Chapter 125 - Who Would Die a Dog's Death?

Shen Ninghua had been the focus of the limelight at the banquet. Everyone’s gaze was focused on her. No matter why Shen Dong came at this time, she could not shut him out. Otherwise, her mansion would be flooded by gossips the next day.

“Bai Ruo, prepare some tea to welcome my father.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Shen Ninghua changed her clothes and walked to the gate. She bowed to Shen Dong and said, “Greetings, father.”

Compared to the last time they met, Shen Dong’s appearance was much more haggard. When he was the Prime Minister, he paid great attention to preserving his health, but now he had to plan his livelihood every day. The huge gap made him feel more and more unbearable.

“Ninghua.” Shen Dong’s lips moved, as if he didn’t know how to face this daughter in front of him.

Shen Ninghua’s expression was the same as usual. “Father, since you have come, how can I let you speak outside of the mansion? I have prepared some tea. Please come in.”

Shen Dong nodded and walked into the Prefectural Princess Mansion.

Now he was back in the place where he used to live, even if he had come on another purpose, he couldn’t help but feel his heart trembling. The garden bestowed by the emperor had changed a lot. Without the artificial hills and the pavilions that he liked, the mansion had adopted a style that was subtler and more elegant. “Ninghua, are you used to living here by yourself?”

Shen Ninghua smiled and said, “It’s always been my home. How could I not be used to it? It’s just the same as usual.”

Shen Dong smiled awkwardly. “You’re right.”

After entering Ruixi Courtyard, Shen Dong was stunned. Seeing that there were many changes outside the courtyard, he thought that Ruixi Courtyard would also change greatly. He didn’t expect that other than a few more furnishings, the rest was exactly the same as when he left. He couldn’t help but be stunned.

“Here…”

“Although you left, this is still the courtyard you used to live in. Due to the rules, I have to move over to show my position as the owner of the mansion. However, apart from adding a few pieces of furniture, nothing else has been changed. If you can move back one day, this courtyard will just be yours.” Shen Dong must have his own purpose for coming here this time, and this purpose might even be related to Shen Linghan.

Shen Linghan was the pearl that he doted on all the way when she grew up. She was just rubble and was not qualified to compare to Shen Linghan. Although Shen Dong had a little intention of giving up on Shen Linghan last time, who knew whether things had changed after these few days. Therefore, it was extremely necessary to draw a cake of fantasy for Shen Dong in advance.

She was now the Prefectural Princess, whereas Shen Linghan was nobody who had to spend the rest of her life in bed. It was obvious which daughter was helpful to him. If Shen Dong had any other thought, he would have to think about it carefully.

“I’m just a convicted commoner now. How dare I dream of that day?” Shen Dong said, but a flame burned in his eyes. As despondent as he was now, he was eager to regain power!

Shen Ninghua lowered her eyes and concealed the mockery in her eyes. “What are you saying? Every dog has his days. Who knows? By the way, my sister was injured last time. Has she recovered?”

Thinking of Shen Linghan, Shen Dong suddenly remembered why he had come here today. He hesitated for a moment. “She is…alas…”

“Father, why are you sighing? Has my sister’s injury become worse?”

“Yes, last time she sprained her leg, her entire leg started swelling. Now, she can’t even get out of bed. Doctor Zhang also diagnosed on her. He said that…that leg was probably crippled.”

Shen Ninghua’s expression changed. “It’s such a pity.”

“Ninghua, I know that it’s a bit inappropriate for me to say it, but as Linghan’s elder sister, you shouldn’t watch her life destroyed without offering help, right?”

“Father, what do you mean?” The show was coming!

“Aren’t you acquainted with Doctor Chen? Why don’t you ask him to treat Linghan?”

“Father!” Shen Ninghua suddenly shouted coldly, causing Shen Dong to tremble with shock. “I’ll pretend that I never heard of this. Father, don’t say it again.”

Hearing such a blunt refusal, a nameless flame burst out in Shen Dong’s heart. “Linghan is your younger sister. Do you want to see her die and do nothing?”

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have asked Doctor Zhang to treat her. Father, you only know that Doctor Chen and I are friends, but why don’t you think about the meaning behind this? It was extremely difficult to obtain his appreciation, but at the critical moment, this little bit of friendship could save lives! Doctor Zhang Nian and Doctor Chen are good friends and Doctor Chen recommended Doctor Zhang to our mansion. Doctor Zhang’s medical skills are as good as Doctor Chen’s. They each have their own unique skills. If Doctor Zhang said for sure that my sister’s leg would not heal, then it’s the final conclusion. Even if you invite a Golden Immortal from the heavens, the result is not going to change! Do you want to waste a precious opportunity for something that cannot be changed? ”

Shen Dong was most concerned about interests. He would know how to choose!

Sure enough, when Shen Dong heard Shen Ninghua’s words, he immediately fell silent.

Shen Ninghua continued. “Father, didn’t you admire Doctor Zhang very much before? Why did you doubt his medical skills this time?”

Shen Dong trembled as he thought of Shen Linghan’s previous words.

“Father, Eldest Sister is now the Prefectural Princess. Even something casually leaked from her finger gaps will be of great use to us. But she has been conferred the title of Prefectural Princess for so long and made a big name for herself at the palace banquet, but we didn’t get any benefits. She has clearly forgotten her identity and us as her relatives by blood. In that case, we should give her a good reminder.”

“What do you mean? Do you still want to go against your eldest sister?”

“Father, you misunderstood me. I’m crippled, and there’s no good for me to go against Eldest Sister anymore. I’m just considering the situation for you. Haven’t you had enough of this kind of bitter life? Shouldn’t Eldest Sister, as your daughter, be filial to you? Now that she has earned enough attention, you only need to let everyone know that you are Prefectural Princess Zhaohua’s birth father, and that you are suffering while she is receiving praise from thousands of people!”

How could Shen Dong not know what Shen Linghan was thinking about? She only wanted to threaten Shen Ninghua with her reputation. If possible, it would be best to destroy her. He thought about it for a long time before finally coming to the Prefectural Princess Mansion.

The mockery in Shen Ninghua’s eyes became more and more obvious. “Father, although I am Prefectural Princess Zhaohua now, you have been an official for many years, so you should know more than I do. Now that His Majesty likes me, I am Prefectural Princess Zhaohua. If His Majesty gets angry with me one day, I am nothing. Once my status is gone, even if I want to help you in the future, I won’t be able to.”

“Ninghua, what were you thinking? I believe in Doctor Zhang’s medical skills. I was just asking casually. I have come to see you because I miss you. As you can see, Linghan is crippled now. Yulan is a fool, and Mengyuan is even more ignorant. Your eldest brother was exiled. I wonder if we can ever meet again in the future. I don’t have anyone to talk to, so I can only come here to see you. ”

Shen Dong was really cheeky. He could even utter such shameless words. To put it bluntly, she was just more useful than Shen Linghan now, right?

“So that’s the case. Looks like I misunderstood.”

Shen Dong had a smile on his face as he started reminiscing about Shen Ninghua’s past. “You have always been sensitive. When your birth mother just passed away, you would cry whenever someone held you in the arms, but you were quiet in my arms…”

Shen Ninghua smiled as she listened, but her eyes were so cold that there wasn’t any warmth in them. When she was a kid, she really admired Shen Dong very much, but he watched Zhao Yunxiang punish her time and time again and chose to turn a blind eye. He protected Zhao Yunxiang and indulged Shen Linghan every time something happened, which gradually erased all her yearning for father. No matter how much he said now, it could not stir up the slightest ripple in her heart.

As Shen Dong kept recalling the so-called sweet memories, Bai Ruo came in and reported, “Miss, Young Master Chu is waiting outside the door.”

Shen Ninghua was stunned. Chu Junyi? Hadn’t he been in her home?

“Father, what do you think?”

“Since someone has come to visit you, you should not shut him out. Let him come in. Your father is here, so you are not meeting a male outsider in private.”

The corner of Shen Ninghua’s mouth twitched. In this logic, if you weren’t here, I wouldn’t be able to see others?

“Bai Ruo, invite Young Master Chu in.”

In a short while, Chu Junyi had already changed his clothes. At this moment, he was wearing a jade headwear, a brocade robe with black gold patterns, a rhino horn belt around his waist, a white jade pendant on the left, an exquisite sachet on the right, and spotless black python-patterned boots on his feet. He looked like a handsome and upright young man.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Shen Ninghua suppressed the appreciation in her eyes. “Lord Chu, don’t stand on ceremonies. May I know the reason of your visit?”

“I am here to deliver gifts to you on behalf of the Xiao family. Someone, bring the gifts up.” Chu Junyi tapped the folding fan on his palm. Immediately, a servant came up with two large boxes.

Chu Junyi smiled and stepped forward to open the boxes. Immediately, jewelry and silk almost dazzled people’s eyes. “His Majesty praised you for earning credit for Da’an. The Xiao family especially sent gifts to congratulate you. I hope you like them.” After saying those words, he blinked his eyes at Shen Ninghua with a crafty glint in his eyes.

Shen Ninghua was stunned and immediately understood his meaning. He was here to back her up! The attitude of the Xiao family also represented the attitude of many officials in the court. The emperor valued her and she had won honor for Da’an. If anyone wanted to harm her, they were seeking death. No one would be able to gain any benefits!

Shen Dong was shocked. He was well aware of the status of the Xiao family. Although the emperor did not value the Xiao family as much as before, the reputation of a hundred-year aristocrat clan was not an easy thing. Fortunately, he did not listen to Shen Linghan’s advice. Otherwise, he would be in an awful state now. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel some more disgust towards Shen Linghan. That girl really was an ignorant bumpkin who even took advantage of her own father. Hmph!

After dining in the Prefectural Princess Mansion, Shen Dong returned to his residence in the suburbs. As soon as he got home, he angrily went to Shen Linghan’s courtyard. He kicked the door open and cursed at Shen Linghan, “You despicable monster, you actually plotted against your own father. I really raised you for nothing. If I had known that you were as malicious as your mother, I should have sent you to the country villa to cultivate instead of letting your eldest sister suffer outside. You are not allowed to speak evil of Ninghua in the future. Otherwise, I will pull out your tongue first!” After saying that, he kicked the table in front of him and the medicinal liquid and candied fruit immediately spilled all over the ground. Then, he angrily walked out.

Shen Linghan’s face was first snow white, and then slowly turned red. Suddenly, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Shen Ninghua, you will die a dog’s death!”