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

Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Bloody Garment

A ripple of emotion crossed the little one’s watery eyes. "Uncle Emperor has the plague too..."

Xie Ming’an’s expression immediately grew grim.

So that was why. When the Emperor had previously fallen ill, the ministers all thought it was just a common sickness.

They never imagined it was also the plague.

Mo Lingwei had written to Shen Ningning, hoping she could provide some Spiritual Spring Water and medicinal herbs.

He knew she had them.

Shen Ningning immediately prepared to write a reply.

But unexpectedly, Xie Ming’an reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"What’s wrong?" The little one looked back, her expression anxious.

She was clearly worried about Mo Lingwei and the Emperor’s condition.

Xie Ming’an’s eyes were dark and intense. He glanced into the room, where the maidservant and Sima Han were both busy with their tasks.

He pulled the little one aside, under the eaves of the corridor.

"Sister, I heard from Father last time that the Emperor has never given up on finding the blessed girl. It’s because he might need to give the blessed girl to the State Preceptor to be sacrificed to the heavens to end the endless natural disasters."

Shen Ningning furrowed her little brow. "So?"

Xie Ming’an pressed his lips into a thin line. "This plague is ferocious. It might be considered another natural disaster."

"If the Emperor recovers, he’ll be even more determined to find the blessed girl. Because if these disasters keep happening, he won’t be able to endure it either."

"And if that happens, you will be in grave danger."

"So, if the Emperor dies from the plague, the court will support the Crown Prince’s ascension. Mo Lingwei cares for you; he would never follow the State Preceptor’s advice and sacrifice the blessed girl."

"What I’m saying is," Xie Ming’an paused, his eyes as deep as the sea, "we should let him die."

The scorching sun beat down, baking the earth.

The ceaseless chirping of the cicadas seemed to fall silent in that instant.

Shen Ningning’s eyes went wide as she stared at him.

From her recent flurry of activity, the little one’s fair cheeks were flushed a rosy pink, like delicate flower petals.

Strands of soft, dark hair clung to her sweat-dampened temples. Her gaze was so clear and bright that the moment Xie Ming’an uttered those words, he felt he had sullied her pure heart.

He lowered his gaze, his voice deep. "I just don’t want you to be in danger."

For her, he was willing to betray the Xie family’s ancestral creed of loyalty and incorruptibility, even if it meant uttering such treasonous words.

Shen Ningning was silent for a long moment before speaking in a soft voice, "You rotten Second Brother, you probably don’t know how awful it feels not to have a father."

"When I was little, I didn’t have parents to love and care for me. Life was very hard."

"Brother already lost his mother. How can I just stand by and watch him lose the only family he has left?"

Xie Ming’an froze, then unconsciously loosened his grip on her hand.

The little one turned to go inside, intending to find a brush and paper to reply to Mo Lingwei.

To her surprise, Wuer was already awake!

Sima Han was taking his pulse, a look of growing astonishment on his weathered, aged face.

In the end, his white beard practically quivered with astonishment.

"Incredible, truly incredible! Just moments ago, his pulse was sluggish, nearly lifeless. Now, it’s as if he’s been completely revitalized—the pulse is leaping and strong."

As he spoke, Sima Han urgently called Shen Ningning over to feel the pulse for herself.

"Ningwa, remember this pulse. It is the pulse of someone brought back from the brink of death."

Shen Ningning hurried over to study it, looking at Wuer with immense joy.

Wuer opened his tired eyes, but his gaze was much more lucid than before.

"Sister Ningning," the little boy said weakly, "Wuer is hungry. I want to eat roast chicken."

Sima Han and Shen Ningning both laughed at the same time.

"Of course you can eat. I promise you’ll have some as soon as you’ve fully recovered," the little girl promised at once.

Sima Han administered acupuncture to supplement the treatment. Within an hour, Wuer was able to sit up and drink his medicine on his own.

"Ningwa, it seems these medicinal grapes of yours are truly potent! Could you teach this old grandpa how you grow them?" Sima Han asked the little one, beaming.

But Shen Ningning remembered she still had to reply to Mo Lingwei’s letter.

She smiled sweetly. "Grandpa Divine Doctor, it’s a secret I can’t share."

"It’s just like how you can make a severed finger grow back. You said you wouldn’t teach that to anyone either. This is my special skill!"

Sima Han was taken aback for a moment, then stroked his beard and chuckled.

"You clever, mischievous little imp! Very well, I won’t ask today. I’m sure you’ll be willing to teach me one day."

The Divine Doctor laughed and went to brew medicine for Wuer.

Shen Ningning quickly used the brush and paper to write her reply to Mo Lingwei.

After a moment of thought, she wrote a bold request, then prepared to have someone deliver it to the palace.

The little one walked out of the room and saw that Xie Ming’an was still there.

He was leaning against a corridor pillar, his tall, slender figure exuding an even colder air.

Hearing the sound, he looked toward the little one, his gaze falling on the letter in her hand.

Shen Ningning quickly covered it with her small hands.

She said warily, "You rotten Second Brother, don’t cause trouble! I really have to save Uncle Emperor’s life, so don’t you dare try to stop me!"

Xie Ming’an sighed deeply.

He walked forward. "Give it to me. I’ll deliver it to the palace for you."

He saw that Shen Ningning’s watery eyes were filled with distrust.

The look in Xie Ming’an’s sharp eyes was pitch-black.

"Rest assured," he said, his voice deep. "I only had that thought for your sake. But if you don’t agree, I will support your decision completely."

Shen Ningning thought for a moment before handing him the letter.

"Alright then. You have to give it to Brother personally."

Xie Ming’an nodded and quickly departed.

「An hour later.」

「Inside Zichen Palace.」

Wisps of purple smoke drifted from the thin-necked crane furnace.

Mo Lingwei had been silent ever since reading Shen Ningning’s letter, a full quarter of an hour ago.

All the Palace Attendants held their breath. Xie Ming’an stood a short distance away, head slightly bowed, silently awaiting his command.

The hall was so quiet that the only sound was the dripping of water in the ice box.

"Go and prepare a grand palanquin. I am leaving the palace to visit Shen Ningning." At last, Mo Lingwei set the letter down, his tone mild.

Xie Ming’an frowned to himself.

’The Emperor is gravely ill and court affairs are urgent. It’s probably not wise for the Crown Prince to leave the palace so casually.’

But he did not voice his objection.

As the Palace Attendants hurried to make arrangements, Mo Lingwei added, "I dislike the heat. Add plenty of ice blocks and draw the curtains."

"Yes, Your Highness." The Palace Attendants withdrew to make the urgent preparations.

「That evening.」

The grand palanquin left the palace discreetly, its occupant transferring to a horse-drawn carriage that then headed for the Xie Mansion.

Many of the imperial guards recognized it as the Crown Prince’s carriage.

He was surely on his way to see Princess Funing; they were used to it by now.

「After nightfall.」

Xie Suzhi had just hurried home and, before he could even change his clothes, was pulled into the study by Shen Ningning for a quiet word.

Meanwhile, in the second courtyard, the serving women were packing up Xie Yuanjiu’s belongings.

The mother and daughter were supposed to have been sent to a side courtyard the previous night.

However, in her desperation, Xie Yuanjiu had pleaded with Second Master Xie, saying she had invited Miss Li over to admire the flowers long ago.

If she were to move out now, it would likely cause a stir and lead outsiders to speculate about the Xie Mansion.

Therefore, she begged Second Master Xie to allow her to wait until after she had received Li Yuyi and seen her off. Only then, she promised, would she and her mother move to the side courtyard voluntarily.

In the end, Second Master Xie couldn’t bring himself to be so cruel to her. After a long silence, he finally nodded in agreement.

But they still had to move, so the serving women were mercilessly packing up her clothes and those of Second Madam Xie.

Xie Yuanjiu stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the endless night sky, her eyes chillingly dark as she seemed to be lost in thought.

Just then, a shriek came from the room behind her.

A serving woman’s angry voice rang out, "Second Madam, have you gone mad! This servant was only helping you clear the clutter from under your bed! Why did you bite me!"

"Don’t touch my things! Don’t you dare!" Second Madam Xie’s voice was frantic.

Hearing the commotion, Xie Yuanjiu’s sharp instincts told her something was wrong.

She immediately strode into the room.

Sure enough, her mother, Second Madam Xie, was clutching a small chest that the serving woman had pulled out from under the bed, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

Xie Yuanjiu frowned, then took out some silver and gave it to the woman.

"Nanny Yu, you’ve been working so hard for so long. My mother has been ill-tempered lately, so please bear with her. Here, take this silver for you and the others to have some tea. Take a break and come back later. I’ll have a word with her."

Seeing the silver, the woman called Nanny Yu finally calmed down a bit.

She took the money and said sarcastically, "Fourth Miss, it’s a good thing you’re so sensible. Very well, we servants will go take a break then."

After watching them all leave and closing the door, the smile on Xie Yuanjiu’s face instantly vanished.

She turned around, her expression so terrifyingly cold that Second Madam Xie couldn’t help but shudder.

"This chest cannot be touched!" Second Madam Xie clutched the container protectively.

Xie Yuanjiu strode over and shoved her away forcefully. Second Madam Xie crashed against the bed with a miserable cry.

With a CLANG, Xie Yuanjiu threw open the chest.

Inside was a blood-soaked garment!

This time, even she was thrown into a panic, her eyes wide with shock and confusion!

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