Phoenix Reborn: the Prime Minister’s Scheming Daughter - Chapter 349

Shen Ninghua suddenly raised her eyes and clenched the porcelain bottle in her hand tightly. A chill spread from the bottom of her heart. “I won’t disobey Father Emperor’s edict. I’ll get changed and enter the Palace with you.”

The commander of the Dragon Scale Army stretched out his arm to block Shen Ninghua’s way. “His Majesty has an imperial decree. You must enter the Palace immediately!”

Hearing the commander emphasizing the word “immediately”, Shen Ninghua sneered, “Oh? No matter how anxious Father Emperor is, I can’t enter the Palace in a disheveled state, right?”

The commander of the Dragon Scale Army frowned and sized Shen Ninghua up. His face immediately turned red and he quickly moved aside to make way.

Shen Ninghua wore a long white dress with narrow sleeves for the convenience of dealing with the medicinal herbs. The dress was stained with traces of medicinal herbs. She had removed all her accessories on her hair except a long jade hairpin to tie her long hair into a bun. After a night of hard work, her hair looked a little messy, which set off her slightly tired and pale face. She was so beautiful that it made people feel pity for her.

Shen Ninghua walked into the room. Bai Ruo and the others wanted to follow her in, but the Dragon Scale Army stopped them.

Walking into the room, Shen Ninghua swiftly changed into a new dress. She carefully put on the hairpin, hair ornament, and the sorts that she had removed earlier. Then, she hurried into the inner room and fed Baili Junyi the pill.

“Junyi…”

Baili Junyi closed his eyes tightly. After taking the pill, he showed no sign of waking up.

A rustling sound suddenly came from the bottom of the bed. Shen Ninghua was shocked and hurriedly took two steps back.

Shen Xuanlin exposed his head and called out, “Eldest Sister!”

“Xuanlin, shouldn’t you be in the school? Why are you back?” Previously, when they left the capital to go to Zhou City, they did not bring Shen Xuanlin along. Instead, they had Liu Yun accompany him to live in the capital with a new identity.

Shen Xuanlin crawled out from under the bed, followed by a young man with a lively face, Yun Chuan.

“Eldest Sister, Yun Chuan and I noticed that something was wrong earlier. After you came back, someone had been secretly observing your residence. Yun Chuan and I told Master about it. Master told us not to alert the enemy and find a suitable time to come in. Seeing so many palace guards outside today, we were really worried and secretly came in through the secret passage that Brother-in-law told me before.”

Shen Ninghua pushed the two of them behind the pillar and conferred solemnly, “Xuanlin, Yun Chuan, both of you are my younger brothers. I have something important for you to do.”

“Okay, just tell us.” The two young men glanced at her with big bright eyes. They had always been full of worship and gratitude to Shen Ninghua. Now that they had the opportunity to help her, they felt extremely thrilled.

“The guards outside are the Emperor’s personal army, the Dragon Scale Army. They sent the imperial decree, asking me to bring Baby Girl into the Palace. It was extremely dangerous for us to enter the Palace this time, and His Highness has not woken up yet. Help me look after him and keep telling him that Baby Girl and I are in danger. Do you understand?”

“Eldest Sister, will you be in danger after entering the Palace?” Shen Xuanlin was so anxious that his forehead was covered with sweats. He had been with Shen Ninghua for a long time and knew how many enemies she had back then, so he was more worried.

Shen Ninghua looked at Baili Junyi, and her eyes darkened. “I won’t if you can wake His Highness up.”

“Don’t worry, Eldest Sister.”

Shen Ninghua nodded. “Don’t go anywhere. If Bai Ruo and the others come in after I leave, tell them not to act rashly. Don’t ever act rashly. Also, if you find any danger, go under the bed and get out through the secret passage, understand?”

Baili Junyi was unconscious. The capital was under His Majesty’s control, and there was an invisible enemy hidden behind it. It was hard to predict their steps, and they must take every step cautiously or it would lead them to a fatal end. Therefore, they had to wait patiently for their opportunity!

“Okay, we understand.”

Shen Ninghua wanted to say something more, but Dragon Scale Army’s urging sound came from outside the door, “Your Highness, please hurry up. His Majesty is still waiting in the Palace.”

“Got it.” Shen Ninghua patted Shen Xuanlin and Yun Chuan on the shoulder. Then, she got up and walked to the small bed on the side. She woke Baby Girl up and helped her put on her clothes. When she saw her rubbing her eyes and pouting, she quickly patted her back to comfort her.

Shen Ninghua touched Big Boy’s face, and then carried Baby Girl out of the room quickly.

“Miss!” When Bai Ruo and the others saw Shen Ninghua come out, they hurriedly called out. Baili Anning’s face was so pale that it was almost transparent.

“Bai Ruo, take good care of Little Master and Princess Anning. Do you understand?”

“Y-Yes, I understand.”

The commander of the Dragon Scale Army stepped forward to block Shen Ninghua’s line of sight. “Your Highness, please enter the Palace.”

Shen Ninghua looked straight ahead and strode out.

The carriage drove very fast, but there was no sound outside. Shen Ninghua opened the window and looked out to the completely empty street. She couldn’t help but hold Baby Girl tighter.

Baby Girl finally woke up from her daze and looked around. When she couldn’t see her brother, she whimpered, “Mother, b-b-brot…”

Shen Ninghua touched her little face. “Big brother is at home with your father. Mother will take you into the Palace.”

Baby Girl went forward and lay on Shen Ninghua’s chest, looking sleepy. “Kiss…”

“Be good, Baby Girl.” Shen Ninghua kissed her cheek and gently stroked her head. Baby Girl seemed to feel Shen Ninghua’s repressed emotions and obediently nestled in her arms without making a sound.

The carriage drove from the entrance of the Palace all the way to the Cheng Qian Gate before stopping. Shen Ninghua’s gazes darkened when she got out of the carriage. The place was surrounded by guards. What was Father Emperor trying to do? Would he directly use the military force if she didn’t agree to hand out Baby Girl as the medical catalyst?

The palace maids and the guards standing at Chunxi Palace’s door were silent. Just as Shen Ninghua stood at the door, Liu Rui came out to greet her, “Greetings, Princess Zhaohua. Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you inside. Please come in.”

Baili Qingcang sat by the bed, his face full of worry and heartache. Xia Jingxin was lying on the bed with her eyes closed. Her face was as pale as paper, and her breath was weak.

“Greetings, Father Emperor. I’m here with my daughter, Baili Luoyao, to see you.”

Baili Qingcang turned around and waved for the palace servants to leave. “Ninghua, you are here.”

“Father Emperor, you asked me to enter the Palace so urgently. What’s the matter?”

Baili Qingcang was silent for a long time and seemed to have finally made up his mind. “You’ve seen Anning and heard about her, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have indeed heard about what happened to Anning. I also knew that you used her newborn baby’s blood as a medical catalyst in order to save the Noble Concubine.”

“Ninghua!” Baili Qingcang coldly shouted at her as if the topic was his pet peeve. “I had no choice but to do so. I thought that just a little bit of blood was enough, but no one expected the child to die in the end. I…”

Shen Ninghua pursed her lips. Her expression was as calm as a lake, but frigidness surged inside her. He had no choice? Was that the excuse he could come out with after killing an innocent child? So, was it because he had no choice that he had to make his move on Baby Girl this time?

“Ninghua, do you know why I asked you to come?” Baili Qingcang was silent for a long time before finally asking.

“I can make some guess. You want to force me to hand over my child so that she can become the medical catalyst for your beloved Noble Concubine!”

“Ninghua!” Baili Qingcang gritted his teeth and felt that every word she said was like a knife stabbing into his heart. “I have already asked Yan Bushou. He only needs a bit of blood. It won’t hurt the child’s life.”

Shen Ninghua sneered, “He told you the same thing when he used the blood of Anning’s child as the catalyst, didn’t he?”

“This time, it’s different. He has already promised me. I love Baby Girl too, and I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Father Emperor, since you don’t want to hurt her, why do you keep forcing me? You sent Dragon Scale Army to escort me to the Palace. The Imperial Guards are guarding the door. I bet the stealthy guards are hiding in the dark right now. You clearly have to achieve your goal today. Why do you make yourself sound like you are in a difficult situation?”

As Shen Ninghua spoke, she felt a strong sense of grief in her heart. Tears dripped down her cheeks, and Baby Girl, who was nestled in her arms, pouted and cried, “Mother…”

Baili Qingcang felt that Shen Ninghua’s aura was so oppressive that he didn’t dare to look straight at her. “Ninghua, do you know why I have to save Noble Concubine so desperately?”

“I heard some rumors. They said that Father Emperor believed that Noble Concubine was the reincarnation of Mother. That was why you have to save her at all costs.”

“It’s not that I believe in her, but that she is indeed the reincarnation of your mother,” Baili Qingcang affirmed in a serious tone.

Shen Ninghua frowned. “That’s impossible!”

“When I was at Guangdu Temple for prayers, I dreamed of your mother at night, saying that she had never been reincarnated. Instead, she was drifting about in the world without anyone to rely on. The monks at Guangdu Temple prayed for seven days and seven nights to summon her soul back. I watched her soul enter Xia Jingxin’s body with my own eyes. I could see your mother’s shadow in her every move. However, her soul was unstable and needed the blood of the royal family to help her stabilize her soul.”

Shen Ninghua suddenly laughed out loud. “Father Emperor, do you believe such a lousy lie? The reincarnation of my mother? The monks of Guangdu Temple prayed to summon souls?! Haha! Since when did the monks compete with the Taoist priests?”

“Ninghua, don’t you believe it?”

“How could I believe that? Xia Jingxin did not look like Mother at all! From the first time she saw me, she had been hostile to me. Later, she attacked Baby Girl many times. Now, she even wants Baby Girl’s life. You’re telling me that she’s my mother? What a joke!”

Baili Qingcang hurriedly explained, “No, she doesn’t know what materials are used in her medicine. Had she known, she would never have agreed to use Baby Girl’s blood as the catalyst.”

Looking at Baili Qingcang’s infatuated look, Shen Ninghua coldly rebuked, “Father Emperor, Mother has been dead for so many years. Did you ever dream of her before?”

Baili Qingcang suddenly froze, the expression on his face slightly stiff.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” Shen Ninghua glared at him. “I didn’t say it before because my mother had passed away and there was no need to mention her at all. But now, I have to say it. You have failed my mother and betrayed her love. You destroyed the Xia Family; you forced her to marry you, and she was poisoned when she was pregnant… Do you think my mother would still want to see you after experiencing betrayal and death?”

“Shut up!”

“Why don’t you let me finish?” Shen Ninghua raised her voice indignantly. “You have never dreamed of Mother for years, right? It’s because she doesn’t want to see you at all! With her fiery personality, she has long hated you to the core. Even if her soul was destroyed, she would not be willing to enter the Palace again!”

Baili Qingcang strode forward and slapped Shen Ninghua hard on the face.