Chapter 8 – Stolen Chicken Leg

Previously, Gong Yi felt she had already done her best to help him; since then she decided not to involve herself with him any further. But when she thought of his kind acts during his own difficulties, she felt conflicted. Gong Yi was about to leave when she suddenly noticed the senior eunuch discreetly signaling to the others. One of his companions nodded; he flipped the palm of his hand and instantly held a silver pin!

When the boy was spotted stealing in the kitchen, none of them could cause him real harm. But in this secluded place they have a chance.

This time they’ve brought an illegal drug that took them great efforts to acquire. The poison can cause its victim to die violently after half a month! By then no one can find the culprit.

As he stared at the dreadful approach of several people, Little Jue tried to resist fear, but his small body couldn’t help but shrink back. He was only six years old; he was so small yet he had to face the persecution of many by himself.

The youngest eunuch watched the boy’s vigilant stare and laughed. “What are you afraid of? Eat! You must be very hungry. Didn’t you want to have chicken legs?”

The eunuch who held the silver needle suddenly stepped forward and said fiercely, “In that case, let me help you with that!” He kicked the child’s abdomen with full strength. It was a heavy blow! The child awkwardly fell and his body instantly curled up; cold sweat poured down his face. But that wasn’t enough. The young eunuch reached out and grabbed him, and in his fingertips was the silver pin!

That single kick already flared Gong Yi’s anger! But seeing that pin….she didn’t expect these people to be so vicious!

A stone shot towards the eunuch’s hand and the silver needle was knocked down!

“Ahh!!” the eunuch shrieked in pain. His brow furrowed and he exclaimed, “Who is it?”

It was quiet everywhere and nobody answered.

A cold wind blasts through the yard with unusual chill! When they thought of the sick princess who was rumored to have become a corpse next door, the faces of the eunuchs turned unsightly.

One of the eunuchs bit his lip in anger and exclaimed, “I’m going to find out who’s playing ghost out there!” He then reaches out again for Little Jue!

At this time, another stone shot, this time with murderous intent heading straight for the man’s temple. The stone’s speed flew so fast that the only thing the eunuchs witnessed was their companion dropping to the ground for no reason. They examined their friend, only to find him unconscious and without breath. At this point they panicked.

“There are ghosts!”

Two of the eunuchs ran away. The remaining two were also afraid, but they were more fearful of their boss so they simply dragged the body of the unconscious eunuch and hurriedly left. A boy was left alone on the ground coughing.

The dilapidated Hanchun Garden quieted down.

Gong Jue was also very scared; he struggled to sit up while his face scrunched up in pain. A pair of wide eyes vigilantly looked around while one hand firmly grasped a sharp stone underneath his sleeve.

Seeing no one for a long time, the little boy finally relaxed. Although the other’s entity was a ghost, that same person helped him so it shouldn’t be malicious.

Little Jue touched his already empty stomach and stared at the spoiled food on the floor. His heart struggled.

He had not eaten for two days straight.

…

In the past, his sister had help to treat his serious injuries. The following day Gong Jue heard the palace servants panic while gossiping about someone. When he listened closely, he was surprised to find out Gong sister’s dilemma.

At that moment he felt dejected.

Gong sister’s body was very weak at first glance. Was it due to her helping him during the rain that caused her illness to worsen?

But because her Cold autumn garden was locked, he never found out the truth. On top of that, his serious injuries prevented him from seeing her the past two months.

He was very miserable during this time. Since he couldn’t move, those palace servants became even more unscrupulous; the food they sent him daily was so pitiful that it dragged his injury for a full two months. After he recovered he decided to move next to her palace. The chief eunuch complied by relocating him to Hanchun residence which was right next to the cold autumn palace.

Although he was young, Little Jue had a hunch that the eunuch would agree, simply because they wished for him to die. Now that he wanted to move next to a sick spot, they have no reason to stop him. The senior eunuch smirked as he approved the boy’s decision.

Gong Jue, who was accustomed to living alone, finally moved to Hanchun palace which had been empty for the past ten years. The princess Yi Mo had no other company since everyone thought she was dead, yet he believed that she was merely sick. During his stay at his new residence, all of the palace servants refused to visit him, neither did they deliver meals out of fear. As he grew more desperate, Little Jue finally resorted to stealing food.

In his opinion, sick people can be cured if they eat good food. At least when he was sick, his mother did the same thing.

That’s why he would take the risk to steal again and again.

The problem was that he was so small and thin that he couldn’t carry much. Today, when he spotted the roasted chickens, he gulped in hunger. However he was afraid that he couldn’t carry a lot in his tiny arms, so he only took one. He didn’t want to be caught and beaten up!

Fortunately, he kept the bag close to his chest and the chicken roast was alright….

When he put down the paper bag, he examined the temperature and found it was still warm.

It’s just that……Little Jue touched his stomach.

…He was also hungry.

It doesn’t matter, he is an adult and he’s definitely not sicker than sister Gong. He can last without eating a day or two…

…

Presently, the boy struggled to sit up and his expression twisted in pain.

As he looked at the spoiled food on the floor, his eyes flashed with a trace of pity. He felt even more resentful in his heart towards those people. When he grows up, he vows to get back at those who bullied him!

Gong Yi Mo kept observing the boy and she didn’t know whether to go out or not. When when she noticed him grit his teeth and reach out for the soiled paper bag on the ground, she couldn’t help but walk out!

The little boy quickly noticed someone’s presence and he was suddenly caught in an embarrassing scene; he immediately retracted his hand and his face flushed!

His heart was filled with fear and shame…..He is a prince! But he just wanted to eat something that was trampled on the ground….

When he turned to see who his visitor was, he was shocked! Not having seen her in two months, Gong Yi Mo appears to be completely healthy! She was healed!

Immediately, his face paled and his eyes expressed disappointment.

If you’re doing well, why didn’t you visit me? Sure enough, she was afraid of being burdened by him….

Gong Yi Mo knew he was having bad thoughts at a glance. She walked towards the boy and sat beside him. She then rolled her eyes and smacked him at the back of his head!

Gong Jue groaned in pain and gave her an aggrieved expression. As he stared at her with wide ink-like eyes that seemed to complain, Gong Yi Mo nodded in satisfaction. That’s the expression a child should have, not one that’s too serious.

“It seems like you have a conscience kid. I was sick before but then your meals helped. However if you are hungry, you shouldn’t neglect yourself even for two days. I’m not so weak.” This was the first time she spoke to him kindly.

Her words praised him for his sacrifices. In the end, he was simply a child; his eyes began to water at the thought that his efforts made a difference for her.

Gong Yi Mo smiled with satisfaction. She then pulled out an oiled paper bag from her jacket which contained the roast chicken. “Isn’t this what you gave me? You haven’t eaten for a long time. Let’s share it!”