Chapter 269 - Blame Your Own Hand!

Bai Ruo carefully helped Shen Ninghua put on her anti-slip shoes and gently massaged her feet. “Miss, little master is almost nine months old now. He is about to be born. You must be careful.” These past two days, Shen Ninghua’s feet were badly swollen, which made them worried. However, she had to attend the Sixth Prince’s wedding despite her current conditions.

Shen Ninghua smiled. Her gentle smile made her beautiful face even more attractive. Bai Ruo couldn’t help but be fascinated. After a while, she came back to her senses and suddenly blushed, scolding herself in her heart. As the baby got older, Shen Ninghua’s aura became increasingly gentler and made people infatuated at one glance.

Shen Ninghua carefully put on the bracelet on her wrist and watched through the bronze mirror as Bai Ruo carefully combed her hair.

“Miss, you will attend wedding banquet for the Sixth Prince and Miss Zhao today. How about trying the flowing cloud style bun and wearing the Eight Treasures Glazed Pearl hairpin and Golden Phoenix Silk dangling head ornament?”

“Well, just select whatever you think matches me.” There was a smile on Shen Ninghua’s lips. She seemed to be in a very good mood. She had just finished dressing up when Baili Junyi, who was wearing the prefectural prince attire, walked in. He put his arms around Shen Ninghua’s shoulders from behind and pulled her into his arms.

Bai Ruo had already left with a smile, covering her mouth with her hands.

Shen Ninghua leaned against his embrace. Her jade-like face had a rosy glow on it. Her clear eyes were filled with smiles and looked as beautiful and charming as sparkling stars. “Are you ready?”

Baili Junyi was wearing a white jade hairband on his head, and the edges of it were inlaid with emerald. He looked tall and straight, and his aura was mighty. However, his eyes were filled with warmth as he gazed at Shen Ninghua.

“Of course, the Empress made things difficult for us at Yang Yingxue’s wedding banquet. Today is her niece Zhao Ruyun’s wedding banquet. This is the perfect time to return the favor.”

“Yes.” Shen Ninghua nodded and looked up at the weather outside the window. “Speaking of which, the Second Prince and the Sixth Prince are not good at choosing days. When the Second Prince married, the weather was at least clear in the beginning. On the Sixth Prince’s wedding, it is even raining now.”

“This is heavens’ favor. But even if it doesn’t rain today, the Empress won’t be able to escape. We’ve been preparing for two or three months, and we’ve been waiting for this day.” Baili Junyi’s expression was serious. The matter of Liaochen having wives and children had already been thoroughly investigated. The Governor of Capital Guards had also handed over the reports, but the Emperor suppressed all of them. A few days ago, he even secretly met Liaochen in the prison. Therefore, this counterattack must not fail, and it must be done with perfect success.

Shen Ninghua lowered her head and stroked her belly. Feeling the warm beating inside, a decisive look flashed through her eyes. “Baby, mother is going to help you vent your anger, so you have to watch carefully. Be good.”

Baili Junyi bent down and hugged Shen Ninghua from behind. He placed his hand on hers and slowly crossed their fingers. “Don’t worry, our baby is the most considerate and sensible.”

Shen Ninghua turned around and smiled, allowing Baili Junyi to kiss between her eyebrows. “Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

When they arrived at the Sixth Prince Mansion, Baili Junyi carefully helped Shen Ninghua out of the carriage. His eyes indifferently swept across the slightly run-down mansion.

Just as they stepped into the gate, Baili Jinze came out to greet them. “Greetings, Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law.”

Shen Ninghua sized up Baili Jinze and her expression was exceptionally cold. It had been a long time since she last saw Baili Jinze, and even the bit of hatred in her heart had faded. Sometimes, living was even more difficult than dying. Who would have thought that the person who had a dejected and terrified expression right now was the once elegant and imposing Fifth Prince?

“Sixth Younger Brother, you are too polite.” Baili Junyi nodded slightly in return. “Today is your wedding. We are going to be seated and won’t take your time.”

After saying that, he directly led Shen Ninghua into the mansion. The welcoming maid hurriedly followed them with a cautious and attentive smile on her face.

Baili Jinze clenched his fists tightly. He felt as if someone had given him several slaps in the face, which was burning hot due to embarrassment. Because he had lost Father Emperor’s favor, even the servants began to defy him. Some people even dared to embezzle his food. This group of detestable minions! When he regained his glory, he would definitely make all of them suffer!

There was also that Baili Junyi, who was just a bastard coming out of nowhere but actually ranked above him and made him the Sixth Prince. This debt had to be slowly settled! Being proud for a moment didn’t mean that he could smile to the end. Just wait and see!

Seeing Shen Ninghua coming in, Baili Anning quickly stepped forward to hold her arm and looked at Shen Ninghua’s protruding belly with jealousy. “Ninghua, you are going to be a mother in about half a month, right? Just by looking at you, I feel afraid. But to be able to be a mother, no matter how hard it is, it is worth it.”

Baili Anning sighed in her heart. She and Qu Yi had been married for almost a year. Ninghua’s baby was about to be born, but she still had no sign of pregnancy.

Shen Ninghua smiled slightly. The moment she held Baili Anning’s arm, she inadvertently felt her pulse. Her footsteps paused slightly, which shocked Baili Anning. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Shen Ninghua turned to look at Baili Anning and suddenly laughed. “Quickly let go of me. Don’t hold me.”

“Ninghua…what happened?”

Shen Ninghua held her wrist and carefully checked her pulse. “You are two months pregnant. Don’t you feel anything?”

This time, Baili Anning was really stunned. She stood there in a daze. She didn’t even notice that Shen Ninghua had let go of her hand. After a while, she laughed excitedly and touched her belly unconsciously. “My periods are not regular. I thought this time…I was too busy and didn’t ask the imperial doctor to check my pulse. Ninghua, thank you.” Just as she was about to say something, she saw Bu Tinghe walking in and immediately stopped talking.

Bu Tinghe slowly walked over. “Greetings, Princess Zhaohua.”

Shen Ninghua looked up. “Greetings, Princess Wenhe. Compared to Princess Zhaohua, I prefer you to call me Princess Yi.”

The smile on Bu Tinghe’s face suddenly froze. She gnashed her teeth in hatred in her heart. Shen Ninghua always had a way to poke at her sore spot. This bitch!

Baili Anning walked to Shen Ninghua’s side with an arrogant and distant expression. “Princess Wenhe, it’s time to take your seat.”

“Many thanks for Princess Anning’s reminder.”

Shen Ninghua turned her head to look at the male guest area on the opposite. When she saw the Third Prince, who was sitting at a seat of honor with a face full of affection and eagerly looking at Bu Tinghe, her lips curled up slightly.

Bu Tinghe also felt the Third Prince’s gaze and her body was extremely stiff. Whenever she saw the Third Prince’s face, she always thought of the humiliation and unwillingness from that day. In her heart, she hated Shen Ninghua so much that she completely forgot she was the one who took the initiative to harm Shen Ninghua that day.

Baili Jinze had been punished by the Emperor before. Although his groundling was now canceled and he was given a mansion, judging from the layout of the mansion, his position in the Emperor’s heart was obvious. Therefore, although all the officials attended the wedding banquet, their attitudes were lukewarm and could in no way be compared with their performance at the wedding of Royal Prince De.

Even so, many people only showed up because the person Baili Jinze was going to marry was the Empress’ niece and the Crown Prince’s cousin.

Soon, music sounded and everyone looked at the door. “The bride is here.”

Zhao Ruyun panted slightly under the red veil. She was supported by two auspicious nurses, one on the left and the other on the right. She felt that the phoenix coronet and wedding gown were pressing down on her body. Every step she took was extremely exhausting.

Baili Jinze stood in the hall and looked at the slender figure walking in from the door. He clenched his fists to restrain his excitement. He had long known that Zhao Ruyun’s body was ruined, and she could not even have children in the future. However, it did not matter. She only needed to be his legitimate wife. There were plenty of women who could bear children for him.

By marrying Zhao Ruyun, he could be connected with the Zhao Family, the Empress, and the Crown Prince, and his position would change very quickly. When he regained Father Emperor’s trust, it was unknown who would live or die.

As the protocol officer announced loudly, the two of them carried out the ceremony according to the rules.

“First, bow to the heavens and earth…Ceremony completed!”

Just as the two finished the ceremony, the sound of firecrackers suddenly came from outside. Then, there was the sound of fireworks rising into the sky. Everyone walked to the door one after another to enjoy the fireworks. Previously, the Second Prince was marrying just a side concubine and no public celebration was arranged for the common folk. It had been drizzling before the ceremony. Now that the rain finally stopped, it was time to set off fireworks.

Because Baili Anning knew that she was pregnant, she did not go forward to join the fun. Instead, she stayed by Shen Ninghua’s side. Before she could regret that she could not see what was going to happen next, she heard a loud sound!

“Boom!”

The people at the door were so shocked that they almost jumped up and hurriedly retreated. The people behind could not dodge in time, and some of them were stepped on by others and the site immediately fell into chaotic conditions.

Bu Tinghe bit her lips and glanced left and right. Seeing that there seemed to be no one around, she reached out trying to push Shen Ninghua. However, before her hand could get close to Shen Ninghua, Baili Junyi caught her hand and bent it backwards.

“Ah!”

Baili Junyi’s face was gloomy, and a murderous aura suddenly rushed out, fiercely pressing towards Bu Tinghe.

Bu Tinghe’s body was stiff all over. She felt as if there was a man-eating devil hidden under his handsome face. She never knew that a person could appear frightening to this extent with just his aura. “Cousin, I didn’t do it on purpose. I just lost my balance. Cousin…”

Baili Junyi narrowed his eyes. His hand was like a blade as he slashed at Bu Tinghe’s forearm. “I just accidentally slipped my hand.”

With a crack sound, Bu Tinghe was stunned, and then the pain spread to her brain. “Ah!”

She shouted loudly, but no one cared about what happened to her at this time. Everyone stared at the center of the city. A bolt of lightning descended from the mountain, followed by thick smoke.

“That is the location of the Palace!”

“Heavens, the lightning struck the Palace!”

Cries of alarm were heard one after another, and the crowd no longer had any interest in attending the wedding banquet. All of them rushed towards the imperial palace as fast as they could.

Baili Anning also quickly stood up. “Ninghua, let’s quickly enter the Palace. Something big has happened.”

Shen Ninghua covered her belly. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead. “No, I can’t go.”

Baili Junyi turned around, and his eyes were full of panic. “Ninghua, what’s wrong?”

Shen Ninghua endured the pain and exclaimed in a low voice, “Hurry up and go home. I’m going to deliver!”