There was a young man dressed in plain green cloth standing on the street, carrying a cloth bag on his back and pushing his way deeper into the alleyway against the flow of people.
The young man's face was like a crown of jade. He was actually Wen Shuo, who was standing next to Han Yue in the paddock.
AnLe thoughtfully glanced at the corner of the carriage, where a pair of bows and arrows were thrown. The arrows were engraved with the character 'Wen', which she had taken from the paddock on the day of the autumn hunt.
"Yuan Shu, follow along."
How could the lady not go to Chang Liu Street first? Yuan Shu scratched her head and lifted the cloth curtain and gave a command to Chang Qing who was driving.
The carriage followed the young man, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, to a spot on the western side of the city.
It was only when Chang Qing steadily brought the carriage to a halt that Ren Anle glanced out at the faint light.
It was a dirty street, with stained and corroded stone slabs, rotten and dreary air. Women and children on their knees begging, and young boys walking along with their cloth bags in their arms.
The carriage could no longer move forward. Yuan Shu threw a 'what to do' look at Ren Anle, who bounced on her knees and leapt out of the carriage in a single bound.
She was indeed curious to know why the famous Wen Shuo gong zi of the capital was in a beggar's den.
The young man moved forward in silence, his gait steady. Ren Anle followed behind him, her black-coloured robes glowing with a cold, hard sheen.
Wen Shuo stopped in front of a small courtyard. With the dim light, Ren Anle saw him raise a smile, push open the door and stride in.
The smile was so warm that it actually caused the female bandit to be a little lost in thought for a moment.
Until the sound of joyous and lively voices came from the small courtyard ...
"Brother Wen Shuo, you're here!"
The little girl's voice was crisp and moist. Ren Anle lifted her feet and looked at the scene inside through the half-open wooden door.
Wen Shuo was half-crouched on the ground. A group of young children surrounded him, their glowing eyes staring at the cloth bag in Wen Shuo's hand.
Wen Shuo untied the cloth bag, took out the food inside and laid it out in front of the children. From the inner room came an older woman, dressed in ordinary clothes, but very neat and tidy.
"Xiao Shuo." The woman called out with a loving expression.
"Aunt Zhong." Wen Shuo grinned and touched the little bun on the head of the little girl beside him, "How are these children doing?"
"With your usual assistance, they are much better than before." Auntie Zhong sighed, and then she looked up, "I heard that the examinations are coming up in a few days, so why aren't you studying your homework and coming back here?"
I came to see you." Wen Shuo got up, moved a bench for the woman, and chatted with her.
"Xiao Shuo, His Highness the Crown Prince thinks so highly of you. You'd better not come here in the future." Aunt Zhong touched Wen Shuo's forehead and sighed, "You have reached the age of marriage. If others know you still have contact with Beggar Street, there might be some unpleasant rumours."