“…Your Highness, as you can see, the people of the city were living peaceful, prosperous lives,” Suzhou Prefect Cheng Yi said obsequiously as he led the twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy through the streets. “If it weren’t for those bandits…”
Xiao Yu glanced at the fleshy-faced Cheng Yi, then shot a look at Shen Yi, who was lazily fanning himself beside him.
Shen Yi immediately understood. A carefree smile spread across his face.
“Prefect Cheng, you should return to the prefectural residence first. His Highness the Crown Prince and I have some important business to attend to.”
Cheng Yi froze for a moment. Following Shen Yi’s meaningful gaze, he looked toward Drunken Flower Pavilion. His eyes lit up with understanding, and he quickly bowed.
“This humble official understands. I’ll return at once to check on the preparations for tonight’s banquet.”
Only after Cheng Yi’s rotund figure disappeared into the distance did Xiao Yu turn to Shen Yi expressionlessly.
“When did I ever say I was going to Drunken Flower Pavilion?”
Shen Yi blinked. The image of the disciplined, impeccably proper Crown Prince being mistaken for a pleasure-seeking wastrel was so absurd it nearly made him laugh out loud.
Shaking his head, he hid his schadenfreude behind his folding fan.
“Your Highness, we’re far from the capital. Whatever you do here, no one back there will ever know.” He leaned closer. “Besides, you’re the one who wanted me to get Prefect Cheng out of the way.”
Xiao Yu fell silent for a moment before pulling Shen Yi into a secluded alley.
“Have you noticed anything strange about Suzhou?”
The smile vanished from Shen Yi’s face as he thought seriously.
“Now that you mention it…” He gestured toward the bustling street. “There aren’t any beggars.”
Even in the prosperous capital, beggars could be found on nearly every street. Yet in a city supposedly plagued by bandits, there wasn’t a single one to be seen. Stranger still, everyone’s clothes looked brand new.
“Mhm.” Xiao Yu watched the crowd. “Don’t you think the people themselves are strange too?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re all smiling.”
Xiao Yu turned to meet Shen Yi’s gaze.
“Whether they’re children or elderly people, their smiles never change. The children may not understand what’s happening, but how could the adults possibly be ignorant of what’s going on?”
“You’re right…” Shen Yi frowned in thought.
Before he could continue, a small figure suddenly darted out of the crowd and slammed into Xiao Yu.
“S-Sorry! I’m sorry!”
Xiao Yu steadied himself and saw a ragged little beggar. The child apologized once, then immediately turned and bolted deeper into the alley.
“After them.”
Grabbing the bewildered Shen Yi by the arm, Xiao Yu gave chase.
Both Xiao Yu and Shen Yi were skilled martial artists, but the alley was so narrow, and the little beggar knew every twist and turn. Like a slippery eel, the child kept slipping away just as they thought they’d caught up.
Finally, Xiao Yu raised a wooden whistle to his lips and blew.
The shrill note echoed through the alley.
The little beggar stopped dead, staring in terror at the shadow guard who had suddenly appeared in front of them. They stumbled backward in panic.
“Go on then,” Shen Yi called smugly. “Run! Let’s see you try!”
With the child cornered, Xiao Yu and Shen Yi finally caught up.
The little beggar looked from the guard in front to the two men behind, despair filling their face. Dropping to their knees, they repeatedly kowtowed.
“Please… please let me go! I’ll give your money pouch back!”
With trembling hands, the child pulled out an exquisitely embroidered pouch.
Xiao Yu paused.
He hadn’t even realized it was missing.
“So you’re a little thief too.”
Even Shen Yi looked surprised. The little beggar had actually managed to pick Xiao Yu’s pocket.
Xiao Yu reached out to take back the pouch.
The moment he moved, however, the little beggar flinched violently, crouching down and covering their head with both hands. The pouch fell to the ground.
“D-Don’t hit me! Please don’t hit me…”
Seeing the child’s entire body shaking uncontrollably, Xiao Yu’s heart softened instantly.
He crouched down and gently ruffled the child’s tangled, filthy hair.
Instead of calming down, the child trembled even harder.
“…”
Xiao Yu softened his voice until it was gentle enough to reassure.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to protect you.”
The words seemed to reach the child. Slowly, they raised tear-filled eyes and looked at him pitifully.
The moment Xiao Yu met those eyes, his expression faltered.
They overlapped perfectly with another pair of eyes from long ago—
A mischievous little child who had fallen out of a tree while climbing and had come to him in tears.
“Brother… my hand hurts…”
The young Xiao Yu, acting far older than his years, carefully applied medicine to the scraped hand, soothing them softly.
“It’s my fault. I didn’t protect Li’er. From now on, I’ll stay by your side every step of the way. I’ll protect you.”
The little child sniffled, red nose twitching as watery eyes looked up at him.
“Really?”
“…Really?”
Xiao Yu blinked, the memory fading as the dirty little beggar before him repeated the same question.
His voice was gentle but unwavering, like a solemn vow.
“Really. That promise will never expire.”
Comforted, hope flickered in the little beggar’s eyes.
“Then… can you give me something to eat?”
“Of course.”
Looking at the child before him, Xiao Yu’s voice remained impossibly gentle.
“First, we’ll get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes. Then we’ll—”
“Ahhh!”
The little beggar suddenly screamed and curled into a ball.
“No! I won’t go! I don’t want to go to the Rat Hole! I don’t want to…”
Both Xiao Yu and Shen Yi were startled. They exchanged glances.
The Rat Hole?
What kind of place was that?
Ignoring the dirt covering the child, Xiao Yu pulled them gently into his arms, lightly patting their back as he coaxed them in a soothing voice.
“Alright. We won’t go to the Rat Hole. We’ll just change into clean clothes… and then we’ll have some meat to eat…”
“Liar!”
The little beggar shoved him away.
Their reddened eyes glared fiercely at Xiao Yu.
“You’re all liars! That’s exactly what those bad people told Uncle and Auntie! And then… they never came back…”
Pushed away, Xiao Yu stood frozen, staring blankly at the hysterical child.
Shen Yi sighed.
He knew his friend all too well. Xiao Yu was brilliant beyond compare—except whenever the matter concerned Xiao Li.
With a sigh, Shen Yi helped Xiao Yu to his feet before signaling the shadow guards.
The guards obeyed immediately. Ignoring the child’s desperate struggles, they carried the little beggar away.
Soon, the cries faded into the distance.
Silence settled over the alley.
After a long while, Xiao Yu finally spoke.
His voice carried endless exhaustion.
“Tell me… do you think Li’er hated me like this back then?”
Shen Yi knew that when it came to Xiao Li, his usually brilliant friend lost all reason.
“No.” He hesitated before continuing. “Back then… you had no choice either…”
“No!”
Xiao Yu suddenly seized Shen Yi by the shoulders, his eyes bloodshot.
“It was all because of me! If I’d realized it sooner… Li’er would never have been kidnapped…”