Chapter 385: It Must Be Investigated
Chapter 385: Chapter 385: It Must Be Investigated
Shen Ningning took it and saw that it was a slender brocade box.
Inside was a rolled-up scroll.
But when she unrolled the scroll, Shen Ningning saw that the painting was actually a torn, damaged piece.
The painting depicted two women standing side-by-side at the edge of a lake, their faces beaming with smiles.
Behind them, beside a vast lake, the corner of an ornate, upturned eave was visible. From the looks of it, the setting was the Imperial Palace.
Shen Ningning pointed at the woman on the right in pleasant surprise. "That’s my mother! I’ve seen her portrait in Father’s study... Huh? Who’s on the left?"
The young woman on the left looked to be about fifteen, yet her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and her features were heroic and beautiful.
Her hand rested lightly on Shen Siyi’s shoulder, and one could tell at a glance that the two were very close.
The Emperor, who had been peeking from behind for a while, heard the little one’s question and answered instinctively, "That’s Fang Qingdai, General Fang. Back before your second uncle got into that foolish mess, Fang Qingdai and your mother, Shen Siyi, were good friends."
Mo Lingwei pressed his thin lips together and shot the Emperor a cold, warning glance.
The Emperor had no choice but to clasp his hands behind his back. "Alright, I’m really going to lie down now."
Shen Ningning’s small hand gently stroked the red tassel on Fang Qingdai’s waist.
’So the renowned female general of Cangyun Country was my mother’s closest friend!’
The painting was originally lovely, with a warm atmosphere. Unfortunately, it looked as though Shen Siyi had been holding hands with someone to her right.
But since the painting was torn, there was no way of knowing who that person was.
Only half of a slender fingertip remained, suggesting that the person was also a young woman of a similar age.
Shen Ningning was extremely curious.
Mo Lingwei noticed her confusion and said, "I believe the woman on the far right was Abandoned Princess Consort Qi. This painting was found when the Palace Attendants were confiscating her remaining belongings before she was banished to the Cold Palace."
"At the time, I didn’t know you were Shen Siyi’s daughter. I kept the painting until now, and I’ve brought it out for you as a gift."
Shen Ningning thanked him profusely, then asked, "Brother, was the half with Abandoned Princess Consort Qi already torn off when you got the painting?"
Her small hand traced the uneven tear. It looked as if someone, in a fit of rage, had ripped the painting by hand to make a clean break.
Mo Lingwei nodded. "I suspect she tore it herself. She might have regretted it later, which is why she treasured it."
If that was the case, it was understandable.
Shen Ningning had heard her father mention before that her mother, Shen Siyi, and Abandoned Princess Consort Qi were once as close as sisters.
But they had a falling out over some unspeakable secret.
As for the exact reason, even Xie Suzhi wasn’t entirely sure. Shen Siyi seemed unwilling to speak of it.
She only said that from then on, she and Qi Jingchun were to be like strangers.
And after that, they were.
Abandoned Princess Consort Qi didn’t even attend the funeral to pay her respects after Shen Siyi drowned.
As the two were talking, Commander Lu entered from outside.
"Your Majesty, Lady Li Yuyi of the Li Family claims to have an urgent matter to report."
The Emperor had been listening intently to Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning’s conversation. He frowned coldly upon hearing this.
"They are relentless, trying every method to make me rescind my decree. Go tell Li Hai to keep his daughter in line and not to provoke my anger again!"
"They rashly barged into the side courtyard and discovered my illness. I only banished them to the Northern Desert instead of executing their entire clan. That was already an act of mercy. Advise them not to be ungrateful."
Commander Lu bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty." He then turned and left.
The Emperor’s health was mostly recovered. Mo Lingwei had come today precisely to confirm his condition.
Seeing that he was recovering well, he planned to arrange for the Emperor’s secret return to the palace in two days.
Hearing this, Shen Ningning couldn’t help but voice her suspicion.
"Uncle Emperor, I think this plague was most likely man-made."
The Emperor’s jovial expression instantly vanished.
He frowned seriously. "Ningning, explain in detail."
Shen Ningning said, "When the plague started appearing in the city, the people at my shop became infected."
"According to them, a disheveled woman, covered in mud, ran into the shop. The staff took her in and gave her some food, but the woman panicked and ran off again. After that, they started falling ill one after another."
The staff who had come into contact with the woman, including Wuer and Uncle Zhong, all got infected.
So, who was that woman? And how did she contract the plague?
Mo Lingwei’s eyes darkened. "The way you contracted the plague in the torture room last time was also rather sudden."
The Emperor immediately nodded and summoned the head of the Imperial Guards, Lu Fu, relaying what Shen Ningning had just said.
"Follow the lead Ningning provided and investigate it thoroughly. Ling Wei, you’ll investigate the situation in the palace’s torture room and see if it’s connected to anyone in the palace."
Hearing the Emperor say this, Shen Ningning suddenly remembered something.
"Huh? Uncle Emperor, if you didn’t leave the palace, how did you get infected?"
The Emperor frowned, recalling, "The day before my illness was discovered happened to be the anniversary of the Empress’s death, Ling Wei’s mother. I went to the palace where she used to live to pay my respects."
"That palace was sealed long ago after she passed away. However, the Empress was well-liked when she was alive, so on the anniversary of her death, some palace maids or Concubines will secretly go to her palace gates to pay their respects."
"The day I went was no exception. I ran into a palace maid. She used to serve Abandoned Princess Consort Qi, but after the consort was sent to the Cold Palace, she returned to the Palace Affairs Department."
Shen Ningning, her little face round with concentration, analyzed, "Maybe she was the one who spread it!"
This made the Emperor even more puzzled.
The palace maid seemed perfectly normal. She didn’t look like someone infected with the plague.
Mo Lingwei scoffed. "If she intended to harm you, why would she let you see any sign of it?"
But then again, why would a lowly palace maid want to harm the Emperor? It’s not like she had a death wish.
Shen Ningning clapped her small hands, her tone bright and cheerful. "It’s okay! Let Brother and Commander Lu investigate! There are three leads: the deranged woman who appeared in the city, any clues about the plague in the torture room, and all the Palace Attendants who served Abandoned Princess Consort Qi."
The Emperor nodded and had Commander Lu take note.
He then said, "Ningning, the medicine you gave me is remarkably effective. I wonder, could it also be used to benefit the public?"
Before Shen Ningning could answer, Mo Lingwei replied coldly on her behalf, "Not for free."
The Emperor laughed heartily. "I can’t take advantage of a little girl like Ningning. How about this: I’ll have the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital coordinate with Ningning. They’ll hold a free clinic at the city’s public hall every seven days, and Ningning will provide her prescription."
"I will reward you daily. Every day, I’ll give you..."
Mo Lingwei made the decision for him, his tone indifferent. "Give her one hundred taels of silver a day as payment. And when she no longer wishes to help, do not force her to continue."
Shen Ningning covered her mouth, stifling a giggle.
"What Brother said is exactly what I was thinking!"
The Emperor sighed helplessly and glanced at his son. Sometimes he even wondered if Mo Lingwei was his son or Shen Ningning’s brother.
’Why does he always side with an outsider!’
"Fine, I will do as you wish. There are still many patients in the city who haven’t recovered. Go and make preparations at once!"
And so, the matter was settled.
Shen Ningning was in a particularly sunny mood.
Not only had they found Wenxiu’s real killer and made her face the punishment she deserved...
...but she had also cured Wuer and her Uncle Emperor.
However, the little girl had no idea that Xiangyun Village was being enveloped by the dark cloud of the plague.
Nearly ten people in the village had contracted the plague.
Among them were Granny Chen and Uncle Deng.
Everyone in Xiangyun Village was on edge, especially since Shen Ningning was not there.
At that moment, the old village chief had gathered everyone under the large banyan tree in the center of the village to discuss a plan.
He chewed nervously on a tea stem. "Speak up. We need to pick six people—three men and three women—to take care of Granny Chen and the others. We can’t just watch them die."
"As long as we can hold on until Ningning gets back, everything will be fine. So, who’s willing to go?"
Everyone fell silent.
This was no ordinary task. It meant taking care of patients with the plague!
The old village chief raised his own hand first. "I’ll be one. Anyone else?"