Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years Chapter 125: Funing Village Chief

Standing behind Mo Lingwei, Wu Fang broke into a slight sweat.

’Is this why the Crown Prince insisted on delivering the Imperial Decree himself?’

’Ordinary people have to kneel to receive an Imperial Decree. Miss Shen is young and doesn’t know any better, but this ans the Crown Prince doesn’t hold the Emperor’s authority in high regard either.’

’And to think, when Mo Lingwei went to request the decree this morning, the Emperor was so pleased, as if he was finally able to help his son.’

’He even wanted to arrange for his Chief Eunuch and two contingents of the imperial guard to announce the decree, giving Shen Ningning the utmost prestige.’

’But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince refused outright and said he would deliver it himself.’

Wu Fang strongly suspected that the only reason the Crown Prince wanted to deliver it personally was so Shen Ningning wouldn’t have to kneel.

He was being far too considerate of her.

Shen Ningning opened the Imperial Decree. She could now read perfectly.

"Her bearing is as noble as the pine, her grace as lovely as the flower, and her character as a rainbow at dawn... For her intelligence and virtue, she is hereby granted the title of Funing Village Chief, with a food estate of fifty shi."

Mo Lingwei’s thin lips curved into a smile. When she finished reading, he asked, "Do you like it?"

Shen Ningning lifted her bright, dark, and limpid eyes, her childish voice filled with confusion. "Brother, what’s a Village Chief?"

Wu Fang couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter.

Mo Lingwei shot him a sideways glance.

Wu Fang imdiately suppressed his laughter and explained with a prim and proper seriousness, "Miss Shen, this ’Village Chief’ is a position that lets you receive silver from the court."

"Half of the silver from the taxes collected from the villages within a hundred-li radius will be given to you, and the court will also provide you with fifty shi of grain every month."

"In our Cangyun Country, only the daughters of local dignitaries could be granted the title of Village Chief in the past. The Crown Prince felt your spirit was comndable when you stood your ground and sought justice for the Wu family, so he specifically requested this reward for you from the Emperor!"

After speaking, Wu Fang glanced at Mo Lingwei, trying to curry favor. The latter gave him a cold look, his anger finally subsiding a little.

Shen Ningning understood. It was a title that got her food!

"Funing Village Chief..." She repeated the three words, letting them roll off her tongue. "It sounds nice!"

Mo Lingwei smiled. "I chose it for you myself."

"Thank you, Brother." The little one was very pleased.

Seeing this, Wu Fang chid in to please her, "With your good fortune and His Highness’s affection, you’ll surely be more than just a Village Chief in the future."

"The next steps up would be County Lord, then Commandery Princess, and finally, you could even be made a Princess!"

Of course, for soone not of the Imperial Family to be made a Princess was practically a fairy tale.

From the founding of Cangyun Country to the present day, there had never been a case of a commoner girl being nad a Princess.

Mo Lingwei, however, took Shen Ningning’s small hand. "We’ll take it slow. I’ll give you all of them."

With that, as it was getting late, he helped Shen Ningning into the carriage.

The little one poked her head out of the carriage window. "Langlang, go ho and tell Grandma for , okay? Tell her that Brother and I went out, so she doesn’t worry."

From the ti she got ho yesterday until she’d just left, Grandma had seed to have sothing heavy on her mind.

She had barely eaten any breakfast. When Shen Ningning asked with concern, Grandma Qin just said it was too hot, so the little one had taken out a few more blocks of ice.

’When I get back and tell Grandma the good news that I’ve beco a Village Chief, she’ll definitely be happy!’

The Black Wolf King nodded and let out two howls to reassure Shen Ningning. Only then did the carriage depart.

But when the Black Wolf King returned to the residence, he saw Grandma Qin, all packed and looking as if she were about to go out.

"AROO?" The Black Wolf King walked over, looking at Grandma Qin with a puzzled gaze.

Grandma Qin smiled kindly and patted its head. "I have to go out for a bit. I’m just going to Yu’an County. It’s not far. I’ll be back before dark."

The Black Wolf King followed her for two steps. Grandma Qin turned and waved back. "Don’t worry. I’m going into the village to find that boy from the Chen Family to take ."

But the Black Wolf King continued to follow until it saw Grandma Qin indeed call for Chen Ye and leave in Shen Ningning’s carriage. Only then did it return to the mountains, relieved.

The burial plot Shen Ningning had chosen for Wu Zuchang and his family was situated in a mountain hollow.

It was backed by mountains and faced distant white clouds, offering an expansive view.

The Capital Governor, accompanied by a group of governnt officials and a few ranked officials, was already waiting there, holding the urn with Landlord Du’s ashes.

They had arrived early, and the people from the nearby Xitai Village, having heard the commotion, were all standing at a distance to watch.

They discussed in low voices—

"I never would have guessed. That Shen Ningning is so capable, she actually managed to overturn the Wu family’s case!"

"She’s incredibly resourceful. The powerful wanted to suppress the case, but she wouldn’t have it. She managed to catch the killer and have his bones ground to dust. That’s so comfort for Old Wu’s family."

"And look who her backer is! It’s the Crown Prince! The noble who is second to one and above all others."

"Hey, do you think Shen Ningning will beco the Crown Prince’s concubine in the future? If she enters the Eastern Palace when she’s older, wouldn’t she beco a Princess Consort when the Crown Prince ascends the throne?"

"It’s too early to talk about that. Shen Ningning is only a child. Maybe by the ti she’s a little older, the Crown Prince will have long forgotten her."

The crowd was abuzz with speculation, until the Crown Prince appeared at the end of the mountain path, holding Shen Ningning’s small hand.

Mo Lingwei possessed a naturally imposing aura. He commanded respect without being angry, and his presence was cold and proud.

All the gossiping villagers instantly fell silent.

"Be careful. Watch your step," Mo Lingwei murmured to Shen Ningning, looking down at her.

"I won’t fall. I’m holding onto Brother, and I’m holding on tight!" she said in her soft voice. Mo Lingwei let out a low chuckle.

When the two of them arrived, the Capital Governor imdiately led the officials forward to pay their respects.

Following the folk custom for comforting the souls of the departed, a brazier was lit to burn joss paper.

The Capital Governor lit the fire himself. The mont Shen Ningning saw the flas rise, the na of Wu Zuchang on the tombstone instantly blurred.

She realized it was because she had started crying again, and tears were blurring her vision.

Shen Ningning raised a hand to wipe them away.

"Brother Zuchang, I’ve co to see you. The murderer who killed you all has been brought to justice."

A sumr breeze blew through, and the woods rustled. There was no reply, and yet, it felt like one.

The Capital Governor nodded to the two officials. They opened the box and scattered Landlord Du’s ashes.

"The injustice has been righted. May you rest in peace," the Capital Governor said, cupping his hands.

Mo Lingwei stepped forward and offered a cup of wine as a sacrifice.

Shen Ningning took two small, pre-cut paper figures from her pocket.

One was tall and held the hand of the smaller one. Shen Ningning had drawn smiling faces on both of them.

She gently placed them in the brazier. "Brother Zuchang, I hope you’ve found Yaya now. Don’t worry about . I’ll live well with Grandma. When I find my own mom and dad, I’ll co back and share the good news with you."

The wind blew, the fire flickered. The tombstone was cold, the tears were hot.

Finally, Mo Lingwei led Shen Ningning down the mountain by the hand.

On the mountain path, the little one’s soft voice could be heard. "Brother, I actually dread about Brother Zuchang last night."

"Oh? Did he speak to you?"

"He didn’t speak, he just looked at and smiled. In the end, he held out a small flower to . It had a green center, just like a firefly. I guess he must have found Yaya now!"

"Then he must have been trying to tell you not to be sad anymore."

Shen Ningning nodded emphatically, her dark, limpid eyes looking ahead. "I won’t cry anymore! I’m going to live a good life and find my mommy and daddy!"

Mo Lingwei and her figure, along with the crowd of officials, disappeared at the end of the mountain path.

And behind them, the Wu family’s few grave mounds sat clustered together, nestled in the quiet and peaceful wilderness.

A gust of wind passed. Behind Wu Zuchang’s tombstone, a small flower swayed in the breeze. Its center was a tender green, and it seed to carry a sweet fragrance.

「Seven or eight days passed.」

Shen Ningning’s life returned to normal.

On this day, she went into the village to bring Jiang Zhi so large dumplings that Grandma had made.

However, she saw the old village chief walking out of his house with a worried expression.

The mont he saw Shen Ningning, he looked as if he had seen his savior.

"Ningning, I was just about to look for you! Sothing’s happened! We’re being targeted."