Chapter 271 - Slap You in the Face!

Nurse Qian beside the Empress already knelt down and started to report.

“Your Majesty, this matter has already proved Master Liaochen’s words. Princess Zhaohua’s fate is really very inauspicious. Noble Consort Xian is her mother-in-law, and the Empress is her legitimate mother. The two are both her mothers and their palaces both had an accident. No one knows who will be the next.”

When she said this, Baili Qingcang suddenly remembered what Liaochen had said about Shen Ninghua’s fate: detrimental to the parents and children. A complicated look flashed through his eyes as he thought about it. Ninghua was Jingyan’s child and now she had become Junyi’s wife. Moreover, she was pregnant. If her fate really had adverse impacts on the royal family…

Seeing Baili Qingcang’s expression, Bu Yunqing’s heart suddenly trembled, and a trace of disdain flashed through her eyes. Sure enough, an emperor was always cold-blooded and ruthless. Even if he doted on some people, he would suspect them just because of some groundless words and kill them!

“Your Majesty, this lowly servant is spouting nonsense. She even dared to speak such nonsense before you. We should directly have her dragged down and clubbed to death. What is the point of listening to her?”

But Baili Qingcang ignored Bu Yunqing’s words. Instead, he frowned tightly and looked at the Empress. “Empress, you don’t even greet me?”

After a while, Zhao Huiying turned to look at Baili Qingcang with traces of shock in her eyes. She said in a sad tone, “Your Majesty, look at the palace in front of you. Who knows when I will suddenly disappear from the world like this palace. It’s good that Your Majesty punishes me for losing my dignity so that I don’t have to worry all day long.”

Bitch! Bu Yunqing’s eyes were filled with anger. The Empress wanted to pin the reputation of being detrimental to parents onto Ninghua!

Baili Qingcang pursed his lips, and his expression was exceptionally cold.

“Mother Empress, are you alright?” The Crown Prince Baili Jinyi hurriedly ran over. When he saw Zhao Huiying, his expression was full of worry. He stepped forward and held her arm. “Father Emperor, how about calling the imperial doctor to help bandage Mother Empress’ wound first.”

There was a fire hidden in Baili Qingcang’s eyes. Hearing this, he nodded impatiently. “Summon an imperial doctor.”

The Crown Prince supported the Empress and turned to look at Meixue. “Meixue, how did you serve Mother Empress? How did you let her get injured so badly?”

Meixue immediately knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, at that time, Her Majesty was reading a book when there was suddenly a loud bang and the thunder fell. The servants outside cried out in alarm, saying that the tree was struck by lightning. Before I could go out to check, I felt the sky shaking, and half of the palace collapsed. Fortunately, because of the news about the trees, Her Majesty got up and took two steps towards the door. Otherwise…”

“Ningkun Palace has been the residence of empresses of successive dynasties and has the blessings of Father Emperor. How could something happen just like that?”

“This…I don’t know either. Recently, the Palace hasn’t been peaceful. As to the reason…”

Baili Qingcang suddenly turned his head to look at the Crown Prince, and his voice was exceptionally stern. “Crown Prince, if you are worried about your Mother Empress, go and urge the imperial doctor!”

Baili Jinyi’s eyes darkened. He detected the dissatisfaction in Baili Qingcang’s words and immediately stopped talking. But in his heart, he was secretly resentful. Father Emperor was still protecting Shen Ninghua. He really didn’t know what was so good about her. Was it because she was the child of Father Emperor’s loved woman? However, was there real love in the imperial family? He didn’t believe it!

The imperial doctor quickly rushed over, followed by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory Supervisor.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty.”

“Alright, there’s no need for the formalities. Did the Imperial Astronomical Observatory discover anything from this abnormal phenomenon?”

The Imperial Astronomical Observatory Supervisor wiped the sweat off his forehead and tried to answer calmly, “Your Majesty, based on my observations over the past few nights, I found that a small star appeared around the Emperor Star. It is faintly affecting you and Her Majesty.”

The corners of Baili Qingcang’s eyes twitched, and the veins on his forehead popped. “What does that star represent?”

“The star is very close to the Emperor Star, so this star must be a member of the royal family. Although Master Liaochen has been imprisoned, what he said cannot be underestimated. I calculated Princess Zhaohua’s birth time and horoscope many times. Every time, it was exactly the same as what Master Liaochen said. Princess Zhaohua’s fate is indeed detrimental to her parents and children.”

Bu Yunqing looked coldly at him. “Supervisor Sun, I remember that your wife is surnamed Zhang, right? She should be the younger sister of Madam Zhang, wife of the Zhao family’s patriarch. Is that right?”

Supervisor Sun immediately prostrated on the ground. “Noble Consort Xian, this matter is of great importance. I did not lie because of anyone. Your Majesty, everything I said is true. Please scrutinize.”

“What if what you said is not true?” A cold voice suddenly asked.

Bu Yunqing turned around and saw Baili Junyi rushing over. She felt slightly relieved. “Junyi is here.”

Baili Junyi stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Mother, and Crown Prince.”

“No need for the formalities.”

Baili Junyi stood up straight and looked down at the Imperial Astronomical Observatory Supervisor, who was kneeling on the ground. “Supervisor Sun, you haven’t answered my question yet. What if what you said is not true?”

Supervisor Sun raised his head and met Baili Junyi’s cold gaze. He felt his heart skip a beat. “Prefectural Prince Yi, how can you doubt an official of the imperial court like this?”

“An official of the imperial court? It is all because of you, the officials of the imperial court who take the pay but neglect their duties, that the people suffered so many losses, and you still dare to call yourself an official of the imperial court!”

“I’m innocent.”

“Merely judging by what you said to frame Princess Yi, you have committed a heinous crime that would get all of your family members and relatives death penalties. You are not wronged at all!”

Supervisor Sun looked at Baili Qingcang anxiously. “Your Majesty, everything I said is true. I dare not lie. I am willing to prove my innocence with my death.”

Baili Junyi sneered and looked at Supervisor Sun with ridicule. “Okay, then prove it with your death. If you die, I will plead with Father Emperor and ask him to spare your family!”

“Your Majesty…Your Majesty…” Supervisor Sun looked up at Baili Qingcang, only to find that he actually allowed Baili Junyi to make a scene without any intention of stopping him. Was he really going to die? No, he didn’t want to die yet. Thinking of this, he turned to look at Zhao Huiying and the Crown Prince. His heart suddenly lit up. “Your Majesty, Ningkun Palace being struck down by lightning is the evidence. This is the warning sent by the heavens, and it reminds you that someone is jeopardizing the country!

“Hahaha…” Baili Junyi suddenly laughed out loud. His slender eyebrows were full of smiles, and his cold slanted eyes were dyed with a layer of mystery because of the smile, fully showing his graceful and charming bearing.

The sudden laughter stunned everyone. Baili Qingcang asked, “Junyi, why are you laughing?”

“Father Emperor, I was rude, but what Supervisor Sun just said is the funniest joke I have heard this year.”

Supervisor Sun’s face was full of righteousness. “Joke? What I said is about the country and the people. How can it be a joke? Prefectural Prince Yi, you are too rude!”

Baili Junyi gradually stopped laughing. “Supervisor Sun is busy looking at the stars in the sky all day. You must have forgotten to look at the people on the ground. Father Emperor, when I just entered the Palace, I heard from the Governor of Capital Guards that this thunderstorm caused a lot of houses in the capital to collapse. Luckily, there were no casualties.”

Baili Qingcang was surprised. “You said that there are common people’s houses that were struck by the lightning?”

“That’s right. I heard that a few trees that were struck by lightning. This year, the thunderstorms were too frequent. In the past, there were similar phenomena, but as they were not common, very few of them were reported to the capital. But this year, storms are exceptionally frequent. I heard that quite a few houses and trees in Jiangnan were also struck.”

Baili Junyi curled his lips and looked at Supervisor Sun with a particularly mocking smile. “It’s an extremely normal phenomenon. How did it become a threat to the country in some people’s eyes? Father Emperor is wise and the whole country is at peace. What kind of demons dare to come out and cause trouble?”

Bu Yunqing laughed and cheered for her son in her heart. “Junyi is right.”

The smile on Baili Junyi’s face suddenly became warm and soft as he thought of something. “Father Emperor, mother, I was too angry. I forgot that I have good news to report to you.”

“Oh? What good news?” Bu Yunqing hurriedly asked.

“Haha, Ninghua has safely delivered.”

Baili Qingcang was stunned for a moment before a smile appeared on his face. “Isn’t there still half a month left? Why did she deliver so early?”

Baili Junyi smiled even more brilliantly. “I just asked Doctor Chen to take a look. He said that Ninghua was pregnant with two babies, so she gave birth earlier than expected.”

This time, not only was Baili Qingcang stunned, but the people present were also somewhat unable to react.

“Twins?” Baili Qingcang’s eyes flashed with excitement, and his tone was filled with disbelief. “Twins…Is it an auspicious pair of twins with one boy and one girl?”

“Yes, an auspicious pair of twins with one boy and one girl!” Baili Junyi could not hide the joy on his face.

“Alright!” Baili Qingcang laughed out loud. The doubts that arose in his heart had disappeared completely. Auspicious twins, how great a fortune was this? How could anyone say that Shen Ninghua was detrimental to her children? If that was the case, which woman would bring benefits to her children? As to the parents, he, Bu Yunqing and the Empress were all fine. Just one palace and two trees were struck by lightning. There were countless things struck by lightning. What was so strange about it?

Zhao Huiying was choked. She almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Auspicious pair of twins with one boy and one girl! What merits on earth did Shen Ninghua have? She could actually give birth to a pair of auspicious twins! Wasn’t it said that Bu Tinghe had secretly made a move? Why didn’t Shen Ninghua miscarry?

How could she know that Bu Tinghe’s plan was interrupted by the thunder. When she wanted to make a move later, her arm was directly broken by Baili Junyi, and now she was still wailing in bed.

Baili Junyi’s face darkened. “Father Emperor, Ninghua has successfully given birth to a pair of auspicious twins. This is joyous news. Everyone will know that the royal family is blessed by the heavens. However, there are people who keep damaging her reputation. This really makes us sad.”

Baili Qingcang suddenly turned his head and stared at Supervisor Sun with a threatening gaze. “Supervisor Sun, can you repeat what you said about the star?”