Chapter 474: The Possibility That She’s Not Dead

Chapter 474: Chapter 474: The Possibility That She’s Not Dead

When Master Gu, who was recuperating at the Princess Mansion, learned that Shen Siyi’s death had been caused by Princess Consort Qi, he couldn’t help his eyes from turning red.

At the mention of Princess Consort Qi, he gritted his teeth, wishing he could kill her with his own hands.

Shen Ningning also felt a deep sense of regret.

"My mother didn’t drown by accident. She was murdered. My father has been blaming himself for the past few days, shutting himself in his room. So, I’ll have to take a few days off to comfort and accompany him, which means I won’t be able to visit you as often, Mr. Gu. If you need anything, just let the palace maids and guards here know."

After she finished speaking, Master Gu suddenly sat bolt upright. "Princess, what did you say? The Supreme General was murdered by being pushed into the water and drowned?"

Shen Ningning, who was about to leave, turned around upon hearing this and nodded, blinking her large eyes.

A look of doubt crossed Master Gu’s face.

"How is that possible..."

"Mr. Gu, did you think of something? Could there be a hidden story behind my mother’s death?"

"I don’t know for sure if there’s a hidden story, but I do know that General Shen, being chosen as a ship captain, underwent rigorous physical training long ago. Forget her—even I can live normally in places with thin air now. Our lungs are different from yours. We can hold our breath underwater for over an hour at most."

Having survived the brutal trials of the apocalypse, their bodies were already subtly different from those of the ancient people.

Forget drowning; as the Supreme General in charge of three hundred people and tasked with establishing a new base on the Moon, Shen Siyi’s physical prowess was formidable.

It made no sense for her to have simply drowned like that.

"Could the Supreme General have discovered some secret underwater and used it as a chance to leave?" Master Gu’s eyes widened abruptly at this possibility.

Shen Ningning was startled by his speculation.

She shook her head decisively. "Impossible. I asked my father the same thing. If my mother was really that capable, she shouldn’t have died so easily. But Father said he was the one who personally placed her in the coffin, and he watched with his own eyes as it was buried."

Master Gu remained skeptical.

"Princess, if the Prime Minister doesn’t mind, I think we should open the coffin and check. The Supreme General was extraordinarily capable. Perhaps... she isn’t really dead!"

He came from the apocalypse; his views on life and death weren’t so rigid.

But to Xie Suzhi, the idea of opening Shen Siyi’s grave years after her death was an unforgivable disturbance of her peace.

So, even though it was Shen Ningning who suggested it, he immediately rejected the idea.

"No, absolutely not!" He shot to his feet in agitation.

Xie Suzhi walked quickly over to Shen Ningning and bent down to speak earnestly with his daughter.

"Ningning," he said, his eyes filled with indelible sorrow, "I know it’s hard for you to believe that your mother is long gone, but as I’ve told you, I saw her body with my own eyes, and I buried her with my own hands."

As he spoke, Xie Suzhi grew angry. "Who has been filling your head with this nonsense? They must have malicious intentions. Bring them to me at once."

Shen Ningning detected the killing intent in his tone and quickly tugged on her father’s sleeve with her small hand.

"Father, I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but I think what that person said makes some sense. If Mother was so capable, isn’t it possible she didn’t actually die?"

Xie Suzhi’s eyes reddened. He stood up and turned his back to her.

His voice became stern and cold. "Ningning, say no more. You should go. Let me be alone for a while."

Shen Ningning hesitated, wanting to say more, but her bright, dark eyes could only show a hint of regret.

She nodded obediently. "Father, please think it over. I’m going to the National Academy now."

Forcing Xie Suzhi to open the coffin was tantamount to making him harm his deceased wife with his own hands.

Since ancient times, it was believed the dead should rest in peace in the earth. How could he dig up her grave just because of a few words from someone else?

Shen Ningning knew she had to give him some time.

The little girl went to the National Academy and happened to run into Lu Shaoyuan.

"Shen Ningning!" Lu Shaoyuan came jogging over. The youth, dressed in a golden mink fur coat, had a handsome face that had matured well.

He was frowning. "I heard from my brother today that the State Preceptor escaped."

Long before Qi Jingchun was executed, Shen Ningning had already reminded the Emperor to arrest the State Preceptor.

To think that the swindling State Preceptor could actually escape after being locked in the dungeons!

"He definitely couldn’t have escaped on his own. Someone must have helped him," Shen Ningning mused, finding it exceptionally strange.

’Since Qi Jingchun is dead and all her related forces have been eliminated, could she still have an inside agent hidden in the Capital City?’

Lu Shaoyuan nodded. "But the Emperor has already issued an Imperial Decree and posted wanted notices everywhere. I refuse to believe he can get very far!"

Just then, a gentle voice called out from beside them.

"Ningning~"

The little girl turned her head and saw Qi Xiuwei approaching.

She had fallen ill with worry over her marriage, but thankfully, with the engagement broken, she had recovered now that she no longer had to marry someone she disliked.

Seeing Qi Xiuwei again, Shen Ningning thought she looked delicate and was smiling, with a sparkle even in her eyes.

"Xiao Wei, you haven’t been to the National Academy in so long."

"I was recuperating for a while, and I haven’t had the chance to thank you yet. If you hadn’t helped me, I’m afraid I really would have ended up as someone’s second wife."

Qi Xiuwei said this while patting her chest, a look of "that was a close call" on her face.

Recently, the Qi Family had been deeply affected by Qi Jingchun’s downfall. Mrs. Qi Sr. was bedridden, and even Mr. Qi was treading on thin ice in his official career.

In the entire household, only Qi Xiuwei was happy.

No one was pressuring her anymore.

Shen Ningning smiled. "As long as it’s all resolved!"

A moment later, Ye Shangyi also arrived. The group went to class, chatting and laughing.

As they passed by Mr. Han’s study, they saw Mo Zhirou standing inside with her head down, seemingly wiping away tears.

Filled with a gossipy curiosity, Ye Shangyi stopped in her tracks, grabbing Shen Ningning and Qi Xiuwei so they could all watch the drama unfold.

"What’s she crying about?"

"She must have been scolded by Mr. Han."

Just then, Liang Yici, who was passing by, glanced at them and chimed in, "Princess Shu is returning to Shu State. Mo Zhirou doesn’t want to go with her and wants to stay in the Capital City, so she was asking Mr. Han to intervene and persuade Princess Shu to let her stay for the sake of her studies."

Before Shen Ningning could say anything, Ye Shangyi spoke up indignantly on behalf of Princess Shu.

"King Shu committed such a treasonous act, and it’s already a blessing that the Emperor hasn’t punished his family. How can Mo Zhirou be so ungrateful? Just because she doesn’t want to go back, she expects Princess Shu to stay behind too. She’s so selfish!"

But Shen Ningning guessed the real reason why Mo Zhirou was so insistent on staying in the Capital City.

Because Princess Shu had grown disheartened with King Shu, and after his downfall, the Emperor had issued a decree granting her freedom and restoring her good name.

This meant that after returning to Shu State, Princess Shu could remarry without any repercussions.

But Mo Zhirou had seen the splendor of the Capital City and wanted only to stay there.

Besides, she wasn’t Princess Shu’s biological daughter but was adopted.

Mr. Han had obviously refused her request.

He was just a teacher; how could he possibly presume to meddle in the affairs of Princess Shu?

Mo Zhirou left in tears. As she walked out, she saw Shen Ningning and her friends nearby, looking as if they were enjoying her predicament. A flash of resentment crossed Mo Zhirou’s eyes.

She quickened her pace and left.

Qi Xiuwei sighed. "I have a feeling she’ll find another way to stay."

"Whatever. It has nothing to do with us, anyway!" Shen Ningning said, and the group left together.

Not many days later, news of the Emperor’s fury spread from the palace.

"Have you heard? Someone secretly reported to the Emperor that the Ninth Prince isn’t his biological son, but the child of King Shu and Princess Consort Qi!"