Chapter 348: Do Not Approach a Pregnant Woman

Bai Li's chest rose and fell violently.

"Madam died so terribly, Your Majesty, you must avenge her!" the old woman said in a heavy tone, still crying continuously.

Those shouts were like death‑summoning talismans.

Bai Li gritted her teeth: "How could this happen?"

"Logically, my mother wouldn't have any mishap!"

"Why is it the Duke of Ning? Does that mean even he has started to strike us?"

The old woman wiped her tears, recounting what she knew: "Your Majesty may not know, the Duke of Ning a few days ago actually threw the Tiger Tally to the Emperor."

"Madam was also worried, so she went specially to Guogong Mansion to ask the Duke of Ning the reason. Unexpectedly, because of the Empress's matter, the Duke of Ning drove her out."

"Just after some peaceful days, we were harmed by Mountain Bandits!"

"Wuwuwu, this matter surely cannot be separated from that Empress."

Bai Li trembled all over with anger, her heart burning with unvented fury.

Wan Tang!

It's because of that scum Wan Tang again.

Now the affairs at Baoguo Temple require a step‑by‑step approach; she cannot act against that side for the time being.

Looking outward, Ning Daying, who had been kneeling for the full period, was about to stand and leave.

All her fury instantly found an outlet.

A mocking sneer grew hotter on her face as she muttered, "Fine, you keep pressuring me; does that really mean I have no way to deal with you?"

"Duke of Ning, what a damn father, if you don't treat me as your child, I'll let you taste what it's like to lose an important relative."

Bai Li rushed out.

Ning Daying had not yet fully stood when she was about to support a maid's hand to leave.

Bai Li stepped forward, raised her hand and slapped her face hard!

With a crisp "Snap!" sound, Ning Daying staggered a few steps, her cheek instantly reddening and swelling.

"You!" Ning Daying covered her face, staring in disbelief, "Why did you hit me?"

"What are you looking at?" Bai Li's gaze was fierce, tone sharp, "Can't this palace strike you?"

"It's just a little Daying; if this palace hits, so be it, what's the problem?"

She grew more agitated, reaching out to grab Ning Daying's collar.

Ning Daying, now also inflamed, struggled fiercely: "You're crazy! Let go of me!"

The two instantly tangled, hairpins and rings scattering, clothing in disarray.

The palace staff were terrified, their souls fleeing, yet no one dared to approach the raging Princess Bai.

After all, both sides are people you can't afford to offend.

Even though Ning Daying's rank is not high, she is a person of the Noble Consort.

Touching her equals touching the Noble Consort.

"It's all you!" Bai Li, looking frantic, "You killed my mother."

Upon hearing the news of Bai Li's mother's death, Ning Daying was first stunned, then suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly.

The laughter was full of vindication: "Retribution! Truly retribution! The Bai family has committed many evils, this is divine punishment!"

"Your mother was so shameless back then, hooking up with a married man. Now that something happened, truly Heaven has opened its eyes."

Bai Li was horrified by her laugh, shouting sharply, "It was you! Was it you who did it?"

"Was it the old brute Duke of Ning, or the Empress?!"

Ning Daying stopped laughing, too lazy to look at her, brushed dust off her sleeve, and disdainfully spat two words: "Retribution."

Those light, fleeting two words completely enraged Bai Li.

Her gaze, as sinister as Yin Zhi, seemed able to drip water; she stepped forward, voice icy: "Kneel before this palace!"

"Kowtow!"

"Apologize for your earlier words!"

Ning Daying stood upright, unafraid, meeting her gaze: "Dreaming! The Emperor only ordered me to kneel for two periods; the time is up, why should I kneel to you?"

"Heh," Bai Li sneered coldly, trying to press with authority, "Did you think that with the Empress and Hui Guifei backing you, this palace couldn't act against you?"

"Of course." Ning Daying lifted her chin slightly.

From her lofty position, she looked down at Bai Li, tone dripping with sarcasm, "Bai Li, don't forget how you once lowered yourself, acted like a little worm, wagging your tail to beg for mercy before Hui Guifei to secure your place."

"All you are now is a rootless floating duckweed; do you truly think you can become a phoenix perched on a branch?"

She trembled all over with anger, her face ashen, suddenly at a loss for words.

Ning Daying, seeing her like that, let out a cold snort, turned and left, leaving Bai Li alone on the spot, swallowed by endless anger and humiliation.

Bai Li clenched her back teeth.

Past memories floated up in her mind.

Back then, she was merely a bastard daughter.

Even though the Duke of Ning loved her, every time Hui Guifei saw her, she looked down from above.

She had clearly exhausted all means to gain her father's affection.

Yet whenever she, with a petty attitude, tried to scheme against Hui Guifei.

That woman was impermeable.

No matter how Bai Li complained, she was met with a horse‑whip beating.

The Duke of Ning, that old brute, would speak of loving her, but regarding such actions, he merely gave Hui Guifei a few mild scoldings.

So Bai Li feared no one.

Only Hui Guifei, she feared her from the bottom of her heart.

She didn't even dare to strike her lightly.

Thinking of those years, the wounds the horsewhip had drawn on her body, a flash of wild ruthlessness passed through Bai Li's eyes.

"You're right; the suffering endured those years, I must repay it."

"That bitch Wan Tang has already been dealt with; can you escape?"

Bai Li's smile was cold and deep, and she lunged fiercely toward Ning Daying, who was turned away from her!

"Ah! What are you doing?!"

Ning Daying heard a rush of wind behind her, turned her head, and saw Bai Li charging at her like a death‑seeking specter.

She tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

"Bang"—with a muffled thud, Bai Li used all her strength to crash heavily into Ning Daying's shadow.

Ning Daying was knocked backward by the sudden violent impact, lost her footing, let out a startled cry, and fell heavily to the ground.

She lay on the ground, shocked and angry, staring at Bai Li, who stood before her, looking down with a cruel smile.

From her lofty position, Bai Li looked at Ning Daying's pitiful collapse, and her smile grew ever more chilling.

Ning Daying was stunned by the sudden turn of events, still not having reacted, when she saw Bai Li let out an "Ah" of pain beside her and, with the momentum, crash heavily to the ground.

Bai Li's complexion turned ghastly in an instant, cold sweat beading on her forehead, and she clutched her abdomen.

Yet she flashed a cruel smile at Ning Daying, lowered her voice, and said to the old granny beside her, "What are we waiting for? Go prepare the medicine."

Ning Daying felt a sudden heaviness in her heart, as an ominous premonition seized her instantly.

The old granny immediately understood, rushed to Bai Li's side, and shouted hoarsely, "Help! Someone! Ning Daying knocked over Pear Princess, plotting against the Imperial Heir!"

"She tried to murder the Imperial Heir!"

Bai Li let out a timely painful groan and hammered her own lower abdomen hard.

"No… it wasn't me! You ran into me yourself!" Ning Daying was already panicking.

Bai Li lay on the ground, her smile cruel: "You have such formidable two elder sisters; didn't they ever tell you? In the Imperial harem, never get close to a pregnant woman, okay?"

Having said that, Bai Li's smiling voice, hands covering her abdomen, cried hoarsely, "Help!"

"My belly hurts so much!"