Chapter 182 - We Would Wait and See!

Shen Ninghua’s heart skipped a beat, she turned to look at the lifeless Xiao Huanxi on the ground and said. “Father Emperor, please summon the imperial physician.”

Baili Qingcang frowned. He had also heard how Xiao Jingran doted on Xiao Huanxi. He knew that if she died, there would probably be a big disturbance.

The madams and young ladies present were almost stunned. They lowered their heads and remained silent, for fear that they might get implicated at this time. The royal family, the Xiao family, Princess Zhaohua… They couldn’t afford to offend any of them.

The Empress simply ordered all of them to leave.

Shen Ninghua and Xiao Huanxi were sent to the palace of Baili Anning.

Chen Yun hurried over soon. When he stepped forward and was about to take Shen Ninghua’s pulse, he was stopped by the Empress aside. “Doctor Chen, Miss Xiao’s seemed almost lifeless. Take a look at her first. After all, she is the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family. No matter how she was admitted to the Imperial Palace, the Xiao family would probably be bitterly disappointed if anything happened to her.”

Baili Anning frowned secretly. She knew that Mother Empress was deliberately embarrassing Ninghua…

However, Shen Ninghua didn’t mind at all. She said, “Mother Empress is right. Doctor Chen, please take a look at Miss Xiao first. Don’t worry about me. I know some medical skills and can diagnose myself.”

Baili Qingcang didn’t say anything to show his objection, but in his heart, the dissatisfaction towards the Empress became a little bit more acute.

Chen Yun nodded. He moved a litter closer and caught sight of the appearance of Xiao Huanxi. He was instantly shocked. He reported immediately even without checking her pulse, “Your Majesty, Miss Xiao has passed away.”

A trace of dark light flashed in the Empress’ eyes, and a sad expression appeared on her face as she said, “Poor child. It is truly pitiful that she drowned in water in her prime of life.”

Baili Qingcang nodded, his expression darkened further. He said. “Go and examine Ninghua. See if there’s anything wrong with her.”

Chen Yun pondered for a short while after examining Shen Ninghua’s pulse. Then he said, “The princess was frightened. When she choked in the water, her lung hurt. She should rest properly. Otherwise, she might suffer from illness in the future.”

Shen Ninghua was moved by what Chen Yun had said. She was grateful to him. She knew her conditions were pretty well after secretly checking her own pulse. When Chen Yun deliberately said she was not well, she could take advantage of this to have a better chance of winning in her fight against the counterattack of the Xiao family.

“Thank you, Doctor Chen.”

“You are welcome. You should rest well. Take good care of yourself.”

“I know.”

Xiao Jingran suffered a sudden blackout and then fainted after hearing the death of Xiao Huanxi. The mansion fell into chaos. Xiao Jingran hadn’t come to himself until the imperial physician treated him with acupuncture five times in a row.

Once waking up, he immediately put on his battle robe, brought along the golden royal mace that the Emperor had personally bestowed upon him, and rode his horse straight towards the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Fengjue stood up to stop Xiao Jingran, but was directly whipped in the chest by his horsewhip. Xiao Jingran said, “As the elder brother, how can you still be so cold-blooded even after your younger sister died? I don’t have a son like you!”

Xiao Fengjue endured the intense pain in his chest and clenched his teeth hard as he watched the horse disappeared in the distance.

The furious Xiao Jingran rushed forward on his horse, and when he was stopped by the royal guards at the Imperial Palace’s Yuewu Gate, he raised the golden royal mace bestowed by the Emperor and chopped down the group of royal guards before directly entering the Palace.

Along the way, Xiao Jingran seemed to have gone crazy. He ignored the obstruction of the surrounding royal guards and charged directly to Baili Qingcang’s southern study.

He raised his head and looked at the towering plaque before kneeling down with a plop and shouted loudly.

“Your subject Xiao Jingran wishes to see Your Majesty!”

Baili Qingcang looked at the entrance of the hall, his entire body was emanating a stream of chilling aura. He had been waiting here since he received the message that Xiao Jingran broke into the Imperial Palace.

“Allowed!”

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

Baili Qingcang saw Xiao Jingran wear an armored battlefield robe. Its shiny silver armor was full of rays of chilly and killing light, a faint smell of blood spread out, revealing a frightening cold murderous intent.

He stared coldly at Xiao Jingran, who was kneeling on the ground. He suddenly recalled the moment he inspected and rewarded the army. When he, in his capacity as the Emperor, stood on the high platform, all officers and soldiers below were completely silent. Only after he finished his toast to the soldiers did their applause come out.

However, they cheered loudly the moment Xiao Jingran stepped onto the platform. Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted together, making loud noises that could shock people’s heart as if even the clouds could be broken through.

The Xiao family had stayed in the position of protector of Da’an Dynasty for such a long time that the soldiers only knew the Xiao family, totally ignoring the royal Baili family.

“Dear associate Xiao, you directly broke into the Imperial Palace. There must be something urgent.”

Xiao Jingran abruptly raised his head, his expression darkened, his eyes scarlet red. “Your Majesty, how is my daughter Xiao Huanxi?”

Baili Qingcang paused for a moment. Then, he waved his hand to signal slightly to a eunuch beside him and said, “Bring Xiao Huanxi here.”

Xiao Jingran’s entire body trembled as he turned to look in the direction of the eunuch. Four palace maids walked into the hall carrying a litter. The one lying on it was the pale, lifeless Xiao Huanxi.

“Huanxi…” Xiao Jingran shouted, his hands trembling fiercely. Without Baili Qingcang’s order for him to rise, he directly got up and ran to the body of Xiao Huanxi. He touched her face, and the coldness made his heart ache. He said, “My daughter, my Xiao family’s daughter, was actually killed like this. Your Majesty, I begged you to punish the murder and do me justice.”

Baili Qingcang said unhappily, “The murderer? Who do you think is the murderer?”

“My daughter obviously couldn’t swim, how could she fall into water and get drowned for no reason? Your Majesty, there must be something hidden in this.” Xiao Jingran said, he felt a sharp pain in his heart. Xiao Huanxi was his only daughter whom he treasured the most!

“Are you suspecting that someone murdered your daughter in my palace?”

“I dare not. I just heard that Huanxi fell into water with Princess Zhaohua. I want to confront Her Highness!”

Shen Ninghua was helped into the hall. She sneered at what Xiao Jingran had said. “For what does Lord Xiao want to confront me?”

Xiao Jingran abruptly turned around, his body instantly becoming tensed up. His hands were tightening, and the veins on his arms, neck, and forehead popped out prominently.

Baili Anning, who was supporting Shen Ninghua aside, felt suffocated. She almost got stifled by the murderous look of Xiao Jingran.

Shen Ninghua tilted slightly. She didn’t show any sign of weakness. Instead, she confronted Xiao Jingran with her imposing manner. The atmosphere of the hall was full of killing intent.

Every word Xiao Jingran said seemed to be spat out through his gritted teeth. “Your Highness, both you and my daughter fell into water. Why are you still alive while she was drowned?” Why were you not the one who got drowned?

Shen Ninghua’s expression got cold as she said, “Those who do good will end up well, and those who do evil will be rewarded with evil. If you do more good deeds, you will naturally have the blessing of the heavens.”

“Do you mean my daughter should pay for the evil things she has done? Why are you so sure that she deserves to die?”

“Lord Xiao, don’t distort my words. I’m not the King of Hell who has the power to decide the life or death of people based on the Book of Life and Death!”

“There has been a grudge between Your Highness and my daughter. Have you done harm to her in the water?”

“What you have said is wrong. I have a good relationship with Miss Xiao, and there is no grudge between us. The only thing for which I’m on bad terms with her is that she likes my fiancé. She even threatened him by suicide, which was witnessed by all ladies some days ago.”

Xiao Jingran glared at Shen Ninghua angrily. If he had a sword in his hand, he would definitely kill her directly. “Do you have to kill Huanxi out of jealousy just because she likes Chu Junyi?”

“Chu Junyi is my fiancé. Other women don’t even have the chance to be selected as his secondary concubine. When it comes to jealousy, it makes sense that Xiao Huanxi is jealous of me. After hearing what Lord Xiao has said, I suddenly understood why she hid in the bushes and pushed me into the water. It turned out that she was jealous of me and wanted to kill me!”

“Stop talking nonsense. Huanxi is pure and kind in nature, she’s not vicious and wicked like you!” Xiao Jingran said furiously.

Shen Ninghua sneered. “Lord Xiao, I now know who killed Xiao Huanxi.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Humph, you are the one who killed her!”

“Nonsense!”

Shen Ninghua stood upright, her noble aura bursting forth as she said, “As her father, you failed to set an example. You pampered her so much that she became absolutely lawless. She even dared to covet my fiancé. This is your first guilt!”

“As a court official, you spoke disrespectfully to me, who is the royal princess of the country. Xiao Huanxi just acted like you and she held no respect for me in her heart as well. She had repeatedly done harm to me. If I weren’t witty enough, I would have been murdered several times. This is your second guilt!”

“At the banquet hosted by Her Majesty in the imperial garden, all the madams and young ladies of the aristocratic families present witnessed how Xiao Huanxi attacked me. But you simply accused me of being the murderer without evidence. Such a lawless and reckless action can be seen as despising the royal family. This is your third guilt!”

“As a high-ranking court official and a subject trusted by His Majesty, you actually wore armored robe when there is no war, which can be deemed disrespecting and threatening His Majesty. This is the fourth guilt!”

“Lord Xiao, have I wronged you on these charges? What kind of person do you think your daughter will become when you failed to set an example as her father? It is already a blessing of the heavens that Xiao Huanxi can live safely until now!”

Shen Ninghua’s words were so justifiable and forceful that Baili Qingcang couldn’t help but applaud in his heart!

Xiao Jingran’s eyes turned scarlet and were full of uncontrollable anger. He was vexed at not being able to destroy the heavens and the earth. He said, “Your Highness, you are really eloquent and do have a sharp tongue!”

The pupils of Shen Ninghua’s eyes shone brightly, and her eyes glimmered as she said, “I have always behaved myself well and every word I have said can be justified. That’s why I am eloquent.”

“Good, very good! My poor daughter Huanxi, I’m sorry for you!” Xiao Jingran fixed his eyes on Shen Ninghua for a long time before lowering his head and touching Xiao Huanxi’s face.

My daughter, don’t be afraid, your father will definitely avenge you!

“Your Majesty, I’m guilty. I got too impulsive for a moment after learning the death of my daughter. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Hearing Xiao Jingran begging for mercy, Shen Ninghua trembled. Her heart twitched. She understood that Xiao Jingran was going all out to doom her to death.

Baili Qingcang pursed his lips tightly and slowly suppressed the surging displeasure in his heart. He thought that at this time, he could not deal with the Xiao family. Otherwise, the people would probably not be able to remain still.

“It doesn’t matter. I know that you were so painful at the death of your daughter that you lost your mind. However, it was true that Xiao Huanxi lost her life because of her hostility to Ninghua and her action to murder her. Now that she is dead, this matter shall be over. I will not investigate it any further. You can bring her back and bury her properly.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Jingran stood up and held out his hands to block the palace maids who were about to step forward to lift the body of Xiao Huanxi. These people were low and despicable. How could they be worthy of touching his daughter? He took off his battle robe and covered her body before carrying her and walking out of the hall.

Shen Ninghua, there was still a long time ahead. We would wait and see! Blood would be paid with blood, I would definitely make you live a life worse than death!