Chapter 357: Braving the Ice and Snow
Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Braving the Ice and Snow
Xie Suzhi said hurriedly, "Ningning, please, tell me."
He would grant her more than just one request. At this point, if Shen Ningning asked for the moon, he would drag his wounded body up to the sky to get it for her.
The little girl’s dark eyes were intense. "Please, don’t tell my brother about this."
Xie Suzhi froze.
Shen Ningning’s long lashes cast a shadow on her porcelain-white skin.
Her voice was dejected. "Being hurt by family... it’s a terrible feeling."
"What happened to my brother’s mother has already caused him immense pain. I don’t want him to hold a grudge against Uncle Emperor as well."
Xie Suzhi frowned, a little worried. "But Ningning, the Emperor is the Crown Prince’s father."
"As a father myself, I understand the Emperor’s thoughts all too well. What if, when you come of age, the Emperor refuses to be merciful to you for the Crown Prince’s sake? What then?"
Shen Ningning shook her head decisively. "You said that as long as my brother’s cold malady is cured, he won’t die."
"I’ll find a way." ’Besides, I still have ten years until I come of age.’
But Xie Suzhi stared blankly at the little girl, feeling as if she were making a huge gamble.
He was silent for a long time.
Finally, he said, "I promise you."
"In that case, Ningning... are you willing to come back with me and be formally recognized by our ancestors? Let me announce to the world that the daughter of the Xie Mansion has been found."
Shen Ningning lowered her little head.
She thought for a moment, but still refused.
"Let me think about it properly."
"The truth is, you were already absent during the time I needed you most."
"Whether I’m formally accepted back or not, it doesn’t matter to me anymore," the little girl said, her tone desolate.
Hearing this, Xie Suzhi’s heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife.
But things had already come to this. He knew he had wronged the child.
So he nodded gently. "Alright. I promise."
’As long as I’m alive, I’ll earn Shen Ningning’s forgiveness one day.’
However, as Xie Suzhi used a nearby screen to support himself while standing up...
his vision suddenly blurred.
His body swayed, and he collapsed toward the screen.
"Father!" In his daze, the small figure on the bed rushed toward him.
Xie Suzhi’s vision was hazy. He could only make out the panic on Shen Ningning’s small face.
He wanted to raise his hand and pat her little head.
He also wanted to remind her to be careful with her injured left hand.
However, before he could do any of that, he fainted completely.
Xie Suzhi’s injuries were severe, but fortunately, the arrowhead wasn’t coated in poison.
Otherwise, he would have surely died.
Xie Ming’an brought the Divine Doctor Sima Han into the palace. They worked with the Imperial Physicians through the night, performing acupuncture and prescribing medicine, and managed to save his life.
Shen Ningning waited all night. Only when she saw that Xie Suzhi’s condition had stabilized at dawn did she finally fall asleep.
The Black Wolf King, who was beside the little girl, lay down with her.
In her dream, she saw Wu Zuchang.
The surroundings were pitch black; only Wu Zuchang was illuminated.
The little girl threw herself into his arms, crying as she spoke of the grievances she had suffered on her journey to find her parents.
"I shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum, right, Brother Zuchang?"
"The father I’d always dreamed of finding was right in front of me. I shouldn’t have been so willful and deliberately hurt him with my cold words."
Wu Zuchang said nothing.
He just stroked her head very gently.
Then, he took her injured left hand.
Shen Ningning felt a cool, soothing sensation.
Gradually, she woke up.
The moment she cracked her eyes open, she saw someone sitting by the bed.
Xie Ming’an was holding her injured wrist with both hands.
The cool sensation she felt in her dream was actually coming from him.
’But why are Xie Ming’an’s hands so cold?’
Just then, a palace maid came in carrying a basin of snow.
"Lord Xie, this servant has brought you fresh snow."
"Good." Xie Ming’an nodded, having her take out the previous basin of melted snow.
Then, through her barely open eyes, Shen Ningning saw...
Xie Ming’an plunge his hands into the snow.
Only when they were red from the cold did he take them out and gently cup the swollen part of her little hand again.
The little girl was slightly surprised. She wanted to pull her hand away but had no strength.
A short while later, it was time for Shen Ningning to take her medicine. Xie Ming’an went outside the hall to give instructions to a palace maid.
Just then, Sima Han came in, walked to the bedside, and checked the injury on Shen Ningning’s wrist.
"Grandpa Divine Doctor..." the little girl called out weakly.
Seeing she was awake, Sima Han smiled and stroked his beard. "Ah! Little doll Ningning is awake."
"Look at your Second Brother, he did a fine job. It’s only been two hours, and the swelling on your injury has gone down quite a bit."
Shen Ningning looked at her injured wrist.
It was originally swollen like a large steamed bun, but now it was like a small one.
She murmured, "Second Brother helped me?"
Sima Han nodded. "Yes. Your hand wouldn’t stop swelling without a cold compress, and you were crying out in pain in your sleep."
"Your Second Brother was afraid that applying snow directly would give you frostbite."
"So he had the palace maids bring basin after basin of fresh snow. He would chill his hands first, then use them to apply the cold and reduce the swelling."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning’s long lashes trembled.
"How is... how is my godfather?"
"The Emperor has already arranged for a warm sedan chair to take the Prime Minister home to rest and recuperate."
As Sima Han spoke, he glanced outside.
The little old man grinned and whispered to Shen Ningning.
"To give you the cold compress, the Second Young Master even got into an argument with the Crown Prince."
"The Crown Prince was just insisting on forcing his cold malady to act up, saying that if he held you, it would be more effective than the Second Young Master’s method."
"He nearly made the Emperor faint from anger." Sima Han laughed heartily, as if he were watching a play.
Shen Ningning could just imagine the look on Mo Lingwei’s face as he said that.
She couldn’t help but let out a PFFT of laughter.
Just then, Xie Ming’an and Mo Lingwei entered together.
"You’re awake?" Mo Lingwei strode over quickly.
He first glanced at Shen Ningning’s injury.
"Does it still hurt?" Mo Lingwei asked.
Shen Ningning shook her head. "I can’t feel it anymore."
Her round eyes couldn’t help but look at Xie Ming’an, who was standing behind Mo Lingwei.
Perhaps out of guilt, Xie Ming’an didn’t dare to look up at her.
He just bent over, preparing to bring the medicine bowl to her.
However, his hands were so badly frostbitten that the moment he picked up the bowl, they began to shake uncontrollably.
Xie Ming’an tried several times but couldn’t hold it steady.
Mo Lingwei looked back and saw. "Let me."
Shen Ningning sat up, leaning against the large, soft pillows on the bed.
She drank her medicine obediently while watching Xie Ming’an.
His fingertips, hidden beneath his sleeves, were still trembling.
The little girl said softly, "Lord Xie, you should go back for now."
"My brother is here to take care of me."
Xie Ming’an froze for a moment.
His handsome, cold brows furrowed, as if he didn’t want to leave.
But he opened his thin lips and finally said, "Alright. I’ll come see you again tonight."
With that, he took his leave from Mo Lingwei.
Shen Ningning quickly tugged on Mo Lingwei’s ear and whispered, "Send someone to look at his hands."
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "Fine."
As for Shen Ningning tugging his ear, he wasn’t the least bit angry.
Seeing the little girl full of life again, Mo Lingwei would let her pull on it all she wanted.
A short while later, Mo Lingwei returned.
"I’ve already arranged for Sima Han to go back with him. With the Divine Doctor there, his hands won’t be permanently damaged."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning breathed a sigh of relief.
Her small face was fair and tender, with a rosy, healthy glow.
She blinked her big eyes. "Thank you, Brother."
Mo Lingwei sat on the edge of the bed. "I just found out about you and Xie Suzhi."
"But the Xie family claims there was a problem with their investigation, which is why they didn’t recognize you sooner. Is that why you’re angry?" Mo Lingwei clearly didn’t quite believe the Xie family’s explanation.
He knew Shen Ningning. How could she be so angry over such a small matter that she’d refuse to acknowledge her father and brother?
The little girl’s eyes flickered. "I am angry."
She pretended to puff up her cheeks. "And he... he calls himself the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a master investigator, but he didn’t even know I was his sister."
Seeing her act like this, Mo Lingwei dismissed his doubts.
He chuckled. "Then let’s make things difficult for them. I’ll do it for you, so you can vent your anger."
But Shen Ningning grew anxious. "No!"
She blinked her big, watery eyes. "Actually... they didn’t really do anything wrong. Brother, just let them be."
’I still need to think more about whether to formally rejoin the Xie family,’ Shen Ningning thought.
Mo Lingwei’s handsome eyes narrowed slightly. "Just now, my father, the Emperor, also said he wanted to come see you."
"By now, the entire Capital City knows that you drove away the cold disaster."
"But you haven’t rested well yet, so I didn’t allow him to come over."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning looked out the window.
Sunlight shone on the window lattice, bringing a quiet sense of peace.
No wonder she had heard a SPLASHING sound when she was half-asleep.
It was the sound of melting snow dripping!
Shen Ningning’s face lit up in a sweet smile. "That’s wonderful, Brother! I think your cold malady will be cured soon, too!"
But Mo Lingwei just gave a small smile.
He knew how complicated his cold malady was. Even the Spirit Grass Shen Ningning had brought was gradually losing its effectiveness.
Mo Lingwei didn’t want to worry her by saying how serious it was.
So he proactively changed the subject. "I’ve already spoken with my father, the Emperor. For the next few days, you’ll stay with me in Zichen Palace to recover before you go back."
The Black Wolf King, who had been lazily twitching his ears at the side,
shot up at these words and bared his fangs fiercely at Mo Lingwei’s ear.
Shen Ningning waved her little hand and hugged the Black Wolf King’s big head.
She said with a grin, "Don’t be mad, Langlang. We’ll stay for two days, then we’ll go home the day after tomorrow."
Mo Lingwei frowned. "What’s the hurry?"
The little girl said, "At home, I can soak in the Spiritual Spring. It’s not convenient here. The Spiritual Spring helps me recover faster."
Mo Lingwei paused. He had almost forgotten about that.
’He had originally planned to keep Shen Ningning by his side from now on, to live and eat with him.’
’It seems that’s not going to work.’
No wonder the Black Wolf King had seen through his intentions and was about to raise a fuss.
That evening.
Xie Ming’an came again.
Shen Ningning pretended not to care, but her eyes kept darting to the back of his hands.
She saw that both of Xie Ming’an’s hands were wrapped in white bandages.
’He must have applied some ointment.’
"You don’t really have to visit so often. I’m going back to Wolf Mountain the day after tomorrow," the little girl said, putting down her book and blinking her big eyes.
Xie Ming’an pressed his thin lips together. "I wanted to share some good news with you."
"I was originally interrogating the assassins to find out their identities, but I ended up with an unexpected discovery."