Chapter 336: Don’t Admit You Are a Blessed Girl
Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Don’t Admit You Are a Blessed Girl
Commander Lu even drew his sword and began rummaging inside the tripod.
From the ashes, he used his bare hands to pick out a fragment of yellow cloth that hadn’t been completely burned.
A few characters were still visible on it.
Mo Lingwei immediately ordered his trusted men, "Go to Consort Rong’s palace yourselves. Find the scriptures she actually transcribed and bring them here."
"Yes."
The Emperor’s expression was stormy. He glanced down and saw Consort Rong’s fingernails digging deep into her palms.
Though he hadn’t asked a thing, he already had a sinking feeling.
Before long, the Crown Prince’s men returned and presented several dozen scripture scrolls.
The Emperor unrolled one and compared the handwriting to the fragment of unburnt yellow cloth.
Everyone fell silent. Aside from the whistling wind, there was only dead quiet.
Time ticked by, second by second.
The Emperor’s expression grew glacial.
"Hmph!" He threw the scroll down hard, and it landed in front of Consort Rong.
"How dare you deceive your Emperor! You tried to fool me with a forgery!" the Emperor roared, veins bulging on his forehead.
Consort Rong looked up, tears streaming down her face as she cried out in a panic, "Your Majesty, it’s not what it looks like! This palace maid is trying to frame me!"
The Emperor jabbed a finger at her, thundering with rage. "Nonsense! What reason would this palace maid have to harm you?"
"When Ningning first told me about this, I still gave you the benefit of the doubt because of your past conduct. I even made excuses for you."
"But I never imagined you would stoop to forging scriptures! How can I possibly believe you are sincere when you transcribe them, and not just putting on a show for me?"
Consort Rong kowtowed, weeping. "Your Majesty, how can you not believe me?"
The Emperor ignored her and ordered Commander Lu to throw the scriptures into the tripod.
With a WHOOSH, a bright flame instantly erupted.
Shen Ningning, with her big, sparkling eyes, knew it was time.
She slipped her small hand into her sleeve and secretly crushed the three golden beads she had prepared.
The inconspicuous gold dust was carried far and wide by the howling, frigid wind.
The Emperor stared at the great tripod, now engulfed in roaring flames.
Consort Rong clung to his leg, sobbing her heart out.
Shen Ningning watched the fire, her dark eyes filled not with fear, but with firm resolve.
The little girl knew she had not lost this clash of wits.
Consort Rong was no simpleton. Without her deep cunning, she could never have maintained the facade of a kind, devout Buddhist while lying low in the harem for so many years.
And Shen Ningning knew she was ruthless.
So, the little girl decided to play a trick of her own.
She hadn’t rushed to crush the golden beads the first time.
If she had, she would have truly been the one framing Consort Rong.
Just then, a blinding light suddenly burst through the clouds, bathing the land in sunlight.
Commander Lu exclaimed in astonishment, "Your Majesty, it’s an auspicious omen from the heavens! Light from the east! This is a sign of great fortune!"
The Emperor quickly looked up to see several rays of light breaking through the clouds, shining directly down upon the bitterly cold earth.
"The sun! The sun is out!" the Emperor shouted, pumping his fists, his heart surging with excitement.
Mo Lingwei tilted his head back to look. The sunlight was harsh, and he frowned slightly.
Consort Rong watched all of this, stunned.
Then, as if realizing something, she whipped her head around to look at Shen Ningning.
The little girl was gazing back at her with a serene smile.
While everyone else was staring at the magnificent rays of light, Shen Ningning’s gaze sent a chill down Consort Rong’s spine.
She was suddenly reminded of Shen Siyi.
The striking resemblance in her eyes and brows horrified her.
The Emperor’s merciless voice snapped Consort Rong back to her senses.
"Relay my imperial decree! Consort Rong, of the Qi clan, Qi Jingchun, is vicious of heart, an offense to both mortals and gods. As of today, she is stripped of her title, her golden seal shall be confiscated, her name struck from the palace scroll, and she is to be confined to the Cold Palace! See to it at once!"
A single sentence sealed Qi Jingchun’s fate.
To have her name struck from the scroll meant that if she were to die in the Cold Palace, her body would be unceremoniously dumped in a mass grave.
She would not even be qualified for burial in the Imperial Mausoleum.
It might even affect the Ninth Prince’s prospects.
Qi Jingchun was horrified. "Your Majesty! I have been with you for thirteen whole years! In all that time, I have always been diligent—you know this, Your Majesty..." Her words dissolved into sobs.
The Emperor turned his back and waved his hand in disgust. "Drag her away. I don’t want to see her again."
Qi Jingchun was dragged away, still crying.
Even after her figure vanished down the palace path, Shen Ningning could still hear her sorrowful wails.
At that exact moment, the effect of the golden beads wore off, and dark clouds once again blotted out the sun.
The Emperor grew worried again and quickly asked, "Ningning, what’s happening? I’ve already punished Mrs. Qi, so why won’t the heavens withdraw this disaster?"
Shen Ningning said in her soft, sweet voice, "Because there wasn’t enough time."
"Time?" The Emperor fell into thought.
What Shen Ningning meant was that she didn’t have enough golden beads.
If she had a little more time, she could harvest a large batch of golden beads, throw them all into the sky, and forcibly change the weather.
Mo Lingwei, understanding, stepped forward and said calmly, "It just means we have to wait a while longer."
Shen Ningning nodded. Seeing the worry on the Emperor’s face, she soothed him in her childlike voice, "Uncle Emperor, don’t worry. Now that we’ve had this auspicious sign, the cold spell will surely be over soon."
The Emperor nodded slowly and said in a heavy voice, "Alright. I’ve already waited this long. A few more days won’t hurt."
Afterward, Shen Ningning returned to Zichen Palace with Mo Lingwei.
A palace maid served fine tea and pastries before withdrawing.
When only the two of them were left, Shen Ningning kept stealing glances at Mo Lingwei, who was reviewing official memorials.
She looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.
Mo Lingwei’s head was bowed over his work. Though he didn’t look at her, he sensed her hesitation.
So he spoke first, his voice cool and pleasant. "Say whatever is on your mind. There’s no one else here."
Shen Ningning’s limpid eyes flickered, and she walked to his desk. "I lied."
Her tone was so calm that it drew a faint smile to Mo Lingwei’s lips.
He set down his brush and looked up at the little girl.
"Let me guess, you didn’t really dream about an Immortal?" Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "I figured as much. After Mo Changli drove Xie Ming’an from the palace yesterday, I knew you wouldn’t let that mother and son get away with it. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered."
Mo Lingwei felt a flicker of happiness.
He was happy because he understood her so well.
Moreover, Shen Ningning had deceived everyone else, but she chose not to hide the truth from him.
He picked up his brush again, his written comments on the memorials becoming much gentler.
Mo Lingwei said, "Even if you hadn’t done anything, I would have gotten even for you."
Shen Ningning lowered her long, lush lashes. "Abandoned Concubine Qi bullied my godfather. She made him so angry he coughed up blood. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have sought revenge."
Mo Lingwei glanced up at her. "You certainly are good to Chancellor Xie."
"Of course! He’s my godfather! He’s the closest thing to a father I could ever imagine," Shen Ningning said sweetly, her eyes sparkling.
Mo Lingwei asked, "Then how did you make the sun appear?"
Shen Ningning scratched her small cheek. "It’s... complicated. In short, it’s hard to explain. You can just think of it as a special little ability I have as a blessed girl, Brother."
In truth, the little girl was quite proud of herself.
Having the Immortal Realm at her disposal gave her immense confidence.
Hearing this, however, Mo Lingwei’s expression darkened.
He set down his brush and paused for a moment before he spoke—
"Shen Ningning, can you promise me one thing?"
"From now on, avoid the title of ’blessed girl’ as much as you can."
"In fact, don’t even admit that you are one."