Chapter 267 - Teach You How to Be a Human! (1)

Just as the hall was almost filled with suffocating silence, people suddenly heard the sound of a teacup shattering.

The officials were shocked. They carefully looked up and found that it was Noble Consort Xian who threw the teacup.

The sky was dark, and her scarred face became more and more terrifying. Many people did not dare to look up.

“Well, well, officials joined hands to force my daughter-in-law to die. You really have guts!”

Her voice was as rough as sandpaper, causing everyone to involuntarily frown.

Bu Yunqing swept her gaze across everyone’s face. “Ninghua, you were born between 7 and 9 a.m. on the 6th of May in the lunar calendar in the 22nd year of the reign of Emperor Hongzheng, right?”

Shen Ninghua nodded. “Yes, mother, that’s right.”

“Well, if I remember correctly, there should be a lot of people born on this day. Even some of the officials’ family members should be born at that time. Let me think about it. Minister of Justice? Your daughter was born at this time, right? I saw it on the list of candidate imperial concubines a few days ago.”

The Minister of Justice’s forehead was immediately covered with cold sweat. “Noble Consort Xian, my daughter…”

Bu Yunqing interrupted him with a sneer, “They were born at the same time, and they are all women. In addition, the nation-wide selection is related to the royal family. All of these three conditions are the same. It is impossible that only Ninghua is harmful to the royal family. Master Liaochen, what do you think?”

Liaochen looked up. “Noble Concubine Xian, that is not entirely the case.”

Bu Yunqing stared at him coldly. “Liaochen, didn’t you just say that Ninghua will hurt the royal family because of her horoscope? Isn’t fate determined by horoscope? Were you just spouting nonsense?”

“Everything I said is true.” The hesitation in his heart was only for a moment, but he quickly made up his mind. Even if he had to sacrifice a few women, it would be worth it to kill Shen Ninghua.

“Alright, since that’s the case, let’s first find out women born at this time among the officials’ families. Then, we shall search among the common households of the capital and finally kill all the people born at this time in the territory of Da’an!”

Everyone looked up in shock. “How can you do that?”

“Why not? The citizens are all His Majesty’s subjects and are related to the royal family. Who else thinks that the people of Da’an have nothing to do with His Majesty?”

Who dared? Saying that would be equal to rebelling.

“No, this matter can’t be handled like this.” The Minister of Justice quickly knelt down. He only had one daughter and treated her like a treasure. How could he bear to let her die for nothing? “Your Majesty, isn’t this going to cause chaos in the country? I pray you, don’t do this!”

“That’s right. Who knows how many innocent people will die if Her Highness’ suggestion is accepted?”

Noble Consort Xian sneered. “Innocent? No one dares to say that they are innocent if they will affect the royal family! It’s their fault that they were born at a bad time. Who can they blame?”

“No, killing innocent people like this will cause chaos in the country. Your Majesty, you cannot believe what Liaochen said.” When it came to themselves, the officials finally could not help but retort Liaochen.

Shen Ninghua sneered in her heart and thought that the time was ripe. She turned to look at Liaochen. “Master, I used to think that monks are merciful, but now it seems that this is not the case. Did you cultivate by killing people?”

Liaochen’s expression changed slightly. “Your Majesty, I never mentioned killing those born at the same time as Princess Zhaohua. I only said that they need to cultivate.”

“Heh, if these women have to cultivate with you for ten years, you might as well kill them directly.”

“Yes, there are so many people. Master Liaochen, can you take care of all of them?”

“Absurd, truly absurd!”

Baili Qingcang’s expression was extremely sullen. He looked at Liaochen with suspicion in his eyes. “Master Liaochen, do you mean that I should arrest all the women born at the same time with Princess Zhaohua in Da’an?”

“No, Princess…”

Liaochen hesitated for a moment and wanted to explain, but Baili Junyi interrupted him. “Master Liaochen, are you going to say that only my wife affects the royal family?”

“Yes, after all, the princess is His Majesty’s adopted daughter and married you. She has the closest relationship with the royal family, so…”

“Oh, in that case, as long as Ninghua is neither Father Emperor’s adopted daughter or my wife, then she would not affect the royal family? After all, other women born at the same time with her have no adverse impact, right?”

Liaochen choked. “This…”

“Liaochen, are you trying to frame Ninghua or are you secretly mocking Father Emperor and me?” The cold light in Baili Junyi’s eyes glowed sharply as he shouted with a frown.

“I definitely do not have the intention to mock His Majesty and Your Highness.”

“You still dare to quibble! As long as Father Emperor hadn’t adopted her and I hadn’t married her, there would be no impact on the royal family. Once she is related to Father Emperor and me, the royal family will be affected. Aren’t you implying something?”

At this time, Liaochen finally understood Baili Junyi’s idea. If he said that not only Shen Ninghua had adverse impacts on the Emperor, he would have to bear the anger of the people. If he said that only Shen Ninghua had adverse impacts on the royal family, then he was mocking the Emperor. No matter what his answer was, it was a crime that a monk like him could not bear!

Shen Ninghua snorted coldly in her heart. In order to make it difficult for Baili Junyi to choose, the Empress invited Liaochen over. Since that was the case, she would first let Liaochen choose how to die before settling today’s accounts with the Empress!

Baili Junyi’s gaze was dignified as he cast a faint yet oppressive glare at Liaochen. “Master Liaochen, you should answer my question!”

Liaochen looked up at Baili Qingcang. “Your Majesty, I was only thinking for your sake. It’s understandable that Noble Consort Xian and Prefectural Prince Yi misunderstood me as they want to protect Princess Zhaohua, but how about Your Majesty’s safety? What happened in Zhichun Palace is already a lesson. Alas, that’s all I have to say.”

Baili Junyi sneered. “Haha, what a good move. Liaochen, do you think you can continue to fool Father Emperor and still refuse to confess?”

Liaochen turned his head and said righteously, “Prefectural Prince Yi, I am only telling you the truth out of good intentions. Why are you so aggressive? If you want to protect Princess Zhaohua, I will not force you to accept my suggestion. However, I hope you can withstand the consequences!”

“Then there’s no need for you to worry.” Baili Junyi sneered in his heart. You should take care of yourself first before thinking for others.

Baili Qingcang frowned tightly and felt as if his head was going to explode. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. He raised his head and looked over. “What is it now? Why is it so noisy?”

The Governor of Capital Guards quickly went out to check. When he came back, he was followed by a pair of mother and son in plain clothes. For a moment, everyone’s gaze was focused on them.

The Governor of Capital Guards’ face was filled with shock as he looked at Liaochen from time to time.

Before everyone could react, they heard the loud voice of the boy who had come in as he suddenly rushed to Liaochen and shouted, “Father, you are my father?!”

For a moment, everyone felt that the previous thunder was not shocking enough. Now, it was the real thunderbolt out of the blue.

A child who looked to be in his teens actually addressed a monk as his father. A monk had a son. This was truly ridiculous.

Even Baili Qingcang who had stayed calm widened his eyes in disbelief. “Liaochen, what is going on?”

Liaochen stood rooted to the ground. “Your… Your Majesty, no, I don’t know what is going on. This boy is not my son…”

“Father, how can you not recognize me? Mother and I walked a long way to find you. Our hometown was destroyed by a flood and grandparents both died. Mother and I walked all the way to the capital and our feet were worn out. When we arrived in the capital, we were driven away. We finally found out that you are here today and were almost beaten to death when we tried to break in. How can you not recognize me and my mother?”

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi stood at the side. They quietly watched the absurd scene in front of them. At this time, they did not need to be in a hurry to add insult to injury. They just needed to watch quietly.

Noble Consort Xian Bu Yunqing did not have that much patience. “Haha, this is really funny. An accomplished monk should be far away from the mortal world, but he even has a child? This is the best joke this year. Your Majesty, I think that the heavens just issued a warning to remind you that a demon monk is trying to confuse the public and frame members of the royal family.”

Baili Qingcang pounded on the table, shaking up the teacup on the table. The chief eunuch at the side hurriedly said, “Who are you two? Why aren’t you greeting His Majesty?”

The woman quickly pulled the boy who was grabbing Liaochen’s kasaya and knelt on the ground. “My surname is Wang. This is my son. Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Wang? What is your identity and what’s your relationship with Liaochen?”

Wang trembled. She prostrated on the ground as she replied, “Your Majesty, I am Ding Haoyun’s wife. I came to the capital with my son to find my husband who has been away from home for many years.”

“Who is that Ding Haoyun you mentioned?”

Wang raised her head, and her eyes were full of resentment as she looked at Liaochen. “It’s this heartless bastard!”

The surrounding officials did not know how to react. Ding Haoyun, Liaochen? This was really a big show.

Tears welled up in Wang’s eyes. “Your Majesty, I am from Jinzhou’s Ding Village. Eighteen years ago, I married Ding Haoyun. Less than half a month later, Ding Haoyun left our hometown with the excuse of taking the imperial examination. Who knew that he would be gone for eighteen years? After I found out that I was pregnant, I sent a letter to him but did not receive any reply. Now, my son is eighteen years old. These days, our family had trouble making a living. Otherwise, I would never come out.”

Liaochen stood where he was, feeling cold sweat on his back. “Nonsense. I don’t even know you.”

Baili Qingcang said, “You haven’t seen each other for eighteen years. You, a countrywoman, don’t have any information channel. How can you recognize that Liaochen is your husband who has been missing for many years?”

“Speaking of which, all of this is particularly coincidental. My house was destroyed by a flood. Following the refugees, I left Jinzhou and was taken in by a temple in Nancheng. I heard people say that Master Liaochen is an expert in Buddha dharma and that he once came to the temple in Nancheng to expound on the texts of Buddhism. The little monk especially worshipped Master Liaochen and even drew a portrait of him. I saw the portrait and recognized him to be my husband.”

“You can recognize someone who has been missing for more than ten years with just a portrait?” Baili Qingcang was suspicious.

Liaochen denied. “Your Majesty, this is complete nonsense. Someone is clearly trying to frame me. Please scrutinize, Your Majesty.”

Wang suddenly stood up, grabbed Liaochen’s kasaya, and fiercely tore his collar apart. “Ding Haoyun, you have a Wan-shaped Buddha Mark on your neck. I won’t mistake this mark!”

Liaochen pushed her away. “Bitch, you…” The moment he said this, he suddenly stopped. “Benefactress, please conduct yourself with dignity.”

The gaze of the surrounding people changed. It was unheard of for a monk to utter the word “bitch”.