Chapter 325 - Conflict! Second Prince Was Coming!

As soon as Baili Jinchuan entered Zhou City, someone reported to Shen Ninghua about his arrival. Therefore, she knew about Baili Jinchuan’s arrival not long after Baili Junyi received the news.

After tucking in the two children, Shen Ninghua instructed in a cold tone, “Qing Que, look after the kids. No one is allowed to get close to them, no matter who it is.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Hong Ling, take Zhou Jingshu with you and follow me to the victims’ camp. I’m afraid that it is hard to resolve the Zhou Family’s affairs.” Among all the people, she was most wary of Baili Jinchuan. She did not expect that he would suddenly come to Zhou City.

“Yes, Miss.” Hong Ling went up to Zhou Jingshu and pulled her out.

Zhou Jingshu was still in a trance. After getting on the carriage, she suddenly came back to her senses and turned to glare at Shen Ninghua with stubbornness and skepticism. “What you said is false. Our family has always been kind. It is not like what you said. You only came up with this plan to frame us because we have high prestige in Zhou City!”

Shen Ninghua glanced at her indifferently. “You can think whatever you like.”

The depressed Zhou Jingshu assumed that Shen Ninghua didn’t have a leg to stand on, and she looked at her with contempt. “With a noble identity, you should do something worthy of your identity. If you think you can’t handle the stress, how about you give up your position and give it to someone more suitable. What do you think?”

Shen Ninghua laughed. A bright light reflected on her sparkly and clear eyes. “Someone suitable? Who? You?”

“Yes. Why not? I think I’m competent.”

Hearing this, Shen Ninghua laughed again. Zhou Jingshu clearly coveted her husband, but she used such a dignified and pompous excuse. She wondered what kind of upbringing this young lady had been through that made her so narcissistic.

“You’re competent? Remember what you said, and open your eyes wide and see clearly. A person living in her tiny little world has no right to claim that she is competent.”

Zhou Jingshu’s eyes were full of ridicule. “Okay, I will open my eyes wide and see how you can justify yourself!” She firmly believed that the Zhou Family was innocent and that what Shen Ninghua said was q lie. When the truth was revealed, she would expose everything that Shen Ninghua had done today and show Prefectural Prince Yi that she was a better match for him.

Outside the camp was jam-packed by the agitated citizens. Shen Ninghua’s carriage stopped outside the crowd and could not enter the camp.

Spotting the carriage with Prefectural Prince Yi’s mark on it coming over, the people wanted to rush over it. Fortunately, Hong Ling and the guards, who came along, protected the carriage so that the people couldn’t push on it.

Shen Ninghua slightly lifted the curtain of the carriage and frowned when she saw the situation in front of her. Just as she was about to speak, the commotion outside the carriage stopped, followed by the sound of a horse stepping on a stone slab.

Shen Ninghua put down the curtain and frowned slightly. The sound of horse hooves gradually approached and stopped. Then a low and magnetic voice came from outside the carriage, “Ninghua, I did not expect that we would meet again so soon.”

It was him, Baili Jinchuan!

Shen Ninghua calmed the emotions in her eyes, put on a polite smile, and lifted the curtain again. “Greetings, Second Royal Brother. It is indeed a surprise to meet you so soon.”

Baili Jinchuan’s eyes greedily swept across Shen Ninghua’s face. She did not change at all. She was still as beautiful and alluring as before. No kind words had ever been sprouted by those petal-like lips of her as usual. However, he missed her so much. In just a short period of time, the yearning inside him had already overflowed.

“What a coincidence. If you hadn’t come to the northwest, we wouldn’t have met so soon. Father Emperor sent me to the northwest to deliver disaster relief.”

Shen Ninghua looked at him calmly and noted in a flat tone, “Is that so? I think you will be able to handle things properly, Second Prince.”

Baili Jinchuan was wearing a light silver riding suit. The fit cutting of the suit made him look slenderer, and his well-proportioned body exhumed a faint explosive force. His charming face was a bit rougher because of the scar, but it in no way detracted from his handsome. Instead, and it even added a bit more dignity and burliness to him.

“Compared with Second Prince, I prefer you calling me Second Royal Brother.”

Feeling the invading aura, Shen Ninghua couldn’t help but take a breath. “I am your younger sister, and you are my elder brother. It is fine to call you Second Royal Brother.”

“Yes, brother, sister… there is nothing wrong with that. I think Fifth Younger Brother also thinks so,” Baili Jinchuan smiled and quipped meaningfully.

Shen Ninghua pursed her lips. There was a trace of annoyance in her eyes. She wanted to remind Baili Jinchuan not to go too far by mentioning his identity, but he secretly mocked her that she and Baili Junyi also used to be brother and sister.

Sensing Shen Ninghua’s silence, Baili Jinchuan chuckled, his black eyes brilliant. “After not seeing you for a while, Fifth Younger Brother’s ability to stir up trouble has not changed at all. He has only come to Zhou City for such a short period of time, and he has actually attracted the siege of the people. Such ability is really rare.”

When Zhou Jingshu heard of Baili Jinchuan’s identity, her eyes lit up. Then, she immediately made a decision when she sensed some hostility between Shen Ninghua and Baili Jinchuan. As Hong Ling was guarding outside the carriage, she ran down from the carriage and knelt straight in front of Baili Jinchuan’s horse.

“Greetings, Second Prince. I am Zhou Jingshu. My family has suffered a great injustice. Second Prince, please seek justice for my family.”

Shen Ninghua frowned, and her eyes darkened as she looked at the people, who turned their heads at Zhou Jingshu. Hong Ling was about to pull Zhou Jingshu back when she ordered, “Leave her. Don’t worry about her.”

Zhou Jingshu’s movements were too drastic. Fortunately, Baili Jinchuan was riding a battle-hardened warhorse, so the horse only swayed a little and was not shocked.

Baili Jinchuan lowered his head and swept his cold gaze over Zhou Jingshu. “You are Zhou Jingshu, a member of the Zhou Family?”

“Yes, Second Prince, I’m from the Zhou Family. Today, my elder brother and the patriarch of my family, Zhou Ziqing, was imprisoned. I went to Princess Yi, but she threatened and punished me. Had I not met Your Highness, I wouldn’t have known what would happen to my brother and my family…”

Baili Jinchuan’s eyes darted around. A smile rose on his face, and he turned to look at the indifferent Shen Ninghua. “It seems that Baili Junyi is not the only one who is involved in this matter. Even you are also in trouble.”

“We are husband and wife. The trouble he has caused is my trouble as well. What’s so strange about it?” Shen Ninghua replied as if it were for a matter of course.

The smile in Baili Jinchuan’s eyes suddenly dimmed and was replaced by a black vortex, carrying boundless anger. “Zhou Jingshu, right? Get up. I’ve accepted this case. I’ll go and take a look now. Don’t worry, true blue will never stain. If your brother is really innocent, I’ll defend him.”

Zhou Jingshu’s eyes lit up. She knelt on the ground and bowed repeatedly. “Yes, yes, thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness.”

The citizens at the side also heard the commotion and asked what was going on. When they heard that the incoming person was a royal prince with a higher rank than Baili Junyi, they immediately became spirited and shouted for the Zhou Family’s justice. They would have barged forward to plea had it not been for the guards escorting and surrounding the prince.

Although they could not get close to Baili Jinchuan, they were hostile toward Shen Ninghua’s carriage behind him. Many people threw things like radishes, cabbage, and other things to the carriage furiously.

Fueled with anger, Hong Ling gripped the short sword in her hand. If Shen Ninghua had not stopped her, she would have slashed the people who threw the things.

“Miss, they are so savage. How can you endure this?”

“The truth hasn’t been revealed yet. They are also deceived. What’s the use of being angry?” Shen Ninghua gripped the lettuce leaves that were thrown in from the window. “Get someone to clean up the vegetable. They can be used as food for the victims.”

“Miss!” Hong Ling exclaimed in a flustered and exasperated manner.

Shen Ninghua gave her a comforting look. “Don’t worry, you will have a chance to vent your anger.”

Hong Ling bellowed indignantly, “Humph, when we expose the Zhou Family’s true colors, I will buy baskets of vegetable leaves and throw at their faces!”

As Baili Jinchuan’s guards led the way, Shen Ninghua’s carriage smoothly arrived at the center of the disaster victims’ camp.

When Baili Junyi came out of the tent and saw Baili Jinchuan who was leading the way, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. “Second Brother, long time no see.”

Baili Jinchuan jumped down from the carriage and handed the reins to the guard behind him. “Fifth Younger Brother, I haven’t seen you for a long time. I didn’t expect that our reunion would be like this. It is really surprising.”

“What is there to be surprised about? How can I ignore the injustice when I see one?”

“The injustice…” Baili Jinchuan sneered, “Fifth Younger Brother, you are still as enthusiastic as ever.”

Baili Junyi gushed as if he didn’t sense his sarcasm. “You’re the same, Second Royal Brother…”

Before he could finish, Baili Jinchuan suddenly raised his eyes and announced in a cold and serious tone, “His Majesty has an imperial edict. Baili Junyi, accept it!”

Baili Junyi suddenly stopped talking and knelt down on the ground. His lowered eyes were filled with coldness.

“Under heaven’s blessing, I was worried about the serious drought in the northwest and the displacement of the disaster victims. I ordered Second Prince, Baili Jinchuan, to come to the disaster relief, and Fifth Prince, Baili Junyi, to assist him. All the members of the government and state offices of the various prefectures and counties shall cooperate with full force. There must be no mistakes.”

“Yes, I will obey your orders, Your Majesty.”

Baili Jinchuan put away the imperial edict and glanced at the people around him. “I won’t say anything more since you understand. Guards, take Patriarch Zhou away. I want to interrogate him personally. And disperse the people gathering around the camp. I’ll give them an explanation after the interrogation. Now, make full preparations to welcome the disaster victims into the city.”

“Yes!”

When the people around him went to work, Baili Jinchuan walked to Baili Junyi, sized him up, and sneered contemptuously, “You don’t want to lead a comfortable life yourself, and you even drag your family into this misery. I’m ‘impressed’.”

“We are husband and wife, and we are united as one. No matter how difficult it is, I’m not afraid. You haven’t met the love of your life, so you can’t understand the taste of it.”