Chapter 280 - Qing Que, Slap Her!

With Baili Qingcang’s consent, Xia Rouqin directly became Shen Ninghua’s personal maid and followed behind her.

Looking at Shen Ninghua, who was gracefully holding a teacup, Xia Rouqin forcibly suppressed the excitement in her heart. She lowered her head and her behavior was impeccable. She did not know why, but she had often felt that she had no one to rely on. Now, standing behind Shen Ninghua, she felt as if she was born to be standing here to serve her.

The matter that had made Shen Ninghua worried for a long time was finally resolved, so she was in an exceptionally good mood as she accompanied Baili Qingcang to review the girls present.

Lin Feiran stood behind Consort Li with her eyes slightly lowered. The corners of her eyes were slightly pink, and her clear eyes were sparkling with tears. She looked particularly pitiful.

Baili Qingcang looked over. “Are you from the Lin family?”

Lin Fei was stunned and quickly knelt in front of him. “Your Majesty, it is me. My father is the Assistant Minister of Justice, Lin Qu.”

“Yes, I remember that you often entered the Palace to accompany Consort Li.”

Lin Feiran’s face was slightly red, and there was a slight excitement on her face. The moment she raised her head, a drop of tear fell. She was so shocked that she quickly raised her hand to wipe it away. “I lost my composure and deserve to die. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Shen Ninghua’s gaze deepened. What a heart-stirring beauty.

The gentleness in Baili Qingcang’s eyes was replaced by coldness. “What happened? Why are you crying? Did someone offend you?”

Lin Feiran looked up at Shen Ninghua. The moment she met her gaze, her eyelashes trembled. A drop of tear stuck to her eyelashes and trembled before it fell down. “Your Majesty, it was all my fault. Because I saw that Princess Yi was exceptionally amiable, I lost my composure and called her sister. I made such a mistake and have yet to get her forgiveness, so I really feel uneasy.”

Baili Qingcang narrowed his eyes. “You said that you called Ninghua sister?”

“Yes, it’s all my fault for feeling that she is so amiable, that’s why I forgot my identity for a moment…” Lin Feiran explained hurriedly, her face blushing with anxiety.

The emotion in Baili Qingcang’s eyes turned completely cold. “Get up and stand to the side.”

Lin Fei was stunned, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly got up and stood to the side.

Seeing the expression on Baili Qingcang’s face, Consort Li panicked. This emperor was not someone she could casually make use of. He was cold-blooded and ruthless. He would not even blink if someone that he did not care about died in front of him. Her niece had a good idea, but unfortunately, she used it at the wrong place.

“Your Majesty, Feiran is too young and has always been pampered by her family. That is why she has developed a straightforward personality. She has always told me that she especially admires Princess Zhaohua. That is why she lost her composure. Your Majesty, please forgive her for being young and ignorant. I will definitely teach her later.”

Baili Qingcang glanced at Consort Li. “It’s good to have a straightforward personality, but it’s not good to be straightforward to the point of being stupid. The Palace cannot tolerate a woman who is too pampered. Since she has not learned the rules, let Lin Qu bring her back to study and make up missed lessons.”

Consort Li’s face suddenly turned pale, and her lips trembled twice, but she did not dare to argue further. “Yes, I will obey Your Majesty’s order.”

Lin Feiran’s face turned ghastly pale. She had already entered the re-selection, but she was now eliminated simply because she lost her composure? She came from a noble background. Logically, unless she had some big problem, she would be bestowed a marriage in order to show the Emperor’s favor to the officials. However, she was eliminated by the Emperor himself…

Lin Feifei almost couldn’t stand up. She only felt that her eyes went black. If such a reputation spread out, how could she get married?

Shen Ninghua sat at the side with an indifferent expression on her face. Because of the fight between the Third Prince and Crown Prince, the court was in a mess. The Emperor had long been annoyed with the Lin family and was looking for an opportunity to teach them a lesson. Lin Feiran, the first bird, just happened to hit the muzzle of the gun.

Baili Qingcang ignored Consort Li and turned to look at Noble Consort Xian. “My harem does not lack women. Just leave two to be ladies-in-waiting, and you can do as you see fit. The Second Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, and Sixth Prince’s mansions all have vacancies. You can discuss with the others and draft a list for me.”

As he spoke, he paused slightly. When he saw Shen Ninghua beside him, a trace of a smile flashed in his eyes. “Junyi is now a Royal Prince. With Ninghua as his main wife, he lacks four side concubines…Well…They haven’t been married for long and have a boy and a girl already. He does not need new women for now.”

Shen Ninghua was happy in her heart. If Baili Qingcang personally bestowed a marriage, it would really be troublesome. Now that he had said this, she did not need to do anything, and those who coveted Baili Junyi were directly blocked outside the door.

“Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Baili Qingcang laughed and got up to leave. “Come to the Southern Imperial Study and play chess with me. I haven’t seen you in the Palace for a long time. I heard from Junyi that you have been studying chess for a long time. I want to see if your skills have improved.”

Shen Ninghua was in a good mood at the moment and was not afraid to lose in the game. She followed the imperial carriage with Xia Rouqin.

After returning to her own palace, Consort Li directly waved her hand to let the palace maids go down. Then, she smashed all the porcelain in the room.

Lin Feiran stood at the door with her face full of tears. At this moment, her cry was genuine and out of sheer sadness. “Your Grace, what should I do?”

After venting some of the anger in her heart, Consort Li finally felt less aggrieved. She sat on a chair and closed her eyes. “You can go back.” She had originally thought highly of Lin Feiran, but now she was completely useless to her.

Lin Feiran rushed over and knelt on the ground with a thud, ignoring the porcelain fragments on the ground. “Auntie, you can’t give up on me.”

“What do you want me to do with you? Do you remember what His Majesty said? He said that you can’t be straightforward to the point of being stupid, and he even said that the Lin family should take you back to study and make up missed lessons. This is to say that you are stupid and not well educated. With such an evaluation, how do you want to turn things around?”

“Woo…” Lin Feiran’s face was full of tears. She was crying her heart out. However, she was extremely beautiful, coupled with her pure and clean appearance, so even when she cried in such a sorry state, she was still exceptionally pleasing to the eyes.

Consort Li sighed and looked down at her. She felt particularly regretful. In order to nurture Lin Feiran, the Lin family had practically piled up all the good things they had in front of her. Consort Li had also sent a trusted nurse to personally teach her the rules. Unfortunately, before this chess piece could be used, it was crippled by Shen Ninghua and the Emperor.

“Auntie, I don’t want to admit defeat like this. There must be a way. Please help me.”

“What way do you want me to think of? Now it’s hard for you to find a good marriage, unless someone can ask His Majesty to grant you a marriage…Wait, asking for a marriage…” Consort Li quickly thought about it, and her expression constantly changed. “It’s not impossible…”

Lin Feiran’s eyes lit up. “Auntie, have you thought of a way?”

Consort Li suddenly turned around. “Get up first. Did you hurt your knees?” The ground was full of fragments. She must not be hurt.

Lin Feiran quickly shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.” She had observed the ground before kneeling down. How could she let herself get hurt?

“Yes, your third cousin is about to marry Bu Tinghe as his side concubine. Bu Jinglan has already secretly communicated with your father. For a long time, he has wanted to cooperate with the Lin family. In order to show the sincerity of the Lin family, it is reasonable to betroth you to him. However, your reputation is a big problem.”

“Bu Jinglan?” Lin Fei thought of the handsome Sixth Prince from the Great Yue Kingdom who always had an evil smile on his face. For some reason, her heart trembled and she bit her lips. This was her best way out. In the future, she still needed Consort Li and the Lin family’s support. She could not refuse, and she could not disappoint them. Otherwise, without the support of Consort Li and the Lin family, it would be difficult for her to take a single step forward in the future.

“Thank you, auntie, for taking the trouble to think of a way for me.”

Consort Li nodded. “Go back first. I will discuss this matter with your father. I will tell you what to do when I think of a way.”

“Yes, I will take my leave.”

Lin Feiran walked out of the palace gate and saw Shen Ninghua and Xia Rouqin. The hatred in her heart instantly surged. “Greetings, Princess Yi.”

Shen Ninghua was about to get on the carriage when she heard her voice. She turned around and said, “You addressed me properly this time.”

Lin Feiran clenched her fists and looked up at Shen Ninghua. She smiled stiffly. “There will be a grand selection every three years, and a small selection every year. Countless beautiful women will enter the Palace from the north gate, and then be bestowed a marriage by the Emperor. Every mansion will have a chance to receive the Emperor’s decree. Even if it is not this year, there will be next year or the year after next year. Princess, am I right?”

The smile on her face was still pure, but what she said was vicious.

This time, the Emperor prevented Baili Junyi from having side concubines. Would he continue to say the same in the future? Was it possible for a royal prince to live with one woman forever?

Shen Ninghua looked up and saw the resentment and unwillingness in Lin Feiran’s eyes. She smiled mockingly. “Qing Que, slap her!”

Qing Que, who was guarding by the side, strode forward with an expressionless face and slapped Lin Feiran.

“Clap!” The loud slap attracted the attention of the people outside the palace gate, but no one came forward. They all saluted from a distance and quickly avoided them.

“Princess Yi, why do you order your maid to hurt me?” Lin Feiran covered her face and glared at Shen Ninghua.

“Clap!” Qing Que slapped her again.

“Ah, Princess Yi, you are too arrogant.”

“Clap!” As soon as Lin Feifei said a sentence, Qing Que would give her a slap.

Shen Ninghua stood there with no expression on her face. Her eyes were cold and emotionless. She didn’t speak until Qing Que had slapped Lin Feiran a dozen times.

“I am Princess Yi and Noble Princess Zhaohua. Do I need a reason to slap you? Do you believe that after I slap you today, your father will still take you to my mansion to apologize to me?”

Lin Feifei covered her face and looked at Shen Ninghua with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, “I don’t believe it!”

“Ha,” Shen Ninghua sneered. “Since you don’t believe me, then we will wait and see. Qing Que, Rouqin, let’s go.”