Chapter 46

Master Huang also harbored doubts.

Because he had personally seen Shen Ningning suddenly come to see him, claiming she was called by a page.

He tried to recall if the statue had already been missing at that time.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember.

He only remembered that after returning to his room, he noticed an error in the scripture Lu Shaoyuan handed over, so he called him to remind him.

Thus, Master Huang could only be certain that the Rain Goddess statue was still there when he woke up this morning.

But after that, he couldn't be sure.

Seeing Master Huang silent, Lan Qian stepped forward.

"Master, it's very possible that Shen Ningning, seeing the value of the statue, was tempted to steal it."

"Why do you insist it was me?" Shen Ningning vehemently countered.

Lan Qian glared at her, "Because you come from a humble background, your family is poor!"

"You're clearly an orphan from the mountainous Xiangyun Village who only got the chance to study here because you once saved the county magistrate's life."

"Always generous, pretending to come from a well-off family, is it to hide your true background from everyone?"

"The things you have must be from the silver given to you by the county magistrate!"

"Shen Ningning, how shameless you are, living off charity silver in our private school and pretending to be a wealthy young lady!"

Shen Ningning clenched her small fists, her eyes brimming with anger and darkening.

"I never claimed to be of noble birth. I share food because my grandmother taught me to!"

All her classmates stared at Shen Ningning in shock.

Indeed, she had never boasted about her family's wealth, nor had she flaunted her parents.

It was they who assumed she was a high official's daughter, seeing her fair and clean appearance, and the abundance of delicious food she brought.

Lan Qian sneered, "Then dare you admit that you're just an orphan who can only live with your grandmother in the mountains?"

Lu Shaoyuan angrily rebuked, "Have you said enough?! Even if that's true, it doesn't mean she would steal."

Lan Qian loathed hearing Lu Shaoyuan defend Shen Ningning.

"Shaoyuan, how well do you really know her? Regardless, the Rain Goddess statue was found in her room!"

Just as Shen Ningning was about to speak, Master Huang sternly intervened, "Enough! No more talking!"

His gaze heavy, he swept over the faces of Shen Ningning and Lan Qian.

"Now that the Rain Goddess statue has been found, let's have someone take it to the county magistrate without delay, not missing the auspicious time for the Emperor's rain prayer ceremony."

However, the next second, a student ran in, panicked.

"Master, trouble! Many constables have arrived at the door!"

A flicker of triumph passed through Lan Qian's eyes.

She looked at Shen Ningning, "As soon as I heard the Rain Goddess statue was missing, I had my maid report it to the authorities."

"Given the seriousness of the matter, it's best if Master Huang hands Shen Ningning over to the officials for a thorough investigation!"

This time, even if Master Huang wanted to protect Shen Ningning, she wouldn't give him the chance!

With County Magistrate Fu Yuansong away, wasn't her father, Lan, the chief clerk, in charge of the entire Guangyang County?

Last time Lan Qian went home, she had her mother tell her father she was bullied at the private school!

Her mother asked her father to take her side, ensuring Shen Ningning would suffer greatly!

The leader wasn't Head Constable Wang but a fierce-looking man.

"Master Huang, we'll take this student for now. Once we've thoroughly investigated, we'll bring her back."

After he spoke, the constables stepped forward, each grabbing one of Shen Ningning's small hands.

"Master!" Shen Ningning cried out in panic, "I've been wronged!"

Master Huang frowned slightly, unable to resist saying to the head constable, "There might be a misunderstanding in this matter."

"I just remembered, it was I who carelessly gave the Rain Goddess statue to Scholar Shen for appreciation and safekeeping, but forgot to retrieve it. Indeed, the mistake is mine."

"There's no need to take her away; I will surely teach her a proper lesson privately."

Shen Ningning was surprised, not expecting Master Huang to fabricate such a reason to save her.

But the constable, looking like a villain, was unappreciative.

"Nonsense! This matter concerns the rain prayer, and it's not something that can be explained away in a few words by a mere teacher like you."

"We must take her back for a thorough interrogation, take her away!"

The constables grabbed Shen Ningning and pulled her forward.

The little girl struggled: "Let go of me!"

Lu Shaoyuan stood firmly at the door: "You can't take her away!"

Lan Qian yanked Lu Shaoyuan aside harshly.

"Hurry up and take the suspect away!" she shouted.

Shen Ningning, lacking in strength, was overpowered and forcefully taken away.

Lu Shaoyuan couldn't break free from Lan Qian, and in a moment of desperation, chose to kick her in the chest.

"Move aside!"

"Ouch!" Lan Qian was kicked to the side by him, hitting the table directly.

Lu Shaoyuan immediately ran out, only to see Shen Ningning struggling as she was hoisted onto a fast horse.

The constables sped towards the government office.

Lu Shaoyuan clenched his teeth, thinking rapidly.

Alone and outnumbered, he couldn't possibly storm the government office to rescue her.

At that moment, Lu Shaoyuan's servant rushed over to the entrance of the private school, "Young Master, what's happened?"

Lu Shaoyuan quickly commanded, "Bring the carriage, we're heading to the capital, I need to find my maternal grandfather!"

His carriage sped away from the private school.

Soon, Chen Shaobei arrived with a group of soldiers on fast horses.

He had finally found out where Shen Ningning was studying.

Ever since Mo Lingwei told him, he had been delayed until now.

He had gone directly to Xiangyun Village in the morning, where the villagers knew only that she had gone to the city to study, but not which private school.

Fortunately, Chen Shaobei learned that she was arranged to study by the County Magistrate of Guangyang County, Fu Yuansong.

So he headed straight to Guangyang County.

Arriving at the entrance, he saw the students of the private school, each with a look of panic and unease.

Master Huang rushed out, seeing the direction Shen Ningning was taken, and exclaimed, "This is bad."

He immediately called a student, "Quickly go to the city, send a message to the County Magistrate!"

Chen Shaobei, seeing their frantic state, was unsure of what had happened.

Still, he stepped forward, bowing politely, "May I ask, is there a young lady here by the name of Shen Ningning?"

Master Huang snapped back to reality, looking at him uneasily, "What do you want with her, sir?"

Chen Shaobei solemnly explained, "I am here on the order of the Crown Prince, to escort Miss Shen to the palace for an audience."

The Crown Prince!?

Everyone in the private school was shocked and dismayed.

Master Huang's lips trembled, "The authorities just forcefully took her away."

Chen Shaobei's eyes sharpened, "The authorities? Why did they take her?"

Master Huang quickly explained the situation.

Chen Shaobei's brows furrowed deeply.

Had this Shen Ningning offended someone?

Without time for further thought, he thanked Master Huang and swiftly mounted his horse.

He ordered a soldier, "Immediately go to the Altar of Heaven and inform the Crown Prince of this matter."

Meanwhile,

Shen Ningning was taken to the government office and locked in a dark and filthy cell.

"Bang" —

The cell door was locked.

Shen Ningning's eyes, moist and determined, stared intently at the jailer.

He flicked the keys, "Don't play the victim, girl. Given your beauty, let me tell you the truth – once you're in here, don't even think about getting out. Who did you offend, huh?"