Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years
Chapter 169: Just Call Me Brother
Shen Ningning glanced back in surprise, her little face filled with confusion.
"Brother Xie, you’re not going?"
"You led me up the mountain so openly. Chen Ye must not be at your house."
Xie Mingxu said calmly as he led his warhorse over and tightened its tack.
Shen Ningning blinked her long, curled lashes twice. "Yep, he’s really not at my house."
Just as the little girl was wondering if she should head down the mountain with Xie Mingxu, he patted the saddle on his warhorse.
"Do you want to try riding?"
Shen Ningning’s glistening eyes widened. "Me? But I don’t know how."
"That’s exactly why you need to learn. You’re young, so you’ll pick it up faster." With that, Xie Mingxu took hold of the little girl’s arms and easily lifted her onto the horse’s back.
It was her first time on a horse. The steed beneath her shifted its front hooves, and Shen Ningning’s rosy cheeks trembled in fright.
Her small hand clutched Xie Mingxu’s sleeve. "I can’t, I’m scared."
Xie Mingxu’s voice was calm yet patient. "There’s nothing to be afraid of. Just imagine that you’re this tall, and the horse is like your own legs, walking for you."
Shen Ningning was still a little nervous.
So Xie Mingxu said, "If you’re scared, just hold on to the reins."
The next second, Shen Ningning’s little hand grabbed tightly onto his hair crown.
Xie Mingxu: ...
He said in a low voice, "Grab the reins on the horse’s neck."
Shen Ningning’s small hands finally managed to grab the reins, and the warhorse beneath her stood firm.
Xie Mingxu nodded slightly. "Just like that. Now, gently tap the horse’s flank with your feet."
Shen Ningning did as he said and tapped the horse’s belly. The warhorse immediately began to walk forward.
The little girl let out a soft, adorable cry. "Oh, it’s moving!"
Her innocence made Xie Mingxu chuckle. "Of course it is. It’ll be even faster when it runs, but since you’re a beginner, just sit tight and enjoy the view for now."
He appeared to have let go, but he was actually walking just behind and to the side of the horse, ready to protect Shen Ningning at a moment’s notice.
The little girl gradually grew accustomed to it and didn’t even need to hold the reins anymore. She felt the autumn wind on her face and let out a sweet laugh.
"This feels a little like riding on Langlang’s back! But, Brother Xie, why did you want me to ride the horse?"
Xie Mingxu’s tone was even. "To buy some time. If we go back too quickly, the soldiers I brought with me will get suspicious."
’The soldiers weren’t his own men. Since they had come with a purpose, he had to make the act convincing.’
Shen Ningning froze for a moment at his words, her dark, glistening eyes turning to look at Xie Mingxu.
"Brother Xie, aren’t you afraid that I really am hiding Brother Chen?"
"I trust you not to lie. You probably have some history with the village woman who reported you, which is why she said what she did."
After a pause, Xie Mingxu added, "Besides, if you really are hiding a fugitive, I hope you’ll tell me the truth."
"Because this man, Chen Ye, may have committed the crime of desertion from the army. It’s a very serious offense."
His gaze was as clear and cold as snow, and Shen Ningning lowered her head in shame.
’Should I tell Brother Xie? But if I do, won’t I be letting Brother Chen down?’
Seeing the little girl’s predicament, Xie Mingxu spoke casually, "I noticed you also call the Crown Prince ’Brother’?"
Shen Ningning snapped out of her thoughts. "Yep! Grandma told me to be polite. I should call anyone older than me ’Brother’, and anyone much older ’Uncle’!"
Xie Mingxu smiled. "But you call me ’Brother’ too. I’m afraid that might get confusing with how you address the Crown Prince."
Shen Ningning tilted her head in confusion.
’Really?’
’I already make a distinction. I only call Mo Lingwei ’Brother.’ For everyone else, I add their family name.’
The next second, she heard Xie Mingxu say, "From now on, just call me Brother. That way, it can be set apart from how you address the Crown Prince."
Shen Ningning’s voice was soft and sweet. "Brother?"
Xie Mingxu nodded, a hint of gentleness on his handsome, composed face. "I have a sister about your age. When I see you, I’m reminded of her."
’It’s just... she’s lost.’
Upon hearing this, Shen Ningning immediately agreed. "Okay! From now on, I’ll call you Brother."
They spent some more time together, and under Xie Mingxu’s guidance and protection, the little girl even dared to urge the horse into a trot.
An hour later, Xie Mingxu finally led his warhorse down the mountain alone.
When Wang Qiao’er saw him, she quickly climbed down from her carriage.
Unable to hide the gloating look in her eyes, she craned her neck to see behind Xie Mingxu.
"Where’s Shen Ningning? Officer, did you see Chen Ye at her house?"
Xie Mingxu’s expression was cold and hard, radiating a murderous, unapproachable aura.
He shot Wang Qiao’er a look, his tone icy and stern. "Not only did I not see Chen Ye, but I ran into a pack of wolves and was nearly injured. What exactly were you plotting?"
Wang Qiao’er was stunned. "What? Shen Ningning does have a pack of wolves, but they won’t attack unless she orders them to!"
"Are you saying I would lie?" Xie Mingxu rebuked her sharply. "It seems to me you’re just making false accusations out of selfish spite. Don’t you realize we are on official business, yet you dared to use us for your own ends?"
"To put it more seriously, this is obstruction of military affairs. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to throw you in prison and give you fifty strokes with the heavy plank."
He spoke with such sternness, his expression so cold, that Wang Qiao’er’s face turned deathly pale with fright.
She hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, crying, "Forgive me, Officer! I... I didn’t know Chen Ye really wasn’t there! I just wanted to help find him! I’ll never do it again, I was wrong!"
Xie Mingxu ignored the miserably weeping Wang Qiao’er and warned with a cold expression, "If there is a next time, you will not be shown such leniency."
With that, he led his soldiers away, leaving her there.
Deng Fugui saw him leave and rushed over to help Wang Qiao’er to her feet.
"Mom, what’s wrong?"
"Let’s go! This blasted Xiangyun Village is bad luck for me! I’m never coming back here again!" ’I just wanted to see Shen Ningning get what she deserved, and I nearly got dragged into it myself.’
The weather grew cooler day by day, and the golden autumn everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.
One idle day, Mo Lingwei came to Wolf Mountain to pick up Shen Ningning. He was taking her to the palace to have some proper clothes made.
Shen Ningning’s investiture ceremony as a Commandery Princess was at the end of the month. By that count, there was only half a month left.
The little girl boarded the carriage with a basket of fruit still glistening with dew.
Mo Lingwei glanced at the basket and chuckled. "You certainly have a lot of fruit. No wonder you wanted to open a tea stall. By the way, your stall was destroyed by Wei Yufu. Do you want me to have someone build a new one for you?"
Shen Ningning shook her little head. "There’s no rush. The National Academy exams are coming up, and I need to focus completely on preparing. Besides, Wuer still hasn’t recovered from his injuries."
’The tea shed would definitely be rebuilt, but the refugees who were beaten by the Wei Family’s servants hadn’t fully recovered yet.’
That’s why Shen Ningning wasn’t in a hurry.
After they entered the palace, Mo Lingwei held her hand as they strolled along a palace path.
A gust of autumn wind carried a refreshing, sweet fragrance toward them, accompanied by the soft tinkling of a bell. For a moment, everything felt ethereal and serene.
Shen Ningning looked ahead and saw four palace maids clearing the path, their bearing prim and proper.
Behind them, eunuchs carried an openwork sedan chair draped in thin gauze, slowly approaching them.
The tinkling sound came from bells on the four corners of the sedan.
Mo Lingwei squeezed her small hand and said, "That’s Consort Rong. She’s usually very quiet and doesn’t vie for favor."
Shen Ningning nodded her little head in understanding.
The sedan stopped in front of them.
A beautiful woman with a gentle yet noble air stepped out of the sedan.
She first curtsied to Mo Lingwei. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Then, Consort Rong turned to Shen Ningning with a gentle smile. "This must be Princess Funing, I presume?"