After sending the old man and the child into the room, Ji Kongqing had the inn’s waiter bring over some clothes. She slipped him some silver and asked him to help give the unconscious old beggar a bath.
Seeing that there was money to be made, the waiter did not decline and happily agreed.
“You go wash up and clean yourself up too,” Ji Kongqing handed the clean clothes to the little beggar, telling her to freshen up.
The little beggar obediently took the clothes, washed herself thoroughly, and changed into the fresh garments.
When she stepped out again, she looked like a completely different person. With her hair clean and her facial features no longer obscured by grime, her appearance seemed rather delicate, setting aside her malnourished and skinny frame.
Only then did Ji Kongqing realize she was actually a young girl, expressing surprise, “You are actually a little girl.”
The little beggar smiled bashfully. “Benefactor, my name is Liu Yuting. I am eight years old, and my grandfather always calls me Liuyang.”
“My grandfather and I are originally from Mocheng. There was a severe drought in Mocheng the year before last, and we fled famine along with our family members. Along the way, we encountered bandits and marauders; everything our family owned was plundered, and my eldest uncle, second uncle, and father were all killed.”
“My mother and aunt also perished from being trampled in the chaos. My older brothers took advantage of the confusion to escort me and my grandfather away, but their fates are unknown now. My grandfather and I begged along the way until we finally reached the capital.”
“Three days ago, my grandfather suddenly fell ill and would not wake up no matter how I called him. I managed to drag him to the medical clinic, but they refused to take us in and even beat us. If you had not stepped in to save us, both of us grandfather and granddaughter would be dead by now.”
Ji Kongqing sighed, feeling a deep sense of sympathy for her ordeal. “It was merely an injustice seen on the road and handled. I have already checked on your grandfather’s condition; it is simply prolonged malnutrition combined with catching a chill, resulting in a cold.”
“Once he finishes his bath, I will give him his medicine. He will recover after sweating it out, so you do not need to worry.”
“Thank you, Benefactor.” Liu Yuting looked as though she wanted to drop to her knees and kowtow to Ji Kongqing right on the spot.
Noticing her movement, Ji Kongqing immediately stopped her, refusing to let her kneel.
“Alright, do not drop to your knees in gratitude over every little thing; I do not like that.”
“Let me ask you, where have you been staying since you arrived in the capital?” Ji Kongqing inquired.
“We stayed in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city,” Liu Yuting recalled, a look of self-reproach crossing her face. “It must be because Grandfather covered me with the straw mat every night that he caught a chill. It is all my fault.”
“You suffered such a catastrophe, and it is only natural for your grandfather to protect his only granddaughter. Do not blame yourself too much; just remember his kindness and repay him well in the future.” Ji Kongqing patted Liu Yuting’s head to comfort her.
Wiping away her tears, Liu Yuting dropped to her knees before Ji Kongqing. “Thank you, Benefactor. If not for your rescue, my grandfather and I would not have known what to do. I am willing to sell myself into servitude to repay you, asking only to be a beast of burden for you.”
“There is no need,” Ji Kongqing took a few steps back and refused.
She had no intention of cashing in on a favor, and as a modern person, she had no need for someone to sell themselves into servitude to repay her.
“Then how can my grandfather and I repay you, Benefactor?”
Ji Kongqing fell silent for a moment. “Do you have any acquaintances or relatives in the capital?”
Liu Yuting shook her head.
Looking at the old man and the child before her, Ji Kongqing sighed. The grandfather and granddaughter clearly lacked survival capabilities. Saving them was one thing, but how they would survive in the future remained a problem; she certainly could not subsidize them forever.
Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish. She understood this logic well.
Seeing Ji Kongqing sigh, Liu Yuting’s heart leaped back into her throat.
“Is it that my grandfather and I have become a burden to you?”
“Oh, no,” Ji Kongqing shook her head. “You can stay here for the time being. I will come check on you in a few days. I have already prepaid for your lodging and meals; you can simply tell the waiter whatever you wish to eat.”
“Thank you, Benefactor.” Liu Yuting wiped away her tears, overflowing with gratitude toward Ji Kongqing.
Upon returning to the princess’s estate, Ji Kongqing found Jiang Sui sitting in the hall waiting for her.
“Your Highness, are you waiting for me?” Ji Kongqing asked in surprise.
“You sent them to an inn?” Jiang Sui’s expression was far from pleasant when she uttered these words. Upon discovering that Ji Kongqing had left without explanation, she had sent someone to investigate and found out what had transpired.
She also knew that Ji Kongqing had been tailed all the way, nearly leading someone straight to the princess’s estate.
The person who tailed her was, in fact, dealt with under her own orders.
“Yes,” Ji Kongqing asked, somewhat perplexed. “Is Your Highness interested in them?”
“Not interested, but this princess wishes to remind you.”
Jiang Sui set down her teacup, her tone unfriendly.
“There is a vast number of refugees and beggars like them in the capital; you cannot possibly save them all. Do not end up failing to save them while implicating them instead, only to land yourself in deep trouble.”
Ji Kongqing had not expected Jiang Sui to summon her just to lecture her about this. While it sounded like a warning, the tone carried a heavy edge of reproach.
Looking at Jiang Sui’s extravagantly expensive robes and recalling the tattered, filthy outer garments worn by Liu Yuting and her grandfather, Ji Kongqing could only think of the phrase ‘why don’t they eat meat porridge.’
Her face sank as well. “Does Your Highness know why they were displaced? When they suffered through disasters, what were the officials responsible for disaster relief doing? What was the imperial court, which ought to output money and effort, doing?”
“Does Your Highness know that a single cup you casually discard could rival the entire year’s living expenses of an ordinary commoner family?”
Jiang Sui furrowed her brow, raising her voice. “Ji Kongqing, are you accusing this princess?”
“As a hostage from the Qiangniao Kingdom, what qualifications do you have to critique our Jiaming court’s politics? What qualifications do you have to discuss the lives of Jiaming’s commoners? Who gave you the audacity?”
“Could it be that you think the commoners of your Qiangniao Kingdom live more affluent lives than our Jiaming commoners?”
Ji Kongqing had not expected her sense of injustice to be elevated by Jiang Sui to such a political level. Reminded of her own awkward status, she sighed.
“I do not know, nor do I understand these things, and I have no desire to meddle in the court politics of either nation. But since I happened to run into them, I could not stand by and watch them die. Even if it brings trouble upon myself, I accept it.”
Jiang Sui had not expected Ji Kongqing to be so impervious to advice. She flicked her sleeve. “You can court trouble all you like, but do not drag this princess down with you. This princess did not marry you back here to wipe your backside!”
Seeing that Jiang Sui’s primary reaction upon hearing her words was not concern for the commoners, but rather self-preservation, Ji Kongqing grew even angrier.
“I understand. Her Royal Highness the Princess is supremely noble and unwilling to associate with those lowly, wretched commoners. Rest assured, if any trouble arises, I will bear the consequences entirely on my own.”
Furious that Ji Kongqing remained so obstinate, Jiang Sui slammed her hand down on the table. “Get out of my sight!”
With a huff, Ji Kongqing turned and returned to her own courtyard, the two parting on bad terms.
After Ji Kongqing left, Meixiang materialized beside Jiang Sui. “Your Highness, why did you not simply tell the Consort about your special status and that many individuals with ulterior motives are currently plotting against you in the capital?”
“Meixiang, you speak out of turn,” Jiang Sui said coldly.
Meixiang hastily dropped to her knees to beg for forgiveness. “Your Highness, this servant was wrong.”
“Withdraw.” Jiang Sui waved a hand, dismissing Meixiang.
Elsewhere, Ji Kongqing returned to her small courtyard filled with displeasure.
Since it was Ruyi’s first time seeing her unhappy, she inquisitively stepped forward to ask, “Consort, what is wrong?”
Letting out a cold snort, Ji Kongqing recounted the conversation between Jiang Sui and herself to Ping’an and Ruyi.
With that, she stamped her foot in annoyance. “These people in high positions are all the same, caring only for their own enjoyment while remaining utterly indifferent to the suffering of the masses.”
“If they truly cared about the people’s livelihood and governed the country well, how could there be so many refugees fleeing here?”
“Master, those are treasonous words. If anyone were to overhear them, it would be a capital offense punishable by beheading. Please remember never to speak like that again,” Ruyi said, her face turning pale with fright. “Beware of paper walls and listening ears.”
Knowing the difference between ancient times and the modern era, Ji Kongqing muttered an acknowledgment, indicating she had taken Ruyi’s warning to heart.
True to the notion of paper walls and listening ears, these words quickly reached Jiang Sui’s ears.
Jiang Sui’s expression turned terrifyingly dark, and with a single palm strike, she shattered her teacup. “This princess really wants to tear that mouth of hers apart! How dare she utter such treasonous words? Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth!”
“Our Jiaming territory is vast and densely populated; how can natural disasters be controlled by us? His Majesty has already done his utmost to comfort the disaster victims, and the imperial treasury spends countless silver every year. She truly does not know the cost of managing a household!”
An Wu kept her head lowered, too afraid to speak.
Softening her mood slightly, Jiang Sui instructed An Wu to investigate the backgrounds of the two individuals Ji Kongqing had saved.
An Wu went to investigate and reported that the two had absolutely no problematic ties.
“Being safe this time does not mean the next time will be the same. An Wu, continue keeping watch. Do not let those with malicious intent exploit any openings, and report to me immediately if anything arises.”
Jiang Sui issued her final directive.
An Wu acknowledged the order and prepared to withdraw, but Jiang Sui called out to her once more, “Wait.”
An Wu paused.
“Do not disclose this matter to His Majesty.” Jiang Sui cast a cold, detached glance into An Wu’s eyes. “I know you people report back on the situation regularly.”
Jiang Sui’s gaze carried immense oppressive weight. Under that stare, An Wu felt instantly pinned in place, as if locked in the sights of a venomous snake.
She knew Jiang Sui’s martial arts skills were definitely superior to her own. The moment she leaked any information, this battle-hardened princess would genuinely kill her.
This was both a probe and a test of loyalty.
Being a smart person, An Wu answered immediately, “This subordinate understands.”
“Good,” Jiang Sui withdrew her gaze. “You may withdraw.”
Meanwhile, the henchman who had been knocked unconscious by An Wu slowly regained consciousness. Upon waking up, he hurriedly rushed to the Jishi Medical Clinic to report the situation.
“What? You lost the trail and even got knocked out?” The elderly physician furrowed his brows deeply upon learning this.
“Which direction was she heading when you passed out?”
The henchman frowned. “It was the area where high-ranking officials and wealthy households live in the capital; this subordinate did not see clearly.”
“Useless trash.” The elderly physician glared at him, frowning. “Go dispatch a few more men to gather information. Today was crowded; see if anyone noticed where she went. With so many people around, someone is bound to know that person’s background.”
“Understood,” the henchman retreated.
Three days later, the henchman returned looking travel-worn and muttered a few words into the elderly physician’s ear.
The elderly physician frowned in shock. “The Eldest Princess’s estate? Is this true?”