Chapter 164

Shen Ninghua sneered. “I am not only capable of curing illnesses and saving lives! By the way, let me remind you. I am now Princess Zhaohua personally bestowed by His Majesty! I can owe others money, but I have never heard of anyone who dares to owe me money!”

Xiao Jingran’s face darkened. His entire body was filled with rage. If he had a sword in his hand, he would probably rush over and chop her down. This Shen Ninghua was using her identity to suppress him! “Oh, I forgot that you are now Princess Zhaohua. Your identity is different from before! But Your Highness, let me also remind you that you were not born yet when our Xiao family were fighting for the country on the battlefield!”

Shen Ninghua’s gaze abruptly sharpened. Her eyes coldly swept across Xiao Jingran’s face like a sharp blade. She suppressed her anger and sneered, “Patriarch Xiao, you did remind me of my ignorance. After all, the Xiao family is a hundred-year-old clan and trusted by His Majesty. Since that’s the case, then you won’t default on my gold, right?”

Xiao Jingran bristled with anger and waved his hand at Shen Ninghua. “Here you go! It’s just 5,000 taels of gold, and my Xiao family don’t care about that sum at all.”

“Alright, then I’ll be waiting to receive the money.” Shen Ninghua raised her eyes and her gaze swept over the set of gold needles on the table. “Also, this set of gold needles cannot be used anymore. I suppose Patriarch Xiao will definitely make up for me. See you!”

Chu Junyi followed Shen Ninghua to send her off.

Just as the two of them stepped out of the door of the room, the door was slammed shut from the inside.

Chu Junyi’s eyebrows twitched, and his heart was filled with guilt. “Ninghua, I’m sorry to let you suffer like this.”

Shen Ninghua, however, did not care at all. She had made Xiao Jingran very angry, but she did not receive any substantive grievances. “It’s ok.”

Just as Chu Junyi arrived at the gate of the mansion and was about to help Shen Ninghua get on the carriage, a maid ran over and anxiously said, “Young Master, Miss is making a fuss. She said that her entire body was in pain, and she kept calling you. Old Master asked you to hurry back and take a look.”

Shen Ninghua was just about to board the carriage. Upon hearing this, she paused, and a cold smile flashed on her lips. Xiao Huanxi began to make trouble the moment she woke up. It seemed that she was really seeking death!

However, Chu Junyi wasn’t moved by the maid’s words. “I’m not an imperial doctor, and I can’t cure her. Besides, it’s not convenient for me to go into a woman’s bedroom. Go back and tell my foster father that I’m sending Her Highness back.”

After saying that, he mounted onto his horse and departed.

The maid returned to report while trembling with fear. Xiao Huanxi’s face turned pale, and she instantly fell onto the bed and sobbed bitterly. “Brother Junyi is still angry with me. Father, Eldest Brother, what should I do?”

Xiao Jingran stepped forward to support her shoulder. “Good girl, stop crying. Otherwise you will feel uncomfortable again.”

Xiao Fengjue looked coldly at Xiao Huanxi. “Father, you haven’t had a good rest for several days. Hurry up and go back to rest. I’ll comfort sister.”

After keeping watch of Xiao Huanxi for so many days, Xiao Jingran really felt very tired. He nodded and left worriedly.

Xiao Fengjue stood in front of Xiao Huanxi’s bed and quietly watched her crying, not showing the slightest bit of concern.

After crying for half a quarter, Xiao Huanxi really couldn’t hold on. She bit her lips and slowly raised her head to look at Xiao Fengjue. A trace of cowardice flashed through her eyes. “Eldest Brother.”

“Have you had enough crying?”

“Eldest Brother, I was just too sad. That’s why…”

“What’s there to be sad about?” Xiao Fengjue looked at her coldly. “Chu Junyi has always been your brother. This has never changed, and he is still your brother now. He has never belonged to you. What is there to be sad about?”

Xiao Huanxi was hurt by the blunt sarcasm and her face twisted. “If it weren’t for Shen Ninghua, Brother Junyi wouldn’t turn a blind eye to me now.”

“So you put your own health at risk just because he turned a blind eye to you?”

Xiao Huanxi smiled sorrowfully. Her pale face was filled with obsession and tears fell down like a broken necklace. “Eldest Brother, I love Brother Junyi. I can do anything for him. As long as he treats me well, I’m satisfied. But because of Shen Ninghua, he doesn’t like any other woman! I don’t understand why. He knew me first. I’m the one who grew up together with him. I have a deep affection for him. Why did everything change the moment Shen Ninghua appeared? I’m not willing, Eldest Brother. If I don’t fight for my love, I wouldn’t be willing even if I died!”

Xiao Fengjue clenched his fists tightly. After all, she was his younger sister. He also felt sorry for her, but he hated her even more for not seeing the situation clearly. “What’s the use of saying this now? Don’t forget, Chu Junyi has been engaged to Shen Ninghua, and the marriage was personally granted by His Majesty. What position do you still want to compete for? Can the first daughter of our Xiao family be reduced to a concubine?”

“I am willing. I am even willing to be a servant of Brother Junyi, let alone being a concubine. As long as I can stay by his side, I don’t care about my position. Eldest Brother, I cannot live without him. I cannot live without Brother Junyi.”

Xiao Fengjue suddenly grabbed Xiao Huanxi’s arm and pulled her up. Then, he slapped her in the face. “Since you even have the determination to be a servant, then don’t act like you’re going to die. Take good care of yourself and fight for it openly. You are my sister. Even if you lose, you will lose with dignity!”

Xiao Huanxi’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she completely ignored the pain in her face. “Eldest Brother, are you willing to help me?”

Xiao Fengjue paused for a moment before finally nodding. “Yes.” Shen Ninghua was too aggressive. Moreover, she was now a princess. If she really became Chu Junyi’s wife, the Xiao family would probably end up in a miserable situation.

When Shen Ninghua returned to the mansion, she saw Shen Linghan in the courtyard watching the servants carrying her luggage out bit by bit. She held the ledger in her hand and opened every box and examined carefully, as if she was afraid that she might miss something.

Bi Zhu, who was standing aside helping with the check, almost froze with anger. She had carefully checked these things four or five times. Shen Linghan actually suspected that Miss was playing tricks in the dark. How would Miss covet such petty things?

Shen Linghan noticed Shen Ninghua as well. She held the ledger in her hand and turned around with a fake smile on her face. “Eldest Sister, you’re back. If you came back a little later, I would be gone.”

Shen Ninghua walked to a seat at the side and sat down. “Bi Zhu, have you checked everything?”

“Yes, Miss, I have checked everything.”

“Then why don’t you send Side Imperial Concubine Shen away? When I entered the mansion, I saw the guards waiting to take her away were getting impatient.”

Shen Linghan’s expression changed. She hated Shen Ninghua so much that she gnashed her teeth. Suddenly, she thought of something. She suddenly smiled and asked someone to push her wheelchair to Shen Ninghua. “Eldest Sister, at least we were sisters. Now that I’m getting married, I specially prepared a gift for you.”

This time, Shen Ninghua was shocked. This younger sister, who wanted to take away even a pair of chopsticks, actually prepared a gift for her. “Oh? I’m curious. What gift?”

Shen Linghan smiled smugly. “You should like this gift very much. After all, this is…your birth mother’s stuff!”

Shen Ninghua suddenly frowned. “What did you say?”

“I said, this is your birth mother’s stuff.” Shen Linghan curled her lips and took out a jade pendant the size of a baby’s palm from her pocket. She waved the red rope slightly and said, “Speaking of which, you’re lucky. I had planned to exchange this jade pendant for money when I ran out of money. However, that day didn’t come.”

Shen Ninghua raised her hand, wanting to take it. However, Shen Linghan suddenly took back the jade pendant. “Eldest Sister, you haven’t said if you like this gift or not.”

Seeing her performance, Shen Ninghua no longer felt anxious. She leaned against the table and looked at her. “Of course I like it, but I see that you don’t want to give it to me.”

Shen Linghan laughed out loud. “How would I refuse to give it to you? I said it was a gift for you. Keep it!” After saying that, she directly threw the jade pendant over.

Shen Ninghua caught it. The jade pendant was clean and translucently milky white. It was carved into the shape of a pair of dragon and phoenix. The carving was exceptionally exquisite without the slightest flaw. At a glance, one could tell that it was of extraordinary value. “Are you sure this is my mother’s stuff?”

Shen Linghan chuckled. “If you don’t believe me, investigate by yourself. Let me tell you a secret. This jade pendant involves a big secret. I’m reminding you out of kindness. Haha, make sure you investigate it thoroughly.”

As the boxes of precious artifacts were carried out one by one, Shen Dong walked out with his hands behind his back. His eyes were filled with displeasure. “Shen Linghan, you are leaving, why don’t you say goodbye to your father?”

Shen Ninghua subconsciously put away the jade pendant, not wanting Shen Dong to see it.

Shen Linghan sneered in a low voice and then laughed crazily.

Shen Dong looked at her with disgust and couldn’t help but feel dejected in his heart. Originally, he thought that this daughter was of great use, but he didn’t expect that she wouldn’t even be able to secure the position of a princess and ended up a junior concubine. This status wasn’t high, and she was also crippled, so he thought she was completely useless to him.

Seeing his expression, Shen Linghan said in a sarcastic tone:

“Father, Linghan has let you down. I’m sorry. Speaking of which, you still wish to revitalize the Shen family, right? Unfortunately, I am now of no value for you anymore, haha! However, look in front of you. Shen Ninghua is right here. She is now Princess Zhaohua. Isn’t it very easy for her to find a position for you…Oh, I forgot. Since she is now a princess, she is the emperor’s daughter. She has nothing to do with you anymore! ”

Shen Dong’s face was ashen with anger. “You unfilial, stop talking nonsense!”

‘”Ah, father, are you angry from embarrassment? Did I guess your mind correctly? Haha, I’m leaving now. Even if I’m crippled, I’m still the prince’s junior concubine, and you can continue to have your big dream. From now on, I hope to never see any of you again!”

Shen Linghan gritted her teeth fiercely as she spoke. Her entire face became twisted. This mansion was her nightmare. This was hell. She would never meet them again in her life!

Thinking about it, she slowly restrained her facial expression, slightly raised her chin, and tidied up the jewels on her head. Her movements carried an elegant aura, as if she was still the apple of the Prime Minister’s eye.