Chapter 63 The Lost Red Pearl Causes Trouble 4

Xie Lian curiously asked, "Why can't I drink that?"

The Empress held a small jade cup, poured a little onto a cloth, and dabbed it on her face a few times. She said, "A batch of fresh fruits was recently brought from Mount Tai Cang. I don't like cherries, but there's a recipe that says you can mash them into a paste for the face, so I made some for fun. It's useless, and I was about to throw it away. It's not something you can drink."

Xie Lian smiled but suddenly remembered something from the previous day. Mu Qing's mother couldn't eat cherries often, and Mu Qing was criticized for picking cherries on Mount Tai Cang. Feeling a bit emotional and not wanting Mu Qing to feel bad, he changed the topic with a smile, "Is there anything I can eat?"

The Empress laughed, "The way you say it, people might think I'm starving you. Actually, you've been picky since you were young, and I couldn't fatten you up. You've gotten so thin after being on the mountain for so long. Today, you must eat whatever your mother gives you without being choosy."

After chatting for a while, the Empress asked about the incident during the sacrificial parade, looking worried. "According to the national teacher, this seems to be a big issue. What should we do? Will you be punished?"

Before Xie Lian could answer, Qi Rong interjected, "Hmph, it's not Cousin Crown Prince's fault. He's not the one who fell from the city wall. If anyone should be punished, it should be that little pest."

Xie Lian thought, "What is this 'little pest'?" Before he could correct Qi Rong, the Empress laughed. Just then, she noticed two people outside the hall and asked, "Who is that child next to Feng Xin? It's the first time I've seen someone new with you."

Xie Lian happily replied, "This is Mu Qing. He was the one playing the demon on stage yesterday."

Hearing this, Qi Rong's eyebrows slightly raised. The Empress said, "Oh? Let him come up and have a look. Feng Xin, you come in too."

So, Feng Xin and Mu Qing entered the hall and half-knelt before the Empress. The Empress examined Mu Qing for a while and said to Xie Lian, "I saw him fight well yesterday. He's quite a decent child. His face looks like a refined minister's, but I didn't expect him to be so fierce with a blade."

Xie Lian smiled, "Right? I think he's quite good too."

At this moment, Qi Rong said coldly, "Oh? So he was the demon yesterday?"

Xie Lian sensed trouble and, sure enough, the next moment, Qi Rong suddenly lunged forward, grabbed the jade cup from the small table, and splashed it towards Mu Qing's head, saying, "This is for you!"

Xie Lian quickly knocked his hand away, preventing him from splashing Mu Qing's face. He grabbed Qi Rong and said, "Qi Rong, what are you doing!"

Qi Rong was lifted up, still flailing and shouting, "Cousin, I'm helping you teach this unruly servant a lesson! Yesterday, when you weren't there, he was performing so happily, stealing the spotlight. What does he think he is, the main character of the sacrificial parade? Does he want to overturn the heavens!"

The Empress was stunned and said, "Rong, what... what are you doing?" Mu Qing wasn't splashed on the head but got it on his clothes. Since the Empress hadn't told him to get up, he remained kneeling, his face pale and gloomy. Xie Lian handed Qi Rong to Feng Xin and said, "Don't let him hit anyone." Feng Xin held Qi Rong with one hand, but Qi Rong kicked and punched him, spitting, "Who do you think you are, daring to touch me!"

Xie Lian, with a headache, said, "Qi Rong, you're getting more and more out of control lately!" He then told the Empress, "Mother, I forgot to mention, you should take away his golden carriage."

Qi Rong was shocked and shouted, "No, no! Why? That's the birthday gift Aunt gave me!"

Xie Lian said, "It doesn't matter what it is, it has to be taken away. He almost caused trouble on the street just now. Until he can drive properly, he shouldn't touch it."

The Empress exclaimed, "Almost caused trouble? What happened?"

Xie Lian recounted Qi Rong's reckless driving, and Qi Rong, with red eyes from anger, said, "Cousin Crown Prince is wronging me! I didn't hit anyone!"

Xie Lian, both amused and exasperated, said, "That's because someone stopped you!"

Qi Rong broke free from Xie Lian's grip and stormed out of the Phoenix Palace. The Empress called him several times, but he didn't return. She sighed and said, "I'll talk to him about taking away the carriage tomorrow. Sigh, this child has wanted a carriage for a long time. A few days ago, on his birthday, I saw he really wanted it, so I gave it to him. Who knew this would happen? If I had known, I wouldn't have given it."

Xie Lian asked, "Why does he want a carriage so badly?"

The Empress replied, "He said that way he could go to Mount Tai Cang anytime to bring you back to the palace."

Thinking of his good intentions, Xie Lian fell silent. After a moment, he said, "You should find him a teacher to help him change his ways. If this continues, it won't do."

The Empress sighed, "What teacher could handle him? He only listens to you. Should he follow you up the mountain to cultivate? The national teacher refuses to take him as a disciple."

Xie Lian found the thought both funny and terrifying, shaking his head. "With Qi Rong's temperament, if he joined the Imperial Extreme Temple, the entire Mount Tai Cang would be in chaos."

Both mother and son were troubled by this issue and couldn't think of a solution, so they left it for now. In the evening, after a brief meeting with his parents, Xie Lian prepared to leave the palace.

Everyone knew that the Crown Prince was deeply devoted to cultivation. Since going up Mount Tai Cang to the Imperial Extreme Temple, he rarely saw his parents. The national ruler didn't say much about it, but the Empress always found it hard to let go. Leaving the palace, Xie Lian wandered around the capital and, as promised yesterday, accompanied Mu Qing home.

High gates and wealthy households often stood just a street away from the slums. Mu Qing's former home was tucked away in a dark alley in the most bustling part of the capital.

As soon as the three of them reached the alley entrance, five or six ragged children surrounded them, calling out, "Brother, brother's back!"

Xie Lian was initially puzzled why they would call a stranger "brother," but soon realized they were calling Mu Qing. The children sweetly called him, but Mu Qing ignored them, saying, "Not this time. Don't call me for nothing."

Though he kept a straight face, his tone wasn't truly cold. He then told Xie Lian, "Your Highness, don't mind them. They're just kids from around here." The children were clearly familiar with him and unafraid, giggling and reaching out with dirty hands to ask Mu Qing for food. Eventually, Mu Qing took out a string of ruby-like cherries from his bag and shared them with the children.

Seeing this, Feng Xin was quite surprised, as if he found Mu Qing's actions unexpected. It's understandable, given that Mu Qing had a face that looked cold and indifferent, the kind that would guard his food even if someone starved in front of him. But Xie Lian wasn't surprised. He originally wanted to give something to the children, but he wasn't carrying any sweets, and giving them money felt like treating them as beggars, which seemed inappropriate. Just then, a sudden clatter of hooves and a long series of horse neighs came from the street, followed by screams.

Everyone's expressions changed, and Xie Lian rushed out of the alley. The street was in chaos, with people and carts overturned, and fruits rolling everywhere. Before he could see what was happening, he heard a young man's wild laughter, "Move aside, move aside! If you don't watch out, I won't be responsible if you get trampled!"

Feng Xin cursed, "It's Qi Rong again!"

Sure enough, Qi Rong stood on his luxurious golden carriage, face filled with malice, swinging his whip wildly, making the white horse neigh. Xie Lian said, "Stop him!"

The golden carriage roared past them, and Feng Xin said, "Yes!" and rushed forward. Xie Lian was about to check on the people and stalls knocked over by Qi Rong's carriage to see if anyone was hurt when he suddenly felt something was wrong. He quickly turned around and saw a thick rope trailing behind the tall golden carriage. At the end of the rope was a burlap sack, which seemed to contain something struggling inside. It looked like a person was inside.

In an instant, Xie Lian felt a chill. The next moment, he dashed forward.

The white horse, whipped by Qi Rong, was running frantically, dragging the carriage with spinning wheels. Feng Xin was trying to stop the horse, but it would take some time. Xie Lian caught up with the carriage in three steps, drew his sword, and sliced down. The rope snapped, and the burlap sack fell to the ground, rolling twice before stopping.

Xie Lian bent down to check. The sack, dragged on the ground for who knows how long, was worn and filthy, stained with blood, resembling a body bag. He sliced open the rope tying the sack and opened it, only to find a child inside!

Xie Lian ripped open the entire sack. The child inside was curled up, hugging his head tightly. His dirty clothes were covered with oversized footprints and blood, his hair matted with blood and dirt, a mess from being beaten. He looked unrecognizable, and judging by his size, he was only about seven or eight years old, trembling as if skinned alive. It was a miracle he survived such a beating and dragging.

Xie Lian immediately checked his pulse, finding it not too weak, and breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the small body and turned back, angrily shouting, "Feng Xin! Stop Qi Rong for me!"

He never imagined such a thing could happen in the Divine Joy Kingdom. In broad daylight, on a busy street, a noble would put a living person in a burlap sack and drag them behind a carriage! If he hadn't seen and stopped it, wouldn't this small child have been dragged to death today?

In the distance, there were sounds of neighing and Qi Rong's angry shouts. Shortly after, Feng Xin called out, "I've stopped him!"

Xie Lian hurried forward, just in time to hear Qi Rong scream, "You insolent servant, how dare you hurt me! Who gave you the courage?!"

It turned out Feng Xin couldn't stop him, so he grabbed the horse's reins. Qi Rong, of course, wouldn't let go, and in the struggle, Feng Xin accidentally pushed him off the carriage. He rolled on the ground, scraping his knee, feeling both angry and humiliated as onlookers gathered. Xie Lian said, "I did!"

Qi Rong opened his mouth, "Cousin Crown Prince!"

Xie Lian angrily said, "Look at what you've done! Qi Rong, I really..."

Just then, he felt the child in his arms flinch, slowly releasing his grip on his head, peeking at him from under his arm.

Xie Lian immediately softened his tone and gently asked, "How are you feeling? Is there anywhere that hurts a lot?"

The child was surprisingly still conscious, not fainted or scared stiff, and shook his head. Xie Lian saw that the exposed half of the child's face was bloody and wanted to check if his head was injured. But the child tightly covered the other half of his face, refusing to let him see.