Chapter 211 - Let's See Who Would Be Worse Off!

After getting up, neither of them mentioned their quarrel. However, their relationship was much closer than before, and there was even a silent tacit understanding between them whatever they did.

In the past, Bai Ruo was the person who understood Shen Ninghua’s habits the best. But now, Chu Junyi often got the things done for Shen Ninghua before Bai Ruo could react.

One day, when Shen Ninghua was studying the news sent by Hong Ling and analyzed what had happened recently step by step, a maidservant of Baili Anning was led by Hong Ling and quickly walked in.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Qiu Shi, why are you here?”

Qiu Shi’s face was pale. After seeing Shen Ninghua, she knelt on the ground and said, “Princess Zhaohua, please save my mistress.”

Shen Ninghua frowned. “Get up. What’s wrong with Anning?”

“Your Highness, please follow me into the Palace to take a look. My mistress has been lying on the bed for two days and hasn’t eaten anything. If this continues, I am afraid she won’t be able to hold on.”

Shen Ninghua rolled her eyes. She had been investigating the Internal Affairs Department those past two days. Although she often went to the Palace, she did not visit Baili Anning. She didn’t expect that something would happen to her. “Take a seat and wait for a while. I’ll change my clothes and follow you into the Palace.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Highness. Thank you.” Qiu Shi wiped the tears off her face and obediently waited aside.

Bai Ruo helped Shen Ninghua get her fox fur cloak and carefully tidied her clothes. She said worriedly, “Miss, it’s getting late now. Do you think it is safe to enter the Palace at this time?”

Shen Ninghua’s was putting a jade hairpin on her head. Her fingers paused for a moment. “No problem. I guess it’s just a trivial thing. At this moment, the Empress and the Zhao family were playing it safe to protect themselves. The others probably don’t have the energy. Even if there’s a plot, I have to go there because Anning needed me.”

Previously, Baili Anning had risked her life to deliver messages to her. Although there was too little information for her to be prepared, she still appreciated her help and kindness.

Shen Ninghua’s carriage quickly arrived at the imperial palace. She didn’t make any delay and went straight to Baili Anning’s bedroom. When she entered the room, she was slightly stunned. Baili Anning was sitting in her seat. Although her expression was slightly anxious, she was not seriously sick as described by Qiu Shi.

Shen Ninghua turned around to look at Qiu Shi, only to find that she had retreated. A bad premonition immediately surged in her heart, “Your Highness, Qiu Shi told me that you were feeling a little unwell, so I came to see if you had recovered.”

Baili Anning got up and quickly walked to Shen Ninghua. She held her hand with an apologetic expression. “Ninghua, I… I don’t know what to say. I…”

Seeing her expression, Shen Ninghua’s heart skipped a beat, and then she immediately figured it out. “Did you call me here for the Skin-Revitalizing Ointment?”

The Second Prince was injured and disfigured with scars left on his face. Since the news that she had Skin-Revitalizing Ointment had been spread out, the Second Prince would never let go of the chance to restore his original appearance.

Baili Anning’s heart tightened and her expression became even guiltier. She nodded. “Ninghua, I’m sorry, I…”

Shen Ninghua smiled faintly. “That’s alright. I’ll have someone send Skin-Revitalizing Ointment to you tomorrow. I still have something to do today, so I must take my leave now.”

“Ninghua…” Baili Anning bit her lips, the guilty expression in her eyes became stronger. “There’s one more thing…”

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from behind her. Shen Ninghua immediately frowned and turned around.

Baili Jinchuan, who was dressed in blue attire, slowly walked out. This was the first time Shen Ninghua had met Baili Jinchuan at a short distance since he drugged her in the forest. She found Baili Jinchuan was like a sharp blade that had been refined. His previous vacillation and restlessness disappeared, and he looked calm and reserved. But through his sharp eyebrows, she could see the aggressiveness hidden in his heart.

In fact, the scar on his eyebrows was not obvious, and it even made his originally handsome and resolute face more domineering and heroic, making him look even more majestic.

Shen Ninghua was on full alert as she looked at Baili Jinchuan without blinking. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Baili Jinchuan had a faint smile on his lips. He looked a little indifferent, but the words he said were unquestionable. “Anning, you go out first. I have something to say to Princess Zhaohua.”

Baili Anning was nervous. “Second Elder Brother, didn’t you say that you just wanted to have a look at Ninghua? How could you go back on your word?”

Baili Jinchuan turned his head. His sharp eyes and oppressive might made Baili Anning’s face pale. “What? Do you want to disobey my words?”

“No, Second Elder Brother. I just worry about Ninghua…”

“Your Highness,” Shen Ninghua suddenly said, “since you’ve called me here, there’s no need to say anything else now.”

The moment she saw Baili Jinchuan, she was sure that if she did not agree to meet him alone today, he would continue to look for other opportunities in the future. Rather than feeling uneasy every day, she might as well hear what he wanted to say now.

Baili Anning’s face suddenly turned pale. She looked at Shen Ninghua’s cold expression, and her heart couldn’t help but tremble. “Ninghua…” Baili Jinchuan clapped his hands. The palace maids guarding the entrance immediately walked in. “Princess Anning is tired. Take her to have a rest.”

Qiu Shi led two palace maids and took Baili Anning away.

Shen Ninghua rolled her eyes and looked at Baili Jinchuan. “Your Highness, what a good move.”

Qiu Shi was extremely trusted by Baili Anning. She didn’t expect that this palace maid would obey Baili Jinchuan’s orders. Did that mean that he had already taken control of Princess Anning’s palace?

Baili Jinchuan turned around and walked to his seat. He picked up a cup of tea on the table and the look in his eyes turned deeper. “It’s been a long time since I saw you. Now you are someone else’s wife. It really filled my mind with all sorts of feeling.”

“What else do you want to say? If there’s nothing else, then I’ll take my leave.”

Baili Jinchuan curled his lips slightly and didn’t say anything to stop her. He just smiled and looked at the entrance.

Shen Ninghua walked to the door. When she pulled it forcefully, she found that the door had been locked from the outside. Her expression became even colder.

“Haha, Ninghua, you’re a married woman. No matter how lustful I am, I won’t do anything to you. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Shen Ninghua expressionlessly curled her lips and said, “Since that is the case, then why do you insist on meeting a married woman like me alone?”

“Although your identity has changed, there are still some records of gratitude and grudges between us that haven’t changed, right?”

Shen Ninghua sneered. “Gratitude and grudges? I’m afraid there’s no gratitude between me and Your Highness. There are only grudges, right?”

Baili Jinchuan stood up, his stout figure carrying a strong sense of oppressive might and deterrence. “Since you think in this way, how about we talking about our grudges?”

“When it comes to grudges, no matter which one of us feels wronged, we can settle it by fighting. When you feel satisfied, you can just quit fighting. If you are dissatisfied, then you can just continue your retaliation. What grudges are there that need to be discussed?”

“Heh, your method is effective. However, it is naturally a bit different when it comes to treating beauties. Although I am a hardened fighter, I still know that I should show tenderness toward women.”

“I am not a beauty. I don’t need anyone to pity me. I heard that Father Emperor is picking a wife for Your Highness. There will be many beauties awaiting your tenderness, and you naturally don’t need to pity a married woman like me.”

Baili Jinchuan laughed loudly, and his eyes carried a trace of evil expression. His gaze lingered on Shen Ninghua’s lips. “Red lips and white teeth. Alas, you really have a beautiful mouth. But how can such a beautiful mouth say such ruthless words? Ninghua, even though you are a married woman, if you want my pity, I will make you satisfied, as long as you are willing…”

“I don’t want it.” Shen Ninghua’s face was ice-cold. “Your Highness, is that all you want to say? If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Ninghua, there will be a good show soon. Don’t you want to watch it?”

“What do you mean?” Shen Ninghua frowned and turned around, becoming even more upset.

“You’ve always been exceptionally intelligent. Didn’t you guess something?” A smile appeared in Baili Jinchuan’s eyes. “Then I’ll tell you. Someone told Chu Junyi about your trip here immediately after you left the Princess Mansion.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes turned cold.

“Did you guess it? Just as you thought, when this person told Chu Junyi of your trip here, he also told him about my arrival at the imperial palace. Tell me, will Chu Junyi associate the two things?”

Shen Ninghua’s fingers tightened slightly. “You are so despicable and shameless!”

Baili Jinchuan laughed, and then his face darkened. “What if I am despicable and shameless? It was because I used to be too gentle and courteous to you that I ended up like this!”

Shen Ninghua sneered. “Gentle and courteous? One had better know what kind of a person one is. If Your Highness views your past actions in this way, I’m afraid you will end up in a more miserable situation in the future!”

“Heh, it doesn’t matter if I’m miserable or not. You, however, will be miserable. After all, it is a shame that you will become a widow after just being getting married…”

“Are you sure that things will go as you expected?”

“Are you sure they won’t?” Baili Jinchuan raised his eyebrows and said, “I have always been very interested in you. Chu Junyi also knew that. You are in the imperial palace, and I’m here too. We are both in Anning’s palace and have been together with each other for so long with the door closed. Which man can tolerate his newly-wed wife doing such a disrespectful thing?”

Shen Ninghua sneered as she looked at Baili Jinchuan with disgust in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she heard the palace door was hit open from the outside with a loud bang.

“If Your Highness wants to know if I can tolerate it, why don’t you ask me personally?” Chu Junyi strode in. His upright posture was filled with dignity, and he walked in with an imposing aura.

“Chu Junyi?” Baili Jinchuan frowned and looked behind Chu Junyi. He found that it was extremely quiet outside. There was not a single sound. Where were the people he had arranged? How could it be so quiet?

Chu Junyi walked to Shen Ninghua’s side. Seeing that she was safe and sound, the nervousness in his heart slowly dissipated. “Ninghua, are you alright?”

“His Highness is gentle and courteous to me. Naturally, I will be fine.” Shen Ninghua’s tone was full of mockery, and she especially emphasized the words “gentle and courteous”, which made Baili Jinchuan’s expression even more sullen.