Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1310: Chapter 1312: The Person Favored by the Gods_1

I’m unwilling—it’s your gods, not mine!

Inside, Bai Ruozhu cursed in her heart, but she said aloud, ”I’m curious, how exactly does the divine judgement work? Is there a specific ritual?”

The Holy Hall could control the entire Western Regions; they certainly must have their ways. In such an important divine judgement, it couldn’t be something beyond their control.

Ultimately, the saintess and Lady Diao Mo were in cahoots, their goal was to convict her.

That’s right, to convict her, the target was her alone, not both her and Jiang Yichun.

The saintess smiled faintly and glanced at Lady Diao Mo, gesturing for her to do the talking. This act, while seemingly showing her dislike for speaking much, actually demonstrated her contempt for Bai Ruozhu. Bai Ruozhu’s question wasn’t even worthy of her response; only worthy of being answered by her servant.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes narrowed—this saintess bore animosity towards her!

Lady Diao Mo’s face showed a smug look, apparently very pleased with being ”valued” by the saintess, affirming her position within the Holy Hall.

”Certainly, a ritual must be performed. The chief priest will pray to the deities and then seek their judgement. The will of the gods will manifest in the burning flames,” said Lady Diao Mo, pointing to a tray held by a servant beside her, and continued, ”Those are the four colored candles; red represents great luck and devotion. If the red candle burns, it means the gods have judged you innocent and that you are a person of devotion.”

”Yellow also means innocence, green represents a plea for forgiveness, while black signifies one who has desecrated the gods, and they must be severely punished,” Lady Diao Mo went on.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”This is my first visit to your country, and also the first time I’ve learned of this ritual. It truly is admirable.”

Though her words were full of praise, her feet moved towards the tray the servant was holding.

It was a large tray, with the four colored candles set at its corners, and a small fire dish in the center. It seemed the fire would be lit there first, and then it would ignite the specific candle.

She flared her nostrils slightly, and soon enough, a smile formed in her eyes. These little tricks weren’t going to fool her so easily.

With the saintess’s spells, she could definitely manipulate the flames at any time, and the four colored candles were made from specific herbal medicines, which are rare outside and only produced in the Western Regions.

The other party definitely thought she wouldn’t recognize these herbal medicines, nor would she see through their tricks. Unfortunately, while these herbs were not found in Danliang Country, she had seen them in her previous life and had even personally cultivated two of them when she was a child.

With that thought, she stirred slightly, her fingertips discreetly sprinkling some powder. Even if this action might reveal to the great elder and Lady Diao Mo that she possessed medical skills, she had to take the risk.

After all, they were intent on convicting her, condemning her to death. She could not afford not to expose her medical skills in order to preserve her own life.

As for what to do afterward, she would have to play it by ear.

”I have immense respect for your Holy Hall’s prayer ritual and hold the gods in high esteem. I also believe that the gods will surely receive my reverence and prove my innocence,” Bai Ruozhu deliberately made herself appear extremely devout.

Lady Diao Mo laughed, ”So you’re willing to accept the gods’ judgement now?”

”Of course, I believe that the gods are omnipotent and the most just,” Bai Ruozhu said.

”Lady Bai...” Ao Qi called out with concern, but after all, it was not convenient to speak here, so he swallowed the rest of his words and covertly shook his head at Bai Ruozhu.

Jiang Yichun also frowned with some worry, but he didn’t speak out to stop her. Bai Ruozhu gave a grateful smile to Ao Qi, indicating that he needn’t say any more.

”Alright, I will go prepare for the ceremony, please everyone, come inside,” said the Holy Maiden Honglian.

She led the way into the Main Hall behind them; the great elder and the others followed suit. Among them, the great elder was the most composed, while Madam Diao Mo was slightly better, but Jin Jing’s face was already filled with a look of triumph, as if she wanted to witness Bai Ruozhu’s misfortune.

Ao Qi, trailing behind, whispered to Jiang Yichun, ”Why won’t you advise her? This ceremony is not within our control.”

The corner of Jiang Yichun’s mouth lifted slightly, and the concern that was previously on his face had vanished, ”I believe in her.”

Ao Qi was stunned, indeed, how could the person destined for his grandmother be anything less? And how could she fail to solve even such a minor issue?

Princess Yingtong patted his shoulder from behind and said in a low voice, ”Hurry up and follow them, as long as the Holy Hall doesn’t deny accountability later, or come up with anything else.”

Ao Qi quickly followed them. He was very curious about how Bai Ruozhu would resolve the current predicament. Similarly, the ruler of the country had a probing look in his eyes; his visit today was not just to save Kailin’s destined one, he also wanted to see what skills Kailin’s destined one possessed.

Without showing any emotion, Bai Ruozhu followed them into the Inner Hall, continuously sprinkling the drug powder with her fingers, in order not to be discovered, she sprinkled very little each time.

Soon, the maids set up the tray, and also placed an exquisitely embroidered cushion for the Holy Maiden. Honglian nodded to everyone and moved forward to kneel on the cushion.

”Now, let us begin the ceremony,” said Honglian, her vermillion lips parting to speak in a voice still so gentle, ”Madam Bai, there’s no need to be nervous, just be sincere in your heart.”

”Very well, Holy Maiden, please begin,” said Bai Ruozhu, copying the gesture of the people from the Western Regions by placing her hands together.

Honglian instructed the maids to light the fire pit in the center. She formed the seals with her hands and began chanting the lengthy and difficult sutras, as the flames went from small wisps to taller and larger blazes.

At that moment, the flames inexplicably leaned towards the black incense. All the doors and windows of the Inner Hall were closed, with no gust of wind coming in—how could the flames tilt without any wind?

Many of the Holy Guards widened their eyes at this sight; the deity must be revealing itself, and surely Madam Bai had disrespected the deity, for the flames were racing toward the black incense!

Ao Qi broke into a cold sweat upon seeing this, but unexpectedly, when the flames tilted toward them, the black incense didn’t catch fire, and not even a wisp of smoke appeared.

Red Lotus, with her eyes closed, was also surprised, but as she was sniffing for the scent of burning incense with her eyes shut, she couldn’t smell anything. Even though she was astonished, since her eyes were closed, nobody noticed her emotional change.

At this moment, Bai Ruozhu’s fingers moved subtly again, and the burning flames suddenly shifted towards the red incense. The red incense ignited with a whoosh even before the flames had touched it.

”Oh my, the red incense!” exclaimed a Holy Guard, unable to restrain himself, ”It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the red incense!”

”This is only seen with the extremely devout; she is a person favored by the deity!” someone else murmured from the side.

The ruler of the country, Princess Yingtong, and Ao Qi were all dumbfounded. How, how did she do this?

They all looked at Bai Ruozhu at the same time, to see her performing a gesture from the Western Regions, saying, ”I thank the deity for its blessing, for proving the innocence of a humble woman.”