Chapter 263 - Promoted to Prefectural Prince Yi!

After Shen Dong’s funeral, tranquility was temporarily restored in Shen Ninghua and Chu Junyi’s lives. Since Chu Junyi’s identity had changed, there were many things that needed to be prepared, including his Prince Mansion and the promotion ceremony, and all the items must be carefully considered.

Noble Consort Xian suddenly returned, bringing with her a prince who had grown up. Moreover, this prince was Chu Junyi, an extraordinarily capable man who had long become an imperial son-in-law. This changed the power landscape of the princes in the court. No one knew how many unforeseen events would happen in the future.

Right now, all the officials in court were waiting for the reaction of the Zhao Family. As soon as Noble Consort Xian returned, the Empress was grounded and the Zhao Family was also reprimanded in court. Although it was said that Consort Li and Consort Jing were in charge of dealing with the matters of the harem together, Noble Consort Xian’s rank was above theirs. As a result, it was unknown who would be the one to deal with the palace affairs.

Many people secretly guessed that Noble Consort Xian could not return to the Palace for many years because she was stopped by the Empress, which annoyed the Emperor and caused a series of events to happen.

At this time, Shen Ninghua was sitting in Bu Yunqing’s Zhichun Palace. Bu Yunqing placed all kinds of fresh fruits beside her hand. “Mother, have a rest. How can I eat all of these?”

Bu Yunqing asked the palace maids to leave and sat on the chair next to Shen Ninghua. “You are in a delicate situation. It’s good for you to eat more fresh fruits.”

This was the first time Shen Ninghua had entered the Palace after Baili Qingcang announced Chu Junyi’s identity. She had mixed feelings when facing Bu Yunqing. “Mother, when I left, I thought you…”

Bu Yunqing smiled. “You thought I was dead?”

“Yes.” Shen Ninghua nodded and did not hide her thoughts.

“You are a very talented girl and you have a grudge against the royal family, the Shen Family, and the Zhao Family. That is why I chose to save you. In just one year, you learned all my skills and even surpassed me. I didn’t have a reason to keep you, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with you in the future. That is why I faked death and only watched you in secret.”

Shen Ninghua nodded. She understood her concerns. “Mother, since you have entered the Palace, what plans do you have?” The hatred between Bu Yunqing and the Zhao Family could only be settled with a life-or-death struggle. Now that the Empress was grounded, she would definitely take action. Chu Junyi and Bu Yunqing just got united. She did not want Bu Yunqing to act rashly and endanger her own safety.

Bu Yunqing smiled and looked at Shen Ninghua with appreciation. “You really are a meticulous girl. I saved you because you were willing to make big sacrifices to live. For more than a year, every step you took was very steady, and you really did not disappoint me. I’m afraid you have also realized that since I have returned, I must personally avenge myself. I must make the Empress live a life worse than death!”

Feeling the strong hatred from Bu Yunqing, Shen Ninghua was shocked. “Mother, the Empress is now grounded, and Father Emperor no longer trusts her. However, there is still the Zhao Family behind her. They have great forces in their hands. If we want to take her down, we need to be careful.”

Bu Yunqing sneered. “You don’t have to worry about this matter. Since I’m back, I must do something. Ninghua, the baby in your belly is almost five months old. You have to take extra care. Don’t worry about anything else for the time being. Junyi’s baby must be safe.”

Shen Ninghua raised her hand to touch her belly. Feeling the warm pulse inside, she frowned slightly. “Junyi cares about this baby, and he also cares about you. Now that we are reunited…”

“Alright, I know what you mean.” Bu Yunqing interrupted Shen Ninghua. “Don’t worry, I haven’t lived enough.”

Hearing this, Shen Ninghua did not relax at all, and she became even worried. Bu Yunqing showed no sign of vitality at all, as if she was a rotten dead tree. Chu Junyi was too happy to notice this, but she saw it clearly and wanted to persuade her. Unfortunately, Bu Yunqing was not someone whose mind could easily change.

The maid walked in, knelt on the ground respectfully and reported to Bu Yunqing, “Your Highness, Ningkun Palace’s Meixue is here. She said that the fresh fruits that the Internal Affairs Department sent there are all bad. The Empress is making a scene.”

Bu Yunqing sneered. She took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and carefully sprinkled the liquid on the fresh fruits on the table. “Send these to Ningkun Palace and say that I have already punished the Internal Affairs Department for neglecting Her Majesty. I will definitely apologize to her another day.” You wanted fresh fruits. That was good! Let me see if you would dare to eat them!

“Yes.”

When she returned to the Princess Mansion, Shen Ninghua’s expression was still not very good. Bai Ruo went forward to help her change her clothes and said with concern, “Miss, Little Master has already been five months old. Are you tired?”

Shen Ninghua shook her head. “I’m fine. Is there any move by the Zhao Family?”

“No, it has been very quiet. Since the Zhao Family encouraged the imperial censor to question Master Chu’s identity and was reprimanded by His Majesty two months ago, there had been no more move.”

Shen Ninghua frowned slightly and raised her hand to rub her eyebrows. “I understand. You can leave now. I will rest for a while.”

Bai Ruo and the others carefully retreated.

Shen Ninghua leaned against the bed and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she heard footsteps beside her ear. She couldn’t help but frown and said somewhat irritably, “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why…Junyi?”

Chu Junyi, who was dressed in a black robe, sat beside Shen Ninghua and gently stroked her belly. “Is our baby well-behaved today?”

Shen Ninghua smiled. “He’s a very good kid.” Just as she finished speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her leg, causing her to suck in a breath of cold air. “Ouch, it hurts.”

Chu Junyi was shocked. When he saw her covering her leg with her hand, he knew that her leg was cramping. He had seen this kind of situation before and knew how to solve it. He hurriedly massaged her leg with appropriate strength. “Ninghua, are you feeling better?”

A warm feeling spread through her leg. Shen Ninghua looked relaxed with a helpless smile on her face. “Alright, I just praised him and he’s causing trouble.”

Chu Junyi continued to massage her legs. “Ninghua, you entered the Palace today. Did mother say anything?”

The smile on Shen Ninghua’s face froze. “Nothing special. We only chatted casually.”

“Alright.” The look in Chu Junyi’s eyes deepened, and he changed the topic. “I saw that you were quite agitated. Is there anything that makes you worried?”

Shen Ninghua was silent for a long time before finally saying, “Junyi, when I saw mother today, I always felt that she had a…” She didn’t know what to say, but Chu Junyi completed the sentence for her.

“A will to die?”

Shen Ninghua suddenly looked up. “You…”

Chu Junyi withdrew his hand. He closed his eyes slightly and said firmly, “Don’t worry, I will make her give up this idea. You, my good wife, don’t think too much. Take good care of our baby.”

Shen Ninghua felt relieved and smiled. “Alright, I see.”

Chu Junyi put his ear close to Shen Ninghua’s belly. “Good baby, don’t be naughty and don’t let your mother suffer. Otherwise, when you come out, father will punish you.”

“He doesn’t understand what you are saying to him.” As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a weak force coming from her belly.

Chu Junyi was stunned on the spot. After a while, he suddenly raised his head. Because he got up too quickly, he even twisted his neck, but he did not care at all. “Ninghua, did you feel our baby moving?”

Shen Ninghua was also very surprised. She carefully placed her hand on her belly, but there was no movement.

Chu Junyi pushed her hand away and once again put his ear close to Shen Ninghua’s belly. He didn’t know if it was a coincidence or not, but just as he pressed his face against her belly, he felt another force. He was so shocked that his face turned red. He wanted to lean over to feel it again, but he was afraid that the baby would get tired, so he could only praise him. “Haha, you really are my good baby!”

Seeing that Shen Ninghua was looking at him with dissatisfaction, Chu Junyi coughed slightly, but the proud smile in his eyes was not restrained at all. “Cough, cough. Ninghua, our baby is very close to you. Well, I’ll get people to prepare some food. Our baby must be tired after making so many movements.”

Looking at Chu Junyi instructing Bai Ruo and the maids to go back and forth, Shen Ninghua smiled slightly and touched her belly with her fingers. This baby also knew to care about his father and let him relax.

When she thought of Bu Yunqing in the Palace, Shen Ninghua’s eyes flashed with a trace of determination. Bu Yunqing was just like her past self and only wanted revenge. When the baby in her belly was born and she saw her little grandson, maybe she would want to live more than anyone else and wait for him to grow up!

Another half a month passed. Baili Qingcang paid his respects to the ancestral temple and added Chu Junyi’s name into the pedigree of the imperial family. Chu Junyi was officially renamed Baili Junyi. The ceremony for him to be conferred the title of Prefectural Prince Yi was held three days later.

The ceremony went very smoothly this time. Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi had made a lot of preparations against possible attacks from the Zhao Family. But in the end, nothing happened. The Zhao Family even sent a particularly generous gift as if they were happy to see all of these developments.

In the evening, Baili Junyi held a banquet in the newly-built prefectural prince mansion to entertain everyone. Baili Qingcang personally came with Bu Yunqing to congratulate him. On this day, everyone finally saw the legendary Noble Consort Xian.

When they saw her true appearance, many people almost couldn’t believe their eyes. This ruined old woman’s appearance was really too shocking. However, no matter how surprised they were, they did not dare to show any sign, and they only kept congratulating her.

Bu Yunqing looked at the officials below and her eyes were full of ridicule. Suddenly, her gaze landed on the Zhao Family Patriarch Zhao Kun. “Lord Zhao, you don’t look very well. Are you sick?”

Zhao Kun quickly stood up. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I got a cold and feel a little uncomfortable. Please do not blame me.”

Bu Yunqing looked at his submissive appearance coldly. “The weather changed a lot recently. You should be more careful.”

As she uttered those words, she thought, “It is already summer and the sun is high in the sky. How could you get a cold? You just put on an unhappy face to disgust me. Then let me remind you that the world has changed. It is no longer Zhao Huiying’s world, so you have to be more careful! Don’t die of illness one day!”

Shen Ninghua saw this scene and slightly concealed the smile in her eyes. Two days before the promotion ceremony, Chu Junyi went to the Palace and stayed there for half a day. She didn’t know what he had said to Bu Yunqing. But when Shen Ninghua saw her again, Bu Yunqing was much more alive than before. She even made many small clothes for the baby and sent them over.

From the looks of it, not only did Bu Yunqing lose her will to die, but she was even full of fighting spirit…