Chapter Sixteen: That’s the Right Attitude!

Zhao San was immediately seized by the guards on the spot! The other constables didn’t dare utter a word and quickly ran back to report to Magistrate Li.

The guards hurriedly went up to support the prince, but Xue Yuan stubbornly kicked his legs and refused to get up.

Boss Xue’s principle was always to act the part to the very end.

Su Ruowei silently watched Xue Yuan, who was throwing a childish tantrum, and suddenly felt an inexplicable warmth in her heart.

As the daughter of the wealthiest man, her information channels were far more reliable than ordinary people’s. She vaguely knew that this foolish prince was often bullied or even beaten within the manor.

So Su Ruowei was certain that this fool probably didn’t realize that no one was allowed to hit him.

Yet at that moment, facing constable Zhao San, he charged forward without hesitation!

Among all the men on the street, he was the only fool willing to believe in her, and the only fool willing to fight for her innocence!

How absurd this world was!

“But no matter what, if it wasn’t for him, I fear today I would have been doomed...” Su Ruowei thought as she ignored the pain in her wrist from Zhao San’s grip and knelt down to gently support Xue Yuan.

Like soothing a child, she spoke softly, “Your Highness, the ground is dirty. Please get up quickly, okay?”

As she said this, her beautiful eyes looked at Xue Yuan, her pupils clear and shimmering like a calm lake, sparkling with gentle light.

Just one glance from her overshadowed the rosy dawn.

But Xue Yuan knew that was not a look of love.

It was the gaze reserved for someone with an intellectual disability.

Of course, Xue Yuan didn’t feel disappointed or anything—after all, he was truly a genuine fool!

But in the end, he did get up.

“Miss Su, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, thank you, Your Highness!”

“Hehe, good to hear. Come with me quickly; I’ll take you to see Steward Qian!”

After speaking, Xue Yuan grabbed Su Ruowei’s hand and dashed into the manor.

It was the first time Su Ruowei had ever been held by a man other than her father or brothers, and she immediately felt a jolt, her hand trembling instinctively.

Men and women should not touch!

But then she thought better of it and felt ashamed—he was just a simple fool, what complicated thoughts could he have?

...

Meanwhile, in Qian Zhongxian’s room—

Qian Zhongxian still curled up like a shrimp, while beside him stood Princess Chu Qiuer, holding a bowl of medicine.

Chu Qiuer was standing because her backside ached.

Yet she had personally come to feed Qian Zhongxian the medicine.

“Brother Xian, time to take your medicine!”

Chu Qiuer did not despise Qian Zhongxian despite the possibility he might become disabled. As an artistic libertine, she had chosen to have an affair with him precisely because she admired his talent.

She still remembered the year Qian Zhongxian stunned everyone at the capital’s poetry gathering, and she witnessed it all, becoming his devoted fan since then.

Chu Qiuer believed that was true love, unlike those stinky moneylenders in the manor and a boring fool.

Qian Zhongxian weakly waved his hand and said in a feeble voice, “Medicine can wait! The urgent task now is to get rid of that Jian Qi! As long as he’s gone, that fool won’t be able to bounce back!”

Chu Qiuer quickly nodded, “You’re right, Brother Xian! But Jian Qi is stubborn; last night we sent him three thousand taels of silver, and he returned it all untouched!”

“No matter!” Qian Zhongxian struggled to turn his body and looked at Chu Qiuer softly, “Go report this to Magistrate Li. Tell him the manor lost five thousand taels of silver, and he’ll know what to do!”

Chu Qiuer was momentarily stunned, but soon understood.

“Right! As long as we report it, Magistrate Li can lawfully arrest them! If Jian Qi surrenders quietly, that’s fine, but if he resists, Magistrate Li can report to the Prefect, who will then call in the Divine Constables!”

The Divine Constables were known as the best force in the land, filled with experts, and no notorious criminal ever escaped their pursuit!

As she spoke, admiration filled her eyes. “Brother Xian, you always have the best ideas. It’s a pity that a prodigy like you is only a mere steward of the manor. Such a waste of your talents!”

At last, a trace of satisfaction appeared on Qian Zhongxian’s face, and some of his manly spirit seemed to return.

Just then, with a bang, the door was kicked open.

Xue Yuan rushed in!

Chu Qiuer was so frightened she shuddered instinctively, dropping the medicine bowl which shattered into pieces on the floor!

Qian Zhongxian was even more terrified, nearly trying to spring up from the bed in a crane’s stance, but the pain in his side forced him to bend over, unable to move.

“You—what are you doing again?”

Qian Zhongxian held the quilt in front of him like a shield, looking at Xue Yuan in terror.

He truly feared another attack—if that happened, he’d go from being three parts plum blossom to four parts meatball—fragile and ready to break at any touch.

Xue Yuan was irritated by their malicious assumptions about him. He was clearly here on official business!

Pointing behind him at Su Ruowei, he said seriously to Qian Zhongxian, “Don’t be afraid, Steward Qian. This young lady is here to see you! She says she’s been wronged, and you must stand up for her!”

Yes, Xue Yuan wouldn’t take this matter on himself. In these times, whoever took initiative was the sucker. He wanted Su Ruowei to first realize who could truly help her!

When she came to him for help, only then would he act. That was true “grace”!

Of course, he had to be the one to grant it, so he could recruit Su Ruowei to work for him. Otherwise, why bother with feelings? He didn’t deal in that nonsense!

Qian Zhongxian was momentarily stunned. Honestly, while he admired Su Ruowei’s beauty, his aching ribs left him no energy to meddle.

He roughly said, “I’m just a steward here; I can’t handle those matters. Miss, please leave.”

Su Ruowei, ever clever, immediately understood from Qian Zhongxian’s attitude that he must be close with Magistrate Li. The last glimmer of hope in her eyes vanished.

“So it is true—officials protect each other!”

“Is there truly no place to clear my grievance?”

She didn’t foolishly kneel to beg, knowing it would only bring ridicule and her pride forbade it.

Su Ruowei didn’t know how she left Qian Zhongxian’s room—her mind was blank, and as if driven by some subconscious force, she followed that fool, entering his room.

She suddenly realized, perhaps the only one in the world willing to help her was this fool.

“Your Highness, I...” Xue Yuan grinned, peeling a banana, ignoring her words.

Suddenly, Su Ruowei knelt down.

“Your Highness, my family of five is in dire peril. I beseech you to save them! If you can rescue my parents, brothers, and little sister, I vow to serve you faithfully for life!”

Su Ruowei was out of options!

She knew this foolish prince might not be reliable, but at present, he seemed the only one she could turn to!

Even if there was the slightest hope?

Xue Yuan smiled faintly, thinking, “That’s the right attitude!”

He promptly put down the banana, stepped forward to support Su Ruowei, and with an innocent expression said, “Oh dear, Miss, how did you fall? Don’t worry—there’s an old saying: I help others, and others help me; every talent has its use; graceful and virtuous lady... what was it again?”

“A gentleman seeks a good match?”

“Ah yes! So I will definitely help you!”

Su Ruowei’s heart sank even further upon hearing this.

He... was still just a fool.

...

Xue Yuan settled Su Ruowei into a side room not far from his own.

Then he waited quietly for Jian Qi’s return.

By midday, Jian Qi finally came back!