Hou's daughter, and further attempted to kill the Lu Hou and Madam Shentu who held titles; the evidence is conclusive, the nature heinous, the death penalty is already inescapable. But under torture, Feng Xu never admitted to instigating others to impersonate the Tianji; he claims he was also a deceived person.

Because the matter of impersonating the Tianji involves the National Fortune and is of great importance, it must be investigated whether someone was behind the scenes pulling the strings; therefore even though Ming Dan's identity has been exposed, the physicians have not stopped treating her.

She has regained consciousness for several days; due to excessive weakness, she cannot move arbitrarily, and is temporarily detained in the original place, undergoing interrogation by the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Waking from unconsciousness, preserving a life, yet losing everything she possessed before unconsciousness; what she faces now is no longer the adoring reverence and concern, but cold, oppressive pressure and questioning.

Ming Dan firmly claims she was coerced by Feng Xu; from the first time they met in Donglai Commandery, Feng Xu threatened her to impersonate Feng Zhu's daughter; she previously did not know this identity was actually the Tianji Incarnation; she knows nothing; she is innocent and harmless, forced by circumstances.

She cried and cried, fainted and fainted, incessantly saying she was wronged; but she cannot produce any evidence of being threatened by Feng Xu, or even of colluding with Feng Xu; her statements also contain no few self-contradictions.

He Pingchun personally oversaw this case; after several days of interrogation, he had a conclusion in his heart: this woman, one, has no relatives as a soft spot; two, was never harmed by poisoning; if not for claiming coercion, she clearly had countless opportunities to report Feng Xu and achieve merit.

Feng Xu might have known, wanting to be the manipulating mantis stalking the cicada, but this young girl is absolutely not innocent.

Unknown whether she saw that she could not bluff her way through, that young girl cried and begged, saying she wanted to see the Tianji face to face; she is the Great Shaman God's biological A Jie; she once accidentally heard from her birth father Qin Fu about other inside details regarding Feng Zhu's abduction back then.

This is a private matter; He Pingchun sent people to the Jiang Residence to privately ask the Great Shaman God if she was willing to meet.

The Jing Yuan where Ming Dan resides is strictly guarded by Embroidered Uniform Guards; no one can approach, and no one is willing to approach, for fear of being tainted by the capital crime of being an accomplice to impersonating the Tianji and obstructing the state's destiny.

The door was pushed open, and Ming Dan, slumped on the straw mat, hurriedly looked up.

Outside the door, the autumn sun was golden; first she saw the FuhuQiaotousilu, then the wide-sleeved Curved Hem robe, vermilion collar trim, a misty moon-white base color, draped with a light gauze outer wrap, waist tied with a ZhuhongSizhidai. Looking further up, a nine-ringed celestial coiffure, pearl and jade tassels, seeming real yet illusory.

Ming Dan stared blankly at that exquisite coiffure, then lowered her eyes to look at her own disheveled hair scattered before her.

In their previous few meetings, Shaowei was not someone skilled in dressing and hairdressing; coming to see her now, looking like this, it instead seemed like flaunting and mockery.

She suppressed the emotions in her heart, looked up again, and tears were already rolling down; because her face was weak and pale, she appeared all the more pitiable.

Shaowei strode across the threshold, stood still, and asked her: "Speak. What other inside information do you know?"

Ming Dan tilted her face up, tears streaming: "Shaowei, impersonating you was wrong of me... but at the time I thought you were already dead, I admit I was greedy, but I had no ill intent..."

She choked out repeatedly: "Shaowei, I truly never had ill intent, do you believe me or not?"

Shaowei looked at her: "If when I first entered the capital, you had come to find me and said this, I might have believed. But now, I don't believe."

"I thought about finding you!" Ming Dan hurriedly said: "... But you said publicly you didn't remember the past, both our appearances changed a lot, I didn't know if it was really you, I really didn't dare speak rashly..."

"Moreover you know, I'm afraid of you... you're this formidable, I've been afraid of you since childhood!"

Ming Dan's eyes were cowardly, shaking her head she cried: "I didn't dare go see you... I thought about it, if you came to find me, I would immediately confess everything, I'm willing to go to the Feng Family, prove you're the real one! But you never came to find me, otherwise it wouldn't be today's situation..."

Shaowei was simply surprised: "You yourself harbored wishful thinking, yet blame me for not exposing you? I have my own matters to do, you stole first, why should I bear responsibility for the consequences of your greed?"

Ming Dan shook her head again: "No, that's not what I meant! Shaowei... I'm saying this to tell you, I'm just timid, but I never had any thought of harming you, harming anyone!"

Shaowei looked at her, discerned for a moment, said: "No, you do."

"You're right, you're timid, and you lack ability, so you don't dare and have no chance to harm directly." Shaowei said: "You risked everything, dared to continue impersonating Tianji, which shows you're not afraid of being exposed, so you must know Feng Xu wants to harm my Mother, as long as my Mother is gone, no one else can prove you're fake."

Ming Dan's lips moved soundlessly, only to see the girl before her with sharp, determined eyes: "It's not only personally killing someone that counts as harming."

"No, I truly didn't know..." Ming Dan's eyes panicked, she hurriedly said: "It was all Feng Xu forcing me, he had people monitor me closely, I was also forced, I'm afraid of him!"

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Shaowei expressionless: "He clearly didn't know my identity before, wouldn't guard against you approaching me, you have many petty clevernesses, as long as you wanted, countless ways to see me, you expose him to me, I'll definitely help you kill him. Even if I lost my memory, I'd still help you report him to the Feng Family, then the Feng Family would definitely repay you, arrange you well."

Ming Dan didn't know if it was fear or panic, for a moment couldn't speak complete words, or perhaps poked at a thought that once appeared in her heart, but swaying she still chose the completely opposite path...

"Stop lying to me, I'm not that easily fooled." Shaowei said: "You had many chances to turn back, but now there are none."

Ming Dan's face turned deathly pale, only panickedly shedding tears.

Seeing this, Shaowei immediately knew this person's so-called knowing other inside information about her Mother being captured was just empty lies to trick herself into meeting, otherwise at this moment she should have spoken it out as a bargaining chip.

Therefore she didn't ask anymore, Shaowei turned and walked away.

But Ming Dan suddenly lunged forward, grabbed and hugged Shaowei's skirt legs, crying and begging: "... Shaowei, Shaowei, you're now recognized by the Lu Hou Fu, both a Great Wu God and Tianji, you have so much, why quibble with me, just spare me this once! As long as you plead for me to the Emperor, he'll definitely pardon me! Beg you, beg you! This life I'm willing to be slave and servant, make amends to you!"

She cried repeating: "You already have so much, you're so formidable... I can't forcibly occupy your things anymore, I'm just begging you to speak, say one sentence for me..."

Shaowei didn't speak for a moment.

She also felt she now possessed many things, things she never dared imagine before.

But Mother said, it was she who first risked her life to save Mother, Mother then came to save her, recognize her.

And Jiang Fu said, it's not because she's Tianji that she's this formidable, it's because she's formidable enough that she can become Tianji.

So Shaowei turned back, said: "All this is what I deserve, has nothing to do with you."

The sunlight outside the door reflected a circle of golden, fuzzy light on her face and coiffure, simply like a majestic, determined tiger, but Ming Dan really couldn't care about fear, she muttered: "How is it unrelated, how is it unrelated..."

Speaking, one hand hugged tight Shaowei's skirt, one hand pulled open the Daoist robe lapel, revealed the bandages wrapped on her chest, said: "This time, don't I count as blocking disaster for you? On account of this matter..."

"Who let you block?" Shaowei couldn't help but disdain: "If it were me that day, this arrow fundamentally couldn't possibly wound me."

"It's not like that... you can't calculate like this!" Ming Dan nearly frantically begged: "You can't forget, we have the same father, I'm your A Jie, biological A Jie!"

Shaowei "tsk"ed, lifted her leg again, Ming Dan wouldn't let go, directly pulling Shaowei's skirt out of shape, Shaowei endured until she couldn't, just about to reach out and tear her away, but heard her cry out confused words:

"Yes, I've been jealous of you since childhood... I'm jealous of you so I even more want to impersonate you! Clearly we look this similar, but I have nothing! This is unfair!"

Shaowei already had no intention of paying attention further, but these words that nearly reversed black and white, really made one unable not to doubt.

Lowering her head to look at her, Shaowei asked: "What do I have?"

In memory, because Ming Dan gained Qin Fu's favor, her clothing and use were much better than hers, and she never suffered beating, scolding was also very rare.

Ming Dan cried until her mouth was full of sticky crystal saliva, one opening of the mouth, saliva strands snapped, voice buzzing extremely loud: "You have Mother!"

Shaowei frowned: "You don't?"

"Zhu Niang isn't!" Like some long-suppressed accusation, not caring who the listener was anymore, Ming Dan cried: "I'm not her biological child, her heart always misses her biological son! Yes, she raised me, she protected me, but that was all to utilize... utilize me to go down the mountain to investigate her son's whereabouts! All her goodness is fake! In this world no one truly treats me well, I have nothing! You have everything!"

Shaowei looked at her for a moment, subconsciously said: "I heard someone blocked an arrow for you, died saving you, this doesn't count as true heart either."

"Of course it doesn't count!" Ming Dan immediately denied: "He did it to curry favor and attach to me, he didn't know I'm fake Tianji, if he knew, he definitely wouldn't have! He certainly also didn't expect that one arrow would take his life... otherwise he wouldn't have!"

Shaowei looked at such a Ming Dan.

On Tianlang Mountain, she hadn't paid much attention to this person, now it seems she only truly knows her.

This is someone who feels she has nothing, so wants many things, also wants much love, but when others give her, she doesn't believe it's real.

How true is true, so-called having nothing, is more like self-perceived lack, so only endlessly taking and denying, never actively exchanging or returning.

"You've been acting pitiful all day, now looking at it, indeed somewhat truly pitiful." Shaowei said: "There are many pitiful people in this world, but not everyone is worth me saving, I've seen pitiful people worth saving, they wouldn't do things like you."

Hearing such straightforward words, Ming Dan's crying inexplicably stopped, as if knowing begging was utterly hopeless, when Shaowei lifted her leg again, she forgot to continue holding tight, lost support, collapsed on the spot.

After Shaowei stepped across the threshold, suddenly heard desperate resentful curses from behind.

"QinShaowei! You first committed patricide, now you watch your biological A Jie die without saving, a vicious person like you will definitely have retribution! Retribution!"

Shaowei wasn't angry, instead rolled her eyes.

Who is QinShaowei, what does she have to do with her FengShaowei Jiang Huali, the curse isn't even cursed right, won't take effect.

Stepping down the Tai Jie, again heard an even more resentful voice: "... Even as a ghost I won't let you off!"

"Word stands." Shaowei didn't turn her head, called out: "I'll wait, you don't dare come."

Ming Dan angrily shouted, voice yet abruptly cut off, seeming to have fainted again.

Shaowei didn't care about her, all the way by carriage back to Jiang Zhai, just encountered Spider Woman arriving, just leading Que'er down from the carriage.

Spider Woman stepped forward to salute, Que'er also rarely spoke actively: "Great Wu God, I am Que'er."

"Nodding, I know." Shaowei thought of something and said to her, "Come with me to a location. Since you've come to my home, I'll give you something."

Que'er could understand very Complex words, but at this moment she still didn't understand why she had come to the Witch God's home, yet the Witch God wanted to give her something instead?

But she still nodded in agreement to the location, and got back in the carriage with Shaowei again.

?? About five thousand characters~

? Wishing See You Everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

? The double Monthly Ticket is about to Ending; if See You Everyone still have tickets, I want to Shout for Monthly Tickets, for Monthly Tickets!!