Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years
Chapter 174: My Brother Is Here to Back Me Up
When Shen Ningning heard that Mo Lingwei had been poisoned, the color drained from her little face.
She didn’t even stop to consider what this had to do with her. She immediately held out her little hand. "Let’s go. We have to hurry."
Just then, an imperial guard behind Commander Lu approached with a rope, intending to tie the little girl up.
With swift reflexes, Lu Shaoyuan grabbed Shen Ningning’s wrist and pulled her behind him.
"Shao Yuan!" Commander Lu bellowed. "Do not obstruct official business."
Lu Shaoyuan frowned. "Brother, explain yourself. What does the Crown Prince’s poisoning have to do with Shen Ningning? Why does she need to be brought in for questioning?"
’If the Crown Prince was harmed because of her, knowing the Emperor’s temperament, he’d never let Shen Ningning off.’
Commander Lu pursed his lips and said gravely, "Miss Shen, are you in business with a medicine shop in the city, and do you frequently sell medicinal herbs to the shopkeeper?"
Shen Ningning peeked out from behind Lu Shaoyuan and nodded her little head. "Yes."
Commander Lu nodded. "The problem lies with the Aconite in a medicinal formula the Crown Prince consumed."
"Someone from the Imperial Hospital confessed that all these herbs came from outside the palace—from you."
"The Crown Prince is currently coughing up blood nonstop, so I need you to come to the palace and cooperate with my investigation. Do you understand?"
As he finished speaking, Lu Shaoyuan’s eyes filled with terror.
Shen Ningning looked bewildered. "Grandpa Shopkeeper has always bought Aconite from me without any issues. How could Brother get sick from it?"
Worried about Mo Lingwei’s condition, she decisively agreed to go with Commander Lu.
"Brother!" Lu Shaoyuan once again grabbed Shen Ningning’s sleeve, giving Commander Lu a pleading look.
This time, Commander Lu drew his sword and pressed it sharply against Lu Shaoyuan’s neck.
Shen Ningning’s face was filled with panic. She quickly waved her little hands. "Don’t worry, Lu Shaoyuan, I’ll be fine! I’m just going to help with the investigation. Go to Xiangyun Village and tell my grandma for me so she doesn’t worry. But don’t tell her the truth—just say I went to Ren Yu’s house to play."
Commander Lu stared at Lu Shaoyuan. "Anyone who obstructs official business will be punished."
Lu Shaoyuan looked at Shen Ningning with worried eyes. In the end, he could only plead with his brother, "Brother, take care of Shen Ningning. She would never poison the Crown Prince."
Commander Lu sheathed his sword without a word.
However, when the imperial guard once again stepped forward with the rope to bind Shen Ningning, Commander Lu said coldly, "There’s no need for that. She’s just a child."
The little girl was beside herself with worry the entire way to the palace.
「Meanwhile, in Zichen Palace.」
Mo Lingwei was leaning against the side of his couch, vomiting blood uncontrollably.
A eunuch held a copper basin, his voice trembling with anxiety as he saw how much blood the Crown Prince had just brought up.
"Wh-what, what are we going to do?"
The Emperor was outside discussing countermeasures with the imperial physicians.
Hearing the commotion, he hurried inside.
"Lingwei, my dear Lingwei," he cried, fraught with anxiety. He ignored the filth, wiping the blood from Mo Lingwei’s lips with his hand. "Tell your Imperial Father, where does it hurt?"
Mo Lingwei’s gaze was grim. He summoned all his strength and grabbed the Emperor’s collar fiercely.
The Emperor half-knelt on the foot of the couch. "What is it? Tell your Imperial Father."
Enduring the searing pain that felt like his organs were on fire, Mo Lingwei gritted his teeth. "Do not... make things difficult for... Shen Ningning. This has... nothing to do... with her."
A look of sorrow and understanding crossed the Emperor’s face.
He lowered his voice. "I just promised you. Why are you bringing it up again?"
"Your Imperial Father has already told you, this isn’t about making things difficult for her. I suspect someone is targeting you and trying to frame Shen Ningning. Bringing her to the palace for this investigation is a way to avoid tipping our hand."
"Rest assured, I know that little girl is completely devoted to you. How could I possibly give her a hard time?"
"The most pressing matter is your health... Ah! Lingwei! Imperial Physician! Where are the Imperial Physicians!"
Only after hearing the Emperor’s promise not to harm Shen Ningning did Mo Lingwei finally let go, his face ashen as he passed out.
Zichen Palace descended into chaos.
Shen Ningning, who was waiting outside, was never summoned.
Her small, delicate face was etched with worry for Mo Lingwei.
She kept craning her neck, watching the flickering shadows inside. Imperial physicians came and went, and not a single one of them looked optimistic.
Terribly worried, she looked up at Commander Lu beside her. "Brother Lu, will... will Brother really be okay?"
Commander Lu didn’t dare to answer. Before leaving the palace, he had seen the Crown Prince spit up blood with his own eyes.
He had overheard the imperial physicians whispering that Mo Lingwei had been afflicted with a potent poison, one that was activated by the Aconite and was devastatingly aggressive.
Commander Lu could only say, "The Crown Prince is a man of great fortune. He will surely overcome this."
However, they waited for another fifteen minutes, yet the Emperor still didn’t emerge to summon her.
It was now dusk. As twilight gathered, the setting sun stained the golden palace a deep, blood-like gold.
As a lone bird streaked across the sky, piercing the fiery afterglow, a messenger eunuch emerged from within.
He cupped his hands and spoke apologetically to Commander Lu. "His Majesty is with the Crown Prince right now. I’m afraid he won’t be able to summon Miss Shen for some time."
"Therefore, would Commander Lu please escort Miss Shen to the torture room to be detained."
Commander Lu frowned. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Very well. My thanks to you."
The torture room was a place in the palace for punishing attendants. Its punishments were notoriously severe and terrifying; it was said that no one left without losing a layer of skin.
The Emperor had only ordered for Shen Ningning to be temporarily detained there.
Nevertheless, Commander Lu still told the steward of the torture room, "Miss Shen has not been convicted of any crime. You are not to use any form of punishment on her."
The steward bowed obsequiously. "This servant understands. I will certainly not administer any unauthorized punishment."
Shen Ningning was then locked in a small cell.
Her small hands clutched the bars, her bright, dark eyes gazing hopefully at Commander Lu.
"Brother Lu, please help me bring this to Brother," she said, untying the waterskin from her waist and handing it to him.
Her Spiritual Spring Water could rapidly heal external wounds, and if ingested, it could instantly cure minor illnesses and pains.
Commander Lu considered it for a moment, then accepted it.
Then, he left the torture room.
Shen Ningning spent the entire night in the torture room.
The steward would occasionally glance in, only to find the little girl sitting quietly on the floor, hugging her knees in a well-behaved manner.
Whenever she saw the steward approaching, Shen Ningning would look up hopefully, as if desperate to hear some good news.
However, the steward would only say, "The Crown Prince has not yet regained consciousness, and no edict has come from His Majesty. Please wait a little longer, Miss Shen."
A film of grey mist would then cloud Shen Ningning’s bright, limpid eyes.
Her voice fell. "Okay, I understand..."
And so it went.
Until the first light of dawn.
All the imperial physicians were at a complete loss regarding Mo Lingwei’s condition.
Just then, a eunuch rushed into Zichen Palace, shouting—
"Your Majesty, General Xie has brought the Divine Doctor to the palace to diagnose and treat the Crown Prince!"
The Emperor was overjoyed. "Quickly! Bring him in at once."
A moment later, the tall, somber figure of Xie Mingxu appeared in the doorway.
Though only fifteen or sixteen, he had already seen battle several times and carried none of the air of a youth, only a grim silence.
As he stepped inside, everyone saw that he was carrying a small old man on his back.
Xie Mingxu cupped his hands in a salute to the Emperor. "This general has brought the Divine Doctor, Sima Han, to treat the Crown Prince. The Divine Doctor also has a way to prove Shen Ningning’s innocence."