Chapter 201 - Be of One Heart and One Mind!

Liaochen raised his eyes that had not flickered much since he came. There was finally a trace of stir in them. “Princess Zhaohua is really eloquent.”

Shen Ninghua slightly moved the corner of her lips. “A lot of people said that to me.” Unfortunately, those people had already been dead.

She remembered that in her previous life, after Baili Jinze ascended to the throne, Liaochen was conferred the title Teacher of State. This highly respected and knowledgeable senior monk in the eyes of people used all possible means to accumulate wealth after taking power. In order to expand his power, he even framed important officials in the imperial court. At that time, she advised Baili Jinze several times to kill this monk, but unfortunately, Baili Jinze had never listened to her.

Seeing his hypocritically virtuous manner now, she felt nothing but disgust for him.

Chu Junyi stood beside Shen Ninghua, and he looked coldly at Liaochen. “Master Liaochen, do you know who I am?”

Liaochen turned around and said, “I know You are the Imperial son-in-Law, Left Imperial Censor, Peerless Duo Master, and foster son of the Xiao Family.”

Chu Junyi ridiculed. “You also put my title of Imperial Son-in-Law first, so shouldn’t you discuss it with me if you want to take my wife away?”

“It was my negligence. But judging by her physiognomy, Her Highness has a strong mind and sticks to her own tactics and plans, so…”

Chu Junyi narrowed his eyes slightly. By reminding him that Ninghua stuck to her own tactics and plans, Liaochen meant that his opinions were irrelevant. This monk actually dared to openly drive a wedge between him and Ninghua. He was truly abominable.

Shen Ninghua raised the corners of her lips and took a step back. “Master Liaochen, you haven’t been in contact with worldly affairs for a long time, so it’s understandable that you don’t know when a woman gets married, she must listen to her husband. So even though I have my own tactics and plans, I still have to consider my husband’s opinions, right? Junyi, do you think I should follow the Master to practice Buddhism?”

Chu Junyi looked at Shen Ninghua. There was a warm and doting expression in his eyes. “My destiny was also divined by a master who said that it was so weak that I was destined to have a short life. I must get a wife whose fate supplements mine. Your Highness, you fate is a perfect match to mine. It’s not good for us to live without each other. Our lives may be in danger in serious cases if we are separated. So I don’t think Master Liaochen would do such a thing to harm people’s lives, right?”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes lit up and her face was full of smiles. “My husband, Master naturally won’t do it.”

“I know that monks must keep mercy in their heart. Ninghua, I was scared to death a moment ago when thinking of Master Liaochen insisting on taking you away from me.”

“I was also shocked.”

The new couple kept talking, and Liaochen couldn’t find anything wrong with what they said. He was so mocked that he didn’t know how to respond. Although there was still a smile on his face, that smile became a little stiff. “Your Highness and Imperial Son-in-Law misunderstood me. The two of you are a match made in heaven, so I naturally won’t do anything to tear such a predestined marriage apart.”

Shen Ninghua smiled. “That’s good. Is Master still going to be seated?”

“No. Now that I have delivered the letter and fulfilled my old friend’s wish, it is not convenient for me to stay here for long.”

“Then I’ll send Master off respectfully.”

The atmosphere in the main hall was extremely strange. For a moment, no one knew what to say. Master Liaochen was prestigious. If one family could have him at their wedding ceremony, the entire family would definitely be overjoyed. Who would have thought that when he came, he would actually be mocked away by Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi in the end?

Zhao Huiying’s expression was very unhappy. “Ninghua, Master Liaochen is highly respected. You…”

“Mother Empress, I warmly asked Master to stay. It’s a pity that he refused. I thought that Master was a person of virtue and prestige and very proficient in Buddhist knowledge. He naturally wanted to concentrate on practicing Buddhism at all times. I didn’t think he liked these worldly matters, so I didn’t dare to force him to stay. Did I do something wrong?”

Zhao Huiying tightened her fingers and swept her cold gaze across Shen Ninghua’s face. Shen Ninghua was truly eloquent!

“You’re right. Since the banquet is almost over, I will go back first.” Before Shen Ninghua could say something, she directly got up and went back to her palace.

The Empress stood up and left halfway through the Nine-bowl Banquet. She obviously used this to embarrass Shen Ninghua.

“See you, Mother Empress.”

“See you, Your Majesty.”

After sending Zhao Huiying off, many people in the main hall also wanted to leave. After all, the Empress had clearly expressed her dissatisfaction. It would be unwise for them to continue to stay there.

Shen Ninghua turned to Qing Que and said, “Qing Que, tell the servants to hurry up. Don’t let the guests wait. Now that they were here, I must serve them a full banquet. Otherwise, it will naturally be my fault as the mistress of the banquet.”

Chu Junyi’s eyes moved and he also warned Ye Yi, “It’s snowing and bitterly cold outside. Close the door of the main hall, so that the guests won’t catch a cold.”

Originally, everyone present was still a little puzzled and did not understand what Shen Ninghua meant. When Chu Junyi said that, they were immediately shocked. He closed the door of the main hall to let them enjoy a full banquet. Obviously, they were not allowed to leave until the end of the banquet.

They were Princess Zhaohua and Imperial Son-in-Law. Wouldn’t it be shameful for them to force the guests to stay?

Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi sat side by side in their seats. There was not a trace of unusual expression on their faces. They did not feel that there was anything wrong with this. The expressions of the two of them gave a faint pressure, which made the guests aside feel like they were sitting on pins and needles. However, none of them dared to say that they wanted to leave.

Baili Jinchuan raised the corners of his lips, and his eyes were filled with rage.

Liaochen was indeed unable to do anything right! Originally, Baili Jinchuan wanted him to take Shen Ninghua away. As long as the Nine-bowl Banquet was not completed, she wouldn’t become the wife of Chu Junyi. When Shen Ninghua came back three years later, he would have already taken control of the imperial court. Naturally, he would be able to marry Shen Ninghua.

Who would have thought that this Master with a grand reputation would actually be defeated by Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi after exchanging a few words? He really didn’t deserve his reputation! If he knew that Liaochen could not achieve his goal, why did he have to go such a long distance to find him? Especially since the content of the letter was directly concealed by Shen Ninghua, there was no chance for him to carry out his plan!

It was so annoying and abominable!

It was a bit late to regret now. He should have made more preparations!

Chu Junyi raised his glass and interrupted Baili Jinchuan’s train of thought. “Your Highness, I propose this toast to you. Thank you for coming to my wedding banquet.”

Baili Jinchuan pursed his lips and a sharp cold emotion flashed in his eyes. When he looked at Chu Junyi, the two of them immediately started a confrontation.

Chu Junyi was still raising his glass while looking at Baili Jinchuan with a faint smile. His bride was so good that many people coveted her. As her husband, he naturally could not give any good look to them.

“What? Is Your Highness unwilling to accept my proposal?”

Baili Jinchuan looked at Shen Ninghua.

She sat upright in her seat with a proper smile on her lips. That smile was gentle without showing the slightest bit of warmth. Even when she met his gaze, it didn’t ease for a moment. Baili Jinchuan’s chest hurt badly. Could it be that she didn’t care about him at all in her heart?

When he finished his glass, Baili Jinchuan looked back at Chu Junyi and said, “Is this Ok?”

Ninghua, one day, I would let you understand how wrong your choice today was!

Chu Junyi smiled and a firm thought flashed through his mind: As long as I survive, I will give Ninghua a day of peace and happiness. No one can take Ninghua away from me!

Because of the Empress’ early departure, the guests did not have the mood to enjoy the banquet, although they had to stay. When all the dishes were served, they hurriedly took a bite and got up to take leave.

Very quickly, there were only Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi in the main hall.

After a moment of silence, the two of them turned to look at each other and laughed at the same time.

“Haha.” Chu Junyi stopped laughing after a long while and stroked Shen Ninghua’s hair. “Ninghua, sorry about what happened today.”

How could they not feel annoyed when their wedding banquet ended unhappily because so many people came to prevent them from being together?

Shen Ninghua smiled. “Speaking of which, I am a princess. Although I am married to you, you live in my princess’ mansion. The servants guarding the mansion were sent by Internal Affairs Department to serve me. Most importantly, my dowry is even more abundant than your property.”

The smile on Chu Junyi’s face became increasingly stiffer. In the end, his entire expression froze in an exceptionally strange manner. Well, in that case, he was actually raised by his wife?

Shen Ninghua laughed softly. Her curved eyebrows shone like stars, and her beautiful face carried a soul-stirring expression. “What, am I wrong?”

Chu Junyi raised his head, and the stiff smile on his face gradually faded. No one else could find such a powerful wife like her. It was really a proud thing to marry her.

Seeing the proud smile on his face, Shen Ninghua was stunned. Could it be that what she said just now went too far and provoked him?

“Junyi, I…”

Chu Junyi stepped forward to hold her cold fingers in his palms. “What you said is very reasonable. In the future, I will rely more on your support. This is your princess’ mansion. May I ask you to show me around?”

Seeing that he didn’t mind at all, Shen Ninghua smiled. The two walked towards the door hand in hand.

Bai Ruo waved her hand and ordered Nurse Quanfu, who wanted to stop them, to retreat. She also retreated aside and didn’t disturb the two of them.

The snow outside was flying and had already formed a thin layer on the ground. Chu Junyi took a cloak. He put it on Shen Ninghua and gently tied the belt. Under the snow-white fox fur collar, her face became even more exquisite.

This was the first time she came to her princess’ mansion. Previously, she was covered with a red veil and didn’t see any scenery at all. Now, it was the first time she saw it.

Just as she raised her eyes, she saw blooming plum blossoms with pink and red branches. The scene was so beautiful that it made her breath freeze. “These plum blossoms…”

It was cold winter at the moment. It was still a bit early for plum blossoms to bloom.

“I had someone ship it over from Jiangnan, do you like it?”

Shen Ninghua turned around and said, “You sent someone to get it?” Isn’t Internal Affairs Department responsible for doing this?

“This is our home for the rest of our lives. Every scene and winding corridor here will accompany us for decades. Therefore, I hope that you will like each part of it.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes flickered, and the bright eyes got wet with tears. “I like it very much.”

Chu Junyi laughed. “That’s good.”

The two of them walked in the garden together while snow was flying in the sky. It was freezing cold at the time, but Shen Ninghua felt warm in her heart. Although she was not sure if the two of them were able to grow old together, it was enough for her to remember this moment for the rest of her life.

White snow fell on the two of them. Soon, their bodies were covered with a layer of snowflakes. Under the red plum tree, Chu Junyi held Shen Ninghua’s hands and looked down at her beautiful face. The air they exhaled interweaved together and fused into a warm mist of water.

“I would rather die together with you than live alone. Ninghua, we will definitely grow old together!”