Chapter 357 - I Have the Final Say

Baili Qingcang looked at Shen Ninghua. “Ninghua, Bai Ruo is your maid, but now that her identity has been exposed, it is not appropriate for her to serve you anymore. I’ll order the Internal Affairs Department to select two maids for you. Let Bai Ruo go back with her birth mother.”

Shen Ninghua looked at Bai Ruo. “Bai Ruo, you are my maid, but do you remember what I’ve told you on the first day you worked for me? I said you can tell me directly if you don’t want to work with me, and I’ll set you free. What do you say?”

Bai Ruo turned to face Shen Ninghua and respectfully kowtowed to her. “Miss, you’ve saved my life. From the day you gave me a new name, I was no longer the so-called princess from the previous dynasty. I’ve never enjoyed the glory brought by that identity since I was a child, and I do not want to bear the responsibility brought by that identity. I hope that you don’t find me repulsive because of my background.”

Looking at Bai Ruo’s determined look, Shen Ninghua nodded. As long as Bai Ruo was firm and resolute, she could help her fight for her right. “Father Emperor, you heard her. Bai Ruo does not want to leave. As her Master, I can’t and won’t force her.”

Qi Yuechan stared at Shen Ninghua in surprise, and her voice suddenly became a little shrill as she hissed, “Princess Zhaohua, what do you mean? After knowing Bai Ruo’s noble background, how can you still want her to be your maid? Don’t you think it’s a little too much?”

“Noble? Father Emperor ordered to treat the previous dynasty’s royal descendants well, but this identity indicates nothing more than a family of a perished country. You can say that your identity is special, as for noble…” Shen Ninghua looked at Qi Yuechan with an ambiguous smile. Did this woman always think that she was unusually noble?

Qi Yuechan sucked in a cold breath. Yes, she was from the royal family of the previous dynasty that had been defeated. She should count her blessing because the Emperor did not behead her, and her identity was not as noble as she thought. Her face twisted in a hateful grimace after being humiliated like this.

Shen Ninghua couldn’t be bothered by Qi Yuechan’s feelings. “Father Emperor, Bai Ruo is my people, so I have the final say. Unless Bai Ruo wants to leave, I’ll not kick her out or send her away.”

Baili Qingcang furrowed his brows, and a hint of threat hovered under his eyes. “What if I issue an imperial decree?”

Shen Ninghua stepped forward and knelt on the ground. Although she did not say that she would disobey the imperial decree, her stance was exceptionally unyielding.

Bai Ruo’s eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them. “Miss, I’m sorry for putting you in such a difficult position. I’m so embarrassed to live in this world. I should just die!” With that, she stood up and rushed toward the pillar next to her.

“No! Xiu’er!” Qi Yuechan exclaimed.

Baili Junyi, who was at the side, reacted quickly and grabbed Bai Ruo’s clothes. “Princess has already said that she will seek justice for you. If you die, how can you repay Princess’ kindness for speaking up for you?”

“Father Emperor, as you can see, Bai Ruo does not want to leave, and I can’t bear to part with her. We should consider this matter carefully.”

Baili Qingcang looked serious and glanced at Qi Yuechan and Baili Jinchuan coldly. “Up to you. I’m old, and no one wants to listen to me anymore. Hmph, Junyi, Ninghua, just do as you please.” After saying that, he stood up and walked out of the hall.

Everyone hurriedly bowed and respectfully saw him off until he left.

The Crown Prince, who had been silently watching the entire scene, was a little disappointed. He didn’t expect Father Emperor to leave so quickly. Had Father Emperor been a little more unyielding, he would have been able to see Shen Ninghua disobey the imperial decree for a maid, and the whole situation would have been even more spectacular. From the looks of it, Father Emperor still cared about Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua, or maybe he was wary of them. Haha, this was what he wanted to see.

The Third Prince came over to join in on the fun. “Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, you are really courageous. I will take my leave first.”

Seeing the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince walking out, the other officials quickly got up and left. Although this kind of scene was enjoyable, it would implicate them in a bad way. Prefectural Prince Yi and Princess Zhaohua might have a grudge against them, and it would be devastating.

When everyone in the hall had left, Baili Jinchuan, who was sitting at the side, stood up. “Well, since I don’t have any business here, I will take my leave now.”

“Wait a moment,” Shen Ninghua hissed.

Baili Jinchuan stopped and turned to look at the indifferent Shen Ninghua. There was a faint flame in his eyes. “Yes, Ninghua?”

“Since Madam Qi is Bai Ruo’s birth mother, let her stay at my mansion before the matter is over.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

Baili Jinchuan curled his lips into a cold sneer. “Although Madam Qi is a member of the previous dynasty’s royal family, she came here as a hostler. Of course, she should live in your residence. I didn’t intend to take her away. You are overthinking this.”

Shen Ninghua nodded slightly. “Goodbye.”

“Hah!” Baili Jinchuan suddenly laughed out loud. His eyes fell on Shen Ninghua’s face. “You are so cold-blooded and heartless. You know, had I not brought Qi Yuechan back, she would have fallen into the hands of others, and today’s birthday banquet would have become the conviction for you and Baili Junyi. Who knows if you are plotting something by secretly sheltering a descendant of the previous dynasty’s royal family?”

Baili Junyi took a step forward to block Baili Jinchuan’s line of sight. The aura around him suddenly burst out. Baili Jinchuan narrowed his eyes and did not give in. Both of their eyes were burning with strong hostility as if they were nemesis.

“I thank you for your kindness, Second Royal Brother.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I’m not doing this for you.”

“Ninghua is my wife. You did this for her, which means that you want us to be safe as a couple. I should thank you.” Baili Junyi poked his Archiles’ heels in purpose.

The words sounded extremely sarcastic and harsh when they echoed into Baili Jinchuan’s ear. “Haha! Fifth Brother, how does it feel when you know something but you pretend to be ignorant about it? It must feel so awful, right?”

Baili Junyi glared even colder. “Second Royal Brother, how about when you refuse to give up on something that is absolutely beyond your reach? This feeling is not good too, right?”

Baili Jinchuan’s face twisted in a resentful grimace. He turned around and walked out of the hall quickly.

Baili Junyi looked at Qi Yuechan and Bai Ruo who were kneeling on the ground. “The two of you can go out and talk this through. Ye Yi, arrange rooms for them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shen Ninghua looked at the two children who were being held by Qing Que and Hong Ling. She went forward and touched their little faces. “These two bold little things were not frightened by what happened just now.”

Before the children were carried away, Baili Jinchuan came in with his people. She had been paying attention to the two children at all times, afraid that the commotion would scare them. To her surprise, they watched the scene unfold with relish.

Baby Girl pursed her lips and grinned. The dimples on her face were particularly pleasing to the eye. “Mother, hug!”

Seeing his sister in his mother’s arms, Big Boy looked at Baili Junyi with some disdain. In the end, he still reached out his hand to him. “Father, hug!”

Baili Junyi, who was sulking, suddenly froze on the spot when he heard this. He looked at Shen Ninghua in disbelief, “Ninghua, did you hear that? Did Big Boy just call me father?”

Shen Ninghua held back the smile in her eyes. “Yes, he called you father.”

Baili Junyi hurriedly carried Big Boy over. “Good son! Call me again.”

Big Boy looked at his silly father in disgust and called out reluctantly, “Father.”

Baili Junyi happily hugged him and spun him in a circle. “Oh, I thought my son was stupid, but now it seems that he is very smart.”

Baby Girl buried her head in Shen Ninghua’s chest, as if she did not want to see her father’s silly look. Shen Ninghua laughed and touched her furry little head. She said to Baili Junyi, “Alright, stop messing around. Let’s go back and rest.”

Just as Shen Ninghua was about to walk out, she suddenly felt Baby Girl in her arms move. Baby Girl took out a small comb from her pocket and handed it to Shen Ninghua with both hands. “Mother, take…”

Shen Ninghua opened her mouth in surprise. “Is it for me?”

Baby Girl pursed her small dimples and smiled very happily. She held the small comb and wanted to comb Shen Ninghua’s hair.

“Thank you, Baby Girl. I like it very much.” Shen Ninghua kissed Baby Girl in the cheek, her eyes like a crescent moon.

Baili Junyi was a little jealous. “Baby Girl, what about me?”

Baby Girl once again reached into her pocket with her chubby little hand and took out a small sword that was only half the length of a palm. “Daddy, hit!”

Baili Junyi handed Big Boy to Qing Que who was at the side. He reached out to take Baby Girl over and threw her high into the air. “My good daughter, you are indeed my good daughter. You are much better than your brother. I will definitely use this sword to kill all the bad guys!” When he received the gift from his daughter, he immediately forgot that he had just praised Big Boy. At this moment, Baby Girl was the best in the world.

On the other hand, Big Boy did not mind his father after being taken over by Shen Ninghua. He snuggled in his mother’s embrace, giggling happily.

The delightful atmosphere washed off the gloominess caused by Bai Ruo’s incident. At dinner time, Bai Ruo finally appeared in front of Shen Ninghua again with red eyes.

Shen Ninghua first fed the two children and asked the wet nurses to take them back to their room. Then, she had her dinner and got someone to bring her tea before sending all the servants away. “Bai Ruo, have you and Madam Qi finished chatting?”

Bai Ruo fell to her knees. “Miss, I want to stay by your side and serve you.”

Shen Ninghua was silent for a while before she stood up and bent down to help Bai Ruo up. “You have been with me for the longest time. I used all means to save you. If you don’t want to leave, there will always be a place for you here.”

The simple remark sent Bai Ruo into tears. “Miss, I have let you down. I’m sorry for keeping my identity a secret.”

“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to force you if you didn’t volunteer to tell me. But now, you have to let me know so that I can think of a way to solve this problem.”

“Yes. Madam Qi is indeed my biological mother, but since I was old enough to remember things, I’d rarely seen her. My biological father… the Emperor from the previous dynasty did not like daughters, so after I was born, my mother passed me to the wet nurse, and I was raised in a side courtyard. Even when the imperial palace was captured, it was my wet nurse who took me with her and escaped. My mother wouldn’t have thought of taking me with her.”

“However, as we escaped, my wet nurse was injured in order to protect me, but she did not want to spend a single silver tael to treat her injury. In the end, the wet nurse succumbed to her injury due to severe inflammation of the wound and high fever. Madam Qi was born into a noble family, and she knew almost nothing apart from taking care of her looks and fighting for power. She would have abandoned me long ago had it not been for the fact that I could cook for her and do her laundry. Later, the money was stolen. She sold me to the brothel for the silver taels. I resisted with all my might, and I was beaten half to death every time I attempted to escape. Later, I managed to escape. On the way, I was bitten by a poisonous snake and fell into the valley, and you saved me. The rest is history that you know about.”