Chapter 347: Eradicating the Bai Family

Ning Daying's hand didn't touch Bai Li.

But the person suddenly started crying out in pain.

And she stared at Ning Daying with a pair of wary eyes.

At this moment Ning Daying finally realized she was facing not just a vicious person, but also a pregnant woman.

Chu Yunzheng was shocked and turned pale.

Bai Li still clutched his hand and said insistently, "Emperor, don't blame Ning Daying."

"It was a nightmare, that ominous omen…"

"I truly worry about the Emperor's safety; I beg you, Emperor, don't leave the palace."

She wept with emotion, quietly twisting her thigh root hard, pain making cold sweat pour from her body.

Seeing her pale face, Chu Yunzheng panicked, hurriedly hoisting her sideways, anxiously shouting, "Li'er, don't be afraid, I am here."

"Fine, I will rely on you; there will be no trouble."

"Grand Physician, quickly summon the Grand Physician!"

"Emperor." Ning Daying was stunned, her mind blank, not knowing how to respond.

She could only shout a dumb sentence.

That voice happened to remind Chu Yunzheng of what Bai Li said.

"You! All these years you've been spoiled by Hui Guifei."

"Go yourself to the gate of Changchun Palace and kneel to beg forgiveness; hopefully Li'er is unharmed." Chu Yunzheng's eyes instantly filled with murderous intent.

No longer caring about leaving the palace, he hurriedly turned back, carrying Bai Li.

Ning Daying slightly opened her mouth, but was helpless.

After all, she is the person the Emperor treats most specially.

From the start, any woman who opposes her will inevitably be at a disadvantage.

Ning Daying forced a helpless smile.

Bitterness spread, stumbling toward Changchun Palace.

Baoguo Si Chan Yuan.

All was calm; Xiao Shunzi squatted at the doorway, dozing off.

Several people disguised as assassins were guarding outside the courtyard.

Xiao Shunzi only needed to pretend to be held hostage.

Just as she was about to nap, two guards brought Nanzhu in.

"Eunuch Shun, we discovered a suspicious palace maid who says she wants to see you."

When Nanzhu saw Xiao Shunzi, her voice trembled with post‑disaster fear: "Eunuch Shun, it's me."

"Nanzhu?"

Xiao Shunzi was puzzled.

Her gaze fell on the scars on her body, a hint of compassion flashing in her eyes: "Looks like you've endured a lot of hardship."

Nanzhu shook her head, eyes resolute: "Not bitter!"

"As long as the real villains are punished, these superficial injuries mean nothing!"

"That's true as well."

"Lower your voice," Xiao Shunzi whispered, indicating the tightly shut door, "Master just closed his eyes."

Before he finished speaking, a voice from the Zen Chamber announced Wan Tang: "Is Nanzhu here?"

Xiao Shunzi quickly bowed and replied: "Yes, Madam, it's Miss Nanzhu."

"Let her in," Wan Tang's voice carried a hint of fatigue.

Xiao Shunzi gave Nanzhu a signal; understanding, Nanzhu adjusted her clothing, took a deep breath, and pushed open the Zen Chamber door.

The Zen Chamber was spacious.

Inside, a faint scent of Calming Incense wafted.

Minghui and Qiu Niang were both asleep.

Wan Tang draped a thin robe over herself and sat outside.

Nanzhu knelt on the ground, her voice extremely low: "I (serving woman) pay my respects to Madam."

Wan Tang leaned on a soft pillow, the gauze wrapped around her shoulder glaringly conspicuous.

However, it was all a disguise.

She slightly frowned: "What, Bai Li doesn't trust you? Or something went wrong?"

"She believed," Nanzhu looked up, eyes shining, "She believed my claim of escaping at the cost of my life. But she ordered me to personally verify whether Madam is truly gravely injured and near death."

"Heh," Wan Tang's lips curled into a cold sneer, "Pretending to be clever."

"Madam, shall I return and describe in detail your severely wounded, near‑death state to her?" Nanzhu asked.

"No need," Wan Tang waved her hand lightly, her tone indifferent, "There's no need to act out this play for her."

She turned her gaze to Nanzhu, a faint knowing smile on her face: "You've always wanted revenge, haven't you? The matter I promised you is about to be fulfilled."

Nanzhu trembled all over, her eyes instantly bursting with years‑suppressed excitement and hatred, and she bowed heavily.

"I (serving woman) thank you, Madam! This grace and kindness, Nanzhu will never forget for all eternity!"

"Enough."

"In this palace, who isn't a wretched soul?"

Wan Tang spoke of Nanzhu, yet it seemed she was speaking of herself.

"Since you're here, stay the night."

Wan Tang's voice was gentle as water: "Look at you, you've lost a lot of weight; I guess you haven't rested properly over there either!"

Nanzhu gave an awkward smile.

Wan Tang continued: "Tonight, you can finally get a proper sleep."

Dawn was just breaking when a gray pigeon landed in the Zen Courtyard.

Xiao Shunzi took the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg, pulled out the Secret Letter and hurriedly presented it to Wan Tang.

The letter contained Qi Qi's sharp handwriting: "The Bai family has confirmed the Empress has met an accident and is taking action."

"They have already begun acquiring Jiangbei Liang Tian, forcing the disaster‑stricken people into slavery. They are even secretly colluding with officials, preparing to install Bai Li as empress."

Wan Tang's fingertip brushed the paper, igniting it over the candle flame.

The flame leapt, illuminating her calm brows and eyes.

These people are truly foolishly laughable.

Just by leaving a small loophole, they could immediately crawl in.

"The time has come," she said, watching the paper turn to ash. "Xiao Shunzi, send the order down. Cast the net."

Xiao Shunzi bowed and took the command: "Nubi will attend to it at once."

From outside the window came the youthful reading voice of Minghui: "Heaven and Earth are vast and dark, the universe is boundless…"

Wan Tang walked to the window, gazed at her daughter's diligent recitation in the courtyard, and softly said: "Move quickly, be ruthless."

Another three days passed.

Each time, Ning Daying obeyed the Imperial Edict, went to Changchun Palace and knelt for two hours.

Nanzhu went and never returned.

This further confirmed Bai Li's speculation: the Empress had met an accident.

Precisely because of this, Nanzhu was detained there.

She had not, as she had promised herself, given any prior notice of this moment.

Whenever someone from the Imperial Palace went, death was unavoidable.

It was the person kneeling outside…

The more Bai Li looked, the more at ease she felt.

Her favorite thing was to see the women of the Ning family kneeling before her.

She was about to become the Empress; after a while, Hui Guifei would also have to kneel before her.

Ning Daying kept his back perfectly straight, sweat sliding down his temples, yet he clenched his teeth and remained silent.

Bai Li felt delighted inside.

The old woman delivering news from outside the palace rushed in, crawling, her face as pale as paper, she fell to her knees with a thud, trembling hands:

"Your Majesty, something's wrong!"

"Madam, this morning she went outside The City to offer incense, and on the way back she encountered Mountain Bandits."

"She met disaster!"

"Those bandits not only killed the madam, they also left this."

The ring was a dowry piece that Bai Li's mother never left her side.

The smile on Bai Li's face froze instantly.

She stared tightly at the ring stained with dark red blood, her whole being seemed to have its soul ripped away, she swayed, then abruptly fell onto the chair.

Next to the ring was a Blood Letter.

It bore the words: "Daughter, Ning family…"

It was written with blood.

Could it be that the ones who struck the mother were the Ning family?

The Duke of Ning?