Chapter 384: Anyone Else Would Have Had Their Nine Clans Exterminated

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Anyone Else Would Have Had Their Nine Clans Exterminated

Shen Ningning wanted to go to the side courtyard to visit the Emperor and check on his condition.

However, Xie Suzhi felt that his daughter had been busy all day and needed to rest.

So he settled the little girl down, had her lie on the bed, and insisted on telling her a story.

He waited until he saw Shen Ningning’s eyes close and her breathing become even, as if she had drifted off into a sweet sleep.

Only then did Xie Suzhi pull the covers over her and leave on tiptoe.

Not long after he left, Shen Ningning opened her eyes, sat up, and pitter-pattered on her little feet to the door.

She pressed her ear to the doorframe, eavesdropping.

’Wanchun is supposed to be on watch tonight, but she should be brewing tea right now.’

Shen Ningning pulled the door open with her small hands. Her chubby little figure then snuck down the long corridor, darting toward the side courtyard like a flash.

The moonlight was tranquil, and insects rustled in the grass.

As usual, no one was guarding the side courtyard.

Everyone knew a patient was living here, so they didn’t dare approach.

Shen Ningning entered the courtyard with practiced ease, just as she was about to knock on the door.

But to her surprise, she heard her father, Xie Suzhi’s, voice coming from inside.

"Has the Emperor already dealt with Mr. Li?"

"I had intended to hide my illness, but they stumbled upon it by accident. By rights, I should have had them silenced. But considering that Li Hai’s political record over the years has been decent, I merely found a minor fault and had his entire family banished to the Northern Desert."

Xie Suzhi sneered coldly. "In Nanzhou, the Li Family acted like tyrants, accepting bribes, colluding with local officials, levying extra taxes on the common people, and lining their own pockets."

"Any one of these crimes is enough to have the Li Family executed a hundred times over."

The Emperor fell silent, raising his eyes to look at Xie Suzhi.

"I know you’re angry. I’m just as furious that his daughter bullied your Ningning. But Suzhi, sometimes sparing a life isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

Xie Suzhi didn’t speak, his expression as indifferent as a pool of water under the cold moon.

He knew why the Emperor hadn’t been merciless.

It was because of the rumors surrounding Li Yuyi—that she was one of the girls said to have been born with auspicious signs.

That was the real reason for the Emperor’s leniency.

Still, being banished to the Northern Desert was as good as a death sentence.

Xie Suzhi’s cold expression deepened as he moved on to discuss other political matters.

Shen Ningning didn’t want to listen anymore.

’Grown-up conversations are so boring. I just want to go in and treat his illness.’

’My little medicinal-fruit grapes have given me so many pleasant surprises!’

However, just as the little girl was about to turn, the cold hilt of a sword was suddenly pressed against her neck.

Shen Ningning’s body went rigid.

Commander Lu’s crisp voice came from behind. "Commandery Princess, you’ve been listening for quite a while. Why don’t you go on in?"

With that, he withdrew the sword hilt.

Lu Fu hadn’t meant anything by it; he was just playing a little joke on Shen Ningning.

But when the little girl turned her head to look at him, he realized her face was pale.

He had clearly frightened her.

Lu Fu was at a loss for words.

’Did I go too far?’

Before he could apologize, Shen Ningning said in her soft voice, "I was going to knock, but Daddy and Uncle Emperor are talking about important things. I’ll just come back tomorrow."

With that, the little girl pitter-pattered away.

Commander Lu opened his mouth, wanting to call her back and apologize, but in the end, no words came out.

「The next morning.」

Shen Ningning learned a piece of news from Wanchun.

Second Madam Xie had been sentenced to three years in prison by the Emperor!

If not for the fact that she was still Second Master Xie’s wife, she would have been stripped of her rank and made a commoner.

All of Second Madam Xie’s relatives were implicated, ostracized, and impeached.

The little girl listened in silence.

’If Second Madam Xie hadn’t tried to harm others, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.’

Wanchun exclaimed with satisfaction.

"Commandery Princess, may I request a day of leave? I want to visit Wenxiu’s grave and tell her the good news. The person who murdered her has finally faced retribution! Even though we servants’ lives are considered less valuable than our masters’, justice will eventually be served. I hope she can finally rest in peace."

Shen Ningning nodded, her eyes round and dark.

She generously gave her ten taels of silver.

"Leave granted. Take this silver and use it to visit Wenxiu’s family. Help comfort them so they can move on from their grief."

"Thank you, Commandery Princess!" Wanchun beamed.

After breakfast, Shen Ningning went to check on the Emperor, but Mo Lingwei had already beaten her there.

As soon as the little girl arrived, she heard Mo Lingwei’s voice from behind the half-open door, scolding the Emperor.

"Father Emperor, Li Hai was so arrogant as to bully Chancellor Xie himself, and you only punished them with exile to the Northern Desert?"

The Emperor’s placating voice followed. "That’s already very severe. Their property was confiscated and they were exiled. That’s over a hundred members of the Li Family. You still don’t think that’s enough?"

Mo Lingwei was dressed in a black and red Python Robe, his hair secured with a Crown Jade ornament. Beneath his sharp brows was a pair of cold eyes.

"Not enough. If it were up to me, I would have Li Hai and his relatives within three generations beheaded, and the other branches of his clan exiled."

"Absolutely not!" the Emperor cajoled. "Heaven itself has a virtue of cherishing life. You must not be so bloodthirsty."

Mo Lingwei’s aura darkened, clearly displeased.

The Emperor played his trump card. "Neither Ningning nor Xie Suzhi objected. What more is there to say?"

Only then did Mo Lingwei’s tightly furrowed brow relax slightly. "Is that so?"

Shen Ningning decided it was time to make her entrance.

The little girl pushed the door open and went inside, calling out cheerfully, "Uncle Emperor, Brother, you’re both here!"

"Well, well! Ningning!" The Emperor stood up, beaming.

Dressed in casual robes, he looked as kindly as one’s own uncle.

"I was just telling Ling Wei that you’d be here soon." As he spoke, the Emperor shot Mo Lingwei a subtle glance.

The look was meant to tell him to drop the subject and, at the very least, let him save some face in front of Ningning.

Mo Lingwei ignored his father’s look and went to Shen Ningning’s side, asking with concern.

"I heard about what happened yesterday. You weren’t too worn out, were you?"

Shen Ningning began setting down the bowls of medicine she had brought.

She blinked her big eyes, her voice soft and sweet. "Not tired at all. They can cause their trouble, and I’ll do my healing."

With that, she handed a bowl of medicine to the Emperor, who drank it obediently without even having it tested for poison.

That was how much he trusted the little girl.

Mo Lingwei nodded impassively, then asked Shen Ningning, "Is my Father Emperor being a nuisance? If you find him troublesome, I can have him taken back to the palace. From what I can see, he’s almost better anyway."

"COUGH!" The Emperor nearly choked on the medicinal broth. He coughed until his face was red, then looked up to glare at Mo Lingwei. "What do you mean, ’fully recovered’? I only just stopped coughing up blood yesterday! I need to stay for another day of observation."

The main reason was that Shen Ningning was like a little doctor, incredibly considerate and devoted.

She always had some new trick up her sleeve to make the Emperor happy.

Sometimes it was a bunch of grapes, other times it was a cup of clear, slightly sweet water.

At other times, she would even share her leftover pastries with the Emperor.

The days here felt like a retreat from the world, far too relaxing.

The Emperor was starting to feel a bit reluctant to leave.

Shen Ningning covered her mouth with her little hand, stifling a giggle.

"Mmm, we should observe a little longer. But if everything is fine today, you can go home after that. You have to keep taking your medicine on time, though!"

As she said this, the little girl walked to the table, picked up a brush and paper, and wrote out a new prescription, modifying the one from the Divine Doctor to suit the Emperor’s current condition.

Mo Lingwei stood beside her, watching her write with such composure, and a faint, gentle smile touched his lips.

"You’ve worked hard taking care of my Father Emperor. I was worried he might die here and bring bad luck to the Xie Mansion."

Behind them, the Emperor’s eyes widened.

’What did that rotten kid just say? Is he cursing me to die?!’

’How utterly treasonous!’

Shen Ningning said sweetly, "That won’t happen. Since Uncle Emperor was sent to me, of course I have to save his life!"

The Emperor nodded in gratification. Now that was more like it.

But in the next moment, Shen Ningning added, "Besides, if he unfortunately croaks, I know Brother can handle it. I’ll just ask you for help!"

Mo Lingwei burst out laughing.

The Emperor’s expression froze. He stood behind them, glaring like a lost soul.

Mo Lingwei was his son, and Shen Ningning was his savior.

Only these two children could get away with such talk.

If it had been anyone else, he would have had their entire clan beheaded long ago!

"I brought you a gift," Mo Lingwei said, his handsome features lit up by a slight raise of his brows.

The Emperor craned his neck, curious. "What is it?"

Mo Lingwei shot him a cold, sidelong glance. The Emperor silently turned away. "I’ll just go lie down."

Shen Ningning tilted her little head. "What is it?"

"I heard it was left behind by your mother," Mo Lingwei said, placing the object in her palm.