Chapter 360: Doting on His Daughter, Making the Wolf His Third Brother
Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Doting on His Daughter, Making the Wolf His Third Brother
On Xie Suzhi’s refined and handsome face, the look of surprise gradually deepened.
"Ningning, you... what did you just call me?"
"Father." Shen Ningning blinked her large, tear-filled eyes, her voice thick with emotion. "Second Uncle was right. We shouldn’t punish our family for past mistakes."
Teardrops clung to the little girl’s long lashes as she looked at the faint silver strands in Xie Suzhi’s hair.
Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her soft, delicate voice was thick with emotion. "Father, from now on, our family will live a good life together."
Ecstatic joy flooded Xie Suzhi’s sharp eyes.
His eyes grew red with relief, and he pulled the little girl into his arms.
"Ningning..." Overcome with joy, Xie Suzhi’s fingers trembled and tears streamed down his face. "My good daughter, you’re finally back."
Not far away,
Xie Ming’an and Second Master Xie stood under a covered walkway, watching the scene unfold.
Their eyes grew moist as they were overcome with emotion.
Second Master Xie said, "It’s as if Big Brother has suddenly come back to life."
Xie Ming’an sighed. "With little sister home, Father’s lifelong wish has been fulfilled."
As he said this, a smile graced his thin lips, and his dark eyes shone brightly.
Gazing at Shen Ningning’s small figure, Xie Ming’an smiled. "Now that she’s rejoining the family, surely Ningning will finally call me ’Second Brother’?"
Second Master Xie glanced up at him, silently shook his head, and turned to leave.
"I’m afraid it won’t be that easy."
Shen Ningning was able to get past the hurdle with Xie Suzhi because, from the very beginning, he had always doted on her.
And while she had agreed to Xie Suzhi’s request to be formally readmitted into the Xie ancestral line, every time she saw Xie Ming’an, she still called him in her sweet, soft voice, "Lord Xie."
This gave Xie Ming’an a terrible headache!
He hadn’t slept well for two days straight, and even his dreams were filled with him chasing after Shen Ningning to apologize.
He went to Xie Suzhi for help, but his father just laughed and said, "Serves you right!"
"You need to make it up to your sister. Figure it out yourself; I can’t help you."
After that, Xie Suzhi attended the morning court in high spirits.
He told everyone he met. "Grand Tutor Ye, did you know? My daughter is back!"
Grand Tutor Ye was completely baffled. "Who?"
"Ningning! Ningning is my daughter!" Before Grand Tutor Ye could press for details, Xie Suzhi walked away, laughing heartily.
He grabbed General Chen.
"General, Ningning is my biological daughter. You’ve met her, haven’t you? Didn’t you think we looked a lot alike?"
General Chen, with his brawny physique and a resolute, square-jawed face, remained silent.
He looked at the normally stern and unsmiling Xie Suzhi, who was now beaming at everyone he met.
’It seems something truly wonderful has happened to him.’
General Chen nodded silently. "There is a slight resemblance."
However, he had actually met Shen Siyi before.
To be honest, Shen Ningning looked more like Xie Suzhi’s late wife.
Hearing General Chen’s words, Xie Suzhi’s laughter grew even heartier.
He then sought out the Emperor, who was admiring the red plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden.
"Your Majesty, this subject has a daughter."
"Excellent news! Have you found your biological daughter?"
"Ningning is my biological daughter! Soon, I will bring her to the ancestral shrine to formally recognize her."
The Emperor was stunned. "What?"
If Shen Ningning was the Xie family’s daughter, why was Xie Suzhi only discovering it now?
"Didn’t you say your daughter had died in an accident?"
"My investigation was mistaken! It was all a misunderstanding!" Xie Suzhi said, letting out peals of laughter. "Your Majesty, I request three days of leave. I need to oversee my daughter’s formal recognition by our ancestors and also take her to visit my late wife’s grave."
The Emperor, still bewildered and unable to process everything, simply nodded. "Oh, very well. I grant your request."
Xie Suzhi departed, overjoyed.
Watching him leave, the Emperor frowned in confusion.
Upon returning to the Imperial Study, he immediately and secretly summoned the State Preceptor.
"So the Xie family’s long-lost daughter really is Shen Ningning. I knew it was her all along!" The Emperor sighed, hands on his hips.
The State Preceptor wore a shrewd and calculating expression.
He thought for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. "Your Majesty, I believe this matter to be fraudulent."
"Why so?"
"Chancellor Xie is astute, intelligent, and cautious by nature. If Shen Ningning were truly the long-lost legitimate daughter of the Xie Mansion, why did he not recognize her sooner?"
"Yes, I had the same thought." The Emperor stroked his chin, lost in thought.
The State Preceptor continued, "Therefore, I believe the Chancellor is simply so fond of Shen Ningning that he wishes to turn his goddaughter into his biological daughter!"
The Emperor was silent for a long moment. "In that case, we must continue our search for the blessed girl."
"Indeed. However, Your Majesty need not worry. The men we dispatched are already conducting a large-scale search throughout the dynasty. I trust we will have good news soon."
"The sooner, the better," the Emperor said, deeply concerned. "I can wait, but I fear another natural disaster will strike. Ling Wei cannot afford to wait."
From the moment Shen Ningning called him "Father," Xie Suzhi had decided to announce the news of his daughter’s return to the world.
No matter who was lurking in the shadows, plotting to harm Shen Ningning,
He would not let them succeed.
He would protect his daughter, even if it cost him his life.
However, Xie Suzhi never could have imagined,
That it was precisely because of his grand, public announcements that the State Preceptor began to doubt that Shen Ningning was the Xie family’s daughter at all.
After all, a man as cautious and astute as Xie Suzhi should not have been so public about it.
Otherwise, everyone would know his young daughter was the blessed girl, born at an auspicious hour.
Wouldn’t that be deliberately putting the child in the open, inviting danger?
「Mid-November.」
On this day, the sky was clear and cloudless.
The winter sun was gentle, its light piercing through the ice and snow.
Thick incense had been burning in the Xie family’s ancestral shrine since early morning. The rows of ancestral tablets stood in grim, orderly ranks, radiating a solemn, unseen authority.
The courtyard was filled with members of the Xie clan, all dressed in matching brown robes. They lined the path from the gate inward, their proximity to the shrine indicating their status.
A dark, dense crowd stood on both sides of the path, their eyes fixed on the courtyard gate.
Just then, Shen Ningning entered the courtyard, led by Xie Ming’an. She wore a crimson brocade dress, a fine shawl with water-pattern embroidery draped over her shoulders.
She was exquisitely lovely, and as she lifted her shimmering, dark eyes, she saw the various uncles of the Xie family smiling kindly at her.
Her father, Xie Suzhi, and her second brother, Xie Ming’an, stood on either side of the ancestral shrine’s entrance.
They held their hands out to her. The ground was carpeted with red plum petals, guiding the lost daughter home.
Just then.
A massive black shadow walked in behind Shen Ningning.
The Xie family members gasped in shock, breaking into hushed whispers—
"Today is Fifth Miss Xie’s formal recognition. Why did she bring the Black Wolf King?"
"Even though the Emperor himself declared the Wolf King a divine being, it’s still a ferocious beast. Is it not disrespectful to the ancestors to bring it into the shrine?"
Shen Ningning reached the foot of the steps and held out her small hand. Xie Suzhi took it and led her up.
Then, Xie Suzhi raised his head, his gaze sweeping authoritatively over all the Xie Family Members present.
"Fellow clansmen, it was I who invited Ningning to bring the Black Wolf King."
Everyone present was astonished.
Xie Suzhi continued, "Due to an accident, my daughter, Ningning, was lost to the world and endured great hardship."
"However, by a twist of fate, she was rescued by a pack of wolves. They have protected her ever since, their care comparable to that of a father."
"A Black Wolf King of such supreme intelligence is no longer a mere beast, but a being with more humanity than many men."
"So today, before our ancestors, I wish to thank the Black Wolf King. And before my late wife’s memorial tablet, to express my gratitude for his care of my daughter, I wish to become sworn brothers with the Black Wolf King!"
At this, even the Black Wolf King was stunned.
It lifted its icy lupine eyes and stared at Xie Suzhi.
Just then, the housekeeper, Uncle Pang, brought forth a sapling.
"I will plant this evergreen, a symbol of brotherly friendship, in this courtyard. From this day forward, the Black Wolf King will be the Third Master of the Xie Mansion."
The clansmen were utterly dumbfounded.
’No wonder there was a freshly dug pit in the courtyard when we arrived!’
Xie Suzhi rolled up his sleeves and, together with Second Master Xie, planted the evergreen sapling.
"Black Wolf King, come," Xie Suzhi beckoned.
The Black Wolf King hesitated suspiciously for a moment before walking over.
Xie Suzhi took one of its paws and pressed it onto the freshly turned soil.
Under the gentle winter sun, the evergreen sapling looked lush and vibrant.
Uncle Pang and Xie Ming’an set off a string of firecrackers at the courtyard gate and lit the incense before the offering table, informing the ancestors of the new development.
The ceremony was complete.
Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie stood up, cupped their fists in a salute to the Black Wolf King, and called out in unison—
"Third Brother!"
The Black Wolf King’s raised paw froze in mid-air.
For once, the ever-composed and imperious beast had no idea how to respond.