Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1215: Chapter 1217 Moved by Worldly Desires_1

Diao Yao’s little face turned pale with fear, ”I, I really don’t know anything about the ’curser.’ I don’t even know who my parents are.” She finished speaking and started to cry out of grievance.

Ning Yu turned his head to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, ”Your Highness, regardless of whether Diao Yao is aware or not, she is related to the onset of Princess Diao Bin’s curse. I suggest we detain her first, and then thoroughly investigate the matter.”

Princess Diao Bin, unable to bear it, said, ”Diao Yao lives here and won’t leave. There’s no need to imprison her, right? Besides, she wouldn’t harm me.”

Diao Yao looked at Princess Diao Bin and choked up, ”Sister Diao Bin, I really didn’t harm you.”

Bai Ruozhu opened her mouth on the side but didn’t know what to say, as it wasn’t proper for her to reveal Diao Yao’s origins, which were supposed to be disclosed by Chu Hai.

However, speaking of which, Diao Yao indeed did harm Princess Diao Bin, even though she herself was used by others.

The Empress Dowager showed a troubled expression, ”Well... let’s have Diao Yao stay in Cining Palace for now. I will arrange for someone to watch her.”

”Your Highness, this really isn’t appropriate. Her identity is a mystery, and she is connected to the princess’s curse. It is far too risky for her to stay in Cining Palace. How can you assure your own safety and the safety of the princess?” Ning Yu argued stubbornly, unwilling to relent.

”I haven’t harmed anyone, and I won’t harm anyone. Why are you always targeting me?” Diao Yao, who hadn’t been through many trials and tribulations, got a bit flustered after being accused by Ning Yu a few times.

Ning Yu snorted coldly, ”Even if you know nothing, this matter cannot be disconnected from you. ’Better safe than sorry,’ the princess’s current condition doesn’t allow for the slightest negligence!”

These words struck a chord with the Empress Dowager, and she no longer hesitated, saying to Diao Yao, ”By the rules, you should stay in the Sky Prison for now. I will ascertain the truth. If it indeed has nothing to do with you, that will clear your name sooner.”

Bai Ruozhu thought of the Sky Prison and recalled Wu Zhishang, who had intended to tarnish her innocence, and felt particularly uncomfortable, whispering, ”Your Highness, the Sky Prison might not be safe. Some people have reach into it. The last time Ning Yu and I were imprisoned in the Sky Prison... ”

She stopped there, but surely enough, the complexions of the Empress Dowager and Ning Yu changed. The incident was something neither wanted to mention much. Although Bai Ruozhu emerged unscathed, it still had an impact on her reputation when word got out.

Princess Diao Bin, unaware of this incident, thought only of how sinister the Sky Prison was and, also with a lack of willingness to subject anyone to that, said, ”Yes, Mother, how could the Sky Prison be suitable for a girl to stay in? It’s all mice and bugs.”

”Just detain her in the West Hall of Cining Palace. I will inform His Majesty and have him send someone to guard her strictly,” the Empress Dowager eventually decreed.

This time, Ning Yu did not say any more. Although he suspected Diao Yao, he didn’t wish for a girl’s innocence to be sullied in the Sky Prison.

When Diao Yao was being taken away, she continued to sob grievously. She didn’t understand what was happening; overnight, she had been seized and locked away in a place devoid of light, and she didn’t know whether her ’brother’ Chu Hai was dead or alive. She had been rescued with great difficulty yet was now under suspicion by the Empress Dowager. What had she done to deserve this?

Bai Ruozhu and Ning Yu did not stay long either and soon left Cining Palace. On the way, Bai Ruozhu said to Ning Yu, ”You seem quite concerned about the princess.”

Ning Yu’s face flushed in an instant, that simple heart of his was far too easy to read, wasn’t it?

”I and Master serve the Royal Family. It’s our duty to relieve the Emperor of worries and troubles,” Ning Yu said stiffly.

Bai Ruozhu chuckled lightly, ”Ning Yu, I’m not sure whether it’s good or bad that Master has taught you to be so pure. You’re making it too obvious.”

Ning Yu deflated instantly, looking extremely ill at ease.

”Master has passed away, and from now on you will manage the Astrology Tower, but what about the position of the National Master?” Bai Ruozhu suddenly changed the subject.

Ning Yu was stunned for a moment, then said, ”I’m not sure, I am still young, and it might be difficult for me to assume the position of National Master. Moreover, His Majesty doesn’t rely greatly on the Astrology Tower, so perhaps the appointment will remain in limbo.”

”But if it doesn’t, what if His Majesty issues a Holy Edict and makes you the National Master? To my knowledge, a National Master is not allowed to marry a princess,” Bai Ruozhu continued.

Ning Yu’s body tensed, and he nervously looked around, afraid that others might overhear.

”What nonsense are you speaking? If someone were to overhear, wouldn’t it tarnish the princess’s reputation?” Ning Yu said, his anger evident and almost frantic.

Bai Ruozhu sighed, ”Master asked me to take good care of you, which shows how much he worried about you. You have already developed feelings, so why not just admit it? From what I observe, you haven’t entered the religious order, and you still have a choice. So you should really think carefully about whether or not you want to be the National Master.”

”I must inherit my master’s mantle; I promised him that I would. Besides, the princess has a marriage engagement with the Turkic Country. Don’t bring this up again.” Ning Yu spoke and then walked briskly ahead, looking as if he did not wish to give Bai Ruozhu a chance to retort.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t say any more, but she thought that the National Master could not have known that Ning Yu had already developed worldly affections; otherwise, he would also have advised Ning Yu not to tie himself down.

It seemed that Ning Yu and Princess Diao Bin were destined to be star-crossed.

Once they left the Imperial Palace, Bai Ruozhu instructed Jianqi, who was waiting outside, to return to Bai Residence and relay the current situation to Chu Hai. She left it to Chu Hai to decide how to act, stating that she was not a savior; she had already risked enough to help rescue Diao Yao and had no reason to keep sticking her neck out.

When Bai Ruozhu and Ning Yu returned to the Astrology Tower, they found that Jiang Yichun was already waiting outside the tower.

Bai Ruozhu walked quickly over, ”How long have you been waiting?”

”Just arrived a while ago. I heard from the children that you went to see Diao Bin,” said Jiang Yichun, with a look of concern in his eyes. Bai Ruozhu had been worn down from mourning, and her cheeks had thinned.

He wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, but he retracted his hand just as he lifted it. She was now in mourning with the sacrifice cloth on her head, paying respects while mourning the National Master. As a sign of respect for the deceased, it would not be appropriate for them to show affection in front of the Astrology Tower, especially if seen by others.

In a low voice, Bai Ruozhu said, ”The Empress Dowager has saved Diao Yao, but the situation has changed again.”

She quickly explained, and Jiang Yichun was not surprised, only frowning and saying, ”Even if they can only trigger the curse on Diao Bin prematurely by using Diao Yao, isn’t this approach troublesome for them? With their ability to cover the sky with one hand in the palace, it shouldn’t be hard to harm Diao Bin, right?”

”Exactly, are they making all this effort just to harm a princess?” Bai Ruozhu also felt exasperated.

Suddenly, Jiang Yichun narrowed his eyes, ”You’re right, they wouldn’t make all this effort just to harm a princess; their ultimate target must be the Emperor!”

Bai Ruozhu quickly glanced around, her heart pounding. Had they uncovered some conspiracy? But who was the mastermind? How could they possibly harm the Emperor?

”Don’t worry, I’ve got everything under control. You go back inside, and don’t push yourself too hard. The family are all fine at home, including Little Dengdeng and your parents,” Jiang Yichun reassured her.

”Mm, I can go home after the seventh day. Take care of everything for the next few days.” They were an old married couple, and she didn’t feel the need to stand on ceremony with him.