Chapter 448: Mengyi Goes on Strike, Pei Yin Arrives

Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Mengyi Goes on Strike, Pei Yin Arrives

「Three days later, the weather was clear and sunny.」

Mo Lingwei went to the National Academy to pick up Shen Ningning.

The little girl was just about to step onto her second brother Xie Ming’an’s carriage.

But when she saw Mo Lingwei arrive, she immediately retracted her little foot. Upon learning that he had come specially to take her home, the little girl decisively ditched Xie Ming’an.

"Stinky Second Brother, you can go home by yourself! I’m going to the Imperial Palace with Big Brother to play for a bit before I head back."

Shen Ningning climbed into Mo Lingwei’s carriage, lifted the curtain, and gave a little wave to the grim-faced Xie Ming’an outside.

Mo Lingwei, who was beside her, said calmly, "You needn’t worry. I will send Shen Ningning back to the Xie Mansion after she has dinner in the palace."

Xie Ming’an, however, was not about to let it go!

He looked at Shen Ningning. "Why did it have to be today? I finally managed to get past First Brother and Third Brother, and it was my turn to pick you up!"

Every month, Xie Mingxu got to pick her up for fifteen days and Xu Jingxi for ten. As for the remaining five days, whether Shen Ningning would even let him come was entirely up to her mood!

Xie Ming’an cherished every moment he got to spend with his little sister. He had been planning to use today as a chance to buy her lots of tasty treats and strengthen their bond.

And yet, the Crown Prince had beaten him to the punch again!

Shen Ningning beamed. "It’s okay, Stinky Second Brother. I’ll still let you pick me up tomorrow."

With that, Mo Lingwei’s carriage sped away, leaving them in a cloud of dust.

"Be home no later than Si hour!" Xie Ming’an shouted, chasing after them for a few steps. His voice was filled with helpless frustration.

「Inside the carriage.」

Mo Lingwei was already asking Shen Ningning, "There is a type of jade, a brilliant purple, carved into the shape of a small bell. Would you like it?"

Shen Ningning, who was holding the pastries Mo Lingwei had brought for her, looked up, her eyes instantly brightening at his words.

She nodded emphatically. "I love it!"

"Then in four days, you’ll accompany me to Pingyuan Village in the Capital region for a two-day stay."

Shen Ningning blinked her round eyes, a little confused.

"Is the jade in the village?"

Mo Lingwei shook his head, his tone turning biting as he spoke of his father the Emperor’s plans.

He explained the situation to Shen Ningning, and only then did the little girl learn that the jade was a scrap piece left over from when the founding ancestor carved the Imperial Jade Seal!

Mo Lingwei had intended to ask for this incredibly rare piece of precious jade to give to her, but the Emperor had attached a condition.

The Emperor was sending the Crown Prince to Pingyuan Village for the sole purpose of testing and tempering him.

Not long ago, Pingyuan Village had been devastated by a severe locust plague, which destroyed all its crops. Before the plague, however, the village had been one of the most productive grain-growing regions in all of Cangyun Country.

The villagers there were devastated, and some had even thrown themselves into the river to end their lives.

The locust disaster wasn’t entirely over, and the Emperor had already dispatched Imperial Envoys to the various provinces and commanderies to reassure the populace.

Sending Mo Lingwei to Pingyuan Village was another part of this effort to console the people.

Once Shen Ningning understood, she nodded happily. "Then let’s go together! I’ve heard the malt candy from Pingyuan Village is delicious!"

After the little girl returned home, she began to pack her bags and make preparations.

The next day, she returned to Wolf Mountain and told Grandma Qin and the Black Wolf King about her plans.

That night, as the Black Wolf King was lying by Shen Ningning’s bedside, it suddenly perked up its ears.

It let out a disgruntled howl, catching Shen Ningning’s attention.

The little girl was packing dried rations. She quickly put down the jerky in her hand and went to open the window.

Sure enough, a black shadow streaked across the blue-tinged moonlight, and a moment later, Mengyi landed on her windowsill with a flutter of its wings.

Shen Ningning reached out her small hand and stroked it with a smile.

"You haven’t been here in a while! What a rare sight you are." She offered it some beef jerky, which Mengyi immediately began to devour.

"Delicious! More meat! COO..." Mengyi was a chatterbox; even while eating, it couldn’t help but let out a few chirps.

The wolf pack watched from the side. The plump bird looked like it had gotten another layer of fat on it.

Sensing the chilling stares of the wolves, Mengyi shivered with a "COO," shook its wings, and, remembering its purpose for coming, hurriedly spoke up to curry favor with Shen Ningning.

"She... mentioned you... wants to act while you’re away... COO COO!" In its effort to be clear, Mengyi flapped its wings, switching back and forth between human words and bird calls.

After listening for a while, Shen Ningning finally understood.

The "she" Mengyi referred to was Princess Consort Qi.

Previously, Shen Ningning had asked it to help keep an eye on Princess Consort Qi’s movements in the palace.

And Mengyi had actually managed to overhear something important.

While Mo Lingwei was away from the palace taking Shen Ningning to Pingyuan Village, Princess Consort Qi was planning to hold a secret meeting in the palace with the King of Shu to discuss important matters.

Shen Ningning’s fair, delicate face clouded over with anger.

"She’s gone too far! Daring to act so recklessly right under Uncle Emperor’s nose."

Having delivered its message, Mengyi went back to eating its meat with its head down.

Shen Ningning’s dark eyes darted about as she considered her options.

Suddenly, she had an idea.

"Mengyi, I have one more thing I need your help with."

The little girl leaned close to Mengyi and whispered a few instructions.

Since Shen Ningning had a task for it, she fed it plenty of jerky. By the time Mengyi flew away from Wolf Mountain, its belly was stuffed and round.

It thought for a moment and decided not to go to the Qi Mansion.

Instead, it flew directly back to Pei Yin’s room in the Imperial Palace.

Pei Yin turned his head, surprised. It was the first time Mengyi had flown out and returned without a message.

Usually, it would be carrying a letter from "Shen Ningning."

Pei Yin’s brows furrowed slightly. He walked over to Mengyi and rustled around under its wings.

Mengyi flapped its wings in annoyance.

"COO!" ’How rude!’

Pei Yin crossed his arms, his gaze cold. "Where’s the letter? Did you drop it?"

Mengyi began to preen its feathers, completely ignoring him.

Seeing its behavior, Pei Yin concluded there was probably no letter.

"I have a bottle of ointment here. Take it to the Princess for me."

In the last letter, "Shen Ningning" had mentioned cutting her finger while embroidering, and that the scab wasn’t healing properly.

Since Pei Yin was on duty in the palace, he had plenty of golden sore medicine, so he wanted Mengyi to carry some to "Shen Ningning."

Unexpectedly, Mengyi just gave him a look.

It was a look that seemed to say, ’No food, no deal.’

Resigned, Pei Yin took out half of a leftover steamed bun.

This immediately infuriated Mengyi.

"COO COO!" ’You think you can fob me off with this?!’

’I stopped eating plain buns a long time ago!’

Mengyi flapped its wings, let out a sharp screech, and knocked the bun away.

Then, it folded its wings and swaggered over to its perch to rest.

Pei Yin frowned. "How is your temper getting so bad? Who’s been spoiling you?"

Mengyi ignored him.

Pei Yin immediately thought, ’It must be "Shen Ningning" who’s been indulging it.’

After all, Shen Ningning seemed to love keeping animals. Besides her wolf pack, she also had tigers, leopards, and lynxes.

’She’s really spoiled Mengyi rotten.’

"Fine. If you won’t deliver it, I’ll take it over myself in a few days."

However, by the time Pei Yin had a day off from his duties, Shen Ningning had already left for Pingyuan Village with Mo Lingwei.

Pei Yin stood at the gates of the National Academy. Dressed in casual clothes, his expression was as placid as the water in an ancient, undisturbed well.

When classes were finally dismissed, his green robes and cold, sharp demeanor made him stand out conspicuously in the crowd.

Many of the young ladies blushed, whispering amongst themselves.

"Who is that?"

"Is he one of your family’s guards?"

They all shook their heads. Only Qi Xiuwei, who was trailing behind the others with her books, flushed as hot as a sunset cloud the moment she walked out and saw Pei Yin.

"L-Lord Pei," she stammered, hurrying over to greet him.

Pei Yin’s stern, handsome features were particularly striking in the sunlight.

Qi Xiuwei’s heart leaped with joy.

’Did Lord Pei come here especially to find me?’

"Miss Qi," Pei Yin said with a polite nod. "Pardon me, but do you know when the Princess will be coming out?"