Chapter 388: 399

Baili Qingcang’s threat and cold tone sent a chill down Noble Consort Li’s spine. The Emperor had determined that she was the murderer. What should she do now? How should she defend herself? Or should she ask what was the point of defending herself?

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry!”

Baili Qingcang’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and a deep dangerous light flashed in his eyes. “So, do you admit that you killed these people?”

“No, Your Majesty! I wouldn’t dare to kill that many people even if I had the guts!”

“What are you apologizing for then?”

“Yes, Xiao Qi was right. Those pieces of jewelry were from my palace. I apologized because I have planted spies in other palaces, but that is only to inquire about the news of each palace. I was just trying to protect myself and never had the intention of harming others. Please, Your Majesty, please investigate the case.”

“Place spies? To protect yourself? What do you think my palace harem is? Who do you think you are? You are a Noble Consort. After the Empress was dead, you are the person with the highest status. Do you need to do this?”

Noble Consort Li slowly raised her head. Her beautiful eyes were full of tears, and the tears flowed down her cheeks like watery pearls. “Your Majesty, if it is possible, I don’t have to be so cautious and jittery. I was scared. When the Empress was still alive, we didn’t have a chance at all. I was lucky to receive your attention and have two sons. Otherwise, I would be alone like the other concubines. Those spies were just arranged to protect myself. I never thought of taking the initiative to harm anyone.”

Baili Qingcang frowned, and his eyes were dark and gloomy. “You have never harmed anyone, so how did your spies die?”

“Your Majesty, I have no idea about this at all. Please think about it carefully. I put in a lot of effort to arrange these people. Why would I kill them myself? Isn’t this a waste of effort?”

Noble Consort Qi had been silent all this time. She stood on the side and watched coldly. Hearing her words, she suddenly said, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Li is right. She has no reason to kill these people, has she?”

Baili Qingcang looked at Noble Consort Li. “No reason? Hah, she has the perfect reason. I bet that these spies have helped her do some shady things, such as spreading some false rumors!”

Noble Consort Li trembled all over and felt as if a bomb had exploded in her brain. Did the Emperor know the truth? Did he know it?

Baili Qingcang strode forward and reached out to pinch Noble Consort Li’s chin. “Am I right, Madam Lin?”

“Your Majesty, it’s not like that. I have never done anything like that before.”

“Hmph, you’re still so stubborn at this point. I know what you are thinking. You have always been hostile to Junyi and Shen Ninghua. I can see that, but I didn’t expect you to be so vicious and want to destroy them. You spread all those ridiculous rumors, and in the end, I was dragged into the mess! Madam Lin, how dare you!”

“Your Majesty, it’s not like this. It’s not like this. I’m innocent!” A sharp pain came from her chin, but Noble Consort Li didn’t dare to lower her head. She raised her head and continuously cried out her grievances. Meanwhile, she cursed in her mind, “Baili Junyi, Shen Ninghua, you are so ruthless! You set up one trap after another, and I was forced into your ploy and had no way of escaping!”

Baili Qingcang suddenly released his hand and pushed her to the ground. “Get back to Changqiu Palace. You are not allowed to step out of the palace without my permission.”

Noble Consort Li’s face turned pale. “Your Majesty, I’m innocent. I’m really innocent. I treat you like my god. How could I dare to spread rumors that are against you? Someone is framing me. Someone is definitely framing me!”

Baili Qingcang ignored her and turned to Noble Consort Qi. “Replace all of Changqiu Palace’s palace maids. Choose some honest and reliable people and send them over. I’ll deal with the rest after Lin Feiran’s wedding.”

The last glimmer of hope in Noble Consort Li’s heart disappeared. She thought that the Emperor did not prosecute her because he was concerned about the Lin Family, but judging from his words, he just wanted to settle the scores afterward. Once Lin Feiran got married and left the country, her position as Noble Consort would probably be stripped.

“Your Majesty, I beg you, please investigate it! I am innocent!”

Baili Qingcang did not even bother to look at her. “Someone, send Noble Consort Li back!”

“Yes.”

Noble Consort Li was pulled away, and he could still hear her cries of injustice even from far away. Noble Consort Qi came forward with a cup of tea and placed it in front of Baili Qingcang. “Your Majesty, I see that Noble Consort Li is very earnest in her words. She doesn’t seem to be lying. Besides, why did she kill all the spies overnight?”

Baili Qingcang sighed. He took the cup of tea and took a sip. Then, he pulled her hand and sat to the side. “You’ve always been holding yourself aloof from the worldly affairs and don’t care about these things, so you don’t understand. She can do a lot of things for the sake of her sons. Alright now, you can continue with the investigation. I’ll go back to Southern Imperial Study first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Watching Baili Qingcang leave, Noble Consort Qi smiled and leaned back in her chair to rest. An old nurse walked in from the door and said softly, “Your Grace, if you feel tired, you had better go to bed and lie down. You didn’t sleep much last night, and you’ve been busy since this morning. You must be tired.”

Noble Consort Qi opened her eyes, and her face was full of smiles. “Nanny Sun, I am not tired. I am very happy now. I have never been so happy for such a long time.”

Nanny Sun took a blanket from the side and covered Noble Consort Qi’s legs. “Even if you are happy, you have to take care of yourself.”

“Nanny Sun, Madam Lin is doomed now.” A trace of pleasure flashed across Noble Consort Qi’s eyes. “They said that it was the Sixth Prince who brought Xia Jingxin back to the palace, but Noble Consort Li was involved in it. She schemed against my daughter, causing Anning to hate me and leave the capital with hatred and disappointment. It’s hard for me to even see her now. I hate Noble Consort Li so much, but there is nothing I can do. Now, I finally avenge my daughter.”

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“Your Grace, I’m sure that Princess Anning will forgive you when she knows your difficulties.”

Noble Consort Qi raised her hand to wipe her tears. “I do not ask for her forgiveness. I only hope that she can come back to visit me when she thinks about me.”

Not knowing what to say, Nanny Sun quietly stayed to the side.

Noble Consort Qi wiped her tears and took the paper with the names of the dead palace maids written on it. “Nanny Sun, since His Majesty has asked us to investigate, we must do it well. No matter what, I can’t give Noble Consort Li a chance to get away this time.”

“Yes, Your Grace, don’t worry.”

The news that Noble Consort Li was grounded once again quickly arrived at Royal Prince Yi Mansion. Shen Ninghua was sitting at the side, watching the two children eat fruits.

Hong Ling came over and reported the matter with a happy expression, “Miss, this time, His Majesty probably won’t let her go so easily.”

Shen Ninghua curled her lips, but she didn’t look so thrilled. “Of course, Father Emperor can’t let her get away with this so easily since it involves the imperial power. Otherwise, the rumors will become increasingly out of control.”

Hong Ling asked with some doubt, “Miss, you don’t seem to be very happy?”

Shen Ninghua smiled. “Well, although we manage to defeat our enemy, we suffer some internal damage too.”

“How so?” Hong Ling became more and more puzzled. “Miss, we used the rumors to completely suppress Noble Consort Li. How can you say that both sides are injured?”

“In the end, the rumors involved His Majesty. Do you still remember what the rumors said? His Majesty is corrupted morally, so the Heavens punished the princes by letting them have no offspring and heir.”

“Yes, I remember. That’s what the rumors are saying.” However, Hong Ling could not understand what Shen Ninghua was implying.

Shen Ninghua helplessly explained, “Noble Consort Li ordered her people to spread the rumors. When His Majesty investigates it, he will definitely announce to the world that Noble Consort Li will be punished for this, but it is not enough. In order to prove that he is not corrupted morally, he will urge the princes to give birth to more children. Only then can the people completely believe that the rumors are false. In order to achieve that, the princes have to marry and sleep with a lot more women. In the previous selection, there were still some candidates who did not get any marriage arrangements. The Emperor has the reason to do so now.”

Hong Ling paused and then exclaimed, “Are you saying that His Majesty will bestow women to His Highness too?”

Shen Ninghua nodded. “I am the only woman His Highness has. Junyi is a Royal Prince now. As per his identity, he can have four side concubines, twenty bedroom concubines, and countless personal maids. His Majesty has the reason to bestow some side concubines to His Highness, right?”

“Miss, I’m sure His Highness will refuse the offer because he is deeply in love with you. Also, the rumors say that the princes have no offspring, but His Highness already has a pair of twins, and you’re pregnant now. You already have three children after two years of marriage. You don’t fit in that criteria.”

“That’s not what His Majesty thinks. Moreover, Yang Yingxue’s remarks have a huge impact too. I think His Majesty is really worried that other concubines will follow suit and want to keep the princes for themselves.”

Hong Ling grunted indignantly, “Miss, we watch how you and His Highness end up together. You’ve been through so much, and your relationship is firm and genuine. No one can interfere with your relationship. I’m sure His Highness will have a way.”

Shen Ninghua smiled and wanted to say something, but suddenly a cheer came from the door.

“Wonderful!” Baili Junyi quickly walked over and nodded at Hong Ling with satisfaction. “Hong Ling, you’re right! I’ll reward you with a hundred taels of silver.”

Hong Ling thanked him happily, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Yes.” Baili Junyi sat next to Shen Ninghua and saw that there were a few grapes left in her bowl. He picked one up and put it into his mouth. “It’s so sour.”

Big Boy and Baby Girl, who were at the side, held one in each hand. They tasted it carefully and found that it was quite sweet. They quickly shook their heads at Baili Junyi. “It’s not sour, it’s sweet!”

Baili Junyi reached out and tapped their little noses. “How is it sweet? It’s clearly sour, like vinegar.” As he spoke, he looked at Shen Ninghua with an ambiguous smile, his eyes full of ridicule.

Shen Ninghua’s ears turned red. She turned her head and ignored him. However, Big Boy, Baby Girl, and Baili Junyi were worked up. They ate the grapes again until their faces were covered with juice. “It’s sweet!” Then, they stuffed the half-eaten grape into Baili Junyi’s mouth.

Baili Junyi did not mind and lowered his head to eat the grapes. He sighed again, “It’s so sour!”

Shen Ninghua turned around and grabbed his waist with one hand. “Is it sour or sweet?”

The expression on Baili Junyi’s face froze. He nodded seriously. “Sweet.”

“That’s more like it!”

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