Chapter 524: Let Him Act, Who Can Out-act Him
Chapter 524: Chapter 524: Let Him Act, Who Can Out-act Him
「An incense stick later.」
Mo Lingwei lay in a guest room in the Qi Mansion, just as he had wished.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and his palm rested over his brow bone. His handsome face was a few shades pale.
Shen Ningning sat by the bed, while Qi Xiuwei and Pei Yin stood to one side.
"We’ve just sent for a doctor. Please wait a little longer, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Qi Xiuwei was a little nervous.
If anything were to happen to the Crown Prince, she would be unable to account for it.
Mo Lingwei cracked open an eye and saw Shen Ningning watching him with her lively, dark eyes.
He sighed deeply. "No need for a doctor. It’s just a common dizzy spell."
Shen Ningning asked, "But hasn’t it been a long time since you had an episode?"
He had already finished taking all the Heaven Suppressing Pearls. It had also been a long time since his episodes of maddening headaches had occurred.
She had thought he had almost completely recovered.
’Could it be that it’s still not completely cured?’
Seeing the worry in Shen Ningning’s eyes,
Mo Lingwei paused. "I’ve probably just been too busy these past few days. There’s been a lot of state affairs since returning to the capital, and Father is focused on my training. I must have exhausted myself by not resting enough. It’s nothing, don’t worry."
Shen Ningning pouted. "Didn’t I tell you to rest well? Were you up all night approving memorials again?"
He listened to her scolding without complaint.
Hearing some of her words made Qi Xiuwei’s heart tremble with fear.
In the entire world, the only person who dared to lecture Mo Lingwei like this was Shen Ningning.
Mo Lingwei’s dizzy spell even alarmed Mrs. Qi, who was supposed to be recuperating.
Just then, Mrs. Qi entered, supported by two maids. Her face was pale with illness and she was thin, but her complexion looked decent otherwise.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince? Is it serious?" After asking, Mrs. Qi coughed a few times.
Qi Xiuwei quickly went to support her mother.
Mo Lingwei instinctively tried to sit up to greet her, but remembering Shen Ningning was watching from the side, he could only prop himself up halfway.
"Mrs. Qi, we have troubled you. I am quite all right. I am just borrowing your esteemed mansion to rest for a moment. I’ll be fine shortly."
Shen Ningning gave him a suspicious look.
’She knew Mo Lingwei too well. Looking at his act, he doesn’t look like he has a headache at all.’
Then she saw Mo Lingwei’s cold gaze sweeping over Pei Yin from time to time.
Pei Yin had kept his head down ever since he entered, and Qi Xiuwei acted as if she hadn’t seen him.
After a moment of thought, Shen Ningning understood what was going on.
The look in her dark eyes settled, and she reassured Mrs. Qi.
"Aunt Yu, don’t be afraid. I’ll pull him out of here as soon as Brother feels a little better. It would be terrible if something happened to him in your mansion and you got implicated."
Mo Lingwei pursed his thin lips and silently glanced at Shen Ningning.
The young woman shot him a glare on the sly.
At just that one glance, Mo Lingwei quietly held his breath.
’She’s seen through me. Shen Ningning’s attitude shows she’s blaming me for fooling around.’
’But I’m only doing this to help that good-for-nothing Pei Yin!’
Mo Lingwei looked at Pei Yin, his gaze filled with annoyance.
He saw that Pei Yin was still just hanging his head, wanting to say something but never mustering the courage.
Shen Ningning was exasperated.
Mo Lingwei said bluntly, "Pei Yin, there are some nourishing supplements in my carriage. Go fetch them and give them to Mrs. Qi as my apology for the disturbance this time."
Mrs. Qi and Qi Xiuwei were both rather overwhelmed by the favor.
The mother and daughter shook their heads repeatedly.
"No, no, we can’t. It is our duty to take care of Your Highness the Crown Prince. How could we possibly accept your things?"
Shen Ningning smiled. "Just accept it. As for things like Deer Antler Ginseng Snow Ganoderma, Brother has more than he knows what to do with. It would be a waste not to take it."
Since she had put it that way, Mrs. Qi could no longer refuse and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
Mrs. Qi then said, "Wei’er, go help Lord Pei carry them down and take them to the storeroom."
Qi Xiuwei didn’t say anything. Pei Yin cupped his hands in a salute. "There is no need to be so courteous, Mrs. Qi. This humble subordinate can manage it alone."
With that, he strode out the door.
With Mo Lingwei present, Qi Xiuwei couldn’t very well show her displeasure.
After a moment’s thought, she still said, "I’ll go with him and help."
Seeing that she had also left, Shen Ningning had the maids help Mrs. Qi back to her room to rest.
The Divine Doctor had told her to get plenty of sleep to nourish her Primordial Spirit.
After Mrs. Qi left, Shen Ningning closed the door behind her.
Inside the room, only Mo Lingwei and she remained.
Mo Lingwei consciously sat up straight, his hands resting naturally on his knees.
His sharp, bright eyes watched Shen Ningning as she approached.
"Oh? Why aren’t you lying down anymore? Weren’t you dizzy?" Shen Ningning tilted her head, her raven-black hair contrasting with her snow-white skin.
This made the teasing glint in her eyes all the more obvious.
Mo Lingwei chuckled. "I knew I couldn’t fool you. It’s because I felt sorry for Pei Yin."
Shen Ningning found this novel.
’The day has actually come when Brother feels sorry for someone else?’
She sat back down next to Mo Lingwei. He noticed a stray lock of hair had fallen by her temple and naturally reached out.
His long, slender fingers gently hooked the strand of black hair and tucked it behind Shen Ningning’s ear.
Shen Ningning, for her part, saw nothing wrong with this kind of interaction.
But a faint smile had already appeared in Mo Lingwei’s sharp eyes.
He gazed at Shen Ningning’s small earrings shaped like the "Fu" character for good fortune.
He suddenly asked, "Why aren’t you wearing the pair of Phoenix Perching on the Willow earrings I gave you?"
Shen Ningning was just about to talk about Pei Yin and Qi Xiuwei’s problem when he unexpectedly interrupted her.
The young woman grumbled, "Father and Brother won’t let me wear them."
Mo Lingwei’s sharp, sword-like brows shot up. "Why? Didn’t you tell them I was the one who gave them to you?"
"It’s precisely because I told them that they won’t let me wear them. Father said that phoenixes aren’t suitable for me to wear, and on top of that, they were a gift from you, Brother. So they’ve been put away for safekeeping."
Mo Lingwei’s breath caught in his throat, and his eyes darkened.
’Those two, Xie Suzhi and Xie Mingxu, are guarding against me as if I were a thief.’
"I’ve already given them to you, so what’s so unsuitable about them? Fine. I’ll give you a different style next time."
Shen Ningning didn’t dwell on the issue, nor did she give it much thought.
She said, "Brother, if Pei Yin can’t make up with Xiao Wei this time, let’s not interfere in this matter anymore."
Mo Lingwei let out a laugh. "I never intended to get involved in the first place."
"Then why did you go so far as to fake a headache just to get him in here this time?"
"I did it because..." Mo Lingwei started, then suddenly stopped.
He couldn’t very well tell Shen Ningning that he didn’t want Pei Yin constantly pestering her for help.
"I did it because I saw how much you were worrying about it and wanted to help ease your burden," he said in a light tone.
Shen Ningning sighed. Her face, tender and beautiful, held a delicate charm she herself was unaware of.
"But I understand what Xiao Wei means now. Whether she forgives Pei Yin or not is up to her. As her friend, I have to respect her decision and can’t force a reconciliation."
Mo Lingwei listened, looking thoughtful.
Finally, he said, "It’s fine. If you’re not getting involved, then naturally, I won’t interfere either."
Only then did Shen Ningning reveal a serene, soft smile.
"And you won’t have to resort to tricks like faking an illness anymore."
Seeing her smile, Mo Lingwei’s heart stirred. He was just about to say something when suddenly, his sword-like brows furrowed slightly.
He looked up and pressed his fingers to the spot between his eyebrows, seemingly in some pain.
Shen Ningning jumped in fright. "What’s wrong?"
After a moment, Mo Lingwei opened his eyes. The needle-pricking sensation had finally disappeared.
For an instant just now, he thought his head ailment was about to relapse!
He looked up and saw Shen Ningning’s worried, limpid eyes.
Not wanting to make her worry, Mo Lingwei scoffed, "I’m teasing you. I wanted to see if you were nervous about me."
A flash of playful anger immediately appeared in Shen Ningning’s eyes.
"Mo Lingwei!" she cried out his full name without any reservation, huffing, "If you joke around again, I’m going to ignore you!"
Mo Lingwei grabbed her hand, coaxing her in a soft, gentle voice.
"There won’t be a next time. But handling state affairs these past few days really has been tiring. How about you give me a little massage?"
"I will not."
The two of them tugged and teased each other playfully. Shen Ningning was completely unaware that their interactions were no different from those of a pair of blissful newlyweds.