Chapter 452: The Dipper Handle Points South, All the World is Summer

Chapter 452: Chapter 452: The Dipper Handle Points South, All the World is Summer

In that moment, Qi Xiuwei wished the earth would swallow her whole.

Under Mo Lingwei’s merciless gaze, the scorching sun beat down on her back, making her burn with agonizing shame.

Shen Ningning never minded her getting close to Mo Lingwei; in fact, she was understanding about it.

But she, on the other hand, had been unable to refuse her grandmother’s demands and had to repeatedly ask Shen Ningning to forgive her actions.

Qi Xiuwei was filled with self-reproach.

"I’m sorry, Crown Prince..."

From Mo Lingwei’s perspective, Qi Xiuwei’s head was bowed, and her entire body trembled slightly as she suppressed her emotions. Her voice was faint, as if choked with a sob.

However, he didn’t care if she was about to cry.

Mo Lingwei tossed out a reply, "Go home early."

Without another glance at Qi Xiuwei, he turned and strode toward Shen Ningning.

The little girl was in the courtyard, playing hide-and-seek with the children.

After two rounds, a light sheen of sweat had formed on her fair forehead, dampening her dark hair.

Seeing Mo Lingwei, she beamed. "Brother, you’re just in time! We’re about to play eagle-catches-chick. How about you be one of the chicks?"

The surrounding children were afraid of him. Their little legs carried them swiftly behind Shen Ningning for cover.

Mo Lingwei furrowed his brows, about to call it childish.

But when he saw Shen Ningning’s earnest, questioning face, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Alright," he agreed without hesitation.

Shen Ningning glanced toward the gate. "Huh? Didn’t Xiao Wei come with you?"

"Oh, she just said she was feeling a bit unwell and might be heading back early."

"She’s unwell? I’ll go check on her..."

Shen Ningning had only taken two steps before Mo Lingwei grabbed her by the wrist.

His sharp brows and slender eyes were dark and profound, yet his tone was uncharacteristically patient.

"Don’t go. I’ve already arranged an escort for her. You’ll have another chance to see her when we return to the capital, but the children here are all eagerly waiting for you to play games with them."

Shen Ningning thought what he said made some sense.

"Alright, then," she said.

Immediately, the little girl happily went back to playing with the children.

Mo Lingwei hoped she would stay this carefree forever.

The Qi Family was too calculating. He didn’t want Shen Ningning’s pure and innocent heart to be hurt.

By the time Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei finished helping the villagers, it was nearly dusk.

Qi Xiuwei really had gone home, even though she hadn’t been there for long.

She had left a guard behind, entrusting him to express her apologies to Shen Ningning on her behalf.

She only said that she had suddenly felt unwell, probably from the heat, and had decided to return home first.

Mo Lingwei listened from the side without a change in expression, silently noting that this Qi Xiuwei was tactful enough.

Village Chief Wang served them another sumptuous dinner.

Shen Ningning couldn’t help but say, "Village Chief, there’s no need to be so extravagant. You’ve prepared twelve dishes for just the two of us. There’s no way we can finish it all."

Mo Lingwei nodded, adding after the little girl spoke, "You don’t need to prepare our meals tomorrow, either. We’ll just pick a random household and eat whatever they’re eating."

Village Chief Wang bowed and scraped, agreeing profusely.

He was muttering to himself inwardly.

’According to the legends, the Crown Prince is cold, unreasonable, short-tempered, and easily angered, which is why we’ve been serving him so cautiously.’

’But after spending a day with His Highness, I’ve found that while he is a bit fierce, he’s actually very reasonable.’

After dinner, Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei left together, heading toward East Mountain.

Village Chief Wang hurried after them.

"Your Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Princess, are you really going up East Mountain? Please allow this humble one to prepare some supplies and call for a few villagers who know the paths. Otherwise, not only are the mountain roads treacherous and difficult to walk, but there are also monsters! They’re sure to come out in the middle of the night!"

Village Chief Wang’s face had turned pale with panic.

’If the Crown Prince and Princess really go up the mountain and something happens, my little Pingyuan Village will be buried alive by the Emperor and Chancellor Xie!’

Shen Ningning turned her head and waved her little hand. "Don’t worry, Village Chief. Being in the mountains is like being in my own home. I won’t get lost."

Mo Lingwei sneered. "This so-called monster tale is likely just a misunderstanding. If there really were a monster, why would it only dare to make a little noise? Even if one exists, with such limited abilities, there’s no need to fear it."

Faced with their immense courage, Village Chief Wang was at a loss for words.

He saw that the Crown Prince’s guards had followed them, so he figured nothing serious would happen.

Still, Shen Ningning had Village Chief Wang call for two villagers who were familiar with the terrain.

"Have them lead the way and show us exactly where the roars are coming from."

The night was pitch-black, and the wind howled through the mountains.

The sweltering heat of the day had dissipated, leaving only a stuffy, empty wind in the mountains.

Fortunately, the guards all held torches, brightly illuminating the path. The two villagers in the lead spoke of the legends of the East Mountain monster as they walked.

"It’s been at least four or five years now. That monster’s roar... my goodness, you can hear it from far away, day or night. The old folks in the village all say it’s a sign the monster is coming down the mountain to eat people."

Mo Lingwei smiled. "Has anyone been eaten?"

"Well... not yet. But the villagers who went in to find the source of the sound all fainted mysteriously in the mountains. If it’s not a monster, what else could it be?"

Shen Ningning remained silent, continuously scanning her surroundings and observing the terrain.

Her crystal-clear eyes reflected the twin pools of firelight, making her small face seem all the more serene.

Suddenly, the villager leading the way stopped in his tracks.

"We’re in trouble!" His face went deathly pale. "We’re lost! It’s a ghost wall! It has to be a ghost wall! I’ve walked this path hundreds of times when I was cutting firewood. I always remembered there was an old banyan tree up ahead. How did the tree disappear?"

The two villagers, who were supposed to be familiar with the terrain, panicked.

The torches flickered. The call of an unknown bird echoed through the forest, adding to the sense of confinement.

Just then, Shen Ningning asked, "Do you still remember which direction we need to go?"

"South! This humble one is absolutely certain. I followed them into the mountains before to look for the source of the strange noise. It was to the south."

But now, neither of the two villagers could say where they were.

Mo Lingwei took a steadying breath. "Then have the guards split into three groups and scout the paths. We’ll rendezvous back here in one hour."

"No need," Shen Ningning said, suddenly waving her hand. She pointed to the sky. "We’re going the right way. This is the path south."

The villager was surprised. "How can you be sure, Your Highness?"

Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "Haven’t you heard the saying? When the handle of the Big Dipper points south, it’s summertime across the land. Look at the sky, at those stars shaped like a ladle. It’s the height of summer right now, so if we keep going forward, we can’t be wrong."

The villagers reluctantly pushed forward a little farther.

Suddenly, their faces lit up with joy.

"It’s actually true! I must have misremembered the turn just now. The old banyan tree really is here!"

Mo Lingwei smiled and asked Shen Ningning, "Who taught you astronomy?"

Shen Ningning placed her hands on her little hips triumphantly.

"My mother! The books she left behind are full of real knowledge!"

However, after a few more steps, the two villagers refused to go any further, no matter what.

"Your Highness, up ahead is near the place where we fainted before. There’s something invisible that pricks you. It’s very dangerous! You and the Crown Prince shouldn’t get any closer either."

The moment he finished speaking, a hollow roar echoed from up ahead, startling the birds in the forest, which flew off with a frantic flutter of wings.

The two villagers immediately ducked down, covering their heads and screaming, "The monster’s roaring! That’s the sound! We’re done for! We’re going to be caught and eaten!"