Amy let out a hiss and said coldly, “Lighter!”
Mary gave a wry smile and replied with a sorry face, “Please forgive me, Amy sis. As I’ve never done this kind of chore before…” She looked distressed and did not know where to put her hands or legs.
Luna could not bear seeing her like that, she walked forward, grabbed the comb and shoved Mary to the side while whispering, “Let me do it, since you’ve never done it before.” Without taking much time, she had tidied up Amy’s unkempt hair deftly.
Amy looked into the mirror and smiled complacently. “Luna sis was right, Mary sis was an idiot back then； how would she know how to comb? Luna sis has combed my hair since child, and her skill is way better than Brit’s. Luna sis, when we return to the palace, do go to Spring Court and comb my hair every day like what you used to do in the past.”
Luna’s eyes were all watery. She was the mistress of Lord Regent, yet she had abased herself as Amy’s personal combing maiden.
Mary held Luna’s hand and both of them stood silently at the side. Seeing the sisters were obedient enough, the slightest doubt of the side consort disappeared. She had prepared everything here and it was up to Gautama Damma and Nean to fulfill their mission.
Madam Barbosa led a few stocky servants to lift Amy onto a bench and carried her out of the room. The side consort then held by Grace headed to the main hall of Munashii Temple at the front of the line while Luna and Mary walked at the back holding hands.
Mary noticed Luna’s hand was trembling hard, indicating she was terrified. She then grasped her hand and chuckled softly, “Luna sis, did you see that? The side consort has bumped her forehead from her fall. I bet her forehead’s going to go swollen the next morning.”
Luna gave her a glare and said anxiously, “How could you still be able to joke? Look at you, you’ve finally escaped but why did you come back? Oh dear, what should we do now? The side consort must have tricks against you later.”
Mary plucked her sleeve and grinned, “Alright, Luna sis, stop pulling a long face or you’ll look ugly later. Don’t worry, I have my plans.”
Luna was still fretful; she glanced at Mary and asked, “What plans could you have?”
“Oh, just watch the show later and don’t say anything.”
Luna stared suspiciously at Mary. “Don’t you mess it up?”
Mary did not want to continue the topic and she said coldly while looking at Luna’s face, “That was a hard slap on the face, this part’s going to swell up tomorrow. I wonder if there’s any ice around here, I shall ask them later so I can borrow some ice to apply on sis’s face.”
Luna let out a soft sigh; it was obvious that she was still worried about Mary’s doom later. “What’s the need for the fuss? Just boil some eggs and put it on the face.”
They arrived at the main hall of the temple during their conversation.
Munashii Temple was just an obscure, small temple long time ago and there were only three priests back then, including Gautama Carana who was not yet famous. After Carana had become well known and Damma succeeded the title of abbot of the temple, Munashii Temple was then recognized and it began to develop.
Although Munashii Temple was not a royal temple, yet the emperor had granted privilege towards it in account of Carana and permitted the main hall to be built using Amarillo tiles. Therefore, the main hall looked especially grandiose and majestic, and a divine aura that could not be blasphemed could be perceived just from its façade.
The crowd subconsciously regulated their attitude, even Amy who was slanting on the bench had become disciplined too.
Nean had been waiting at the entrance of the main hall. He swirled his horsetail whip and chanted, “All hail the God!” He then said to the side consort humbly, “Please proceed inside, your Ladyship and the mistresses. My master has been waiting.”
Knowing her wish was almost fulfilled, the side consort was exalted and grinning from ears to ears. She did not mind the arrogant look of the priest at all and beamed instead. “I apologize for such a long wait.” What she had in mind was those superior looks were typical of priests to convince their followers about their true strengths.
The side consort turned to Madam Barbosa and the others and ordered, “Carry the mistress with care.”
Yet unexpectedly, Nean suddenly blocked their way and said with a languid voice, “This is a sacred place, the mistress could not enter like this, she needs to enter on foot.”
Amy exploded, “Haven’t you noticed my body’s not well? Are you blind?”
Nean felt unhappy at once. Although he was a priest, he grew up being pampered by both Carana and Damma. Who had dared to chastise him like that in the temple? Even Carana and Damma had never truly rebuked him before. This third mistress of Debeur family had such a quick temper, therefore she deserved to be doomed today.
Nean stood straight and refused to move away. “Sorry. Even if the mistress’s body’s not well, she’s forbidden to enter like this unless she enters on foot.” No matter how Madam Barbosa threw looks on him, Nean was determined to ignore her and refused to give in with his nose raised and eyes staring at the ceiling.
The side consort frowned; she did not want to cause any more troubles that might hinder the progress of her plan. As long as she had gotten rid of Mary who was a thorn in the flesh, how would she bother to care such an insignificant priest? She could randomly find an excuse to punish the priest if Amy was unsatisfied of him after she was done with Mary.
She doubted that Munashii Temple would oppose the regent household for just a lightweight priest.
“Alright, Amy, come down and walk on your own. I’ll let Madam Barbosa to hold you in.”
Amy shut her mouth seeing the impatience on the side consort’s face. She leant herself all towards Madam Barbosa when she was held, making Madam Barbosa exhausted to carry her but unable to complain.
Nean did not say anything further and allowed the side consort and the others in, but leaving only the servants outside except Madam Barbosa.
The side consort did not bother about that as it was what she had discussed with Damma earlier. The less people in the main hall the better, as fewer blunders would be made when Ralph inquired about it.
Nean followed the crowd after they had entered the hall and he closed the door shut. The big and heavy door clanked hard behind them and the hall went dark instantaneously. The light failed leaving only rows of dim candlelight with flames still swaying.
Amy leant towards Madam Barbosa with fright, “Mother, why is the hall so eerie here?”
The side consort was having creeps too. What was that old priest doing? Uneasiness stirred within her upon hearing Amy’s words and she criticized, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
A chuckle came from behind. Mary spoke blandly, “Amy sis, do be careful on your words and actions in front of the gods and make sure you don’t say anything offensive. Plus, what is Amy sis so afraid of when there’re so many gods here? Could it be Amy sis has done anything obscene and feel guilty in front of the gods?”
“Nonsense! What obscene task could I’ve done?” Feeling annoyed, Amy turned around and started reproaching Mary.
“Alright, shut your mouth! All of you!” the side consort snapped. She then asked Nean courteously, “Little priest, where is Damma?”
Nean behaved as if he was on high horse and answered, “Master is at the place where he should be,” which basically did not give any useful answer to the side consort’s question.
The side consort secretly cursed in her heart. These damn priests, acting virtuous was the only thing they were good at.
Nean led the crowd to burn the incense and prepared to bring them out of the hall when they finished. The side consort was rather dubious of his action as it went against what they had agreed last night.
Amy who was quick-tempered could not help but ask, “Little priest, are you chasing us out that soon now?”
Mary knew it was almost ShowTime and she smiled lightly. “Hasn’t Amy sis mentioned that this hall was creepy just now? So isn’t it better to get out of here sooner?”
Nean also spoke with an uncanny tone of voice, “What the mistress has said was disrespectful towards the gods.”
The side consort asked, “Little priest, have you missed out something?”
Nean scratched his scalp and questioned, “What does your Ladyship mean? What have I missed out?”
Amy could not bear with it anymore; she jerked down a flower bead from her head and hurled it towards Nean. “What are you pretending? Didn’t we agree to…”
“Shut up!” The side consort shot Amy a fierce glare. What a disappointing daughter that could not be taught! She had such a big mouth, if their plan was disclosed, how are they supposed to carry on the show further? She then whispered to Grace, “Go and have a look at your sister.”
Grace walked towards Amy reluctantly. She held her other arm and muttered, “Calm down.”
Amy had used to be disgusted by hypocrites like Grace, she swirled her hand and pushed Grace down to the floor and growled, “I’ve told you so many times, I don’t need you to show your pretentious kindness towards me!”
“Amy, how could you treat your sister like that?” The side consort rushed forward and held Grace up. Her heart ached when she saw one of her arms was abraded. She then raised her hand intending to slap Amy.
Amy was used to be pampered by the side consort until now and she could never hurt her even a finger. Now that she noticed the side consort actually wanted to slap her, she writhed around on the floor and cried, “You’ve been biased towards her! Why should I be the one marrying that paralyzed crap? According to birth order, it should be Grace who marries him, not me!”
Grace could not help but wail too. No one understands better than her that the side consort was actually too biased towards Amy. If the side consort had conceded to Amy and wanted to let her marry that paralyzed waste, she would not know what to do.
The side consort was caused a headache by the cries of both sisters and had completely forgotten about Mary and Luna’s presence. Luna secretly heaved a sigh of relief. As long as they manage to buy the time, it would be possible to save Mary.
Yet unexpectedly, Mary suddenly picked up the bead flower thrown by Amy just now and fiddled with it on her hand. She then grinned, “Amy sis was so liberal with money to throw this bead flower just like that. Tsk, tsk…”
“It’s none of your business!” Amy finally found an exit to vent her anger, she jerked down another bead flower from her head and hurled it hard towards Mary while bawling, “I have tons of these bead flowers, and I don’t give them a shit!”