Chapter 352: You Are the 5th Miss of the Xie Mansion
Chapter 352: Chapter 352: You Are the 5th Miss of the Xie Mansion
Shen Ningning looked at her with her round eyes, her expression somewhat detached.
"What is it? Just say it."
Second Madam Xie glanced behind her again.
Shen Ningning really disliked this furtive behavior.
The little girl furrowed her cute little brows.
Second Madam Xie wore an ingratiating smile.
She lowered her voice. "Commandery Princess, this matter is of the utmost importance to you. It concerns your birth parents."
"I can indeed tell you, but I also have a small favor to ask of you, Commandery Princess."
"If you are willing, Commandery Princess, we can make an exchange... Hey, hey, hey, Commandery Princess!"
Before she could finish, Shen Ningning’s fair little face had already turned cold, and she prepared to shut the window.
’I can’t be bothered to listen to her nonsense.’
Second Madam Xie hastily held the window open, knowing she had to reveal her trump card.
She was seen taking a spirit tablet from her robes.
Shen Ningning recognized it at once.
Her tone was at once childishly fierce and angry. "That’s the spirit tablet my godfather set up for my parents! Why did you steal it from the ancestral hall?"
Second Madam Xie looked terrified. "How would I dare steal this? It’s so unlucky."
Shen Ningning glared at her.
Only then did Second Madam Xie realize she had misspoken.
She covered her mouth. "I mean, there’s no benefit to taking this thing."
"It’s just that I knocked it over while cleaning and was about to apologize to First Master, but then I made an accidental discovery."
"Commandery Princess, look whose name is in this hidden compartment!"
Second Madam Xie pulled up a wooden piece on the tablet.
It revealed the name "Shen Siyi" inside.
Shen Ningning stared intently, her bright, watery eyes suddenly freezing in a daze.
Her rosy cheeks puffed out as she grew incredibly suspicious.
"Why is my godmother’s name inside my parents’ spirit tablet?"
Second Madam Xie cried out, "Aiyo! How do you still not understand, Commandery Princess?"
"This was First Master’s arrangement! He made it seem like you were worshipping your parents when, in fact, you were worshipping First Madam!"
Shen Ningning grew even more confused.
Seeing the look of utter bewilderment on her little face,
Second Madam Xie spat inwardly.
’Everyone says she’s so clever, yet she can’t figure this out?’
She decided to spell it out for her. "Commandery Princess, your birth mother is very likely First Madam!"
"You are most likely the lost Fifth Miss of the Xie Mansion."
Shen Ningning’s heart jolted, and she subconsciously blurted out, "Impossible!"
’If that’s true, why would Godfather lie?’
Second Madam Xie tutted. "The truth is right in front of you. What is there not to believe?"
"However, you can also wait for First Master to return tonight and ask him yourself."
"Just don’t you dare rat me out. Commandery Princess, by telling you the truth, I’m already taking an immense risk. If Second Master finds out, he’ll surely kick me out of the mansion."
"I’m doing this half for myself," she said, wiping away tears pitifully. "Yuan Jiu is still suffering out there. First Master always listens to you. Do you think you could put in a good word for me and have him bring Yuan Jiu back?"
Second Madam Xie had originally planned to use the spirit tablet to threaten Xie Suzhi.
But after mulling it over, she simply didn’t have the courage.
Xie Suzhi was cold and ruthless. If he found out that she knew such a huge secret, he might be cruel enough to silence her for good.
So, Second Madam Xie decided to approach Shen Ningning instead.
After all, the girl was young and easy to manipulate. A few words would be enough to fool her.
Although Second Madam Xie also disliked Shen Ningning,
the most urgent matter right now was to get her daughter, Xie Yuanjiu, back.
Otherwise, Second Master Xie would only grow more disgusted with her by the day.
How would she maintain her standing in the Xie Mansion in the future?
Therefore, Second Madam Xie was now looking at Shen Ningning with an earnest expression.
The little girl’s expression shifted rapidly, complex emotions swirling in her dark, bright eyes.
Suddenly.
Shen Ningning’s face turned cold as she looked at Second Madam Xie. "How do I know this isn’t one of your tricks?"
"What if you’re just trying to drive a wedge between me and my godfather? You can twist black into white! Go away, I don’t believe you!"
With that, the little girl slammed the window shut.
Outside, Second Madam Xie knocked lightly on the window, her voice anxious.
"How would I dare plot against you with something like this?"
"If what I said was false, and you went to verify it with First Master, wouldn’t I be exposed? Why would I be so foolish!"
"Commandery Princess, I’ve certainly done wrong in the past, but I’m not lying this time! Commandery Princess! Let’s discuss this properly."
Overwhelmed, Shen Ningning covered her ears with her small hands.
She squatted down beneath the window.
Her small body was trembling.
It was because, deep down, she seemed to have a gut feeling.
What Second Madam Xie said... might actually be true!
When Wanchun returned with a plate of pastries, she saw Second Madam Xie persistently knocking on the window.
She frowned and called out, "What are you doing?!"
Second Madam Xie jumped in fright. Wanchun saw her hastily hide something in her sleeve.
Wanchun immediately strode over, eyeing Second Madam Xie suspiciously from head to toe. "Second Madam, what are you doing here?"
Second Madam Xie’s eyes were full of guilt, but she still let out a couple of soft coughs.
She said, "I offended the Commandery Princess before, so I came to apologize, but alas, she refuses to forgive me."
"Never mind, never mind, I’ll be on my way!" Second Madam Xie scurried away.
Watching her retreat, Wanchun frowned, feeling uneasy.
’If I weren’t holding this plate, I’d stop Second Madam Xie and see what she hid in her sleeve.’
Pushing open the door, Wanchun saw Shen Ningning standing by the table in a daze.
Wanchun quickly asked, "Commandery Princess, did Second Madam come over and say something improper to you?"
Shen Ningning shook her little head.
"Sister Wanchun, do you know when Godfather and the others will be back?"
Wanchun glanced at the sky outside. "It’s hard to say."
"Why don’t you have some pastries first, Commandery Princess? I’ll send someone to keep an eye on the front courtyard and have them let us know when the Master is about to return."
Shen Ningning nodded obediently, her expression looking normal.
「Meanwhile, in the imperial court.」
The ministers were already in a heated, unending argument over Shen Ningning’s matter.
Only a small minority still insisted that Shen Ningning be punished for attacking the villagers with gunpowder.
Mo Lingwei’s icy black eyes were somber.
He committed the names of these reckless fools to memory.
’I’ll settle the score with them one by one, another day!’
Suddenly,
the Emperor thought of something and asked Xie Suzhi, "Minister Xie, where did your Ningning get her gunpowder?"
Xie Suzhi was also taken aback.
He didn’t know, nor had he ever asked.
Everyone knew that Shen Ningning had the backing of Wolf Mountain, with its abundant resources.
So, it was no surprise when she frequently produced things like Lingzhi and Spirit Grass.
But this time was different. This was gunpowder!
The officials the Emperor had sent to the mountain to investigate all reported back that the person who concocted the gunpowder was an expert.
She had precisely calculated the weight of each ingredient, not a gram more or less.
It wouldn’t be lethal, but it packed enough of a punch.
Xie Ming’an knew that Shen Ningning must have used the gunpowder left behind by his mother, Shen Siyi!
He immediately stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Regarding this matter, please allow this subject to ask Ningning about it later."
Behind Mr. Qi, a trusted subordinate official leaned in and whispered to him, "I heard that some time ago, Princess Funing often visited General Chen’s Fire Soldier Camp. Could she have stolen it?"
Mr. Qi pondered for a moment, then immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"Your Majesty, this subject has a plan to appease the public outrage."
Mo Lingwei sneered. "Only you seem outraged. Where is this public outrage? The common people are still pleading on Shen Ningning’s behalf."
Mr. Qi looked as if he had been slapped, his face burning with humiliation.
He said awkwardly, "This subject believes that harming lives is wrong in itself. Perhaps some people share this subject’s sentiment."
"This subject now has an excellent plan that can get Princess Funing out of this predicament."
"Why not have the Commandery Princess donate her remaining, unused gunpowder? It would be a great boon to Cangyun Country’s recent war efforts!"
A sinister glint flashed in Mr. Qi’s eyes.
’If Shen Ningning stole the gunpowder from the Fire Soldier Camp, her crime would be immense.’
’This is the perfect chance to get rid of her. Only then will my daughter, Qi Xiuwei, have a chance to get close to the Crown Prince and become a female official.’