Chapter 406: I Am My Second Uncle’s Half-Child

Chapter 406: Chapter 406: I Am My Second Uncle’s Half-Child

Shen Ningning blinked her long lashes.

The little girl’s tone was calm. "I chose you, but not out of pity."

"It’s because out of everyone here, I most admire your way of doing good deeds."

"But if you’re not willing, then forget it."

As she spoke, she turned her head. "Mr. Han, let me think about it. If there’s really no one else, I’ll just go by myself."

Mr. Han nodded in agreement.

The bustling crowd soon dispersed.

Ye Shangyi took Shen Ningning’s hand and huffed loudly as they passed Liang Yici.

’When I get back, I’ll tell all my close friends among the Capital’s young ladies not to associate with Liang Yici.’

’Bullying Shen Ningning is the same as bullying me!’

Xie Yuanjiu was the last to leave.

"Princess Rongshu, please wait." She caught up to Liang Yici.

Liang Yici turned around. Seeing who it was, her expression grew even colder. "What is it?"

Xie Yuanjiu pressed her lips together. "I know you have your opinions about the Xie family, but Ningning truly meant well just now. Rejecting her in public like that was humiliating for her."

"Don’t you know? If you anger her, her friend Ye Shangyi won’t let any of the young ladies in the Capital associate with you."

At this, she gave a bitter smile. "I’m the perfect example. Princess Rongshu, I’m reminding you out of kindness. Don’t make the same mistake I did."

After Xie Yuanjiu finished speaking, a long moment passed without a response from Liang Yici.

She lifted her gaze to see Liang Yici staring at her, unblinking, with sharp eyes.

Xie Yuanjiu felt a sudden pang of guilt.

’How could Liang Yici’s eyes be so similar to her father’s, Second Master Xie?’

’When she wasn’t smiling, her eyes were like two pools of icy water covered in fallen snow—deep and cold.’

"Miss Xie Si, I think there’s one thing you need to understand. It’s true that I loathe the Xie family, and that includes you."

Xie Yuanjiu’s face paled at her words.

’In the Capital City, which young lady didn’t show her respect?’

’When had she ever been scorned so bluntly?’

Liang Yici continued, "Besides, I was standing behind you just now and heard you and your friends talking about Princess Funing in the same way."

"I may not like the Xie family, and I don’t intend to meddle, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell you’re trying to stir up trouble."

"If I had to rank the people I dislike in the Xie Mansion, you’d be at the top. You’re the two-faced type I detest the most. Sorry, but stay away from me from now on. I don’t have a good temper."

With that, she strode away with a powerful gait, carrying the air of a true daughter from a general’s family.

Xie Yuanjiu twisted the handkerchief in her hands, grinding her teeth in hatred as she stared at Liang Yici’s retreating back.

’It’s one thing for Shen Ningning to be against me, but now Liang Yici too?’

’Then she can’t blame me for teaching this little girl from the border a lesson!’

「That night.」

Shen Ningning invited Ye Shangyi, Xu Jingxi, and Lu Shaoyuan to the large residence on Wolf Mountain for hot pot.

Grandma Qin made the most fragrant hot pot.

First, she would simmer a creamy white chicken broth as the base, then sprinkle in pepper, salt, and other seasonings for flavor, before tossing in a handful of scallions and a few peppercorns.

This broth, paired with Grandma Qin’s special sesame oil and chili powder dipping sauces, was absolutely delicious.

Shen Ningning usually needed two dipping bowls and would eat half a catty of sliced lamb.

Right now, the four young children sat in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky, feeling the slightly chilly air, and watching the creamy white soup BUBBLE and SIMMER in the pot on its stand.

Inside were vibrant green bok choy, tofu, slices of Yun ham, and rolls of meat.

Shen Ningning and the others each held a small bowl, eating with great delight.

"Ningning, you shouldn’t have given that opportunity to Liang Yici today. It was so embarrassing to be rejected by her in front of everyone," Ye Shangyi said, indignant on the little girl’s behalf.

Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes, swallowed the greens in her mouth, and then said, "She’ll definitely come back and ask for it."

"How can you be so sure?" Lu Shaoyuan asked curiously.

Xu Jingxi listened to them talk quietly, feeding the cooked meat to a wolf by his side.

It was strange. Besides being attached to Shen Ningning, the pack of wolves also didn’t shy away from him. Unlike with Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan, whom the wolves kept a wide distance from, they were willing to get a little closer to Xu Jingxi.

It was as if he carried a similar aura.

Shen Ningning said, "Actually, my brother told me about this. You have to help me keep it a secret, okay?"

"General Fang Qingdai returned to the Capital this time mainly to investigate whether there are spies from Changliu Country in the court."

"Not long ago, she found that the family of Mr. Huo, the Minister of War, is suspected of contacting Changliu Country. So she secretly sent a letter of accusation to Uncle Emperor. But you’ll never guess—the evidence she has now is fake!"

Ye Shangyi frowned. "The Huo Family? How could they be spies? Mr. Huo’s older brother died fighting in Changling when he went on campaign with Second Master Xie back then. They hate Changliu Country to the bone. How could they possibly betray us!"

"Exactly! That’s why Uncle Emperor secretly returned the letter without making it public. His intention was to make General Fang reflect on the fact that her investigation was headed in the wrong direction. But General Fang resubmitted the letter three consecutive times, insisting that Uncle Emperor give her an explanation. My brother said Uncle Emperor is getting a little unhappy."

Shen Ningning said this and spread her little hands in a helpless gesture.

’If the Emperor is unhappy, it means General Fang will definitely be punished.’

’For now, the Emperor is still holding back, considering General Liang’s merits and General Fang’s own military achievements.’

’But if General Fang starts to seem like she’s just pestering him and he gets fed up, he will punish Fang Qingdai.’

Although it wouldn’t be too severe, Shen Ningning felt she could give the audience with the Emperor to Liang Yici. That way, at least after General Fang was punished, Liang Yici could explain things to the Emperor in person on her mother’s behalf.

Lu Shaoyuan clicked his tongue. "Why are you being so nice to her? She won’t appreciate any kindness from the Xie family."

"Because if General Fang gets into trouble, my Second Uncle will definitely get anxious!" the little girl said with puffed-out pink cheeks, looking completely serious.

With the help of her Spiritual Spring, her Second Uncle was slowly recovering.

Every day, he could stand and walk without his cane for two hours.

’At this rate, I believe he’ll be fully recovered in two or three years.’

’If something happened to Fang Qingdai, what if my Second Uncle gets so worried and upset that his legs get worse again?’

Xu Jingxi placed a piece of meat into Shen Ningning’s bowl.

"It’s the previous generation’s business. Why worry so much about them?"

Shen Ningning savored the delicious lamb and said casually, "Mmm, because I’m bored."

Although she said that, a guilty glint flickered in the dark depths of her eyes.

Finally, the little girl lowered her head and confessed with some self-reproach.

"I drove Xie Yuanjiu away, so now Second Uncle has no children. Uncle Pang once said that adults who have no children to care for them in their old age have especially bleak final years."

"From now on, I’ll be like half a child to my Second Uncle, so of course I have to look after him."

Lu Shaoyuan sighed emotionally. "I have a Second Uncle too. If I were as filial as you, my Second Uncle would wake up laughing from his dreams!"

Ye Shangyi chimed in with agreement.

Only Xu Jingxi watched Shen Ningning with a profound gaze, a fleeting, almost imperceptible look of tenderness and pity passing through his eyes.