Chu Huaixu's residence, Chenxiang Pavilion, was located on the east side, directly opposite the west wing where the servants lived. It was the best location in the entire mansion.

That night, Song Ting personally served him a foot bath. Chu Huaixu felt a little tired, so he sent everyone out early, extinguished the candle, and went to sleep.

But he couldn't fall asleep no matter what he did. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see in his mind was the image of that little beggar on Zhuque Street from several years ago, with a stubborn look in his eyes mixed with a bit of pity.

So easily, Chu Huaixu softened his heart.

It hadn't been long since he left the palace. The late emperor was used to having him by his side and found it difficult to adjust, so he often summoned him back to the palace.

He was originally going to stay in the palace that day, but because he had just acquired a fine horse, he couldn't wait to go back and show it off to his two older brothers.

The Prince Duan's residence is located at the easternmost end of Zhuque Street. Because he frequently returned to the palace, Chu Huaixu had traveled along this street several times and was very familiar with the shops on both sides.

The sesame seed cake shop at the east end of the street, the rouge shop with its vermilion facade, the steamed bun shop and wonton stall standing side by side...

Chu Huaixu ate at the two shops once. He had a bowl of wontons with chili oil, along with two large meat buns he bought from the bun shop next door. He ate a bite of wonton or a bite of bun.

The food of ordinary people is naturally not as exquisite as that made by the imperial chefs in the palace, and the taste is far less delicate, but it has its own unique flavor.

When he passed by a steamed bun shop that day, he dismounted and bought a basket of steamed buns, intending to take them home to eat with his brothers.

Chu Huaixu rarely saw his two elder brothers, who were not often at home. He could only see them a few times a year, but the brothers had a very good relationship.

There were so many steamed buns that the oil paper was bulging, and the aroma wafted from afar, making Chu Huaixu's mouth water.

As soon as I turned around, a figure flashed before my eyes and I ran over to it in a flash.

By the time Chu Huaixu realized what was happening, the steamed bun in his hand had already been snatched away.

In broad daylight, under the clear sky.

The young master of the Duan Prince's mansion had his steamed bun snatched from him in public.

If word got out, he would be utterly disgraced by his ancestors.

Chu Huaixu stared at his empty hands, enraged, and immediately chased after the person who had fled.

Soon, he discovered the man's trail.

It was a thin, frail little beggar who was now surrounded by other beggars who were trying to snatch the buns he had taken.

But the little beggar refused to let go, and even as he was punched and kicked, he still wolfed down the buns and stuffed them into his mouth.

Those people beat him so badly that the little beggar couldn't take it. He ate and vomited at the same time, but still refused to let go.

He carefully protected the steamed buns under his body.

Chu Huaixu stopped in his tracks without realizing it. The little beggar's eyes reminded him of a lone wolf snatching food in the desert, stubborn and fierce.

My grandfather once shot and killed a wolf cub like that. Chu Huaixu was still young at the time, but he always remembered the look in the young beast's eyes before it died.

I feel terrible every time I think about it. I deeply regret not stopping my grandfather back then.

"Hand over the food! Or I'll kill you!"

"Hand it over!" "Hand it over!"

"Kill him!" "Hit him now!"

The little beggar was very stubborn and not afraid of the punches and kicks around him at all.

Seizing the opportunity, he bit one of the beggars who had kicked him, and while the beggar clutched his foot and howled, he managed to crawl out of the encirclement.

Chu Huaixu's gaze followed him, and he saw the little beggar climb to the door of the pharmacy not far away.

There was a tattered straw mat wrapped up there, with an arm sticking out from inside. The skin was white and rotting, emitting a foul stench.

Mosquitoes swarmed around the tattered straw mat, constantly biting the arm.

Chu Huaixu had never seen such a scene before; his face turned pale, and he felt nauseous.

"Go away! Go somewhere else! You're such bad luck!" The pharmacy clerk kicked the little beggar in the back. "Get lost!"

Chu Huaixu had never suffered any hardship in his life, nor had he ever seen a little beggar struggling to survive like this.

Moved by compassion, and disregarding the stench of the corpse, he rushed over and stopped the man before he could kick him a second time.

"stop!"

A person like him is someone whose greatness can be recognized at a glance.

Upon seeing this, the waiter hurriedly apologized, but Chu Huaixu casually dismissed him.

He squatted down and asked the little beggar in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

The little beggar, who had been motionless, only tightly clutching the straw mat and the person inside, finally raised his head and looked blankly at Chu Huaixu.

His eyes held a hint of fear, yet couldn't conceal his ruthlessness and vigilance.

Chu Huaixu, though not much older than the other man, patted the little beggar's head with an air of maturity and coaxed him in a low voice:

"My name is Chu Huaixu, the youngest son of Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao. Have you ever heard of Prince Duan's name?"

The little beggar pursed his lips and looked into the distance; the Prince Duan's mansion was in this direction.

This should mean "know".

"The steamed bun you just grabbed is mine, you can recognize it, right?"

Because of these words, the little beggar's eyes showed even more vigilance, as if he were ready to bite Chu Huaixu at any moment.

However, this is understandable. Compared to those little beggars, he, as the real creditor, naturally needs to be more vigilant.

Thinking of this, Chu Huaixu smiled helplessly and said, "I'm not asking you for the steamed buns, don't be nervous."

The little beggar ignored him, sat up and tried to run away, but Chu Huaixu grabbed him by the back of the neck:

"Don't run away. I'm not going to hit you. I just want to ask if you'd like to come home with me."

"My family not only has meat buns, but also other delicious food. You can have whatever you want to eat."

The little beggar didn't believe him at all, struggled even more, and opened his mouth as if he really wanted to bite him.

Chu Huaixu was both amused and annoyed. He reached out and pinched the man's lips, saying:

"Fine, you won't believe me anyway, I'll show you for yourself."

Without waiting for the little beggar's agreement, he pressed the pressure point on the beggar's head, carried him on his shoulder, and walked all the way back to the steamed bun shop.

His horse stopped there, he threw the man onto its back, and then he himself nimbly flipped himself onto the horse.

He looked down and saw the dirty little beggar staring at him with wide, round eyes, his gaze fierce.

But if you look closely, you'll find that beneath that fierce expression lies a deeper unease.

The little beggar was clearly bluffing.

Chu Huaixu smiled and explained to the people, "Don't worry, I really won't harm you. As for your friend, I will arrange for his burial. Don't worry."

The little beggar was forced to lie on the horse's back, unable to move or speak, with only his two eyes moving around.

When she glared at Chu Huaixu, the anger in her eyes became even more pronounced. It was both pathetic and laughable.

The latter immediately burst into laughter, kicked the horse's belly with his toe, and amidst the sound of hooves, the boy proclaimed loudly:

"Come on, come home with me!"