Chapter 266 - Whom to Choose, Wife or Mother?

At this moment, the sky outside suddenly darkened, followed by torrential rain that poured down.

Liaochen stood at the door in the heavy rain. The scarlet kasaya he wore was shining against the background of the rain and seemed to carry sacred Buddhist light. He was like a Buddha coming in the rain but untainted by dust.

This scene stunned everyone, and they were even more certain that Master Liaochen had profound cultivation in Buddha dharma.

Baili Qingcang was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses. “Master, you said that you came for this matter. Have you known something beforehand?”

“The unnatural phenomenon and transposition of stars are a sign that the country will be in chaos.” After Liaochen finished speaking, he put his palms together and chanted Amitabha.

Baili Qingcang suddenly widened his eyes, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. “Master, I’ve long heard that you have a profound understanding of metaphysics and horoscope. Do you mean that the phenomenon that descended from the sky is a reminder that there will be great chaos in the country?”

Liaochen nodded. His merciful gaze swept across the people around him. He closed his eyes as if he couldn’t bear it. “Amitabha.”

There was a hint of urgency in Baili Qingcang’s voice. “Is there a way to solve it?”

“All things in the world complement and counter each other. There is a way to solve it, but…”

“But what? Master, just say it. If you can solve this chaos, it will be a blessing to the people of the country.”

“Amitabha,” Liaochen closed his eyes and finally opened them to look at Shen Ninghua. “Princess Zhaohua, are you still unwilling to follow me to cultivate?”

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes and asked in a light tone, “Master, what do you mean?”

“Your Highness, although you have a noble status, your fate was destined by the heavens. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change it. Your fate is too tough and will harm your parents as well as your children. However, due to a strange combination of circumstances, you became the prefectural princess. The royal family has the blessing of the heavens, which is why there is a strange phenomenon to remind His Majesty. Your Highness, if you persist in your wrong course, I’m afraid that a big disaster will happen soon.”

When something happened to the royal family, it would naturally cause chaos in the country. Everyone focused their attention on Shen Ninghua. Previously, when Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi got married, Master Liaochen appeared and said that Shen Ninghua had too much evil-foreboding aura and offered to take her away to cultivate. However, not only was he rejected by Shen Ninghua, but he also lost face.

So people thought that his words were not reliable. But they did not expect that after only several months, the heavens actually sent down an abnormal sign to warn them.

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were calm. There was no expression on her cold face. A strange phenomenon descended from the sky, and the stars were misplaced. It seemed that this Master Liaochen was going to pin the crime of disturbing the country on her. However, she was not a pushover. If he wanted to frame her, he had to prove he was capable enough!

Shen Ninghua smiled and asked, “Master, monks and nuns don’t lie, right?”

“Sure.” Liaochen said calmly.

“Then I would like to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?”

“Please.”

Shen Ninghua smiled. “Master, you are an expert in cultivation. How is your level of achievement compared to the heavens?”

Liaochen paused. “The heavens are boundless and Buddhist teaching is profound. How can I dare to compare with the heavens?”

“That means you admit to being inferior to the heavens.” Shen Ninghua looked at him coldly. “Since you can’t compare to the heavens, how dare you speak up for the heavens?”

“I just interpreted the celestial phenomena for His Majesty. It is a bit far-fetched to involve the heavens.” Liaochen was very calm.

“At first, I wanted to say that everything’s development follows a fixed course and a mortal should not relate to the heavens too much. However, since you said that it was only an interpretation of the celestial phenomena, then let me ask you. According to what you just said, it was me who affected the celestial phenomena and had adverse impacts on the royal family. That was why the heavens sent a warning signal and you wanted to take me to cultivate. Then master, how long will it take for me to cultivate to eliminate my evil-foreboding aura?”

“Originally, it should only take three years. Now, I am afraid it will take ten years.”

Shen Ninghua laughed. “Heh, my evil-foreboding aura is strong to the extent that it will hurt my parents and even the royal family, and even the heavens sent down an abnormal phenomena to warn people, but now you say I only need to cultivate with you for ten years to resolve it. You really dare to speak. Aren’t you afraid that the wind will blow your tongue away when you talk big?”

Liaochen frowned and his expression tensed up. “Your Highness, you are arguing irrationally to justify yourself.”

“Am I arguing irrationally, or are you beaten by logic? You first claimed to read the celestial phenomena and represent the heavens to say that the country will be in chaos. Then you said that you were just an insignificant mortal. After that, you said that I will affect the royal family, but you also said that the royal family is blessed by the heavens. So let me ask you. Am I, a princess, not a member of the royal family? Isn’t the baby in my belly a member of the royal family? Since you said that I would bring harm to my parents and my children, do you mean that the baby in my belly isn’t a member of the royal family?”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were clear and bright. Her unadorned face had a jade-colored glow that radiated with a natural air of oppression. “Doctor Chen has checked my pulse. This baby is a boy. My body is healthy and he will definitely be born safely. You said that I will hurt my child. Then, Master, how will I hurt my child?”

Liaochen’s face darkened. “Your Highness, you are indeed eloquent. Your Majesty, I am telling the truth. Please scrutinize.”

No matter how eloquent Shen Ninghua was, as long as there was a doubt in Baili Qingcang’s heart, she could not escape.

Baili Qingcang had been switching his gaze between Shen Ninghua and Liaochen.

Baili Junyi’s eyes flashed with a killing intent. This monk Liaochen really completely changed his view of monks. He, as a monk, yearned so badly for power. Originally, this was Liaochen’s own matter and had nothing to do with him. But he had wrongly chosen Ninghua as his target.

Today, I would expose your true face. I would like to see how you could still stand here in such a dignified manner!

“Master Liaochen, you’ve caused trouble for my wife time and time again. Shouldn’t you ask for my opinion?”

Liaochen turned to look at Baili Junyi. “Prefectural Prince Yi, if there are other ways to solve it, I am also unwilling to break apart you and Princess Zhaohua. However, the evil-foreboding aura on Princess Zhaohua has already affected the safety of the royal family. Considering her fate…Do you want to disregard the safety of His Majesty and Noble Consort Xian for your own selfish desires?”

If you chose Shen Ninghua, you would have to watch her harm your parents. If you chose your parents, you would have to abandon Shen Ninghua. You could not have it all. Let me see how you made your choice.

Liaochen’s expression was extremely solemn. The light in his eyes was like that of a Buddha and made people extremely convinced. If Baili Junyi had not investigated some things in advance, he really didn’t have the confidence to take Liaochen down. But today, Liaochen was unlucky. He was just going to settle accounts with Liaochen, and this guy offered himself to the door.

Baili Junyi’s figure was slender, his eyes were like the deep nighty sky, carrying a cold and unfathomable light, and his taut face did not have the slightest warmth. “Master Liaochen, this is already the second time that you want to take my wife away. This time, you didn’t even let go of my child. What exactly do you want to do?”

Upon hearing his words, everyone suddenly felt that something was wrong. Their gazes constantly swept over Shen Ninghua and Liaochen. An absurd idea arose in their hearts. Everyone knew about Princess Zhaohua’s beauty. Master Liaochen had repeatedly wanted to take her to cultivate. This really didn’t make sense. Even if she had to cultivate, Princess Zhaohua should go to a nunnery instead of following a monk, right?

Hearing the words, Liaochen could not stay calm anymore. His face suddenly turned purple. “Prefectural Prince Yi, I am a cultivator. How can you slander me like this?”

“Cultivation in the temple is one form. Cultivation in the mortal world is also a form. I wonder what kind of cultivation you are talking about?”

“Prefectural Prince Yi, what do you mean by this? I came with good intentions to report the phenomenon of the heavens and earth to His Majesty. Do you want to disregard the safety of His Majesty and Noble Consort Xian, as well as the safety of the royal family and the people of the country just for the sake of your wife?”

Baili Junyi sneered. Before he could reply, there was suddenly a commotion outside the door.

The Governor of Capital Guards quickly ran in. “Your Majesty, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and killed a willow tree in front of Noble Consort Xian’s Zhichun Palace.”

“What?” Baili Qingcang’s eyes widened. “Did you see it clearly? The lightning strike did it?”

“Yes, the news just came from the harem. With a loud rumble, a bolt of purple lightning descended from the sky. It was as if it could split the heavens and the earth. Zhichun Palace’s willow tree was directly split in half.” The Governor of Capital Guards reported, and his face was still filled with fear.

Liaochen, who was originally anxious, suddenly calmed down, and his face once again showed a compassionate look. “Your Majesty, I will say nothing else. Otherwise, it will cause a misunderstanding. This is already the best warning from the heavens. Please think about it carefully.”

Hearing Liaochen’s words, the others present spoke up one after another.

“Your Majesty, this is no small matter. It was clearly a warning from the heavens. It must be handled in a cautious way.”

“That’s right. If Noble Consort Xian were still in the Palace, who knew what would have happened?”

“Master had just said that she would hurt her parents and now it came true. This must be dealt with as soon as possible!”

Hearing everyone’s request, Shen Ninghua’s heart was filled with coldness. The Empress really had a good scheme. If Baili Junyi wanted to protect her, he would be considered unfilial and would have to bear the blame of the people. If he wanted to be filial to the Emperor and Noble Consort Xian, then he had to abandon her and their child, which would be bad for his reputation. No matter which party he abandoned, it would make him suffer for the rest of his life.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Your Majesty, please allow Princess Zhaohua to pray for the country!”

All of the civil and military officials got up and knelt on the ground, kowtowing three times and bowing nine times to Baili Qingcang. “Your Majesty, please allow Princess Zhaohua to pray for the country!”

Liaochen stood in the middle of the hall with his hands clasped together. The Buddha beads in his hands slowly rotated, emitting a slight crackling sound.

Baili Anning was already in a panic. She wanted to go forward and plead for leniency, but because of the silence in the hall, she did not dare to speak.

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi stood silently in the middle of the hall. They held hands together and had indifferent expressions on their faces, not as panicked as others had expected.