Free Web NovelChapter 141: Chapter 141: The Mid-Autumn Festival
The moment she heard the Crown Prince’s name, the little girl lifted her head in anticipation.
"Finish speaking! What were the Crown Prince’s instructions?!" Grandmaster Wang demanded.
The doorman, kneeling on the floor, said, "I heard that Landlord Du used our oil mill as collateral for the debts he incurred from embezzlement before he died!"
"There are soldiers everywhere outside. Not only have they surrounded our mansion, but they’re also demanding that you, Grandmaster, hand over all the land deeds for the oil mill to settle the debt."
When Landlord Du was alive, he was clever and had a fair bit of money. Since he was the son-in-law, Grandmaster Wang entrusted the oil mill’s seal to him for a time.
Who would have thought that Landlord Du would actually use the oil mill as collateral!
The doorman added with a tremble, "The Crown Prince said he is personally overseeing this matter. We must hand everything over within the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, or else... our entire clan will be executed."
After hearing this, the overwrought Grandmaster Wang abruptly fainted.
"Father—!"
"Grandmaster! Grandmaster!"
The guests erupted in an uproar. The scene descended into absolute chaos.
Just then, a line of the Crown Prince’s personal soldiers filed in, ignoring the commotion in the Wang Mansion.
They walked straight to Shen Ningning and bowed with cupped hands. "Village Chief, His Highness awaits you outside."
The little girl stood and patted down her dress. "Okay! I’m all full anyway. Grandma, let’s go."
She helped Grandma Qin walk outside, with Chen Ye and Jiang Zhi following behind them.
Wang Cuizhi shrieked in a panic, "Stop them! You can’t let them just walk out of here!"
But who would dare to act so recklessly in front of the Crown Prince’s personal guard?
All they could do was watch helplessly as Shen Ningning and Grandma Qin departed.
Sure enough, a magnificent carriage was parked at the entrance.
A slender hand, adorned with Buddha Beads, lifted the curtain. Mo Lingwei’s dark eyes glinted with an unreadable, almost-smile.
He looked at Shen Ningning. "Feel better now? If not, I can go back inside with you. We can kill a few more until you’re satisfied."
The little girl quickly shook her head. "That’s enough! I was mostly just here with Grandma today."
Mo Lingwei chuckled. "Get in. I’ll take you home."
On the way back to Wolf Mountain in the carriage, Mo Lingwei took the initiative to speak to Grandma Qin. "Qin Gaozheng is serving as a cook at the border. He’s been suddenly recalled, but it will take him some time to travel. Once he arrives, he will meet the same end as Qin Fangmei. You needn’t worry, Madam."
Grandma Qin gave a sad smile. "Forgive me for this shameful display, Your Highness. My family’s disgrace... alas..."
Shen Ningning hugged her grandma’s arm, whining sweetly, "Grandma, don’t be sad. You still have me!"
Grandma Qin stroked the little girl’s dark hair, her heart filled with warmth.
"Thank goodness Grandma has you." ’The child I brought home out of a simple act of kindness has become my truest pillar of support!’
At this thought, Grandma Qin’s expression turned serious, and she moved to kneel before Mo Lingwei.
Mo Lingwei quickly stopped her. "Madam, please speak your mind freely. There is no need for such formalities."
Grandma Qin said earnestly, "Your Highness, Ningning is a good child. I have always believed that her birth parents are still alive."
"You are powerful and influential. I wish to ask for your help in finding Ningning’s mother and father."
Shen Ningning quickly interjected, "Big Brother already helped me with that."
Mo Lingwei nodded in agreement. "I am looking, but there’s been no news so far."
His men have searched as far as the northern territories.
All they know for now is that Shen Ningning’s mother gave birth to her in Feihua Lane in the Capital City.
But after that, it was as if a giant, invisible hand had erased all traces of their movements.
No one knows where the family went.
It makes the search incredibly difficult.
But Mo Lingwei hadn’t given up. He knew Shen Ningning was waiting.
Grandma Qin nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. "With Your Highness looking into it, I’m sure there will be good news soon."
Shen Ningning nuzzled her little head against the back of her grandma’s hand.
"Grandma, once I find my parents, I’ll have you come live with us! We’ll all live together!"
Grandma Qin smiled, her gaze soft and affectionate as she nodded.
「At Wolf Mountain.」
Grandma Qin got off the carriage first.
Shen Ningning was about to follow when Mo Lingwei caught her by the wrist.
"This is for you." He handed over a bundle.
"What is it?" the little girl asked, curiously lifting a corner. She saw it was fabric for an outfit, shimmering with a luster like red gold.
Mo Lingwei smiled. "Before the palace banquet begins tomorrow, I’ll come get you. I’m taking you somewhere. Remember to change into this outfit beforehand. It’s a color *she* likes."
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes.
Although she didn’t know who the "she" Mo Lingwei mentioned was, the little girl nodded eagerly in agreement.
「That night.」
Shen Ningning sat diligently in the courtyard, kneading dough while watching the moon, which was nearly full and bright.
Her two chubby little hands, pressed against the snow-white dough, looked like a pair of meatballs.
"Hnngh..." she grunted, copying her grandma as she kneaded with all her might.
With a sudden "ACHOO, ACHOO!", a cloud of flour flew up, dusting her little face and the tip of her nose.
The Black Wolf King immediately padded over, intending to lick her clean.
The tickling made the little girl giggle, her small face twisting away again and again.
"Langlang, we’re all going to the palace tomorrow! There will be lots of people, so you all have to stay close to me and not run off, understand?"
The Black Wolf King yipped and nodded, then turned to the pack behind him and relayed her instructions.
’No biting humans. But if anyone bullies their precious little Ningning, bite first and deal with the consequences later.’
The pack howled at the moon in unison, signaling they understood.
Only the Little White Wolf walked out from under the shadows of the trees.
He had a gentle but somewhat solitary nature and wasn’t very affectionate with people.
His feeling toward Shen Ningning was more one of respect.
He walked over to Shen Ningning’s feet, lay down, and let out a soft whine.
The little girl understood what he was saying.
"Xiao Bai, you don’t want to go to the palace? Why not? Everyone else is going tomorrow. You’ll be so bored here all by yourself!"
The Little White Wolf placed a paw over its snout, showing its lack of interest.
Lang Si trotted over and whispered a few quiet yips in Shen Ningning’s ear. When he was done, he gave the little girl’s soft cheek a lick for good measure.
He explained that the Little White Wolf disliked humans; it seemed his previous pack had been harmed by a group of them.
That was why the Little White Wolf was so wary of people—you could even say he hated them.
Shen Ningning and Grandma Qin were the only exceptions.
Since that was the case, the little girl didn’t press the issue.
"Okay then, you don’t have to go. So you won’t be bored at home, I’ll have Grandma prepare some tasty food for you."
"How about two braised fish, a pot of braised pork bones, four pounds of pig’s trotters, and six red fruits on top? Will that be enough?"
The Little White Wolf was overwhelmed by the special treatment. It quickly nuzzled its head against Shen Ningning’s instep to show its satisfaction and gratitude.
Shen Ningning giggled, reached out with her chubby little hands, bent down, and scooped the Little White Wolf into her arms.
"Xiao Bai~ You’re with me now. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again!"
「The next day.」
The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the palace was scheduled for the evening, but Shen Ningning was so excited she changed into her new clothes around noon.
It turned out the outfit from Mo Lingwei was a small dress of red gold fabric.
Grandma Qin was very worried. "Red gold... that’s usually only worn by royalty and high nobility. Ningning, won’t you be punished for wearing this?"
Hesitation flickered across Shen Ningning’s chubby little face.
But she really loved the flowing dress, especially the butterflies embroidered on the hem with golden thread.
"Big Brother gave it to me, so it should be fine. He’ll protect me!" In the end, she decided to wear it.
Grandma Qin let herself be persuaded.
She took two matching red gold hairpins from the bundle and used them to style Ningning’s hair into two little buns, leaving two wisps of dark hair to frame her temples.
Shen Ningning had fair skin, delicate features, and a lovely face.
At a glance, she was as beautiful as a little goddess from a Dragon Palace!
"Beautiful, just beautiful! Our Ningning will be a young lady before we know it!" Grandma Qin praised with a happy laugh.
Shen Ningning lifted her adorably chubby little face, spun around in front of the bronze mirror, and said happily, "Of course! I’m about to be five!"
After that, she waited excitedly for Mo Lingwei to come and pick her up.
She also brought along four waterskins filled with a fruit juice of her own creation, intending to let her Uncle Emperor have a taste once she got to the palace.
And so, Shen Ningning waited until dusk.
When the appointed time finally drew near, she eagerly led the wolf pack to the foot of Wolf Mountain to wait.
The little girl alternated between standing and sitting on a wolf’s back.
Whenever there was any movement on the mountain path ahead, she would quickly look up to check.
The minutes ticked by. An hour later, the sky had completely darkened, but Mo Lingwei still hadn’t appeared.
The Black Wolf King’s heart ached seeing Shen Ningning’s little face, flushed from waiting so long in the sun.
He let out a discontented "Awooo~"
’That Mo Lingwei, why can’t he be on time?’
Shen Ningning swung her little feet and said, "It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet today, so the palace must be really busy. Big Brother will be here in a little while. Let’s just wait a bit longer!"
However, another hour passed, and there was still no sign of Mo Lingwei.
Night fell, a deep blue after the last embers of sunset had burned away. As the final sliver of red disappeared from the western horizon, Shen Ningning had already been waiting for a full two hours.
The anticipation and excitement she had felt were nearly gone.
Just as she was wondering if she should head to the Capital City herself to see what was going on...
...she heard the rapid CLIP-CLOP of hooves approaching from the end of the road.
A joyful expression lit up Shen Ningning’s face, and she scrambled to her feet, running forward. "Big Brother! I knew you wouldn’t forget!"
