Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Suspicious Person
With that said, Shen Ningning mounted the Black Wolf King and left without a backward glance.
"Hey! You—" Aunt Deng took two steps after her.
But when the wolf pack glanced back, their chilling expressions froze her in her tracks.
She didn’t dare take another step.
’These beasts are terrifyingly intimidating!’
Watching Shen Ningning’s departing figure, Aunt Deng cursed under her breath—
"That child has gotten too big for her britches. An ungrateful brat!"
「The next day.」
Shen Ningning didn’t go into the village.
She was busy tilling the fertile soil in her Immortal Realm.
Besides the loquat trees, she had planted many other fruits, filling every square plot of land to the brim.
There were all sorts of varieties: lychees, watermelons, snow pears, and pomegranates.
Usually, soon after she buried the seeds, a shower of spirit rain in the Immortal Realm would make them sprout tender green shoots.
The little one busied herself for the entire day.
When she got hungry, she would go to the grand kitchen hall next door and help herself to a bowl of fresh meat wontons.
She sat on the threshold, holding her bowl and gazing at her fields.
The spirit rain from above was generously watering everything.
The scent of the damp rain washed over her, and Shen Ningning couldn’t help but rest her chin in her hands to admire the sight.
She blinked her large, beautiful eyes and mumbled, "If only it could rain outside, too. Then everyone wouldn’t be so hot!"
What the little one didn’t know was that as soon as she said this, a dark cloud suddenly drifted over the sky above Wolf Mountain, blanketing it.
The Black Wolf King seemed to sense something in his sleep and lifted his head for a look.
But before long, the wind blew the cloud away.
The cicadas’ drone was as fierce as ever, heat waves shimmered up from the baking sun, and even the wind that blew felt fiery.
「Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace.」
Chen Shaobei entered Zichen Palace, his expression grave.
Mo Lingwei was reading a confidential report.
"Your Highness must have heard by now," Chen Shaobei said, his brow furrowed. "The Minister of War, who originally supported you, has suddenly begun currying favor in secret with Minister Wei, Consort Li’s backer. I fear he is about to switch allegiances."
The Emperor had over a dozen sons.
But the most outstanding among them were the legitimate Crown Prince, Mo Lingwei, and the Sixth Prince, Mo Changgong.
Dark rumors surrounded the Crown Prince, and he had failed to win the hearts of the court officials.
Mo Changgong, on the other hand, was both talented and capable, and his mother, Consort Li, was the Emperor’s reigning favorite.
Thus, the Sixth Prince had the most supporters in the shadows.
But ever since Mo Lingwei had severed the tendons in Mo Changgong’s arms and legs, consigning him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he had lost the support of many officials overnight.
A disabled Prince had no hope of ascending the throne.
Unexpectedly, however, the Sixth Prince’s reputation had recently begun to recover, with many ministers secretly pledging their allegiance to him.
The reason, it turned out, was the great downpour on the day of the sacrificial rites.
Chen Shaobei frowned. "They’re all saying it rained that day because Minister Wei’s youngest daughter went out. They claim her sincere prayers for rain moved the heavens to send a downpour."
And Minister Wei was Consort Li’s elder brother.
Mo Lingwei tossed the confidential report aside and sneered. "Utter nonsense."
’It’s clearly a manufactured spectacle. Do those people really think the Wei Family has a monopoly on Heaven’s favor?’
Chen Shaobei said frankly, "Although the Emperor shows you great favor and indulgence, Your Highness, having too few allies in court is a serious disadvantage."
It all depended on how Mo Lingwei decided to deal with the Minister of War.
After a brief, contemplative silence, Mo Lingwei asked, "The Ministry of War has always been kept in check by the balance between the Minister and the Vice Minister. Where is the Vice Minister of War?"
"The Minister of War is overbearing. The Vice Minister was repeatedly penalized, and just a few days ago he was impeached for recklessly riding his horse and injuring someone. The Emperor dismissed him from his post."
This was clearly the Minister of War’s move to purge dissent and seize complete control of the Ministry of War.
"Then we’ll install a new Vice Minister—one of our own," Mo Lingwei said coldly.
Chen Shaobei hesitated. "Your Highness, we currently have no suitable candidates under your command."
The Crown Prince’s men already hold important positions in court.
Moving any one of them would have widespread repercussions; it’s not a viable option.
Mo Lingwei had no powerful maternal clan to rely on; he could only depend on his own machinations.
Hearing this, he picked up the string of Buddha Beads and began to fiddle with them in frustration.
"If we have no one, we’ll groom someone. One year, or three—I can afford to wait." Mo Lingwei’s expression was frosty.
Chen Shaobei could only cup his hands in assent. "Yes, Your Highness."
*
A group of constables arrived in Xiangyun Village.
Chief Wang was leading them, and they arrived just as Shen Ningning came to the village to check on her family’s plot of land.
"Miss Shen," Chief Wang said, cupping his hands. "We’re here to conduct a thorough investigation. No suspicious individuals have entered the village, have they?"
"Bandits have been running rampant lately, and many of the surrounding villages have suffered for it. If you see anyone suspicious, do not act rashly. Report it to the officials immediately."
Shen Ningning nodded. "Okay! Nothing’s happened in the village, so you don’t have to worry, Officer!"
Chief Wang smiled. "With the wolf pack around, I imagine common crooks wouldn’t dare cause trouble here."
After they left, Shen Ningning took a basket of lychees and eggs and went to Granny Chen’s house again.
This time, she knocked for a long while, but Granny Chen didn’t answer.
’She must have gone out.’
Shen Ningning didn’t think much of it and hung the basket of food on her door.
Then, she led the wolf pack to visit the mad scholar.
From a distance, Aunt Deng, returning with a basin of laundry, saw this and felt a pang of jealousy.
She grumbled under her breath, "When I ask her to bring the wolves over for a little support, she makes all sorts of excuses."
"But she’s quick enough to give things to Granny Chen and her son..." As Aunt Deng muttered, an idea suddenly struck her.
Her nervous gaze darted all around.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, Aunt Deng crept forward and quietly took the basket of food.
’Shen Ningning is so generous, anyway. What’s the harm in me taking a little?’
In that moment, Aunt Deng completely forgot Sister-in-law Liu’s warning.
However, just as she took the basket down, the door was suddenly thrown open!
A young man, his face masked with a cloth that left only his eyes visible, was staring at her icily.
Aunt Deng jumped in fright. "You... Who are you!"
The man didn’t answer. He only glanced at the basket in her hands before reaching out a large hand and snatching it from her.
"Do not steal," he said, before slamming the door shut.
Aunt Deng was still shaken from the shock.
’That man... wearing pitch-black clothes in this sweltering heat, all wrapped up so tightly!’
’He only showed his eyes.’
’And the hand he reached out with was covered in scars from knife wounds.’
She recalled how, back when Aunt Qin was still around, she used to gossip about Granny Chen. Aunt Qin had heard from her brother-in-law that Granny Chen’s son had committed a crime at the border and been driven back home!
’Even if he is Granny Chen’s son, why does he have to hide his face like that?’
Aunt Deng snapped back to her senses. "This is terrible! There’s a strange outsider in the village! I have to tell the constables!"
She hurried out of the village.
「That evening.」
Shen Ningning emerged from the Immortal Realm.
She had been inside sorting through the rewards Mo Lingwei had given her.
Among the beautiful satins, she had discovered Ice Silkworm Silk!
’So I don’t need to buy it after all. Big Brother already gave it to me!’
The little one came out hugging the bolt of fabric. Grandma Qin was already asleep.
There was a lot of satin. She climbed onto a stool, took a pair of scissors, and cut a piece for herself, draping it over her shoulders like a shawl.
The wolf pack lay at her feet as the little girl, draped in the Ice Silkworm Silk, twirled around like a little fairy, giggling happily.
When she finally tired herself out, she didn’t forget to cut another piece and spread it on the floor for her wolves to take turns sleeping on.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, which was hard on the long-furred animals.
Just then, the wolf on patrol at the entrance let out a pair of low growls.
The drowsy Black Wolf King immediately sat up, his eyes instantly clear and alert.
"Langlang? What is it?" the little one asked.
The Black Wolf King replied with a series of AWOOs.
Someone was running through the forest!
Shen Ningning hesitated for a moment before hopping onto the Black Wolf King’s back.
"Let’s go. We’ll go see if this person is a friend or a foe!"
Leaving some of the wolves behind to guard the house, the Black Wolf King carried the little one straight out of the yard.
After running for nearly half a mile, they stopped.
The night was thick, and with no lights in the vast mountains, it was pitch-black.
But in the dappled moonlight, Shen Ningning could still make out a person up in a tree.
A few wolves surrounded the base of the tree, letting out low AWOOS and growls.
The man in the tree remained perfectly still, his posture steady.
Her appearance seemed to startle him for a moment.
The little one looked up at him. "Who are you? What are you doing in a tree this late at night?"
The nearby villagers were afraid of the wolves and wouldn’t dare venture onto Wolf Mountain.
’But this person came up the mountain at night just to climb a tree?’
The man hesitated for a moment before speaking in a raspy voice, "My name is Chen Ye. I’m Granny Chen’s son."
"Aunt Deng called the constables to arrest me, so I came into the mountains to hide for a bit."
Shen Ningning’s eyes widened in surprise. From her seat on the wolf’s back, she asked, "Are you a bandit?"
"I’m not."
"Then what are you afraid of? The constables only arrest bad people!"
Chen Ye paused, then rolled up his sleeve to reveal his arm.
"I’ve contracted a plague. I can’t let anyone find me."
In the moonlight, Shen Ningning saw that his arm was covered in blisters of all shapes and sizes!
