Chapter 112: Choosing the Beauty or the Benefactor?

Everyone immediately looked at Shen Ninghua.

Yang Yingxue was Shen Ninghua’s cousin. The object that her cousin gave her was poisonous and hurt the Eldest Young Lady of the Xiao family. No matter how they interpreted it, they felt a hint of conspiracy.

Shen Ninghua’s expression was calm, so calm that Yang Yingxue felt a burst of panic in her heart.

Xiao Huanxi had invited her to see the birthday gift. The birthday gift was locked so well that the key couldn’t open the box. Xiao Huanxi became anxious and took the hairpin to poke the keyhole. However, her hairpin was made of jade and was not suitable. Yang Yingxue pulled out her hairpin and gave it to her. Unexpectedly, the hairpin cut Xiao Huanxi’s hand and made her faint.

Yang Yingxue was completely panicked. Seeing Shen Ninghua coming over, she subconsciously turned to her for help.

Xiao Jingran strode forward and carefully helped Xiao Huanxi up. “Please forgive me, distinguished guests. I have to deal with this matter with my little girl first. Doctor Chen, could you please check on Huanxi?”

Chen Yun, who happened to come to attend the banquet, walked out and went forward to examine the wound on Xiao Huanxi’s hand.

The wound wasn’t deep, without much blood oozing out. However, the surrounding skin and flesh were faintly purple, which was obviously a symptom of poisoning.

Chen Yun frowned, and for a moment, he couldn’t say for sure.

Xiao Jingran’s cold gaze swept across Shen Ninghua. The almost substantial chill made people feel cold on their backs.

Chu Junyi frowned tightly and his gaze slowly landed on Xiao Huanxi with very complicated emotions in his eyes. “Uncle Chen, is my younger sister Huanxi alright?”

Chen Yun pondered for a moment and said, “If I’m not mistaken, Miss Xiao has been poisoned by Zi Mian, an extremely rare poison. It can only be extracted from the Zi Mian Flower in Jiangnan and mixed with a variety of medicinal ingredients. After being poisoned, the person will fall asleep and eventually die in sleep.” His tone was rather heavy, with traces of disgust.

Yang Yingxue was already stunned. Hearing this, she hurriedly stood up and moved away from the hairpin on the ground, fearing that she would accidentally touch the poison.

Xiao Jingran turned around, stared at Shen Ninghua, and said with a low voice, “Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, you should have studied this medicine, right? My daughter needs the antidote now. Please take it out!”

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. “What do you mean, Old General Xiao? Are you sure that I’m one who poisoned her?”

Xiao Jingran tightly pursed his lips, and his aura constantly changed. The bloody aura he had mustered after years of fighting in the battlefield rushed towards Shen Ninghua. Yang Yingxue was only slightly swept by the aura, but she felt her heart tremble and almost knelt on the ground.

Shen Ninghua, however, stood there with a calm expression all the time, and not even a single strand of her hair moved.

Xiao Jingran’s eyes flashed. He came into contact with Shen Ninghua during the disaster relief in Linjiang City in Jiangnan. He had to admit that this girl was indeed amazing and smart. He also appreciated her as a junior. However, when she clashed with his beloved daughter, the balance in his heart inevitably tilted.

“If it wasn’t Your Highness, then it must be Yang Yingxue?”

Under Xiao Jingran’s gaze, Yang Yingxue’s body trembled uncontrollably. Her face instantly turned deathly pale. “Old general Xiao, although I was the only one present when Miss Xiao had the accident, if you investigate, you can find out that I was invited by Miss Xiao to help check her gift, and I didn’t wear the hairpin very long. Moreover, according to Doctor Chen, Zi Mian is a very rare poison. I haven’t even heard of it. How could I have it and even smear it on my hairpin? You know, this hairpin is worn on my head all the time. If it hurts me, I will die. Will I put my own life at risk?”

Shen Ninghua couldn’t help but laugh coldly in her heart. Yang Yingxue had indeed become smarter, and she was too much smarter. On the surface, it sounded like she was only defending herself, but her words pointed actually made Shen Ninghua the biggest suspect!

Xiao Jingran narrowed his eyes. “I remember you said that this hairpin was given to you by Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, right?”

Yang Yingxue looked at Shen Ninghua and hesitated for a moment. A hint of struggle flashed in her eyes. “The hairpin was indeed given to me by my cousin. However, my cousin is kind-hearted and will definitely not apply anything to the hairpin. I trust her.”

Xiao Jingran sneered. “Whether she is kind-hearted does not depend on your words. Doctor Chen, please take a look at the hairpin on the ground.”

Chen Yun frowned. He was certain in his heart that Shen Ninghua was not the one who applied poison to the hairpin. However, after checking the hairpin, he found that it was indeed covered with poison. Furthermore, according to the color of the hairpin, it was applied about three days ago.

“There is indeed poison on the hairpin. The poison has been applied to the hairpin for about three days.”

Xiao Jingran looked at Shen Ninghua and said, “Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, may I ask when you gave the hairpin to Yang Yingxue?”

Shen Ninghua’s voice was crisp, and her words were clear. “Three days ago.”

“Heh, then what else do you have to say?” Xiao Jingran’s face suddenly sank. “I don’t want to know why you applied poison to the hairpin that you gave your cousin. I just want to get the antidote to save my daughter. Give me the antidote now, and I will plead for you in front of His Majesty.”

Yang Yingxue looked at Shen Ninghua blankly after hearing this. “Cousin, you really applied poison to the hairpin. Did you want to kill me?”

Shen Ninghua stood there without saying anything and listened to the constant discussions coming from the surroundings.

“I heard that she and her cousin are at odds. I guess she doesn’t want her cousin to live in her mansion.”

“No, I heard that she is jealous of her cousin’s talent. Later, because the Second Prince visited her cousin, she had more hatred in her heart. That’s why…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. It’s related to the royal family…”

Chu Junyi clenched his fists tightly and fixed his gaze on Shen Ninghua. The smile in his eyes disappeared and was replaced by seriousness.

Xiao Huanxi’s relationship with Ninghua was not good. He had already learned a bit about it, so this accident was very strange.

Her gift had already been prepared, so why did she suddenly have to check it with Yang Yingxue? And the lock happened to go wrong and she had to use Yang Yingxue’s hairpin. This was not a coincident, but a sophisticated trick. The person behind this was probably Xiao Huanxi herself, who was currently unconscious.

He closed his eyes slightly, and a trace of boredom flashed through his heart. Last time, he had already told Xiao Huanxi very clearly not to provoke Shen Ninghua again. He thought that she had given up her plan, but instead, she designed today’s big show! If he interfered, he needed to expose her conspiracy and ruin their dozen years of friendship. If he did not interfere, then there would be no possibility for him and Shen Ninghua to be together in the future!

Looking at Xiao Huanxi who did not show any sign of awakening, Xiao Jingran’s patience was exhausted. “Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, if you still refuse to hand over the antidote, I will ask His Majesty to make a judgment.”

Shen Ninghua suddenly raised her head and swept her gaze over Chu Junyi whose expression was constantly fluctuating. Her deep eyes were covered with a layer of icy coldness, as if she had completely isolated herself from the world. After all, partnership was only for the sake of interests. No matter how many sweet talks he had said, he abandoned her at this critical moment.

“Old General Xiao, you are right. We really need to ask His Majesty to judge for us. Let’s go.”

Xiao Jingran did not expect that she would agree to it so readily. He was speechless. “You…”

Shen Ninghua curled her lips in sarcasm. “What, do you not dare, or are you afraid of delaying your daughter’s treatment? Don’t worry, Zi Mian takes effect slowly. Those who are poisoned won’t be in critical danger in three days, so you can investigate slowly.”

“Alright, since you don’t shed tears until you see the coffin, then I will be your company.” Xiao Jingran’s face was pitch-black as he waved his sleeve and walked out.

Shen Ninghua curled her lips, but there was no smile on her face. She followed him out.

The other onlookers didn’t dare to follow them to the Palace to watch the show. After bidding farewell to Xiao Fengjue, they left one after another.

Not long after, only Chu Junyi and Xiao Fengjue remained in the room.

Chu Junyi glanced at Xiao Huanxi, who was being carried back to her room by the nurses, and walked out expressionlessly.

Xiao Fengjue frowned slightly. “Are you going to the Palace?”

Chu Junyi stopped and said, “Yes.”

“For the sake of Shen Ninghua, you want to abandon your own sister.”

“She is not a three-year-old child. She should know that she is responsible for what she has done.”

Xiao Fengjue’s eyebrows were as sharp as a sword, and his gaze was also penetrating. “You should know why she did this. If it wasn’t for you, why would she frame Shen Ninghua?”

Chu Junyi turned around with an extremely solemn expression. “Eldest Brother, you want to protect the Xiao family. I also have something that I want to protect.”

“What if the one you are protecting is opposed to the Xiao family? What’s your choice?”

Chu Junyi was silent, but his aura was suddenly released, and the condensing atmosphere filled the entire room.

After a while, Chu Junyi turned around and continued to walk out. “I will be loyal to my heart.”

Xiao Fengjue’s expression turned sharp as he abruptly pulled out the sword on his waist and stabbed it towards Chu Junyi’s back.

Hearing the sound of sword piercing through the air from behind, Chu Junyi took two steps forward and kicked on the wall to borrow the strength. He took a leap and dodged the fierce attack.

Xiao Fengjue was agitated by the unsuccessful strike. His eyes were filled with a stronger determination to fight. “Do you know what you’re doing? Is Shen Ninghua so important that you don’t even care about your own identity? The Xiao family has supported you for more than ten years, and Huanxi grew up with you. She only used the wrong method because she liked you. Can’t you forgive her? Don’t forget your identity, and don’t forget your mission!”

Chu Junyi slowly pulled out a soft sword from his waist and infused his internal energy into it. The soft sword instantly straightened into a sharp blade that could easily break a hair. Without saying a single word, he used the sword to attack Xiao Fengjue.

Clear buzzing sounds could be heard continuously. The curtains in the room were constantly slashed by the sword qi, and in a short while, the room was in a mess.

About fifteen minutes later, a faint smell of blood came out and the two of them stopped at the same time.

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Xiao Fengjue stood upright with one arm hanging beside his body. Blood kept dripping from his sleeves onto the ground.

Chu Junyi threw the soft sword in his hand onto the ground and walked out without turning his head.

“I remember my identity, and I haven’t forgotten my mission. But what about the Xiao family?”

Then he ignored Xiao Fengjue who was standing there with a cold expression. He chose a path and quickly rushed out of the Xiao Mansion towards the imperial palace.

Baili Qingcang had been leisurely sipping tea at the empress’s Ningkun Palace, but when he heard that something had happened to the Xiao family, he immediately frowned.

Xiao Jingran had made great contributions to the disaster relief, but when he wanted to reward him, he discovered that he no longer had anything to reward him.

Xiao Jingran was already a Rank-One Class A official, and his military contributions had pushed him to the top position of officialdom. If he were to be rewarded further, he could only be conferred the title of prince. Baili Qingcang suddenly felt that something was amiss. Da’an did not have the tradition of conferring the title of prince to one who was not from the royal family. Otherwise, the Xiao family would have taken a step forward.

“Bring them to the Upper Study. I’ll go take a look.”

Empress Zhao Huiying was pouring tea into the cup from the exquisite teapot. Seeing Baili Qingcang leaving at lightning speed, a smile flashed in her eyes. She leisurely put down the teapot and took a sip of the cup. “Indeed, the tea is best when served with boiling water.”

Xiao Jingran stood in the hall and waited for the emperor to appear.

Shen Ninghua stood slightly behind him. Her eyes were so calm that there was not the slightest ripple in them.

None of them spoke, but they emitted a tense and oppressive aura.

The Crown Prince stood at the side, looking at the two people who clearly had no intersection but seemed to be in tension. His face was filled with embarrassment.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

Baili Qingcang waved his hand as an instruction for the crowd to stand up. As soon as he sat down, he asked, “General Xiao, today is your birthday. Why aren’t you receiving congratulations at home but coming to see me?”

Xiao Jingran cupped his hands and his expression was cold. “Your Majesty, I didn’t want to disturb you at this time. It’s just that this matter involves Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, and I have to ask for your judgement.”

Baili Qingcang looked at Shen Ninghua and frowned. “Ninghua? What happened?”

Xiao Jingran turned to look at Chen Yun. “Your Majesty, please let Doctor Chen explain the situation.”

Chen Yun paused for a moment, and his expression became more indifferent. However, he still said, “Your Majesty, today is Old General Xiao’s birthday. Just as the birthday banquet was about to begin, Princess Anning’s maid Qiu Shi came to report that something had happened to Xiao Huanxi. We found Miss Xiao poisoned by Zi Mian in the room where the birthday gifts were temporarily stored. Because she was injured by the hairpin Shen Ninghua gave her cousin Yang Yingxue, I dare not say for sure what the outcome of this matter will be. Please make the judgment, Your Majesty.”

Shen Ninghua lowered her eyes. Xiao Jingran asked Chen Yun to tell the story because he was afraid that if he did the narration, His Majesty would think that he exaggerated the story. However, he didn’t expect that Chen Yun was upright and did not like scheming others. He was unhappy in his heart when asked by Xiao Jingran to tell the story. The emperor would probably also feel unhappy if an upright official obeyed the orders of the Xiao family and spoke up for them.

Baili Qingcang’s eyes darkened as he asked Baili Jinze, “Jinze, did you also go to the Xiao Mansion?”

Baili Jinze hurriedly stood up and said, ‘”Your Majesty, I know exactly the same thing as Doctor Chen. When I arrived, Miss Xiao had already fainted on the ground. Only Prefectural Princess Zhaohua’s cousin, Yang Yingxue, was crying by her side. She said that her hairpin was poisonous. Although Doctor Chen found that there was something wrong with the hairpin, I don’t know for sure what the results would be.”

Baili Qingcang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “Ninghua, what do you say?”

Shen Ninghua resolutely raised her head and took two steps forward to kneel on the ground. “Your Majesty, please take back my title of Prefectural Princess Zhaohua.”

The inexplicable words made everyone present shocked. Xiao Jingran suddenly turned his head to look at her. Was she making a false concession in order to gain advantages later on?

“Ninghua, since I have conferred you the title of Prefectural Princess, then I will not change my words unless you have committed high treason. Tell me, did you really poison Xiao Huanxi?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head with a bitter smile on her face. “Your Majesty, I only met Miss Xiao twice. There is no grudge between us. Why would I poison her for no reason? I know that these words will only make things difficult for you, but for the sake of Da’an’s dignity, I have no choice but to do so. Please abolish my title as Prefectural Princess.”

Baili Jinze said, “Ninghua, don’t be childish. His Majesty has always loved you. There is no conclusion on this matter yet. Why do you have to act like this?” As he spoke, a trace of a brotherly reproachful yet affectionate expression appeared on his face, which made him look exceptionally generous and courteous.

However, Shen Ninghua felt his show very repugnant. It had been a long time since her last encounter with Baili Jinze. It seemed his ability to disgust her even grew.

Baili Qingcang said, “If you have to do this, then tell me, what’s your reason?”

Shen Ninghua straightened her back, and her black eyes glittered on her jade-like face. “Your Majesty, as Prefectural Princess Zhaohua personally bestowed by you, regardless of whether or not I can match the dignity of the royal family, I represent the dignity of the royal family. Even if I made a mistake, it should be handled by the Cabinet Court. When Old General Xiao saw his daughter was poisoned, he didn’t even make an investigation and directly asked me for the antidote. What was his point for treating me like that?”

Xiao Jingran paused. He didn’t expect that Shen Ninghua would make a fuss about this!

Shen Ninghua was a Prefectural Princess, but she was only the foster daughter of the emperor. Even though she had shown her talent in the Jiangnan disaster relief, she was only a weak girl. Even if she was taken by the emperor as his foster daughter, he did not take her seriously.

Thinking of this, he immediately apologized, “I’m guilty. When I saw my little girl lying on the ground, I was really anxious. I had been disrespectful to Her Highness. Please punish me, Your Majesty.” He had fought for Da’an for his entire life, and Baili Qingcang would definitely not punish him because of such a small matter.

“You were preoccupied by concern for your daughter. I can understand.” Baili Qingcang’s gaze was calm, but a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes. The Xiao family really had a high ambition.

But Shen Ninghua did not compromise. Her straight back was like a green bamboo, and her face was so dignified that no one dared to look straight at her. “Old General Xiao, are you making things difficult for His Majesty? You have made great contributions to the country. His Majesty will not punish you easily for disrespecting the royal family. His Majesty has been generous to you, but you can’t take it as your capital to threaten the royal family!”

Xiao Jingran was furious and said angrily, “Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, I’m completely loyal to the royal family and willing to do anything for His Majesty. You can target the Xiao family, but you cannot distort the loyalty of the Xiao family!”

Baili Jinze’s heart sank. Shen Ninghua directly commanded the high ground by linking matter to the royal dignity. If Xiao Jingran only pleaded guilty and begged for mercy, the result wouldn’t be bad. If he were to refute, regardless of whether or not he would gain the upper hand in the end, His Majesty would definitely feel dissatisfied. Xiao Jingran had been in a high position for a long time, so how could he allow Shen Ninghua to reprimand him without refuting?

Looking at Shen Ninghua’s peerlessly exquisite face, Baili Jinze’s heart turned cold. What a smart girl!

Shen Ninghua snorted coldly. “Since you claimed to be always loyal to the royal family, then why did you turn a deaf ear when someone damaged the royal family’s reputation?”

“When did I ever turn a deaf ear?”

Shen Ninghua smiled coldly and her eyes lit up. “I’ve already said that Miss Xiao and I have no grievances or enmity. Why would I poison her? Furthermore, it was at your birthday party. Zi Mian is extremely difficult to detect and can easily kill a person without being noticed. If I wanted Xiao Huanxi to die, why would I make such a big fuss and expose it? Old General Xiao, why didn’t you understand such a simple trap? ”

“Trap?” Xiao Jingran was stunned.

“Isn’t it?” Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows and revealed a mocking expression. “The person behind this trap is clearly dissatisfied with the royal family. He doesn’t dare to openly oppose the royal family, so he chose me, a foster daughter of the royal family, and used such a clumsy scheme to frame me and then disgrace the royal family.”

Xiao Jingran’s face sank, and his heart was filled with ridicule. Smearing the royal family? She really dared to say that. She was just an insignificant foster daughter but really took herself as a royal princess.

The disdain on his face was too obvious. When Baili Qingcang saw it clearly, his gaze instantly became cold to the freezing point. He had personally conferred the title of Prefectural Princess to Shen Ninghua. If Xiao Jingran didn’t even care about such an identity, then who else did he care?

At this time, Xiao Fengjue and others also arrived, and they happened to hear Shen Ninghua’s refutation.

Xiao Fengjue retorted coldly, ‘”Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, you are really good at evading the critical point. You admitted in the Xiao Mansion that you gave that hairpin to Yang Yingxue three days ago. The poison on the hairpin was also applied three days ago. The main ingredient of Zi Mian is the Zi Mian Flower from Jiangnan. The flowering period of the flower is very short, and it’s not easy to cultivate. And you happen to have Zi Mian Flower in your mansion, right?”

Shen Ninghua’s expression changed abruptly. There were indeed Zi Mian Flowers in her mansion. They were sent by Chu Junyi on her fifteenth birthday ceremony. She liked them so much that she put them in the greenhouse and took good care of them. They were now growing very well.

“What if there are Zi Mian Flowers in my mansion?”

“You are proficient in medicine, and there are Zi Mian Flowers in your mansion. Isn’t this obvious enough?” Xiao Fengjue’s voice was exceptionally cold and sounded a little aggressive.

Shen Ninghua’s heart went cold. The flowers that Chu Junyi gave her now became the evidence that the Xiao family used to attack her. What a shocking coincidence!

“According to your logic, then one-third of the people in Jiangnan should be beheaded? Especially in Yang City, which family doesn’t decorate their courtyard with Zi Mian Flowers?”

“You know what I’m saying. Why did you pretend to be ignorant?”

Shen Ninghua suddenly curled her lips, and her gaze was indifferent and cold. Since the Xiao family did not show mercy to her, then there was no need for her to have any scruples dealing with them. Since the Xiao family wanted to court death, she would give them a ride!

“Your Majesty, the Xiao family’s adopted son, Chu Junyi, requests see you.” Just as Shen Ninghua was about to retort, a report was heard from outside the door.

Chu Junyi quickly walked in and knelt down. “Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”

Baili Qingcang did not ask him to stand up. He looked down at the handsome young man who was kneeling on the ground and said, “You came to see me in such a hurry. What did you find?”

Chu Junyi raised his head and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, I caught a person on the way here. He is a servant of the Xiao family, but he carried a five-hundred-tale silver note and tried to leave the city.”

“Oh? Who is it? Bring him up.”

“Yes.” Chu Junyi waved his hand and asked the guards outside to bring up a man dressed as a servant. He was the servant who had been instructed by Xiao Huanxi to create the carriage accident. “Your Majesty, this person’s name is Lai Fu. He is a servant of the Xiao family. This is the silver note found on him. Governor of Capital Guards, Lord Sun, was present when I caught him. He could be my witness.”

Baili Qingcang frowned. “What does the servant have to do with this case?”

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