Many people were gathered in front of them, blocking the road.
Lu Ye had to dismount and prepare to lead Hei Feng through the crowd.
As he walked into the throng, he saw a particularly opulent carriage parked in the middle of the road. Beside the carriage stood several guards armed with sabers. Scattered in front of the carriage were some exquisite-looking pastries.
Nearby, a guard was viciously whipping a small beggar.
The beggar was about five or six years old, dressed in tattered clothes, and skinny as a skeleton. He clutched a chipped bowl tightly in his arms.
With each lash of the whip, the beggar’s body twitched. He seemed unable to cry out anymore, his whole being stunned by fear. Even so, he didn’t loosen his grip on the broken bowl.
As the whip fell again, Lu Ye reached out and grabbed its tip.
The onlookers were all startled. The carriage clearly belonged to someone of power and influence. Although this man was exceptionally handsome, he didn’t seem to have much sense. Was this his business to interfere with? Was it worth it for a mere beggar?
“Who are you? How dare you!” the guard, pulling on his whip, glared furiously at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye smiled. “My apologies for the intrusion. May I ask, sir, what mistake did this little beggar commit to warrant such a beating?”
The guard snorted heavily. “Whatever his mistake, it’s none of your business. If you know what’s good for you, be on your way!”
“He’s just a child, five or six years old. Even if he made a mistake, a scolding would suffice. If you continue beating him like this, you might take his young life,” Lu Ye’s voice remained gentle.
“He’s nothing more than a lowly commoner. If—”
“Silence!” Before the guard could finish, the carriage door curtain was lifted, and a gorgeously dressed young lady alighted, supported by two maids.
The maiden had fair skin and beautiful features. Her ink-black hair was adorned with precious jeweled ornaments, and colorful gold earrings dangled from her earlobes. She wore embroidered silk robes, radiating an imposing air of nobility.
It was evident that the maiden’s status was extraordinary. All the onlookers focused their gaze on her, examining her inch by inch, from the tips of her hair to the soles of her shoes.
The maiden, seemingly accustomed to such scrutiny, carried herself with effortless grace and dignity.
She took a few steps forward, her gaze lingering on Lu Ye’s face as if by chance. She giggled, “I am— I am Miss Xin Yao. May I know your esteemed name, sir?”
Lu Ye glanced at her indifferently. “Just passing through. My name is not important. May I inquire how this little beggar offended you, miss? I will apologize on his behalf.”
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Xin Yao’s face. She glanced sideways at the green-clothed maid beside her.
The maid immediately spoke with displeasure, “My lady sent someone to buy pastries from Tian Xiang Lou across the street. As soon as the pastries were brought back, before they could be handed to my lady, this beggar bumped into them.”
Seeing that someone was willing to speak for him, the little beggar weakly extended a hand and explained in a faint voice, “I… I didn’t… someone pushed me deliberately. I… I apologized.”
“Apologize? Is an apology enough? You knocked over so many pastries. You, a mere beggar, how will you compensate? Can you afford it?” The green-clothed maid glared at the beggar, her face filled with anger.
“How much silver? I’ll pay for him,” Lu Ye said calmly.
Xin Yao looked at Lu Ye, her cheeks slightly flushed. She smiled and said, “Never mind, it’s just a box of pastries. Sir, you don’t need to worry about it. Quickly, let the child go,” she said to the guard.
“Thank you,” Lu Ye thanked Xin Yao and then walked out of the crowd, carrying the little beggar.
“This young lady is truly beautiful and kind-hearted,” the crowd murmured as she let the beggar go.
The guard who had been beating the beggar glanced at the group of beggars staring greedily at the pastries on the ground. A sinister smile spread across his face, and he kicked all the pastries on the ground, smashing them to pieces.
“Pick them up? Pick what, you fools!”
The beggars who had been waiting quietly looked on with deep regret.
After the maiden got into her carriage, she lifted the curtain and watched Lu Ye’s retreating figure. She then said to a guard standing by the carriage, “Follow him and find out who his family is.”
The guard acknowledged her command and quietly followed Lu Ye.
Lu Ye placed the little beggar on the street, went to a nearby bun shop, bought a basket of meat buns, and poured some spiritual spring water into the beggar’s broken bowl. He watched until the beggar had eaten his fill.
A group of older beggars stood not too far away, their eyes fixed on the buns in the little beggar’s hands.
They had originally intended to pick up the scattered pastries by the carriage, but those pastries had been crushed to smithereens by the guards, making them uncollectible.
The little beggar, with his sunken eyes wide open, said to Lu Ye, “Pretty brother, thank you for saving me. I didn’t intentionally knock over your pastries. It was… it was someone who pushed me on purpose.” The beggar’s gaze shifted towards the group of beggars.
Lu Ye nodded. “I know. Do you want to eat your fill, wear warm clothes, and never be bullied again?”
“Yes,” the little beggar’s eyes lit up.
Lu Ye smiled. “Wait for me at the city gate in three days.”
“Okay!” The little beggar nodded earnestly.
Lu Ye stood up and pointed at the little beggar, then said to the beggars not far away, “From now on, if anyone bullies him, I will take their life!” With that, he split a flagstone at his feet with one hand.
The beggars, terrified, scattered in all directions.
“The pretty brother is so powerful!” The little beggar’s eyes widened. If he could learn such skills, no one would dare bully him.
Lu Ye remounted his horse. After riding a short distance, Hong Hong whispered, “Second Fool—Lu Ye, someone is following you. It looks like one of the carriage lady’s guards.”
Lu Ye grunted and steered Hei Feng into a complex alleyway, quickly losing the guard.
He couldn’t quite figure out why the lady, after agreeing not to pursue the matter of the little beggar, would still send someone to track him. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t told her his name and had embarrassed her in front of everyone, and she wanted revenge?
Hong Hong rolled its eyes in the cloth bag and said in a sinuous tone, “Lu Ye, that woman probably has a crush on you and wants to take you back as her husband!”
Lu Ye sneered, “Does she even deserve it?”
Seeing Lu Ye’s attitude, Hong Hong was quite satisfied. However, it felt the need to issue a warning. It was said that human men were most prone to insincerity and secret affairs. “It’s good that you understand. My master will not serve under the same man as other women. You must be careful of those flirtatious women and not fall into their traps, lest you cause some gossip and scandal.”
“Rest assured, my heart can hold no one else but your master,” Lu Ye said earnestly.
The man, pig, and horse found an inn and settled down.