Chapter 349: Extortion? You Won’t Live to Take It
Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Extortion? You Won’t Live to Take It
Night fell.
Xie Ming’an returned to his study.
He had originally planned to find Xie Suzhi to discuss the matter concerning Xie Yuanjiu.
In truth, the timing of Xie Yuanjiu’s appearance at Mr. Zhang Liu’s place was too coincidental, and he had many questions of his own.
However, to avoid tipping his hand, he could only return to the capital first and pretend the matter was settled.
He had wanted to discuss a few things with Xie Suzhi, but alas, his confidant came to find him instead.
"Second Young Master, just as you predicted, our other team was intercepted by the Master’s men."
The candlelight flickered, and Xie Ming’an’s gaze darkened.
Outside, the wind and snow howled, just like the storm in his heart.
"What about the other team? Did my father find out?"
The confidant clasped his hands. "Your foresight is godlike, Second Young Master. The Master never expected us to send out two teams. As a result, we’ve found some leads regarding Princess Funing’s background."
A moment later, a scout, weary and dusty from his journey, arrived.
Xie Ming’an took the secret letter from his hand. It clearly stated that Shen Ningning was not a farmer’s daughter.
According to the travel permits, Shen Siyi’s maid had fled all the way to Shu State without stopping.
She never encountered any so-called bandits.
This meant that Xie Suzhi’s story about her being rescued by a farmer was a complete fabrication!
Xie Ming’an’s heart grew heavy as he read, and his handsome, cold brow furrowed in thought.
His father, Xie Suzhi, had lied.
’But why would Father do that?’
Xie Ming’an set the letter down and walked over to the window.
The wind and snow continued to rage outside, the air bone-chillingly cold.
A possibility occurred to Xie Ming’an.
’Perhaps Shen Ningning really is my sister.’
The next day, unable to restrain himself, Xie Ming’an went ahead to Xiangyun Village to find Shen Ningning.
He had many questions he wanted to answer.
However, upon arriving in Xiangyun Village and meeting Grandma Qin, he learned that the little one was not at home.
Grandma Qin chuckled. "It’s cold out. Ningning was worried ice would form on Zuchang’s grave, so she went to clear the snow for him."
"You’re a good lad. Would you like to sit and have a cup of hot tea?"
Xie Ming’an respectfully clasped his hands, his voice clear and pleasant. "Thank you, ma’am, but I need to see her on an urgent matter."
Upon hearing this, Grandma Qin pointed in the direction of Xitai Village.
"Then you should cross the mountain. It’s not far. Once you leave our village, head up the eastern slope and follow the path, and you’ll get to Xitai Village."
After speaking, Grandma Qin placed a tassel she had woven into Xie Ming’an’s hand.
The old woman smiled with kind benevolence. "Hang this tassel on you. When the wolves in the mountains smell it, they won’t harm you."
Xie Ming’an bowed and clasped his hands again. "Thank you, ma’am."
With that, he strode away.
Grandma Qin had been right. Not long after he set foot on the mountain path, a wolf’s head poked out from behind a nearby rock.
The wolf’s clear, ice-yellow eyes stared at him for a long moment.
Xie Ming’an’s hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Though his expression remained unchanged, he picked up his pace.
More and more wolves appeared, observing him from high and low points all around.
Xie Ming’an was extremely perceptive and quickly realized the wolves were forming a circle around him.
With a single command from the Wolf King, they would rush in from all directions and tear him to pieces inside the encirclement.
However, the Black Wolf King never showed himself.
One of the wolves spotted the tassel at his waist and let out a short howl.
The surrounding wolves then slowly ambled away.
After the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, Xie Ming’an successfully crossed the mountain and arrived near Xitai Village.
Xie Ming’an was about to ask for directions to Wu Zuchang’s grave.
But then he heard a cacophony of angry shouts.
He followed the sound and found Chen Ye protectively shielding Shen Ningning. The little girl, clad in embroidered silks, was surrounded by a mob of villagers from Xitai Village.
The villagers were in an uproar, yelling that she was not welcome.
Despite being surrounded by so many people, Shen Ningning’s small face showed not a hint of fear. On the contrary, her expression grew even more severe.
Her bright, limpid eyes glared at them.
"If you don’t get out of my way, I won’t be so polite anymore!"
But the villagers of Xitai Village were not the least bit intimidated by her threat.
They had been starving and freezing for days on end. Even if they had never dared to provoke Shen Ningning before, they were now like madmen who had lost all reason.
"How dare you come back to Xitai Village? Came to see if you’ve killed us all yet?"
"You’ve brought nothing but suffering to Village Chief Mei! He was so terrified of offending you that he’s collapsed in his bed, sick. He looks like he’s on death’s door! You’re no blessed girl, you’re a walking disaster!"
Just then, two people came running down the mountain, leading several other villagers.
They were all carrying shovels and hoes.
The moment he saw the pair, Chen Ye frowned. "My Lady, it’s Dong Aniu and Dong Ermu again!"
Shen Ningning looked up.
It was them, just as he’d said.
Dong Aniu had actually teamed up with the villagers of Xitai Village.
Then, Shen Ningning looked closer.
Dong Ermu, who was walking behind the others, was dragging a human skeleton down the mountain.
The bones jostled and scattered as it was dragged along the path.
The skull went ROLLING down the slope and came to a stop right at Shen Ningning’s feet.
The little girl looked down, her brow twitching involuntarily.
Dong Ermu bellowed, "Shen Ningning! You’re always calling him ’Brother Zuchang.’ You should recognize his bones, shouldn’t you?"
"Let me tell you, we’ve had enough of your tyranny! You won’t give us food, you won’t give us silver, and we can’t touch you—so we’ll make sure the Wu family knows no peace!"
Shen Ningning’s clear eyes shot up.
Seeing the hoes in their hands, she understood everything.
They had actually dug up the Wu family’s grave! They had even dragged out the remains.
The surrounding villagers also began to chime in with their accusations.
"When you think about it, you’re the one who got the Wu family killed! If you hadn’t attracted those assassins, would they be dead?"
"Exactly! You should be compensating us with silver. We’re only asking for a little, which is more than generous!"
"Princess Funing, if you don’t give us silver, food, and bedding today, we’ll burn the bones of Wu Zuchang and his parents to ash!"
Dong Aniu and Dong Ermu stood among the villagers, shouting and hollering along with them.
Chen Ye couldn’t take it anymore. He gripped the hilt of his sword, about to draw it.
Xie Ming’an’s face turned grim as he started walking over.
Although he still wasn’t sure if Shen Ningning was his sister...
...seeing such a small child surrounded by these jackal-like villagers...
...he couldn’t suppress the murderous rage that welled up inside him!
However, before Xie Ming’an could get any closer,
Shen Ningning, her big eyes red-rimmed, spoke in a surprisingly calm tone. "You want silver, right? Fine. No problem."
The little girl pressed down on Chen Ye’s hand. "I once hid a lot of silver near Brother Zuchang’s grave for emergencies."
"If you want it, follow me."
The villagers immediately followed Shen Ningning up the mountain in high spirits.
They muttered amongst themselves, "This kid... if you don’t push her, she thinks we’re easy to bully."
Someone else whispered, "Once she gives us the silver, we shouldn’t back down. We should seize this opportunity and demand more!"
Dong Aniu was even more insidious. "Besides, she’s a Commandery Princess. Who knows how many treasures she has? If we latch onto this cash cow, what is there to fear?"
The villagers nodded in eager agreement.
Everyone praised the Dong brothers, Aniu and Ermu, for instantly seizing upon Shen Ningning’s weakness.
’They couldn’t afford to offend the living, but what could the dead possibly do to them?’
Chen Ye followed behind Shen Ningning, already seething with uncontrollable rage.
"My Lady, they..."
But Shen Ningning’s soft, childish voice drifted back from up ahead. "It’s fine. I can give it to them, but they’ll need to be alive to take it."
Chen Ye froze, his head snapping up at her words.
He could only see the profile of Shen Ningning’s little face, etched with icy hatred.