Chapter 47

Shen Ningning bit her lip, defiance filling her eyes.

"Who have I offended?"

Just then, a familiar voice came from nearby.

"What do you think? Shen Ningning!"

The young girl turned her head towards the shadows.

Aunt Qin, ghostly and unsteady, leaned against the wall, stepping forward.

The jailer chuckled and walked away.

Seeing her, Shen Ningning realized, "It's you again, you villain. Wasn't being beaten enough, now you want revenge on me?"

Aunt Qin's face was grotesque, smeared with filthy traces on her cheeks.

"Revenge? I want you dead here! Shen Ningning, you've made me suffer terribly."

"Beaten every day, there's not a spot on my body unbruised, and yet you, a little orphan, manage to live so well!"

Shen Ningning's voice was soft but stern, "You brought it on yourself! You bullied me, persecuted my grandmother, you deserve to be locked up!"

Aunt Qin laughed coldly, "Still so defiant. Today, even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you!"

"Your county magistrate grandfather is busy in the capital, accompanying the Emperor in the rain prayer."

"And that Head Constable Wang, he's been sent away by our people. Today, even if a supreme deity comes, you're doomed!"

Aunt Qin's eyes grew darker and more venomous as she spoke.

The sound of rustling approached.

Shen Ningning looked towards the left side of the cell, the jailer who had just left returned with a whip soaked in chili water.

She stepped back, watching them warily.

"Why are you so cruel to me? I was always obedient at home, why must you have my life?"

Aunt Qin sneered coldly.

Of course, she wouldn't tell Shen Ningning the reason.

"Blame it on having no parents, no one to rely on. Next time you're reborn, pick better parents," Aunt Qin sneered venomously.

Shen Ningning's eyes were tearful, with a hint of red at the corners.

Yet, she bit her lip firmly, refusing to cry.

"I have parents, and they will find me soon!"

"Save those words for the King of Hell!" Aunt Qin said, then turned to give the jailer a look.

The jailer immediately approached, unlocking the shackles.

Shen Ningning watched them warily, her right hand clenched, ready to touch her red birthmark to escape into the fairyland.

Chen Shaobei had already reached the entrance of the government office.

Surprisingly, the guard refused him entry.

"Do you not recognize the token of the General of Zhennan? Dare to block me and delay matters? How many lives do you have to pay for this?" Chen Shaobei took out a jade token, his tone stern and icy.

The guard bowed his head, "Please forgive me. The Chief Clerk Lan has ordered that no outsiders should disturb the investigation today."

"If you wish to enter, you must wait for his permission. If I let you in, the Chief Clerk will charge me with dereliction of duty. Please don't make it difficult for me."

"You!" Chen Shaobei was infuriated.

"A mere Chief Clerk, taking liberties in the absence of the County Magistrate?"

Just as he was about to forcefully enter, the guard who had gone to inform the Crown Prince returned on horseback.

"Young General! The Altar of Heaven is surrounded by imperial guards, I couldn't get through, and was even stopped by Lady Li's people."

Hearing this, Chen Shaobei kicked a nearby pillar in frustration.

What a mess!

He had no choice but to mount his horse and race towards the Altar of Heaven.

It was now midday.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince stood atop the Altar of Heaven, facing the National Preceptor and several shamans.

The ministers stood below in the sweltering heat.

The sun shone brightly, and although the National Preceptor had predicted rain, after standing for an hour, not a single dark cloud was seen.

The shamans danced and shook bells beside an altar laden with offerings.

The Emperor, with devout faith, clasped his hands in prayer, continuously beseeching, "Heaven above, please show mercy."

"Look upon the suffering people of my Cangyun Kingdom, look upon my poor son."

"I beseech the heavens to show pity and bring a sliver of rain!"

Mo Lingwei, however, squinted his eyes, irritated by the smoke from the shamans' hands, his brows tightly knit in discomfort.

He had no patience left to wait.

Just then, a faint commotion arose from behind.

Everyone turned around in unison.

They saw Chen Shaobei on horseback, attempting to break through alone but being blocked by the imperial guards.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince!" Chen Shaobei called out urgently, "Shen Ningning is in trouble, Your Highness!"

The Emperor frowned, "What is Chen Shaobei causing a fuss about!"

However, Mo Lingwei beside him abruptly rose and swiftly descended the Altar of Heaven.

The Emperor shouted in anger, "Lingwei! Come back!"

The ministers were shocked, "The Crown Prince!"

Mo Lingwei, as if deaf to them, dressed in a fiery red robe, his black hair neatly bound under a jade crown, his eyes ablaze with a cold fire.

He strode quickly to Chen Shaobei, seizing his horse.

Chen Shaobei pointed the way, "Guangyang County, the government office!"

Mo Lingwei, without a word of query, turned the horse around.

The imperial guards moved to intercept.

He yanked the horse's head, and the steed neighed, charging through the crowd and forging a path among the thousands present.

The sound of horse hooves faded into the distance.

The National Preceptor turned pale, "It's over... the rain prayer might fail now."

Chen Shaobei's father, the General of Zhennan, grabbed his son fiercely.

"Have you lost your mind?! Do you realize how important today is, yet you encouraged the Crown Prince to leave the Altar of Heaven!" he growled.

Chen Shaobei, sweat trailing down his handsome brows, replied, "Father, you serve the Emperor, I am loyal to the Crown Prince."

"I know his thoughts; reminding him wasn't wrong!"

The General of Zhennan raised his fist in anger.

The surrounding ministers hurriedly intervened, "Please, General, calm your anger!"

County Magistrate Fu Yuansong, standing at the back of the officials, looked puzzled.

Had he just heard Ningning's name?

In the distance, among the seats of the consorts.

Lady Li fanned herself, having witnessed the Crown Prince leaving the Altar of Heaven without looking back.

She couldn't help but cover her face and laugh softly.

The Crown Prince truly disappointed the Emperor's great expectations.

Today's rain prayer at the Altar of Heaven.

Only the Prime Minister, ill and unwilling to attend, was absent.

Unexpectedly, even the Crown Prince had now left abruptly.

Lady Li's eyes shifted, and she stood up, walking towards the Emperor, who was frowning deeply.

"Your Majesty, with the Crown Prince gone, the position of the heir apparent should not be left vacant, lest it disrespects the heavens. Perhaps I could have Changgong come..."

The Emperor seemed not to hear.

He was more concerned with instructing the imperial guards, "Quickly follow the Crown Prince and ensure his safety!"

Angry as he was, he had a love-hate relationship with this son.

Lady Li was taken aback by his words.

She spoke again softly, "Your Majesty, let me summon Changgong to accompany you in completing the rain prayer ceremony."

The Emperor finally glanced at Lady Li.

He said, "No need. Changgong is in a wheelchair and cannot move easily. I will do it myself."

Saying this, the Emperor returned alone to the Altar of Heaven.

Lady Li clenched the handkerchief in her sleeve tightly.

She bit her lip secretly, her heart aching with anger.

Does the Emperor only regard Mo Lingwei as his son?

Lady Li turned back to the viewing platform.

She whispered to a maid, "Go and find out about this Shen Ningning, what's her background."

Mo Lingwei raced to Guangyang County, causing panic and exclamations from the startled citizens along the way.

Arriving at the entrance of the government office, Mo Lingwei leapt from his horse before it even stopped.

His face was stern as he moved to enter.

The same official who had stopped Chen Shaobei earlier approached again.

"Please halt, our Chief Clerk Lan has said..."

Before he could finish, Mo Lingwei had already drawn his sword, slashing the official's throat with a swift, sharp movement.

Blood sprayed, staining the flying dragon on Mo Lingwei's chest even redder.

The other officials were petrified, surrounding him but not daring to approach.

With one swift move of his sword, Mo Lingwei caused the attacking men to bleed.

The officials eventually fled in terror.

He grabbed one of them, pointing his sword at the man's forehead.

"Where is Shen Ningning?"

The official's hand trembled as he pointed behind him, "In the... in the cells..."

Mo Lingwei flung him aside and headed straight for the prison.

Inside the dim cell, only Aunt Qin's crazed laughter could be heard.

"Shen Ningning, it's good you're dead. It's all because of you that I'm in prison, that my family's Meimei disfigured herself!"

"Are there any tickets~~ tickets~~"