Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Government Soldiers Search the Granary

Shen Ningning couldn’t wait to open the letter.

Rows of bold, forceful script met her eyes.

Shen Ningning, when you read this, it is as if we are speaking face to face. I have arrived in Chongzhou. I didn’t expect autumn hadn’t fully set in here yet. The pink peach blossom on the envelope was the first flower I saw after entering the city, so I plucked it for you.

Once autumn arrived in the Capital City, the plants would typically wither and the flowers wilt.

Everywhere one looked, there were only golden, withered leaves and somber, heavy clouds.

To think that Chongzhou still held a trace of summer’s brilliance, leaving behind a pink peach blossom like this.

Shen Ningning played with the peach blossom in her little hands, looking at it again and again with delight.

She couldn’t resist bringing her little nose close for a sniff. "ACHOO!"

It was filled with a delicate fragrance.

The little one eagerly looked down at the letter again.

The weather in Chongzhou is slow to change, but it has been nourished by rain. As the days gradually drift toward late autumn, the people here have returned to their normal lives. Seeing their happy faces as they live and work in peace, I can’t help but think that this is all thanks to you.

A sweet smile graced Shen Ningning’s fair, rosy cheeks.

’It seems the drought is ending all over Cangyun Country.’

’Brother must feel so relieved on his inspection tour, right?’

Reading on, she saw that Mo Lingwei had shared an interesting story.

I stayed in Chongzhou for a few days and noticed an old man selling bamboo and rattan baskets. He would arrive before dawn to sell his wares and leave after dusk. He was an honest, simple man who didn’t say much. Whenever anyone spoke to him, he would only smile and nod.

Later, I discovered that he was often bullied. I heard his limp was the result of a beating he took in his younger years. He never reported it to the government. When I was there, some kind-hearted locals encouraged him to tell me his grievances, but he just waved his hands and fled in a panic, as if I were some terrifying beast.

Shen Ningning couldn’t help but smile knowingly as she read this.

She muttered, "Brother isn’t a bad person at all."

I ordered my men to bring him back. Only after some harsh questioning did he confess. It turns out he isn’t from Cangyun Country, but from Beitai Country. He came here thirty years ago with his wife and child to put down roots, but he lives in fear of his origins being discovered.

When he was brought before me, he fell to his knees before I could even speak, begging for his life with tears streaming down his face. I had his life story investigated. He has always been an honest man. After his wife and son passed away one after another, he continued to live an honest life, getting by with his craft. While I am no saint, how could I punish a man like that?

Shen Ningning blinked her large eyes, trying her best to remember.

She had once heard her grandmother say that during the late emperor’s reign, Cangyun Country and Beitai Country had fought several wars.

It wasn’t until thirty years ago that they reconciled, re-establishing relations and permitting trade between them.

However, the hatred the common people felt for their former enemy was not so easily erased.

That was likely why the old man was afraid of anyone finding out he was from Beitai Country.

Not only did I not punish him, but I also had the accompanying Imperial Physician leave him a prescription to treat his leg and ordered my men to repair his thatched hut. As I was leaving, I told him, "You have an Identity Jade Scroll. Even if you were born in Beitai, you are now a citizen of my Cangyun Country. So, what is there to fear?"

My letter is drawing to a close. As I was doing all this, I thought that if you were here, you would surely praise me and say, "Brother, you’re the best!" So I’m looking forward to your reply. Be sure to write a lot.

After finishing the letter, Shen Ningning was lost in thought.

She pursed her pink lips, murmuring the words to herself again and again. "Identity Jade Scroll..."

The light cavalry messenger who had delivered the letter cupped his hands and said, "Commandery Princess, please write your reply. I must take the letter and ride hard to catch up with the Crown Prince."

Shen Ningning snapped out of her daze. She immediately leaned over in the carriage and, using the paper and brush from her book basket, dashed off a long reply.

The messenger carried sealing wax with him. Once the ink was dry, he immediately stuffed the letter into an envelope, sealed it, and after a cupped-hand salute, rode off at top speed.

Shen Ningning carefully examined the peach blossom again and again, utterly charmed by it.

But she knew peach blossoms don’t last long. Even with the messenger riding as fast as he could, the journey from Chongzhou had caused it to wilt slightly.

So, the little one placed the peach blossom in her Immortal Realm, nourishing it with Spiritual Spring Water.

’When Mo Lingwei returns, I’ll give him a surprise.’

...

On the fifteenth of the eleventh month, heavy rain had been falling on the Capital City for three straight days.

The weather was frigid, and the shops in the city selling padded winter clothes and hoods had long since sold out.

In the bleak, cold rain, puddles reflected a dark, heavy sky thick with clouds.

The thud of iron hooves splashed through the puddles, shattering the reflections.

Xie Mingxu, along with three squads of soldiers and a ranking Zhi Jinwu, reined in their horses before a granary.

The rain poured down on their straw capes.

The Zhi Jinwu in the lead stepped forward and pounded on the gate. His stern, urgent voice, mingled with the drumming of the rain, carried into the granary. "Open up! The government is conducting an investigation! Open up!"

For a long time, there was no response from within.

The Zhi Jinwu looked at the soldier behind him. "Who is the owner of this granary? Have they been found yet?"

The soldier cupped his hands. "Reporting to you, sir, the granary belongs to Princess Funing. A messenger was dispatched to inform her about the time it takes an incense stick to burn ago, but the Commandery Princess has not yet arrived."

A grave expression fell over the Zhi Jinwu’s square face.

He looked to Xie Mingxu. "General Xie, what are your thoughts?"

Xie Mingxu was the lead official in charge of investigating the deserter case, so the decision was his to make.

Xie Mingxu’s gaze hardened. "We’re not waiting for the Commandery Princess. Open the gate. This is too important. I’ll explain things to her later."

The Zhi Jinwu didn’t want to offend Shen Ningning, so he had been waiting for Xie Mingxu to say just that. Fortunately, General Xie wasn’t one to show favoritism to his own family.

He nodded, then barked a harsh command. "Break down the gate!"

Several tall, burly soldiers stepped forward. With a series of thunderous THUDS, the gate was kicked open.

Three columns of soldiers filed in, fanning out to search for anyone suspicious.

Xie Mingxu walked into the courtyard and found that the six granaries were filled with lumber.

A moment later, a sweet, breathless voice came from the entrance. "I... I’m late!"

The rain was so heavy it had made the roads difficult for the carriage.

Muchun and Wanchun held an umbrella over Shen Ningning. The little girl lifted the hem of her dress as she walked. A fiery red fox-fur scarf was wrapped around her neck, making her small face appear as fair and smooth as jade.

Her bright eyes, dark and clear, held a hint of apology.

She hurried inside. The Zhi Jinwu came before her, his voice booming like a great bell as he greeted her. "Greetings, Commandery Princess. I am Zhi Jinwu Gao Hu of the City Defense Department."

Xie Mingxu said to Shen Ningning in a low voice, "We received an anonymous tip. It claimed you are harboring a suspicious person in your granary, a suspected deserter. Therefore, we needed to open them for a search."

Shen Ningning met Xie Mingxu’s sharp gaze and slowly nodded her little head. "Alright... search, then."

A few soldiers returned to their side. "Sir! General! We’ve searched everywhere. There’s no one in the granaries."

Shen Ningning blinked her dark lashes twice, her expression unreadable.

The Zhi Jinwu narrowed his eyes, studying the little girl’s expression from the corner of his eye.

Suddenly, a soldier shouted from within, "There’s a small hut over here! Someone’s been living in it!"

Xie Mingxu’s expression darkened. He and the Zhi Jinwu immediately rushed in that direction.

Lifting her skirts, Shen Ningning followed with small steps.

The rain fell like needles, seemingly laying siege to the small hut.

The soldiers were gathered at the entrance, but no matter how they pushed and pulled, they couldn’t get the door open.

The Zhi Jinwu pushed his way forward. "Let me!" he said coldly.

He kicked out forcefully, and the door splintered with a LOUD CRACK.