A Good Person Like a Princess

“Lowly scum!”

“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” By the time Liu Mang, his face smeared with filth, struggled back to his feet, he was already furious beyond reason.

True essence surged through his body.

His aura suddenly turned fierce and murderous, a white backlight flickered into view, and his originally buck-toothed, long-mouthed face began to twist and transform into something terrifying!

He had fought Wang Gou’er before.

Yang An realized that this bastard was about to activate his Divine Phase and cautiously stepped back a few paces.

No one in the crowd seemed to notice Manman at all.

Watching Liu Mang on the verge of fully awakening his Divine Phase, Manman, with a hint of disgust, tucked the half-eaten apple back into her small embroidered pouch.

Beneath her sleeve, her fair little hand clenched tightly into a fist.

On both sides, the small whips tied with golden threads twitched slightly, resembling a little beast ready to hunt.

Just as Liu Mang was about to fully unlock his Divine Phase—

Military Counselor Sun glanced at Yang An. Judging by his impressive appearance and well-made clothes, he didn’t seem like an ordinary person. He raised his hand and shouted, “Enough, Liu Mang! Stop embarrassing yourself and leave now!”

“Leave? Counselor!?”

Liu Mang pointed at Yang An in disbelief. “That brat did it on purpose! He deliberately insulted me! Hitting me is like slapping your face! How can I let this little bastard off!”

Yang An was startled and quickly gestured, “Sir, I truly didn’t mean it! How could I have the courage to offend you! It was you who insisted on going after the dogs…”

A few stray dogs near the street corner looked at Liu Mang’s expression.

Their eyes grew even more sorrowful.

The onlookers burst into laughter again.

Their laughter was like pouring fuel on a fire, making Liu Mang so enraged he was about to bite his own teeth to pieces. Raising his knife, he swung wildly at the crowd. “No laughing! I dare anyone to laugh! If I catch you laughing at me, I’ll cut you down alive!”

Killing someone in broad daylight was a grave crime.

As the situation threatened to escalate—

Military Counselor Sun kicked Liu Mang to the ground. “Leave! Do I need to say it a third time?”

Seeing Counselor Sun’s face harden, Liu Mang, though still full of resentment, dared not act recklessly. He sheathed his knife and, before leaving, glared fiercely at Yang An. “You lowly scum, just you wait!”

Yang An hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed.

After they left the street, Liu Mang, still smelling of rancid stench, was far from appeased. He said, “That brat Counselor Sun came here just to stir up trouble. Why did he let them off so easily?”

Military Counselor Sun sneered, “That kid looks decent, definitely not an ordinary person. Probably some fool from a family with a bit of money and background who doesn’t know his place.”

“To deal with fools like that,”

“There are plenty of dirty tricks to use in secret. No need to confront them head-on—it only damages your prestige and isn’t worth it.”

Liu Mang’s mind raced. “Sir, you mean—?”

“Do I have to spell it out for you? Remember that fool’s face well. First, go handle the Wang family’s money house case. When you come back, gather some brothers and dig into this guy’s background. If it’s shallow, just drown him in the Yunzhou prison.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched, sir.”

……

After Military Counselor Sun and Liu Mang left,

the crowd quickly dispersed as well.

Yang An supported the limping Wang Shitou back to the shop. “Brother Shitou, are you alright?”

Yang An had a good impression of this honest, sturdy man.

When his brother-in-law Li Yan was severely injured, and Wang Gou’er had driven him to ruin, many people mocked him mercilessly. But Wang Shitou had given him a few meat buns.

A timely helping hand is the rarest kind of kindness.

Yang An lent a hand.

He helped Wang Shitou get his pancake stall back on its feet.

“Thanks a lot today, Brother An,” Wang Shitou said gratefully, then tried to return the money Yang An had just given him. “I can’t take this silver!”

“Brother Wang, just keep it...” Yang An began.

Suddenly, the corner of his robe was tugged. He turned around and saw Manman staring fixedly at the meat pancakes in Wang Shitou’s stall.

Drool was practically dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Yang An couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Brother Wang, just consider that silver as me paying for the pancakes!”

“What a pretty little girl!” Wang Shitou exclaimed.

“Eat as many pancakes as you want, no charge!” Manman was incredibly lively and adorable, and Wang Shitou was delighted. He quickly grabbed two meat pancakes from the still-burning stove and handed them to Manman.

Manman didn’t hesitate.

She took the pancakes and devoured them in big bites, her eyes lighting up with delight.

“Brother An, whose daughter is this?” Wang Shitou asked curiously.

He had never seen such a porcelain-doll-like pretty girl.

Naturally, Yang An couldn’t reveal anything about Qin Guo’er and simply said Manman was bought from a family down on their luck.

Wang Shitou watched as Manman swallowed a pancake twice the size of her face in just a few bites.

She looked like a starving ghost come back to life.

His heart ached. “Poor little girl, I wonder how much hardship you’ve been through before. But from now on, things will get better. Brother An is a good man. If you stick with him, you’ll have a good life!”

With that, Wang Shitou handed Manman two more pancakes.

The meat pancakes were a bit salty.

Manman took the pancakes but then looked longingly at the oily tea. That timid little look melted Wang Shitou’s heart.

She didn’t even say a word.

Wang Shitou hurriedly brought her a bowl.

Tsk, this little girl even knows how to freeload!

Yang An twitched the corner of his mouth.

He quickly handed Wang Shitou some silver coins, but Wang Shitou refused to take them.

Looking at the time, Manman was already on her third bowl of oily tea.

She even seemed ready for a fourth and fifth.

Yang An felt guilty and said, “Brother Shitou, just keep it! This month, I’ll be eating pancakes here, so don’t charge me.”

Only after hearing this did Wang Shitou feel comfortable accepting the money, smiling and saying, “Next time Brother An comes to eat, I’ll give you a discount!”

“Alright.”

Yang An chuckled and asked Wang Shitou to pack about ten pancakes, planning to take them home to share with his sister and brother-in-law.

Then he hurriedly left with Manman.

He was afraid that if he delayed even a little, she’d eat Wang Shitou’s entire pancake stall dry.

Walking back home, before they had even left the market street, Manman had finished the meat pancakes in her hand. Her big eyes didn’t blink as they shone, fixed on the pancakes in Yang An’s hand.

Seeing her silly, food-obsessed look, Yang An had a sudden idea. Mimicking the way a weird uncle might coax a little girl with candy, he smiled and held out a warm meat pancake, bargaining with Manman, “Manman, be good. If you tell me about the princess, I’ll give you pancakes, okay?”

Manman didn’t even think twice and nodded immediately.

She really was a foodie!

Yang An was overjoyed—finally, he had a chance to dig up some news about that troublesome woman!

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles!"

Yang An had been toyed with by Qin Guo'er countless times.

He had even been poisoned!

Yang An was boiling with anger. If he didn’t get some payback from that wicked woman, the reputation of a transmigrator plus a reborn soul would be completely ruined.

A small flame of determination burned fiercely in his eyes.

He eagerly asked Manman, “Our princess, what is she most afraid of on a daily basis?”

Manman thought for a moment, then shook her head.

Is she afraid of nothing?

Yang An furrowed his brow and pressed on, “Then what weaknesses does the princess have?”

Manman still shook her head.

“So, what realm is she currently at?”

Manman continued to shake her head.

“Then what exactly do you know?!” Yang An asked stubbornly one last time.

Manman stared seriously at the meat pie, thought for a while, then lifted her little chin and, mimicking Princess Anle’s proud demeanor, declared, “Pretty!”

“……”

Forget it, just like that.

Completely resigned to this little bean, Yang An felt a bit exhausted.

Manman stretched out her tiny hand, asking for a meat pie.

“No! Go eat something else!” Yang An snapped, walking briskly home.

Manman puckered her lips unhappily.

She shot Yang An a glare, then tried to grab something else to eat from the small bag he was carrying.

Yang An sighed.

He was a grown man—there was no way he could stay mad at such a tiny child. Turning back, he handed her a few meat pies, “Here, eat, eat, eat!”

Manman eagerly took the meat pies from Yang An.

She bit into one with delight, stuffing both cheeks like a little squirrel, her big eyes squinting happily with pure joy.

Yang An smiled helplessly.

Ruffling her head, he said, “I can tell, you’re the dog... sent by our beautiful and kind Princess herself to torment me!”

“Let’s go home.”

“If we hurry, we can still catch lunch. I wonder what Sister and brother-in-law are making today,” he muttered, thinking of Yang Ning and Li Yan, walking home with a heart full of longing.

Manman trotted along with her short legs, keeping pace with him.

She munched on the fragrant meat pie.

Looking at Yang An’s tall back, she felt he was a good person—just like the princess, both were kind people who gave her food.

With that thought, Manman reached out her little hand.

She grabbed the corner of Yang An’s clothes behind him.

Yang An grumbled, “Don’t wipe your greasy hands on me!”

Manman ignored him.

She kept holding onto his clothes, even after finishing the meat pie.

Sunlight poured over the snowy ground.

Two figures, one big and one small,

walked on the sunlit snow, their footsteps crunching with a strange yet pleasant sound.

Half an hour later,

they arrived back at Wanshou Lane.

The Great Xia Empire divided its cities into lanes and markets. The lanes were where ordinary people lived, while the markets were open for merchants to do business.

Each lane consisted of about a hundred or two hundred households.

They were managed by a village head called a Lizheng, similar to a village chief. The Lizheng of Wanshou Lane, where Yang An lived, was named Li Rui. After many days of snow, today was a rare sunny day. Li Rui sat at his doorstep, basking in the sun with his ten-year-old grandson, Li Dabao.

Just then, he spotted Yang An returning home.

Li Rui’s eyes lit up as he called out, “Second Young Master! Slow down a bit!”

Yang An turned around, saw who it was, and smiled, “Uncle Li.”

Though the Lizheng held an official position...

He had no airs of officialdom whatsoever and was especially kind to others, showing great affection toward children. Every child in Wanshou Lane had tasted the crisp candies he gave out.

Li Rui held his grandson’s hand with concern and said, “I’ve heard about your family’s troubles. That Wang Gou’er really was a despicable man, sigh!”

As he spoke, he glanced around the house.

Seizing a moment when no one was watching, he crouched down, pulled out a folded silver note from the sole of his shoe, and secretly slipped it into Yang An’s hand.

“Take this fifty taels of silver,” he whispered. “You and Li Yan’s family should pack up and leave immediately!”

Wanshou Lane was on the outskirts of Yunzhou City, and the news of Wang Gou’er’s violent death hadn’t spread yet.

Holding the distinctly scented silver note in his hand, Yang An couldn’t help but smile wryly as he pushed the note back into the kind old man’s hand. “Uncle Li, you don’t know yet that Wang Gou’er is already dead. He was suddenly wiped out last night.”

“Now the whole city of Yunzhou is buzzing like mad!”

“They say Wang Gou’er did so many evil deeds that he finally met his comeuppance. He angered a certain gallant hero—handsome, elegant, and fiercely just—who personally killed him.”

Manman glanced at Yang An but said nothing.

“Ah?” The village chief was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses. “So your family is safe then?”

Yang An smiled and nodded.

“Ha! This is fantastic news! It just proves your family is blessed by heaven. Twelve years ago, there was a great epidemic—half the children in Yunzhou City died, and every child in Wanshou Lane fell ill. Only you and your sister were spared. Even back then, I knew your family was lucky!”

‘Twelve years ago, a great epidemic?’

‘Half the children in Yunzhou City died? All the kids in Wanshou Lane were sick, except for me and my sister? How come I have no memory of such a big event?’

Yang An frowned.

‘Maybe I was too young back then and forgot.’

Rushing home, he didn’t dwell on it and prepared to take his leave.

Years of drought, combined with political chaos, had made life increasingly hard for the common folk.

Even Li Rui’s family couldn’t guarantee meat on the table every day.

Holding the village chief’s hand, Li Dabao caught the scent of the meat pies in Manman’s hand and immediately started shouting, “Grandpa, I want a meat pie! I want a meat pie!”

Knowing Yang An’s family was struggling lately, he couldn’t bear to ask for their food.

Li Rui gently pulled his grandson’s hand. “Dabao, be good. We’ll go home and have your father buy some for you.” But Li Dabao insisted stubbornly, “I want it now! I want it now!”

Just as Li Rui was about to scold his grandson with a stern face,

Yang An smiled and took a few meat pies out from the oiled paper wrapping, offering them to the grandfather and grandson. “Uncle Li, have some with us.”

Before Li Rui could refuse,

the chubby Li Dabao snatched a meat pie from Yang An’s hand and began devouring it with gusto.

Li Rui felt embarrassed and said, “Er Lang, you’re too kind. Come inside and have some tea.”

Yang An was about to politely decline, eager to visit his sister and brother-in-law.

But Old Lady Li, hearing the commotion outside, came out of the courtyard. Upon seeing Yang An, her expression instantly changed. She pulled Li Dabao protectively behind her and said harshly, “An’er, what are you doing here?”

Yang An recognized Old Lady Li well.

To be honest, the Yang family had a bit of a grudge against Old Lady Li.

Brother-in-law Li Yan was quite an official.

In his youth, he was one of the most promising talents in Wanshou Lane, well-known and sought after. Old Lady Li had gone to great lengths trying to marry her niece off to Li Yan.

But Li Yan was infatuated with Yang Ning instead.

So that match never happened.

From then on, Old Lady Li held a grudge against the Yang family.

She looked down on the Yang siblings in every way, and Yang An naturally didn’t like her either. He just said “passing by” and took his leave.

Old Lady Li sneered coldly, “Then we won’t keep Brother An here.”

Yang An shrugged and, with Manman in tow, headed back to their home.

They hadn’t gone far when they heard Old Lady Li scolding Li Dabao behind their backs.

“Didn’t I tell you? Stay away from that Yang An! He’s failed the imperial exams for years and is nothing but bad luck. If you get involved with him, you’ll never wash the stain off!”

The local magistrate wasn’t pleased. “Woman, how can you talk like that? The meat pie in your grandson’s mouth was given by Er Lang!”

“He’s just trying to curry favor with our family!”

“Why would anyone want to flatter you?”

Old Lady Li patted Li Dabao’s head and said, “Who in the entire lane doesn’t know that our Dabao is a born scholar? The imperial exams are just days away. Dabao will surely pass the county exam and maybe even study at the Imperial Academy! He’s destined to become a high-ranking official!”

“But Yang An has failed three times. What future could he possibly have?”

“Li Yan got injured, and his siblings probably can’t even put food on the table now. Coming here to butter us up—what else could it be but to flatter our Dabao?!”

“You! Sigh!”

The magistrate couldn’t argue with her. His sunny mood vanished, and he angrily swept his sleeve and returned to his courtyard.

Old Lady Li kept lecturing her grandson.

“Did you hear what Grandma said? The imperial exams are just days away. Stay far away from that Yang An!”

“Got it, Grandma,” Li Dabao replied, taking a bite of his fragrant meat pie.