Free Web NovelChapter 186: Chapter 186: Everyone Vying to Spoil Ningning
Xie Yuanjiu was walking over with her answer sheet when she heard the Minister of Rites’s order. Her expression changed instantly.
’The proctor I bribed has probably just set the cabinet building on fire. If they go put it out now, all my arrangements will have been for nothing!’
Xie Yuanjiu quickly took two steps forward. "My lord, the patrols and guards here are so strict. A fire shouldn’t be possible, right? Some examinees haven’t turned in their papers yet. Wouldn’t this cause a panic?"
Shen Ningning blinked her large, clear eyes and said, "I don’t think so, because if there really is a fire, the consequences will be much worse."
The Minister of Rites nodded repeatedly, agreeing wholeheartedly.
Xie Yuanjiu shot Shen Ningning a subtle glance, furious. ’She’s ruining everything!’
After a short while, a soldier who had gone to investigate ran back, breathless. "My lord, there was a fire in the cabinet building! But it was discovered in time and has already been extinguished."
The Lord Minister of Rites’s face darkened instantly, and he shot to his feet. "Were any answer sheets destroyed?"
"None were."
Hearing the soldier’s words, the Minister of Rites finally let out a sigh of relief.
After all, as the chief proctor, he would have been held responsible if anything had happened to the answer sheets.
At this thought, he looked at Shen Ningning with admiration. "What is your name, young student? It’s a good thing you were so attentive. Without your warning, we would have had a disaster on our hands today. I will be sure to report this and see that you receive a commendation."
Shen Ningning beamed. "My surname is Shen, and my name is Shen Ningning. A reward isn’t necessary! I’m just glad the answer sheets are okay."
The little one handed in her answer sheet, smiled a farewell to Xie Yuanjiu, and then left.
Xie Yuanjiu’s smile was extremely forced. After Shen Ningning left, she could only bite the bullet and turn in her own answer sheet.
However, the Lord Minister of Rites didn’t even glance at her, simply saying, "Just leave it on the table."
Xie Yuanjiu observed his expression. The Lord Minister was looking through Shen Ningning’s answer sheet, his face filled with praise.
A dark, cold glint flashed in her eyes before she turned and left.
It was late at night, with a bright moon and countless stars hanging high in the sky.
As Shen Ningning walked out of the National Academy, she saw Jiang Zhi already waiting for her, sitting on the shaft of a carriage.
Before the little one could walk over, she heard two voices call out in unison—
"Shen Ningning."
The little one looked up and saw Lu Shaoyuan’s and Mo Lingwei’s carriages parked not far away, one on the left and one on the right.
They probably hadn’t expected to speak at the same time. They glanced at each other; Mo Lingwei’s gaze was cold, while Lu Shaoyuan looked embarrassed.
He cleared his throat. "Do you want to take my carriage home?"
Mo Lingwei looked away and said to Shen Ningning, "Come on, get in."
As he spoke, Chen Shaobei popped his head out from beside him, smiling and waving at Shen Ningning.
"Miss Shen, come get in the carriage. The Crown Prince has booked the entire Floating Light Tower to celebrate for you." Seeing Lu Shaoyuan trying to steal her away, he naturally had to speak up for Mo Lingwei.
Just then, Xie Yuanjiu walked out from behind Shen Ningning. Seeing the scene, her gaze was calm and indifferent.
Her gaze shifted, and sure enough, the Xie Mansion’s carriage was also parked nearby.
The carriage curtain moved, and Xie Mingxu’s face was revealed.
Xie Yuanjiu finally broke into a smile. "Brother." She walked over happily with graceful steps.
Xie Mingxu glanced at her, responded with a low grunt, then pointed behind her. "Your carriage is back there."
Xie Yuanjiu froze.
’What does he mean, *my* carriage? Isn’t Brother here to pick me up?’
Then, Xie Mingxu raised his voice. "Ningning, are you going home?"
Jiang Zhi’s eyes went wide. "Why has everyone shown up in a group? Including me, that’s four carriages. Ningning, who are you going with?"
Not to be outdone, the Black Wolf King poked its head out of the carriage behind Jiang Zhi.
"AWOOO~" ’My precious Jiaojiao, my Xiao Ningning, ignore that pack of smelly boys.’
The Black Wolf King had specially come along with Jiang Zhi to pick her up from the exam.
When the wolf’s howl rang out, the other examinees coming out of the National Academy all jumped in fright.
All eyes fell on the little one. A strained smile appeared on Shen Ningning’s pale, milky-white face.
She scratched the tip of her nose with her small hand.
’Oh dear, this is a hard choice.’
’Lu Shaoyuan is a good friend, and Mo Lingwei is a good big brother... but Brother Xie Mingxu is very nice, too!’
’And I definitely can’t abandon Jiang Zhi and Langlang.’
"I..." Shen Ningning’s gaze quietly shifted to Jiang Zhi. ’Maybe I should just go home with Langlang.’
Before she could make up her mind, Mo Lingwei suddenly spoke, his cool gaze sweeping over Lu Shaoyuan and the others. "How about this. Since everyone came to pick her up, why don’t we all go to the Floating Light Tower to enjoy the night view? Consider it this Crown Prince’s treat."
Lu Shaoyuan was stunned. "Can we? Okay!"
Xie Mingxu’s expression was calm. "I don’t mind. Let’s go, then."
After the few of them had discussed it, they were about to pile into one carriage.
But Mo Lingwei said with a cold face, "My carriage doesn’t have enough room. Shen Ningning gets in. The rest of you can take two other carriages."
’I’ve already compromised by letting this troublesome group tag along. They want to squeeze into the same carriage as me and Shen Ningning? Impossible.’
Hearing that everyone was going to hang out, Shen Ningning was overjoyed and clambered eagerly into the Crown Prince’s carriage.
Then the little one waved for the Black Wolf King to come up as well.
And so, with a powerful leap, the large wolf jumped into Mo Lingwei’s carriage.
The surrounding horses neighed in alarm, their cries echoing all around.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince’s carriage was always a luxurious model, so the cabin wasn’t cramped.
After the Black Wolf King got in, it curled up and lay down, just barely managing to fit with Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning.
The little one poked her head out of the carriage window. "Brother Jiang, Miss Xie, you all follow us."
Xie Yuanjiu stood in the shadows, watching until she felt an icy chill run through her, as if her blood were flowing backward. Her fingertips trembled with rage.
’Xie Mingxu is my older brother. I took the exam today, too. And yet, he only remembered to celebrate for Shen Ningning.’
Hearing Shen Ningning’s invitation, Xie Yuanjiu gave a small smile. "Thank you for the kind offer, but it’s too late. I want to go home and rest. I won’t join in on the fun."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Xie Mingxu invited Lu Shaoyuan to board the Xie Mansion carriage, then glanced at Chen Shaobei. "General Chen, will you be joining us?"
Chen Shaobei glanced at Jiang Zhi. "You get on first."
He was afraid the carriage would be too crowded and there wouldn’t be a spot for Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi didn’t want to be squeezed into a carriage with a group of grown men, so she spoke up. "I prefer to be out in the open. I’ll be fine sitting on the carriage shaft."
Chen Shaobei didn’t insist and sat on the carriage shaft with her, which ended up squeezing out the Xie family’s driver.
Jiang Zhi was surprised. "Why are you sitting here too?"
"We are all guests of the Crown Prince. If you were to sit here alone, it would look as if we’d invited you to be our driver. I’m afraid that would seem disrespectful to Miss Shen, so I’ll sit here with you."
The Xie family driver stood beside the carriage. "But... where do I sit, then?"
Xie Mingxu said flatly, "Go back to the mansion in my fourth sister’s carriage."
Mo Lingwei glanced over. It seemed they were all ready.
He then asked Shen Ningning, "Are we ready to go?"
The little one was rubbing the Black Wolf King’s big, fluffy ears. Hearing him, she happily raised a small hand. "Let’s go! Off to see the stars!"
With her nod, Mo Lingwei gave the order. The two carriages rumbled over the bluestone slabs, heading for the Floating Light Tower under the moon and stars.
Behind the carriages followed guards from the Lu and Xie families, as well as the Crown Prince’s personal guard. Groups of light cavalry in different colored uniforms spurred their horses to keep up, a sight that the students leaving the National Academy exclaimed was extraordinarily impressive.
