Xie Lian naturally would not notice the details of needlework on sewn patches, nor whether it was done by adults. But Mu Qing used to be an errand boy at the Royal Holy Temple, and he also did all kinds of chores at home.
When Xie Lian looked closely, it was indeed as he had said. So he asked, “Do you have grown-ups at home?”
The young child shook his head, but Mu Qing said, “There must be. If he doesn’t go back, his family will surely be worried sick looking for him.”
“No, no way! There’s nobody!” that young child cried, sounding like he was afraid to be sent back, and he opened his arms reaching for Xie Lian.
He was still covered with mud and blood, and Feng Xin couldn’t stand it anymore. “What’re ya doin’， kid? Things were urgent earlier, so whatever, but shouldn’t you know better by now? This is the crown prince. His Highness the Crown Prince. Do you understand?”
That young child’s arms immediately shrank back, but he was still gazing at Xie Lian. “My parents were quarreling and kicked me out. I walked for a long time but had nowhere to go.”
The other three looked at each other in dismay. After a moment, Feng Xin said, “So what now?”
One of the imperial doctors suggested, “If His Highness is troubled, he can be kept here in the palace and have a few attendants assigned to take care of him.”
Xie Lian contemplated, but after some thought, he shook his head slowly. At the end of the day, he was afraid Qi Rong wouldn’t give up, and he’d sneak out to cause trouble.
“The way I see it, it’d still be best if I watch over him until his wounds are healed. It seems his family won’t be able to look after him, unfortunately. Feng Xin, when you take care of the stalls that were toppled by Qi Rong, send some men to see if his parents can be found and let them know so they don’t worry.”
“All right.” Feng Xin nodded.
One of his arms was still in a sling, but he extended the good arm to reach for the young child, intending to pick him up by the collar. Xie Lian laughed.
“You’re wounded. Don’t worry about it.”
However, Feng Xin shrugged it off. “Only one arm is broken, the other’s still fine. If both my arms were broken, I could still use my teeth to carry him by the collar and bring him up the mountain for you.”
Mu Qing rolled his eyes from behind him, then spoke up. “Don’t bother. Let me carry him.”
But just as he took one step forward, the child jumped off the bed himself and said, “I can walk on my own.”
That expression, set with resistance, spoke louder than words, and it made Mu Qing’s second step extremely awkward, as he was unsure whether or not to proceed. That little kid had five broken ribs and a broken leg, but he was still bursting with energy. Xie Lian really didn’t know whether to laugh or ache for him.
He settled on saying, “Stop running around!” Then he bent down and picked him up.
The three of them left the palace with the child in tow. Since Qi Rong had caused havoc on the streets earlier, disturbing the townspeople and toppling a number of stalls, Xie Lian felt deeply guilty and that he had no face to meet any of the citizens. So the group slunk around, afraid to show themselves, using only the back alleyways. The entire way, that small child was extremely docile in Xie Lian’s arms. They told him to be quiet, and he uttered not a single sound.
Feng Xin glared. “This brat kicked me yesterday, but look at him now. He really knows how to pick ’em.”
“It’s His Highness the Crown Prince. Of course he’s liked more than most people,” Mu Qing said.
For some reason, even when he said something well meaning, he’d still choose words that made people feel wholly uncomfortable. Feng Xin didn’t want to acknowledge him anymore.
After walking for a while, Feng Xin spoke up. “No. I still don’t think Your Highness should hold a strange child for everyone to see.”
“What’s the problem?” Xie Lian asked.
“You’re the crown prince!” Feng Xin exclaimed. While he spoke, he saw a worn-down handcart farther up the alley and said, “Put the kid in that cart and pull it.”
Mu Qing immediately voiced, “Just so we’re clear, I will not pull that thing up the mountain.”
“No one’s asking you to,” Feng Xin said. He reached out and yanked the child from Xie Lian’s arms, and the child started struggling again.
“Never mind, forget it. Maybe someone else needs that cart!” Xie Lian said.