In Zhan Xinjia's imagination, Little Shen should be "venturing into the world" with the lonely old man she specially disguised, to realize his childhood dream.

That's why she was so shocked when she saw him on the second floor of the teahouse on the street corner.

Upon closer inspection—not far away, an old man, cursing and swearing, was being escorted by constables towards the yamen (government office).

Zhan Xinjia immediately lowered his head guiltily.

Goodness, old man, you must hold back! I'll come and redeem you later!

But what exactly did this old man say to Lord Shen? It's unbelievable that even someone as respectful and kind as Lord Shen would get angry and take an elderly man to the authorities.

"What are you looking at?"

The sudden hand on her shoulder startled her, and Zhan Xinjia almost instinctively threw the other person over her shoulder.

She turned her head away, unceremoniously brushed Yan Huishi's hand away, and glared at him.

"I'm wondering why you two don't do anything productive all day long but just follow me around on the street? I really wonder how you two manage to find me every time by smelling the poop like dogs."

When Yan returned, he still had that indifferent look, arms crossed, forcibly maintaining the aloof and cool demeanor.

"Ha, who's following you? Don't flatter yourself. I came out with A-Yue."

Then Zhan Xinjia turned her gaze to Yan Xiyue, who was looking sullen on the other side.

"So what happened to you this time, my princess? Your eyes have been red since the beginning. Who bullied you? Yan Huishi? Come, come, let's go to the mass grave. The dismemberment is more discreet there..."

"Hello!"

The geese ground their teeth as they returned.

She treats Ah Yue like family, but treats him like a human trafficker, right?!

After their antics, the sullen Yan Xiyue finally stopped crying and started laughing. But after laughing, she unconsciously frowned again, looking listless and leaning against Zhan Xinjia as if she had no bones.

"Ugh, the tribute festival is in half a month. Every year around this time, all sorts of foreign princes, crown princes, and heirs suddenly pop up and ask to marry me. Are they crazy...?"

"Those idiots haven't given up yet?"

Zhan Xinjia shrugged. After all, the Emperor and Empress only had this one precious daughter.

If one could marry Yan Xiyue, one would undoubtedly have the powerful backing of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Therefore, every year at this time, as soon as Yan Xiyue appeared, the heirs of the nearby small foreign countries and even the tiny grassland tribes would all rush to kiss her.

While I can refuse, it's really annoying to have this kind of fuss every year.

Wait, something's not right... Wasn't she only unconscious for a day? But Yan Xiyue said the Tribute Festival is in half a month, and the Tribute Festival is at the end of July... So, she must have been lying there for at least ten days?

No wonder she felt so unwell when she first woke up, with weak limbs and difficulty walking.

But why would Master Shen lie to her?

Before Zhan Xinjia's brain could process what was happening, his thoughts were interrupted again.

"Waaaaah~~~"

Yan Xiyue leaned closer to her, her hands clinging to Zhan Xinjia's shoulders as she began to act cute and coquettish right there on the street.

The girl blinked, her eyebrows drooping, and whined at Zhan Xinjia, putting on a pitiful, innocent act, "Sweetie, our family's smartest little genius, please help me, waah~~"

Upon receiving the letter, Jia was speechless and rubbed her forehead.

This happens every time. Ah Yue may be mentally challenged, but she's really beautiful.

"Alright, alright, alright, stop whining. Oh, it's so pitiful to see. I'll help you think of a solution, okay?"

With a reluctant pinch on Yan Xiyue's cheek, Zhan Xinjia resignedly began to think of a permanent solution. The two walked arm in arm, while Yan Huishi, lagging behind, grew unhappy.

Why should A-Yue be spoiled by Mei Bao just because she hums a couple of times? As the Crown Prince, the number of people who want to sneak into his bed every year could form an army.

Who can he turn to for justice? Why is no one concerned about whether he lives or dies?

He just hummed a few words, acting like he can't do anything.

He stood there hesitating and struggling for a moment, then gritted his teeth and stood in front of Zhan Xinjia.

The boy blushed as if he had been blanched in boiling water, looked away, and spoke hesitantly.

"Since you can help her, why don't you help me too... Hmph~"

Zhan Xinjia: "..."

Yan Xiyue: "..."

Zhan Xinjia: "Try humming again and I'll find a pigsty and lock you up right now."

When the geese returned: "?"

When the geese returned, they exclaimed, "...Wow, how wonderful!"

The three were locked in a stalemate when a commotion nearby drew everyone's attention.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a gambling addict who had lost money at the gambling den and had no money to pay back, so he wanted to use his wife to settle his debts.

The gambler looked listless, his cheeks sunken and ashen, and he was so thin he looked like a bean sprout, yet he still tried his best to put on a fierce and menacing posture, pushing his weeping wife in front of him.

"What are you crying for! You're ruining my good luck with your crying, you unlucky woman! It's not like I'm asking you to die, it's just that you're going to be someone else's wife for a couple of days. Who are you trying to impress with that long face?!"

"No... I can earn money by washing clothes, I can embroider handkerchiefs!... Please don't give me away to someone else."

The woman knelt on the ground in despair, crying heartbrokenly. She was barely clothed, and through her thin, patched clothes, one could see bruises on her wrists and neck, clearly from being frequently beaten.

Upon closer inspection, one could see bruises on her sallow and emaciated face.

The onlookers pointed and whispered, scornfully cursing the good-for-nothing, heartless gambling addict. But since he was so brain-dead as to gamble, his skin was as thick as a city wall, and he wasn't afraid at all.

"Get out of here! It's none of your business how I discipline my wife! Get out of here, you stinking woman! Don't embarrass me in the street, come with me to the gambling den right now!"

As he spoke, the gambler reached out and grabbed the woman crying on the ground.

Can you tolerate this letter?

You've got some nerve!

Ignoring the injury on her hand, she angrily rolled up her sleeve and was about to step forward, but unexpectedly someone beat her to it.

She was a tall, slender woman dressed in a smart and capable outfit, her long hair neatly tied into a high ponytail. She exuded youthful energy, and from Zhan Xinjia's angle, only her back could be seen.

The woman swung her fist viciously, and her fist, as big as a clay pot, knocked the gambling addict into the ground.

"Gambling? Beating your wife? You're as skinny as a rib and you still dare to act so arrogantly? I'm giving you a hard time!!"

The gambler didn't even have a chance to beg for mercy. Before he could react, everything went black, and he collapsed to the ground, bruised and swollen, coughing up blood.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The woman helped up the woman who was stunned by the sudden change, then took out all the money she had and stuffed it into her hands, before pushing her shoulder.

"Judging from your appearance of being bullied and not daring to fight back, your family probably doesn't care about you anymore. Anyway, you should go home, pack your things, and run away. Go anywhere, open a small stall, do some business, anything is fine."

Don't worry, if that jerk dares to stop you or harass you again, I'll crack his skull open.

The woman was moved to tears, overwhelmed with gratitude, and almost knelt down in the street to thank the girl.

She knew she shouldn't take the money, but she was desperate for it. With the money, she could raise her daughter alone and no longer live in the shadow of being beaten every day.

Perhaps sensing the woman's struggle, the young girl casually patted her shoulder.

"It's fine!"

After saying that, the woman turned around and faced Zhan Xinjia and the others.

Zhan Xinjia stared wide-eyed in shock—

"Qiao Qiao?!"