Phoenix Reborn: the Prime Minister’s Scheming Daughter - Chapter 342

Shen Ninghua’s gaze was as tranquil as water as she looked at the arrogant Zhou Ziqing. “Not everyone is like you. You want to gain prestige among the people, but you don’t cherish their lives at all.”

Zhou Ziqing laughed in a low voice for a long time. Suddenly, there was no sound. At this time, the Zhou Family members suddenly fell to the ground and groaned loudly. The expression on their faces was particularly painful.

Shen Ninghua was shocked. “Ye Yi!”

Ye Yi hurriedly went forward to check. Shockingly, the members of the Zhou Family had blood on their lips, and soon, they died on the spot. Only Zhou Jingshu, who was lying on the ground, laughed.

“Princess, other than Zhou Jingshu, everyone else has been poisoned and died.”

Shen Ninghua got up and checked on them personally. Her expression was slightly gloomy. “Zhou Jingshu, what are you laughing at?”

Zhou Jingshu struggled to get up. Her body was stained with dirt, her hair was messy like grass, and her pale face was covered with sweat. She was no longer the beautiful young lady she always was. “What am I laughing at? I am happy, of course, and I want to laugh.”

“What’s there to be happy about?”

Zhou Jingshu raised her eyes and looked straight at Shen Ninghua. There was a crazed look in her gaze. “They never treat people as human beings. Didn’t you hate them for a long time? Now that I helped you kill them, aren’t you happy?”

Shen Ninghua frowned. “You killed them? Did you poison them?”

Zhou Jingshu smiled mysteriously and looked straight at Shen Ninghua. “Come closer. I’ll tell you when you come closer.”

Hong Ling stepped forward slightly to stop Shen Ninghua. “Miss, please don’t. Be careful. There may be a trap.”

Zhou Jingshu smiled contemptuously. “What? I am so sick right now, and my hands are tied. Are you scared to come to me?”

With a calm expression, Shen Ninghua walked up to Zhou Jingshu. “Talk.”

A strange look flashed through Zhou Jingshu’s eyes. “Come closer, and I will tell you alone.”

Shen Ninghua took two steps forward and squatted down slightly. Suddenly, Zhou Jingshu’s hands, which were tied at her back, were freed. She held a silver hairpin and stabbed it at Shen Ninghua’s chest. She had actually secretly broken free from the rope tying her hands!

“Miss, watch out!”

Shen Ninghua suddenly dodged backward. Hong Ling, who was at the side, quickly stepped forward and kicked Zhou Jingshu in the chest, kicking her to the ground. “Zhou Jingshu, how dare you!”

“Pfft!” Zhou Jingshu suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. She crawled up with hatred in her eyes and stared at Shen Ninghua. “You destroy me and my family! You destroy everything I originally have. I hate you! I want to kill you right now! Bitch, you bitch!”

Hong Ling stepped forward and kicked Zhou Jingshu again, directly knocking her out.

Shen Ninghua sneered, “You should hate your brother. If he is sincere and kind, he will be protected and loved by all the people of Zhou City. Even His Majesty will praise him, and the Zhou Family will definitely be the most glorious family of Zhou City. Unfortunately, he bore the fruit of his own doing. You have no one to blame but yourselves!”

The expressions on the faces of the people below the stage were very dull and stoic. They hated Zhou Ziqing for his schemes and plots against them, and they wished they could kill him with their own hands. But now that all of them died, they did not feel any happiness or satisfaction. Speaking of which, it was because the Zhou Family had managed their reputation too well.

Shen Ninghua looked at the bandits and officials at the side. “The Zhou Family members have all committed suicide out of fear of their crimes. Now that they died, I won’t pursue their crimes. I can’t decide what punishment you should be sentenced to. I will report it to His Majesty and ask him to judge. Guards, take these people away and lock them up properly.”

After dealing with these people, the crowd below gradually dispersed. Shen Ninghua took two steps back and slowly sat down in her seat. Her expression revealed a bit of exhaustion.

Baili Jinchuan looked at the tired Shen Ninghua and couldn’t help but walk over step by step. He raised his hand, wanting to touch her shoulder.

Shen Ninghua subconsciously avoided his hand. When she looked up at him, the tiredness in her eyes had disappeared and she regained her calm. “Second Royal Brother, why are you still here? Do you have any doubts that you haven’t figured out?”

Baili Jinchuan retracted his hand and clenched it into a fist in his sleeve. The pain in his heart was even worse than his palm. “There are some things that I don’t quite understand.”

“Oh? What is it? Tell me about it.”

“I don’t understand why you have to be so tough on yourself and stubborn. You can clearly enjoy the most luxurious life. You can go anywhere in luxury carriages and horses; you can have servants helping you in everything; you can wear silk satin and exquisite jewelry. But no, you don’t like any of them. You have to come to this remote northwest city and be misunderstood and hated. They trampled on your reputation and dignity. You even have to face the blood of slaughter. Aren’t you tired?”

Baili Jinchuan’s gaze was profound, like a deep pool full of temptation. It looked dark and cold, but there was a faint tenderness flowing out of the depths of his pupils, making people unable to help but approach and indulge in them.

Shen Ninghua’s expression changed slightly, then, she lowered her eyes. Her long eyelashes covered her clear eyes as she said, “I don’t want to be ordinary, to begin with. What’s wrong with this kind of life? The killing and the bloodiness are for the sake of my own comfort. As for whether I’m tired or not, I have a husband who loves me dearly and a pair of lovely children. With them, I won’t be tired.”

Baili Jinchuan suddenly narrowed his eyes. A tyrannical emotion flashed through his eyes, and then he sneered, “Heh, it seems that I was too nosy.” After saying that, he flung his sleeves and left the high platform.

Shen Ninghua sat on the chair and let out a sigh of relief. After a while, she stood up. “Tell Ye Yi to keep an eye on this place. Bi Zhu, help me tidy up and seal up the other belongings. After His Majesty’s decree arrives, he probably will immediately send his men to transport the things to the capital. Bai Ruo, the three of you, follow me back.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When she returned to her residence, Shen Ninghua went to check on Baili Junyi’s condition and asked Bai Ruo to bring the two children over.

Bai Ruo looked at Shen Ninghua worriedly and sighed under her breath, “At this time, Miss must feel uncomfortable. Your Highness, please wake up!”

After checking Baili Junyi’s pulse and feeding him some water, Shen Ninghua used a silk handkerchief to wipe the water stains on her lips. She rebuked, “Hey, wake up already. Today, Baili Jinchuan has bewitched me. If you don’t wake up, who would stop me if I failed to stand firm on my ground?”

Baili Junyi frowned slightly as if he had dreamed of something. Shen Ninghua’s eyes lit up, and she stared at him, afraid to miss the slightest expression on his face. However, after waiting for a long time, other than the frown just now, he didn’t have any other reaction.

The joy in her eyes slowly faded away. Shen Ninghua leaned over slightly and leaned against Baili Junyi’s hand. “Junyi, I lied to you. Of course, I can stand firm on my ground. No one in the world can get close to me, who is covered in thorns. No one is as silly as you… No one can love me as you do…”

“Miss, I brought the two Little Masters over,” Bai Ruo’s voice sounded from the door.

Shen Ninghua raised her hand and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Come in.”

Big Boy and Baby Girl were especially happy to see Shen Ninghua and fluttered towards her.

Shen Ninghua laughed softly, and the heaviness in her heart eased a little. She took the two of them and put them on the bed. She touched their little heads and urged, “Talk to your father. Maybe he will wake up when he hears your voices.”

“Puff… ah… mama…” Baby Girl blew a breath, and then vaguely spat out a word.

Shen Ninghua was stunned and could not believe her ears. Bai Ruo, who was at the side, cried out in surprise, “Miss, Little Master is calling you. Little Master can talk.”

Shen Ninghua was extremely surprised. She picked up Baby Girl and put her in her arms. “What did you just say? Say it again.”

“Ah… mama…” Baby Girl did not speak clearly and her pronunciation was extremely inaccurate. However, Shen Ninghua did not mind at all. She hugged and cuddled her tightly. “Good girl. You’re my good girl.”

As a mother, she realized that the child’s words were enough to move her to tears.

Big Boy, who was at the side, saw that his mother was holding his sister. He bit his little hand anxiously and wanted to ask his father for help. However, he found that his father was lying on the side with his eyes closed and ignored him. He could not help but feel upset and his eyes turned red. After struggling for a long time, he spat out a word, “Bad…”

He remembered that his father would often play with him, and now no one would play the staring game with him.

Shen Ninghua, who witnessed this scene, did not know whether to laugh or cry. She reached out and pulled Big Boy over, gently touching his head. “Your father is resting. When he has enough rest, he can play with you.”

The two children learned to talk. This good news blew away the haze in Shen Ninghua’s heart a little. But before she could recover from her joy, a piece of news was delivered from the capital city at a rapid speed.

“Princess Zhaohua, His Majesty summoned His Highness and you to return to the capital immediately.”

Shen Ninghua frowned. “His Highness is still unconscious, and the wounds on his body have not healed. It is a long journey to travel from Zhou City to the capital. How can he bear it?”

The Shadow Guard, who had come to deliver the decree, did not make a sound. He was only responsible for conveying the Emperor’s orders and then bringing Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi back. He wasn’t responsible for anything else.

Seeing that he did not make a sound, Shen Ninghua knew that there was no room for negotiation. “If we go back, what about Zhou City’s silver and valuables?”

“His Majesty has already sent people to escort the items to the capital.”

Shen Ninghua nodded. “What about Royal Prince De? Will he return to the capital with us?”

“The disaster relief has not been completed. Royal Prince De will stay to preside over the overall situation.”

“Okay, I understand. You can go down. I will get people to pack up and get prepared to leave.”

“Yes.”

Bai Ruo stood up and supported Shen Ninghua. “Miss, what should we do now?”

“Pack up the things. We can’t disobey His Majesty’s order. Father Emperor wants us to go back, so we must go back no matter what.” Looking at Baili Junyi at the side, she sat beside him and held his hand tightly. “Junyi, wake up quickly! I beg you! Please!”

“Miss…” Bai Ruo could not help but shed tears, her heart filled with worry.

Shen Ninghua closed her eyes. “Go pack our things. We will set off tomorrow… and return to the capital!”