Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Insisting on Following Her

The soldier said, "Rest assured, Commandery Princess. I’ll be sure to pass it along."

Shen Ningning only breathed a sigh of relief after he left.

She seemed to be in a good mood.

Just as she was about to leave, Xie Ming’an walked past her.

"Where are you heading today?" he asked, feigning casualness.

Shen Ningning glanced at him.

The little one’s soft, sweet voice was coolly indifferent. "I’m going to the barracks again!"

Xie Ming’an stopped in his tracks. Watching Shen Ningning’s small figure retreat into the distance, his brow furrowed slightly.

’To the barracks again.’

’He couldn’t get in last time.’

’But this time will be different.’

He let out a sneer, then strode after her with his long legs.

’Hiding from me won’t be that easy.’

This time, Shen Ningning knew the way well.

She had Muchun and Wanchun wait for her outside the barracks.

’After all, the barracks are a restricted military area. It wasn’t really appropriate for her to be visiting so often.’

’This time, she was mainly here to give Brother Jiang the buns her grandmother made. The little one would have to leave right after she dropped them off.’

She had just made her way to the soldiers’ resting tents when she ran into the Deputy Captain who had been punished.

He was just an ordinary soldier now.

Holding his lower back, he limped along while carrying a bucket of water.

Upon seeing Shen Ningning, the sinister look on his face shifted, finally settling into a forced smile.

"Commandery Princess, you’re here again? To see Jiang Zhi, I presume. He’s gone to wash the horses."

"Is that so? Where is he? I’ll go take a look."

The Deputy Captain raised his hand, about to point in the right direction.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

After a moment of thought, he turned his wrist and pointed north.

"See that place over there? The one with the red tassels? That’s the stable."

Shen Ningning murmured in acknowledgment.

She looked at the Deputy Captain. "Don’t bully Jiang Zhi anymore. He’s not a bad person."

"Otherwise, things won’t go well for you either."

"Yes, yes, of course. You’re right," the Deputy Captain said repeatedly.

But the venomous hatred in his heart swelled like a flood.

Watching Shen Ningning’s figure recede, he set down the bucket and stealthily followed.

Taking many twists and turns on her little feet and passing by numerous tents, Shen Ningning finally arrived at the stable the Deputy Captain had mentioned.

The weather was cold, and when the troops weren’t deployed, most of the warhorses were kept here.

Fortunately, it was sealed against the wind; otherwise, it was hard to say if the warhorses would have survived.

Shen Ningning stood at the entrance and peeked inside.

"Brother Jiang?" She called out a few times, but no one answered.

The little one looked around curiously.

’The stable is huge, and the horses are constantly neighing. Maybe Brother Jiang is inside feeding them and didn’t hear me.’

So Shen Ningning stepped inside the stable.

An unpleasant smell immediately hit her.

The little one pinched her nose, her big, round eyes scanning her surroundings.

Inside each wooden pen was a tall, powerful horse.

Sensing the presence of a stranger, they grew extremely restless and agitated, stomping their hooves.

Just then!

The door she had just entered through was suddenly locked from the outside.

The light vanished abruptly. The horses in the stable began to neigh even more frantically, ramming back and forth against their wooden fences.

Outside, the Deputy Captain slid the heavy bolt firmly into place.

He glanced around, and only after confirming no one had seen him did a triumphant, wicked grin spread across his face.

The venomous intent in his eyes was unmistakable.

’This stable is usually tended to by designated handlers.’

’That’s because the horses in here are all fiery steeds that haven’t been fully broken in yet!’

’They’re incredibly wild.’

’They get agitated just by seeing a stranger, so if the light is blocked out and they smell something burning, they’re sure to panic.’

With this in mind, the Deputy Captain hurried to the back of the stable.

He set fire to two stacks of dry grass used for kindling.

The cold wind carried the acrid smell and searing heat into the stable.

The Deputy Captain pressed his ear against the wall and listened for a good while.

Sure enough, he heard the frantic neighing of the wild horses grow even more intense.

’Good! It would be best if they broke out of their pens and trampled that oblivious little brat, Shen Ningning, to death!’

’Most of the soldiers are at the front drilling right now.’

’The stable is in a remote corner of the yard, so no one will be passing by for a while.’

’Princess Funing, not even an immortal could save you this time!’

The Deputy Captain laughed sinisterly and slipped away.

Inside the stable.

By the light filtering through the cracks in the wall, Shen Ningning saw a fiery red glow.

She jumped in fright at first but quickly calmed herself.

’Is there a fire?’ Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. ’Hmm, it probably won’t spread.’

’There’s snow everywhere. Even though the stable is made of wood, the outside is covered in a thick layer of frost.’

’The fire will probably go out by itself in a little while.’

But...

"COUGH! COUGH!" Shen Ningning choked, her eyes starting to tear up.

The thick smoke stung her eyes, making it hard to keep them open.

The horses, with their keen sense of smell, began to stomp their hooves even more violently.

Suddenly!

With a loud CRACK of splintering wood...

Shen Ningning whipped her head around, her big, round, dewy eyes widening in shock.

A horse had actually smashed through its simple wooden gate and broken free!

It galloped madly around the stable.

Shen Ningning scrambled back into a corner.

More and more horses smashed through their wooden gates.

The entire stable erupted into chaos!

As Shen Ningning tried to stay hidden, a tall horse suddenly charged toward her from the side.

Its raised hooves were about to come crashing down on the little one!

「Meanwhile.」

The Bai Hujun, responsible for managing the daily affairs of the barracks, was waiting at the main gate.

Xie Ming’an arrived on horseback, leading two squads of officials from the Ministry of Justice through the snow.

Bai Hujun led a group of soldiers forward to greet them.

"Lord Xie, I heard you were coming, so I’ve been waiting for you."

Bai Hujun smiled and asked probingly, "If I may be so bold, has something happened? Why has the Emperor suddenly ordered a full investigation of the barracks?"

Xie Ming’an’s eyes were dark and cold; he didn’t speak.

Instead, an official behind him produced a warrant from within his robes.

"Our Lord heard rumors that the barracks were short on provisions, so he has come to conduct a thorough investigation."

"After all, the Emperor places great importance on the military. Even during the famine years, the court never cut supplies or pay for the barracks. With rumors of embezzlement suddenly circulating, our Lord is naturally obligated to investigate."

Bai Hujun’s expression stiffened.

He inwardly cursed that troublemaking Deputy Captain.

’If he hadn’t started those rumors and bullied the soldiers, how could this have happened?’

’Now even the Ministry of Justice is involved!’

With General Chen absent from the barracks, Bai Hujun could only cup his hands respectfully and say, "Please, Lord Xie, come in and begin your inspection."

"The earlier incident was all a misunderstanding. Our Young General has already punished the one who was spreading rumors."

Xie Ming’an then led his officials into the barracks.

The soldiers, their presence imposing, were busy training with their blades.

Xie Ming’an glanced around but couldn’t find any trace of Shen Ningning.

He followed Bai Hujun with a neutral expression, listening distractedly to the officer’s explanations.

The granaries were full, but Xie Ming’an didn’t care. Shen Ningning wasn’t there.

’That little one... didn’t she come into the barracks?’

’Did she leave already? Was I too late?’

Just then, a man carrying water walked toward them. His head was lowered, and he seemed to be snickering to himself.

When Bai Hujun saw him, his temper flared.

He barked, "Yang San! Why are you still slacking off here? I told you to deliver water to the mess crew. It’s been an hour, how are you not done yet?"

This Yang San was, in fact, the former Deputy Captain.

He hadn’t expected to run right into Bai Hujun. When he looked up, he saw a large, imposing crowd.

The young official at the front was staring in his direction with a cold expression.

A sudden guilt seized Yang San, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Forgive me, Bai Hujun! I... I was beaten, so I’m moving a bit slowly. I’m just about to deliver the last bucket."

"Get lost! You can’t do one simple thing right. Any more of this, and I’ll report you to the Young General and have you thrown out of the barracks."

After the tirade, Yang San scrambled to his feet dejectedly, picked up his bucket, and tried to hurry away.

As he passed Xie Ming’an, the cold wind carried a scent from his clothes.

Xie Ming’an’s brow furrowed slightly. "Wait."

Yang San froze. He didn’t dare look up, asking with his head bowed, "My... my lord, do you have any other orders?"

Xie Ming’an walked up to him, his cold eyes scanning him for a moment.

He asked, "You smell of burning kindling."

The moment he spoke, he saw Yang San’s hand, which had been resting on his knee, suddenly clench the fabric of his trousers.

Having interrogated countless criminals, Xie Ming’an never missed even the slightest reaction from a suspect.

Seeing this, he narrowed his eyes. "What are you afraid of?"

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