“What is the matter?” Gu Sinian ignored Dong Huan’s shouting and turned to ask Zhang Xiaoniu.
Zhang Xiaoniu pointed at Dong Huan, then at the young lady standing nearby. “When I passed by, this young lady cried for help. So many people were watching the commotion, but no one intervened. I couldn’t stand it, so I stepped forward to stop it, and then…”
He was beaten.
Zhang Xiaoniu felt a bit ashamed. He had always thought he was quite skilled, but he ended up being beaten rather embarrassingly.
Gu Sinian slowly raised his head and stared at Dong Huan, saying nothing, just staring.
Dong Huan felt a chill run down his spine under that calm gaze. Even though he had more men on his side and was winning, he inexplicably felt a sense of fear.
“What are you all standing around for?” Dong Huan roared at his household guards. “If the Heir Apparent wants to play the hero, he’d better see if he has the ability.”
Dong family’s guards were accustomed to their master’s arrogance. Their master was protected by the Duke, and everyone knew the Duke disliked the Heir Apparent, favoring his nephew from the Dong family instead. So why should they fear the Heir Apparent?
Seven or eight guards lunged at Gu Sinian with bared teeth and claws. Zhang Xiaoniu was shocked, “Your Highness, even the best fighter can’t handle multiple opponents…”
Gu Sinian’s lips curved slightly into a disdainful smile. “Are you willing to join me in dealing with these scoundrels?”
What man doesn’t have a hero’s dream? Zhang Xiaoniu was already someone who couldn’t stand injustice. He had been defeated earlier and was still feeling resentful. Now that he had help, and the helper seemed even more skilled, why would he refuse?
The two stood back to back, facing the charging Dong family guards.
They were just a mob, and Gu Sinian truly didn’t take them seriously. He had practiced martial arts since childhood, so how could these men be his match?
In just a moment, all of Dong family’s guards were rolling on the ground, groaning in pain.
Dong Huan took a step back, glaring warily at Gu Sinian. Gu Sinian advanced step by step, cornering Dong Huan. Dong Huan’s voice trembled, “Gu Sinian, my brother-in-law promised my sister he would protect me. If you dare to lay a hand on me, you’ll be going against him. You were never favored, and if you go against him, can you still keep your position as Heir Apparent?”
The fact that the younger brother of a concubine dared to threaten him like this showed how biased the Duke of Protectorate was.
“Is that so? Then I’ll see if I lose my position as Heir Apparent after I’ve dealt with you.”
As he spoke, Dong Huan let out a scream, and one of his arms hung limply at his side.
The groaning guards on the ground shivered at the scream. They forgot their own pain and struggled to get up to check on their master. His arm was broken. They, the servants, only suffered superficial injuries, but their master had broken his arm. If they returned like this, wouldn’t they be beaten to death by the old madam?
Thinking of this, these men’s fighting spirit was rekindled. If they could break one of Gu Sinian’s arms, it would be considered a meritorious service to atone for their faults.
“Keep fighting, I’ll accompany you. Your young master’s arm has been delayed for too long…” Gu Sinian said meaningfully. “You’d better hurry and find a good physician now, perhaps it can still be saved.”
Gu Sinian couldn’t run away either, and their young master was more important.
They split into two groups: one carrying Dong Huan home, the other going to fetch a physician.
The ruffians of the Dong family were dealt with by the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Protectorate. The onlookers had witnessed a good show. The Heir Apparent was skilled and valiant. Was such a person really a “rabbit boy”? Many people pondered this, but one could not judge a person by their appearance, and it was truly difficult to draw conclusions based solely on their fighting skills.
Gu Sinian didn’t care what these people thought. He brushed the dust off his robe and prepared to leave.
Zhang Xiaoniu, having only been in the capital for a few days, had already offended the local bullies. He felt a bit scared now. This Heir Apparent wasn’t afraid of the local bullies and was quite skilled. With his protection, he wouldn’t have to fear them anymore. He hadn’t made a name for himself in the capital yet and didn’t want to return in such disgrace.
So, Zhang Xiaoniu followed Gu Sinian. Neither of them paid any attention to the young lady who had been rescued.
The young lady gazed foolishly at Gu Sinian’s retreating back. But as a woman, she couldn’t shamelessly follow and cling to him.
“Why are you following me?” Gu Sinian asked slowly.
“I work as a waiter in a restaurant. I was off today and came out for a stroll. I didn’t expect to encounter something like this. I acted on impulse and offended that fellow named Dong. Your Highness has a noble status, and that fellow named Dong can’t do anything to you, but I am just a commoner. If that fellow named Dong vents all his anger on me later, won’t it all fall on me?” Zhang Xiaoniu said with a bitter face. “We’ve at least met, you can’t just ignore me, can you?”
After all, he had taken care of him!
Gu Sinian stopped, and the image of Qi Zhenzhen flashed in his mind. This young man was very familiar with that girl…
“Then follow me from now on,” Gu Sinian said indifferently, his footsteps not stopping.
A restaurant waiter and someone by the Heir Apparent’s side – Zhang Xiaoniu knew which choice to make without anyone telling him.
“I see you know some martial arts?” Gu Sinian asked.
Zhang Xiaoniu was very excited. “A little. My second brother and Zhenzhen taught me. I learned a set of boxing techniques, but I’m not proficient yet. Once I’m proficient, I’ll be even more formidable.”
Zhenzhen? He called her so intimately.
“You can’t call her Zhenzhen from now on; you must call her Miss Qi. A young lady’s reputation is very important. Miss Qi is not yet married, so you must be careful,” Gu Sinian said earnestly.
Can’t call her Zhenzhen? Zhang Xiaoniu was a bit puzzled, but he felt Gu Sinian made sense. After all, his second brother always called her Miss Qi.
“Your Highness is right, I will be careful from now on,” Zhang Xiaoniu replied casually.
“You must refer to yourself as my subordinate from now on,” Gu Sinian corrected another mistake. He didn’t care about the address itself, but from now on, Zhang Xiaoniu would be by his side, facing more than just him. If his address was presumptuous, it would cause unnecessary trouble.
“Your Highness, I want to write a letter home to tell them I’m no longer a waiter,” Zhang Xiaoniu said excitedly. “But I don’t know how to get the letter to my brothers.”
He didn’t just want to write to his brothers; he also wanted to write to Qi Zhenzhen. He wanted to tell Qi Zhenzhen that he was now following the Heir Apparent, that the Heir Apparent was valiant and formidable, and that by following him, he would surely achieve great things in the future.
The thoughts of youth were shallow, and all his desires and aspirations were written on his face. Gu Sinian was a little lost in thought. When he was young, he was very much like Zhang Xiaoniu. What he wanted, what he desired, was all written on his face. He hoped his father would see it, but he was always disappointed. After too many disappointments, he gradually became indifferent, making it impossible for people to guess his thoughts.
“Write it. Once it’s done, I’ll have someone send it back for you,” Gu Sinian said indifferently. “By my side, there are many things to learn, and your skills also need to be honed. If you have no talent, I will keep you as a small servant in the manor. If you have the ability, you will go wherever I go in the future.”