Chapter 271: Chapter 271: You’ve Been Tricked

When classes at the National Academy ended for the evening, Shen Ningning was about to board her carriage to go home.

But to her surprise, Ye Shangyi poked her head out of her own carriage and called out to her.

"Hey, Shen Ningning!"

The little girl turned to look, her small face flushed red like two rosy clouds.

"What is it?" Shen Ningning asked, blinking her large eyes.

Ye Shangyi actually tossed a bag of silver right at her.

Just as it was about to hit Shen Ningning, Muchun rushed forward and caught it.

Ye Shangyi huffed. "When I went home last time, my grandfather said that what you did was a great act of charity."

"A single quilted cloak is selling for 800 taels on the market. I refuse to take advantage of you. The silver in here is to make up the difference!"

With that, before Shen Ningning could even react, Ye Shangyi had already ordered her carriage to depart.

The little girl finally snapped out of it and took a couple of steps after the carriage. "But they’re selling the thick ones for that price! Mine are thinner."

However, the Ye Family’s carriage was already far down the road.

Shen Ningning stared at the entire bundle of silver notes, completely baffled.

Even Muchun had to ask, "Commandery Princess, do you think the Ye Family figured out you sold them the items for cheap?"

Shen Ningning’s sweet voice was filled with innocence. "But I didn’t sell them for cheap at all."

’I really have no idea what that Ye Shangyi is thinking.’

「Two days later.」

Every five days, Ye Shangyi had to enter the palace to accompany the Ninth Prince in his studies at the Imperial School, where she would attend to his ink and brushes.

Today was no exception.

The princes were all rather easy to get along with, but Ye Shangyi had almost no opportunity to interact with them directly.

The Ninth Prince, on the other hand, was very thoughtful and took good care of her.

During occasional breaks in their studies, he would let Ye Shangyi go outside to get some air.

And so, the day’s studies came to an end.

As Ye Shangyi was preparing to leave the palace, the Ninth Prince smiled gently at her. "My mother, the Consort, said she would like you to stay for a palace banquet tonight. Would that be convenient?"

"An invitation from Her Ladyship? Of course I’m available." Ye Shangyi was delighted.

She had worked hard to obtain the position of female official.

Both Consort Rong and the Ninth Prince were kind and approachable to their subordinates, which made her grow to like this position more and more.

After dinner that evening, the Ninth Prince left first to review his lessons.

Consort Rong asked Ye Shangyi to stay for a chat.

"The last time we spoke, you were distressed about Princess Funing. But seeing you today, you’re glowing. Have you found a solution to what was troubling you?"

Consort Rong, whose beauty was serene and gentle, sat by the daybed holding a scroll.

The way she spoke to Ye Shangyi was as warm and friendly as a family elder.

Ye Shangyi naturally began to speak her mind.

"Your Ladyship, thinking about it now, I realize I was worrying over nothing."

"Oh? Why do you say that?"

"While it’s true that Shen Ningning has supplies, she’s likely given away everything she could since the start of the cold disaster."

Holding her warm tea, Ye Shangyi made no attempt to hide her thoughts.

"I’ve asked around," she said. "She has indeed helped a lot of people in the city."

"She probably refused to help her classmates before because most of the students at the National Academy come from illustrious families. It wasn’t her place to help them."

"She knew the poor commoners in the city were the ones who really needed her help, so I’m not angry with her anymore."

"Besides, she can’t have much left herself. I’m afraid selling us those thirty quilted cloaks was the absolute most she could do."

Something shifted in Consort Rong’s eyes. A candle on the table let out a sharp POP as its wick flared.

An unseen draft made the flame flicker, stretching Consort Rong’s shadow, cast upon the cool, blue-green marble, longer and longer.

Her gentle face, plump and placid, was like a clay idol, incapable of showing joy or anger.

After Ye Shangyi finished speaking, she received no response from Consort Rong for a long moment.

She looked up to see Consort Rong’s eyes fixed on one spot, as if she were lost in thought.

"Your Ladyship?" Ye Shangyi asked, feeling a little apprehensive. "Did I say something wrong?"

Consort Rong seemed to come back to life, offering a gentle smile. "No, I was just thinking how rare it is to find a child as kind-hearted as you."

Pleased, Ye Shangyi gave a demure smile.

Consort Rong’s Chief Palace Maid stepped forward to refill their tea. "This servant feels that Miss Ye must have been deceived by Princess Funing," she said.

Ye Shangyi froze. "Deceived me about what?"

The Chief Palace Maid held the teapot and said, "Everyone knows that Princess Funing opened up an entire granary just to stockpile firewood."

"And that’s not her only stockpile. Before the cold disaster hit, the Xie family was buying up firewood everywhere for Princess Funing."

"Just from the firewood alone, one can imagine how much she truly has, to say nothing of her other supplies. She can feed an entire village, all of Wolf Mountain. How could she possibly be short on things?"

"This servant believes she simply didn’t want to give you anything and lied to you, Miss Ye."

Ye Shangyi frowned, half-believing and half-doubting. "How is that possible? I don’t think Shen Ningning is that kind of person..."

But her words lacked conviction.

After all, Shen Ningning was clever, and the two of them weren’t close.

No one could say for sure what kind of person Shen Ningning really was.

Only then did Consort Rong scold her Chief Palace Maid. "Jin Zhen, do not speak nonsense. I despise it when those around me gossip and make wild accusations."

The Chief Palace Maid immediately knelt. "This servant spoke out of turn. I beg Your Ladyship to forgive me."

But Ye Shangyi could no longer sit still. Agitated, she stood up and hurriedly took her leave.

"Your Ladyship, the hour is late. I will be returning home now."

After she had gone, the Chief Palace Maid stood at the door, watching Ye Shangyi’s figure recede into the distance.

She returned to Consort Rong’s side and found the consort trimming a candlewick.

"Your Ladyship, it seems Miss Ye is full of suspicion."

The corners of Consort Rong’s lips curved into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

She gazed at the dancing flame. "Sometimes, you have to trim off the burnt part to make the flame burn brighter."

Ye Shangyi’s understanding of Shen Ningning was not what Consort Rong had hoped for.

No matter. She would just have to change her mind by force.

The Chief Palace Maid nodded and retrieved a letter from a cabinet.

"Your Ladyship, speaking of cleverness, the fourth miss of the Xie family is truly remarkable."

"You see, last month you sent her a letter of comfort, and in her gratitude, she wrote back all these pages."

Consort Rong took the letter from Xie Yuanjiu, gave it a brief glance, and then set it aside.

A pleased expression crossed her face. "Yes, Xie Yuanjiu is clever indeed."

"Write a reply on my behalf, and send 200 taels along with it."

"Tell her that Chancellor Xie wants her to be tempered by hardship, so I cannot help her too much. I hope she understands."

"The moment an opportunity arises, I will certainly help her return to the capital."

The Chief Palace Maid agreed and turned to write the letter.

On this day, Ye Shangyi went to the palace as usual to serve as the Ninth Prince’s study companion.

When it was time to leave, Consort Rong specially arranged for a palace carriage to take her home.

She even said, "There have been several incidents in the city recently of commoners stopping the carriages of noble families to rob them. It is best that I send someone to escort you home."

Ye Shangyi thanked her profusely.

But as the carriage passed an alleyway, she heard a familiar, sweet voice.

"Wait, stop the carriage," Ye Shangyi ordered the driver.

At her request, the carriage slowly backed up until it was directly opposite the alley.

Ye Shangyi saw Shen Ningning’s carriage parked at the entrance to the Fu Family’s home, the residence of the Guangyang County Magistrate.

The little girl was beaming as she directed Chen Ye and the Fu Family’s servants to help move things.

Crates of pork, rice, and flour, along with a dozen wrapped, thick quilted robes, were carried into the Fu Family’s home.

There were even bundles of coarse firewood!

Fu Yuansong came out to greet her personally, thanking her profusely. "Ningning, I already felt bad about asking you before. I truly don’t know what to say now that you’ve given so much."

"Grandpa Fu, don’t be so formal with me! Hurry and get it all inside~" Shen Ningning’s smile was as lovely as a blooming flower.

Ye Shangyi gritted her teeth, watching everything unfold from inside her carriage.

The palace maid Jin Zhen’s words echoed in her ears—

’She’s most likely hiding her supplies and doesn’t want to give you any.’

’Shen Ningning... was this generous even to a County Magistrate!’

’The County Magistrate isn’t poor, nor is he a victim of the disaster, yet she gives him so much just because she wants to.’

’It’s just as Jin Zhen said! Shen Ningning was putting on an act in front of them. She’s actually incredibly selfish!’

Ye Shangyi dropped the curtain and snapped, "Let’s go!"

She completely forgot to wonder why Consort Rong’s driver had taken her home via this particular road in Guangyang County.

Her mind was consumed with rage at Shen Ningning’s unwillingness to help everyone.

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