Li Tai stared for a moment, pointing at his nose and asking Fang Er for confirmation.
"Master, is this guy asking us for medicinal fees?"
"It seems so." Li Ke tried his best to control his expression.
He was usually aloof and spoke little, preferring to fight rather than talk, but he was genuinely amused by the fellow opposite him.
"If he wants it, just give it to him. A thousand taels per shot isn't expensive, but when have we ever sold things retail?"
Seeing a dilapidated cart in the alley, Fang Er sat down on it, took out melon seeds and beer, and assumed a posture of watching a good show.
Li Tai grinned, "Hehehe, got it!"
With that, he raised his hand and fired another shot.
Bang!
The man opposite fell to the ground, clutching his wounded leg and wailing incessantly.
"Ah, my leg! How dare you break my leg! You're all dead!"
The third retainer from the Duke's manor, the only one still standing, saw the situation and immediately made his choice. He dropped his two companions, drew his sword, and ran out of the alley.
Li Tai wanted to shoot him and stop him, but Fang Er intervened.
"No need. Spare his dog life. The show is far from over."
Seeing that she was saved, the woman quickly got up and went to the old man's side to inquire about his injuries, completely oblivious to her current state of exposure.
Li Ke took off his outer garment and walked towards her.
The woman was not old, appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen, with a pure and beautiful appearance. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been targeted by those three fellows.
After draping his outer garment over the woman, Li Ke comforted her, "Don't worry, this matter is not over. No matter who he is, if he runs into us, he deserves a short life."
The woman looked at the clothes on her body and knelt down with a thud.
"Thank you, three benefactors, for saving me. This humble one truly has no way to repay you."
Li Tai grinned and sidled up to Fang Er, whispering.
"Alas, Master, I've heard that hero saving a beauty generally leads to two outcomes."
"If the hero is good-looking, then the beauty has no way to repay and can only offer herself in marriage."
"If the hero is unsightly, then she vows to be a cow or a horse in the next life to repay the great kindness."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the woman continue.
"This humble one's family is poor, and it is difficult to repay the kindness of saving my life. If honored sir does not dislike it, this humble one is willing to serve by your side, as a servant girl."
Li Tai smiled shamelessly, "Hehehe, Master, see? Did I say wrong?"
Fang Er rolled his eyes at him, utterly speechless. "Alright, you know everything!"
"Of course, it's all thanks to Master's good teaching." Li Tai smiled proudly.
Li Ke was twelve years old, at the age of nascent love. Seeing the woman's tear-streaked face, coupled with her upper body clad only in her undergarment, his heart began to race and his cheeks grew hot.
Although he was a prince, he also had another identity: the grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui.
Even though he was favored by Li Shimin due to his exceptional intelligence, Concubine Yang often instructed him to behave himself and not make mistakes that would give others cause for gossip.
Thus, unlike Changsun Chong and Cheng Chumo, Li Ke was still a virgin at this time.
He forcefully suppressed the stirring in his heart, shifted his gaze away from the woman's shoulder, and looked elsewhere, saying somewhat unnaturally.
"N-no need. Y-you quickly put on your clothes and take your father home."
"Wow! Third Brother is shy?" Li Tai exclaimed, as if he had discovered something amusing. "Master, Third Brother isn't developing feelings, is he?"
*Slap!*
Fang Er swatted the back of his head. "Only you are so clever!"
"Does honored sir dislike this humble one because my body has been touched by those beasts?"
Seeing Li Ke refuse her, the woman's face, which had just regained some color, instantly drained.
"No, no, no, little lady, you're thinking too much. It's just that this prince... this young master's family rules are very strict, and he cannot casually bring people back."
Li Ke waved his hands and quickly explained, deliberately concealing his almost-blurted-out identity.
But in the next second, Li Tai chimed in with a smile, "Third Brother, I haven't heard Father say that we can't bring people back."
Upon hearing Li Tai's words, the woman's expression grew even more dejected. She put on her clothes, helped her father, took a few steps back, and bowed to Li Ke.
"This humble one understands. It is because this humble one's status is too low and not worthy of Prince Gongzi's status."
"If that is the case, could Prince Gongzi leave his name? So that this humble one may chant scriptures day and night to pray for Prince Gongzi, to repay your great kindness and virtue."
Li Tai keenly sensed the change in the woman's expression and instinctively shouted.
"Damn it, Third Brother, this is bad! This woman is probably going to kill herself after returning!"
Li Ke was stunned. Considering the woman's recent ordeal, such speculation was highly likely. He quickly asked the woman.
"You're not actually going to kill yourself, are you?"
The woman gave a sad smile. "Prince Gongzi worries too much."
"Since Prince Gongzi is unwilling to reveal his name, and unwilling to have this humble one serve by your side, then we shall bid farewell."
Saying that, she prepared to lead the old man out of the alley.
Li Ke watched the father and daughter's departing figures, and a sense of reluctance arose in his heart. He subconsciously extended his hand.
"Don't, don't go. F-from now on, you'll follow me."
Li Tai, fully embracing his spirit of watching the fun without fear of stirring up trouble, grinned and said, "Sister-in-law, Third Brother wants you to stay."
Fang Er was speechless at this fellow, wondering who he learned such shamelessness from!
The woman paused, turned around, and looked at Li Ke, saying in a low voice, "Does honored sir truly wish to take this humble one in?"
"Uh, take! Take her!" Li Ke nodded repeatedly.
"Take what! Damn it all, you dare to hit my people, and you don't even know whose天下 (heavenly dominion) it is in Da Ming!"
A sharp voice came from the alley entrance.
Then, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes, followed by a group of thugs, appeared before everyone.
The escaped retainer from the Duke's manor was standing behind the middle-aged man.
"Who moved just now? Stand up, kowtow to me three times, pay ten thousand taels of silver, and leave this young lady behind. Then this matter will be settled!"
"Otherwise, I'll invite you to sit in the brocade-clad guard prison!"
The middle-aged man completely ignored the two retainers lying on the ground and started with a sky-high demand for compensation, as if human lives were unimportant in his eyes, as long as he could get money.
Seeing so many people suddenly appear, the woman trembled with fear. Li Ke felt a pang of heartache seeing her like this and immediately stepped forward a few paces, pointing at the middle-aged man and cursing.
"Presumptuous! How dare you call yourself 'ye' in front of this Prince, who do you think you are!"
In his carelessness, he revealed his identity as a prince.
The woman beside him heard this and covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The one who saved her was actually a prince?
And such a young prince at that?