Chapter 68, Chapter 4: The Magical Maid
"What kind of healing herb?"
A calm voice came from behind.
Whether it was the apprentice who had just stood aside and watched the excitement, or Ella beside Liuguang, they all took a breath and hurriedly bowed.
"Elder Fina!"
Liuguang feigned surprise and slowly stood up.
"Elder Fina."
She greeted Elder Fina with neither arrogance nor servility before sighing as she looked at the scattered herbs on the ground.
"It was my mistake that I knocked over Vera's healing herb."
As she spoke, Liu Guang looked at Yu Wanwan with a hint of helplessness, her tone carrying a slightly coaxing tone.
"Vell, I promise it won't happen again. Please don't be angry. How about we look at these Healing Herbs first?"
The implication was that she was only concerned with harassing her and bumping into her, and completely ignored the herbs.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Elder Fina frowned and looked at Yu Wanwan with disapproval.
Elder Fina is the only woman in the elder council. She is a rare dual-element mage, skilled in both fire and wood magic, and her alchemy skills are superb. She is now a great alchemist and has one foot in the realm of a holy alchemist.
"Vell? Does His Highness have some decree?"
But she didn't show her disapproval; she was very tactful and didn't say anything more.
Violet was someone close to the High Priest, so no matter how dissatisfied she was, it wasn't her place to hold anyone accountable.
Her tone was flat and dry, cold, which, combined with her unsmiling face, sounded like dissatisfaction.
The apprentices in the pharmaceutical workshop were so frightened that they all lowered their heads and dared not breathe.
Yu Wanwan was not frightened.
She could sense that Elder Fina meant her no harm.
"Elder Fina."
She placed her left hand on her right shoulder and bowed respectfully.
This is the proper etiquette for the temple when facing the elders; only when facing the priests and the God of Light is the right hand placed on the heart.
"As you can see, Violet has come to deliver healing herbs."
Elder Fina's eyes flickered with a hint of confusion.
"Oh! Violet, I think you must be mistaken? We're currently in the process of making the antidote, so we don't need Healing Heart Grass yet."
Yu Wanwan was even more puzzled than she was.
"Kelino arrived at the herb garden early this morning and informed me that the order of refining the antidote and the rejuvenating dew had been changed."
She took out a jade slip from her spatial storage and showed it to Elder Fina in her palm.
"He even brought a written edict!"
Linor suddenly looked up, staring in disbelief at the jade slip lying in her palm.
“Vell! The temple's sacred rules dictate that all executed edicts must be stored in the Sacred Edict Pavilion! No one is allowed to take them away without permission! How dare you…”
Yu Wanwan glanced at him and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
"The herb garden is quite far from the Holy Edict Pavilion. I originally intended to deliver the Healing Heart Herb first and then go to the Holy Edict Pavilion on the way, but I didn't expect to waste some time."
So many people have seen what just happened; there's no need for her to repeat it.
Liu Guang tightened his grip, his expression unchanged, but a storm was brewing in his heart.
This woman... how did she become so difficult to deal with after returning from the Forbidden Forest!
Elder Fina was unaware of the undercurrents between them.
With a flick of her finger, the jade slip was lifted by the red elemental power and fell into her palm.
A red-glowing fingertip brushed across the jade slip, and the imperial edict inside floated in mid-air, allowing everyone to see its contents clearly.
Yu Wanwan was not lying.
"Rinor".
His tone remained calm, yet it sent a chill down Linor's spine as he followed behind, causing him to instinctively glance at Liuguang.
The latter stood there with his eyes downcast, saying nothing.
Linor quickly looked away and knelt on one knee.
"Elder Fina, Linor is here!"
"explain."
Why the potion-making plan had been changed was something she, the elder in charge of the medicine-making room, knew nothing about.
Where did he get this jade slip from?
Linor's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and he couldn't utter a single word.
Elder Fina's aura grew stronger and stronger, pressing down on him like waves, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Just as his face grew paler and paler, and he was about to collapse, Liu Guang stepped forward, maintaining the demeanor of a saintess, and gently explained.
“Elder Fina, I met Adele this morning and learned that there was a problem with her herb garden; the herbs haven’t matured yet.”
There was a hint of apology in Liuguang's eyes.
"When I arrived at the medicine-making room, Elder Fina, you had already gone to morning prayers. In order not to delay the preparation of the medicine, I took it upon myself to change the order of preparing the antidote and the Rejuvenating Dew."
Elder Fina paused, then remained silent with a stern face.
It's not surprising that Liuguang, as a saintess, was able to obtain the elders' mark.
However, Elder Fina found it strange that she would bypass her and issue a decree in the name of the elders.
Liu Guang subtly observed Elder Fina's expression.
Unfortunately, she was always serious and never smiled, so it was impossible to read anything from her expression.
Liuguang didn't dare to linger her gaze for too long.
Elder Fina, with her level of cultivation, is extremely sensitive to gazes and stares; if she is not careful, she may reveal a flaw.
“It was Liu Guang’s fault for not consulting with the elders first, because the matter was urgent. However, Elder Fina, what’s more important now is to check whether these Healing Heart Grasses are damaged.”
Elder Fina knew she was right, so she withdrew the pressure she had exerted on Linor and squatted down to examine the herbs on the ground.
Yu Wanwan, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, spoke up at the opportune moment.
“Fei…”
"Vell, don't worry."
She had only uttered one word when Liuguang interrupted her.
Liuguang took her hand, patted it gently, and comforted her softly.
"The God of Light will protect you; you will be alright."
Just then, Elder Fina's voice rang out again.
"This is not Healing Heart Grass at all!"
Compared to his previous cold and emotionless demeanor, this time, however, he subtly revealed anger.
Liu Guang's pupils widened suddenly, seemingly shocked by the news, and she spoke before Elder Fina could question her.
"How could that be? If it's not Healing Heart Grass, then what could it be?"
Elder Fina held a medicinal herb in her hand, her eyes darkening as she suppressed her anger.
"This is euphorbia milii!"
A collective gasp filled the pharmaceutical preparation room.
Neither Healing Heart Grass nor Healing Heart Grass are particularly rare herbs, but because of their similarities and unique characteristics, the first lesson every pharmacist must learn is to distinguish between them.
Liu Guang also took an exaggerated breath, looking at Yu Wanwan with surprise and doubt, her tone somewhat hurried.
"Vell? What's going on? Explain yourself!"
Yu Wanwan calmly withdrew her hand, watching her act with a half-smile.
"What does the Holy Maiden want me to explain?"
The shimmering light paused.
Her reaction was not what she had imagined.
This almost made her forget what she was going to say next.
Liu Guang blinked quickly, concealing the strange look in her eyes.
"Oh, Violet, are you kidding? Of course, I'm explaining this misunderstanding! As the priest's handmaiden, I believe you wouldn't make such a basic mistake!"
She subtly emphasized the words "the priest's servant."
The crowd, who had initially thought there might be a misunderstanding, unconsciously recalled past events as she led them along.
Violet has always been like this. Despite her own great talent, she takes advantage of the high priest's favor to act carelessly and often causes trouble.
In the past, it was always the Holy Maiden who stepped in and cleaned up the mess for her, preventing any major trouble from escalating to the point of offending the High Priest.
This time will probably be the same.
The group of people who had just found Liu Guang's behavior strange suddenly turned their disdainful and dissatisfied gazes back to Yu Wanwan.
Some apprentices, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up despite Elder Fina's presence.
"Vell! The temple is not a place for you to act like a tyrant! The Holy Maiden is not obligated to clean up your messes every time!"
Once there's a first one, there will be a second.
Even though they didn't directly rebuke the apprentice like they did, their whispers still reached their ears clearly.
"Oh, God of Light! Just as I thought, you're from a small place, utterly unworthy of respect!"
"Yes! Why keep someone like that in the temple?"
"The Holy Maiden is too kind-hearted. The High Priest should be made aware of Vera's true colors, so that she will no longer use the High Priest's identity to bully others!"
Things happened very quickly. From Elder Fina's words to the apprentices' inability to hold back their accusations or expressions of disdain, it was all over in the blink of an eye.
Elder Fina narrowed her eyes and glanced thoughtfully at Liuguang.
And these changes all seem to have started after Ryuko spoke.
She had overheard some complaints about Vera from the temple servants and maids before, but she had never bothered to investigate them further.
But now...
It seems to be different from what she expected.
Elder Fina's gaze fell on the girl who had remained silent and uncomplaining throughout, only smiling indifferently.
What do you want me to know?
A clear, ethereal voice drifted in, and the medicine-making room fell silent. Everyone looked toward the door.
The white-robed priest walked slowly with his hands hanging down. A gentle breeze blew through the hem of his robes, and sunlight shone on him, bathing him in a glow that made him appear holy and beautiful.
Everyone, including Elder Fina, bowed down in worship.
"Master Priest."
"Master Priest!"
Only Yu Wanwan stood still, scratching her palm with her index finger.
Xu Qingzhou in this world is simply a walking tool for showing off.
I really want to tear off his saintly facade!
Xu Qingzhou, completely unaware of her dangerous thoughts, stood beside Yu Wanwan.
His compassionate and kind gaze fell on her for only a moment before quickly shifting away without lingering.
"What do you want me to know?"
He asked again, in a good-natured manner.
The group of people who had just been speaking righteously were now like mute people, their heads hanging low, unable to utter a word.
Elder Fina stepped forward with the Yu Xingcao and briefly repeated the story.
There was no bias towards anyone, nor was there any embellishment or distortion of the facts.
After speaking, Xu Qingzhou nodded, his gaze naturally shifting to her.
"what happened?"
He himself didn't realize that when he looked at her, his eyes were filled with an unyielding tenderness.
Completely different from the gentle compassion he showed when looking at others, even his aura softened, like a giant beast that had been soothed, obediently lying beside her.
But Ryuko discovered it.
As fellow pure light elemental mages, she was incredibly sensitive to the elemental aura emanating from him and could easily detect changes in his thoughts.
In the past, priests treated everyone the same, truly achieving equality for all.
She was jealous that Vera could always be by his side, but she still managed to restrain herself.
But now...
Liu Guang's breathing became unsteady, and a dense, throbbing pain welled up in her heart.
Yu Wanwan had just opened her mouth, but before she could utter a single word, Liu Guang couldn't help but interrupt her.
Don't let her speak!
Otherwise, regardless of whether it was her fault or not, the priest would cover it up for her!
This strong intuition caused her to lose her composure.
"High Priest, perhaps Vera was simply careless and failed to notice the difference between the two herbs. Please do not blame her!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
