Chapter 51

"After a moment of contemplation, he instructed his guard, 'Wang Guihong is dead. Where is her husband now?'"

"The guard reported, 'Steward Lan has already transferred him and other prisoners to the jail on the west side of the mansion. County Magistrate Fu Yuansong ordered him detained for a month, he should be released in about three or four days.'"

"Mo Lingwei thought for a moment, 'Release him as scheduled, but assign a few men to follow him and observe who he contacts.'"

"'Yes.'"

"‘Also, find out who falsely claimed Shen Ningning was dead, and bring that person to me.'"

"The guard had just nodded when a figure appeared at the palace gate."

"An eunuch announced, 'The Emperor has arrived!'"

"As the Emperor entered, Mo Lingwei’s expression instantly turned cold, and he said to the guard, 'You may leave.'"

"The guard bowed respectfully and withdrew."

"The Emperor glanced at him and sat opposite Mo Lingwei."

"'What are you busy with?'"

"'My own affairs, unrelated to Father Emperor.'"

"The Emperor was taken aback, his expression turning slightly displeased and stern."

"His gaze shifted downward, noticing Mo Lingwei's empty left hand, and he was immediately alarmed."

"Where are the prayer beads I obtained for you? Put them on immediately. I've warned you not to take them off unless necessary!"

Mo Lingwei's expression was clouded.

The Emperor, in a flurry, eventually found the string of 108 prayer beads near the pillow.

He promptly took them and hung them on Mo Lingwei's left wrist.

"Don't take them off again. The National Preceptor said the prayer beads can absolve you of sins accumulated over lifetimes, ensure your safety and prosperity, and protect you from evil spirits."

Mo Lingwei obviously didn't believe this explanation and just scoffed coldly.

The Emperor, displeased with his attitude, said, "Lingwei, you can't keep breaking the commandment of killing. If you need to eliminate someone, can't you tell your father?"

"In today's early court session, another official accused you of wrongfully executing Lan and his daughter."

"Wrongful?" Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow, finally looking at the Emperor, "They set up a trap for someone named Shen Ningning, who saved my life."

The Emperor fell silent.

After a moment, he nodded firmly, "You did well."

When the Emperor returned to the imperial study, he angrily refuted all the memorials that accused the Crown Prince.

What wrongful killing? Nonsense!

  ……

Ever since Shen Ningning told Grandma Qin about the events that had happened when she last went home, the old lady insisted on following her whenever she left the mountain, worried.

No matter how Shen Ningning tried to reassure her, it was to no avail.

Today, Shen Ningning was just planning to visit her village house but had to take Grandma Qin with her.

On the way to Xiangyun Village, Shen Ningning rode the Black Wolf King, while Grandma Qin sat on Wolf Three's back.

"Ningning, you've suffered so much." Every time Grandma Qin thought of her being framed and imprisoned, she couldn't help shedding tears.

"That Wang Guihong, she's truly vile. I should never have let her into our home!" Grandma Qin said bitterly.

Years ago, Grandma Qin inherited a hundred taels of silver from her late father.

She divided fifty taels with her sister who married into another village.

With the remaining fifty taels, she planned to find a good match for her son.

Wang Guihong was from a neighboring village, and the matchmaker praised her extravagantly when she came to propose.

She said Wang Guihong’s sister caught the eye of a wealthy merchant who was about to donate an official position to become a civil servant.

Wang Guihong herself was eloquent and fairly attractive.

She charmed Uncle Qin at their first meeting, leaving him smitten.

The marriage was thus settled, and even when the Wang family demanded thirty taels as a betrothal gift, Grandma Qin paid willingly.

She only wanted her son to settle down with someone who would care for him and live a good life.

But little did she know, only a few years after the marriage, Wang Guihong’s true nature revealed itself.

Seeing Grandma Qin lost in her memories, her face filled with self-reproach.

Shen Ningning extended her soft, delicate hand to gently hold her grandmother’s fingers.

"Grandma, Brother, the Crown Prince said he would help me get justice!" The little girl's eyes were sparkling and bright.

Grandma Qin came back to her senses, somewhat wistfully, "No wonder his surname is Mo, he's the Crown Prince. I should have realized earlier..."

"He has done us such a great favor. Ningning, next time we see him, we must thank him."

Shen Ningning obediently nodded, her voice sweet and soft, "I know."

As they conversed, the grandmother and granddaughter had already entered the village.

Deng Fugui, seeing the wolves, knew Shen Ningning had arrived.

He ran over happily, "Little Wolf Sister... ah! Grandma Qin is here too!"

Grandma Qin smiled and climbed down from Wolf Three, handing Deng Fugui a red fruit.

"Fugui, where's your granddad?" She planned to discuss the Qin family's matters with the village chief.

"My granddad and dad have gone to plow the fields, and not just them, almost every household has!"

The heavy rain a few days ago had delighted the villagers immensely.

They had brought out every jar and basin they could find to collect water.

Once the rain stopped, everyone hurried to their fields, revitalized with hope for the next year's harvest.

But Shen Ningning looked up at the increasingly bright sun.

She found it glaring.

The little girl’s cheeks were flushed red from the heatwave.

She said, "Grandma, let's go to our village house first and wait. You haven't seen the house Uncle Liu and the others helped us build yet!"

Grandma Qin agreed with a smile, instructing Deng Fugui to call them once the village chief returned.

Returning to the village house brought back a flood of past memories.

Grandma Qin touched the renovated fence of the courtyard, her eyes reflecting her emotions.

She smiled, "I never imagined that after renovating this small courtyard, it would resemble how it looked when I first married into the family, over forty years ago. Back then, there was a loquat tree planted right here, like in every household in Xiangyun Village..."

Shen Ningning’s black hair, damp with sweat, clung to her fair forehead as she blinked her large eyes.

"If Grandma likes it, we can come and stay here for a few days every month!"

But Grandma Qin shook her head, "The mountains are more comfortable."

The Black Wolf King seemed to agree, tilting its head back and howling softly.

Shen Ningning went inside the house, opened the door, and showed Grandma Qin the items Mo Lingwei had given her.

Looking at the various silks, Grandma Qin reached out to touch them.

"All good things. The Crown Prince is really good to you."

"But we should be cautious. Such extravagant items can attract unwanted attention. Better to keep a low profile when you go out."

In these times, such ostentation might draw the wrong kind of attention.

The little girl nodded obediently, remembering her advice.

She decided to store all the items in her mystical realm for safekeeping.

"At that moment, the voice of the old village chief came from the doorway."

"'Granny Qin—' he said enthusiastically, wiping his freshly washed hands and walking briskly over."

"Granny Qin stepped forward to greet, 'Village chief, how have you been?'"

"The village chief’s wrinkles were filled with joy as he smiled, 'Very well! Thanks to Ningning, whom you brought back home. She has been a great help to us recently!'"

"I've heard about it," Granny Qin said cheerfully, "This child is always so helpful. Even when she's doing well, she doesn’t forget the people in our village."

"By the way, I came down the mountain to tell you something about my son, Qin Sheng. He’s no good. If he ever comes back to the village, you don’t have to consider my feelings – just drive him away. I disown him as my son."

"In the future, if the county officials come for registration or inquiries, you just tell them that in the Qin family, there are only me and Ningning."

"The village chief was taken aback, 'Of course, I was worried about being too harsh and causing disharmony, but since you've said this, we won't have any reservations.'"

"While they were talking,"

"The village chief’s daughter-in-law nudged Deng Fugui."

"She whispered encouragingly, 'Fugui, what are you waiting for? Go play with Ningning!'"

"Deng Fugui snapped back to reality and immediately ran towards Shen Ningning."

"'Little Wolf Sister, I have something to show you. Will you come?'"

"'Sure, let’s go!' Shen Ningning agreed sweetly."

"She rode on the back of the Black Wolf King, following Deng Fugui."

"He headed straight into the house and took out a piece of oilpaper."