Chapter 101 - Death of the Second Princess

Madam Zhou had been the Second Princess for many years. If she didn’t even know that someone had tampered with her room, she would have been devoured by the concubines in the backyard long before. She only felt that she didn’t have much time left, so she decided to harm Shen Ninghua at the cost of her own health. However, Shen Ninghua hated most when someone schemed against her using her marriage!

She had told Baili Jinchuan that there was still a chance to save Madam Zhou. Whether to save she or not depended on his decision. It seemed that the Second Princess should be worried about her own life now.

Just as she walked out of Madam Zhou’s courtyard, Shen Ninghua almost ran into Xiao Huanxi.

Xiao Huanxi didn’t expect to see her here and was obviously stunned for a moment. Then a smile appeared on her face. “I didn’t expect to see Your Highness here.”

Shen Ninghua said half-smilingly. “I didn’t expect to see Miss Xiao here either.”

“No. I heard from Brother Junyi that Prefectural Princess De is sick, so I’ve come here to see her. Your Highness, are you here to see her as well? Do you two have a good relationship?” Xiao Huanxi had a puzzled expression on her face. She seemed to say those words out of sheer curiosity, but what she said had a deep meaning.

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes. “I know some medical skills and I heard from Princess Anning that the Second Princess is seriously ill, so I came over to take a look and hoped to offer some help.”

“This is quite a coincidence.” Xiao Huanxi smiled meaningfully.

Shen Ninghua did not want to entangle with her. After saying a few words, she wanted to leave, but to her surprise, she saw the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Fifth Prince hurriedly coming in from the outside. Not long after, Chu Junyi and Chen Yun also walked in.

Shen Ninghua sneered in her heart. If she didn’t know that the patient was Madam Zhou, she would feel that it was His Majesty who was in critical condition. Except for the Crown Prince, the other princes had all come.

Seeing that Xiao Huanxi was also here, Chu Junyi’s pupils contracted slightly. A streak of light flashed through his eyes. “Huanxi, Eldest Brother asked me to take you back.”

Xiao Huanxi was originally very happy to see Chu Junyi, but her expression immediately changed when she heard the subsequent words. Her Eldest Brother had warned her last time, but this time, after hearing the news about the Second Prince’s Mansion, she still involuntarily came. If Eldest Brother knew that she was using the family’s network of intelligence to keep an eye on Shen Ninghua, the consequences would be extremely serious. Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but look at Chu Junyi with pleading eyes.

Chu Junyi sighed in his heart. He owed a debt of gratitude to the Xiao family. Not only did they provide him with a shelter, they also secretly helped him build up his power. He was two years older than Xiao Huanxi and spent many years with her. He had already secretly sensed her thoughts. If he hadn’t met Shen Ninghua, he would like to fulfil her wishes by marrying her and be good to her for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, he had encountered Shen Ninghua, a girl who occupied his mind all the time, so he could no longer deceive himself to make a decision that went against his heart.

Xiao Huanxi panicked in her heart and felt a little regretful. Perhaps she shouldn’t have come here. “Brother Junyi, let’s go back.”

Chu Junyi nodded. Just as he was about to say yes, he heard Shen Ninghua suddenly speaking.

“Miss Xiao, you are already here. Isn’t it a pity if you don’t go in to pay respects to the Prefectural Princess?”

“I…” Xiao Huanxi was stunned, and her heart was filled with anger. However, just as she had said only one word, she heard Chu Junyi accepting the suggestion.

“Since we’ve come here, we should pay respects to Prefectural Prince De and his wife.”

The words that Xiao Huanxi failed to say were like a fish bone stuck in her throat. She couldn’t swallow it and couldn’t spit it out either, and her expression became gloomier.

Shen Ninghua glanced at Chu Junyi with a faint smile and coldly curled her lips. Hmph, he wanted to please her now and ended up making Xiao Huanxi unhappy. He didn’t know how much effort it would take him to make Xiao Huanxi happy once they were back.

Chu Junyi did not understand Shen Ninghua’s intentions. He only saw her looking at him and he unconsciously revealed a gentle smile.

Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows, feeling that the smile was exceptionally annoying. She turned her head and ignored him.

Baili Jinchuan instructed the maids to open the windows and bring out the charcoal pots and the carpets and furniture contaminated with drugs. Just as he walked out of the door, he saw many people standing outside. His eyes immediately flashed with viciousness. How come news of his mansion was spread so quickly?

“Bros, what brings you here?”

The Third Prince stretched out his head and tried to look at the scene in the room, but Baili Jinchuan cleverly blocked his sight. He could only see that the room was in total darkness. “Second Brother, I’m here to see Second Sister-in-law. I heard that she suddenly became seriously ill and was unable to get up overnight. This is really strange. I don’t know what kind of illness is so acute. Doctor Chen is also here, so he can help take a look. ”

Baili Jinchuan looked at Chen Yun, and his gaze involuntarily landed on Shen Ninghua. “No need, Zhou is already…”

“Ma’am…”

“Your Highness…”

Suddenly, a burst of crying broke out in the room. Then, a maidservant came out and reported, “Your Highness, the Prefectural Princess has…passed away.”

Shen Ninghua’s heart trembled as her pupils trembled slightly. Her gaze towards Baili Jinchuan was filled with complex emotions. She did not expect that Baili Jinchuan would actually do this. Madam Zhou was harmed by the cyperus rotundus. Although her life was at stake, it was still possible for her to recover after meticulous recuperation. However, Baili Jinchuan directly took away her last hope of life.

What puzzled her even more was that in her previous life, Baili Jinchuan and Madam Zhou were extremely devoted to each other. Even when his fight for the throne failed, he still managed to save her life. But now, why did he directly kill her?

The Third Prince’s face was filled with embarrassment. “Second Brother, my condolences to you.”

“Yes, Second Brother, take good care of yourself.” The Fourth Prince also comforted him.

Baili Jinze, however, shifted his gaze between Shen Ninghua and Baili Jinchuan for a long time before he said, “Second Brother, my deepest condolences to you. Second Sister-in-law suddenly passed away without suffering any pain. That’s good for her.”

Baili Jinchuan’s craving for Shen Ninghua was clear. With Shen Ninghua’s identity and temperament, she would definitely not be willing to be a concubine. If Baili Jinchuan wanted to win her heart, he would definitely promise her the position of his legal wife. At that time, what ability did Madam Zhou have to contend with her? Rather than waiting for Baili Jinchuan to degrade her in order to marry Shen Ninghua in the future, it would be better for her to die now. After all, she could still have the title of Prefectural Princess, right?

Baili Jinchuan raised his head and stared coldly at him. “Thank you, Fifth Brother, for your concern.”

News of the Second Princess’s sudden death quickly spread throughout the capital, and Shen Ninghua was naturally involved in the discussions. Quite a few people were even more interested in her relationship with the Second Prince, and the discussions were exceptionally heated.

Shen Ninghua sat in her study. For a long time, she didn’t turn a single page of the book in her hand, a sign that she was absent-minded.

Chu Junyi jumped in from the window and saw that she was looking at the windowsill with one hand supporting her forehead. The sunlight shone not far from her, forming a golden ribbon of light. She sat right beside the ribbon of light and looked serene and beautiful.

Shen Ninghua restored her senses and said, “You’ve come.”

“Yes. Ninghua, rumors about you and Baili Jinchuan spread in the capital these days crazily. What’s your plan?”

“People have a short memory. Just ignore it and they will forget it a few months later.”

Chu Junyi frowned. “Under normal circumstances, rumors will disappear if you simply ignore them. But this time, it’s obvious that someone is spreading rumors against you. If you don’t take action, the consequences will be very serious.”

Shen Ninghua finally raised her head to look at him, and her gaze carried some scrutiny. “There must be someone from the Xiao family behind this rumor, right?”

Chu Junyi paused and did not lie to her. “Well, Xiao Huanxi sent people to spread the rumors. I have already punished her.”

“Punished her? By grounding her or letting her copy books?” Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows, and her eyes shone with anger.

“Ninghua, Xiao Huanxi only spread the news that you went to the Second Prince’s Mansion. Even without her, there would still be people who would reveal this matter. Why are you so angry?”

Shen Ninghua laughed. “Why shouldn’t I be angry? Do you expect me to be grateful to the person who spread the rumors?”

“That’s not what I meant. Ninghua, you should understand my question. Are you so angry because Xiao Huanxi spread rumors behind your back, or because I punished her too lightly?”

Shen Ninghua frowned. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Chu Junyi walked near Shen Ninghua. He bent down slightly and supported the table with one hand and held the back of the chair with the other hand, as if he was encircling Shen Ninghua in his arms. “Ninghua, ask yourself. Are you jealous?”

Shen Ninghua suddenly raised her head, and her pitch-black eyes shone with a cold light. She smiled angrily. “Ha, jealous? I don’t like that. Why are you here today? If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

Seeing her angry expression, Chu Junyi couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She was so cute. “I came here to discuss countermeasures. Now that rumors are rampant, the best way to dispel the rumors is to settle down your marriage.”

Hearing this, Shen Ninghua immediately lost her patience and said, “Master Chu, there’s no need to bother you. Qing Que, see our guest off.”

“Ninghua, listen to me! Cough, I was just joking. Now comes the serious part.” A cat that had been annoyed would stretch out its claws and scratch you. He knew when to stop. “Tomorrow is the funeral of the Second Princess. As Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, you naturally have to attend the funeral. The Fifth Prince wants to use his confidants in the Second Prince’s Mansion to drug you and let something happen to you and Baili Jinchuan at the funeral, and that would completely destroy you.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes suddenly turned cold. The hatred in her eyes was so intense that it almost surged out. “What a good plan!”

Baili Jinze’s heart was the most vicious. Whether it was an object or a person, once he was certain that he could not obtain it, he would rather destroy it than let others have it. If his scheme succeeded, her entire life would probably be ruined.

Chu Junyi looked at Shen Ninghua and his heart trembled. He once again felt that cold and intense hatred from her. Why did she reveal such an emotion? Was it because of Baili Jinchuan or Baili Jinze? Just as he was about to say something, he heard Bai Ruo knocking on the door.

“Miss, the Duchess of Wei wants to see you.”

Madam Zhang?

Shen Ninghua signaled with her eyes, and Chu Junyi immediately dodged in the inner room.

“Invite her in.”

Madam Zhang quickly walked in, and her eyes were filled with madness and despair. “Shen Ninghua, I have prepared all the ingredients. You should immediately make medicine for Ruyun!”

Shen Ninghua keenly smelled the faint smell of blood from her body and slightly pursed her lips. “Madam Zhang, have you used my prescription to treat Zhao Ruyun by yourself?”