He spoke with difficulty.

“I didn’t bully him, he… hit me.”

After he finished speaking, everyone present burst into laughter.

"Li San, I think you've gone mad from gambling. How could a little kid like him beat you up?"

"I think you're deliberately trying to extort money from me!"

The people present were all small vendors, and they all knew Li San, this scoundrel, so naturally they didn't believe his nonsense.

Gu Jinxi, with a cold expression, explained, "He was the one who tried to steal my bag."

These words made those present even more indignant.

"Li San, you still say you didn't bully anyone? You even stole the child's bundle!"

“Yes, we can let it go if you steal a few things from us, but you actually stole the child’s things and tried to frame the child. That’s just too much.”

"Yes, that's too much!"

The crowd echoed his sentiment.

"This matter absolutely cannot be left like this. Why don't we take him to see the authorities? Otherwise, we'll all be harmed by him sooner or later."

"Yes, go see the official!"

As they talked, the crowd tried to drag Li San to see the official.

Gu Jinxi was now focused on rescuing his mother and had no intention of leaving. He tried to leave but was stopped by someone.

"Young master, you can't leave. You're the one who suffered the most."

Gu Jinxi knew that these people were standing up for him, so he explained, "But I need to find my mother. My mother is in danger."

"Is there danger? If there is danger, then we should report it to the authorities even more."

The man explained to Gu Jinxi, "We'll go to the government office. There are officials there who can help us."

Gu Jinxi remembered what the steward had said: ordinary people were not allowed to enter the palace.

He didn't know if the jade pendant was useful.

He then thought of what the sketchbook said, that those officials were indeed acting in the interests of the people, and that they might really be able to help him find his mother.

Thinking of this, Gu Jinxi did not refuse anymore and followed the people to the government office.

Behind him, two carriages sped past.

The emblem of the Yong'an Marquis's residence on the carriage swayed continuously with the movement of the carriage.