Chapter 39: Chapter 39: I Want to Ask the Crown Prince’s Name

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Shen Ningning had given away all the sachets she made.

Content, she led the two Attendant Students and Lu Shaoyuan back to the private school.

"Why did you give the sachets away for free, and do a good deed in the County Magistrate’s name?" Lu Shaoyuan finally couldn’t resist asking.

Shen Ningning tilted her small head, her dewy eyes glittering in the night.

"Because Grandpa County Magistrate is really nice to me! It’s all thanks to him that I can come here to study."

"I heard he was being slandered, so I wanted to do a little something to remind everyone how good he is. Maybe it could help him a little bit!"

Lu Shaoyuan fell silent upon hearing this.

After they returned to the private school, he watched Shen Ningning go into her room before turning, relieved, to head back to his own.

He also lived in a special room in the East Courtyard, but the male and female students had separate courtyards.

He had watched her all the way to her door because the little girl had looked so excited.

He was worried she might suddenly come up with another new idea, rush out the door, and break the school rules.

Lan Qian hid behind a doorframe, staring as they returned together. She was so furious she felt like her chest would explode.

"She actually came back this late! I’m going to tell the teacher!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She was about to head out as she spoke, but first, she checked the time. Seeing that it wasn’t past 7 p.m. yet, Lan Qian confidently ran toward the teacher’s courtyard.

"Mr. Huang!" Lan Qian burst into his room. "Aren’t you going to do anything? Shen Ningning has gone too far. She was actually out on the street selling things!"

Mr. Huang was grading papers and looked up. "She went out selling things?"

Lan Qian nodded. "Yes! And she didn’t just go by herself, she dragged Brother Shao Yuan along with her."

"Mr. Huang, if you don’t discipline her, she might ruin the entire school’s moral atmosphere next!"

"If everyone stops studying and starts selling things instead, won’t our parents blame the school when they find out?"

Mr. Huang was silent for a moment.

He said, "Don’t be so anxious. Let me look into this before making a judgment. It’s late; you should go back now."

Before leaving, Lan Qian added pointedly, "Mr. Huang, you have to punish her. Otherwise, I won’t stand for it!"

After she left.

Mr. Huang picked up Shen Ningning’s schoolwork.

Her answers were all perfect, and her handwriting was neat and proper.

’The idea that she would be a bad influence on Lu Shaoyuan is surely impossible.’

’But if Lan Qian uses this to blow things out of proportion, the students’ parents will come to the school, and that will be a headache.’

’What should I do?’

Shen Ningning had been busy all day. After shouting to the crowd on the street that evening, her throat was parched by the time she got back to her room.

She blew out the lamp and drew the outer room’s curtain to prevent Lan Qian from snooping again.

Afterward, she entered the Immortal Realm.

First, she sat down under an orange tree and cut open a few sweet, juicy oranges to eat.

Afterward, she went to the edge of the Spiritual Spring and splashed the water on her face.

Instantly, she felt wonderfully refreshed!

Just then, her little stomach started to GRUMBLE.

’Mmm... I’m a little hungry. I suddenly really miss Grandma’s cooking.’ The little girl sat on the threshold with her chin in her hands, her big, dewy eyes looking pitiful.

Suddenly, she had an idea.

’If I ask Grandma to prepare food in advance next time, I can put it in the Immortal Realm.’

’Then I can bring it to the private school to eat whenever I want, right?’

’Next time I go home, I have to try it!’

「She slept soundly until morning.」

Throughout the day, Shen Ningning listened attentively in class and studied hard.

Mr. Huang wanted to talk to her, but he didn’t know how to broach the subject.

When classes were finally dismissed for the day, Shen Ningning was packing her books to go home.

Lan Qian stared fixedly.

Mr. Huang was about to ask her to stay behind for a talk.

Just then, an Attendant Student ran over. "Teacher! The County Magistrate has come to our school!"

"What?!" Mr. Huang, both shocked and flattered, quickly told the Attendant Student to summon the other teachers to greet their guest.

Fu Yuansong had indeed come in person.

When Shen Ningning heard the news, she ran to the gate and saw the kind, amiable old man standing at the entrance, speaking with the teachers.

"Grandpa Fu!" the little girl called out happily, running over with a PITTER-PATTER of her feet.

Fu Yuansong swept Shen Ningning into his arms. "Ningning, my dear, is everything going well at school?"

A joyful smile lit up the little girl’s round face. "Yes! The teachers are all looking after me."

Mr. Huang quickly added, "Scholar Shen is bright and motivated. She’s a quick learner and never causes any trouble."

Fu Yuansong nodded, satisfied. "She is still young. If there is anything she doesn’t understand, please be sure to give her extra attention."

"Yes!" all the teachers replied in unison, clasping their hands in a bow.

Then, Fu Yuansong smiled down at Shen Ningning. "Come on, Grandpa will take you home today."

As they boarded the carriage, Lu Shaoyuan emerged from the school gates.

’Looks like the good deed Shen Ningning did in Magistrate Fu’s name really worked.’

For some reason, Lu Shaoyuan found himself feeling a little happy for her.

Mr. Huang returned to his room.

Lan Qian was, surprisingly, still waiting for him at his door.

"Mr. Huang, did you speak to Shen Ningning or not? If she keeps selling things, you should expel her from the school so she doesn’t corrupt everyone else!"

Her tone was so insolent and unreasonable that it instantly sparked Mr. Huang’s anger.

"Scholar Lan!" Mr. Huang snapped. "If you have this much energy to spare, you should be focusing it on your studies, not meddling in other people’s affairs!"

"On this last exam, both Scholar Shen and Lu Scholar answered every single question correctly! But you... your performance can be described in three words: ’a total loss’!"

"I suggest you focus on your own studies instead of constantly targeting others."

With that said, Mr. Huang flicked his sleeve and entered his room.

Lan Qian felt humiliated and ran away crying.

’What did I even do wrong?’

’Why did Mr. Huang have to be so harsh with me!’

’Now, even Lu Shaoyuan barely talks to me.’

’This is all Shen Ningning’s fault!’

’I have to find a chance to expose Shen Ningning’s family background and let everyone know she’s just a helpless pauper!’

On the carriage ride home, Fu Yuansong told Shen Ningning what had happened.

It turned out that when the little girl was giving away free sachets the previous night, an undercover official sent by the court had been in the crowd.

He saw that even a child so young was willing to do good deeds to help Magistrate Fu.

This made him suspect that there was something strange about the case, so he launched a full investigation.

And finally, he cleared Magistrate Fu’s name.

Shen Ningning was overjoyed to hear this.

"I’m so glad I could help Grandpa Fu!"

Fu Yuansong stroked his beard, laughing heartily. "Oh, Ningning, Ningning. You’ve saved your grandpa once again. Is there anything you want? Don’t be afraid to tell me."

The little girl’s eyes were bright and clear. She thought for a moment. "I don’t want anything, but I do have a question for you, Grandpa Fu."

"Ask away."

"Is Mo Lingwei the name of the Crown Prince?"

Shen Ningning’s voice was soft and sweet, filled with earnest curiosity.

However, hearing her question, Fu Yuansong’s smile immediately froze.