Chapter 295 - Scared to Death!

Zhao Huiying’s face was full of panic. This time, it was not a small mistake. If the Crown Prince was convicted, he would be killed! Moreover, Da’an was not like the previous dynasty. The previous dynasty did not have the tradition of killing princes, but Da’an did. If the Emperor really made up his mind to kill the Crown Prince, then how could he survive?

Baili Qingcang’s fingers trembled, and his expression was particularly bleak. After a while, he waved his hand. “Lock all of them into the Heavenly Prison.”

Zhao Huiying continued to plead, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince really doesn’t know anything. He doesn’t know anything. Please forgive him.”

The Crown Prince did not resist. He knelt on the ground straight. For a moment, the Dragon Scale Army did not dare to show the slightest bit of disrespect to him. He looked up at Baili Qingcang and did not speak. After a glance, he started to kowtow respectfully. Each time he kowtowed, he placed his hands on his forehead. After nine kowtows, he stood up again. His face was already full of tears.

Baili Qingcang suddenly closed his eyes, his heart filled with grief.

Shen Ninghua’s eyes moved slightly. Nine kowtows were the ritual for a guilty son to apologize to his father. The Crown Prince was apologizing silently.

Zhao Huiying also stopped speaking and silently let the Dragon Scale Army take her away.

Baili Qingcang turned around. No one could see his face. When the hall was completely quiet, he turned to look at Prince An. “Prince An, sorry to let you see such a joke.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. a country has too many affairs. It is understandable that some unexpected incidents happen from time to time.” Prince An rejoiced in his heart. This time, it was clear that the Empress and the Crown Prince had planned a rebellion. In such a big storm, it was already fortunate that Bu Tinghe was still alive.

Although it was said that her limbs were broken, the imperial doctors had already checked her and said that she could be cured. How could he be dissatisfied with the result?

“Alright, let’s end today’s banquet. Prince An, go back to the embassy first. I’ll treat you another day.”

“Then I will take my leave first.” Prince An left quickly with the Great Yue Kingdom’s envoys.

As he walked, he thought to himself, “After this turmoil, Da’an’s Crown Prince probably won’t be able to hold the position for long. The power of the Empress and her associates will also suffer a great blow. This is really good! Before I make a move, the Empress already crippled herself. The Third Prince effortlessly gets rid of an arch enemy. When I get back, I should immediately write a letter to report the situation here to His Majesty.”

The Third Prince had wanted to take this opportunity to have the Crown Prince deposed in one fell swoop. When he saw that Baili Qingcang had only taken the Crown Prince into custody, he was indignant and wanted to step forward to speak up, but he was pulled back by his grandfather, Lin Yue, who was at his side. These old officials knew what the Emperor’s expression meant. At this time, whoever spoke would be asking for trouble.

Indeed, there were a few officials who could not suppress the anxiety in their hearts and went forward to report that the Crown Prince and the Empress had committed treason and should be dealt with immediately.

Baili Qingcang listened to them expressionlessly and directly asked the Dragon Scale Army to pull them out and give them fifty strokes. He didn’t speak until the officials were carried in half-dead.

“I will send people to investigate what happened today. You all can go back first.”

All the officials quickly bowed and left. Many of them breathed a sigh of relief. Some were so shocked that they almost couldn’t keep their balance. They had stood out to express their support for the Crown Prince and the Empress. They didn’t expect that Emperor did not pursue the matter. Their heads could finally be safely placed on their necks.

Unexpectedly, just as they were about to step out of the door, Baili Qingcang suddenly spoke again, “I am getting old and don’t want to kill people. However, there are always some officials whose presence disturbs the hearts of the people and the peace of the country. Now go back and wait.”

As he uttered the last word, many officials fell to their knees and looked at Baili Qingcang in despair. “Your Majesty, please show mercy. I deserve to die ten thousand times.” When they said words of support to the Empress, many officials were present and they couldn’t deny it at all.

“Your Majesty…”

Baili Qingcang waved his hand, and his expression was solemn. “I’ve said it. Go back and wait.”

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi looked at each other and smiled. Going back and waiting for death was worse than being killed right away. Many officials would probably scare themselves to death.

By the time all the officials had left, only a few princes and Shen Ninghua remained. Baili Qingcang swayed and raised his hand to support his forehead. “Ninghua, Junyi, escort me back to the Palace.”

After a massacre, the only people he could trust were Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi, who risked their lives to protect him.

By the time Baili Junyi rushed in with the Western City Camp troops, the soldiers of the Northern City Camp had already rushed into the room. If Baili Junyi had not blocked the door at the critical moment, it would be hard to say whether Baili Qingcang could stand here.

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi stepped forward and supported Baili Qingcang from both sides. “Yes, Father Emperor.”

The Second Prince lowered his head so that no one could see his expression. The Third Prince was unwilling. The Fourth Prince looked as if this had nothing to do with him. The Sixth Prince’s face was full of sadness. They all had different expressions. Baili Qingcang’s eyes did not move. He did not care about their thoughts and directly returned to his palace.

When they arrived at Anju Hall, Baili Qingcang sat by the bed and did not speak for a long time. His face was full of fatigue and vicissitudes.

Looking at the Emperor who appeared so old and dejected, Shen Ninghua felt extremely sad. Baili Qingcang was an Emperor, but he was also a father. All along, he had high hopes for the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince did not care about his love at all.

His hope and expectation had completely turned into grief now.

“Father Emperor, I’ve asked someone to make some calming medicine. Please drink it and take a rest.”

Baili Qingcang looked up at Shen Ninghua and nodded slightly.

Shen Ninghua quickly ordered the palace maids to help Baili Qingcang change his clothes and then personally served him the medicine.

Seeing Baili Qingcang lying on the bed and closing his eyes, she walked lightly and was about to leave, but she suddenly heard him speak.

“Ninghua, you and Junyi help me investigate this matter. Also, ask Junyi to watch over the Heavenly Prison. Those who should be left alive must not die.”

Shen Ninghua’s heart trembled. “Yes, I will immediately tell Junyi to start the investigation. Father Emperor, don’t worry. Have a good rest.”

When Shen Ninghua left, Baili Qingcang opened his eyes and looked at the bright yellow top of the curtain. He maintained a motionless posture. After a long time, he closed his eyes. He did not shed tears, but the sorrow and grief all over his body were extremely strong.

Qing Que and Hong Ling were both injured. Shen Ninghua also felt sore all over. She told Baili Junyi about Baili Qingcang’s decree and returned to the Royal Prince Mansion. She missed her two children and wanted so badly to see them soon.

It was peaceful inside Huajun Pavilion. Shen Ninghua let Qing Que and Hong Ling go down to bandage their wounds and then went to the children’s room.

Looking at the two children who were sleeping soundly on the bed, a wave of sourness surged into her heart. She walked forward and gently touched their pink cheeks. She felt that her heart that had been in a panic finally calmed down bit by bit.

A person who had never seen blood would never know how chilly and cruel blood was. The six hundred Northern City Camp soldiers were all killed. Yang Ye was captured alive by Baili Junyi, and the Emperor ordered his men to chop him into mince on the spot.

This was the price of failure. She couldn’t bear to see it, but she wouldn’t stop it. This was because if they were the ones who failed today, then what awaited them would probably be a fate worse than death.

After about an hour, Baili Junyi, who had changed his clothes, walked in. When he saw Shen Ninghua sitting by the bed and looking at the two children, his heart ached.

He had always felt that Ninghua was too unscrupulous. She was ruthless to others and even more ruthless to herself. But now she had scruples, and he started to worry about her. He always felt that no matter how much he loved her, it was not enough. However hard he thought, he couldn’t find the most satisfying and effective way to protect her.

Baili Junyi stepped forward to hold her hand and held her in his arms. He took a deep breath and felt that his empty heart had finally settled. “Ninghua, you must be scared today.”

Shen Ninghua leaned against his embrace and shook her head. She said with a relieved smile on her face, “It’s all in the past. Although I was frightened, the result was not bad.”

“I underestimated the Empress. I only knew that she had joined forces with the Xiao Family, but I didn’t expect that she had the Northern City Camp under her control.”

“It’s not your fault. The Empress used the Northern City Camp. It seems that she didn’t trust the Xiao Family and wanted to get rid of them in one fell swoop.”

“Yeah.”

The baby girl had slept enough. When she opened her eyes, she felt a familiar aura. She grinned and began to laugh. When she moved, she kicked her brother beside her and woke him up.

The boy snorted slightly as if he was extremely impatient with his sister’s harassment, but he did not cry or make a fuss. He only let out a clear “ah” sound, causing his sister to kick out again.

Looking at the movements of the two children, Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi laughed at the same time. These two little babies were their weakness, but also the motivation to support them and keep them moving forward. With them, how could they bear to act carelessly?

The atmosphere in the imperial court was gloomy. Since the day the Empress rebelled, the Emperor had stopped attending the morning court with the excuse of being sick. The officials who did not choose a side that day were fine. They simply wrote reports to show concerns for the Emperor’s health and wished well for him.

But the officials who helped the Empress and Zhao Family suffered. The Emperor’s words that day asking them to wait were like a sharp butcher’s knife hanging above their necks. It could fall down at any time. Moreover, they would not be the only ones to be killed. It was possible that all of their family members and relatives would be implicated.

Hong Ling’s arm was wrapped in gauze, but her movements were particularly light. “Miss, I’m here to report. Today, two more officials committed suicide at home. I heard that they also wrote letters of remorse with blood, hoping that His Majesty can spare their families.”

Shen Ninghua placed the baby girl in her arms on the ground and watched her lazily move her little hands and feet like a little turtle. “Two today, three yesterday, one the day before yesterday…In the past few days, more than ten officials have died.”

“Yes, a total of twelve officials committed suicide. The common people are in a panic and are all guessing the reason.”

“It should be about time. I think His Majesty will be attending court tomorrow. Bring all the things that have been found in the past few days over and ask His Highness to take them with him tomorrow.”

“Miss, do you think His Majesty will really depose the Crown Prince?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head. “The Empress is doomed. As for the Crown Prince…it will depend on his luck tomorrow.”