Chapter 247: Where is the Little White Wolf?
Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Where is the Little White Wolf?
Shen Ningning asked again with concern, "Godfather, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"Hm?" Xie Suzhi chuckled to himself. ’What a clever and mischievous little one!’
But on the surface, he still smiled calmly. "Godfather isn’t unwell. It’s probably just too cold outside."
Shen Ningning immediately grabbed both of his hands, her little ones rubbing his large ones to warm them up.
She even blew a couple of warm breaths on them. "I’ll warm you up, Godfather."
Xie Mingxu laughed from the side. "I just noticed. Ningning’s little chubby hands are even warmer than a stove."
Shen Ningning shook her head smugly. "I’m not afraid of the cold in winter. When the time comes, I’ll be a little hand warmer for Brother and Godfather!"
Xie Suzhi chuckled, thoroughly amused. Just a moment ago, Xie Yuanjiu’s insults had been like a dark cloud hanging over his heart.
But now, seeing Shen Ningning’s smiling face, he finally felt less upset.
Then Shen Ningning added, "But this winter is going to be super cold."
"Brother, when you have a moment, you should go out and buy some things to prepare for the cold, okay?"
Xie Mingxu nodded lightly. "You mentioned it last time, and Father took it to heart. He’s already arranged for people to make preparations."
Only then was Shen Ningning relieved.
Xie Suzhi then instructed the driver outside to depart.
Just then, the little girl asked curiously, "Isn’t Sister Xie coming with us?"
The smile on Xie Suzhi’s face faded slightly. "Godfather has arranged for her to return in a separate carriage."
"She did something wrong this time, so she should be alone to properly reflect on her actions."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ningning nodded obediently and said no more.
She had wanted to talk about what Xie Yuanjiu had done, but she felt that Xie Suzhi already had a good grasp of the situation.
「That afternoon.」
Second Madam Xie stood guard outside a side room in the main courtyard, pacing anxiously.
"My dear daughter, you can’t refuse to eat! What will you do if you harm your health?"
There was no response from inside.
Second Madam Xie pressed her face to the window and peered through the hazy window paper. She saw Xie Yuanjiu sitting at a table with her back to the door, completely motionless.
She had been in that same position ever since she was locked in.
This made Second Madam Xie frantic with worry.
She took out her anger on the nearby guards. "You blockheads! Open this door for me, now!"
"If anything happens to my daughter in there, I’ll have your heads!"
However, the guards completely ignored her shouting.
They only said coldly, "We were assigned here by the Prime Minister and only follow his orders. Please, Second Madam, do not make things difficult for us."
Second Madam Xie grew desperate, but she didn’t dare go to Xie Suzhi.
After all, she was the one who had forced the accountant to give Xie Yuanjiu the five thousand taels she used to bribe the National Academy!
Left with no other choice, Second Madam Xie could only try to comfort her from the doorway. "Yuan Jiu, don’t worry."
"Mother will go find a Divine Woman right now and see if there’s any hope for your situation. You just be a good girl and eat the food on the table, alright?"
Suddenly.
A quiet, clear voice came from inside the room.
Xie Yuanjiu was finally willing to speak.
"Mother, do you and Father agree to let Uncle send me back to Changzhou?"
"Of course I don’t agree!" Second Madam Xie stomped her foot.
But in the next second, her expression became troubled. "But... but I don’t have any say in the matter."
"Your father said that your uncle is already being merciful. Otherwise, he would have had your head shaved and sent you to a nunnery."
"Yuan Jiu, just listen to me. Go back to Changzhou for now. After a few months, once your uncle has calmed down, I’ll beg him to let you come back."
Inside the room, Xie Yuanjiu sneered.
’Her father didn’t love her, and her mother was a useless coward!’
「Meanwhile.」
Second Master Xie sat in Xie Suzhi’s study.
"Big Brother, that child, Yuan Jiu... she has caused you so much trouble." Second Master Xie sighed again and again.
Xie Suzhi pursed his lips. "We’re family. There’s no need to speak so formally. You’re my younger brother, so of course, I must look after your child."
"It’s just that the Emperor was privately enraged. He had declared Consort Li’s residence a Forbidden Palace, yet Yuan Jiu still went inside."
"If the Emperor didn’t punish her severely, it would be tantamount to trampling on the Royal Family’s dignity. It would also undermine the authority of his word."
"Therefore, I interceded before the Emperor could pass his own sentence, hoping he would give me the chance to punish Yuan Jiu myself."
"The only solution I can think of now is to send her away and not have her return for the foreseeable future. Only this can appease the Emperor’s anger."
Second Master Xie’s brow was tightly furrowed. "I’m just afraid that when she grows up, not only will she fail to understand, but she’ll come to hate us for it."
But Xie Suzhi dismissed her potential resentment, simply saying, "We’ll take it one step at a time."
"However, there were several spies from an unknown power in your courtyard. I’ve already rooted them out and dealt with them."
"While we still don’t know who has been secretly spying on the Xie family, you must also be more vigilant in the second branch’s courtyard."
Second Master Xie nodded. "Alright, Big Brother. You can count on me."
Just then, Xie Suzhi took out a letter.
He paused, then said, "A message came from Youzhou. I hear Changliu Country is making some unusual movements, as if preparing to raise an army and attack."
"The Emperor most likely intends to send General Luo and Marshal Fang, who are stationed there, to meet them in battle."
Marshal Fang... Qingdai...
Second Master Xie was momentarily stunned. Hearing that name felt like it was from another lifetime.
Xie Suzhi said calmly, "You are familiar with the terrain of Changling and know their combat tactics."
"The Emperor wants you to draw a topographical map from memory and have it sent by the fastest imperial courier to Youzhou to aid them."
Second Master Xie once led troops and drove the forces of Changling back five hundred li.
At that time, Fang Qingdai was his military strategist.
He snapped out of his daze and nodded firmly. "Alright."
Suddenly, a small head poked through the doorway, its big, bright, round eyes blinking.
"Godfather~" Shen Ningning called in her sweet, melodic voice.
The two brothers, Xie Suzhi and Xie Dizhi, instantly dropped their serious expressions.
Xie Suzhi, in particular, broke into a warm, brilliant smile.
"What brings you here, Ningning? Do you want Godfather to take you out to play?"
Shen Ningning toddled into the room, swaying from side to side.
Xie Mingxu had said she wasn’t wearing enough and insisted on putting two more padded jackets on her.
As a result, the little girl now looked like a plump little fledgling, and even walking was an effort.
Shen Ningning’s cheeks were soft and rosy as she said, "Nope! I just finished eating, and now I want to go back to Wolf Mountain to see Grandma and Langlang!"
She had been away for five days and was already feeling homesick.
Xie Suzhi hesitated. "Ah? You’re going back so soon?"
Second Master Xie let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, Ningning, your godfather waited day and night for you to finally leave the palace. He never thought you’d only stay for a little while. He’s going to be heartbroken."
Xie Suzhi shot him a glare. "Stop spouting nonsense in front of a child."
Then, he turned to Shen Ningning with a wide smile. "Ningning, don’t listen to your second uncle’s rambling."
"It’s only natural that you miss your grandma. Mrs. Qin Sr. probably misses you too."
"How about this? Godfather was already planning to come up the mountain to spend New Year’s Eve with you. When you get back, please let Mrs. Qin Sr. know."
"The New Year is in two days. Godfather will come find you on Wolf Mountain then, how does that sound?"
Shen Ningning was overjoyed and clapped her little hands. "Okay! Godfather is welcome to visit Wolf Mountain!"
Second Master Xie looked on in surprise. "Big Brother, what about me? If you go to spend New Year’s Eve with Ningning, who will keep me company?"
Xie Suzhi glanced at him. "I’ll leave Mingxu here to keep you company."
Shen Ningning covered her mouth, giggling. "If Second Uncle wants to come, he can come too! Our home is very big. There’s enough room for everyone to have their own room."
Second Master Xie guffawed. "Ningning, your Wolf King doesn’t bite, does he? This old uncle can’t run fast enough to get away."
The little girl blinked her big eyes mischievously. "I’ll push you so you can run, Second Uncle."
Second Master Xie had only been joking, and the little girl’s reply sent him into another fit of laughter.
And so, it was settled that Xie Suzhi would go to Wolf Mountain for New Year’s Eve.
After noon, Shen Ningning finally arrived at the foot of Wolf Mountain.
She shouted excitedly, "Langlang! Grandma! I’m back!"
The little girl ran straight ahead.
Before long, massive black shadows began to appear one after another in the woods, all of them bounding excitedly toward her.
The Black Wolf King led the charge, rushing up to Shen Ningning and giving the little girl’s head a thorough licking.
Shen Ningning covered her head with her little hands, giggling.
Right after, Lang Si charged over, his plump body nearly sending the little girl flying!
A hundred wolves circled the little girl, taking turns to nuzzle up against Shen Ningning. They even formed a line, looking incredibly cute.
Finally, the little girl put her hands on her hips and counted them one by one.
She remembered every single wolf, but after counting again and again, she realized one was missing.
"Huh? Where’s the Little White Wolf?"