The little one happily ran over, the small topknot on her head bobbing up and down.

Her small, round face was beaming with joy. Seeing Mo Lingwei, she unconsciously broke into a sweet, soft smile.

"Brother, where are we going?"

"Since you’re a Village Chief now, you should have some fine clothes. I’ll take you to the palace and have the court embroideresses measure you for a few new outfits."

After Mo Lingwei finished speaking, Shen Ningning quickly said, "Then wait for me, okay!"

With that, she turned and ran towards the tea shed. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Mo Lingwei’s gaze swept over. Under the bright, scorching sun, a simple tea shed was packed with refugees, both inside and out.

Just the smell alone was a bit pungent, even from a fair distance away.

His spies had been privately reporting all of Shen Ningning’s recent activities to him, so he knew exactly what the little one was up to.

At first, he thought Shen Ningning was just acting on a whim, so he’d smilingly told his spy, a Hidden Guard, ’Let her be. Just keep an eye on her from the shadows and don’t let her get taken advantage of.’

But the next time he heard news, Shen Ningning had actually already led the people of Xiangyun Village to nearly complete the tea shed.

Shen Ningning’s voice was soft and sweet, but her tone was crisp. "As you all have seen, my tea shed is almost finished. All that’s left are the few rooms in the back."

"When the time comes, I don’t plan to keep troubling the uncles from the village, so who among you is willing to put in the effort to help me build the rooms?"

Someone immediately asked, "Miss, will you be paying in silver?"

Shen Ningning smiled reservedly. "There’s no more silver. Building the shed these past few days cost a lot of money. If you all can help, I certainly won’t let you go hungry."

As soon as she said this, a few of the lazier refugees began to have second thoughts.

Building a tea shed was simple, the process not complicated. But to build proper rooms for people to live in, wouldn’t they have to climb up and down to lay tiles and plaster the walls?

Besides, with no pay and only food, some of them were already dissatisfied.

Shen Ningning saw the expressions on their faces.

As if she had expected this all along, she said calmly, "If you don’t help, I can’t guarantee I’ll continue to provide food and drink from now on."

"However, we are all poor souls. If you really don’t want to help, I don’t mind. Each of you can go to the side, collect two buns and five taels of broken silver, and then you’re free to go."

Jiang Zhi was startled and exclaimed privately, "Ningning! You’re letting them off too easily."

Shen Ningning pressed her lips together, her large, limpid eyes clear and her tone firm. "If you’ve made up your minds, go to Brother Jiang to collect it."

A few of the refugees exchanged glances, reluctant to give up the daily meals but unwilling to work for free.

Finally, an older man, leaning on a cane, stood up unsteadily.

"Miss, my legs aren’t what they used to be, and I’m old. I can’t be of much help to you. I’ll take the silver, kowtow to you, and be on my way."

Shen Ningning quickly had Chen Ye support him. "There’s no need for such formalities, old sir. Brother Jiang, give him an extra two taels."

Jiang Zhi felt this was a real loss, but still did as the little one wished, giving the man seven taels of silver and packing two buns for him.

The old man thanked her repeatedly and left, leaning on his cane.

After him, the few refugees who didn’t want to work also came over one after another to collect their money and food.

Fortunately, though they were lazy, they weren’t ungrateful. Before leaving, each of them made a point to go to Shen Ningning and thank her.

After those who were unwilling to work had left, Shen Ningning lifted her round, watery eyes and looked around.

"I know some of you, quite a few in fact, came to the Capital City to seek refuge with relatives, but due to various mishaps, you ended up stranded as refugees outside the city."

"If any of you wish to return to your hometowns, I will give each of you ten taels of silver for your travel expenses."

Someone in the crowd of refugees immediately exclaimed in astonishment, "Miss! You... how can you be so kind?"

Immediately after, the sound of crying could be heard as they thanked her repeatedly, eagerly coming forward to receive the silver.

Shen Ningning wasn’t stingy and had Jiang Zhi give out the money.

After this group of refugees left, the remaining crowd consisted of young people.

The little one did a rough count; there were about sixteen people.

She had Chen Ye separate them into lines, men on one side and women on the other, ordered from youngest to oldest.

Wuer was the youngest boy, standing at the very front of the men’s line. The fright he had received earlier was long forgotten.

Now, he held his head high and puffed out his chest, happily lifting his grimy little face, his eyes fixed on Shen Ningning.

’He knew the kind young miss would definitely let him stay. He was going to build rooms for her!’

Shen Ningning didn’t assign them any tasks for the time being, only giving Chen Ye 300 taels of silver.

She added, "Brother Chen, take them into the city, find an inn, and let them wash up properly. Then buy two sets of clothes for each person."

"If any of them have any scrapes or bruises, feel free to take them to an apothecary to get treated."

The little one’s words were subtle, but Chen Ye was a smart man and understood immediately.

’Since the tea shed was going to be a business, they naturally couldn’t hire unhealthy workers.’

’Even if Shen Ningning was kind-hearted, she couldn’t ignore safety.’

’So, he would take them to a clinic for a check-up. If they had treatable conditions, all the better. If not, knowing Shen Ningning’s character, she would give them a sum of silver to ensure they parted on good terms.’

"Don’t worry, Miss. Leave it all to me."

So Chen Ye called for the refugees to follow him.

When they reached the city gate, the guards wouldn’t stop Chen Ye, as he was a law-abiding citizen.

But seeing the crowd of grimy refugees behind him, the guards hesitated.

At that moment, Mo Lingwei, sitting in his carriage, raised an eyebrow slightly and ordered the driver, Wu Fang, "Go tell them to let them pass."

"Yes, sir." Wu Fang scurried off to do it.

When the guards heard the Crown Prince had spoken, they didn’t dare delay and let Chen Ye lead the people into the city.

Seeing this, Shen Ningning retracted her gaze and looked at Jiang Zhi.

"Sister Jiang," the little one ran to her side, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered, "you should take Langlang back to the village. Load the things here onto the cart and take them back."

"Grandma hasn’t seemed to be in a good mood lately. Before I left this morning, I took her to the village to keep Granny Chen company and chat."

"Can you go check on her for me?"

After the little one finished speaking, Jiang Zhi immediately nodded. "No problem."

She looked up and saw that the hair at Shen Ningning’s temples was damp with sweat, sticking to her flushed, fair, and slightly sticky cheeks.

So Jiang Zhi reached out and smoothed the ends of her hair.

It was this very gesture that made Mo Lingwei, sitting in the carriage not far away, narrow his eyes ominously.

Jiang Zhi was still dressed as a man. He looked thinner than other men his age, and his frame seemed frail.

Mo Lingwei crossed his arms coldly and leaned back against the cushion.

’Since when had Shen Ningning become so familiar with this Jiang person?’

At that moment, the little one said a few more words to the Black Wolf King.

She probably told it she was going to the palace with him, because Mo Lingwei saw the Black Wolf King glance in his direction with clear displeasure.

Its deep yellow wolf eyes were filled with disdain!

Then, the Black Wolf King left with Jiang Zhi, which made Mo Lingwei’s chest tighten with frustration.

’Is this wolf stupid or what? Can’t it see that this Jiang kid is the one it should be targeting?’

Shen Ningning clambered onto the carriage with a grunt, her small hand wiping away the sweat dripping from her fair chin.

She smiled sweetly. "Brother, I’m sorry to keep you waiting! We can go to the palace now!"