Chapter 395: Eldest Brother Returns to the Capital

Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Eldest Brother Returns to the Capital

The next day, when Shen Ningning went to the National Academy for class, she was surprised to learn from Mr. Han that Xu Jingxi had been injured and wouldn’t be able to attend for a while.

That evening after class, Shen Ningning took the lead, gathering Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan to visit Xu Jingxi in the village where he lived.

They arrived at the same small, tidy courtyard, its poverty marked by a simple wicker gate.

When Shen Ningning knocked, the door was opened by Grandpa Xu, who hobbled as he walked.

"Hello, Grandpa Xu," the little girl said, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks rosy. "We heard Student Xu is sick, so we came especially to visit him."

Grandpa Xu smiled kindly and quickly invited them into the courtyard.

He also called into the house, "Jingxi, your young classmates are here to see you."

Lu Shaoyuan handed the gifts they had brought to Grandpa Xu.

The gifts included ginseng and reishi from Shen Ningning, high-quality writing supplies from Ye Shangyi, and a heavy pouch of silver from Lu Shaoyuan.

Grandpa Xu was taken aback. "These gifts are far too valuable; we can’t accept them. It’s more than enough that you’ve come to visit. Jingxi doesn’t have many friends, so thank you for thinking of him."

Lu Shaoyuan laughed. "Please, Grandpa Xu, just take them. I always have to rely on Xu Jingxi to clear up my confusion at the National Academy. This is the least I could do."

With that, the three of them entered Xu Jingxi’s room.

Due to their poverty, Grandpa Xu and Xu Jingxi slept in the same room, with only a single curtain hung down the middle to divide it into two spaces.

When Shen Ningning and the others entered, Xu Jingxi was leaning against a humble bed, his right arm held fast against his chest by a wooden splint.

"What are you all doing here?" he asked, a little surprised. His handsome face was pale, and his dark, slender eyes held a faint, weary look.

"Mr. Han told us you were sick and couldn’t come to school. Oh, did you fall and hurt your arm?" Shen Ningning asked, placing the waterskin she’d brought on the table.

Xu Jingxi lowered his gaze. "It’s nothing. I just bumped it accidentally."

"That’s not what I heard," Lu Shaoyuan said curiously. "Mr. Han said you went into the city yesterday to do some painting work for a family. Is that when you fell and got hurt?"

Xu Jingxi pursed his thin lips, glancing instinctively at Shen Ningning.

He explained quietly, "Yes. I fell off a ladder."

Ye Shangyi gasped, covering her mouth. "How dangerous! What did your employer say? Since you were injured at their house, did they at least get a doctor for you?"

Xu Jingxi couldn’t answer.

’After he fell, Xie Yuanjiu had actually complained that he spilled the paint and stained her stone steps.’

’In the end, not only did he not get a single piece of silver, but he was also thrown out by Xie Yuanjiu’s servants.’

Xu Jingxi didn’t want to talk about it; he didn’t want to cause any trouble for Shen Ningning.

Just then, Grandpa Xu came in carrying a few bowls of water and answered for him. "A doctor? Not only did they not find one, they threw our Jingxi out."

"Sigh!" Grandpa Xu sighed heavily. "I heard the employer was just a young girl herself, but to be so cruel... Our Jingxi hurt his arm at her residence, after all. Not only did she refuse to pay him any silver, she also..."

"Grandpa!" Xu Jingxi cut him off, his voice cold.

Grandpa Xu waved his hand in resignation. "Alright, alright. You all talk. I won’t disturb you."

Shen Ningning’s bright, clear eyes glanced at Grandpa Xu.

Then she turned to Xu Jingxi, her gaze as clear and piercing as the glint of light on snow, seeming to see through everything.

"Were you working for Xie Yuanjiu’s family?"

The little girl remembered that Second Master Xie had already thrown Xie Yuanjiu out of the Xie Mansion and made her move into a separate residence.

’It had to be her! She was the only one who would hurt Xu Jingxi and make him so reluctant to speak about it.’

Xu Jingxi pursed his lips. Only after Shen Ningning’s persistent questioning did he finally nod.

Ye Shangyi was furious. "How could Xie Yuanjiu be so vicious? Did she push you off the ladder on purpose?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" Lu Shaoyuan added, just as incensed. "She knows Xu Jingxi is friends with Shen Ningning. She wouldn’t dare touch Ningning, so she bullies him instead. Just picking on the weakest one she can find!"

Shen Ningning pouted, silently tucking the blanket in around Xu Jingxi.

Her bright black eyes were fixed on his arm.

Ye Shangyi sighed. "It’s such a shame! Today, Mr. Han was going to recommend a student to go to the palace to copy scriptures and pray for the Emperor’s good fortune. That opportunity only comes once a year."

"Since your hand is injured, Mr. Han had to choose someone else."

Xu Jingxi’s expression remained calm, as if he cared little for such things.

"It’s fine. It makes no difference whether I go or not."

As he spoke, he looked at Shen Ningning, and a flicker of worry finally crossed his otherwise placid eyes.

"You don’t need to go looking for trouble with Xie Yuanjiu on my account. She’s petty. It’s best to stay far away from her."

The little girl looked up, her round face fair and cute.

She puffed out her rosy cheeks, looking defiant. "She may be petty, but I hold a grudge. Hmph! Just you wait. She’d better hope she never needs a favor from me!"

A few days later, Lu Shaoyuan and Ye Shangyi were convinced that Shen Ningning’s words were prophetic.

Because, unbelievably, Xie Yuanjiu had caught the plague.

By now, not many people in the city were still infected with the plague; most had already been cured during the free clinics held by Shen Ningning and the Imperial Physicians.

But when Xie Yuanjiu went to the free clinic in the city to get medicine, she was thrown out by Muchun and Wanchun, acting on Shen Ningning’s orders!

"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness? The Emperor decreed that anyone in the city who falls ill can come here for medicine. Yet you have me thrown out. Are you simply going to stand by and watch me die?"

Xie Yuanjiu stood outside the clinic, baking under the harsh sun. Dizzy, she felt a cold sweat trickle down her temples.

Her symptoms had only just begun, yet she already felt this terrible. That was why she had rushed to get medicine. She never expected Shen Ningning to refuse her the medicinal fruit entirely!

Muchun and Wanchun stood on the steps like a pair of stone-faced sentinels, their expressions frigid.

"The Princess has given her word. You can have the medicine when Student Xu’s hand is healed."

Xie Yuanjiu gritted her teeth.

’She’d only given Xu Jingxi a little push. It wasn’t as if he had died!’

’But Shen Ningning refusing her the medicine was a death sentence!’

Xie Yuanjiu would not simply wait to die. She took a carriage straight to the Xie Mansion, but before she could even enter the gates, she was stopped by the housekeeper.

Uncle Pang looked troubled, but his tone was firm. "Fourth Miss, please don’t make things difficult for this old servant. Second Master Xie said that your fate is now your own; he will no longer interfere, and he forbids you from returning to the mansion."

With tears in her eyes, Xie Yuanjiu gathered her skirts and knelt outside the gates.

"If Father refuses to see me, then I will kneel here until everyone in the world knows how heartless he is!"

However, she hadn’t been kneeling for long before she fainted.

The plague was aggressive, and Xie Yuanjiu’s body was already burning with a high fever.

Shen Ningning happened to be returning to the mansion and saw the scene.

A flicker of cold indifference crossed the little girl’s fair face.

"She’s sick, so why are you letting her lie here? Wrap her up and throw her back where she came from."

At Shen Ningning’s command, her guards immediately complied.

Afraid of contagion, the guards wrapped Xie Yuanjiu in layer upon layer of cotton cloth.

Then, with great haste, they returned her to her own residence.

The maids and servants at the other residence were terrified, cursing under their breath. Why did Xie Yuanjiu have to go and offend Princess Funing of all people?

If she caused them to get infected too, what would happen if the Princess refused to give them the medicinal fruit?

When Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie learned what Shen Ningning had done, they both remained silent.

Second Master Xie, in particular, had wanted to say something on Xie Yuanjiu’s behalf, but Shen Ningning simply told him to investigate how his daughter had treated her classmate, Xu Jingxi.

Second Master Xie could only let out a sigh.

’This daughter of his... she was truly spoiled beyond redemption.’

Two days later, good news arrived.

Xie Mingxu was leading his triumphant army back to the capital and had already reached the suburbs!

Great General Fang Qingdai and her daughter were returning to the capital along with them!