Chapter 598: Chapter 598: Mo Lingwei Arrives

When the clerk entered the house and saw the kitchen brimming with food, he was stunned too.

Shen Ningning immediately said to Manager Wen, "The food is all mine. I certainly didn’t steal it from his family to give to you."

Manager Wen nodded repeatedly. "Miss Shen isn’t that kind of person. I trust her. Besides, it’s hardly a secret that things often go missing from Lord Ma’s house."

The clerk came to his senses and said, "I heard even more was lost this time. Lord Ma’s golden Buddha, which he had specially made as a divine offering, was stolen too."

Shen Ningning sneered. "Serves him right. For someone like him, he should be glad the immortals haven’t punished him yet. Does he really expect divine protection?"

She had indeed summoned a group of little mice. She bribed them with pine nuts, rice, and sesame oil, getting them to rally their friends and unleash all the city’s mice to wreak havoc at Lord Ma’s house.

But mice certainly wouldn’t steal gold. They only know how to take food.

If the rice and flour in Lord Ma’s house were gnawed through, that was probably their doing. But if the golden Buddha was missing, that had nothing to do with the mice.

In any case, it was surely retribution for Lord Ma’s own actions.

Seeing it was getting late, Manager Wen said, "Miss Shen, there’s a boat at the ferry landing at noon. If you hurry now, you can just make it. I’ll find an ox-cart to take you."

Shen Ningning smiled. "There’s no need, Manager. I arranged things with the owner of the post station yesterday. They’ll be sending a carriage to pick me up. I’m about to head out now."

She picked up her bag. Everyone in the Wen Family was reluctant to see her go, and along with the family of four, they walked Shen Ningning to the door.

"Sister, will you come back?" Doudou, one of the twin boys, asked pitifully as he clung to Shen Ningning’s hand.

Shen Ningning had cooked him seven eggs last night, and the little guy had eaten his fill.

It was the first time he had ever eaten so happily.

Shen Ningning had not only left supplies for the Wen Family, but she had also given this family of four some silver and grain to help them get back on their feet. The woman’s husband had also received treatment from her for his leg and was now taking the same prescribed medicine.

Looking at Doudou’s soft, tender little face, Shen Ningning patted his head and said with a smile, "If fate allows, I will definitely come back to see you. You must eat well and grow up strong. In the future, you can even come find me in the Capital City."

As she spoke, the carriage from the post station arrived at the end of the alley. Shen Ningning waved. "Go on back, now. No need to see me off."

Wen Xiaoman, holding her rabbit, said with red-rimmed eyes, "Take care, Miss Shen. Have a safe trip."

Shen Ningning gave a slight nod, then turned and boarded the carriage, which rolled away, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

At the ferry landing, quite a few travelers were already waiting for the boat.

Shen Ningning stood at the back of the line. The autumn breeze swept past, making the golden reeds by the water’s edge sway and ripple like ocean waves.

Wisps of black hair fluttered by the young woman’s cheeks, adding a lovely charm to her bright, pretty face.

They waited for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. As noon approached, the boat finally arrived.

Shen Ningning waited in line. Just as it was her turn to board, an urgent cry came from behind her. "Miss Shen! Miss Shen, wait!"

She turned to see Wen Xiaoman rushing over in an ox-cart, a look of desperation on her face.

Shen Ningning immediately turned and walked toward her. "Miss Wen, is something wrong?"

"Miss Shen, it’s terrible! The clerk at my father’s inn told Lord Ma about the things you gave us. Now Lord Ma is insisting that my father had you send people to steal from his house! He’s even saying you and my father conspired to steal his golden Buddha. My father has been taken to the county government! Can you please come back with me and be a witness?"

Wen Xiaoman was crying as she spoke. Shen Ningning handed her a handkerchief and was about to offer a few words of comfort when the boatman called out from behind them.

"Miss, are you still getting on the boat? We’re leaving!"

Shen Ningning pressed her lips together and glanced back at the boat.

’Finding my mother is important, but so is Manager Wen’s innocence.’

She made up her mind. "Miss Wen, I’ll go back with you to testify."

When Shen Ningning and Wen Xiaoman arrived at the county government office in the ox-cart, Manager Wen and the family of four were already kneeling on the ground. A crowd of townspeople had gathered at the entrance.

The grain Shen Ningning had left for the Wen Family was piled up next to Manager Wen, guarded by several constables as if it were stolen goods.

On the dais, Lord Ma sat imperiously while the County Magistrate responsible for the trial was actually bowing to serve him tea.

Wen Xiaoman burst in with Shen Ningning. "Father, I brought Miss Shen to testify for us!"

Manager Wen’s brow twitched, and he discreetly waved at Shen Ningning. "Miss Shen, you should go! This has nothing to do with you."

Lord Ma shot the magistrate a look, and the County Magistrate immediately bellowed, "Go where? She could be one of the thieves! No one is leaving until this is thoroughly investigated."

With that, he returned to his desk and slammed down his gavel.

"Who are you? State your name at once!"

"My surname is Shen." Shen Ningning had no patience for his nonsense and cut right to the chase. "All this grain is what I left for Manager Wen. On what grounds do you claim we stole it?"

Lord Ma stood up, his tone just as arrogant and domineering as it was the day before.

"We’re in a court of law and you still dare to argue? My household is missing more than half its rice, and the other half was ruined by rats! Meanwhile, your household just happens to have all this extra food. And you still claim you didn’t steal it?"

’This is blatant sophistry!’

Lord Ma had a servant bring forward a flour sack from his own household.

A corner of the sack had been gnawed through by mice. Shen Ningning pressed her lips together. "What a joke. Are you going to blame us for what mice have gnawed?"

Lord Ma ripped the sack open. "What the mice gnawed may have nothing to do with you, but the missing half of the flour certainly does, doesn’t it?"

Shen Ningning glanced at it. "It has nothing to do with us! Your flour is yellowish—you can tell it’s over six months old just by looking at it. The flour I gave Manager Wen is white and fine. If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves!"

Manager Wen’s supplies were right beside him. A constable took some to show the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate compared the two, then looked at Lord Ma with a troubled expression. "This..."

Lord Ma scowled and snorted. The magistrate flinched in fear, adjusted his official cap, and slammed the gavel down again, pointing an accusing finger at Shen Ningning.

"You audacious thief! The evidence is conclusive—this is Lord Ma’s property! Do you still dare to argue? Guards, administer the rod punishment!"

Shen Ningning was stunned and furious. The magistrate was telling bald-faced lies, clearly terrified of offending Lord Ma.

’My flour is a high-quality product from the Immortal Realm! What you normally see in the market is just ordinary flour. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell the difference at a glance!’

But alas, Lord Ma was determined to throw his weight around.

Just as Shen Ningning was about to pull out her princess’s token, a cold rebuke echoed from the entrance. "Touch one hair on her head, and I’ll tear this entire government office down."

Everyone turned to see a tall, stern-faced man striding in. He had an extraordinary air about him and was flanked by two black-clad, sword-bearing guards, each with an ice-cold gaze.

Shen Ningning froze.

’How did my brother get here?’

Mo Lingwei walked to her side and gave her a reassuring look.

The magistrate snapped out of his daze and roared, "Who are you? Barging into my courtroom like this! I’d say you’re an accomplice of this thief! Guards, seize them!"

Before Mo Lingwei could get angry, another anxious voice cried out from the entrance. "You mustn’t! You mustn’t!"

A round-bellied official came sprinting in, clutching his cap and gasping for breath.

Lord Ma had been squinting at the newcomer, but upon recognizing the official, his expression changed instantly. He shot to his feet with a fawning look. "Uncle-in-law, what are you doing here?"

The round-bellied official walked right up and kicked him. "You bastard! Get on your knees and greet the Crown Prince and the Princess!"

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