Chapter 394: Asang

Lin Xiang: "..."

It's astonishing that he, as the prime minister, couldn't even get his hands on a beggar.

"Fine, fine, do whatever you want."

He flicked his sleeves and got into the carriage without looking back at the beggar.

He's said everything he needed to say, and he's shown his kindness out of nowhere; the rest is none of his business.

The coachman, however, was soft-hearted and couldn't help but look back frequently, saying, "Sir, that beggar is chasing after the carriages and horses."

Lin Xiang put away the imperial edict and frowned slightly. "It's alright. Let her chase after us if she wants. She'll stop when she can't run anymore."

The coachman nodded, raised his hand and lashed the horse with the whip again. The horse, in pain, sped up even more, quickly leaving the beggar behind.

Upon returning to his residence, Prime Minister Lin immediately went to his study, refusing to see Lin Wanxian even when she came. Clearly, he was quite troubled by the many matters that lay ahead.

"Young master, there's a beggar at the gate who says he's looking for an adult."

The butler originally intended to come to the study to report, but upon seeing Lin Wanxian waiting outside, he immediately raised his hand and bowed respectfully.

Lin Wanxian glanced at the tightly closed study and nodded to the butler, "Uncle Lin, please take me to see it."

If it were an ordinary beggar, Uncle Lin would have sent him away long ago and would never have come to ask his father for permission.

A light drizzle was falling from the overcast sky. The maidservant trotted to the corridor, opened an oil-paper umbrella, and escorted Lin Wanxian to the door. Then she pointed to a beggar boy huddled in a corner in the distance, sheltering from the rain. "Young master, this is the child."

Lin Wanxian took the oil-paper umbrella from the maid and walked to the beggar's side. Ignoring the beggar's somewhat panicked expression, she squatted down, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the dirt off the beggar's eyelids.

The beggar's eyelids trembled slightly, her fingers clutching the money pouch tightly. Only after Lin Wanxian withdrew her hand did she stammer her thanks, "Thank you, sister."

Lin Wanxian looked helpless, but her attitude remained gentle, as if she were already used to it. "What's your name?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted the ink-painted paper umbrella in his hand slightly, completely shielding her small body. Raindrops pattered on the umbrella surface, making a noisy sound, and then trickled down the umbrella ribs, forming a hazy curtain of rain.

“I…I am called Asang…Sang as in mulberry leaf.”

"What do you want from Prime Minister Lin?"

Lin Wanxian had noticed the purse in her hand long ago and recognized it as her father's, but she couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Logically speaking, even if the father did good deeds, the beggar child wouldn't have run to him in the rain.

"I'd like to help, just give me one coin each time." As he spoke, Asang quickly held up a copper coin, afraid of being rejected again.

"Since you've been given money, just accept it. Your father probably didn't ask anything of you."

“But Mother said that one should not accept charity.” Asang pursed her lips, looking as if she was about to cry. “I can help, I really can help.”

It seems the father couldn't handle the child and just left on the spot.

Lin Wanxian seemed to have imagined that scene, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "In that case, you may come in with me first."

Asang looked up, her large eyes still showing some surprise and uncertainty: "Is it okay?"

"Sure," Lin Wanxian smiled and patted her head gently.

"Young master, she..."

The maid looked at the filthy beggar and hesitated to speak.

Asang looked down at the white jade bricks that had been dirtied by her own footprints and immediately shrank her neck.

"It's alright. I brought the person into the manor. If Father blames me, I'll take responsibility."

Lin Wanxian glanced at the maid, her smile still warm and peaceful.