Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

The Emperor was so furious he stood with his hands on his hips, panting for breath. A storm was brewing on his brow.

Commander Lu, the head of the Imperial Guards, hurried in. Seeing the Emperor’s expression, he hesitated to speak.

"What is it now? Speak!" the Emperor snapped, his tone foul.

Commander Lu lowered his head. "Reporting to Your Majesty, I fear the matter with the Li Family is not so simple. Li Hai’s illegitimate younger son, Li Linghao, is also requesting an audience."

The Emperor now loathed the Li Family with a passion.

"We have no desire to hear their fabricated excuses. They’re just here to plead for mercy again. Li Yuyi stole credit for Ningning’s achievement and claimed it as her own. Who’s this Li Linghao trying to steal credit from?"

However, Commander Lu raised his head, his gaze profound. "Your Majesty, Li Linghao wishes to... report his father, Li Hai, for the cruel murder of Mr. Zhang Liu."

The Emperor whipped around, his expression changing in shock. "Summon him!"

A short while later, seven-year-old Li Linghao, dressed in prisoner’s garb, was brought before the Emperor.

He was small and scrawny with a sallow complexion. ’How could just a few days in prison wear him down to this state?’

Commander Lu whispered in the Emperor’s ear, "This humble servant just learned from inquiries that he was born to a chambermaid of the Li Mansion. After the maid died, he was sent to be raised by Madam Li."

"But because Mr. Li paid him little mind, Madam Li would frequently beat and scold the boy, taking her anger out on him. When Li Hai was planning the arson and murder of Mr. Zhang Liu, the boy was hiding in Li Hai’s study to escape a scolding from Madam Li, and thus learned everything."

That was why Li Linghao, who had been tormented since childhood, was shorter and skinnier than other children his age.

The Emperor’s gaze darkened. "Tell Us everything you know, and We will consider sparing your life. Otherwise, your crime will be magnified, and you will die a far more miserable death than the rest of them."

Shen Ningning waited in Zichen Palace.

Mo Lingwei was meeting with ministers in the main hall, so the little one waited in the rear hall for Li Linghao.

Just last night, Mo Lingwei had arranged for her to meet with Li Linghao in advance.

She was confident that he would clearly report everything he knew.

Shen Ningning leaned against a soft couch by the window, stroking the lynx lying beside her.

This lynx was as large as a leopard, with tufts of black fur dangling from its pointed ears.

Its feral eyes would occasionally sweep toward the door, staring at the group of eunuchs standing outside.

If Shen Ningning weren’t here, it really would have liked a taste of human.

"Big Cat, no drooling! This carpet is a tribute from Persia. If you get your drool all over it, how am I supposed to explain it to Big Brother, huh!" Shen Ningning patted the lynx’s head with her small hand.

At that, the leopard-sized lynx immediately flopped over, exposing its belly and letting out a low whine as if acting spoiled.

Shen Ningning giggled and rubbed its ears with her small hands.

She had brought the lynx to the palace today specifically so that when she ran into that black cat, it would know what a *real* big cat looked like!

Hmph. As it happened, though, she hadn’t seen the black cat at all on her way to Zichen Palace.

「An hour later.」

Li Linghao was brought to Zichen Palace.

Shen Ningning met the scrawny boy again in the rear hall.

"Your Highness, I... I’ve told the Emperor everything I said I would. Will the Emperor really spare my life?" Li Linghao’s eyes darted about nervously. The habit of living cautiously under Madam Li’s thumb for so many years had made him extremely insecure and sensitive.

Shen Ningning’s face was fair and rosy, her pretty dark eyes glistening.

"Don’t you worry. If you told the truth, of course Uncle Emperor will show you leniency."

It was only after questioning Li Linghao that Shen Ningning learned that Mr. Zhang Liu’s death was indeed no accident.

She also learned the truth about the fire.

It turned out that the process of growing the sweet potatoes had been incredibly difficult.

At the time, not only did Mr. Zhang Liu have to contend with the cold natural disasters, but he also had to bribe officials at every level to ensure their cooperation when needed.

As the South State Prefect and the highest-ranking local official, Li Yuyi’s father, Li Hai, constantly found excuses to make Mr. Zhang Liu pay him "tributes."

Burdened by endless layers of exploitation, Mr. Zhang Liu was suffering immensely. Finally, when Li Hai made another exorbitant demand, the two had a fierce argument.

Mr. Zhang Liu threatened to report Li Hai’s crimes to Shen Ningning, and that threat sealed his fate.

The so-called accidental fire, where everyone supposedly drank themselves to sleep, was a lie. In truth, they had been drugged.

When Li Linghao told Shen Ningning what he had overheard, the little one clenched her pink fists in anger.

’That corrupt official, Li Hai! He hadn’t just destroyed Mr. Zhang Liu’s life’s work; he had destroyed the lifeline of most of the people in Cangyun Country at the time!’

In truth, Li Linghao had always wanted to find an opportunity to reveal this, but he had no connections and was terrified of retaliation.

It was only with Shen Ningning’s encouragement and promises from the previous night that he dared to face the Emperor and report everything today.

"By the way, are you sure Xie Yuanjiu wasn’t involved in this plot?" Shen Ningning asked, blinking her big eyes as she looked at Li Linghao.

Even the lynx fixed him with a chilling stare.

Li Linghao flinched, shrinking back. He answered bluntly, "N-no! I only heard my father planning it. I never heard that the young lady of the Xie family was involved."

Shen Ningning pouted, feeling doubtful.

’Xie Yuanjiu and Li Yuyi are so close. Could she really not have been involved at all?’

It seemed this was all Li Linghao knew, so Shen Ningning didn’t question him further.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Mo Lingwei returned from the main hall.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince, Li Linghao immediately dropped to his knees, trembling under the pressure. "Your Highness."

"Mm," Mo Lingwei grunted, glancing at the boy before walking to Shen Ningning’s side. His voice became gentle and low. "Father Emperor has just issued an order, absolving Li Linghao of his crimes."

After Li Linghao reported the facts, the Emperor had summoned the servants from the Li Mansion who were in the know and questioned them one by one.

Finally, the truth had come to light.

Since Li Linghao’s words were true, he was naturally shown leniency. As for the rest of the Li Family, however, the Emperor flew into a rage and ordered their immediate execution!

They wouldn’t even have to go to the Northern Desert; they could go straight to see King Yan.

Mo Lingwei sat down next to Shen Ningning, took a sip of water from her teacup, and moistened his dry throat.

He nodded, and a nearby eunuch brought over a tray.

Mo Lingwei looked at Li Linghao, his voice cold. "On here are one hundred taels of silver, silver notes worth four hundred taels, and a land deed to a residence in Zhangzhou City. Outside the Imperial Palace, ten servants have also been arranged to accompany you."

"Although Father Emperor has pardoned you, you are still a descendant of the Li Family. I want you to leave the Capital City and live somewhere else."

Li Linghao was overwhelmed by the favor. He couldn’t wait to leave the Capital City; otherwise, the fact that he had reported his own father would sooner or later become a source of gossip and blame.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" He knelt and kowtowed, his voice full of gratitude.

Mo Lingwei pressed his lips together. "Thank the Princess. If she hadn’t pleaded so desperately for me to spare you, I wouldn’t have left a single member of the Li Family alive."

Li Linghao hurriedly turned while still on his knees and kowtowed to Shen Ningning.

Finally, he took the items and was led out of the Imperial Palace by a Palace Attendant.

Shen Ningning patted her little dress. "Alright, I should be heading back now!"

Mo Lingwei paused mid-sip, lifting his cool gaze. "Now that I’m of no more use to you, you’re in a hurry to leave? You’re not going to chat with me a little longer?"

Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "But Big Brother is very busy! Don’t think I don’t know. There are definitely a lot of Uncle Ministers in the main hall waiting for you to discuss matters."

Mo Lingwei chuckled.

’He really couldn’t hide anything from her.’ He had been worried she would get bored waiting alone, so he had made the ministers wait while he returned to the rear hall to spend some time with Shen Ningning.

But his official duties were piling up, and Shen Ningning wanted to leave, so Mo Lingwei didn’t insist she stay.

He instructed the Palace Attendants to see the little one safely out of the palace in her sedan chair.

However, as the sedan chair moved steadily along the palace path, Shen Ningning suddenly heard a sharp meow.

The eunuchs carrying the chair outside cried out, "Aiyah! That black cat is back again!"

"Hurry, hurry, it’s jumping down! It’s definitely going to scratch us."

Shen Ningning felt the sedan chair pick up speed.

She lifted the curtain and saw the black cat, just as they said, chasing them along the top of the wall. It looked determined to scratch them no matter what.

The little one puffed out her rosy cheeks. ’I was waiting for you!’ "Big Cat, go!"

At her command, the lynx that had been curled up at her feet shot out like a tawny hurricane. WHOOSH!