Chapter 93

Chen Shaobei raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Though he understood the close relationship between Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning,

To be seated next to the Crown Prince on such a special day was significant in its implication.

Seeing Chen Shaobei silent, Mo Lingwei casually tossed some fish food into the white porcelain bowl.

"What, do you think it's inappropriate?"

"I'm concerned the Emperor might find it inappropriate," he replied. After all, he wouldn't even allow the Emperor to sit beside him.

"My birthday has nothing to do with him."

With nothing more to say, Chen Shaobei could only note down Mo Lingwei's request.

The Crown Prince's birthday feast would be held in the Dream Forest Garden within the palace, with invited princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials seated according to their status.

Typically, families would be seated together.

Mo Lingwei felt his decision was justified. Shen Ningning didn't know anyone else, so it was only right for her to sit by his side.

  ……

"Ning Ning, here, this is the thirty percent profit share I promised you."

The old village chief called Shen Ningning over and handed her a pouch of silver.

The little one came with Grandma Qin.

Upon opening it, to her surprise, it contained a hundred taels in silver notes.

She was astonished: "Is the share really this generous?"

It exceeded her expectations.

The village chief said with a hearty laugh, "We didn't expect it to sell so well either."

"Originally, the sugar we made wasn't very sweet, but when it was taken to a restaurant in the capital, and they heard it was loquat sugar from our Xiangyun Village, they bought it immediately, without even bargaining."

Shen Ningning handed the silver to her grandmother for safekeeping.

The little one's smile was sweet and radiant: "That's wonderful."

The village chief said, "Now that everyone has a bit more money, some of us are planning to renovate our roofs with sun-resistant tiles."

"Will Ningning join us?"

These tiles, warm in winter and cool in summer, are just a bit expensive.

Shen Ningning's village house had just been built, so she naturally had no plans for further modifications.

The old village chief turned to Grandma Qin: "Ningning's Grandma, our village owes a lot to Ningning."

"You might not know, but when I went to the city, everyone had heard about our Xiangyun Village's remarkable 'Little Wolf Girl' who led our village to prosperity."

Grandma Qin smiled broadly: "Ningning has always been sensible and intelligent. Even in the village, we rely on the village chief for support."

"Ningning's Grandma, you flatter me. I treat Ningning as my own granddaughter, and her presence is a blessing to us all!"

As they were chatting, the village chief's son, Uncle Deng, burst in, his face dark and grim.

Upon seeing others, his expression softened slightly: "Oh, Ningning's Grandma is here?"

"Yes, yes," nodded Grandma Qin. "Jixiang, what's got you so worked up? What happened?"

Shen Ningning hadn't yet told Grandma Qin about Uncle Deng and Aunt Deng's divorce.

According to the timeline, the couple should have signed their divorce papers at the Ministry of Civil Affairs today.

The old village chief, with an awkward expression, sighed: "Ningning's Grandma, we're all one family behind closed doors in our village."

"I'll be straightforward with you. Unfortunately, my son married a fierce and overbearing daughter-in-law, and today he has gone to finalize their divorce."

Grandma Qin gasped in surprise: "With Fugui's mother?"

The village chief solemnly nodded.

He glanced past Uncle Deng: "Where is Fugui? Why didn't you bring him back?"

Uncle Deng bristled with anger at the mention of it: "Today, during the divorce, she had her cousin come to humiliate me. Relying on her small weaving business and some wealth, she somehow managed to influence the officials."

"Those mediators said it's a mutual divorce, not a dismissal of the wife, so the son belongs to her, not me!"

"She even said that once she remarries, Fugui will have to change his surname too, and I should just act as if I have no son. I didn't even get to see Fugui's face!"

The old village chief roared in fury: "Nonsense! How can Wang Qiao'er be so outrageous? I must go and reason with her family!"

"Fugui is the bloodline of our Deng family, and his father is still alive. How could he possibly follow his mother and change his surname if she remarries."

But just a few steps away, the village chief was so angered he felt a headache and a wave of dizziness.

"Father!" Uncle Deng hurriedly went to support him.

Seeing this, Grandma Qin held Shen Ningning's small hand.

"Village chief, we'll head back first."

"Alright... Jixiang, please escort Ningning and her grandmother out," the old village chief said weakly from his bed.

Grandma Qin quickly waved her hand: "No need to trouble yourself, we're all family here."

Still, Uncle Deng escorted them to the door, his eyes red, the joy from their recent loquat sugar profits gone, looking haggard.

"Ningning's Grandma, I apologize for today's inadequate hospitality. Please forgive us."

"Jixiang, don't take this matter to heart. Try to communicate properly with Fugui's mother, don't turn it into a feud."

Uncle Deng nodded, his expression filled with unspeakable difficulties.

Grandma Qin walked away with Shen Ningning in tow.

However, the young girl had no intention of going home.

"Grandma, I need to go to the city."

"The weather is too hot; better go tomorrow."

"I can't wait, Grandma. Tomorrow is brother's birthday, and I need to buy a gift."

Hearing this, Grandma Qin chuckled: "Alright, go early and come back early, don’t be out too late."

Shen Ningning called Chen Ye to drive the carriage to the capital.

This time, she filled the carriage with quite a few buns.

The refugees surrounding the city, more numerous than ever, rushed towards the carriage upon hearing its approach.

Shen Ningning, familiar with the routine, lifted the curtain and threw out the meat buns.

While others threw them one by one, she poured them out by the bucketful.

This stunned the starving refugees.

In the end, each managed to grab two or three buns, devouring them ravenously.

Chen Ye observed, “Miss, you have such a kind heart.”

“It’s just about making things easier for others and myself,” Shen Ningning smiled, her dimples showing.

Upon entering the city, the young girl gave Chen Ye two silver taels, instructing him to rest at a teahouse and to tether the carriage there.

Chen Ye initially refused the money, but after the young girl insisted several times, he accepted.

She then headed straight for a jade shop.

Previously, when her fairyland had consumed Mo Lingwei's jade, Shen Ningning had been thinking of buying a replacement for him.

She brought nine hundred taels today, intending to purchase a high-quality one!

However, before she could enter the shop, a coquettish voice of a woman came from behind her—

"Dear brother, do you like this 'double-heart' lock?"

"I love it, absolutely love it!"

Curious, Shen Ningning turned around.

She saw a young woman, arm in arm with a man, laughing and talking as they walked out of a silversmith's shop across the street.

The man was holding a silver 'double-heart' lock, his face brimming with joy, clearly fond of it.

The woman giggled, "Then you have to be even nicer to me from now on."

The man nodded vigorously: "Of course."

Watching them walk away, Shen Ningning's round face showed a look of sudden realization.

They must also be siblings!

After all, the woman had called the man her dear brother.

Mo Lingwei was also an exceptionally good brother.

Since men seem to like 'double-heart' locks so much, she decided to buy one too!

Shen Ningning dashed into the silversmith's shop.

She boldly paid three hundred taels of silver, declaring, "I want a 'double-heart' lock."

The shopkeeper, never having seen such a generous child before, was careful not to neglect her.

Finally, the shopkeeper carefully wrapped the 'double-heart' lock, and Shen Ningning, head held high, left the silversmith's shop in high spirits.

Soon, the day of the Crown Prince's birthday arrived.

Mo Lingwei had intended to personally escort Shen Ningning to the palace, but as the main focus of the banquet, the Emperor did not permit him to leave the palace.

Therefore, he arranged for Chen Shaobei to send someone for her.

Guests gradually arrived one after another.

Even the Prime Minister, who had long been absent and claimed to be ill, appeared at the banquet.

Mo Lingwei sat upright in the place of honor, his handsome and dark eyes occasionally glancing towards the garden's entrance.

It was about time for Shen Ningning to arrive, wasn't it?

The guests below noticed that there was an extra seat next to the Crown Prince.

Who was this seat prepared for?