Chapter 483: Why Did You Have to Provoke Him?

Chapter 483: Chapter 483: Why Did You Have to Provoke Him?

Shen Ningning watched Mo Lingwei soak in the Spiritual Spring Pool, then headed back down the mountain.

She had told him that Dong Sanhua and Uncle Deng were going into town today to ask the government if there was any news about Deng Fugui.

They were worried the old village chief couldn’t handle things on his own, so they had asked Shen Ningning to help look after Long’er.

Once Shen Ningning left, the residence fell silent again.

Mo Lingwei soaked in the azure water, lazily squinting at the sun high overhead.

’So boring.’ He thought he would get to spend a couple of nice days with Shen Ningning.

But as it turned out, she was even busier than him, the Crown Prince.

She was so popular that whenever she was in Xiangyun Village, someone was always asking for her help.

’In that case, I might as well go back to the palace. It would be easier to summon her there every day.’

Mo Lingwei decided he would stay for the night and return to the palace tomorrow.

「In the village.」

Shen Ningning was holding Long’er, letting him bask in the sun.

The little one was chubby and wore a thin, knitted hat. He was sturdy and lovable, plump and adorable.

"Da~" he said, pointing at the sun.

Shen Ningning laughed and taught him, "Repeat after me. Sun~"

In his milky voice, Long’er replied, "Dada!"

This made Shen Ningning grin from ear to ear.

The old village chief sat under the eaves, chewing on a tea stem and watching them with a cheerful smile.

As he watched, a wave of sadness came over him.

’I’m already seventy this year. I might not have much time left. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see Fugui again in this lifetime?’

Just then, a shrill laugh came from the courtyard gate. "Well, look who’s here! Ningning, playing with the baby, are we?"

Looking up, they saw it was Wang Qiao’er again.

Shen Ningning shot her a glance but didn’t bother to reply.

Dong Sanhua’s soft heart was the only reason Wang Qiao’er was still around, but that didn’t mean Shen Ningning had to tolerate her.

The old village chief’s face darkened. "What are you doing here!"

Wang Qiao’er cooed, "Oh, old man, don’t get angry the moment you see me. I heard Sister Sanhua and Jixiang went to town to ask about Fugui, so I came to wait for the results."

As she spoke, she pushed the gate open to enter. The old village chief glared. "You’re not welcome in our home! Stay out!"

Wang Qiao’er wasn’t afraid of the old codger. She chuckled. "Come on, old man. We were family once. There’s no need for this."

Shen Ningning lifted her beautiful, frosty eyes.

"Take one more step, and I’ll break your legs. Take two, and you’ll be paralyzed from the neck down. If you don’t believe me, try it."

Wang Qiao’er’s foot, still in mid-air, froze.

She looked into Shen Ningning’s dark eyes, knowing the girl had been renowned as a blessed girl since childhood.

If she said it would rain, it would rain. If she said the sun would come out, the heavens would oblige.

Wang Qiao’er didn’t dare to offend her casually.

So, she sheepishly retracted her foot and stood back at the gate.

Shen Ningning handed Long’er to the old village chief.

The young woman stared coldly at Wang Qiao’er from across the threshold.

"I don’t know what you’re plotting, but you’d better remember this: as long as you’re in Xiangyun Village, you are not to go near Long’er. Otherwise, I have ways of making you regret it."

With that, Shen Ningning helped the old village chief and Long’er back into the house.

’If I hadn’t come today, who knows if Wang Qiao’er would have just snatched Long’er and run off.’

’That woman has no class whatsoever.’

Seeing the door shut tight, Wang Qiao’er seethed, grinding her teeth in anger.

"What’s there to be so smug about!" she cursed under her breath.

’The men I brought have already cased the joint. They know where the residence is.’

’Tonight, they’ll clean out the residence and then burn down the old village chief’s house.’

’Shen Ningning can just wait and cry her eyes out!’

Before long, Long’er was lying on the bed, lulled to sleep by Shen Ningning.

Late in the afternoon, Dong Sanhua and Deng Xiangji finally returned from the city.

Before they even entered the house, Shen Ningning heard Wang Qiao’er’s anxious questioning from the courtyard.

"So? Is there any news about Fugui?"

The young woman stood up and looked out the window.

She saw Uncle Deng couldn’t even be bothered to look at Wang Qiao’er, who was still trailing after him, chattering endlessly.

It was Dong Sanhua who patiently said, "Sister-in-law Qiao’er, don’t worry. There’s no news from the government yet, which is actually a good thing."

’If the government did have news, wouldn’t that mean Deng Fugui would be arrested as a murderer?’

Wang Qiao’er was upset, so she blurted out, "Fugui isn’t your son, so of course you don’t care."

Dong Sanhua, taken aback by the unprovoked rebuke, opened her mouth as if to protest but ultimately said nothing.

Uncle Deng stepped in front of his wife protectively, glaring. "That’s right! Fugui isn’t Sanhua’s son, yet she still ran all over the city with me because of your carelessness. What right do you have to call yourself a mother!"

Wang Qiao’er’s eyes reddened at his words.

Dong Sanhua felt a pang of pity and gently tugged on Uncle Deng’s sleeve.

Just then, Wang Qiao’er stepped forward. "Alright, our son is missing, I know you’re worried too. But don’t let the stress ruin your health. Look, you didn’t even notice the dust on your collar."

Before Uncle Deng could react, Wang Qiao’er reached out and adjusted his collar as if staking her claim.

Dong Sanhua stood frozen in place, mortified.

’They look just like a married couple.’

"What do you think you’re doing!" Uncle Deng frowned, swatting her hand away.

Wang Qiao’er shot a sideways glance at Dong Sanhua.

"I’m just concerned about you. They say it takes a hundred years of fate to bring two people to the same boat, and a thousand to have them share a pillow. We were husband and wife, after all, and we have a son. Your new wife doesn’t know how to take care of you. I’m just showing her how it’s done."

Uncle Deng exploded. "This has nothing to do with you! Sanhua is my only wife. If you say one more nasty word, get the hell out of Xiangyun Village."

With that, he ushered Dong Sanhua into the courtyard.

Wang Qiao’er tried to follow them in and argue her case.

Shen Ningning walked to the doorway, looked at her hauntingly, and said, "Feet."

Terrified, Wang Qiao’er immediately shrank back.

She pressed her lips together, her expression full of resentment.

"Deng Xiangji, you’ll definitely regret losing me."

After saying her piece, she turned and left.

Uncle Deng spat. "It was only after losing you that I realized how wonderful life can be."

Dong Sanhua gave a helpless smile. "Don’t pay any attention to her. Ningning, thank you so much for helping us look after Long’er."

Shen Ningning beamed. "It was nothing. Besides, Long’er is so adorable, taking care of him is a pleasure."

...

「Nightfall.」

Shen Ningning had dinner with Mo Lingwei as usual, then returned to the village to stay the night.

She had originally planned to warn Mo Lingwei to be careful for the next few days and watch for any strangers loitering around the residence.

However, Mo Lingwei told her that he was planning to return to the palace the next day.

So, Shen Ningning felt there was no need to put him on alert.

She never expected...

In the middle of the night, Mo Lingwei’s head suddenly began to throb with pain.

The pain, like a snapping nerve, jolted him awake from a deep sleep!

Mo Lingwei thrashed about until he fell from the bed to the floor.

"Shen Ningning..." His pale eyes were bloodshot as he pulled himself up using the wall. "My head hurts."

Mo Lingwei cried out. He had a gut feeling that he needed to get into the water.

So he pushed open the door and staggered down the corridor in a daze.

The night was deep, with only the high moon casting a silvery frost across the ground.

As Mo Lingwei passed a room, he suddenly heard voices from within—

"A whole chest of jade! We’re rich!"

The words had barely faded when the door was kicked open with a BANG.

The bandits hiding in the residence jumped in fright.

’Weren’t we told no one was here?’

They turned to see a man with red eyes standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the moonlight.

His voice was slow, seeping with a bone-chilling killing intent.

"Who... are you?"