Shen Ningning’s dark eyes were calm. "What is it about?"

"Chief Wang is looking for you. He says it’s about the Wu family’s accident. Since you were the last person to see them, he hopes you’ll testify that they died from drunkenness."

When Chen Ye finished speaking, Shen Ningning’s brow twitched.

"How could it be drunkenness? It was obviously arson."

Previously, she had told Chen Ye to tie up the surviving man in black and throw him into the Wolf Cave where she used to live.

She had also instructed Chen Ye to go give him some fresh water and food every day, just enough to keep him alive.

As for the Wu family’s home, Shen Ningning had already searched it thoroughly.

Most of what could burn had been incinerated, leaving only broken walls and ruins.

Fortunately, Wu Zuchang had shown her where the Gold was hidden before, so it wasn’t hard to find.

And because it was hidden in a well, it hadn’t been destroyed in the fire.

But other than the Gold, there was no other evidence to prove that the Wu couple had been acting under someone’s orders before their deaths.

Shen Ningning guessed that the mastermind must have secretly searched the Wu family’s home again and found nothing.

That’s why they were now using their authority to pressure the constables, trying to force a conclusion to this murder case before Mo Lingwei returned to the capital.

The little one thought for a moment, then turned and called out into the courtyard, "Grandma, I’m going to the village to check on the loquat tree! I heard it’s bearing fruit again!"

Grandma Qin chuckled, in high spirits. "Go on and have a look! You should get out for a walk. It’s not good to be cooped up at home all the time."

With a small wave of her hand, Shen Ningning summoned the Black Wolf King, who immediately followed with several other wolves.

She went down the mountain with Chen Ye and returned to the village.

The old village chief was hosting Chief Wang and his men.

Seeing Shen Ningning, Chief Wang spoke in a warm tone, "Miss Shen, you’re finally here. I’ve heard about what happened to the Wu family. It’s truly tragic."

"But it’s fortunate they weren’t your biological parents. Please accept my condolences."

News of the Wu family had spread through the surrounding villages, and everyone knew Shen Ningning was not their daughter.

Shen Ningning’s round face was flushed from the walk, making her dark eyes seem even brighter.

Her voice was steady and composed. "I’ve already grieved. Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu died unjustly. Rather than just being sad, you officers should focus on catching the murderer quickly."

Hearing this, the old village chief, who was standing nearby, immediately said, "Ningning, didn’t the Wu Family die because they were drunk and knocked over a candle holder, starting the fire?"

"That’s not true! Deng Fugui already said he saw several men in black coming out of Uncle Wu’s house. They were murdered by arson!" the little one retorted.

The old village chief’s expression soured.

He had a good idea of what had really happened.

But Deng Fugui was his own grandson. If those people dared to break in, commit arson, and murder, who knew if they might threaten Deng Fugui’s safety?

The old village chief said evasively, "Maybe Fugui saw wrong. That boy... he’s often unreliable."

Shen Ningning glanced at him.

That single glance, like a clear, cold glint of light off snow, made the old village chief feel a pang of guilt.

The little one’s voice was naturally soft and sweet, yet she calmly stated a fact.

"Grandpa Village Chief, several lives are at stake. Fugui wouldn’t have made a mistake."

The old village chief was speechless. After a long moment, he finally nodded.

Chief Wang spoke up. "Miss Shen, let’s talk inside."

"I’ve brought a formal report on red paper today. The government has already concluded its investigation. They died accidentally after getting drunk and knocking over a red candle."

"You buried the three members of the Wu family without authorization, but the government, taking your young age into account, will not hold it against you. As long as you are willing to press your thumbprint on this report, the matter will be considered closed."

After speaking, he glanced up at the surrounding crowd of villagers.

His meaning was clear: he was worried about gossip from the large crowd.

But Shen Ningning just shook her head. "I’m not going inside. We can talk right here. Uncle Officer, I do not agree that their deaths were an accident."

"I firmly believe someone intentionally set the fire to murder them. When my Crown Prince Brother returns to the capital, I will tell him and ask him to investigate this thoroughly."

"Therefore, I certainly will not affix my print to confirm it."

Chief Wang’s expression changed.

His superiors had ordered him to handle this matter properly. After all, Shen Ningning was the only key witness in this case who was still alive.

Therefore, it was imperative that he get Shen Ningning to agree it was an accident, and to sign and affix her print to the report.

But he hadn’t expected the little one to be so insistent on what she saw and so uncooperative.

Chief Wang squatted down to her eye level, showing great patience.

"Miss Shen, they weren’t your real parents. If you insist on this for them, the final outcome may not be what you hope for. You’d just be wasting your energy."

"Just because they weren’t my family, does that mean I can’t seek justice for three people who were wrongfully killed?" the little one shot back.

Her tone was righteous, her gaze piercingly clear.

Shen Ningning looked at Chief Wang and suddenly felt that he seemed to have changed.

In her memory, Chief Wang was an upright man. Though he might bow to power, he still held onto a basic sense of justice in his heart. But now, he had completely changed.

A crowd of Xiangyun Village villagers stood behind Shen Ningning.

Hearing this, everyone began to chime in with their support—

"Ningning’s right! These are human lives we’re talking about. How can you just brush it off as an ’accident’?"

"If there’s really something wrong, then we should just wait for the Crown Prince to return to the capital and investigate it thoroughly. That would be best, to give everyone the truth."

Aunt Liu even said, "Exactly! Rushing to close the case like this... could it be that the murderer has a guilty conscience?"

She had just finished speaking when the old village chief sternly reminded her, "Aunt Liu, you’d better watch what you say! If word of this gets out, it will affect our entire Xiangyun Village."

Aunt Liu pursed her lips.

Her husband, Uncle Liu, who was usually silent, spoke up for a rare change. "My wife isn’t wrong. Three lives can’t be dismissed so carelessly."

"Since Ningning only trusts the Crown Prince, Chief Wang shouldn’t make things difficult for a child by constantly pressuring her to sign and affix her print. Just wait for the Crown Prince to investigate, wouldn’t that be better?"

Chief Wang finally lost his patience.

He stood up, his face and neck flushed red, and roared at the people of Xiangyun Village—

"Do you think I don’t want to investigate? Do you think I actually want Miss Shen to affix her print? Forget me, none of you have any say in this!"

"My superiors in the government have already issued an order and closed this case! Their deaths were an accident, not arson! What can I do?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"If you resist now, if Miss Shen refuses to sign and affix her print, the final result is that none of us will come out of this well."

"Not only will I be reprimanded by my superiors, but your Xiangyun Village will also be suppressed in all sorts of ways. Miss Shen, the Wu family isn’t even from this village. Their own village chief isn’t making a fuss, so what exactly are you insisting on?"

He directed his last sentence at Shen Ningning.

Chief Wang’s face was flushed with anxiety, and from the dark circles under his eyes, it was clear this matter had likely cost him a lot of sleep.

Power pressed down on them like a great mountain.

Even if these three people had been wrongfully killed, if the higher-ups said they died by accident, then it was an accident.

Anyone who wanted to argue was challenging that power. He, a mere chief, couldn’t fight back, so what hope did a child like Shen Ningning have?

Chief Wang had encountered many such things before.

When he was younger, he would have relied on the sense of justice that still burned in his heart and insisted on investigating.

But later, after tasting too many bitter fruits, he had paid a heavy price.

Now, he was much more adept at handling these situations, but this was the first time he had ever encountered someone as unyielding as Shen Ningning.

The little one was exceptionally calm, and all the more resolute.

"What I’m insisting on is justice. You can’t call black white."

"And what gives you the confidence to say that?"

"I have the confidence because Brother Zuchang took his last breath in front of me; because Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu were about to repent before they died; and because in this world, evil cannot triumph over good!"

After she finished speaking, from behind the villagers, one person burst out with a loud cheer—

"Well said!"

’Who’s here?’ Shen Ningning turned around, puzzled.