Shen Ninghua took Baby Girl’s shoes from the maid and glanced at Baili Qingcang, who now had an unknown expression on his face. She said with a faint smile, “Her Grace is weak, so it’s inevitable that she will be in pain if she is hit. I can understand that. Father Emperor, please don’t be angry. Baby Girl didn’t fall off the couch, did she?”
Xia Jingxin gasped. What did Shen Ninghua mean by this? His Majesty was not angry with her in the first place, but Shen Ninghua told on her by manipulating her words. Xia Jingxin suppressed her rage, looked at the children carefully, and snorted.
“Ninghua, I like children very much. I didn’t pay attention just now. These days, I was so sick that I almost became confused. I was in a trance.”
“Your Grace, please don’t mind it.”
“So are you not angry with me?”
“Your Grace, you are a senior. As a junior, I shouldn’t be angry.” Sarcastically, Shen Ninghua expressed her dissatisfaction with “shouldn’t be angry”, implying that she was still angry.
Of course, Xia Jingxin understood the hidden meaning of her words, but she pretended not to know it and said, “Wonderful. It’s good to know that you’re not angry. I adore the children very much. Let them stay here for two days to play with me.”
Shen Ninghua’s eyes suddenly turned cold. “Your Grace, you’re not feeling well, and the two children are noisy. If they stay here, I’m afraid that they will interrupt your rest.”
“It is okay. When I see the children, I feel happy from the bottom of my heart. When I’m happy, I’ll recover sooner. Besides, there are many palace maids and eunuchs to look after them. Are you still worried about them?”
“To tell the truth, I am worried,” Shen Ninghua answered honestly.
Xia Jingxin froze in bewilderment and looked at Baili Qingcang with a sorrowful expression. “Your Majesty, I just love the children very much, so I want them to stay with me for a few days, but Ninghua…”
Baili Qingcang frowned and looked at Shen Ninghua. “Ninghua, your aunt is not feeling well, so don’t upset her. Just leave the children here at Chunxi Palace for two days. I’ll arrange some people to take care of them.”
A smug smile flashed across Xia Jingxin’s face. “You’re busy right now because you need to look after the Fifth Prince, aren’t you? Just leave the children here so that you can be at ease to take care of the Fifth Prince.”
“Be at ease? That’s probably the last thing in my mind!” Shen Ninghua cursed in her heart.
“Father Emperor, now that you have spoken, I have to obey, but children are mothers’ flesh and blood. I won’t be at ease if I don’t keep the children by my side. Aunt, don’t you feel the same way?”
Shen Ninghua looked at Xia Jingxin quietly, but every word she said was heartbreaking. Didn’t Father Emperor believe that Xia Jingxin was the reincarnation of her mother? No mother would make things difficult for her daughter.
The frown between Baili Qingcang’s eyebrows became deeper and deeper. Xia Jingxin’s heart skipped a beat, and her expression changed drastically. “Ah… My head hurts! What happened? Your Majesty…”
Baili Qingcang came back to his senses and quickly supported her. “Xin’er, how are you feeling? Guards, quickly call the imperial doctor!”
Shen Ninghua handed Baby Girl to Hong Ling behind her. “Father Emperor, I know medicine too. Why don’t you let me check on Her Grace first?”
“Alright, come and check on her, hurry.” Baili Qingcang quickly moved aside. Even Chen Yun praised Ninghua’s medical skills.
Shen Ninghua sat coldly next to Xia Jingxin. She extended her cold palm, placed her fingers on Xia Jingxin’s wrist, and checked her pulse. As soon as Shen Ninghua felt Xia Jingxin’s pulse, a strange feeling arose in her heart. It was a chaotic pulse read, and it was obviously a pulse from a seriously ill person. However, the pulsation was very strong despite the chaotic pulse. Xia Jingxin shouldn’t have such strong energy inside her if she was so ill, so how could her pulse be so powerful and strong?
Xia Jingxin suddenly pulled back her arm, covered her chest, and began to retch. Her face was ghastly pale. “Oh, no, it hurts. Your Majesty, please hurry and call Doctor Yan. Please! I’m dying of pain…”
Baili Qingcang quickly comforted her, “Yes, I’ve already sent someone to bring him here. Xin’er, don’t worry. Doctor Yan will be here soon.”
Shen Ninghua silently withdrew her hand and slowly wiped her fingers with a handkerchief. Glaring at Shen Ninghua’s action, Xia Jingxin squinted in great dismay. Was she disgusted with her? How dare Shen Ninghua do this?! That bitch!
Yan Bushou quickly followed the eunuch in. “Greetings, Your Majesty…”
“Stand. Hurry and check on the Noble Concubine.”
Yan Bushou casually swept his gaze over Shen Ninghua and her two children. Then, he hurriedly went forward to read Xia Jingxin’s pulse. At this moment, Xia Jingxin had already fainted. Her breathing was weak with her eyes closed.
Shen Ninghua walked to the side and carried Baby Girl from Hong Ling’s arms. She gently patted Baby Girl’s back to comfort her. Baby Girl had cried so hard just now and was still hiccupping.
After Yan Bushou checked Xia Jingxin’s pulse, he took a bottle from the medicine chest, took out a pill, and fed it to her. “Your Majesty, Her Grace will wake up soon after taking the pill.”
Baili Qingcang breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. That’s wonderful.”
“Your Majesty, it’s just that this is the last pill. In order to refine a new batch, I need…”
Baili Qingcang’s face sank, and he coldly stopped Yan Bushou from speaking, “I know. You can leave now.”
Yan Bushou pursed his lips and continued, “Yes, Your Majesty. Please make a decision as soon as possible. I’m afraid that Her Grace won’t be able to hold on for long.”
“Leave!”
Yan Bushou got up and glanced at the child in Shen Ninghua’s arms. An extremely eerie smile appeared on his face.
There was a faint smile on Shen Ninghua’s lips. She looked particularly indifferent, but a strong killing intent flashed across her slightly lowered eyes as she thought, “They finished the last pill, so they need to refine new pills. Refining pills need medicinal ingredients. I want to see if Father Emperor will ask me for the kids! I want to see if he will sacrifice his own grandchildren for a fake woman!”
Xia Jingxin slowly woke up, looking befuddled and disoriented. “Your Majesty, what happened to me?”
“You fainted and took the medicine. You are fine now.”
“Okay. I’m sorry for making you worried again, Your Majesty.”
“Stop it. You don’t have to say these things to me.” There was a hint of rebuke in Baili Qingcang’s tone, but his expression was very sweet and loving.
Xia Jingxin blushed shyly and nudged Baili Qingcang gently. “Your Majesty, Ninghua and the two children are still here!”
The smile on Baili Qingcang’s face disappeared. “Ninghua, your aunt likes your children, but you can’t leave them here. How about this? Leave Baby Girl here to accompany your aunt, and take Big Boy back with you.”
Shen Ninghua’s glance gradually cooled down. “Father Emperor, you know that Big Boy and Baby Girl are twins, and they have never been separated from each other since they were born. Once they are separated, they will inevitably cry. Father Emperor, can you bear to separate them?”
“They are brother and sister. Boys and girls are different. In the future, they will have to be raised and educated separately. There is no harm in separating them now. It is good for them to adapt at an early age.”
“Father Emperor, are you sure about this?” Shen Ninghua raised her eyes, and she calmly looked at a Baili Qingcang with her bright and starry eyes. She stood with her back straight as she thought, “Baby Girl is a girl, so Father Emperor doesn’t mind sacrificing her? Father Emperor, do you not even care about your bloodline and family for a dream in your heart?”
Looking at those eyes, Baili Qingcang felt a burst of sheepishness in his heart, and then he was enraged. “That’s enough. I’ve already made it clear. Take Big Boy away and leave Baby Girl behind.”
“No!” Shen Ninghua answered resolutely.
“What?” Baili Qingcang could not believe his ears. “Are you refuting my decision?”
“Father Emperor, I am just expressing my opinion, not refuting anyone. Baby Girl and Big Boy are both my children. It’s simple and reasonable that Her Grace wants a child by her side to relieve her boredom. In the past two years, there are children born in the harem. She can just take one of the children from a concubine and raise the child. After all, Her Grace has a high status, so having such a noble mother is good for the baby. But it doesn’t have to be my children!”
She didn’t need anyone to help her raise her children!
Baili Qingcang was irritated. “Ninghua, Big Boy and Baby Girl are more or less related to Xin’er by blood. She feels close to them, so she wants to stay with them for a few days. Why can’t you understand her feelings?”
“I understand. Her Grace is weak and Baby Girl is naughty. I understand the situation very well, so I don’t want to leave Baby Girl here to disturb Her Grace! As a mother, I can’t bear to part with my children. Her Grace is kind-hearted and she is also my aunt. She is considerate of me too, I guess?” Shen Ninghua refused to budge.
Baili Qingcang was furious and blurted out in exasperation, “Leave Baby Girl in the Palace. This is an imperial edict. Are you going to defy an imperial decree and be disrespectful to me?”
Shen Ninghua stood upright in her original position. The aura around her gradually cooled down. Looking at the furious Baili Qingcang, she was flustered. Was his love for her fake? Did he not have any sympathy for his own granddaughter?
Baili Qingcang’s glances fluctuated violently. “You…”
Shen Ninghua interrupted him, “I dare not disobey the imperial decree.”
Baili Qingcang looked surprised. Xia Jingxin, who was waiting for them to quarrel, did not expect that Shen Ninghua would compromise so easily.
“Ninghua, is that a yes?”
Shen Ninghua carried Baby Girl and walked to Xia Jingxin. “Your Grace, you are my Aunt and Baby Girl’s grandaunt. I think you will take good care of her, right?”
“Of course. I like this child very much. Of course, I will take good care of her.” Xia Jingxin looked at Baby Girl with a face full of smiles. The smile looked particularly loving and passionate.
“What if you can’t take good care of her?”
“What do you mean by that, Ninghua? Are you worried that I will mistreat her?”
“It’s just an analogy. Why are you so serious? As the mother, I have to consider her condition thoroughly. What if you can’t take good care of Baby Girl?”
“I will let you bring the child back, and then I will apologize to you personally!” Then, Xia Jingxin thought maliciously, “When the girl is in my hands, I won’t let you see the girl at all! So what if I treat the little bitch badly? Haha! You won’t even know how your girl dies, Shen Ninghua!”
“Okay. Father Emperor, you heard her, so you are our witness, right?” Shen Ninghua turned to look at Baili Qingcang.
“Yes, I’ll be your witness. Ninghua, relax. I will arrange someone to take good care of Baby Girl.” Seeing Shen Ninghua’s cold expression, Baili Qingcang felt jittery.
Shen Ninghua smiled coldly. “Alright, then I can rest assured and hand Baby Girl over to Her Grace. Here, please carry her over.”