Chapter 225 - Time Was Ripe!

Seeing that Shen Ninghua was dumbfounded, Baili Qingcang’s eyes moved. “Ninghua, what’s wrong? You seem to have something on your mind?”

Shen Ninghua immediately restored her senses. “Father Emperor, I’m fine. I just thought of Anqing. When she left, she looked exceptionally haggard. So, I’m a little worried. Father Emperor, you know, Sister Anqing is a little introverted. I think Yang Lin’s death has dealt her a great blow.”

Baili Qingcang sat behind the imperial writing desk and shook his head slightly. “She probably didn’t look like that because of Yang Lin’s death.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes trembled as she thought of the rumors Baili Anning had told her. Her heart sank slightly and she asked, “Not because of Yang Lin?”

“No. Imperial Counselor Yang was here. He wanted me to dissolve the engagement between Anqing and Yang Lin.”

“Imperial Counselor Yang… Father Emperor, you seem to have your own plan?” Shen Ninghua asked tentatively.

Baili Qingcang’s expression darkened. “Yes, I do have some plans. Ninghua, what do you think of the Empress?”

Hearing his sudden change of topic, Shen Ninghua’s heart trembled, and her fingers on both sides of her body couldn’t help but twitch. “Father Emperor, I’m a junior, so no matter what, I shouldn’t judge a senior. However, in my heart, Mother Empress is very tolerant towards all of us. Her reputation among the officials of the court is also very good. The people also love her. You have loved and trusted her for many years and she has helped you manage the harem very well. In all respects, she is a very good person.”

Baili Qingcang’s eyes turned cold. “The people love her and the officials support her. You’re right. From these respects, she looks very good. Ninghua, I asked you to investigate the matter of poison in the harem. You must have found something, right?”

Poison in the harem? It had been a long time since this matter had happened. Now, Baili Qingcang asked about it…Could it be that Father Emperor had found other things?

“Father Emperor, you also know that this matter involved a lot of people, many of whom are people that Chu Junyi and I are not qualified to investigate. I traced it to the head of Internal Affairs Department and Lady Yin at that time, and I stopped there and did not continue to investigate further.”

Shen Ninghua looked up at Baili Qingcang’s expression carefully and found that his expression eased after listening to her words. She heaved a sigh of relief in her heart and was glad that she hadn’t beaten around the bush.

Baili Qingcang nodded. “Ninghua, I will give you one more secret task.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I want to investigate the Empress. Help me gather some evidence.”

Shen Ninghua looked up in shock. “Father Emperor, you want to investigate Her Majesty?”

Baili Qingcang’s expression darkened as a faint cold light flashed in his eyes. “I not only want to investigate the Empress, but I also want to bring down the Zhao Clan!”

Hearing this, Shen Ninghua felt a chill down her spine. “Bring down the Zhao Clan? Father Emperor, what about the Crown Prince…”

The Empress was the Crown Prince’s mother, and the Zhao Clan was the Crown Prince’s maternal kinsfolk. If the Zhao Clan fell, it would be equivalent to cutting down half of the Crown Prince’s power. When that time came, wouldn’t the court be turned upside down?

Baili Qingcang frowned. “The Crown Prince is pretty good, and he is also my son. It is enough to have me as his protector.” He had a good impression of the Crown Prince. However, the Zhao Clan was too powerful. If the new monarch ascended to the throne, his mother’s clan would definitely be a hidden danger. Therefore, he absolutely could not tolerate it!

Shen Ninghua felt a chill in her heart. She could almost imagine the stormy waves in the future. The emperor’s plan was well-considered, but the Crown Prince might not think that way.

Now, the princes were not in brutal fights for power because the Zhao Clan was strong and the Crown Prince’s position was safe. A few princes dared to play tricks in private, but not openly. If the Crown Prince’s backer fell, it would be equivalent to having his wings cut off. At that time, no one knew what the consequences would be.

Shen Ninghua was silent, not knowing how to respond.

Baili Qingcang suppressed the fury in his heart, and his expression relaxed a little. “Ninghua, I know that you have the ability and that the Empress has tried many times to harm you, so I will leave this matter to you. Don’t worry, you are only responsible for gathering evidence. Take it easy and it doesn’t matter if it takes a long time. You must keep it a secret and don’t startle the Zhao Clan.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Well, I intentionally keep Anqing’s engagement to make a scene in the harem. Just keep an eye on the Empress and see how she will act!”

“Yes.”

In Ningkun Palace, Zhao Huiying leisurely looked at her newly dyed red nails.

Fangxue waved away a little eunuch at the entrance of the palace and quickly walked into the hall. “Your Majesty, Princess Zhaohua stayed in the Southern Imperial Study for about two hours before coming out.”

Zhao Huiying raised her eyebrows and said, “Two hours. Haha, looks like His Majesty has assigned some special tasks to Shen Ninghua.”

Fangxue pursed her lips and said, “His Majesty let all the servants retreat before talking to Shen Ninghua. Our people couldn’t find out any information. However, when Shen Ninghua came out, her expression was as usual. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”

“As usual?” Zhao Huiying mocked. “Shen Ninghua is as scheming as a fox. What could the spies possibly find out? She and Chu Junyi are the His Majesty’s most favored people now. His Majesty treats them as confidants and protects them like his own eyeballs. Let our people be discreet recently. Perhaps His Majesty has asked them to investigate us.”

Fangxue nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. Don’t worry, I have already instructed our people. Nothing will go wrong.”

Zhao Huiying carefully put on her sapphire-blue nail armor and raised her hand to admire it for a moment. Then she asked, “How is Baili Anqing? She still doesn’t eat or drink?”

“No, I heard that she hasn’t eaten for almost three days.”

“Haha, looks like she’s not completely useless. Come, let’s go see this poor princess.”

Baili Anqing’s palace was located a little remote. There were a few plum trees mixed with pines and cypresses in the courtyard. The pines and cypresses were dark green. At first glance, they looked like black. As people entered, they felt gloomy and cold.

Zhao Huiying frowned as she walked through the door. Just as she entered the room, a white figure pouncing towards her, causing her heart to tremble in shock.

Fangxue suddenly stepped forward to block Zhao Huiying and shouted coldly at Baili Anqing, “Princess Anqing, how can you be so rude? What if you offend Her Majesty?”

Zhao Huiying took a closer look and discovered that the person pouncing on her was Baili Anqing.

She only wore a thin white undergarment and was thin out of shape. “Mother Empress, I’m guilty. Please punish me,” she said.

A look of disgust flashed through Zhao Huiying’s eyes, but she patiently bent down and helped her up. “Anqing, what are you doing? You cheap maids, how can you just watch the princess ruin her body like this? Now that the weather is so cold, how can you bear to see her in so scant clothing?”

The surrounding palace maids were already on their knees, and when they heard this, they wished they could prostrate on the ground. They hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, please forgive us, please forgive us.”

Zhao Huiying turned her head and coldly instructed the nurses following behind her, “Drag all of these maids down and make an example of them with twenty strokes!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seeing the palace maids around being dragged down with their mouths covered, the anger in Zhao Huiying’s heart finally subsided slightly. “Anqing, if you have grievances, you can directly tell me and I will speak up for you. Why bother torturing yourself like this?”

Baili Anqing trembled like a leaf falling in the wind. She knelt on the ground and raised her head. Her pale hands tightly grabbed Zhao Huiying’s dress. “Mother Empress, only you can help me. I beg you to save me.”

“If you have anything, just tell me. I will definitely try my best to help you.”

“Mother, Father Emperor wants to marry me to a dead man!”

Zhao Huiying frowned. “Nonsense, you are His Majesty’s daughter. How could he do this?”

“It’s true.” Baili Anqing bit her lips. “Father Emperor called me over today and said that he wouldn’t break my engagement to the Yang Family. Mother, I don’t want to marry a dead man, I don’t want to!”

“His Majesty actually said that…” Zhao Huiying sighed, and her eyes were filled with pity as she looked at Baili Anqing. “Anqing, there’s nothing I can do…”

Seeing her expression, Baili Anqing screamed and looked about to collapse. Every day, she was frightened and jittery. Zhao Huiying’s gaze was like a mountain pressing down on her heart, which destroyed her last bit of hope. “Mother Empress, please save me. As long as you help me avoid marrying a dead man, I’m willing to do anything.”

Zhao Huiying’s lips curled up abruptly. “Alright, my girl, I will always help you. Stand up. Fangxue, come and help Princess Anqing tidy up. Our Da’an’s princess can’t be in such a sorry state.”

After tidying up, Baili Anqing looked a little better, but her expression was still mixed with fear. She was afraid that Zhao Huiying would ignore her again. “Mother Empress, what should I do?”

Zhao Huiying slightly lowered her eyes. “Anqing, you should also know that once His Majesty makes a decision, it will not be easy to change his mind. Therefore, this matter must be changed before he issues an explicit decree.”

“Yes, Mother Empress, you are right.”

“But you also know that a princess’ marriage is not a trivial matter. Logically speaking, other than His Majesty, no one else has the right to make the decision.”

“Yes, Mother Empress, what should I do?”

“Have you heard of Princess Liulan?”

Baili Anning was stunned. “Princess Liulan? Did you mean the princess who robbed her younger sister of her husband?”

Zhao Huiying smiled. “There are rumors that Princess Liulan robbed Princess Liuqin of her husband, that she was selfish and didn’t care about sisterhood at all. But if she hadn’t done that back then, she would have been married to a barbaric land and lost her life.”

Baili Anqing’s expression changed fiercely. “Mother Empress, do you want me to imitate Princess Liulan?”

The smile on Zhao Huiying’s lips became even more obvious. “Anqing, I’m also a woman, so I naturally understand your thoughts. Although Princess Anning’s husband is not outstanding enough, he loves Anning very deeply. Although they have only been married for a few days, it can be seen that the two of them will live in harmony, love and happiness forever in the future.”

Baili Anqing nodded silently.

Zhao Huiying continued, “Princess Zhaohua and her husband are even more enviable. Before they got married, Chu Junyi was willing to sacrifice his life for Ninghua. The two of them were bestowed marriage by His Majesty. Their life is so sweet that even immortals will envy them. Moreover, Chu Junyi is handsome and outstanding in martial arts, and he is the Left Imperial Censor personally bestowed by His Majesty. He could be said to be a young genius, and he treated Princess Zhaohua with deep affection and unwavering determination.”

Baili Anqing bit her lips tightly, and jealousy almost overflowed from her eyes.

Zhao Huiying narrowed her eyes and thought to herself, “Time is ripe.”