Chapter 86: You Two Had an Affair!

Shen Linghan raised her head and looked at Shen Ninghua with tears in her eyes. Her tone was filled with sorrow. “Eldest Sister, I know that you hate me. It doesn’t matter how you treat me, but please let go of father and mother. The gratitude of raising you is greater than that of giving birth to you. Although she isn’t your birth mother, she has taken care of you for so many years. You can’t be too cruel.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhao stepped forward and attempted to kneel down to Shen Ninghua with her hands covering her belly. “Ninghua, it’s fine if you don’t care about me, but Master is at least your own father. Even if you don’t want to be filial, you shouldn’t persecute him.”

“That’s right, Eldest Sister. If you have any grudges against me, please let go of father and mother.”

Madam Zhao knelt on the ground and cuddled Shen Linghan. The two of them spoke with such sincerity, as if it was Shen Ninghua who had forced them into their current situation.

Shen Dong felt a burst of anger in his heart. He looked fiercely at Shen Ninghua with sharp eyes, as if he wanted to scratch a layer of skin off her body. Originally, he thought that she was of some use, but he didn’t expect her to be so cold-blooded and heartless.

Shen Ninghua looked coldly at this pair of mother and daughter, and her face was full of sadness and puzzlement. “Mother, sister, what did I do to make you want to kill me?”

Shen Linghan frowned. “Eldest Sister, you are still refusing to admit it…”

“It’s not that I refuse to admit it. I just don’t understand. Father and Eldest Brother made a mistake in the prescription for curing the plague. In order to remedy this grave mistake, I personally went to the plague-stricken area in Jiangnan regardless of the danger. Fortunately, the heavens blessed me and I returned safely. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t ask me if I had lived well. But you actually charged me with patricide and matricide the instant you saw me. It’s you who want me dead, right? That’s right. In the end, I am only an outsider to you all.”

Hearing Shen Ninghua’s words, many people immediately turned to look at Madam Zhao. With a stepmother, one would not fail to have a stepfather. Although these words were a little vulgar, the truth in them was self-evident. It was really a great show for the stepmother to murder the daughter of the first wife.

Shen Linghan covered her lips and sobbed. “Eldest Sister, I originally didn’t want to say anything, but if you talk like this, I have to say it. Mother, don’t help her hide the truth. Just tell everyone the truth.”

Madam Zhao’s eyes froze and she shook her head abruptly. “No, Linghan, no matter what, Ninghua is related to you by blood. She is your elder sister. How can I…”

“Mother,” Shen Linghan spoke aloud, “if we had a way out, how would I be willing to expose her? After all, her reputation will be ruined if that matter is revealed. However, she hates us and only wants to suppress us now. What’s the use of hiding it for her?”

‘”Linghan…” Madam Zhao’s expression was extremely awkward.

Shen Linghan grabbed Madam Zhao’s wrist and said, “Mother, if you don’t want to say it, I will. For me, I don’t have a sister called Shen Ninghua! Your Majesty, my father and brother had no sooner made a mistake in developing the prescription than Shen Ninghua handed over the right prescription to you. Don’t you think it’s too odd?”

Baili Qingcang frowned slightly with a calm expression in his eyes. “What do you want to say?”

Shen Linghan moved forward with her knees and bowed deeply. Her forehead made a dull noise as it pounded the ground. “Your Majesty, Shen Ninghua designed all of this because she wanted to frame my mother and me.”

“Go on.”

Shen Linghan raised her head and looked at Shen Ninghua with resentment. “More than two months ago, my mother’s courtyard was destroyed, so she temporarily stayed in the side yard of Shen Ninghua’s Yingyue Courtyard. One day, she suffered from sickness due to her pregnancy, so she got up in the middle of the night and walked around. Unexpectedly, she saw a man coming out of Shen Ninghua’s room. She was frightened at that time. Afterwards, she was afraid that Eldest Sister was cheated by that man, so she secretly investigated. She didn’t expect to discover a shocking secret.”

A girl’s affair with a secret man…Everyone’s interest was aroused and they pricked up their ears to listen carefully.

“Eldest Sister has hooked up with that man for a long time, and they even exchanged love tokens with each other! Eldest Sister found out that the matter was exposed, and with the help of that person, she plotted to kill and silence the Shen family.” As Shen Linghan spoke, her entire body trembled, as if she was extremely frightened.

Baili Qingcang’s eyes darkened. “Do you have any evidence?”

“Yes!” Shen Linghan looked at Madam Zhao. “Mother, hand over the evidence to His Majesty.”

Madam Zhao held the handkerchief tightly in her hand and cried uncontrollably. “Linghan, that’s evidence of your eldest sister’s adultery, I just wanted to help her hide it. After finding it, I burned it. It’s gone.”

“Mother…you…” Shen Linghan sighed. “Eldest Sister, mother is still wholeheartedly protecting you. Don’t you have a heart?”

Shen Ninghua looked at her with indescribable mockery. “Younger Sister, I really admire your acting skills.”

Shen Linghan closed her eyes and said, “Forget it. Since you still don’t repent, I have to say it. Your Majesty, the man who had an affair with my eldest sister is the Second Prince!”

The moment she said these words, all the officials were shocked. The Second Prince? Everyone’s eyes swept around Shen Ninghua and Baili Jinchuan. They wanted to find out what was going on. The two of them worked together to relieve the disaster in Jiangnan. It was said that they got along very well. The Second Prince usually listened to Shen Ninghua’s opinions. Was it because they had an affair long ago?

Baili Jinchuan’s eyes turned cold. This pair of mother and daughter actually wanted to drag him into this farce. “Your Majesty, please make a sound judgment. Prefectural Princess Ninghua and I didn’t have the slightest disrespect to etiquette.”

Chu Junyi standing at the end of the official procession narrowed his eyes slightly, and a trace of cold killing intent flashed through his eyes.

Baili Qingcang’s expression was a little sullen. “Shen Linghan, do you know what kind of crime it is to frame a prince?”

“Your Majesty, I know that framing a prince is a crime big enough to implicate the whole family.”

“Since you know the consequences and still dare to say it out loud, you must have some evidence. Show me your evidence!”

Shen Linghan raised her head and stared at Baili Jinchuan with a burning gaze. “Your Majesty, I secretly made preparations because I was afraid that my eldest sister would use a dirty trick. I didn’t expect that I would actually use it today. The Second Prince has a handkerchief from Shen Ninghua on him! I also have evidence hidden in my Qinxue Courtyard, which are letters between the Second Prince and Shen Ninghua!”

“Whoa…I really didn’t expect…”

“That’s right. So shameless.”

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“I originally thought that Shen Ninghua’s appearance was as clean as ice and as pure as jade. Who would have thought that she had secretly seduced the prince? This is truly…”

The hall was filled with all sorts of comments. Baili Qingcang solemnly looked at Shen Ninghua who was standing upright. “Ninghua, do you have anything to say?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head slightly, and her expression was calm. “Those who are innocent will naturally have their innocence proved. I believe Your Majesty will prove my innocence.”

Baili Qingcang turned around and ordered. “Chen Yun, you are my most trusted official. Go search the Second Prince and see if he has Shen Ninghua’s handkerchief on him. Governor of Capital Guards, bring your troops to the Shen Mansion to search the Qinxue Courtyard and find the letters that Shen Linghan mentioned!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Governor of Capital Guards turned around and walked out. Chen Yun went to the Second Prince and cupped his hands in apology. “Your Highness, please forgive my offense.”

Baili Jinchuan extended his arms. “Lord Chen, please search thoroughly.”

Chen Yun nodded and carefully searched Baili Jinchuan’s body. After a while, he took out a handkerchief embroidered with azaleas from his sleeve. The silk handkerchief did not look very new, as if it had been used for some time. “Your Majesty, I searched the Second Prince’s body and only found this handkerchief.”

The Third Prince tried his best to suppress the excitement on his face, and his heart was filled with excitement. The handkerchief was clearly not for men. How could Baili Jinchuan explain it this time?

Baili Qingcang’s expression was unclear. “Jinchuan, what do you have to say? Where did this handkerchief come from?”

Baili Jinchuan lifted his robe and knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, this handkerchief belongs to Prefectural Princess Ninghua.”

Shen Linghan was delighted, but her face revealed a sad expression. “Eldest Sister, Prefectural Prince De has already admitted it. Are you still refusing to confess?”

Shen Ninghua looked at her and immediately shifted aside her gaze, as if she did not even want to look at her. “So what if the handkerchief is mine? What logic is it to conclude that finding my handkerchief on the Second Prince means that we have an affair? Younger sister, I don’t know what to say about you.”

Evidence of her adultery was found, but she was still so confident. This made everyone look at Shen Ninghua.

At this moment, Chen Yun stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Your Majesty, can I explain why this handkerchief is on the Second Prince?”

“You know it?” Baili Qingcang was very surprised.

“That’s right. I actually know the truth.” Chen Yun nodded and walked up to Baili Jinchuan as he spoke. He rolled up Baili Jinchuan’s sleeve and exposed his arm.

“Ah, the Second Prince is injured?”

“What a long wound!”

Baili Jinchuan’s arm was covered with a half-foot long wound. Although most of the wound had already healed, there were still places where rolling skin and flesh could be seen. It was really terrifying to see.

“Your Majesty, in order to calm down the grievances of the people and to prevent the refugees from causing trouble, the Second Prince killed 32 officials in succession. Many of the officials’ remaining confederates retaliated crazily against us. This wound was inflicted as the Second Prince saved me when I was surrounded by people in Linjiang City. At that time, the wound was too serious. Princess Ninghua used her handkerchief to wrap medicinal powder to clean up the wound for the Second Prince. This handkerchief thus fell into his hands. I didn’t expect that someone would use it today as evidence that they had an affair. This is way too ridiculous.”

Shen Linghan widened her eyes. “Impossible. That handkerchief was obviously given to the Second Prince by Shen Ninghua as a love token!”

Shen Ninghua said coldly, “Younger sister, my mother loved azaleas very much. I also like embroidering azaleas on handkerchiefs to commemorate her. If I wanted to give someone a love token, I should at least embroider a pair of mandarin-ducks or interlocked branches. Right?”

Yes, who would use the thing for commemorating one’s mother as a love token?

Shen Linghan was speechless. The Crown Prince had clearly told her that the handkerchief was given to the Second Prince by Shen Ninghua. How come things turned out the opposite? Suddenly, anger surged in her heart and she looked at Chen Yun fiercely.

“You are lying, Doctor Chen. You lied for Shen Ninghua and the Second Prince. How do you live up to His Majesty’s trust in you!”

Shen Dong abruptly stood up and slapped Shen Linghan in the face. “Shut up!” Chen Yun once saved the emperor’s life. He could be said to be the emperor’s most trusted official. How dared she slander him at will?

Chen Yun was so angry that he laughed. “Your Majesty, it seems that I should resign and return to my hometown. Even a little girl dares to accuse me of lying.”

Baili Qingcang narrowed his eyes, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes. “Slap her twenty in the face.”

Upon hearing the order, a eunuch immediately went forward to execute the punishment. Shen Linghan’s eyes widened in horror. She wanted to ask for mercy, but was slapped on the face fiercely.

Madam Zhao was stunned with horror. “Your Majesty, please spare her. She was just speaking without thinking. She didn’t say it on purpose.”

Baili Qingcang didn’t pay any attention to her words, and only nodded when the eunuch reported to have finished the slapping.

Not long after, the Governor of Capital Guards came in with a pile of letters in his hands. “Your Majesty, I found a total of nine letters in Qinxue Courtyard. Please take a look.”

Shen Linghan lay on the ground, with blood flowing from the corner of her lips. Her eyes were vicious like poisonous snakes, and her heart surged with hatred. Shen Ninghua, I wanted you to die a terrible death today!

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