Chapter 26

Zong Wenxiu's comforting words got stuck in his throat.

His brother had really outdone himself this time.

This way of offering comfort was truly unique!

Xu Wan couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sky again. Listening to the little demon's words was always a precarious balance between being infuriated and amused.

With such a bizarre thought process, why didn't it make people panic instead?

Jing Zhe: "……" He was furious but dared not speak out.

After all, he had accepted help and was now being treated with medicine. The child, covered in ointment, ultimately refrained from retorting.

With the assistance of the servant, Jing Zhe was helped onto the carriage. Xu Wan accompanied him all the way home, which also happened to be their destination for the day.

The slums.

This was a desolate, abandoned city, dark, dirty, and noisy, filled with the poorest residents of the Capital City. The constant coughing of the inhabitants revealed a heavy atmosphere of illness and death.

The little demon had never been to such a place before. He instinctively clutched Zong Wenxiu's sleeve, trembling with fear as he asked, "What kind of place is this? Is this wicked woman planning to abandon us here? Abandoning children is against the law!"

Before Zong Wenxiu could explain, Jing Zhe looked up earnestly and said, "No child traffickers would come here to pick kids."

"Why?" the little demon asked instinctively.

"Because... it's dirty," Jing Zhe hesitated to be more specific. Many of the children here were sick, and even those who weren't were filthy. The noble families would surely disdain them even more.

"Oh," Zong Jincheng assumed he meant the traffickers found the place too dirty and quickly understood, thinking it was too filthy for anyone to want to come. Initially, he had tiptoed through the area, but upon realizing there was no clean spot, he decided to just give up and treat it like wading through mud.

After all, he didn't have to wash his clothes or shoes himself.

However, as they ventured deeper, the little demon gripped Zong Wenxiu's arm even tighter. In addition to many sickly old people and women, there were also numerous children of his age, living like countless other Jing Zhe's.

They endured the coldest winters with only a few tattered rags to cover themselves; their faces were sallow and emaciated due to hunger, their bones protruding frighteningly.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Zong Jincheng felt a bit uncomfortable.

He had never seen such a place, so many impoverished people.

In the glamorous and prosperous Capital City, he had only known himself and those around him to be either rich or noble. When Zong Wenxiu had first returned to the manor, he had been the most modest among them.

Suddenly being exposed to this other world made him feel a sense of unreality.

Jing Zhe led them to the entrance of his home's alley. What was called an alley was merely a few tattered cloths stretched over a makeshift shelter, and the houses inside were likely no better.

"I'm home. Thank you for helping me treat my injuries today," Jing Zhe said.

The little demon's mouth twitched, feeling a bit awkward.

This was the first time he had ever been thanked after making a mistake, almost making him forget that this child had been the one he had knocked over.

As they were talking, a girl's cries suddenly echoed from the alley. A middle-aged man dressed in a steward's uniform was forcefully dragging a three-year-old girl.

Jing Zhe hurriedly rushed over and shouted, "Bad man! Let go of my sister!"

Although a child's strength couldn't compare to an adult's, the unexpected push caused the middle-aged man to stagger.

As he turned around, the little demon was stunned. It was someone he recognized, "Steward Zhai? Is that you?"

Steward Zhai was from the Weiyuan Earl Manor. His master's eldest son, Zhai Yao, was his good friend, often going out together to fight, play, and roam around, so he recognized him.

Steward Zhai was surprised, "Master Jincheng? Why are you in a place like this?" He then released the little girl and ordered the other servants, "You, take her away. Be careful not to hurt her."

"Yes," several servants rushed forward, pushing Jing Zhe aside and grabbing the little girl.

The entire action took less than two seconds.

Zong Jincheng watched as the bandages applied by the manor doctor to Jing Zhe began to unravel one by one. The feeling of all their hard work going to waste was truly terrible.

He stepped forward and blocked their path, asking, "I'm here to send Jing Zhe home. What are you doing, taking his sister?"

Steward Zhai didn't immediately answer the question. Instead, he cautiously glanced at the red-clad woman behind him, recognizing Xu Wan, the current head of the Marquis Manor.

Only then did he step forward and bow, answering insincerely, "Madam, Master Jincheng, you may not know, but our young master wants a few foot-washing maids. I thought I'd pick some from the slums to bring back to the manor for a better life. Who would have thought they'd be so ungrateful and unwilling to let go? It's a waste of my good intentions."

Zong Jincheng: "???"

What was this old man talking about??

"You want a three-year-old girl to be a foot-washing maid for Zhai Yao? Who exactly do you expect to serve whom?"

Zong Jincheng almost wanted to ask if the man's brain was malfunctioning.

Steward Zhai calmly replied, "It was our young master's specific request to choose younger ones. Starting to cultivate affection from a young age is more intimate. For our manor, it's just an extra pair of chopsticks. They'll grow up in a few years."

Xu Wan listened silently, her gaze scrutinizing him.

His voice was weak, his eyes shifty, his smile obsequious.

A slippery old fox.

Xu Wan asked, "Why did Steward Zhai come here to pick children? I heard that even child traffickers don't want to come here."

Steward Zhai smiled, "The children sold by traffickers are too old. Our young master wants to raise a few little playthings, and only here can you find them. Look, their family is so poor they can't even eat or wear warm clothes. If they come back with us to the manor, they certainly won't be mistreated."

What he said was true.

Even if they were just foot-washing maids in the Marquis Manor, their lives would undoubtedly be more comfortable than here.

However, something just felt off.

Xu Wan asked, "Steward Zhai, does the Weiyuan Earl Manor have the proper documentation to take this child?"

Even if children from the slums were to be sold, they needed to sign a contract to ensure the rights and interests of both parties.

Otherwise, that would be considered kidnapping.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the topic of the contract came up, Steward Zhai's expression changed immediately.

In less than a second, Xu Wan noticed a flash of ferocity in his eyes, but it quickly returned to his usual smooth and cunning smile.

"Since this child is a friend of Master Jincheng, then I naturally cannot force the matter. Come, release her," Steward Zhai said, then apologized to Zong Jincheng, "I'm sorry for disturbing Master Jincheng. We have urgent matters at the manor, so we'll talk another day."

The fierce servants all let go, and Steward Zhai quickly left with them.

Jing Zhe hurriedly went to take his sister.

Zong Wenxiu was seeing his brother's influence in action for the first time and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Jincheng, your face is really big. He let go without a word!"

If he had been alone here, he certainly wouldn't have been able to do anything about the people from the Weiyuan Earl Manor.

Zong Jincheng, feeling flattered, proudly said, "Of course, who would dare not give face to this young master? Unlike some people, who didn't even get a farewell greeting when they left!"