eurekapd Chapter 193 My name is Niannian...
Chapter 193 My name is Niannian...
Suddenly, Pei Yunjing raised his head sharply, his gaze quickly sweeping across the crowded people around him.
Just then, his eyes suddenly widened as if he had seen something unbelievable.
In the bustling crowd, a petite figure caught his attention.
He couldn't help but ask softly, "Niannian?"
The name was uttered softly from his lips, carrying a hint of uncertainty and hope.
However, as soon as he uttered those words, he immediately realized that he might have mistaken the person for someone else.
Although the girl bore a striking resemblance to Niannian, closer inspection revealed some obvious differences.
The girl was wearing a thick, gray-black cotton-linen coat, which looked somewhat worn and plain.
Her face, which should have been fair and lovely, was covered in patches of black and white, as if it were stained with dirt or dust.
Nevertheless, her facial features still evoke memories of Nian Nian; however, this resemblance is merely superficial, and the more one looks, the more one feels that there is some indescribable difference between them.
In that instant, the girl moved slowly toward Pei Yunjing like a light cloud.
She skillfully weaved through the bustling, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, like a nimble fish swimming through a rushing stream, her goal clear and unwavering—to hold Pei Yunjing's hand.
However, Pei Yunjing, like a startled rabbit, instantly took a large step back, his face full of vigilance, and shouted loudly:
"Men and women should not touch each other; please keep your distance! If you have anything to discuss, please speak frankly!"
The girl lowered her head slightly and began to pick at the object with her slender fingers, until her originally pink fingertips turned white.
Her expression was unusually conflicted, as if she had a tangled mess in her mind that she couldn't untangle.
After much hesitation, she finally mustered her courage and stammered, "Sixth Prince, my name is Niannian. I have come here today because I have some things on my mind that I want to tell you..."
???
Upon hearing this, Pei Yunjing couldn't help but turn his gaze to the girl in front of him who called herself Niannian.
For some reason, as he gazed at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, an inexplicable feeling welled up in his heart.
However, the last shred of reason kept reminding him that Nian Nian could never appear here, let alone in this form.
Pei Yunjing took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then asked in a gentle voice, "Miss Niannian, since that's the case, what exactly do you want? Please speak frankly."
Upon hearing this, Nian Nian raised her head, glanced hastily at Pei Yun Jing, and then quickly lowered her head again as if electrocuted, murmuring in a voice barely audible:
"Sixth Prince, may we move to a place where we will not be disturbed? There are too many people around here, it is not a suitable place to talk."
Pei Yunjing was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but he reacted quickly, and after a moment's thought, he decisively replied:
"Alright, since that's the case, then bring her in!" After saying that, he gave Jiu Sheng a wink.
Jiusheng understood immediately. Without saying a word, he reached out and grabbed Niannian by the collar, pulling her inside like a chick.
Before long, the three of them arrived at a secluded and quiet corner where no one else was around.
At this moment, Pei Yunjing calmly placed his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as he sized up the ragged girl before him, and said in a deep voice:
"Speak!" At the same time, Jiusheng released his grip on Niannian's hand.
Losing her support, Niannian swayed and then knelt down heavily with a thud.
She dared not delay for a moment and kowtowed several times in succession, her forehead hitting the ground with a crisp sound.
"Boom bang bang..."
Seeing this scene, Pei Yunjing felt a pang of heartache.
"Your Highness, those people outside are actually after money; they've come here specifically to beg for food..."
Right now, on the black market, someone is buying up the supplies that Your Highness distributed a few days ago at exorbitant prices! These people are practically risking their lives for money!
As she spoke, her voice was filled with obvious fear and anxiety.
Hearing this, Pei Yunjing raised an eyebrow and asked with great interest:
"Oh? If that's the case, then why didn't you join them in gambling for this money, but instead chose to come and tell me the truth?"
Upon hearing this, Nian Nian shook her head vigorously, her expression firm and earnest, and said, "No, no, no... Sixth Prince, you are the only person in Guangling who truly cares about us common people!"
You are quite different from those other princes who are high above and only care about their own enjoyment.
Every year, I can't bear to see your kindness being so easily deceived and exploited by others...
Her tone was very agitated, as if she was about to burst into tears at any moment...
Pei Yunjing looked at the emotionally agitated girl in front of him, and his doubts deepened.
Her words and actions revealed her care for the people and her trust in him, which made him curious about this girl who called herself Niannian.
"What evidence do you have to support your claim?" Pei Yunjing's voice was cold and hard, his eyes sharp as knives, trying to find a flaw in Nian Nian's expression.
Nian Nian composed herself, took out a tattered piece of cloth from her bosom, and handed it to Pei Yun Jing:
"Sixth Prince, this is something I found on the black market. It records the time and place of those transactions."
I know this information may not be enough to completely convince you, but I truly took this risk out of respect for you and compassion for the people.
Pei Yunjing took the fabric; there were some crooked words written on it, which did indeed look like information scribbled down in a hurry.
He frowned, weighing the veracity of Nian Nian's words in his mind.
"Since you know all this, why don't you just tell the authorities?" Pei Yunjing asked.
Nian Nian bit her lip, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes:
"Sixth Prince, you don't know, some corrupt officials and black market people are in cahoots. If I tell the government, I'm afraid I'll be dead before you even get the news."
I know you're a good person, so I had to risk coming to you.
Pei Yunjing remained silent for a moment. He believed that what Nian Nian said had some truth to it, after all, there was no trace of pretense in her eyes.
He turned to Jiusheng and gave the order in a deep voice:
"Jiusheng, take a few men with you later and investigate along this lead. Be careful not to alert them."
Jiu Sheng bowed and obeyed, "Yes, Master!"
Pei Yunjing helped Niannian up and said gently:
“Nian Nian, rest assured, I will find out the truth. You risked your life for the people, and I, Pei Yun Jing, will remember this kindness. If what you say is true, I will give you justice.”