Chapter 37 I Disrupted the Shen Family?

The moment Shen Ninghua entered the door, Nurse Qin came over with a group of people. Having learnt two lessons, they didn’t dare to take offensive actions this time. Nurse Qin stepped forward. She bowed her body, lowered her eyelids and said, “Greetings, First Young Lady. Master and Madam are both in the Old Lady’s courtyard. They sent me over to take you there.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes swept over Nurse Qin’s gloomy face with a cold snort in her heart. So they were going to gang up and interrogate her. “Lead the way.”

Nurse Qin’s eyelids twitched as she made way for Shen Ninghua to pass by. She signaled for the people behind her to block the path of retreat. Shen Ninghua didn’t care after she found out their action. She didn’t intend to leave at all. Even if Shen Dong didn’t look for her, she would look for them.

Shen Xuanhua pushed Nurse Qin aside and followed Shen Ninghua. “Eldest Sister, you’ve just been frightened. You’d better go back and have a good rest. I’ll report to grandmother.” Although he didn’t know the situation in the Shen family clearly, he also heard that Madam Zhao didn’t like Shen Ninghua. It was definitely not a good thing to ask her to come over at this time.

Shen Ninghua smiled and said, “Grandmother, father and mother asked for me, what is the point of you going there? I think the news about Huanhua Stream has been known back home. Your mother must be worried. Quickly go back and let her know that you are safe.”

“No need. Once I visit grandmother’s courtyard, mother will know soon. She will definitely come as well.” In that case, if the eldest uncle and eldest aunt made things difficult for the eldest sister, his mother would also be able to help.

Feeling his kindness, Shen Ninghua chuckled and said nothing. Nurse Qin’s expression became even worse. Madam Su and the First Lady did not get along with each other. If Madam Su supported Shen Ninghua because of Shen Xuanhua, the First Lady would lose the initiative. It seemed that she needed to remind the First Lady.

As soon as Shen Ninghua entered the door, Madam Zhao questioned her, “Shen Ninghua, where’s Linghan?”

“Greetings, grandmother, father, mother.”

Seeing her leisurely movements, Madam Zhao suddenly stood up and said, “I’m asking you. Why didn’t Linghan come back with you?”

Shen Ninghua looked up at Old Lady Xiao and Shen Dong. Seeing that the two of them did not have the intention to let her get up, she no longer waited. She straightened up her body and said, “The Second Prince invited Linghan into the Palace. You should have received the news as well.”

“You evil spirit, if it weren’t for you, how could Linghan be misunderstood! Drag her out, drag her out!” Shen Linghan was the apple of Madam Zhao’s eye. Now that she had offended the royal family, how could Madam Zhao refrain from being furious?

Shen Ninghua’s eyes turned cold. She looked at Shen Dong with her pitch-black eyes. “Father, have I done anything so grossly wrong that mother ordered servants to drag me out? Although I was not born by her, I am indeed your bloodline. Why should I take the blame when something happens to Shen Linghan? When she did something wrong, why should I, her elder sister, be made the scapegoat and bear the consequences?” Madam Zhao was really reckless with her words. She would never be able to have her dragged out in her life!

For some unknown reason, when Shen Dong looked into Shen Ninghua’s eyes, he suddenly felt unable to vent the anger that had accumulated in his heart. A trace of guilt faintly rose in his heart, as if he suddenly realized that this girl was also his bloodline.

Madam Zhao did not notice Shen Dong’s change of emotions. After hearing Shen Ninghua’s words, she sneered, “How can you be compared to Linghan? Linghan is one of the auspicious pigeon pair, but you are a jinx that killed your mother upon your birth. If it weren’t for your coming back, how could there be so many bad things happening at home?”

Shen Ninghua laughed out loud. “Mother, your words are too biased. Have I ever provoked any incident since I was back home? No! I embroidered a screen for my father and copied scriptures for my grandmother. Even if you arranged such a courtyard for me, I never complained a bit. If Shen Linghan hadn’t repeatedly framed me up, the Shen family wouldn’t have any trouble at all. She is the one who keeps causing trouble! ”

“Nonsense! If you didn’t do anything, why would Linghan set you up?” Madam Zhao pounded on the table fiercely and shouted coldly.

“Mother, do you think I’m talking nonsense without evidence? Last time when the wine was added with poison, Nurse Zhou was only unable to speak, but she wasn’t dead! Although she couldn’t speak, she could write. If it weren’t for the sake of maintaining peace in the Shen family, I would have handed Nurse Zhou’s confession to the yamen. This time her accusation is even more inexplicable. The falling flames in the sky caused a panic. I myself was also shocked, but my sister came up with evidence to accuse me. It’s really too ridiculous.” Seeing Madam Zhao’s face that suddenly turned pale, Shen Ninghua sneered in her heart. Did Madam Zhao think everything was done flawlessly?

Madam Zhao panicked. In order to avoid suspicion, she had secretly warned Liang Yu to keep a good watch on Nurse Zhou and not let anyone get close to his mother. She had planned to have Nurse Zhou die of “illness” after a period of time. When did Shen Ninghua have access to Nurse Zhou?

“You…”

Shen Ninghua sighed and looked at Shen Dong with her shining eyes. “Father, my mother passed away when she gave birth to me. I feel extremely guilty in my heart. I have no way of repaying but to live a better life to comfort her spirit in the heavens. If people accuse me of bringing bad luck to my mother, I am willing to accept the accusation. But if people say that I disrupted the Shen family, I won’t admit it! Father, do you know why my sister was invited to the Palace?”

“Why?” Madam Zhao’s reaction was a little too abnormal, and Shen Dong had made some judgements in his heart. Now that he heard Shen Ninghua’s words, he gradually had a bad premonition in his heart.

Shen Ninghua smiled coldly. “Because she said that I attempted to murder the prince!”

“What?” Shen Dong abruptly stood up, causing the chair behind him to thump twice.

Madam Zhao was also stunned. She only heard that Shen Linghan was suddenly brought into the Palace because of her conflict with Shen Ninghua, but she didn’t know why.

Shen Ninghua smiled bitterly and said, “No matter how courageous I am, I would not dare to murder the prince. That is a crime that could implicate the whole family and its relatives! I have neither the intention nor the ability to commit such a crime. My sister repeatedly emphasized that I had malicious intentions. If the Second Prince and Fifth Prince weren’t sensible, I’m afraid that we would all be imprisoned now. How could we be in the mood to argue?”

Old Lady Xiao suddenly knocked on the chair, and her face was gloomy. “I only thought that Linghan was a little spoiled girl, but I didn’t expect her to be so brainless! Does she want the Shen family to be buried with her? Zhao, see how well you have raised your daughter!”

Facing the Old Lady and Shen Dong’s eyesight, Madam Zhao suddenly knelt down and said, “No, Master, Linghan wouldn’t have such thoughts.”

Old Lady Xiao didn’t care about her right now. She looked at Shen Dong with a serious expression, “This matter must be handled properly. You are the Prime Minister. The more powerful you are, the more cautious you should be. His Majesty’s words determine the life and death of all the people in the world. Our Shen family absolutely cannot be buried along with Shen Linghan.”

Shen Dong’s eyes twitched. It was clear that the Old Lady wanted him to abandon this daughter. However, He had spent tremendous efforts in cultivating Shen Linghan. She was one of the auspicious pigeon pair and had the support of the Zhao family. It would be a pity to abandon her.

Old Lady Xiao understood his worry and became even angrier. “Even with a gold mountain in her hand, if she is brainless, she won’t be able to keep it. It would be better to just live a simple life.” If Shen Linghan really entered the harem, judging from her current performance, she would probably be killed not long after. Rather than expecting benefits from her, they would be satisfied as long as she didn’t cause trouble for the Shen family.

Madam Zhao looked at Shen Dong earnestly, “Master, Linghan was just temporarily confused. She is a good child. You watch her grow up. She is skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and scripture. When did she ever let you down? This time, someone must have framed her up. If you gave up on her, how sad would Xuanye be when he comes back?”

Shen Xuanye? Shen Dong’s heart leaped. Compared to his expectations of Shen Linghan, his expectation of Shen Xuanye, his first son, was truly high.

Seeing Shen Dong slowly suppressed his emotions, Madam Zhao heaved a sigh of relief in her heart. As long as the master still cared about Xuanye, then Linghan still stood a chance.

“Master, Linghan has always been obedient and sensible. In was unusual for her to suddenly say such treacherous words as murdering the prince. Was she set up?”

Shen Dong looked at Shen Ninghua. There was a struggle in his eyes for a long time. Then he answered Madam Zhao’s question, “I’ll go to the Palace immediately. We’ll talk about this matter when I come back. Ninghua, you go back to Yingyue Courtyard first. Don’t come out without my order.”

“Yes, father.” She was grounded, so it was good that she didn’t have to deal with these people.

Shen Xuanhua was not convinced and wanted to defend her, but Shen Ninghua stopped him with her eyes.

Old Lady Xiao snorted coldly and Xue Zhu helped her down to have a rest. Shen Ninghua left with Qing Que and Hong Ling as well.

Once they were out of Songtao Courtyard, Shen Ninghua looked at Shen Xuanhua who was very indignant and said, “Hurry up and go back. Aunt must be worried about you now.”

“Eldest sister, you’re not to blame for this…”

“It’s already good for things to end up like this. Don’t worry, I won’t let myself be wronged. Hurry up and go back. Don’t keep Aunt waiting and make her worried about you.”

“Alright, alright.” Shen Xuanhua lowered his head and unhappily walked away.

Shen Ninghua chuckled. She turned around to look at Songtao Courtyard, and her smile grew even deeper.

Inside the hall, Nurse Qin helped Madam Zhao up and looked at Shen Ninghua’s back. Madam Zhao’s eyes were like poisoned sharp arrows. “Nurse Qin, it must be this bitch who plotted all of these. She wants revenge on me! Do you think she has discovered what happened back then?”

“Madam, besides you, the only person who knows about the incident back then is me. I’m truly loyal to you. Madam, please trust me.”

Madam Zhao let Nurse Qin kneel on the ground for a while before she said, “Of course, I trust you, but we can’t be absolutely relaxed. I’m worried that Shen Ninghua will find out something. It’s better to get rid of her as soon as possible.”

“Madam, Shen Ninghua is not simple. If we don’t have a perfect plan, I’m afraid we won’t succeed.” Nurse Qin was worried.

Madam Zhao’s expression darkened. “You’re right, I need to think about it. By the way, did Xuanye say in his last letter that he would be back soon?”

“Yes, the First Young Master said that he would definitely come back to celebrate the Old Lady’s birthday.”

“That’s good. Let’s make a good plan and turn the happy event into a funeral!”

Nurse Qin was shocked, “Madam, are you…”

Madam Zhao smiled coldly, “For the sake of Linghan and Xuanye, I would in no way let Shen Ninghua continue her wrongdoing.”

“Yes…”