Chapter 253: You Two Are Siblings?
Chapter 253: Chapter 253: You Two Are Siblings?
For two days straight, many powerful ministers and wealthy merchants secretly went to visit the State Preceptor.
It was unknown what they discussed, but after these people returned home, they immediately had their servants sell off the winter supplies they had gathered.
Although the common folk didn’t know what was happening, when they saw the rich and powerful doing this, they quickly followed suit.
In no time, rumors that the blessed girl, Shen Ningning, was a liar began to spread throughout the city.
The State Preceptor’s words caused the price of winter supplies in the city to hit rock bottom, even affecting the surrounding towns and prefectures of the Capital City.
Gradually, it got to the point where people were tossing cotton clothes and fabric directly onto the streets, and no one would even bother to pick them up.
Now, you couldn’t even give away a pair of cotton shoes for one tael. They were simply left on the street, eventually picked up by beggars.
By the time the news reached the National Academy, Shen Ningning had just finished her classes and eaten lunch.
The little girl was sitting inside a hexagonal pavilion, chatting with a few of her close classmates.
Just then, Ye Shangyi’s voice called out from a short distance away, "Commandery Princess, have you heard?"
"Everything outside is in chaos because you were carelessly spreading rumors!"
"You created a panic and made everyone scramble to buy winter clothes. Now the State Preceptor says there won’t be a snow disaster. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Shen Ningning lifted her dark eyes to see Ye Shangyi standing before her, fuming, with several other young masters and ladies in tow.
"I’m not explaining anything," the little girl said in her sweet voice.
She took a calm, unhurried bite of the sweet pastry in her hand.
Her bright, limpid eyes sparkled. "If you don’t believe me, then don’t."
’In any case, I’ve given my warning!’
To Shen Ningning, it was better to take precautions than to sit and wait for disaster to strike.
Seeing her attitude, Ye Shangyi grew even more incensed.
Back during the selection for female officials in the palace, Shen Ningning had outshone her at every turn.
Now that she was a female official, everyone around her fawned over and complimented her.
And yet, Shen Ningning paid her no mind.
Ye Shangyi’s tone became even more imperious, her brows furrowing. "You’re so irresponsible. The Emperor was wrong to name you a blessed girl."
"And yet you hide behind that title, spreading false information as you please. How can you live up to the Emperor’s trust?"
Shen Ningning finished her pastry and slowly, deliberately wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief.
Her voice was soft and cheerful. "Uncle Emperor named me a blessed girl because I really, truly did summon a great rain, you know."
"As for whether there’ll be a snow disaster, if you don’t believe me, then you don’t have to listen."
With that, the little girl stood up to leave.
Ye Shangyi couldn’t believe it. ’How dare Shen Ningning disregard her so completely!’
"You can’t go!" Ye Shangyi reached out and grabbed the little girl’s wrist.
’I have to say something to put Shen Ningning in an awkward position.’
So, Ye Shangyi said sharply, "So many people outside have lost money because of you."
"Winter clothes and quilts are being thrown out all over the streets, and no one wants them. You must take responsibility and compensate everyone."
"Otherwise, I’ll get everyone to ostracize you, and the National Academy certainly won’t accept a liar like you!"
Shen Ningning pulled her small hand back, a serious expression appearing on her fair, round face.
"What did you say? They’re all over the streets?"
Ye Shangyi sneered inwardly. ’So, she’s finally scared, is she?’
She lifted her chin. "Go see for yourself. The State Preceptor said there won’t be a disaster this winter, so everyone is desperate to sell off the extra winter supplies they bought."
"But thanks to you, they all bought too much. Now they can’t sell any of it, so they have no choice but to throw it away."
"So, are you still not going to admit that you’re the main culprit behind these rumors?"
Shen Ningning paid her no mind, turning instead to her classmates with a delighted expression. "Come on, let’s go pick up the clothes they’re throwing away!"
Her classmates stared at her, stunned. "But Commandery Princess, the State Preceptor said there won’t be a disaster."
"Let him say what he wants. I’m going to get what I need. I’m not listening to him," the little girl said, then looked at them. "Are you coming or not?"
They looked at one another.
In the end, the classmates shook their heads in unison. "Forget it. We wouldn’t have anywhere to put it all anyway."
"Yeah," one of them said. "I jumped on the bandwagon and bought ten pairs of fleece gloves last time, and my mother chewed me out for it."
Ye Shangyi stood to the side, arms crossed, sneering as she stared at Shen Ningning. "Did you hear that? It’s all your fault!"
Shen Ningning ignored her completely, calling out in her sweet voice—
"Going to pick up free clothes, shoes, and blankets from the street! Is anyone coming with me?"
No one responded.
After all, the State Preceptor’s weather predictions had never been wrong.
Shen Ningning pouted. "Fine. If you won’t go, I’ll go by myself."
’Imagine not wanting free supplies.’
Just as she was about to leave, a cool voice sounded from behind her. "I’ll go with you."
Everyone turned to see Xu Jingxi walking toward them.
His clothes were very thin, the cuffs worn white from countless washings.
The robe had clearly once been sky-blue, but it was so faded from wear that it looked almost white.
A few of the young masters burst out laughing.
They pointed at Xu Jingxi, their mocking tones completely undisguised.
"If anyone in the entire National Academy needs to pick up free clothes, it’s definitely Xu Jingxi."
"Honestly, I don’t know how he’s going to survive."
Shen Ningning shot them a glare with her bright, clear eyes.
She turned and proactively tugged on Xu Jingxi’s sleeve. "Don’t pay any attention to them. Let’s go get our stuff."
Xu Jingxi seemed completely unaffected by their mockery.
His refined, aloof face remained as serene and undisturbed as winter frost.
Xu Jingxi gently pulled his sleeve away, clearly unaccustomed to such closeness with others.
"Let’s go, before the afternoon classes start," he said quietly, then took the lead and started walking.
Shen Ningning’s little feet went pat-pat-pat as she hurried to keep up.
Mr. Han happened to be looking for Shen Ningning and saw her leaving. He called out to her a few times, but she didn’t hear him.
"Does anyone know where those two are headed?" Mr. Han asked.
Ye Shangyi rushed forward to report on them. "Mr. Han, you have to do something!"
"Princess Funing is taking Xu Jingxi and insisting on going to the streets to pick up clothes and blankets that people have thrown away."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Han immediately hurried after them. "Is that right? Well then, I’d better go too. Why pass up free things?"
The surrounding students were dumbfounded.
’How could Mr. Han think the same way as Shen Ningning?’
The little girl and Xu Jingxi left the National Academy, and after rounding two street corners, they found just what they were looking for: a basket at a corner, stuffed with something dark and grimy.
Xu Jingxi went up and tipped the basket over. A pile of dirty quilts and fabric tumbled out.
Shen Ningning crouched down and poked through the pile with her little hands. "Aww, what a shame. They’re so thick, just thrown away and all dirty."
However, Xu Jingxi, who was next to her, said in a calm voice, "It’s fine. They’ll be clean after a good wash."
He pulled the basket over, refolded the fabric and quilts, and placed them back inside.
The two of them looked like two poor, homeless children, rummaging through the straw baskets at every street corner.
Fortunately, their haul was substantial.
In total, they found six quilts, ten heavy winter coats, and three pairs of cotton-padded shoes.
They even got lucky and found half a bearskin, though there was no sign of the other half.
Xu Jingxi and Shen Ningning squatted in a corner, their fair faces smudged with dust.
Xu Jingxi then took two straw baskets and began to divide their haul.
"We’ll split the quilts and heavy coats in half. You take two pairs of the shoes, I’ll keep one. And this bearskin..." He paused, then stuffed it into Shen Ningning’s basket. "You take this, too."
Shen Ningning crouched in front of him, looking like a cute little mushroom.
"You don’t have to give me so much. Just two quilts and three coats are enough for me. I don’t need the shoes."
’I’ve already bought plenty,’ she thought. ’My stockpile at home is already over a hundred items.’
Right now, what Shen Ningning needed most was firewood and kindling, but the Immortal Realm had an inexhaustible supply of wood.
’It’s just a lot of trouble to chop it all.’
’So, it’s better to gather more now. If it’s not enough later, I can always go chop wood in the Immortal Realm.’
Just then, the Shopkeeper of the Deer Meat Restaurant next door came out.
He saw two young children crouching in the corner, dividing up their findings.
He immediately let out a cry of pity. "Oh, you poor things. Why are you out here picking through trash?"
"It’s too cold out here. You two, brother and sister, come inside with me and have a cup of hot tea."