Chapter 54: Guilty of Every Conceivable Crime

Without a second thought, Gu Li rushed over. The little boy was already struggling to his feet, but his frail body wobbled unsteadily as he stood.

“Are you all right?” Gu Li hurried to support him, not caring the least about the dirt that covered him.

The boy stiffened noticeably, his gaze falling on her slender, delicate hand, lacquered with bright red polish. Her fingers were tapered like bamboo shoots, her wrist graceful as a lotus root, gently grasping his arm. A pleasant scent of roses lingered in the air between them.

The boy looked up.

Before him was a face of breathtaking beauty, adorned with the youthful charm of a maiden on the cusp of blossoming. Her eyes were clear as apricots, her lips crimson without paint, her brows vivid without adornment. At this moment, she gazed at him with deep concern.

He snapped back to his senses and shook his head. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Gu Li studied the boy’s thin frame, estimating him to be no more than eleven or twelve years old. How could someone so young be so weak and destitute?

Just then, the Crown Prince, Lie Chang’an, and Yu Yang approached. Witnessing the scene, they could not stand idly by; especially the Crown Prince, as the future ruler, felt his anger boil at the sight of such injustice.

Before Gu Li could ask further, the Crown Prince strode forward and questioned, “Young man, what’s going on here? Why did they hit you?”

The boy frowned at the words, retorting with obvious displeasure, “I’m not a child. I’m already fifteen.”

Fifteen?

Gu Li was startled. The boy wasn’t even as tall as she was—how could he be fifteen? Clearly, it was long-term malnutrition that had stunted his growth.

Gu Li’s heart ached even more. He was just their age—hers and the Crown Prince’s—yet his circumstances were so pitiful it made one’s heart twist.

The villagers who had gathered were already indignant. Seeing the two men and two women dressed in fine silks, bearing noble airs, they guessed these were people of wealth and status who could surely stand up for the boy. One after another, they began to voice their grievances and relate the situation.

His name was Wei Qingheng. He had just turned fifteen. Early in life, he lost his father. At home, he cared for a bedridden mother and a young sister.

The middle-aged man who had just cursed him was a notorious local miser—a nouveau riche bully who lorded over the village, plundering wealth and frequently abducting women, his crimes innumerable.

That scene moments ago had been the miser snatching away the money Wei Qingheng had earned to buy medicine for his mother. Every coin had come from his tireless labor, working day and night for the villagers.

After painstakingly gathering enough silver, it was stolen in an instant. Unable to bear it, Wei Qingheng confronted the miser, leading to the altercation.

Upon hearing all this, Gu Li was furious. She called out, “Jasmine!”

Jasmine understood immediately and produced a silver ingot from her sleeve, handing it to Gu Li.

Gu Li pressed the silver into Wei Qingheng’s hand. “Quick, take it. Go treat your mother.”

Wei Qingheng looked up. His face was filthy, his hair disheveled, he appeared battered and defeated. Yet his ink-black eyes were bright, fixed intently on the young woman who had come to his aid without hesitation.

The softness in her palm was unlike anything he had felt from his sister or mother.

Wei Qingheng tried to return the silver, shaking his head. “This isn’t my money. I can’t accept it.”

Gu Li hadn’t expected the boy to remain so stubborn even now. The strength of his pride left her momentarily speechless.