Chapter 438

Xiao Jingran came out of the imperial palace and was about to go to the Imperial Clan Court when he was stopped by Xiao Fengjue. “Father, I have something to discuss with you.”

Xiao Jingran frowned and did not intend to get off the horse. “You go back first. I will return to the mansion after I am back from the Imperial Clan Court.”

“Father, the matter is urgent.”

“What is it?”

“I want to leave the capital.”

“Leave the capital? If you leave here, where can you go?” Xiao Jingran was full of disapproval. In his opinion, Xiao Fengjue was the kind of person who was blessed by his ancestors but did not want to admit it. Instead, he was determined to prove his ability. Once he left the capital and the family no longer helped him, he would know that living in the world was a difficult task.

“I want to join the army in the northwest.”

“No way! You must stay in the capital.” Although Xiao Jingran wanted to teach him a lesson, Xiao Fengjue was his only son in the end. If something happened to him, who would the Xiao Family find to be its heir?

As he spoke, two figures in black appeared from the side and charged towards Xiao Jingran and Xiao Fengjue.

Xiao Jingran’s arm had been injured. He was holding the reins with one hand, and it was too late for him to dodge. He was kicked to the ground by the assassin, who raised the dagger and was about to stab it into his chest. Xiao Fengjue quickly rushed forward and blocked in front of Xiao Jingran. His arm was scratched by the assassin behind him. The assassin failed to kill him and did not continue to fight. He directly turned around and left.

At this time, Xiao Jingran was no longer in the mood to go to the Imperial Clan Court. Seeing that Xiao Fengjue’s wound was bleeding and turning black, he said to himself, “It’s poisonous!” He quickly ordered people to help Xiao Fengjue get up and treat his injuries.

Inside the Imperial Clan Court’s dungeon, Shen Ninghua was lying on the bed. She was extremely drowsy. In her daze, she felt that someone was approaching. She struggled to open her eyes. When she saw Baili Junyi’s face, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Seeing Shen Ninghua lying on the bed with a pale face, Baili Junyi’s heart almost jumped out of his throat. He pulled off the chains on the prison door and quickly ran to her. “Ninghua, how are you feeling?”

Shen Ninghua leaned against him and sat up, her brows tightly furrowed. “I was too cautious. Previously, Bu Yonghan came to find trouble with me. I thought she wanted to use the whip to hurt me, but I didn’t expect her to secretly drug me. I am feeling very uncomfortable now.”

The veins on the back of Baili Junyi’s hands popped up, and his eyes were full of killing intent. “Bu Yonghan, how dare she! Ninghua, I’ll take you out now!”

“No!” Shen Ninghua reached out to hold his hand. “Bu Yonghan drugged me. She must know the efficacy. I’m afraid she’s waiting for you outside!”

“I’m not afraid, Ninghua. I’m only afraid that something might happen to you. You’ve already bought me some time. The arrangements are almost done. I can’t just watch as something happens to you and the child.”

“But now, you’re all alone. You can’t take me away at all.” Shen Ninghua looked into his eyes carefully, and she knew that leaving in a hurry was the worst option, and the consequences were difficult to handle. “Don’t worry. the drug took effect slowly. I’ll be fine in another two days. Go and arrange for people to send Baby Girl and Big Boy out in advance. Don’t let anything happen to them.”

Baili Junyi gritted his teeth. “Alright, I will make arrangements for the two children first. It will be dark in four hours. I will take action tonight and bring you out!”

Shen Ninghua touched her belly and finally nodded. “Okay.” She originally wanted to hold on for a few more days, but she did not dare to take the risk while having the baby in her belly. She had to get out as soon as possible.

Baili Junyi gently helped her lie down and kissed her on the forehead. “Ninghua, wait for me. Wait another four hours.”

Shen Ninghua smiled. Her pale face made her look particularly weak. “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

Baili Junyi forced himself to turn around and leave. For every step he took, he felt like he was stepping on the tip of a knife. The pain spread from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. It was so painful that it seemed to tear him into two halves. He wished he could immediately turn around, pick up Shen Ninghua, and rush out from here. Then, they would run all the way to Jiangnan and find a beautiful place to live in seclusion. He wanted to leave everything behind, but he knew he could not… and Ninghua would not agree either…

In her daze, Shen Ninghua felt that someone was approaching again. She tried hard to open her eyes, but she could not see the figure in front of her. The Crown Prince, Baili Jinyi, stood over her. Looking at her pale but still shockingly beautiful face, he could not help but smile. Then, he said to the guards behind him, “Take her back to the imperial palace.”

“Yes!” Several guards came forward and pulled Shen Ninghua down from the bed.

Baili Jinyi frowned and said with anger, “Be gentle. Don’t hurt Fifth Sister-in-law. Otherwise, Fifth Brother will be sad.”

The guards hurriedly adjusted their movements. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Shen Ninghua felt a splitting headache. In her state of confusion, she felt that she was dragged up by someone. She tried to open her eyes wide and only saw a bright yellow figure. Crown Prince… It was the Crown Prince, Baili Jinyi…

After Shen Ninghua was taken away, a woman in the same clothes as her walked into the prison cell. She hid a poisoned dagger in her sleeve and then lay on the bed with her face facing the wall.

When Shen Ninghua woke up again, she saw a flickering candle flame around her. She struggled to get up and looked at the surrounding decorations. “This is Chengqian Hall’s side palace…”

“That’s right, Fifth Sister-in-law. You actually recognized the place at a glance.” Baili Jinyi’s smiling voice sounded from the side.

Shen Ninghua turned to look at Baili Jinyi, who was sitting on the top, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

Baili Jinyi gently put down the teacup, and he curled the corners of his lips in a good mood. “You know it. I am waiting to see Fifth Brother as my guest.”

“Hehe, your guest? Then you really put in a lot of effort.”

“Yes, look. In order to welcome Fifth Brother, I brought you here and even ordered the guards not to be on full alert. I was worried that Fifth Brother would come too late.”

“You already knew Junyi’s plan?”

“No, no,” Baili Jinyi waved his hand. “Didn’t you take the initiative to tell me?” Xiao Jingran was intercepted halfway and Xiao Fengjue suddenly requested to go to the northwest to join the army. It was not normal at first glance. Didn’t you want Xiao Fengjue to hold Xiao Jingran back so that he couldn’t harm you? ”

Shen Ninghua curled the corners of her lips expressionlessly. She reached out to touch her belly and felt the movement of the child. Only then did she let out a slight sigh of relief. Fortunately, Baili Jinyi did not lay his hands on her child.

Baili Jinyi chuckled and exposed her thoughts. “Are you glad that I did not lay my hands on your child? Do you want to know why?”

“Of course it is not because you are kind.”

“Fifth Sister-in-law, you know me very well. Of course, it is not because of kindness, but because the child is an extra chip for me to threaten Baili Junyi. Tell me, if I use you and the child’s lives to threaten him and ask him to surrender or commit suicide, will he agree?”

Shen Ninghua sneered, “He won’t. He will escape from the imperial palace and then think of all means to overthrow you, catch you and burn your bones and scatter your ashes!”

Baili Jinyi laughed, “Wow, this is really scary. Fifth Sister-in-law, don’t say such scary words. What if you scare the child in your belly?”

Shen Ninghua lay back on the bed again and ignored Baili Jinyi. She had to take a rest now. She must not drag Baili Junyi down later.

However, Baili Jinyi did not let her go. He waved his hand and called a few palace maids in, “Go and help the Fifth Princess wash up. Change all the hairpins and jewelry on her head.” He remembered that hairpins and jewelry could also hide poison. Who knew if Shen Ninghua had some secret life-saving means or not? It was better to check her thoroughly.

Shen Ninghua was forcibly pulled up and brought to the back to wash up. She had not eaten much in the past two days when she was already not feeling well. Now that she was choked by the steam of hot water, her vision turned black. Fortunately, there were a few palace maids holding her up so that she did not fall to the ground.

A few palace maids helped her wash up and changed into new clothes. Then, they helped her redo her makeup. Looking at the hairpins, jewelry, and the like being changed, Shen Ninghua was expressionless. When a palace maid was about to apply incense to her, she frowned and said, “Take it away. I don’t like the smell of magnolia.”

“Your Highness, what kind of incense do you like? I will change it for you. How about crystal jade incense?”

Shen Ninghua looked up at her. “I don’t like any incense. Help me tidy up my dress.”

The palace maid lowered her head and agreed. she carefully helped Shen Ninghua tidy up her clothes, sleeves, and skirt. Then, she sent her back to Chengqian Hall’s side palace and left with the other place maids.

Shen Ninghua sat by the bed and slowly tidied up her sleeve. Only when she touched a golden needle at the edge of her sleeve did she let out a soft sigh of relief. That palace maid should be a secret agent Baili Junyi had planted around the Crown Prince. She did not know if Baili Junyi had received the news that she had been brought to the imperial palace.

The night was wearing on. Suddenly, the sound of weapons clashing came. Shen Ninghua’s eyes trembled and she turned to look at the door.

Baili Jinyi also stood up and sighed leisurely. “It seems that Fifth Brother has already come as a guest.”

It was pitch-dark outside, but the darkness could not hide the thick smell of blood. A group of people rushed in the direction of Chengqian Hall.

The Imperial Guards and Dragon Scale Army were ready for battle, tightly surrounding Chengqian Hall. No matter how fiercely the people attacked from the outside, they would not back off.

The sounds of battle continued for half an hour and still had no sign of stopping. Shen Ninghua looked at the door, feeling nervous and sweating.

Baili Jinyi suddenly said, “Fifth Sister-in-law, do you think Fifth Brother will come to the imperial palace to save Father Emperor, or will he go to the Imperial Clan Court’s prison cell to save you?”

Shen Ninghua ignored him and kept silent.

“I guess, based on Fifth Brother’s deep affection for you, he will definitely go to the prison to save you. I just don’t know if he can see through the trap I set up in the first place. If he can’t see through it, I’m afraid he can’t come. In that case, my banquet will be in vain.”

Shen Ninghua turned to look at him, her expression as cold as ice. “Crown Prince, Father Emperor has always been good to you. Even when Empress Zhao tried to rebel, he did not implicate you. Didn’t you have a guilty conscience when you hurt Father Emperor?”

Baili Jinyi sneered. “Tsk, are you going to preach to me? Hehe, not bad. My Mother Empress died, and all the Zhao Family’s members were executed. Although I wasn’t abolished, what is the difference of my state from being abolished? The ministers do not put me in their eyes, and the other princes are wantonly suppressing me. A guilty conscience? Hehe, when did the royal family have such a thing as conscience? “