Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1311: Chapter 1313: His Soul Was Bewitched_1

Saintess Honglian could no longer keep her composure and opened her eyes, which had been closed. As her nose had detected, the red incense had indeed been lit!

Surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it and returned to a calm and composed demeanor.

She smiled at Bai Ruozhu and said, ”The gods have now proven Madame Bai’s innocence; there has indeed been some misunderstanding here.”

Although she admitted Bai Ruozhu’s innocence, she did not mention that Bai Ruozhu was a ”person favored by the gods,” acting as if she had forgotten the matter. However, her demeanor and conduct were so generous and appropriate that no one could find fault with her.

”Haha, Lin Zhu, you truly are the fated person chosen by Kailin; you are indeed a person favored by the gods. I am now relieved,” the monarch suddenly said with a big laugh, intentionally mentioning the late high priest Kailin and the concept of a ”person favored by the gods.”

The great elder and Madame Diao Mo both wore ugly expressions, while Jin Jing even exclaimed, ”Impossible! She is clearly a person who has disrespected the gods; she must have, must have cheated!”

”Jin Jing, stop this nonsense!” Madame Diao Mo said through gritted teeth, ”The Holy Hall is no place for childish tantrums. Apologize to Madame Bai at once!”

Bai Ruozhu glanced at Madame Diao Mo, realizing that this woman was indeed much smarter than her daughter, flexible when needed, appearing to be a formidable opponent.

”Yes, Jin Jing, do not speak nonsense; stand down,” Saintess Honglian said, her voice still gentle as if a tolerant person had forgiven Jin Jing’s impulsiveness. This made it impossible for others to blame Jin Jing further.

Unexpectedly, Jin Jing, that absolute stubborn nuisance, actually stopped causing trouble and obediently backed down.

”Since Madame Bai is innocent, you may not give her any further trouble,” Honglian said to the great elder, her tone as if she were taking Bai Ruozhu’s side. She then bowed to the crowd, ”Honglian still has cultivation to complete, so I shall take my leave now.”

Bai Ruozhu sneered inwardly. Did the Saintess wish to downplay this serious matter into something insignificant? Was she playing the compassionate who forgives those who do wrong? Then why didn’t she show compassion when she was framing others?

”Saintess, please wait!” Bai Ruozhu called out loudly, ”I ask the Saintess to uphold justice for me. If the gods have declared me innocent and wrongfully accused, how should those who framed and slandered me be dealt with? They dared to lie and harm people in front of the gods; isn’t that the greatest disrespect to the gods? How can such behavior be tolerated?”

On Saintess Honglian’s face, which was turned away from the crowd, a crack finally appeared, and fury even flashed in her eyes. But when she turned around, all was nullified, and she again became that holy and graceful Saintess.

”Alas, God loves all beings. Why can’t Madame Bai understand His will? Since you are a person favored by the gods, why not inspire others with your mercy? Punishment is not the true solution to problems,” Honglian sighed, her tone one of regret.

”Huh, why didn’t you speak these words when you wanted to punish Madame Bai? No mention of inspiring mercy then? Now that it’s proven she has been framed, you advocate leniency towards those who harmed her?” Princess Yingtong scoffed coldly, her eyes full of ridicule.

”Princess, mind your language, you must not disrespect the Saintess!” Madame Diao Mo called out harshly.

Princess Yingtong sneered, ”I am merely speaking reason; how is that disrespectful? If rewards and punishments are not clear-cut, would the Holy Hall not become a place where only one voice is heard? If the guilty are unpunished while the innocent are continually targeted, it really is laughable.”

Honglian’s expression remained unchanged, her face still adorned with a faint smile, showing her to be extremely tolerant. Even when directly challenged by the Princess’s attitude, she showed no displeasure.

The ruler coughed and said, ”Yingtong, you mustn’t be rude. Even if you are the disciple of the former Saintess Hao Feng, you may not disrespect the current Saintess. Even if Saintess Honglian doesn’t settle this matter for everyone, the great elder will handle it. You’re too hasty.”

”Father is right, it is Yingtong who was impatient.” Princess Yingtong bowed and fell back, but her eyes were filled with smugness.

Which of the Royal Family’s members are fools? The monarch’s words not only highlighted Yingtong’s identity, but if the current Saintess were to be the disciple of the former Saintess Fen Wan, then Princess Yingtong, as Fen Wan’s disciple, would have to call Honglian ’teacher uncle’.

This was telling Honglian and the great elder that Princess Yingtong’s status was not low.

Secondly, it gave Honglian and the great elder a pit to fall into; one of them would have to deal with this matter, and there was no way to gloss over it.

With the same goal, the words of the monarch were much more lethal than what Princess Yingtong had said earlier. Bai Ruozhu admired this inwardly; she still had much to learn.

Honglian’s expression remained unchanged, as if nothing could affect her mood, exuding a transparency that commanded respect. She glanced at the great elder and said, ”Honglian will cultivate. Let the great elder take charge of the Holy Hall’s affairs.”

The great elder bowed to her, ”Saintess, rest assured, your servant will explain things to the monarch.”

Once Honglian had left, the atmosphere in the Main Hall instantly became more relaxed. At least Bai Ruozhu felt much more comfortable without that falsely saintly, lofty air around.

She looked over at Jiang Yichun and suddenly noticed that he was staring blankly at Saintess Honglian’s departing figure, completely mesmerized, and she wondered what he was thinking.

She immediately felt uneasy. Although Honglian had used the Soul-Bewitching Technique to make people feel favorably towards her, and he had reminded her of it, she had felt proud that her own man was not beguiled. But now, she felt blocked up. If he wasn’t beguiled, what was there to stare at so intently?

One had to admit, Honglian was a rare beauty, and moreover, the Saintesses of the Western Regions’ Holy Hall could marry and continue to serve as Saintesses even after having children, resigning only after turning thirty, at which point the Holy Hall would select another girl to take over as Saintess.

Even if Honglian portrayed herself as being beyond worldly desires, she was still eligible for marriage.

She stared at Jiang Yichun for a long while, and he didn’t even notice, still gazing fixatedly at Honglian’s retreating figure, until the great elder’s words brought their attention back.

”Since the monarch is present, may I ask what his insight is? The Saintess is most merciful and hopes to use kindness to reform wickedness. Even though she said she would punish Lady Bai earlier, she won’t really do anything to her. It’s enough for her to realize her mistake,” said the great elder.

Heh, nobody really said how she was going to be punished—indeed, always one step ahead.

The five Holy Guards seemed to get a hint and knelt down one by one, saying, ”We were wrong. It was our mistake; we misunderstood Lady Bai. We are willing to apologize to Lady Bai and ask for her forgiveness.”

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath, suppressing the anger Jiang Yichun had provoked, and she needed to calm herself. How else was she to match wits with a sly fox like the great elder?

”It might be hard to clear up by simply saying you misheard, and Jin Jing was the first to accuse me, she should also be called out to face punishment, shouldn’t she?” Bai Ruozhu gave Diao Mo a sly smile.