Chapter 420

Baili Junyi hissed coldly, “Oh, her hands were tied? Go and tell Second Prince about it! This is Second Prince Mansion, so he, as the master of the mansion, has the final say. What can Ninghua do, anyway? Anything that happens in Second Prince Mansion is none of the Fifth Princess’ business!”

The maid’s face turned pale, and her expression was filled with fear. “Yes, Your Highness. I’m so sorry.” With that, she turned and walked quickly to Baili Jinchuan. When he was toasting, she quietly went up and whispered a few words.

Baili Jinchuan frowned and waved her off. Not long after, he accidentally spilled the wine on himself, apologized to everyone, and excused himself to get changed.

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua exchanged glances. It seemed that something really happened in the backyard, which explained why Baili Jinchuan was so frantic.

When Baili Jinchuan arrived at the backyard, he immediately saw Bu Yonghan standing at the door in the red wedding robe and the pale-faced Xia Jingqiu kneeling in front of her.

“What’s going on?”

Bu Yonghan looked troubled and bowed slightly to Baili Jinchuan. “Your Highness, I didn’t want to interfere with this matter, but Madam Xia came to me directly and said that she found out that Side Concubine Yang died unjustly. She didn’t know what to do, so she took today’s opportunity to see me. I didn’t know what to do either. Since Side Concubine Yang was once your woman, I think it’s better for you to take action.”

Baili Jinchuan looked at Xia Jingqiu coldly. His cold eyes were like ice blades. “Who told you that Yang Yingxue died unjustly?”

“I-I-I heard it from others.”

“What?! Who has the guts to talk about the things in my mansion without permission? Tell me who they are, and I’ll skin them alive!”

Xia Jingqiu shuddered. When she looked up and bumped into Baili Jinchuan’s sinister gaze, she was so frightened that she could feel her heart trembling. “Your Highness, Yingxue had always been healthy, and I personally prepared supplements for her to nourish her body, so it didn’t make sense that she would suddenly die without any valid reason. There might be some hidden agenda behind this. Your Highness, please help me investigate this matter and uphold justice for Yingxue’s death!”

“I called the imperial doctors over to check on her and treat her, but none of the imperial doctors could do anything about it, and she succumbed to her illness and died. Since it was reported as a sudden death, it meant that she got an acute illness. How could you be so certain that she would never get sick?”

“But…”

Baili Jinchuan flung his sleeves fiercely and interrupted her. His voice was cold and ruthless. “No buts! There is nothing to investigate. Since you are Madam Yang’s mother, I won’t hold you accountable for making a fuss. If you dare to cause trouble again, I’ll punish you accordingly!”

Noticing a maid who wanted to come over and pull her away, Xia Jingqiu knew that she would never be able to get the truth out of Baili Jinchuan’s mouth if she didn’t finish her words this time. Out of desperation, she went all out and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Your Highness, Shen Ninghua was clearly the culprit who directly caused the death of Yingxue. Not only did you not want to avenge her death, but you couldn’t even tell me the truth! Is Fifth Prince so scary, or is there someone you can’t bear to punish?”

“Insolence!” Baili Jinchuan suddenly turned his head, and his piercing gaze made Xia Jingqiu shrink her neck in fright. However, his fearsome look did not stop her from talking.

She continued, “Your Highness, you have your difficulties. I can understand even if you don’t want to say it. It’s all Yingxue’s fault. She had such a difficult life and couldn’t enjoy the honor of being your side concubine. But at the very least, please tell me the truth, so that my poor girl’s soul can rest in peace.”

Baili Jinchuan was full of anger, and it seemed as if his eyes could spit fire. Xia Jingqiu’s words subconsciously reminded him of Yang Yingxue’s final words before she died, “Pathetic. We’re both so pathetic…”

Indeed, he was so pathetic as he was forced to the corner and could not get what he wanted… Now, he was forced to marry Bu Yonghan, and he could never get Shen Ninghua, no matter how desperate he was.

Xia Jingqiu took Baili Jinchuan’s silence as a triumphant act as if her words had triggered his sore spot. A smug and bright light flashed across her eyes. “Your Highness, please tell me the truth for the sake of my poor girl.” If the Second Prince confirmed that it was Shen Ninghua who inadvertently caused the death of Yang Yingxue, she would have proof that could put the Fifth Prince in a difficult position. At that time, it was up to her to decide how she wanted to end this matter.

Baili Jinchuan snapped back to reality and glared coldly at Xia Jingqiu. “Alright, you want to know the truth, don’t you? I can give you a chance. Maids, go to the front hall and invite the Fifth Prince and Princess Zhaohua over.”

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi followed the maid over. They were a little surprised to see Xia Jingqiu kneeling on the ground and wondered how she was so brave as to actually come to the backyard of Second Prince Mansion.

When Xia Jingqiu saw Shen Ninghua, a trace of hatred flashed in her eyes. Noticing the resentful glare, Baili Junyi squinted his eyes and glanced at her while cursing in his heart, “Imbecile c*nt!”

Baili Jinchuan looked at Shen Ninghua. “Madam Xia said that she wanted to know the truth about Yang Yingxue’s death.”

Shen Ninghua swept her gaze over Xia Jingqiu and chuckled indifferently. “Alright, tell her. It’s good for her to know the truth so that she herself won’t die a mysterious death.”

“What did you say?!” Xia Jingqiu jolted up and snapped as if someone had stepped on her tail. “Ninghua, I’m your aunt! How dare you talk to me like that?!”

Shen Ninghua sneered. “Aunt? I respect you and address you as my aunt, but do you really want to be my aunt? My mother was the Xia Family’s legitimate daughter. What about your mother? When the entire Xia Family was exterminated, where were you? Why didn’t you show up and claim to be one of the Xia Family members? Now that the dust has settled, you show up!”

“H-How can you say that?”

“Why can’t I? When you and Yang Yingxue came from Jiangnan, I provided you with food, shelter, and maids, and even provided opportunities for you to achieve your wishes. Now that you don’t have the luck to enjoy your fortune, you push all the blame on me! Yang Yingxue was the dignified Second Prince’s side concubine! If she had known her place and behaved accordingly, she wouldn’t have had any conflicts with me!”

“Oh, just because you heard some rumors, you came all the way here to hold me accountable! I’m pregnant, for goodness’ sake! By the way, have you ever treated me as your niece? Okay, since you want to know the truth so badly, I’ll tell you why Yang Yingxue died. Listen carefully! She killed Noble Consort Qi’s niece, Qi Ying, and even tried to frame me for the crime. In the end, she was sentenced to death by Father Emperor himself!”

Xia Jingqiu was stunned, and she shook her head subconsciously. “No way. Impossible. Yingxue wouldn’t do that. She was timid and cowardly. She wouldn’t dare to kill anyone.”

Shen Ninghua curled her lips into a cold smirk. “Over time, she became more and more courageous.” At first, she had doubts about Yang Yingxue marrying Baili Jinchuan as his side concubine, but Yang Yingxue assured her that she would be happy as long as she could stay by Baili Jinchuan’s side and look at him every day. However, Yang Yingxue was not happy after getting married. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have tried to harm her many times.

Xia Jingqiu was utterly stunned. A cold wind blew past, and she shivered involuntarily. If Shen Ninghua was right, what would happen to her after making such a big scene?

Baili Jinchuan looked at Xia Jingqiu with disgust and then looked at Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi. “I’m sorry to disturb you. This is so embarrassing.”

Baili Junyi smiled slightly. “It’s nothing. It’s quite boring to drink in the main hall anyway. By the way, I’m curious. Madam Xia stays in Jiangnan, so how can she know so much about the things in the capital? Also, she does not have an official title like other noble ladies, so technically speaking, she can’t walk around here freely, right? But how can she come to the courtyard so easily? Second Royal Brother, it is better to strengthen the security of your palace. If the one who comes is an assassin instead of Madam Xia, your life will be in danger.”

Baili Jinchuan swept a cold glance at Bu Yonghan, and a vicious glint flashed across his eyes. “Got it.”

Baili Junyi held Shen Ninghua’s hand and carefully protected her. “The wind is cold here, so we will take our leaves first. We need to take extra caution since she is pregnant now. Goodbye.”

Baili Jinchuan looked at Shen Ninghua, only to see her slightly lowered eyes. Her thick and long eyelashes covered the emotions in her black eyes tightly. However, even if he could see her eyes clearly, he knew that she wouldn’t bat an eye at him. He clenched his fists, and bursts of pain spread from his heart.

Shen Ninghua stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Bu Yonghan’s waist. “Princess Yonghan, the perfume sachet that you’re carrying is unique, but you have to be careful when you use it. It is a medicinal herb, after all. If it is not used properly, you may have to bear the consequences.”

Bu Yonghan, who had been feigning ignorance, froze abruptly. “Princess Zhaohua, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Shen Ninghua smiled slightly. “You don’t? I think you’d better check the people around you. The perfume sachet is a personal item, yet you don’t even know what herbs it contains. If someone plans to harm you, the Second Prince may be implicated too. Thankfully, they are some herbs to help you get pregnant. If it was something else…”

Baili Junyi looked at her and smiled dotingly. “Ninghua, it’s getting cold. Let’s go.”

Shen Ninghua nodded and followed Baili Junyi out. When she saw the sachet on Bu Yonghan, it suddenly reminded her of the incense poison the other day that caused her agitation and anxiety. It seemed that it happened right after she met Bu Yonghan. This time, Bu Yonghan even instigated Xia Jingqiu to make a scene. Shen Ninghua decided to teach her a lesson. If she found out that Bu Yonghan was the one who poisoned her, she would definitely retaliate. She could not tolerate anyone who tried to harm her children!

Bu Yonghan restrained the urge to pull the sachet down. She looked at Baili Jinchuan, whose expression was gloomy, and pursed her lips slightly. “Your Highness, I…”

Baili Jinchuan had no intention to listen to her voice at all. He looked coldly at Xia Jingqiu. “Guards, bring her out, and I don’t want to see her in the mansion again. Princess, go and rest first. There are guests in the main hall, so I need to go back to entertain them.”

Bu Yonghan was stupefied, and she felt utterly embarrassed and humiliated. Today was their wedding day, and tonight should be their wedding night to consummate their marriage, yet Baili Jinchuan asked her to rest! What was he doing? If they didn’t consummate their marriage tonight, she would be the biggest laughingstock tomorrow.

“Your Highness, tonight is our wedding night. How can I rest alone? No matter how late you come back, I will wait for you.”

Baili Jinchuan coldly tugged his lips. “As you wish.”

Bu Yonghan bit her red lips and secretly ground her teeth. She fiercely pulled the sachet from her waist, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it a few times in frustration.