Chapter 312: Chapter 312: A Scoundrel Pestering Ningning

Since Shen Ningning began caring for the wolf pack, she had been living with them deep within Wolf Mountain.

She naturally shouldered the responsibility of enriching the entire mountain.

Furthermore, because of her status, everyone knew that besides raising the wolf pack, she also cared for many other fierce beasts and small animals in the mountains.

According to legend, Wolf Mountain held countless sources of food and resources.

But even as two natural disasters—a drought and a cold spell—struck one after the other, no one dared to cause trouble on Wolf Mountain.

This was because everyone knew that Shen Ningning, being a child, was easy to talk to.

But the wolves she raised genuinely ate people.

What’s more, fierce beasts from mountain ranges in all directions had already gathered there.

Their numbers continued to grow.

Apart from Shen Ningning, ordinary people truly didn’t dare enter Wolf Mountain.

However, the little girl never expected that with the cold disaster at its peak, someone would actually be unable to resist coming into the mountains to hunt!

The consequences, however, were tragic: they lost their life in a tiger’s jaws.

The great tiger’s big, round, golden eyes stared at Shen Ningning.

It let out a low roar. Although it tried its best to sound gentle, the whistling cry still sent shocking echoes reverberating through the forest.

Anyone who heard it would surely be scared to death.

Shen Ningning listened to its suggestion and nodded. "Okay, I’ll find a chance to persuade the people of Xitai Village."

"You don’t need to worry about me. If someone wants to hurt you, you should naturally fight back."

With that, the great tiger led its streak away.

On the way back, Shen Ningning stroked the Black Wolf King’s ear.

She asked, "Langlang, what do you think?"

The Black Wolf King’s eyes were narrow and profound.

It gazed at the black-and-white, snow-covered mountain forest ahead and let out a low howl.

Shen Ningning understood its thoughts.

The Black Wolf King felt that the tiger was right to attack the human. In fact, it believed a death was necessary.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be enough to deter other hunters who might get similar ideas.

If people gathered together and frantically attacked the mountain, it would only lead to mutual destruction.

Even hunters from Xitai Village dared to sneak up from the back of the mountain to hunt.

If they got a taste of success.

It was possible they might come to the wolf pack’s territory to hunt them for their pelts.

Shen Ningning thought for a moment, then nodded her little head firmly.

"You’re right. We can’t be lenient about this. We have to make them give up."

The Black Wolf King escorted Shen Ningning back to the village.

The little girl then had the wolf pack return to their home on the mountain.

She, herself, went to find Grandma Qin.

Before she even entered the gate, she heard Dong Aniu’s crying from the courtyard.

"Aunt, you can ignore me, but you can’t ignore Sanhua!"

Shen Ningning furrowed her cute little eyebrows. Her porcelain-like cheeks were rosy pink.

She listened quietly to Dong Aniu’s tearful plea.

He told Grandma Qin that his younger sister, Dong Sanhua, had fallen in love with a man from town.

However, the day before their engagement was to be settled, she suddenly disappeared.

Dong Aniu believed Dong Sanhua had been kidnapped.

He had come here, kneeling and crying, to beg Grandma Qin to persuade Shen Ningning to use her connections as a Commandery Princess to search for Dong Sanhua.

Tears and snot streamed down Dong Aniu’s face as he cried.

Grandma Qin frowned, her eyes closed with a calm and composed demeanor.

Her tone was stern and steady. "If that’s your scheme, then I can’t help you, and I certainly won’t let Ningning help you."

"Our Ningning is busy with her studies. If Sanhua is really missing, you should go to the government. What’s the use of looking for a child for help?"

Dong Aniu said confidently, "But she’s a Commandery Princess! She has vast connections and knows many people. What’s wrong with helping me? We’re family!"

Grandma Qin opened her eyes, her gaze filled with anger.

"You still have the nerve to say we’re family?"

"If it weren’t for your mother’s sake, I would have thrown you out of my house long ago."

"Last time, with the Lifen incident, your actions were disgraceful. You even dragged Ningning into it, making her run around to compensate the villagers with silver."

"So this time, I will not get involved with you no matter what."

Dong Aniu grew anxious. "Aunt!"

Just then, a sweet, soft voice drifted in from the courtyard.

"Grandma, I’m back."

Hearing Shen Ningning’s voice, Grandma Qin’s old face finally broke into a kind and gentle smile.

"Ningning, you’re back just in time. Grandma roasted some piping hot sweet potatoes and taro for you. Come quick and have one to warm yourself up."

Shen Ningning walked into the courtyard with her little steps.

She wore a small, madder-red jacket embroidered with persimmons and auspicious clouds.

Her soft, black hair was braided into two small buns, adorned with orange hair flowers.

The little girl wore a longevity lock from the Xie Mansion around her neck. Her small face was milky-white, her features delicate, and her eyes dark and clear.

She looked just like a good-fortune doll that had stepped out of a New Year’s painting.

Dong Aniu looked as if he had seen his savior.

He rushed over and, with a THUD, knelt before the little girl.

His filthy hands grabbed a corner of Shen Ningning’s clean, brocaded robes.

"Ningning, you have to help your uncle!"

Shen Ningning looked down, her eyelashes long and thick. Her watery eyes, which seemed to be flecked with stardust, were utterly endearing.

"Help you?" The end of her childish voice tilted up slightly.

Leaning on her cane, Grandma Qin came over and pushed Dong Aniu aside.

Then, she shielded Shen Ningning behind her.

"Ah Niu, stop bothering Ningning. I told you, for this matter, you can only report it to the government. Don’t come here and trouble a child!"

Dong Aniu put his palms together, begging, "Aunt, we’re family!"

He raised his voice. "Ningning, I hear you’ve always been kind-hearted. You wouldn’t ignore your uncle, would you?"

"And besides, Sanhua is your aunt! You have to find her!"

Shen Ningning had already heard the whole story clearly from outside the courtyard.

She blinked her big eyes, her small, rosy lips parting and closing.

"I won’t get involved, and I can’t. Grandma won’t let me, and I listen to Grandma."

After speaking, the little girl took Grandma Qin’s arm to support her.

"Grandma, it’s cold out here. Let’s go inside and warm up by the fire."

The pair, grandmother and granddaughter, then went into the house together.

Dong Aniu sat slumped in the courtyard, wailing for a long time, but the two of them ignored him.

’So heartless!’ Dong Aniu thought, seething with resentment.

He stood up and patted the snow from his clothes.

Staring at the tightly shut door, a look of resentment flashed in his eyes.

’Just you wait, Shen Ningning! I’ll definitely convince you.’

’She doesn’t have a choice but to agree!’

Shen Ningning asked Grandma Qin about the character of Xitai Village’s headman.

Grandma Qin said, "Their village head’s surname is Mei. He’s not easy to get along with, but if the matter is important and you speak to him properly, he should listen to reason."

Shen Ningning nodded obediently, her small face glowing crimson in the light of the brazier.

Her voice was soft and sweet. "He has to cooperate. Otherwise, if he angers the beasts on the mountain, I won’t be able to help him."

「The next day.」

The little girl had just finished her classes at the National Academy and was wondering whether to make a trip to Xitai Village.

But unexpectedly, a crowd of students had gathered at the entrance, seemingly watching some commotion.

The sound of someone crying and shouting came from outside—

"Everyone, come and be the judge! I am Princess Funing’s uncle, and the missing girl is her aunt! But Princess Funing refuses to care whether we live or die! Is there any justice in this world?!"

Shen Ningning’s little face darkened. She pushed through the crowd to the front.

There she saw Dong Aniu sitting on the ground with a sign hanging around his neck. It read that his sister was missing and he had nowhere to turn for help.

The students were pointing and murmuring, and some were giving Shen Ningning strange looks.

Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan rushed out, one after the other.

"Is this another one of your poor relatives? I’ll have my guards drive him away!" Ye Shangyi said.

Lu Shaoyuan rolled up his sleeves and pointed at Dong Aniu. "Stop slandering Shen Ningning and shut your mouth!"

Dong Aniu’s crying paused for a moment before erupting into an even louder wail.

"Look, everyone! This is Princess Funing, the so-called kind and blessed girl!"

Shen Ningning’s small face was taut with seriousness. "I can’t help you with your problem. I told you to report it to the government, but you didn’t. What are you doing causing a scene here?"

Dong Aniu’s crying stopped.

He declared righteously, "People report cases to the government every day. I’m just a commoner. If I go, will they even take my case seriously?"

"Ningning, it’s not me trying to criticize you, but how can your heart be so cruel? You were abandoned on the mountain by your family when you were a child."

"My sister, Sanhua, is missing now too. I’m worried sick looking for her. Can’t you put yourself in my shoes and think from my perspective?"

"When you were lost, what if your brother and your parents were anxiously searching for you, but no one would help them? If you ignore me, can your conscience bear it?"

"You’ve suffered yourself, so how can you not understand the suffering of others?"

Lu Shaoyuan was the first to explode with anger.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he pointed at Dong Aniu, furious.

"Say that again, and I’ll kill you!"

Xie Ming’an’s carriage slowly came to a stop beside the National Academy.

He lifted the curtain, his dark eyes watching the situation unfold around Shen Ningning.

Facing Dong Aniu’s accusations, the little girl’s expression grew as cold and frosty as the winter sky.

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