Chapter 105: A Brief Encounter with the Empress

The hall was filled with killing intent. The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs already knelt on the ground and trembled in fear. Once Tao Hong’s words were confirmed, none of them who had heard the secret of the royal family would have a chance of survival!

The maidservant Tao Hong fell to the ground clutching her belly. She sensed the solemnity and her face went blank.

Shen Ninghua stood at the side. Looking at Madam Qin’s desperate expression, her eyes shone coldly. She and Madam Zhou did not have the slightest connection, nor did she think of having interactions with the Second Prince in any way. Madam Zhou had set up a poisonous plot to kill her based on some false speculations, so there was no need for her to show mercy. Whether the Zhou family could escape from this calamity depended on their luck.

Baili Qingcang’s deep gaze swept across Madam Qin on the ground. The anger in his voice was so overwhelming that people could not breathe. “Qin, do you still want to sue Princess Zhaohua?”

Madam Qin trembled and her teeth chattered. “No, Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was deceived and mistook Princess Zhaohua for the murderer. I’m guilty. Please have mercy, Your Majesty.” At this time, she didn’t dare to drag Shen Ninghua down. If she failed to drag her down and was counterattacked, the Zhou family would really be doomed.

“Since you don’t want to sue her, then let’s settle the matter with Zhou. Call the head of Imperial Health Institute Chen Yun. Bring Imperial Doctor Li who checked Zhou’s pulse. Also, Jinchuan, drug Zhou’s two children and bring them to the hall. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Baili Qingcang’s tone was firm, causing Baili Jinchuan’s heart to rise to his mouth.

The atmosphere in Chengqian Palace was solemn. Although the hall was resplendent, people in it felt bone-chilling coldness.

At this moment, a loud announcement outside the hall broke the stifling atmosphere. “Your Majesty, Her Majesty and the Crown Prince have arrived. They are waiting outside the hall.”

Shen Ninghua stood at the side with her head lowered and her eyes slightly drooped. Her eyelashes trembled slightly when she heard this, and then she calmed down.

Empress Zhao Huiying was dressed in a bright yellow official attire, and her beautiful face was as beautiful as jade with a burst of cold light. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Baili Qingcang’s expression did not change. He said in a deep voice, “You have come at the right time. This matter involves the princes’ backyards. As their mother, you are the right person to handle this. Zhou was guilty of contaminating the royal bloodline. We are investigating it now. Now you take a good look at the princess you selected!”

A trace of surprise flashed across Zhao Huiying’s face. After the eunuch reported to her in a low voice what had happened, her gaze towards Madam Qin completely changed. “Zhou…What a good Zhou family! They raised such a good daughter!”

Zhao Huiying’s face was filled with anger. However, there weren’t many ripples in her heart. As the empress, she couldn’t treat the other princes too harshly. She chose Madam Zhou to be Baili Jinchuan’s wife because according to her investigation, Madam Zhou was born with womb coldness and could not easily get pregnant. When Madam Zhou gave birth to a daughter and a son, she thought that her previous investigation was not thorough enough and therefore she did not think too much. Who would have thought that there was such a shocking conspiracy!

In no time, all the relevant people were brought up.

Imperial Doctor Li was stunned when he heard the emperor’s summon. After being brought into the hall, he was dumbfounded. Detecting Baili Qingcang glance at him, he directly knelt on the ground and confessed everything clearly.

“Your Majesty, I’m guilty. The Second Princess promised me many benefits and threatened me with my family. I had no choice but to help her swap the children borne by two maids who served the Second Prince so that she could pretend pregnancy and claim the two children as her own. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”

After confirming the truth with his own ears, Baili Qingcang’s voice became even colder and harsher. “Did you know that contaminating the royal bloodline is a crime big enough to annihilate your whole family?”

“I deserve to die, but I had no other choice. I was greedy and helped the Second Princess to drug the Second Prince’s other concubines with sterilizing medicine. The Second Princess used this as a handle and threatened to expose all these things if I did not help her. I had no choice but to help her commit the heinous crime. Please spare my life, Your Majesty.”

Baili Jinchuan gritted his teeth tightly, and the anger in his eyes was about to burst out. “You said that none of the concubines in my backyard got pregnant for so long because Zhou instructed you to sterilize them?”

Imperial Doctor Li was so frightened by his ferocious gaze that his entire body trembled. He nodded his head trembling all over. “Yes, the Second Princess ordered me to do so.”

Baili Jinchuan couldn’t restrain the anger in his heart. He stepped forward and kicked Imperial Doctor Li to the ground. “What a bold slave you are!” That bitch Zhou! What grievance had she suffered that made her do this to him? Did she want him to die heirless?

Imperial Doctor Li was kicked in the chest and spat out a mouthful of blood before fainting.

Chen Yun stepped forward to check his condition. “Your Majesty, he fainted from fright.”

“Drag him down and send him to the Heavenly Prison to be carefully guarded.” Baili Qingcang’s face was as dark as the night sky. He coldly glanced at Imperial Doctor Li and ordered. “Also, go check that those two children to find whether they are the Second Prince’s bloodline.”

Chen Yun nodded. He took out a golden needle from the medicine chest and pierced through the fingers of the two children. Then, he took some of Baili Jinchuan’s blood and performed the examination carefully.

Shen Ninghua looked at his movements and her eyes moved slightly. These two children were Baili Jinchuan’s bloodline, but because of Madam Zhou, she didn’t think Baili Jinchuan would like them anymore in the future.

Not long after, Chen Yun reported, “Your Majesty, these two children are the Second Prince’s bloodline.”

Baili Jinchuan’s fingers that had their veins popped out slowly relaxed a little, and a big stone in his heart finally landed. If Chen Yun said that the two children were not his bloodline, he would probably lose control of his anger and directly throw them to the ground in the hall to kill them.

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Shen Ninghua was not surprised. At first, Madam Zhou did not dare to directly replace the royal bloodline with someone else’s children. She secretly imprisoned the maids who had slept with the Second Prince. When the maids were pregnant, she allowed them to give birth to the children and faked pregnancy herself. When the babies were born, she took them as her own children. Later, Baili Jinchuan’s affection towards her became weaker and weaker, which made her panic and try to use pregnancy to attract his attention.

Unfortunately, the outcome was so tragic!

Such a ridiculous farce made Baili Qingcang angry and he gave a cold face to Baili Jinchuan. He had thought that this son was worthy of his trust and could be assigned with important tasks, but he was even unable to manage his own backyard well. It seemed that he still needed further tempering.

Baili Qingcang directly deprived the Second Prince of his title. As for Madam Qin and the others, they were all sent to the Heavenly Prison. Tao Hong and her lover were beaten to death, and their corpses were thrown to the mass graves.

Once again, Shen Ninghua walked out of the Palace. The sun was in the middle of sky. The breeze was warm and the sunshine was bright. However, Shen Ninghua looked up at the bright sky and felt waves of coldness for no reason.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty wants to see you.”

The voice of a palace maid came from behind, and Shen Ninghua suddenly restored her senses. “Her Majesty?” She had just walked to the palace gate, and the empress summoned her…

“That’s right. Her Majesty invites you to Ningkun Palace for a talk.”

Shen Ninghua’s heart skipped a beat. Madam Zhou had just died, and the empress wanted to see her at this moment. Was this a coincidence or a conspiracy?

“Lead the way.”

Ningkun Palace was the most magnificent palace in the harem, with carved beams and painted walls everywhere. It was really beautiful and exquisite.

When the palace maid entered the room to report, Shen Ninghua stood in the corridor and looked at the nearby orchids.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty invites you in.”

Shen Ninghua nodded and walked into the hall.

Perhaps because she did not have time to change her clothes, Zhao Huiying was still dressed in formal empress attire. “Ninghua, I suddenly remembered that I have never talked to you alone before, so I took advantage of your presence in the Palace to invite you over. I hope it doesn’t bother you.”

Shen Ninghua saluted. “Greetings, Your Majesty. I don’t have anything to do, so there is no bothering me.”

Zhao Huiying touched the sapphire-blue nail tips and said, “As you were. Your etiquette is perfect, more elegant and standard than the princesses who have studied court etiquette since childhood. You must have put in a lot of effort in private, right?” Her slender fingers glowed with the color of jade, carrying a unique beauty.

“I don’t dare to compare with the princesses.” Although she called Baili Qingcang Father Emperor, in the end, she was only a foster daughter. The title can be given to her, but it also can be taken away. She was not at all comparable to a true royal princess.

Zhao Huiying smiled and her red lips curled into a beautiful arc. “His Majesty told you to address him as Father Emperor. Even if you are not a true royal princess, your status is higher than theirs. There is no need for you to belittle yourself. Just like today, did you think that His Majesty couldn’t see that there was something hidden in this matter? But he doted on you and didn’t pursue this matter anymore.”

As she spoke, Empress Zhao’s gaze fell on Shen Ninghua as if casually, taking all her reactions in her eyes.

Shen Ninghua’s face revealed a trace of surprise as she looked at Zhao Huiying doubtfully. “Hasn’t this matter already been investigated clearly? Is there anything hidden behind it?”

Zhao Huiying’s eyebrows twitched. Shen Ninghua’s face was filled with only surprise but nothing else. Was it because she really didn’t know or was it because she was extremely good at concealing her emotion?

“Ninghua, are you still pretending to be stupid in front of me? I’ve already had people secretly investigate it. Zhou has died not only because of the cyperus rotundus in her pillow. The most important reason was the furnishings in her room and the flowers and plants in her courtyard. What a shocking method of murder!”

Shen Ninghua’s face was filled with shock and puzzlement. “Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Do you mean that the Second Princess died because of persecution rather than the cyperus rotundus? Then why didn’t you tell His Majesty? I think His Majesty will definitely investigate the case thoroughly.”

Zhao Huiying took a deep look at her and said, “I’m just guessing. I still need to investigate. When everything is clear, I will naturally report it to His Majesty. It’s getting late. You can leave.”

“Yes.” Shen Ninghua opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something. But she didn’t say anything in the end. She just slowly stood up and walked out.

When she arrived at the main hall, Shen Ninghua kept her head drooped until she got into the carriage. The puzzlement, doubt, uneasiness, and shock on her face finally subsided, and she put on her normal calm expression.

The empress was testing her. Did she find something?

Inside Ningkun Palace, the empress looked coldly at the swaying curtains and smiled coldly. “Well, you are just like a hedgehog adept at defending itself. However, you are still too young and not experienced enough.”

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