Chapter 47: Chapter 47: He Wants to Save Someone: Whoever Dares to Stop Him Dies
Shen Ningning bit her pink lip, her shining eyes full of stubbornness.
"Who did I offend?"
Just then, a long-unheard voice came from the side.
"Who do you think? Shen Ningning!"
The little one turned her head to look into the darkness.
Aunt Qin, looking more like a ghost than a human, supported herself against the wall as she staggered out.
The prison guard let out a chuckle and turned to leave.
Seeing her, Shen Ningning understood. "It’s you again, you villain. Wasn’t getting caned enough? You still want revenge on me?"
Aunt Qin’s face was savage, with foul-smelling filth stuck to her cheeks.
"Revenge? This is more than revenge. I want you to die here! Shen Ningning, you’ve ruined my life."
"I’m beaten every day, there isn’t a single good spot on my body, yet you, a little orphan, get to live just fine!"
Shen Ningning’s voice was soft, but it held a stern chill. "You brought this on yourself! You bullied me and persecuted Grandma. You deserve to be locked up!"
Aunt Qin laughed coldly. "Even now, you still dare to talk tough. Today, you can scream your lungs out, but no one will come to save you!"
"Your Grandpa County Magistrate is busy in the Capital City right now, accompanying the Emperor to pray for rain."
"That Chief Wang has been led away by our people. Today, even if a Daluo Golden Immortal came, you’re still doomed!"
The more Aunt Qin spoke, the more sinister and venomous her gaze became.
A RUSTLING sound was heard.
Shen Ningning looked to the left side of the cell. The prison guard who had just left was already walking back with a whip that had been soaked in chili water.
Her small feet stepped back as she stared at them.
"Why are you bullying me like this? When I was at home, I was already very obedient to you. Why must you take my life?"
Aunt Qin gave a cold laugh.
Of course, she wasn’t going to tell Shen Ningning the reason.
"If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for not having a mother or father, for having no one to rely on. In your next life, make sure you open your eyes wide and choose good parents." Aunt Qin smiled venomously.
Shen Ningning’s eyes filled with tears, the corners turning a deep red.
But she bit her lip hard, refusing to cry.
"I have a father and mother! They’ll find me soon!"
"Save that for King Yan!" After saying this, Aunt Qin turned and gave the prison guard a look.
The prison guard immediately came forward and unlocked her shackles.
Shen Ningning watched them warily, her right hand clenching slightly, ready to touch the red mole at any moment and escape into the Immortal Realm.
Chen Shaobei had already rushed to the government entrance.
The government officers on guard actually wouldn’t let him in.
"Do you recognize this token from the General Zhen Nan Mansion? You dare to stop me? If you cause a delay, how many lives do you have to pay for it?" Chen Shaobei directly pulled out the Jade Order, his tone severe and cold.
The government officer lowered his head and cupped his hands. "Please forgive me, sir. Blue Chief Clerk has given the order. No unauthorized personnel are allowed inside today, so as not to interfere with the trial."
"If you wish to enter, you must wait for his approval. If I let you in, I will be charged with dereliction of duty by the Chief Clerk. Please do not make things difficult for me."
"You!" Chen Shaobei was furious.
’A mere Chief Clerk dares to take charge just because the County Magistrate is away?’
Just as he was about to force his way in, the guard who had gone to inform the Crown Prince galloped back.
"Young General! The area outside the Heavenly Temple is completely guarded by the imperial guard. I couldn’t get in, and I was stopped by Lady Li Fei’s people."
Hearing this, Chen Shaobei kicked a nearby pillar hard.
’Dammit!’
He had no choice but to mount his horse himself and gallop towards the Heavenly Temple.
It was noon.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince stood on the Heavenly Temple, facing the State Preceptor and several Witches.
The ministers stood below the Heavenly Temple, suffering under the baking heat.
The sun shone brilliantly. The State Preceptor had said it would rain today, but after standing here for an hour, they hadn’t seen a single dark cloud.
Beside a sacrificial table laden with offerings, the Witches were shaking bells and dancing.
The Emperor had a devout expression, his hands pressed together in prayer, constantly chanting, "O, August Heaven above, I beseech your mercy."
"Look upon the people of my Cangyun Country, suffering from this terrible drought. Look upon my pitiful son."
"I beg the heavens for pity, send down even a sliver of cloud and a drop of rain!"
Mo Lingwei, however, was so choked by the smoke from the Witches’ hands that he could barely open his eyes, his cold brows furrowed tightly.
He was running out of patience to wait any longer.
Just then, a slight commotion was heard from behind them.
Everyone turned to look.
They saw Chen Shaobei on horseback, trying to force his way through alone, only to be blocked by the imperial guard.
"Crown Prince!" Chen Shaobei shouted urgently. "Something’s happened to Shen Ningning! Your Highness!"
The Emperor frowned. "What is this nonsense Chen Shaobei is up to!"
However, Mo Lingwei beside him had already shot to his feet and was striding down from the Heavenly Temple.
The Emperor shouted angrily, "Ling Wei! Come back!"
The ministers were shocked. "Crown Prince!"
Mo Lingwei acted as if he hadn’t heard. He was dressed in fiery red robes, his jet-black hair bound in a Jade Crown, and his dark, cold eyes seemed to be set ablaze.
He strode quickly to Chen Shaobei and snatched the horse’s reins.
Chen Shaobei pointed the way. "Guangyang County, the government!"
Mo Lingwei didn’t ask a single question, immediately turning the horse around.
The imperial guard came to block him.
He yanked hard on the reins, and the fine horse reared up, neighing as it broke a path straight through the crowd of a thousand men.
The CLOP CLOP of hooves faded into the distance.
The State Preceptor’s face was pale. "It’s over... I’m afraid the prayer for rain will fail."
Chen Shaobei’s father, General Zhen Nan, grabbed his son.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?! Do you have any idea how important today is? And you still indulged the Crown Prince in leaving the Heavenly Temple!" he growled.
Sweat trickled past Chen Shaobei’s dark, handsome, sword-like brows. "Father, you are loyal to the Emperor. I am loyal to the Crown Prince."
"I know his heart, so it wasn’t wrong to alert him!"
General Zhen Nan was so angry he raised his fist to strike.
The surrounding ministers hurried forward to hold him back. "No, no! General, calm your anger!"
Standing at the back of the officials, County Magistrate Fu Yuansong had a look of confusion on his solemn face.
’Did I just hear Ningning’s name?’
In the distant seating area for the concubines.
Consort Li fanned herself as she personally witnessed the scene of the Crown Prince leaving the Heavenly Temple without a backward glance.
She couldn’t help but cover her face and chuckle.
’The Crown Prince really is failing to live up to the Emperor’s high hopes.’
Today was the rain-praying ceremony at the Heavenly Temple.
Only the Prime Minister claimed illness and did not attend.
Who would have thought that now, even the Crown Prince would leave so abruptly.
Consort Li’s eyes darted. She stood up and walked towards the deeply frowning Emperor.
"Emperor, the Crown Prince has left. The position of the imperial heir cannot be empty, lest the heavens find it disrespectful. Why don’t I have Chang Gong come..."
The Emperor acted as if he didn’t hear.
He was only concerned with turning his head to order the imperial guard, "Quickly, follow the Crown Prince and protect him!"
He may have been angry, but he had a love-hate relationship with this son.
Consort Li was stunned by his words.
She spoke softly once more, "Emperor, let me have someone bring Chang Gong over. He can accompany you to complete the rain-praying ritual."
Only then did the Emperor glance at Consort Li.
He said, "There’s no need. Chang Gong is in a wheelchair now and has difficulty moving. I will do it myself."
With that, the Emperor returned to the Heavenly Temple alone.
Beneath her sleeve, Consort Li’s jade-like hands twisted her handkerchief tightly.
She secretly bit her lip, her chest aching with anger.
’Does the Emperor only consider Mo Lingwei his son?!’
Consort Li turned and returned to the viewing platform.
She turned her head and ordered a palace maid in a low voice, "Go and find out who this Shen Ningning is and where she comes from."
Mo Lingwei galloped to Guangyang County, causing panicked commoners to cry out in alarm all along the way.
When he reached the government entrance, he leaped from the horse’s back before it had even come to a full stop.
With a grimly cold expression, he started to go inside.
The same government officer who had stopped Chen Shaobei earlier stepped forward again.
"Please halt, noble sir. Our Blue Chief Clerk said..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Mo Lingwei had already drawn his longsword and slit his throat with its sharp blade.
Blood sprayed out, dyeing the flying dragon on Mo Lingwei’s chest an even more fiery red.
The other government officers were scared stiff. They surrounded him, but not a single one dared to approach.
With a single sword strike, Mo Lingwei drew blood from the next person who charged.
Terrified, the government officers finally broke rank and fled.
He grabbed one of the government officers directly, pointing his sword at the spot between the man’s eyebrows.
"Shen Ningning. Where is she?"
The government officer’s finger trembled as he pointed behind him. "The... the prison..."
Mo Lingwei shoved him aside with a palm strike and rushed straight for the prison.
In the dim prison cell, only the crazed laughter of Aunt Qin could be heard.
"Shen Ningning, it’s good that you’re dead! It’s all your fault that I was imprisoned, your fault that my Meimei fell and ruined her face!"
