Chapter 171 - Am I Beautiful?

Chu Junyi forcefully swallowed his saliva to calm down the chaotic heartbeat in his chest. But he couldn’t move his eyes away at all. “Ninghua, wake up.”

Shen Ninghua raised her head in confusion. Her eyes were filled with fragmentary light, as if there were crushed stars in her eyes, which caused her to lose her minds and become intoxicated. “Chu, Jun, Yi!”

She pronounced every word very clearly. Probably the drug made her originally crisp voice a little hoarse. The last word “Yi” was extremely soft, as if it was pronounced from the tip of her tongue. Hearing it, Chu Junyi was intoxicated.

“Ninghua…”

Just as Chu Junyi opened his mouth, Shen Ninghua raised her finger and pressed it against his lips. Her expression carried a trace of charm as she asked, “Am I beautiful?”

Her waist was slender like a willow, her face was pink like a peach blossom, her mouth was red like vermillion, and her eyebrows were thin like new leaves…

“Yes!” Chu Junyi didn’t know what kind of words to use to describe her beauty, so he could only spit out a single word.

Shen Ninghua smiled brightly. The clothes on her chest slid to the side, revealing a piece of exquisite skin. “Chu Junyi, I…”

Chu Junyi secretly gritted his teeth. A fierce struggle was taking place in his mind. One voice in his mind urged him to take advantage of the situation and to take possession of the beauty, in any case, they were going to get married in the future. This could be considered as the antidote to Ninghua. The other voice in his mind reminded him of respect for etiquette. Both he and Ninghua had extremely special identities. A slight stain was enough to become a weapon for others to criticize them. Moreover, he wanted to give Ninghua a grand and spectacular wedding before getting her body completely.

In the end, the second voice prevailed. He secretly swallowed his saliva and forcefully pressed on Shen Ninghua’s sleeping acupoint. Looking at that sleeping face, Chu Junyi secretly praised himself in his heart. “I am indeed more courteous than the famous gentleman Liu Xiahui!”

He went out of the room and told the hidden guards to deal with Xiao Huanxi’s courtyard. Then he ordered someone to prepare awakening solution to feed Shen Ninghua.

Shen Ninghua woke up and saw that she was lying on an unfamiliar bed. Her face turned pale. She sat up abruptly and checked her clothes and body. She felt relieved after discovering that there was nothing unusual.

Chu Junyi walked into the room and saw that Shen Ninghua was awake. A smile flashed in his eyes. “Ninghua, you’re awake?”

“You saved me?” Shen Ninghua’s mind suddenly flashed with the scene from before, and her ears suddenly turned red. “You gave me the antidote. How long had I slept?”

“I gave you an awakening solution. You only slept for about fifteen minutes.”

Shen Ninghua nodded and got up from the bed to tidy up her dress. A trace of gloom flashed in her heart. “Where are Xiao Huanxi and Wang Wei?”

“I knocked them out and locked them up.” Thinking of their plan, Chu Junyi’s face turned cold. He no longer had the intention to plead mercy for Xiao Huanxi. This time, he would definitely teach her a lesson.

“Alright, lock them up carefully. I will definitely personally take revenge on Wang Wei!” Shen Ninghua gritted her teeth fiercely as she thought of more than a dozen methods to kill him without spilling blood. “Xiao Huanxi dared to plot such a scheme to ruin my reputation. She must have prepared subsequent moves. Perhaps all the ladies in the front yard have come to the backyard to watch the show now. I have to go out as soon as possible.”

Chu Junyi nodded. “Follow me. The other end of this secret passage is in the garden. Just say that you were admiring the flowers and forgot about time.” As he spoke, he stepped forward to grab Shen Ninghua’s arm. The moment he touched her, Shen Ninghua’s arm subconsciously moved away.

Chu Junyi was stunned for a moment, and then he grew even angrier. He should have directly stomped Wang Wei to death!

Shen Ninghua did not seem to be aware of her actions as she followed Chu Junyi’s footsteps and walked out of the secret passageway.

At this time, the front courtyard and back courtyard were both in a mess. Princess Zhaohua and Xiao Huanxi both disappeared!

Madam Su’s face was pale, and she regretted that she hadn’t stopped Shen Ninghua directly.

At this time, a lady said, “How could the princess disappear without a reason? Perhaps she just went with someone?”

Hearing this sentence that was clearly suggestive of something, Madam Su’s expression changed. She said loudly, “Princess Zhaohua is missing. Instead of searching for her as quickly as possible, you sit there with wanton guess. This should be a capital crime, right?”

The person who had just spoken immediately fell silent.

Madam Su snorted coldly and turned around to instruct the maidservants to spread out and continue searching.

After searching through the backyard, they did not find Shen Ninghua. The discussions sounded again.

“Didn’t she say that she was going to change clothes? But she actually disappeared. This is really odd from whichever perspective.”

“That’s right. Where else could she go to change clothes? Maybe this is just an excuse. I’m afraid only she herself knows what’s going on.”

“Yes, isn’t her husband-to-be in the courtyard not far from here? Maybe the two young people…haha…”

Madam Su’s expression was solemn and her heart was filled with anxiety. If the situation continued, even if Ninghua came back, she would still be unable to explain. She must take measures to protect Ninghua’s reputation right now. Thinking of this, she immediately shouted coldly, “Cui Xi, go find Patriarch Xiao. A dignified princess is missing after changing clothes in the Xiao Mansion. He should give us an explanation!”

“What does this have to do with the Xiao Mansion? Madam Su, the princess has nothing to do with the Shen family now. If you speak up for her like this, I’m afraid that the princess might hate you. Why do you have to ask for trouble?”

“That’s right. You are offering unwanted help!”

Madam Su suddenly turned around and frowned. “I’m not protecting my niece, but a princess of our Da’an Dynasty. What do you two ladies have to say?”

As soon as she finished speaking, another clear voice sounded. “If the two ladies have any opinion, I’d like to hear it and see what we can do!”

Princess Zhaohua?

Everyone turned around and looked behind them. Shen Ninghua slowly walked over in a luxurious attire. Her footsteps were filled with elegance. “I heard the noise from the garden. I thought there was an accident, but you were actually looking for me?”

Madam Su’s face was filled with joy. She walked to Shen Ninghua and sized her up from head to toe. Only after confirming that there was nothing wrong with Shen Ninghua did she let out a sigh of relief.

The few people who had just spoken stood at the side and their expressions were exceptionally awkward.

Shen Ninghua slowly walked forward and swept her gaze across everyone. Her gaze was filled with a cold and tense aura. “Madam Li, right? His Majesty severed my relationship with the Shen family, but Madam Su is still my aunt. What, do you have a problem?”

“No…no, how could I…” Madam Li’s face was filled with a flattering smile. “Your Highness misunderstood me.”

Shen Ninghua smiled coldly. “It had better be a misunderstanding. Otherwise, if you are really dissatisfied, hide your dissatisfaction in your belly. After all, people who talk too much are most likely to have their tongues pulled out! What do you think?”

Madam Li’s smile stiffened and she nodded after a while. Many people on the side quietly had a pale face when they heard this and lowered their heads, not daring to look at Shen Ninghua.

Shen Ninghua glanced at everyone and said, “I was in the garden. I forgot about the time when I was admiring the flowers. Sorry to make you worried. Everyone, go back to the front yard. After all, this is a banquet prepared by Xiao Huanxi. Don’t waste the opportunity.”

“Your Highness, Miss Xiao is missing.”

“Missing?” Shen Ninghua frowned. “Then what are you still waiting for? Find Patriarch Xiao and ask him to send people to search the entire courtyard. If he can’t find her, then find the Governor of Capital Guards and search the entire capital. In this short period of time, no one can leave the capital, right?”

“Yes. Your Highness are right.”

Xiao Jingran sent people to search the courtyard, but they didn’t find any clue. His eyes immediately turned red with anxiety.

Xiao Fengjue hurriedly said, “My apologies to all the distinguished guests. I’m afraid that today’s banquet should end early. I’ll personally go to apologize to all of you another day.”

Everyone stood up tactfully and said goodbye.

Shen Ninghua got into the carriage, and the smile on her face instantly disappeared. She leaned against the wall of the carriage and gasped for breath.

Chu Junyi asked Ye Yi to impersonate him and stay in the Xiao Mansion, while he changed his appearance and jumped into Shen Ninghua’s carriage. “Ninghua, are you alright?”

Even though she took the antidote, there was still the muscle relaxant in the aphrodisiac Yilan Flower Pollen. How could she return to normal so quickly? Seeing Shen Ninghua leaning against the carriage wall with a pale face, Chu Junyi felt so sorry in his heart. He leaned closer and held her in his arms. “Ninghua, it doesn’t matter if you rest for a while.”

Shen Ninghua opened her eyes, which were like two bottomless deep springs carrying a deep cold aura. “Where are Xiao Huanxi and Wang Wei?”

“I had them taken to the villa in the suburbs and locked up.”

“Let’s go to the suburbs.”

“Ninghua, you should go back and rest first. We can go there later.”

Shen Ninghua’s gaze was firm. “I’m fine. I should take revenge sooner rather than later. So I have to go now.”

Chu Junyi’s heart ached for her, but in the end, he could not bear to reject her request and brought her to the country villa.

Wang Wei was tied to a shelf and was still unconscious. Chu Junyi’s punch and kick were too fierce.

Shen Ninghua’s heart couldn’t help but tremble. Today, her life was almost ruined…She took a basin of cold water from the side and poured the water fiercely at Wang Wei.

“Cough cough…cough cough…” Wang Wei opened his eyes. Seeing the decorations around him, his expression stiffened. When he saw Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi, he was scared out of his wits.

Shen Ninghua sneered. “You coward, how dared you plot against me?”

Wang Wei struggled, but his hands were tied so hard that he couldn’t break free. “Your Highness, please spare my life. It was Xiao Huanxi who ordered me to do this. I didn’t want to do it!”

Xiao Huanxi was in a corner with both of her hands tied up. Just as she woke up, she heard the words. She immediately gritted her teeth in hatred. Seeing Chu Junyi standing beside her, she immediately changed her expression and looked like she was about to cry. “Brother Junyi, I don’t know what cousin is talking about. I didn’t do anything!”

Wang Wei widened his eyes. “Bah, don’t pretend to be innocent. You were extremely blunt when you told me about your plan. Your Highness, what I said was true. Xiao Huanxi was jealous that you can marry Chu Junyi and she wanted to set you up. She even said that after I slept with you, she would let me marry you. Then, I could become the emperor’s son-in-law. I was possessed by ghosts and agreed to her sinister idea. I was wrong! But I was really made a fool by others. Please spare me.”

Xiao Huanxi was so angry that she almost fainted. If the two of them refused to admit it and just said that they didn’t know anything, or at most acknowledged that they had been framed, they would get rid of the suspicion. This Wang Wei was so stupid that he confessed everything. This useless thing!

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes coldly without a trace of expression on her face. “I don’t need to know who’s the mastermind or who’s the accomplice. All I need to know is that I want to take revenge on you…”