"Will big brother really do anything for Xue'er?" Mei Qingxue slowly lifted her eyes, which she had secretly rubbed red, and looked pitifully at Mei Haoxuan, who was immersed in the events of the past and desperately wanted to make up for his beloved younger sister.
"Yes. As long as it's what Xue'er wants, big brother can get it for you."
"Then, can big brother take Xue'er out?"
"Sure. As long as you want." Mei Haoxuan's unhesitating answer almost made Mei Qingxue jump for joy.
"Wait. What did you say, Xue'er? You mean you want to go out?" Realizing what she said, Mei Haoxuan stared at Mei Qingxue in surprise.
"Yeah. Big brother has already promised just now. Are you going to go back on your word?" Her excited little face instantly drooped. The mournful expression on her face stabbed at Mei Haoxuan's eyes.
"Xue'er, it's dangerous outside the mansion. Big brother is worried about you..."
"Isn't big brother here? Big brother is the emperor's personal bodyguard. You're so good at martial arts. We'll be fine!" Mei Qingxue quickly flattered him. She knew this was a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity. She could tell that her brother's heart was wavering!
"Okay. When we go out, Xue'er must stay close to big brother and don't run around randomly." Unable to resist Mei Qingxue's expectant eyes, Mei Haoxuan finally gave in.
Mei Qingxue was overjoyed. She quickly ran back to her yard and put on the long gown for a young man she had prepared long ago. Although her thirteen - year - old body had started to develop, compared with boys of the same age, aside from being a bit shorter, there was not much difference.
She wore a light cyan front - opening long gown embroidered with slender bamboos. Her long black hair was tied up high with a silk ribbon of the same color. Her fair skin was painted much yellower with special powder, which made her look more delicate and covered up some of her stunning beauty. Yue Ru dressed up as her young pageboy. The two under - developed bodies really looked the part after changing clothes.
When Mei Qingxue said she was going back to change clothes, Mei Haoxuan vaguely felt that he might have been tricked. But then he thought that if it could make her happy, being tricked was okay.
"Where does Xue'er want to go and have a look?" In the carriage, Mei Haoxuan asked Mei Qingxue, who was looking out of the window excitedly.
Mei Qingxue thought it was really boring to look out from the carriage. She wanted to get off and have a good stroll, to relive the great fun of window - shopping in the past! "Big brother, I find it so boring just looking out from the carriage. Can Xue'er get off?"
Mei Haoxuan frowned slightly looking at the bustling street outside the carriage. "Xue'er, this is the market where commoners usually go. There are a lot of people and it's very crowded. Big brother will take you somewhere else."
She used to be an ordinary commoner herself! What fun was there in going to places that ripped off the rich! Moreover, there was a place she must go!
"But big brother..."
"You little brat! You lost the bet and don't have the money to pay up. So use your family to pay the debt!"
"Okay, okay! My lord, if you want them, just take them. I definitely have no objections!"
Just as Mei Qingxue was about to say something more to persuade her lovely brother, the carriage suddenly stopped. Then the voices of the two people clearly reached their ears.
Mei Haoxuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and asked the coachman, "What's going on? Why did the carriage suddenly stop?" If it weren't for the fact that this was the only way to the busiest street in the capital, he wouldn't have taken this road. There were too many people and it was too crowded. He was afraid that there might be people who wanted to harm Mei Qingxue.
"It seems that some people from the gambling house are collecting debts up ahead."
"Pull the carriage to the side and wait until the crowd disperses before moving on."
"Yes, young master."
Hearing what the coachman said, Mei Qingxue secretly curled her lips. She hated gamblers the most. They not only gambled away all the family's money but also did all kinds of immoral things! She had seen many people whose families were broken up because of gambling.
"How could you use us to pay the debt! You unfilial son!" Soon, an old voice came from outside the carriage. It should be an old woman.
"Mother, please have mercy on your son. I have no other choice! Don't worry. I'll redeem you all soon after I win some money!"
"Stop talking so much nonsense. Take the old one back to do rough work. Take the young one to the brothel and sell the little one for me!" The rough voice was very harsh. Mei Qingxue's kind - heartedness, which she had been suppressing, burst out again. She angrily lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. That gambler was really asking for a beating!
"Xue'er, where are you going?" Mei Haoxuan, who didn't expect Mei Qingxue to suddenly get out of the carriage, quickly followed. Yue Ru also followed worriedly, but she was also a bit scared in her heart. The angry look on the young lady's face was really terrifying!
Pushing through the crowd, Mei Qingxue saw the poor family surrounded in the middle. The thin man in rough cloth clothes with droopy eyelids and a blank look in his eyes should be the one in debt. Not far from him stood an old woman also in patched clothes, a young woman in her twenties, and a little boy who looked only two or three years old.
Seeing this scene, Mei Qingxue got even angrier. This guy actually wanted to use these old and weak women and children to pay the debt! Why didn't he just sell himself!
The debt collectors also looked very imposing. They were all tall and strong with fierce looks on their faces. It was obvious that they were not good people.
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and grab the people for me!" The strong man, who should be the leader, impatiently gave the order. As soon as he finished speaking, several of them stepped forward to grab the people.
"No, no, my lord. We can't go with you. My child is still so young!"
"Wuwuwu... Mother, mother. I'm scared, I'm scared... Wah..."
The old woman was too weak to struggle. She could only watch helplessly as her daughter - in - law and only little grandson were being grabbed. She fainted from the great shock.
"Mother, mother..." The young woman was quite delicate - looking. It was a pity that she had married the wrong man.
The man just stood there numbly watching. Seeing this, Mei Qingxue couldn't hold back anymore. She took a quick step forward and pulled the hand of the strong man who was holding the child. No one expected such a person to suddenly appear. The strong man was still a bit dazed after being pulled away.
"Sir, please save us! Please save us!" The woman saw someone come to help and seemed to have found a life - saving straw. She quickly broke free from her bound hands and kept kowtowing to Mei Qingxue.
"Where did this brat come from? You're not even fully grown and you're meddling in other people's business here. It seems you don't want to live anymore!" The strong man, who had come to his senses, was extremely angry. He stepped forward and stretched out his big hand to strike at Mei Qingxue!
Mei Haoxuan, who had been paying attention to Mei Qingxue, immediately stepped forward, picked her up around the waist, and nimbly dodged the strong man's palm. With a kick of his long leg, he hit the strong man right in the abdomen and kicked him several meters away.
Mei Qingxue was secretly shocked. She didn't expect her brother's martial arts to be so good! With just one kick, he could kick a two - hundred - pound strong man flying!
"Big brother, big brother. Are you okay?"
"What are you still standing there for! Go up and beat that brat to death!"
The strong men swarmed forward. After Mei Haoxuan settled Mei Qingxue down, he nimbly fought with the strong men. Although these strong men looked very powerful, in fact, they had no real martial arts foundation. They just relied on brute force. So Mei Haoxuan, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, quickly took care of them.