The porridge distribution was such a large-scale operation that five or six porridge stalls were set up on the street.
Among those begging for porridge were the elderly, children, and disabled people.
They stared longingly at the porridge, constantly pushing bowls into it, their eyes filled with desire.
The line stretched as far as the eye could see; it seemed as if beggars from every corner within a hundred miles had come.
I wiped the fine sweat from my forehead and stretched my sore and numb arms.
"Take a rest if you're tired!" A magnetic voice rang in my ear, and then a large, fair hand took the iron spoon from my hand.
"Ye Lisheng!" I exclaimed with some surprise.
My heart felt warm, but the thought of what they said at Yuzhu Pavilion made me feel uneasy.
"No need!" I said coldly.
He was startled by my tone for a few seconds: "What's wrong?"
"nothing!"
Are you angry?
"How dare I!"
Seeing that I refused to go to rest, he sent someone to find me a light and delicate little wooden spoon.
He stayed by my side, which warmed my heart, but a voice inside kept telling me that he was so good to me only because of Murong Kui.
As the sun set, everyone had a bowl of porridge in their hands. Seeing their satisfied smiles, I felt a surge of accomplishment and smiled along with them.
I was looking at the scenery, while Ye Lisheng was looking at me.
Her eyes were filled with tenderness, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.
I turned around and bumped into his smile, and I was momentarily stunned.
What are you looking at?
"Look at you!" His voice was soft and soothing, like a feather gliding across my heart.
"Miss Murong and the Prince are truly a perfect couple!"
The beggars said
"Miss Murong is beautiful and kind-hearted. I saw that years ago!"
"Yes! Yes!" the others echoed.
The more they said that, the sadder I felt. No matter what I did, I was still living as Murong Kui.
I sat listlessly at the head of the bridge, feeling the caress of the wind.
"I noticed you're not as lively as usual. Is something on your mind?"
Even Ye Lisheng himself felt awkward saying those words. When had he ever treated anyone like this before, when he had always been so cold to others?
I smiled faintly: "Your Highness likes Murong Kui very much, doesn't he?"
The wind billowed his robes, making him appear like a god descending to earth. Looking at myself, how could I possibly be worthy to stand before him?
Why do you ask that?
"I heard everything you and Ye Xuanling said at the Jade Bamboo Pavilion that day!"
Ye Lisheng paused for a few seconds, his eyes sharpening: "You were eavesdropping on my conversation!"
His voice was as cold as a freezing winter day.
Is what you're saying true?
Seeing that I was getting a little anxious, he reached out to help me, but I shrank back.
He looked at his hand, which was frozen in mid-air, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"I'm just Murong Kui's stand-in, right?" I asked again.
Seeing my slightly red eyes, he felt a pang of heartache.
I parted my lips, about to say something, when dozens of people appeared out of thin air behind me, weapons in hand, surrounding us.
He pulled me behind him, shielding me, and glanced at the group of people out of the corner of his eye.
"What brings you here, sir?"
One of the leaders stepped forward and said, "We won't beat around the bush with the prince. We've heard that the imperial seal is in his hands?"
Ye Lisheng raised a wicked smile and said coldly, "So what if it is?"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over the imperial seal right now!"
What if I say I won't pay?
"Then don't blame us brothers for being polite!"
He gestured for them to make their move. Ye Lisheng's reputation was so great that a single glance from him could make people tremble, let alone actually fight.
The man who spoke was five feet tall, and a scar running from the corner of his eye to his lip resembled a centipede crawling across his face.
With a large sword slung over his shoulder, I even wondered if he could actually use it to hurt someone, since the sword was taller than him.
I couldn't help but chuckle at my own thought. Although I was hiding behind Ye Lisheng and secretly laughing, I was still seen.
"Big...Big brother...that young lady is secretly laughing!"
One of the stutterers pointed at me and said
"I didn't laugh!" she blurted out in rebuttal.
"This young lady is going too far! Today, we brothers will take both the imperial seal and this young lady!"
Hearing them say that, Ye Lisheng's sharp eyes swept over each of them: "Is that so? You'd better take responsibility for what you said!"
Those people were so frightened that they took a few steps back, feeling a chill run through their bodies.
"B-Big brother! Are you still going to rob us?"
"Nonsense, let's go!"
After saying that, they attacked us. Ye Lisheng held my waist and fought them off with one hand.
They were all beaten down in no time, which made me despise their poor fighting ability.
"Your Highness, spare my life!"
But to everyone's surprise, Ye Lisheng didn't take them seriously and coldly said, "Get lost!"
Those people then fled in a panic.
I asked, somewhat puzzled, "What if they come back?"
"Let them come again if they dare!"
I chased after his dashing figure: "Is the Imperial Seal really in your hands?"
"Bang!"
He suddenly stopped, and my nose unexpectedly bumped into his back.
I winced and covered my nose, while he shook his head helplessly.
With a serious expression, he said, "Many more things like what just happened will happen in the future. Are you scared?"
"What's there to be afraid of if the imperial seal isn't in my hands?"
"It is extremely unsafe for me to be around right now!"
But I didn't want to hear him say that, and kept asking, "Is your kindness to me because of Murong Kui?"
He stopped and looked at me coldly: "I have known Murong for ten years, but I have only known you for a short month!"
I tried to find something in his eyes, but all I found was a cold, emotionless look.
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