Chapter 429

Shen Ninghua frowned. “Your Highness, everyone here heard what Father Emperor said just now. His Majesty said he believes the assassins have nothing to do with me. Your Highness, are you doubting Father Emperor’s words?”

Baili Jinyi looked sad, but his eyes looked threatening. “There are imperial doctors here to be witnesses. I believe their medical skills are on par with yours. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry anymore. Moreover, Father Emperor’s treatment is more important now. If you insist on arguing with me and delay Father Emperor’s treatment, can you and Fifth Younger Brother bear this responsibility?”

Baili Junyi stepped forward and stood in front of Shen Ninghua. People already began to agree with the Crown Prince’s words and condemn Shen Ninghua. Meanwhile, the footsteps of the soldiers outside the tent became louder. “Ninghua, let’s not delay the Crown Prince from treating Father Emperor. Let’s return to the tent first.”

With that, Shen Ninghua’s eyes relaxed. “Okay, I got it.”

The Crown Prince looked at Noble Consort Qi and the others. “Your Grace, Father Emperor will be properly taken care of here. You must have been worn out today, so you should go back and rest first.”

“Your Highness, I am responsible for taking care of the Emperor as his concubine. Do you think I am a threat to the Emperor too? Or are you trying to say that no one else can be with the Emperor except you?”

“What are you saying, Your Grace? I am just worried about Father Emperor. The assassins’ background has not been investigated clearly, and everyone is a potential threat. The fewer people stay with Father Emperor, the less dangerous it is. Isn’t it?”

“Everyone is a potential threat? Then, are you a suspect as well, Your Highness?” The indifferent aura of Noble Consort Qi disappeared without a trace and was replaced by a lofty arrogance.

Baili Jinyi smiled. “Of course, I am no exception. So, I will leave this place to the imperial doctors. I will not touch Father Emperor directly either.” As he spoke, the surrounding imperial doctors had already rushed forward and carefully checked Baili Qingcang’s pulse.

The footsteps of the soldiers outside were getting closer. Finally, the Emperor’s tent was thoroughly surrounded. Baili Jinyi looked at the entrance of the tent. “Anyone out there?”

“Yes!” The soldiers responded in unison. Their voices were so loud that everyone in the tent could not help but tremble. What was the Crown Prince trying to do? Was he trying to overthrow His Majesty again?

Baili Jinyi ordered coldly, “Protect Father Emperor’s safety day and night. No one is allowed to approach the tent without permission!”

“Yes!”

Noble Consort Qi’s expression was tense. “Since that’s the case, I will take care of the other matters. Arrest Madam Xia. I will interrogate her myself.”

“Yes!”

Crown Prince glanced at the maids who came forward and did not say anything to stop them.

Meanwhile, Baili Jinchuan looked coldly at Bu Yonghan. He raised his hand to grab her wrist and pulled her out at once.

Baili Jinchuan’s hand was like an iron clamp to Bu Yonghan, and her arm was about to be broken in half. However, at this time, she did not have time to worry about the pain in her body. There were too many things that went out of control. Even now, she still felt dizzy. Baili Qingcang had suddenly fallen ill. Now that the kingdom had no leader, it was bound to be a big mess! And her previous behavior had undoubtedly put Baili Jinchuan in an extremely awkward situation!

Baili Jinchuan was about to pull Bu Yonghan toward his tent, but Noble Consort Qi stopped him midway. “Jinchuan, bring Yonghan and come to my tent!”

The veins on Baili Jinchuan’s forehead twitched and then he nodded. “Yes, Mother Consort.”

When Noble Consort Qi returned to her tent, her face suddenly sank. She turned to look at Bu Yonghan, who was bowing to her, and strode over to slap her in the face. “Slap!”

Bu Yonghan was stunned. In the Great Yue Kingdom, she was a dignified princess. She was the Empress’ most beloved daughter. When had she ever suffered such grievances? When she returned to her senses, the humiliation in her heart turned her eyes red. “Mother Consort, why did you slap me?”

Noble Consort Qi was furious. When she heard Bu Yonghan’s question, she almost slapped her again. “You should answer my questions instead. What grudge do you have against Jinchuan that you have to destroy him?”

Bu Yonghan covered her face and shook her head. “I don’t. I have already married into Second Prince Mansion and will be Second Prince’s wife in the future. How could I harm him? Mother Consort, I am really heartbroken to hear your question.”

Noble Consort Qi was so angry that she laughed. “Heartbroken? Haha, you made me curious instead. Do you have a heart? If you have a heart, why aren’t you helping Jinchuan but holding him back instead? I can’t read your mind. After making use of Madam Xia, what did you gain? What did you find out? Do you think you are invincible just because you succeeded in scheming against the Third Prince?”

Bu Yonghan suddenly widened her eyes. Her scheming against the Third Prince was only vaguely revealed to Baili Jinchuan, and she had never told Noble Consort Qi. Did Baili Jinchuan tell her?

After Noble Consort Qi saw Bu Yonghan’s expression, she read her mind instantly. “What’s wrong? Do you think you’re good at hiding your secret? In that case, do you know that you would have been ruined if I hadn’t helped you in time? Do you, a princess without a strong foundation, think you can control everything in the palace? If I hadn’t helped you get rid of the witness, you would have been imprisoned now!”

Bu Yonghan bit her lips hard. “Mother Consort, that matter…”

“The matter is already dealt with. I don’t want to be hung up on it. In the end, the Third Prince was still imprisoned. This benefits Jinchuan so I won’t hold a grudge against you. But are you trying to drag him to death with you this time?”

“No, Mother Consort. How could I? I just feel unfairly treated… The Second Prince’s eyes are filled with Shen Ninghua, and there is no room for me. As his Princess Consort, I need to be magnanimous and patient. Therefore, I can put this matter behind me. But I can’t watch Shen Ninghua hurt His Highness. Mother Consort, don’t you know? His Highness lost his martial art skills because of Shen Ninghua!”

Noble Consort Qi was stunned, and she whipped her head to look at Baili Jinchuan. “Jinchuan, is this true?” She was surprised when Baili Jinchuan’s martial art skills became useless and his face was disfigured. However, after investigating for some time and finding nothing, she gave up. Later on, his appearance also recovered. Although it was a pity that he lost his martial art skills, he was lucky to be still alive. Could this matter be related to Shen Ninghua?

Baili Jinchuan shook his head. “I didn’t lose my martial art skills because of Shen Ninghua. Mother Consort, the matter has been thoroughly investigated. It was Panlong Villa behind all this.”

Bu Yonghan secretly gritted her teeth. At this crucial time, Baili Jinchuan was still protecting Shen Ninghua, that skank.

Noble Consort Qi carefully observed his expression and slowly walked before him. Then, she raised her hand and slapped him mercilessly. “How dare you lie to me?”

Baili Jinchuan quickly knelt but remained silent.

Noble Consort Qi gritted her teeth and asked, “How did that happen?”

“It was Panlong Villa…”

“Are you trying to anger me to death? Was Yonghan right? Was it Shen Ninghua who destroyed your martial art skills?”

Baili Jinchuan shook his head. “Back then, I was the one who kidnapped Shen Ninghua. I wanted her and tried to separate her and Baili Junyi. Later, I was attacked by a pack of wolves and got injured. Coincidentally, Panlong Villa’s assassins appeared too. Baili Junyi watched from the sidelines and did not help me, which caused me to lose my martial art skills…”

In the end, he still did not betray Shen Ninghua. He understood Noble Consort Qi very well. Since the incident of Anning, Noble Consort Qi looked as gentle as a lamb as always, but her guards were up. Now that Baili Qingcang was unconscious, Shen Ninghua was also in a difficult situation, and he did not want Mother Consort to hurt her at this time.

When Bu Yonghan heard this, her internal hatred was so intense that it almost overflowed. She thought, “Why is Baili Jinchuan so infatuated with Shen Ninghua? That woman is a shameless slut for making him intoxicated to her!”

Noble Consort Qi closed her eyes and sighed. “You have all grown up. There are many things that I can’t control anymore. You have also seen the current situation. I can’t even protect myself, so you should take care of yourselves. Yonghan, since you have married Jinchuan, you must always remember your responsibility as the main wife. Being jealous and fighting for affection is something only a concubine would do!”

Bu Yonghan’s face turned pale. “Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

“All of you may leave.” Noble Consort Qi was exhausted. Even if she wanted to pursue this matter now, she did not have the energy to do so. Baili Qingcang had fallen, and the Crown Prince had taken the advantage to be in power now. If she took a wrong step at this time, she would never be able to reverse the situation.

When Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi returned to the tent, their faces were glum. Hong Ling hurriedly stepped forward. “Miss, are you alright?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head. “Junyi, I suspect that Father Emperor has been poisoned.”

Baili Junyi frowned. “Ninghua, are you sure?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head. “I can’t be sure. I wanted to go forward and check Father Emperor’s pulse, but as you can see, the Crown Prince didn’t let me touch Father Emperor at all.”

“Father Emperor should be fine after a while.”

Shen Ninghua was stunned and then nodded. “Yes, you are right. Father Emperor is unconscious. The forces under him should be watching the situation closely. If Father Emperor dies, the Stealthy Guards, Imperial Guards, and Dragon Scale Army will surround Imperial City immediately. At that time, the Crown Prince won’t be able to control the situation at all.”

“Yes. However, if Father Emperor is unconscious for a long time, the situation will be uncertain.” No matter how powerful the troop was, it would slowly collapse as time passed. Once the Crown Prince took control of the entire situation, it wouldn’t matter whether Baili Qingcang was alive or not.

“Then what should we do now?” As Shen Ninghua spoke, she could not help but reach out to touch her belly. This child had come at a wrong time, as it was inconvenient for her to move now. This child would also be the most obvious target for others to attack Baili Junyi…

Baili Junyi stepped forward to hold her shoulder and kissed the top of her head in a comforting manner. “Ninghua, don’t worry. I will protect you and the children. Let’s wait it out. If the situation becomes critical, I will think of a way to send you and the children away.”

Shen Ninghua suddenly raised her head. “Leave? What about you?”

“I am highly skilled in martial arts. Don’t worry.”

“So, you will not leave with the children and me?”

“Ninghua, I want to save Father Emperor. He can’t be blindly controlled by someone.”

Shen Ninghua frowned. “I know, but you…”

“Don’t worry. I still want to fight for that position. Nothing bad will happen.”

Before they could finish speaking, there was a sudden commotion outside. Xia Rouqin quickly walked in. “Your Highness, Your Grace, the officials are in a mess. Apparently, many officials are asking the Crown Prince to act as a deputy while His Majesty is unconscious!”