Chapter 55: Chapter 55: It’s a Deal, I’ll Come for You, Don’t Run Off
The refreshing and tasty sour plum juice was perfectly sweet and sour.
Grandma Qin poured it into a jug, then had Shen Ningning place it in the lotus pond of the Spiritual Spring to chill.
This way, when they took it out a short while later, it would be as cool and delicious as if it had been iced.
Shen Ningning poured a large bowl for Mo Lingwei.
After drinking it, he indeed felt much cooler, the drink dispelling the heat from his morning-long search.
"On my way here, I saw several streams and clear rivers in the mountains. Are they from your spring?" Mo Lingwei asked, looking at the little girl beside him.
Shen Ningning nodded. "Yes. The mountains were too dry, and the animals couldn’t find water, so they kept coming to me. It was too unsafe."
Mo Lingwei, holding the empty bowl, gave a slight nod.
’It’s a good thing she set out that spring water.’
This morning, while he was searching all over the mountains for Shen Ningning, he had finished the water in his flask and had nearly died of thirst.
Shen Ningning then said, "Wait here, Big Brother. I’ll go get you some lotus paste pudding. My grandma’s is delicious!"
After she left, Mo Lingwei stood up and poured himself another bowl of the sour plum juice.
Just as he was about to sit back down, Wolf Three, who was lying nearby, quietly stuck out a paw.
And pushed his stool away!
Mo Lingwei landed right on the ground.
In an instant, the sour plum juice splashed all over the white dragon embroidery on the front of his robes!
Wolf Three let out a series of snickers, and the rest of the wolf pack, lying in the shade nearby, bared their teeth as if they were people, seemingly snickering in secret.
"You!" Mo Lingwei shot to his feet, glaring at Wolf Three at his feet.
Wolf Three closed its eyes, pretending to be asleep.
’That little prank just now had nothing to do with me!’
’I’m just an innocent little wolf stretching its legs!’
Just then, Shen Ningning returned with a plate of lotus paste pudding.
She saw the large wet patch on Mo Lingwei’s chest, which stood out starkly against the white fabric.
"Big Brother, what happened? Did you fall?"
Mo Lingwei was about to point out that the wolves had been playing tricks on him.
However, when he looked up, he found that every single wolf had its eyes closed, as if they were all fast asleep.
Only the Black Wolf King was leisurely and lazily licking its paws.
Mo Lingwei’s eyes narrowed.
’So these wolves want to play mind games with me, do they?’
He looked down at Shen Ningning. "I accidentally spilled it. I might have to stay here a little longer."
’He had originally planned to tell her about that one thing and then leave, but now Mo Lingwei had changed his mind.’
The wolf pack immediately let out small yelps, as if they were exasperated.
Hearing this, Shen Ningning immediately beamed and nodded. "Okay! Take it off, Big Brother. I’ll have Grandma wash it for you!"
"No need, I’ll do it myself." He deftly removed his outer robe and inner shirt.
Under the sunlight, the youth’s firm upper body was like white jade, gleaming with a powerful radiance.
His handsome collarbones and smooth muscles were filled with a vibrant, youthful energy.
Mo Lingwei was still wearing his trousers and black boots, but he didn’t forget to pull Shen Ningning’s handkerchief out from his clothes and wash it clean in the flowing spring water nearby.
Finally, with Shen Ningning’s help, he hung his clothes and the handkerchief on a line to dry.
The two of them sat down again on the chairs under the corridor, feeling the mountain breeze.
Mo Lingwei gazed at Shen Ningning’s cute, round face and stated his true reason for coming.
"Actually, there’s something else I wanted to tell you. You previously asked me to look into your family background, and I think I have a lead."
Hearing this, the little girl immediately sat up straight, her dark, watery eyes filled with elation.
"Really? Big Brother, did you find my mommy and daddy?!"
"Not yet, but I had people investigate and learned that there’s a midwife in Yu’an County who once delivered a baby girl for a family with the surname Shen. If we can find her and confirm the details, we might be able to find your parents."
’All the clues matched up!’
Shen Ningning’s joy was written all over her face!
"When can we go find this midwife and ask her?" the little girl asked.
Mo Lingwei nodded. "If you’re willing, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning, and we’ll go together."
He had already postponed all his other matters for this.
Shen Ningning decisively agreed. "Okay! That’s wonderful!"
Overjoyed, the little girl lunged forward and grabbed both of Mo Lingwei’s hands.
"You’re the best, Big Brother! If you help me find my mommy and daddy, I’ll be sure to thank you properly!"
Gazing at the happiness in Shen Ningning’s bright, pretty eyes, Mo Lingwei’s line of sight drifted downward, where he saw her two small hands cupping one of his.
Her hands were so small, fair and slender, with slightly chubby bases to her fingers.
Like little white radishes.
Mo Lingwei gave a light cough, letting her hold on to him.
"You helped me, so it’s only right that I repay you."
The wolf pack stared at his and Shen Ningning’s hands, their gazes practically shooting fire.
’How could their precious Jiaojiao Ningning be held by this man who wouldn’t let go!’
A short while later, Grandma Qin had lunch ready.
There were soup dumplings with mushroom and pork filling, their skins so thin that with one bite, fragrant broth would gush out.
They were served with steamed pork ribs with rice flour, savory braised tofu, crispy fried fish fillets, and cold-shredded chicken with chili oil!
Grandma Qin had also prepared a separate bowl of clear-braised duck soup with yam.
Looking at such a sumptuous spread, Mo Lingwei paused. "Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Qin Sr."
"It’s no trouble at all! Eat up!" Grandma Qin said with a cheerful laugh.
Shen Ningning was already holding her bowl with her small hands and digging in!
Grandma Qin was extremely hospitable, constantly placing more food into Mo Lingwei’s bowl.
The wolf pack lay nearby, each gnawing on a large, meaty bone.
Watching this harmonious scene, Mo Lingwei’s heart was stirred.
He suddenly understood the source of his obsession with finding Shen Ningning.
Back when he was recovering from his injuries, the feeling Shen Ningning gave him was one of profound peace.
Even as the Crown Prince, his life was like walking on the edge of a knife.
But the time spent living with Shen Ningning in the mountains allowed him to temporarily set aside his heavy burdens and forget the treacherous and cruel struggles for imperial power.
He was completely lost in thought.
His deep, dark eyes, tinged with a faint gentleness, remained fixed in Shen Ningning’s direction.
Eventually, the little girl noticed.
She looked at Mo Lingwei, then looked down at the large duck leg in her own bowl.
Shen Ningning thought for a moment, then silently picked up the duck leg and placed it in Mo Lingwei’s bowl.
She was making a painful sacrifice!
Mo Lingwei froze, snapping back to reality.
The little girl’s voice was soft and sweet, her big eyes blinking. "If you want to eat it, Big Brother, just eat it. Don’t just stare at it. You look so pitiful."
Mo Lingwei: "..."
’She thought he was drooling over the duck leg in her bowl!?’
Grandma Qin laughed so hard she couldn’t close her mouth. "We have plenty more at home! When you visit next time, Your Highness, I’ll make it again!"
Mo Lingwei’s face darkened as he put the duck leg back in her bowl.
"You eat it. You don’t have to give it to me." ’He wasn’t craving a duck leg!’
After the hearty meal, Mo Lingwei took the initiative to help Grandma Qin chop firewood.
He stacked up a pile half as high as a wall.
This made Grandma Qin so happy that she couldn’t stop praising what a good person Mo Lingwei was.
By sunset, Mo Lingwei’s clothes had dried. After he changed back into them, his usual noble and cold demeanor returned.
Grandma Qin offered him a bag of oranges to take with him.
But Mo Lingwei refused.
"It’s not that I don’t want to accept them, but I have many eyes and ears around me. I’m afraid someone might trace the oranges and come to disturb you."
After his explanation, Grandma Qin didn’t insist.
Shen Ningning walked him to the door. Mo Lingwei looked at the little girl.
His tone was cool. "It’s settled, then. I’ll wait for you at the foot of Wolf Mountain tomorrow morning."
"This time, don’t run off anywhere, and don’t forget. I will definitely be there."
Shen Ningning nodded her little head. "I know!"
’When have I ever run off! Haven’t I always been well-behaved?’
Only then did Mo Lingwei leave, feeling reassured. He didn’t let Shen Ningning accompany him down the mountain.
Watching his departing figure, Grandma Qin murmured in a daze, "He’s not like the rumors say at all..."
Shen Ningning raised her watery eyes. "Grandma, what rumors?"
Grandma Qin snapped out of it and closed the door with a smile. "It’s nothing, Ningning. Lang Si ate too much. Bring him over so Grandma can rub his belly."
「The next day.」
Before dawn, Mo Lingwei’s carriage was already waiting at the foot of Wolf Mountain.
