Chapter 468: I’m Not Angry, I’m Really Not Angry

Chapter 468: Chapter 468: I’m Not Angry, I’m Really Not Angry

The Empress’s death anniversary was approaching. This time, the Emperor decided to spend three days in seclusion at the National Temple, chanting the Rebirth Scripture for her.

Mo Lingwei was to accompany him. King Shu, seeking an opportunity to distinguish himself, also offered to go along.

Shen Ningning was also invited, as she was going to accompany Mo Lingwei.

However, a few days before their departure, Ye Shangyi rushed over to her in a panic. "Ningning, did you know? Qi Xiuwei is getting engaged!"

Shen Ningning was quite surprised. "Engaged?! To whom?"

According to the long-standing customs of Cangyun Country, a girl would be engaged at thirteen and married at fifteen after her coming-of-age ceremony.

But Qi Xiuwei had only just celebrated her thirteenth birthday. Why was the Qi Family in such a hurry to arrange her marriage?

"To the eldest son of Duke Chang, Liang Yuanzhong."

Shen Ningning’s clear black eyes widened.

"You’ve got to be kidding me! Duke Chang is over seventy, so his eldest son must be nearly forty. Doesn’t he already have a wife?"

Ye Shangyi stomped her foot. "That’s why I rushed to tell you! That Young Master Liang’s wife just died of an illness, leaving behind two children. The oldest is only three years younger than Qi Xiuwei! The Qi Family arranging this marriage for her is clearly just trying to marry her into a powerful household."

Shen Ningning furrowed her dark brows.

’This must be Mrs. Qi Sr.’s idea. She’s always wanted to use the daughters of the family to climb the social ladder.’

’Now that Princess Consort Qi has earned the Emperor’s displeasure and been sent back to the Cold Palace...’

’...Mrs. Qi Sr. has completely given up on the idea of sending Qi Xiuwei into the palace. Instead, she’s set her sights on nobles and princes with actual power.’

’Unfortunately, there are too few eligible nobles of the right age, so she picked Liang Yuanzhong, a man whose wife just died and is waiting to remarry!’

Shen Ningning thought for a moment, then quickly said to Ye Shangyi, "Find a way to help me get Xiao Wei to meet me."

The Qi Family had forbidden Qi Xiuwei from associating with her, so if she sent the invitation, Qi Xiuwei definitely wouldn’t be able to come out.

Ye Shangyi shook her head. "I can’t see her either. Besides, haven’t you noticed? The Qi family isn’t even letting her come to the National Academy anymore! They probably want her to stay home quietly and wait for the wedding."

Hearing this, Shen Ningning realized this was going to be difficult.

After thinking it over, she headed straight for the palace, found Pei Yin, and told him about the matter.

Pei Yin was on patrol, but Shen Ningning said she needed to see him about something urgent, so they met temporarily by the lake.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Upon learning what had happened, he also frowned.

"So, Your Highness hopes to use Mengyi to send another letter to Miss Qi?"

Pei Yin hesitated, his dark brows furrowing. "But I feel that doing this again might damage Miss Qi’s reputation."

Shen Ningning was so anxious she hopped in place a couple of times.

Pei Yin was too tall, so she had to crane her neck to glare up at him.

"I have to ask Xiao Wei what she thinks! Are you really going to stand by and watch a girl who hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony marry an old man who’s almost forty?"

Pei Yin pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Alright." He told Shen Ningning to wait there for a moment.

A short while later, Pei Yin returned with Mengyi.

Ever since discovering Mengyi’s gluttony had led it to deliver letters to the wrong places, Pei Yin had forbidden it from flying freely, keeping it locked in a cage every day.

This time was no different; he came carrying the cage.

Inside the cage, Mengyi saw Shen Ningning and began to thrash about aggrievedly, letting out accusatory squawks.

Pei Yin couldn’t understand, but Shen Ningning did.

Mengyi was complaining pitifully about its scoundrel of a master, who not only didn’t know how to enjoy life but also fed it tasteless steamed buns every day.

Finally, it glared at Pei Yin, spread its wings, and let out a sharp cry.

Pei Yin frowned. "Your Highness, I often feel like it’s cursing me. I can lend you Mengyi, but could you please tell me what it’s saying?"

He knew that Shen Ningning could communicate with Mengyi and understand what animals were saying.

The little girl glanced at Mengyi in its cage.

She said quietly, "It says if you can’t afford to keep it, you should let it go sooner rather than later. Don’t stop it from going to another home to live a life of luxury."

Pei Yin’s thin lips tightened, his dark eyes staring at Mengyi.

Mengyi let out a "SQUAWK!" and tucked in its wings, its eyes darting about guiltily.

’How could its little master sell it out just like that!’

"This damn bird," Pei Yin chided helplessly, then placed the cage on the table.

Shen Ningning took out some jerky, opened the cage, and Mengyi immediately hopped out to feast.

A whole pile of it wasn’t enough.

Pei Yin could only watch as Shen Ningning pulled out a seemingly endless supply of various jerkies from her sleeve.

It ate until it started hopping around happily.

The little girl smiled sweetly. "Mengyi, this time I need you to help me deliver a letter to Xiao Wei, at the Qi Family residence you often visit."

Mengyi tucked in its wings and lifted its head proudly.

The gesture seemed to mean it disagreed.

’Being cooped up for so long has given it a bit of a temper.’

Shen Ningning wasn’t worried she couldn’t handle it.

So, she said with a grin, "If you don’t agree, I’ll just have to let my wolves have a talk with you."

Mengyi’s eyes flew wide open.

The moment it thought of how those wolves drooled whenever they saw it, Mengyi snatched the letter Shen Ningning had prepared and flew toward the Qi Mansion, flapping its wings furiously.

Watching it flap its wings with all its might as it flew away, Pei Yin couldn’t help but shake his head. "Your Highness certainly has her ways. Mengyi is proud and not easily tamed."

Shen Ningning smiled, her dimples showing faintly. "If it can be bribed with food, it’s still a good bird."

They waited right there, but after a long time, Mengyi still hadn’t returned.

Pei Yin had a bad feeling.

Shen Ningning thought of it too. "Don’t tell me Mengyi was intercepted?"

On the same page, they quickly left the palace and rushed to the Qi Mansion.

In the Star-picking Tower, discussing state affairs with several ministers, Mo Lingwei caught a glimpse of Shen Ningning’s figure out of the corner of his eye and immediately stood up.

However, when he saw clearly that Pei Yin was standing beside the little girl, he raised a slight eyebrow.

’What are those two up to again?’

’He still hadn’t gotten a clear answer about the last time Pei Yin and Shen Ningning were corresponding.’

’And now he saw them leaving the palace together again.’

A deep wave of displeasure surged in Mo Lingwei’s dark eyes.

Pei Yin and Shen Ningning hurried to the Qi Mansion.

But the moment the gatekeeper heard it was Shen Ningning, he quickly said that the master was not home and it was inconvenient to receive the Princess.

The implication was simply that they didn’t want to let Shen Ningning in.

Pei Yin had no choice but to step forward. He pursed his lips and said, "We’ve come to visit Miss Qi. She should be home, shouldn’t she?"

The gatekeeper waved his hands repeatedly. "She’s not! She’s not!"

He only opened the door a crack, and it was clear he had no intention of letting them in at all.

Just as Shen Ningning was about to use her status to force the issue, a cold, sharp voice came from behind her. "We’ll know if she’s here or not once we go inside and see for ourselves."

Mo Lingwei seemed to appear out of thin air. He strode past Shen Ningning and Pei Yin and kicked the main gate of the Qi Mansion wide open.

The gatekeeper rolled across the ground twice, crying out in pain.

After scrambling to his feet, he was about to start cursing, "How dare you..."

However, when he saw the Crown Prince’s personal guard filing in, their sharp, imposing manner looking as if they were about to raid the entire estate, the words caught in his throat.

With his hands behind his back, Mo Lingwei led Shen Ningning and Pei Yin through the gates of the Qi Mansion.

The sunlight shone from behind him, casting his silhouette in a cold, dark shadow.

"Go and get someone in charge from your mansion."

The gatekeeper nodded hastily and scrambled away in terror.

Shen Ningning couldn’t help but step forward. "Brother, you..."

Before she could finish, Mo Lingwei glanced at her sideways, his gaze cold. "I’m not angry."

Shen Ningning tilted her little head, blinking in confusion.

’Angry about what? That’s not what I was going to ask!’