Chapter 403

Big Boy and Baby Girl looked up at Baili Qingcang on the throne with sparkling eyes. Their clear eyes were full of novelty.

Looking at the two chubby children, Baili Qingcang felt his heart melting and asked them to stand up. “Rise. I called you into the palace today because I have something to say. Ninghua, you are pregnant now. The two children are still young. You don’t have any other maids in the mansion to assist you, so you may not be able to take good care of the children. Let Yongchen and Luoyao stay in the palace. I’ll make sure they are well taken care of.”

On the way to the palace, Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi had already thought about the purpose of the Emperor asking them to bring their children into the palace. However, they did not expect him to go straight to the point and ask for their children directly. “Father Emperor, the children are still young, and they are usually mischievous and insensible. I’m afraid that they will be a bother to you in the palace. I am pregnant, but we have many people in the mansion helping us. There is no problem for us to take care of the children.”

Baili Junyi hugged Big Boy. “Father Emperor, Ninghua is right. I do not have any errands to do now, so I can stay at home and take care of them. Thank you, Father Emperor, for your kindness, but we can manage them well.”

Having been directly refuted, Baili Qingcang grimaced in annoyance. “What? Are you worried about leaving them in the palace?”

Baili Junyi nodded. “Indeed, I am a little worried. The youngest Eighth Royal Brother is now ten years old. There have been no little kids in the palace for many years. I’m afraid that it is inconvenient in many aspects when there are suddenly two toddlers in the palace.”

“I’ll make all the necessary arrangements. The wet nurses, nurses, palace maids, and eunuchs are all ready. The two children will be raised by Consort Lan. She has always been the most gentle and careful. It is not a problem for her to take care of the two children.”

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes and looked at the Emperor sitting on the throne. She used to sincerely treat him as an elder and tried to ensure his authority and safety. But now, this honorable elder was going to rob her children. Did suspicion really destroy everything?

When Baili Qingcang finished speaking, he saw Shen Ninghua’s eyes, and his heart trembled slightly. Facing Shen Ninghua, he could not help but be extra lenient. However, she chose to marry Baili Junyi, and Baili Junyi controlled a force that he could not tolerate. Therefore, he could only be ruthless.

Seeing that Baili Qingcang looked away, Shen Ninghua opened her mouth and said, “Father Emperor, Consort Lan has never raised a child before. I’m afraid that she won’t be able to raise my children well, so I won’t bother her.”

A trace of annoyance flashed across Baili Qingcang’s eyes. “Ninghua, I’ve said that I will send people to take care of them!”

Feeling the tense atmosphere around them, Big Boy and Baby Girl looked around warily and snuggled in their parents’ arms. Their expressions were a little panicked and uneasy.

Looking at their appearance, Baili Junyi felt extremely distressed. “Father Emperor, you want my children to stay in the palace because you are afraid of the force I showed before. It was Father Emperor who wanted to kill my children, so they agreed to help me break into the palace. After that, they never listened to my orders again. Whether you believe it or not, I am telling the truth. I can list out the names of those people and give them to you, but we will not send the children into the palace.”

Baili Qingcang’s face turned pale and red when his purpose was exposed. “What do you mean by that?”

“Father Emperor, I am no longer an official that holds any title. I can also hand over my forces to you. Why do you not even let go of your own grandson and granddaughter?”

“Impudent!” Baili Qingcang suddenly took the teacup from the table and smashed it towards Baili Junyi’s head.

Baili Junyi reached out to protect the back of Big Boy’s head. He turned his body and dodged. The teacup fell to the ground with a loud bang. The two children trembled and began to sob quietly.

Baby Girl reached out and hugged Shen Ninghua’s neck, burying her face in her shoulder. “Mother, Mother, let’s go home. Let’s go home.”

Shen Ninghua patted her back gently. “I have something to do now, so we can only go home after a while. Can you bear with it for a while longer?”

“Yes.” Baby Girl pursed her lips, tears streaming down her face. She obediently stopped talking.

Baili Junyi’s face was cold. His wife and children were his limits and frontiers, so no one could touch them. “Father Emperor, I definitely won’t leave the two children in the palace. If you have any conditions, just state them.”

Baili Qingcang was furious. “Hah! You’re such a good son! You dare to negotiate with me! Do you think the palace is a scourge?”

“Father Emperor, the children can’t leave their birth mother. Ninghua and I have never had the chance to be with our birth mothers since we were young, so we know how it feels like from the depth of our hearts. If Consort Lan wants a child, please sleep with her more, or if other imperial concubines are pregnant, mark the baby under her name. Why on earth does she want my children?”

“What! Y-Y-Y-You are so rude!”

Baili Junyi spoke without the slightest scruple. Father Emperor had already started to suppress him, so the former would not believe that he would be docile and reserved no matter how he defended himself. If he showed any sign of weakness now, Father Emperor would definitely insist on the children being placed in the palace, and in just a few months, the children would be carried out of the palace in coffins. Because of this, Baili Junyi would not back down even if he had to fall out with Baili Qingcang.

“Ninghua, do you think so too?”

Shen Ninghua’s expression was solemn and cheerless. “Father Emperor, I can raise my own children. No one has the right to replace me as their birth mother!”

Baili Qingcang was so angry that he laughed. “Good, very good! I’ve finally seen your true color myself! In the past, I didn’t believe it when the Third Prince said how arrogant and lawless you were. Now, I understand that he is right!”

Shen Ninghua frowned, her eyes full of disappointment and confusion. “Father Emperor, we never had any intention of disrespecting you. Back then, Baili Junyi risked universal condemnation and impeached most of the officials in the court, all for the sake of helping you rule the country in peace when we left the capital. The imperial court is solemn, and all the officials are working hard now. Don’t you think that this is the result of our efforts back then? After that, we intruded into the palace just to protect the two children, and even more so, we didn’t harm you one bit. Can’t you understand that we were forced to make such a decision? It is said that the royal family is heartless. However, don’t you have any empathy or passion for your own family?”

“Shut up!” Baili Qingcang growled with a pale face. “Ninghua, don’t try to challenge my patience again and again just because I adore you! Do you really think I can’t bear to punish the two of you?!”

Baili Junyi sneered. “Father Emperor, you even killed your own grandson. Of course, you can bear to punish us…”

Baili Qingcang trembled and staggered slightly. This matter was a scar on his heart. Normally, no one dared to mention it. He also regretted it. However, it was as if he had been possessed at that time. “I did it because I was bewitched by a villain!”

“Yes, you were bewitched at that time. What about now? Are you also bewitched?”

“Impudent!” Baili Qingcang gripped the paperweight on the table tightly. The veins on the back of his hand were exposed, and he tried his best to suppress his anger so that he did not smash it down.

Baili Junyi faced Baili Qingcang’s anger without fear, and his eyes were profound. “Father Emperor, I will be at your disposal. Please let go of the two children!” After he finished speaking, he knelt on the ground with a thud. When his knees touched the ground, there was a dull sound on the floor, and it tugged at Baili Qingcang’s heartstrings.

“You…” Baili Qingcang looked at Shen Ninghua. “Ninghua, do you also think of me like this?”

Shen Ninghua hugged Baby Girl and knelt down. She did not speak, but her posture showed everything.

“Good, good! Get lost! Get the hell out of here! I have been blind to be so good to the two of you to deserve this!”

The two got up and carried the children out. Baili Qingcang gritted his teeth. When they left the door, he slammed the paperweight in his hand on the ground.

After leaving Southern Imperial Study, the two quickly walked out of the palace and sat in the carriage to return to their mansion. Only then did they feel slightly relieved.

The two children were frightened and cried for a while. Now, they had fallen asleep. Shen Ninghua looked down at Baby Girl, whose eyes were closed, and there were tears on her eyelashes. It was a rather pitiful sight. “What do you think will happen now that we refute the imperial edict again today?”

Baili Junyi lowered his head and stroked the hair on Big Boy’s forehead. “We will either be grounded inside the Imperial City or be expelled out of the capital. We did refute the imperial edict, but there is no substantial rebellion. Father Emperor will not have the intention to kill us, but there will be no chance for us to stand out.” The words he had just said in the palace had stepped on the sore spot of Baili Qingcang. Only this could enrage Baili Qingcang and disrupt his rhythm in order to bring the two children out safely.

A trace of sadness was revealed in Shen Ninghua’s eyes. “I’m afraid that Father Emperor is thoroughly disappointed in us this time.”

“He will understand.” If possible, they wanted to be filial and docile to Baili Qingcang, but reality forced them to this point step by step. He could understand the uneasiness Father Emperor was feeling if he put himself in the latter’s shoes. He would also have felt uneasy if his own palace had been broken through. Therefore, he had no complaints about Father Emperor’s suspicion and neglect. He repeatedly showed weakness and patience in order to show his loyalty to Father Emperor, but unfortunately, the latter completely ignored him.

Shen Ninghua nodded. How could Father Emperor expect them to be grateful and docile to him after he threatened them with the children? Impossible.

When they returned to the Fifth Prince Mansion, Hong Ling, Qing Que, and the others hurriedly surrounded them. Even Bai Ruo rushed over. When they saw that the two children had been safely brought back, their faces were full of joy.

“Miss, are the Little Masters asleep?”

“Yes, Qing Que, Rouqin, carry the children to their room and guard them.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Shen Ninghua looked at Bai Ruo. “Why are you here too?”

“I heard about what happened to you. I was worried sick, so I rushed over to take a look.”

“It just so happens that Liu Yun is also here. Let’s lay out our arrangements and plans.” Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi nodded and walked into Huajun Pavilion.

Baili Junyi stood in front of Ye Yi and the other confidants. He directly ordered, “Call back our men again and ask them to remain invisible for the time being. Other than the secret forces that have not been used, I will write up a list of the others and give it to Father Emperor. This is the way I show my respect to Father Emperor. Tell the men that they can rest assured. I will ensure their safety. Father Emperor will not kill them. Ninghua?”

Shen Ninghua nodded. “Hong Ling, gather up our people too. After such a long time, I rarely use them apart from collecting information. Their secrecy is very good, which is the best advantage we have. They can secretly help His Highness’ people to hide and evacuate. In addition, strengthen the security around the mansion. I am afraid that someone will take advantage of the chaos and make a move on us.”

“Yes, Miss.”