Chapter 232 - Baby in Belly!

Baili Anqing was even more desperate. When she heard Baili Qingcang’s deduction, she had thought that Father Emperor would treat her as a victim. She didn’t expect that Father Emperor concluded that she did something which she didn’t dare to do normally.

In this way, was there any room of maneuver left for her?

Looking at Baili Anqing’s increasingly twisted expression, Shen Ninghua didn’t feel any fluctuation in her heart. Baili Anqing deserved it and she had only herself to blame. “Father Emperor, the harem has always been restless, but when did it become a place where people can do whatever they want? Please, Father Emperor, carry out a thorough investigation.”

Baili Qingcang turned to Zhao Huiying and said, “Empress, what do you think of this?”

“Your Majesty, I believe that Ninghua’s words are reasonable. We should investigate thoroughly.”

“Alright, since that’s the case, I’ll leave this matter to you. What do you think?”

Zhao Huiying felt relieved. “Yes, Your Majesty, I will definitely make a thorough investigation and do justice to Ninghua and her family.”

Since she was asked to investigate, this meant that there was still a lot of room for her to maneuver. As long as she managed it properly, she would definitely be able to eliminate the impact of the incident. However, Baili Qingcang’s next sentence sent her heart into the ice cellar.

“Empress, I believe you will definitely give me an explanation, right?”

Baili Qingcang’s eyes were cold and indifferent. “All the palace maids in charge of guarding the Veluriyam Palace shall be executed today. The palace maid who went to Ningkun Palace to make a false report shall have her tongue pulled out and be thrown out of the palace! Palace maid Fangxue shall be dragged down to be clubbed to death in front of everyone to serve as an example!”

Zhao Huiying turned to look at Fangxue, only to see her trembling on the ground without any expression. She only saw a bloodstain from kowtowing on the ground in front of her. After a moment of pause, Zhao Huiying said indifferently, “Your Majesty is wise!”

This time, the Emperor really became suspicious of her. It seemed that she should sacrifice some of her people.

Baili Qingcang looked at Baili Anqing coldly. “Baili Anqing…”

“Father Emperor! Father Emperor! I know my mistake. Please forgive me!” Before Baili Qingcang finished speaking, Baili Anqing hurriedly interrupted him, “I don’t want to marry Yang Lin, and I wasn’t preoccupied with Yang Lin either.”

Baili Qingcang’s expression was cold. “Anqing, you are at least my daughter. As a father, I will not force you into a desperate situation. Now, I will give you two choices. First, marry into the Yang Clan. Second, enter the Guangdu Temple to cultivate.”

Baili Anqing was stunned for a moment before collapsing to the ground. She asked self-deceitfully, “Father Emperor, is there no other choice?”

“No!”

“I…I choose to enter the temple to cultivate.”

“Alright, I will have someone make arrangement for you. You can leave the Palace tomorrow.”

With a cold snort, Baili Qingcang turned around and walked out.

Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi followed in the last.

Chu Junyi hesitated for a while before moving forward to support Shen Ninghua gently but stiffly by the arm. His gaze swept across Shen Ninghua’s belly from time to time. It was hard to imagine that their baby had made a home in this slender and soft belly.

Just as they were about to step out of the door, Baili Anqing suddenly said, “Sister Zhaohua.”

Shen Ninghua turned around and said, “Sister Anqing, what else do you have to say?”

Baili Anqing stared maliciously at Shen Ninghua’s belly. “You really have a capable belly. You got pregnant in such a short period of time? Speaking of which, you should have been pregnant when Yang Lin died, right?”

Shen Ninghua sneered. “What are you trying to say? Alienating me from Chu Junyi or suggesting that the baby is not Chu Junyi’s?”

Baili Anqing choked and she simply gave up the evasive way of speaking, “Shouldn’t I suspect? After all, you got pregnant too fast. Furthermore, I remember that you went to the country villa to recuperate because you were poisoned before. Although the poison was removed, it greatly damaged your body. It should be extremely difficult for you to get pregnant.”

Shen Ninghua’s lips curled up, and the clear light in her eyes reflected Baili Anqing’s malicious gaze, making her face look even more disgusting. “I know best of my health conditions, and it has nothing to do with you. You worry too much. But I am truly surprised that you understand me like this. It seems that you have prepared for today’s plan for a long time. But unfortunately, it still failed.”

Chu Junyi stepped forward and hugged her in his arms. “Ninghua, why bother talking nonsense with her? Hurry up and go back to rest.”

Shen Ninghua turned around and looked at Chu Junyi. The coldness in her eyes slowly dissipated and was replaced by a layer of warmth. “Alright.”

Baili Anqing bit her lip fiercely. The light in her eyes was sinister and vicious. “Shen Ninghua, why are you enjoying all of this and taking it for granted, and yet I have to endure such awful pain? Why is Father Emperor so biased? Why?”

Shen Ninghua turned her head slightly and said, “You want to frame other people and ruin their happiness simply because they are living better than you? This idea is really special. If you behave yourself, you are at least a princess of the royal family, what else would you lack? It’s your own greed and desire for things that don’t belong to you that made you end up like this. You can only blame yourself for it!”

After Shen Ninghua finished speaking, Chu Junyi didn’t even give Baili Anqing a single glance. He directly wrapped his arms around Shen Ninghua’s waist and the two of them left together.

The hall was quiet without any sound. There was a bloody smell. It must have been left behind by Fangxue and the others who were put to death by clubbing.

Baili Anqing raised her head and looked around. She trembled and got up from the ground. She walked to the dressing table and looked at the figure in the mirror. The image in the mirror was quiet and beautiful. Although her face was filled with tears, it was lovable like a pear blossom with raindrops. Why did other people look at her with disgust?

“Ah!”

With a hysterical scream, she crazily lifted the stool and smashed it into the mirror. Then, she crazily smashed everything in the room.

“Ha…haha…hahaha…” She laughed softly for a while before finally bursting into tears. “Why? Who can tell me why?”

“Amitabha.”

A clear Buddhist chant came in.

Baili Anqing suddenly stopped crying and looked up at the door. “…Master Liaochen?”

Liaochen dressed in a monk robe twirled his Buddhist beads with a pitiful gaze. “Amitabha. I heard that Your Highness is going to the temple to cultivate tomorrow, so I come to visit you today.”

“Master…”

Chu Junyi supported Shen Ninghua all the time. Even after they got into the carriage, he still held her hand tightly. He didn’t let go of her hand even after they returned to the Princess’ Mansion.

Seeing his inexplicable nervousness, Shen Ninghua chuckled softly. “You’re so nervous that I’m also starting to get nervous.”

Chu Junyi was stunned for a moment, and then he became even more helpless. “Will I affect you?”

“Haha.” Shen Ninghua couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, I am just in a delicate situation. Every woman has to go through this process. Don’t worry too much.”

“Miss is expecting?” The four maids had just arrived when they heard this sentence, and they were extremely shocked.

Expecting, good heavens! Miss is expecting!

Hong Ling was the first to react. She directly jumped on the spot and said, “Sister Bai Ruo, shouldn’t we let Miss enter the room first? The weather is still a bit cold now.”

Chu Junyi nodded. “Hong Ling is right. You are the maids Her Highness trusts the most. In the next period of time, you must be alert and not slack at all.”

“Yes, Master.” The four of them immediately nodded as if they were receiving a great mission.

Chu Junyi was slightly satisfied. “Next, you each have your own job. Bi Zhu, go prepare the soft couch. No, you should put two additional blankets on the soft couch. This way, it will be soft enough not to hurt your future little master.”

“Alright…alright, I will go now.”

“Hong Ling, remove the tea from the room and instruct the kitchen to boil jujube porridge. That helps replenish qi and nourish blood.”

“Yes.”

“Also, Qing Que, check all the servants in the courtyard. Make a list of those who come from suspicious backgrounds and immediately dispose of them if you can. Those that you can’t dispose of, think of a way to drive them out of the mansion. If there are people you cannot deal with, report to me. I’ll think of a way to dispose of them.”

“Yes, Master.”

Shen Ninghua was stunned for a moment, and her hand that was stroking her belly stiffened slightly. “Junyi, you…”

“Ninghua, let’s go rest first.”

In the following period of time, the Princess’ Mansion was in an inexplicably excited and nervous atmosphere.

Shen Ninghua rested for a moment and looked at Hong Ling who came in with jujube porridge. She said, “Put down the porridge. Send someone to my Second Uncle’s mansion to ask if Auntie is back. By the way, pick out the medicinal ingredients on this list and send them to Auntie to help her recover.”

Chu Junyi looked at Shen Ninghua disapprovingly. “You don’t need to worry about that anymore. I’ve already sent someone to see Auntie, and I’ve also invited Doctor Chen to treat her. There won’t be any problem left.”

Shen Ninghua was stunned for a moment, then she nodded. “Alright, next, I’ll leave everything that is mentally or physically tiring to all of you. I’ll focus on taking care of my body and the baby, alright?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Chu Junyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Ninghua had a strong temper. He was really afraid that she would hurt herself and the baby by bearing everything alone.

A smile appeared in Shen Ninghua’s eyes. In her previous life, she had no children. In this life, she finally had the chance to become a mother. How could she not cherish this baby? She just didn’t expect that Chu Junyi would be even more nervous than her.

“Ninghua, do you want to eat anything? I’ll have someone get it for you.”

Seeing Chu Junyi’s eagerness to bring all the delicious food in front of her, Shen Ninghua suddenly said jokingly, “You care more about me now than ever before. Do you care more about the baby rather than about me?”

Chu Junyi paused for a moment, and he felt both sweet and painful. Was this the so-called whimsy of women who are expecting? How should he answer without affecting her mood?

“No, I saw you haven’t eaten for a long time, so…”

Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows. “So, you don’t care about the baby?”

Chu Junyi. “…” How should he answer?