Chapter 30

"Currently, there’s a drought, no rain, and many wells have dried up!"

"Not to mention fruit trees, even crops are hard to keep alive."

"Shen Ningning understood why everyone was so surprised."

"Far from being proud, she smiled sweetly: 'Go ahead and eat, don’t be shy with me.'"

"Because of Shen Ningning, all six people at her table had a full meal!"

"Other students passing by saw this and were both astonished and envious."

"After this incident, rumors spread that the new girl, Shen Ningning, was a young lady from a wealthy family."

"Everyone believed her family must be unspeakably affluent for the county magistrate to recommend her for schooling."

"The rumor reached Lan Qian's ears."

"She frowned immediately and, taking advantage of Shen Ningning's absence from the classroom, vehemently argued against it."

"'It must be a lie! If her family was so powerful and influential, why wouldn't she study at the national academy in the capital, instead of our Guangyang County?'"

"The surrounding classmates said: 'But Shen Ningning really is generous, and she's fair and pretty, certainly raised in a pampered and wealthy household.'"

"Lan Qian was annoyed: 'She's clearly an ill-mannered person!'"

"She still remembered the retort Shen Ningning had given her."

"Moreover, Lan Qian felt that she had heard the name Shen Ningning somewhere before."

"But she couldn't recall where at the moment."

"The afternoon lesson was on calligraphy."

"Shen Ningning knew this required diligence, so she devoted herself even more to learning and practicing."

"For dinner, she declined, saying she would not go to eat."

"The modest offerings in the dining hall were no match for the red berries she had in her fairyland."

"The little girl simply stayed in her own room in the East Garden, quietly practicing her writing."

"Until dusk fell and night began to set in."

"Teacher Huang was responsible for the night roll call and inspection."

"He stopped by to check on Shen Ningning and saw her diligently practicing her calligraphy."

"He reminded her, 'Student Shen, according to the school's rules, you cannot leave your room after the hour of Xu in the evening.'"

"This was for the safety of all students."

"Shen Ningning looked up and obediently replied, 'I understand, Teacher. I won’t wander off.'"

"Teacher Huang nodded and left."

"After he left, the little girl stretched languidly."

"Noticing the time, it was nearing the hour of Xu."

"'It's already this late!'"

"She patted her little stomach, feeling a bit hungry."

"So she blew out the candle and, touching the small mole on her finger, entered the fairyland."

"The little girl first went to check on her orange tree."

"The originally green oranges had turned half golden."

"She picked one and, using a dagger she had taken from the armory, carefully sliced it open."

"As she cut into it, orange juice burst out."

"Shen Ningning took a big bite of the orange segment, the sweet juice exploding in her mouth."

"So sweet and delicious!"

"And with a slightly icy sensation."

"Energized by the delicious fruit, the little girl’s spirits lifted."

"She began to tend to her fields, scattering countless seeds."

"At this very moment,"

"Lan Qian, who also resided in the East Garden, quietly approached Shen Ningning's room."

"She seemed to recall why Shen Ningning's name sounded familiar; it was because she had previously accompanied her aunt to Du Yuanwai's mansion for Lady Du's birthday celebration."

"There, she encountered someone named Qin Fangmei, who was complaining to others about a burdensome girl in her family named Shen Ningning."

"A girl with no money, no background, and an orphan at that!"

"But since it had been two or three months, Lan Qian wasn't quite sure if she was remembering correctly."

"So she decided to stand at the door and call out Qin Fangmei’s name directly."

"If this Shen Ningning reacts oddly, then there must certainly be something amiss!"

"But as Lan Qian peered through the window,"

"she saw that under the moonlight, the bed was empty, with no one on it!"

"In fact, Shen Ningning was nowhere to be seen in the entire room!"

"Lan Qian was startled."

"Had Shen Ningning daringly ignored the school's night curfew and sneaked out?"

"Just as she was about to leave, a thought struck her: this could be an excellent opportunity to get Shen Ningning into trouble!"

"Lan Qian quickly changed direction and ran towards the courtyard where the teachers lived."

"She kept shouting as she ran, 'Teachers, something's wrong! Shen Ningning is not in her room; she's run off!'"

"However, no sooner had Lan Qian run off than Shen Ningning emerged from the fairyland."

"The little girl was busily planting while enjoying the sweet and delicious oranges."

"Her little stomach was round and full, and she felt very satisfied!"

"After washing her hands in the fairyland, she came out."

"She had wanted to take a bath, but without Grandma there, she couldn't heat the spirit spring water by herself."

"So she decided against it."

"Shen Ningning wasn't sleepy at all, excited at the thought of the many seeds she had planted and the fruits and vegetables they would yield."

"She decided to practice her writing and review the lessons for the next day."

"Thus, she lit the oil lamp and focused on her studies, leaning over the table."

"After a while, she heard noisy footsteps outside her door."

"She could intermittently hear Teacher Huang's stern questioning: 'Are you sure she ran out? Did you see where she went?'"

"Lan Qian answered, 'I don’t know! I was just passing her room and noticed it was empty!'"

"The awakened students also left their rooms, peering curiously around the courtyard."

"Teacher Huang, accompanied by several people, stopped in front of Shen Ningning's door."

"He saw the dim light inside, just as it had been when he had checked earlier during his patrol."

"Isn't this proof that someone is in there?"

"Teacher Huang's sharp gaze turned towards Lan Qian."

"And Lan Qian was completely taken aback."

"'Impossible!' she exclaimed and, without any decorum, pushed the door open with a slap."

"Determined to see for herself if Shen Ningning was actually in the room."

"However, as the door swung wide open, Shen Ningning, absorbed in her writing, was startled."

"Her small body shivered, and a faint panic flickered in her watery eyes."

"Upon recognizing Teacher Huang and the others, Shen Ningning put down her brush and walked to the door, puzzled."

"'Teacher, what brings you here so late?'"

"Teacher Huang’s face was inscrutable as he asked, 'Student Shen, did you leave your room just now?'"

"'No, I didn’t.' The little girl was perplexed."

"She had been busy planting in the fairyland; how could she have had time to go out?"

"Lan Qian grew frantic: 'Just now, I checked your door, and there was no one in your room!'"

"'I...' Shen Ningning was about to speak."

"Unexpectedly, Teacher Huang sharply rebuked Lan Qian: 'Absurd!'"

"Lan Qian, looking innocent and on the verge of tears, protested, 'Teacher, I’m not lying.'"

"'When I peered through your door, Shen Ningning wasn’t in the room, and the light wasn’t on.'"

"A student nearby questioned doubtfully, 'It's past the hour of Xu, why weren’t you asleep? Why were you peeping through Shen Ningning’s window?'"

"Lan Qian's throat tightened."

"She couldn't find an answer."

"Faced with Teacher Huang’s gaze, she guiltily lowered her head: 'I... I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.'"

"Seeing her reaction, everyone had a clear idea of what really happened."

"Not even half an incense stick’s time had passed since Lan Qian notified Teacher Huang."

"If Shen Ningning had really gone out, it was impossible for her to have returned within such a precise timing."

"'Student Lan, not only did you falsely accuse your classmate, but you also broke the school’s night curfew by leaving your room after the hour of Xu,' Teacher Huang said sternly."

"'You will copy the 'Thousand Character Classic' ten times and submit it to me by tomorrow evening.'"

"Lan Qian immediately burst into tears: 'I am wronged! Even if it was wrong for me to go out, Shen Ningning wasn’t in her room either!'"

"Her commotion was giving Teacher Huang a headache late at night."

"'No more excuses, the matter is settled! Everyone else, stop gawking and go back to your rooms to rest!'"

"Urged by the teacher, the crowd dispersed one after another."

"Lan Qian, supervised by two young scholars, also left."

"On her way back, Lan Qian cried bitterly."

"She was convinced that Shen Ningning had deliberately set her up."

"Maybe when she looked into the room, Shen Ningning was hiding under the bed, just to get her punished!"

Master Huang observed Shen Ningning.

A small figure, delicate and fair-skinned.

Her bright, clear, and shining eyes.

Master Huang couldn't help but say, "Student Shen, it's too late now. Even if you are diligent in your studies, you must pay attention to your rest."

Shen Ningning snapped back to reality, her voice soft and sweet, "Understood, Master. I'm going to sleep now."

Master Huang nodded and closed the door for her.

After everyone had left, the little girl scratched her head.

"Was Lan Qian peeking through the window just now?" she murmured softly.

Perhaps at that time, she was diligently working in the fairyland.

But of course, this secret was something Shen Ningning wouldn't admit.

She blew out the candle and slept soundly, having a good dream.