Chapter 214 - Dowry? What a Good Excuse!

Baili Qingcang was filled with anger. He kept walking back and forth in the hall like a lion whose territory had been invaded. After trying for a long time, he still couldn’t suppress the anger in his heart. He abruptly walked back to the imperial writing desk and pushed everything on it to the ground.

Shen Ninghua narrowed her eyes and stood in the middle of the hall. When Baili Qingcang vented his anger and sat down on the throne, she stepped forward and took a cup of tea from the hands of the chief of the Internal Affairs Department.

“Father Emperor, this has already happened. No matter how angry you are, it’s useless. Fortunately, Consort Yin’s plot wasn’t implemented and you can take actions to foil it. There won’t be serious consequences.”

“Contaminating the royal bloodline is a serious crime that would result in the execution of the whole family line. Although no serious consequences have occurred, I cannot accept such an outrageous insult!” Baili Qingcang punched the desk heavily.

Shen Ninghua lowered her eyes and stood aside. At this moment, only slaughter could calm his anger. Sure enough, after a while, Baili Qingcang called over the chief eunuch and issued a decree.

“The Yin family despised the imperial power and disrupted the palace chambers. Thus, all titles award to it shall be removed. The father of Consort Yin failed to properly educate his daughter. His official title shall be removed. He shall be demoted to a commoner and expelled from the capital. The next three generations of his family are not allowed to take any official position!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Baili Qingcang felt better as he watched the eunuch leaving the hall to announce the decree. He turned to Chen Yun and said, “Doctor Chen, the Academy of Imperial Physicians also needs to be rectified. You are the head of the Academy of Imperial Physicians. So, I’ll leave this matter to you. Investigate those imperial physicians thoroughly. Anyone who was involved with the consorts of the harem shall be dismissed and demoted as a commoner. Especially, investigate the physician who dared to help Consort Yin. I will exterminate his family line!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will definitely investigate the matter thoroughly.”

“Good. Moreover, investigate the imperial physician who framed Ninghua earlier. Investigate him carefully and thoroughly. I don’t believe that these servants are able to turn the heavens upside down. I will find out all the persons involved in this plot and kill them!”

By the time Shen Ninghua came out of the southern study, the sky had already darkened. Chu Junyi waited at the entrance of the Palace. Seeing her coming out, he hurriedly walked to her. “Ninghua, let’s go back.”

“Alright.”

When they returned to their mansion, Hong Ling handed over a message that she had just received. “Miss, not long after you left the Palace, the Imperial Guards went to Yin family’s mansion and confiscated all its possessions. Furthermore, I heard that Consort Yin’s body which has been buried was dug out from its grave… Her bones were crushed and ashes were scattered.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes trembled slightly. “When a man loves someone, he wants her to live whatever the costs. When he dislikes her, he desires the most miserable death for her. His Majesty hates the Yin family so much. So it’s not surprising that he acted in this manner.”

Chu Junyi’s expression deepened. He nodded in agreement. “The Yin family ended up like this because of their own faults. Those pregnant women who were kept by the family were the most miserable. Most of them were from ordinary and law-abiding families. They had good looks and were in good health. After being captured by the Yin family, they were forcefully… by the males of the Yin family and got pregnant. Although they can be released now, their reputations were ruined. It’s really hard to say what will happen to them in the future.”

Shen Ninghua sighed and said, “Those women are not voluntary. The risk of inducing an abortion is great now. It’s not a good method. We can only think of a way to settle them down. The Yin family was really shameless. They wanted to let their descendants enter the Palace. If their plot succeeded, they might be no different from the royal family in a few years.”

“The Yin family dared to act so boldly. Perhaps their ambition was even bigger.” If the descendants of the Yin family ascended to the throne, then the Da’an Dynasty would really be over. Those servants were truly daring!

“The Yin family has fallen, and His Majesty has issued a decree to investigate Internal Affairs Department strictly. Our next move should not be too bold. It would be best for His Majesty to issue a decree himself to investigate and deal with the case.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

After setting out what they should do next, the two of them immediately began to sort out the evidence. They arranged the evidence in a way that it did not involve too many persons while attracting the attention of His Majesty, and although the evidence was not too straightforward, it alluded to everything clearly. In the end, they submitted all the evidence to Baili Qingcang.

After Baili Qingcang read what Chu Junyi had presented, his face turned serious. But he was no longer as furious as before. Instead, he sat in the imperial study with a cold expression for four hours. Then, he directly ordered to kill the chief of the Internal Affairs Department and the persons involved in the Yin family’s case.

When the Empress heard how the Emperor handled the Internal Affairs Department, she frowned for a long time. Then she nodded and said that she knew about it before putting it aside.

After Baili Qingcang dealt with the chief of the Internal Affairs Department, he found that there was practically no talent available to assume that post. The ministers in the court openly and secretly supported various princes. This knowledge made him furious again. In the end, he could only choose a substitute from the Xiao family.

Hearing the message that Xiao Qi had taken over as the chief of the Internal Affairs Department, Shen Ninghua frowned, “The Xiao family… In this case, I have to act more carefully.” The Internal Affairs Department had a close relationship with the harem and spies were everywhere in the department. Her enmity with the Xiao family was difficult to settle. It was extremely convenient for Xiao Qi to plot against her in the Palace, so she must be careful in everything.

Chu Junyi laughed softly. “Ninghua, don’t worry. Xiao Qi doesn’t dare to make things difficult for you.”

“Huh?” Shen Ninghua paused, and her heart skipped a beat. “Is Xiao Qi your associate?”

“Yes.” Chu Junyi smiled and nodded. “I saved Xiao Qi’s life in the past. So, He is extremely loyal to me. Although it is impossible for him to completely control the Internal Affairs Department, it will be very convenient for him to help us investigate some things. The items sent by the Empress to the consorts’ palaces will not disappear for no reason. We must investigate them carefully. Even if some evidence is not needed now, it will be useful in the future!”

“Yes. Speaking of which, Princess Anning and Princess Anqing will be married in a few days. The Internal Affairs Department will probably be very busy. The busier it is, the more chaotic it will be. Xiao Qi must not make mistakes.”

“I will tell him to take care.”

The next day when Shen Ninghua finished her breakfast, Hong Ling came in with a new message. “Miss, when the Yin family members were expelled from the capital, they encountered robbers about 100 kilometers away from the capital who coveted their money. All of them were killed. Not a single one of the 36 members of the family survived.”

Shen Ninghua frowned slightly. “His Majesty cannot let such a big matter as contaminating the royal bloodline leak out. Therefore, there is no reason for him to directly kill the Yin family. He can only do it in another way.”

“Are you saying that His Majesty did this?”

“It should be the case. The Yin family is over. Tell the men of Chu Junyi to take this opportunity to clean up the Yin clan’s forces in the Internal Affairs Department.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After a while, a eunuch came to ask for an audience: the Empress summoned Shen Ninghua to the Palace.

In Ningkun Palace, Baili Anning and Baili Anqing were all around the Empress, chatting and laughing with her. As soon as Shen Ninghua arrived, she was called over by the Empress. “Ninghua, come here quickly. I am helping Anning and Anqing review their dowry lists. This is an extremely important issue and the lists must be checked carefully. You can help us.”

Shen Ninghua bowed before stepping forward. “Mother Empress, I am not good at dealing with tasks that require carefulness.”

Baili Anning’s expression wasn’t very good, and she looked faintly haggard. When she saw Shen Ninghua, she smiled. “Ninghua, you are here?”

Shen Ninghua paused for a moment and smiled. “Speaking of which, time goes by so fast. You said last time that you wanted to ask me for a wedding dress. But I didn’t have time to embroider it. I only embroider a bridal veil for you. I have just asked Nurse Quanfu to make it a gift. Now, I can give it to you.”

Baili Anning’s heart skipped a beat and tears flashed in her eyes. She stepped forward to take Shen Ninghua’s hand and pull her to a seat beside her. “Thank you very much, Ninghua. With this, my wedding will be a perfect event.”

Shen Ninghua smiled. Feeling the warmth of her fingers, she naturally understood that the perfection she spoke of was not only the perfection of the wedding but also the estrangement between them caused by Baili Jinchuan. However, the two of them understood that their relationship would never be as intimate as before.

The Empress smiled warmly and said in a gentle voice, “I know that the two of you have a good relationship. Anqing is still watching you aside. Quickly come over and take a look at these dowry lists. The Palace was messy these past few days and things were complicated. That’s why I haven’t had time to help prepare dowries for you two. Don’t blame Mother Empress for neglecting you.”

Baili Anning hurriedly said, “Don’t say that, Mother Empress. If it weren’t for you, how could we have such a dignified life?”

Baili Anqing said bashfully, “Yes, elder sister Anning is right. It would be our fault if Mother Empress is kept busy taking care of the two of us.”

Zhao Huiying hurriedly smiled and pulled her over. “Originally, I thought that Anqing was not good at speaking. But now I understood that you simply don’t want to speak. I have a set of head-ornament made of rubies. Speaking of which, it was rewarded by His Majesty when I married into the Palace. I shall give it to you now.”

“Mother Empress, your gift is so valuable. Anqing doesn’t dare to take it.”

“Just take it. It’s just a set of head-ornament. Alright, come and see this list.”

The Empress reviewed the list carefully with two nurses. Suddenly, she heard the nurse who was reading the list stopped. She immediately looked over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

The nurse suddenly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, this list…”

Zhao Huiying frowned. “What’s wrong with it?”

“I am guilty, Your Majesty. Please punish me.”

“Huh?” Zhao Huiying stood up and said, “Bring me the list. I will see what’s going on.”

After taking a glance at the list, Zhao Huiying coldly snorted. “What is all this about?”

“Your Majesty, forgive me!”

“Anning and Anqing will be both married with the title of Princess Heshuo. Why is there such a big difference in their dowries?”

“Your Majesty, calm down.”

Zhao Huiying was full of anger. “Summon the chief of the Internal Affairs Department.”

When Baili Anqing saw the dowry list on the table, her face immediately turned pale. “Mother Empress, it’s just a few dowry items. It doesn’t matter. Besides, after I get married, I won’t lack anything.”

“You’re a kind girl. You can even endure such unfair treatment. But I can’t let you be underestimated by these servants. If they dared to embezzle your dowry today, I wonder what they will do in the future.” Zhao Huiying turned to look at Fangxue. “Fangxue, go and invite His Majesty. Didn’t he investigate the Internal Affairs Department recently? Let His Majesty investigate this as well!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shen Ninghua glanced at the angry Zhao Huiying and the pale Baili Anning. Dowry? What a great excuse!