Chapter 88 - A Clean Break with the Shen Family!

Shen Ninghua looked at Madam Zhao. The resentment in her eyes had almost condensed into substance. She never expected that a person’s heart could be so vicious. After killing her mother, she even wanted to kill her. In her previous life, she had been able to live in disgrace only because Madam Zhao wanted to see her being tortured for the rest of her life!

The hall was deathly silent. Many officials felt cold in their hearts. The most poisonous thing is but a woman’s heart. Indeed, the ancient saying was true.

Baili Qingcang clenched his fists tightly, and the veins on his forehead popped out. “Vicious woman!”

He had also thought about investigating the cause of Xia Jingyan’s death. However, Xia Jingyan died because of dystocia and was directly pulled out of the delivery room to be cremated. He was afraid of disturbing the peace of the deceased, so he did not continue to investigate. He did not expect that there was such a monstrous secret inside.

Madam Zhao laughed heartily. She supported herself on the ground with one hand and stroked her belly with the other. Her fingers continued to exert strength, revealing the veins on her hand. “Vicious Woman? This title suits me quite well! Shen Ninghua, don’t hate me. This was your own fate. Nobody forced you to be born by Xia Jingyan!”

Shen Ninghua stood still and her heart was cold. She turned to look at Shen Dong who remained silent with his head drooped, saying coldly, “Father, this is your good wife.”

Shen Dong lowered his head and knelt on the ground. His expression was ferocious. When he heard Shen Ninghua’s words, he raised his head and waved his hand to slap Madam Zhao in the face. “Bitch! I didn’t expect that you killed Jingyan!”

“Bang!”

The slap was so powerful that Madam Zhao was beaten to the ground. Her belly was aching, and the smell of blood spread out. She struggled to get up, and her eyes seemed to be burning with black flames.

‘”What gives you the rights to hit me? Do you think you’re a good man? You’ve ignored the backyard for so many years. Do you know that Old Lady Xiao has always been bent on making things difficult for me? She’s always thinking about seizing the power of managing the family from my hands. But she is blind to the fact that if it wasn’t for my efforts, how could the Shen family have such a dignified life?”

Shen Dong was furious. “You really deserve to die! Do you still have filial piety in your heart? Old Lady Xiao is my mother and your mother-in-law.”

“Mother-in-law? Haha, she treats me like an enemy. Why should I treat her like my mother-in-law? Do you think she didn’t know it when I used Xia’s dowry? Haha, she just chose to turn a blind eye and spent a lot of the money after I sold the dowry! She enjoyed more delicacies, jewelry and antiques than anyone else! She has been like a leech for so many years, always craving my blood! ”

“Shut up!” Shen Dong widened his scarlet red eyes, wishing he could bite Madam Zhao to death.

“I’m going to die today anyway. Why don’t I say whatever is on my mind!” Madam Zhao seemed not to care about anything anymore, and her eyes flashed with madness. “She bullied me for so many years, and even helped that little bitch Shen Ninghua deal with me. Why should I make her feel good? That’s why at her birthday banquet, I planned a good show by hiding poison in the illuminating pearl. Haha, the effect was really good. Her hand was destroyed and she became a disabled…Every time I saw her painful expression, I felt exceptionally happy!”

If they were not in Chengqian palace, Shen Dong almost wished he could strangle her to death. “You’re truly pathetic and worse than a beast!”

Madam Zhao covered her belly and dark red blood kept flowing out of her body. But she did not mind. “Haha, I planned and designed step by step. Now that I am pregnant, I can finally control the power of the mansion.

But, what a pity! I had thought that if the prescription succeeded, it would definitely make the Shen family more glorious and give my son a good future. I didn’t expect that there would be a problem with the prescription. Your Majesty, I designed all of this. Even the letters that Linghan mentioned were fabricated according to my arrangement with the purpose of getting rid of Shen Ninghua. I won’t regret my own death, but I beg Your Majesty to spare my children’s lives.”

Baili Qingcang’s body was filled with tyrannical killing intent. “Zhao, you deserve to die, but your children aren’t necessarily innocent!”

Madam Zhao was shocked and fiercely pulled the clothes on her body. “Your Majesty, they are just children. Even if they are guilty, they don’t deserve to die.”

Baili Qingcang looked at her coldly. “Zhao has complete disregard for human lives. As a mother, she is unkind to the children. As a person, she is greedy and narrow-minded. She also framed the prince. I hereby order her to be thrown into the Heavenly Prison pending for death execution.” If it weren’t for the fact that the Da’an Dynasty had always treated women with special leniency, he would have Madam Zhao cut into pieces!

Zhao Yunxiang did not care about the verdict for her. She waited to see how Baili Qingcang would deal with Shen Linghan and Shen Xuanye.

“Shen Dong and Shen Xuanye only care about personal interest. They are relieved of their official positions and demoted to commoners. Shen Linghan has malicious intentions. She has repeatedly framed her eldest sister. She shall receive twenty strokes and be taken home by Shen Dong to receive further education.”

Madam Zhao heaved a sigh of relief. She felt that a large rock had fallen from her chest. It was good that her children could survive. Even if she lost her life, it would be worth it.

Shen Dong’s face was pale, but he also knew that the Emperor was already very lenient to let him survive. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”

Shen Ninghua stood on the spot and listened to Baili Qingcang’s trial of the Shen family. There was no sign of joy or anger in her eyes.

Baili Qingcang finally looked at Shen Ninghua. A complicated expression flashed in his eyes. “Ninghua, you are a great contributor to this disaster relief. Since I have taken you as my foster daughter, you have nothing to do with the Shen family. My decree to confer you the title of Prefectural Princess will remain unchanged, and I will announce it to the world on an auspicious day. From now on, do not address me as Your Majesty.”

Shen Linghan suddenly raised her head. Why should she be clubbed and relegated to a commoner, while Shen Ninghua would become the Prefectural Princess and enjoy all the glory? “Your Majesty, I’m not convinced.”

Baili Qingcang suddenly frowned. The sharp light in his eyes made Shen Linghan’s entire body tremble. “Why are you not convinced?”

Shen Linghan tried her best to suppress the fear in her heart and almost couldn’t kneel straight. “Your Majesty, my father has been serving the country for nearly ten years. He has worked dedicatedly for the Da’an Dynasty. Even if you don’t recognize his merits, you shouldn’t deny his hard work. He also studied the prescription for the sake of the people. Why can’t you show understanding and sympathy for him?”

“For the people of Da’an…” Baili Qingcang stood up and walked down the stairs step by step. “Shen Dong, is what your daughter said right?”

Shen Dong raised his head. The bright yellow dragon robe almost burned his eyes. “Your Majesty, I have no objection to your verdict. Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life.”

“Father?” Shen Linghan cried out in alarm and looked at him with puzzlement.

“Shut up! Aren’t you satisfied with the status as a commoner?”

Shen Linghan’s hair stood on end. She almost collapsed when she thought of the days ahead. “Why should I become one of those plebeians? I am the first daughter of the Shen family. I am entitled to fine food and luxurious clothes rather than working all day for a tael of silver!”

Shen Ninghua almost couldn’t hold back the mockery in her heart. “If it weren’t for the plebeians you spoke of, where do you get the silk and brocade? Where do you get the fine food and delicacies? Younger sister, everything you desire is provided by the plebeians you spoke of. Even His Majesty has respect for the people, but you wantonly belittle them. You really need someone to teach you a good lesson.”

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to be a plebeian. Father, mother, brother…”

Seeing Shen Linghan crying endlessly, Madam Zhao suddenly felt a burst of coldness. She was just sentenced to death by the Emperor, but Shen Linghan didn’t care at all. Instead, she was only concerned about her identity as a commoner. Could it be that in her heart, her birth mother’s life was not as important as wealth and power?

Baili Jinchuan looked at the farce with disdain. “Your Majesty, since the trial has been completed, it is better to bring these people down. The noise in Chengqian palace is too indecent.”

Baili Qingcang waved his hand, and a large number of guards immediately ran in from outside the door and pulled Shen Linghan and the others out.

“Let go of me. I am the young lady of the Shen family. I don’t want to be a plebeian…” Shen Linghan’s crying voice kept coming, and it took a while for it to gradually disappear.

The Zhao family withdrew just in time and only Zhao Kun was fined one year’s salary.

By the time Shen Ninghua came out of Chengqian palace, it was almost noon.

The Third Prince walked past Shen Ninghua and coldly snorted. He waved his sleeves and strode away.

“Third Brother has such a childish temper. Ninghua, don’t mind.” Baili Jinchuan walked forward and said with a smile.

Shen Ninghua glanced at the officials not far away who kept peeping at them and shook her head slightly. “Of course I won’t mind.”

“That’s good. You have no relationship with the Shen family now. Do you have any plans in the future?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. There is always a place in the world for me to stay. Your Highness, you should go back and accompany the Second Princess. Like you said before, the Second Princess has deep love for you. Don’t let her down.” After Shen Ninghua finished speaking, she directly walked away to avoid entangling herself with him.

Baili Jinchuan smelled the elegant fragrance that was gradually drifting in the air, and slightly curled his lips. That was right. A beauty was like jade, and he could not let her down.

Bai Ruo and Qing Que had been waiting not far from Chengqian palace. Seeing Shen Ninghua coming out unscathed, they were relieved. “Miss, is everything settled?”

Shen Ninghua nodded, and her expression seemed like deep in thought.

Bai Ruo and Qing Que exchanged glances and did not dare to disturb her again. Instead, they quietly followed behind her.

Shen Ninghua walked past the Imperial Garden and sat down in a pavilion in the corner. Her gaze fell on a cluster of bright red Chinese roses and she stared blankly at it. “The flowers are blooming really well.”

Bai Ruo said softly, “Yes, if you like the flowers, how about I pick two and put them in the vase?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head. “Such beautiful flowers can only bloom on the branches.”

“Miss, I heard about His Majesty’s verdicts for the Master and Madam. Are you sad?” Madam Zhao and Shen Linghan had repeatedly framed Miss. She wished they were all beheaded. She only felt extremely happy when she heard about Baili Qingcang’s verdict.

Shen Ninghua reached out and touched the blooming petals. She couldn’t help but ask herself in her heart if she was really sad. Perhaps a little. Her mother was innocent and died in vain just because of Madam Zhao’s love for Shen Dong. As for herself, how many wrongs had she suffered? Just because of the continuation of hatred, she had died an unknown and tragic death in the cold palace…

Thinking about it, she forcefully plucked a flower, and the thorns pierced through her hand. Droplets of blood seeped out.

Bai Ruo exclaimed, “Miss, your hand?”

Shen Ninghua looked at the bloodstains on her hand and her eyes were filled with surging emotions. In her previous life, her hands were full of blood for the sake of a special affection in her heart. In the end, it proved that it was only her wishful thinking. But now, her hands were full of blood for the sake of not letting herself down and living a brilliant life!

From today onwards, she was completely severed from the Shen family, and there was no longer any connection between them!