Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 31 Suddenly Turns Against Me
Jiu Que felt like she was about to burst into tears.

What to do? She thought her heart had become as cold and hard as the fish she had killed at RT-Mart for thirty years, but when she saw the children in front of her looking longingly but firmly refusing, her eyes welled up with tears.

Why are these children so obedient?

She sniffed loudly and declared with heroic spirit.

"Don't refuse, these are all yours. I'll be unhappy if you don't accept them."

Little Muddy initially wanted to refuse, but upon seeing the pretty young lady's slightly red eyes, he silently swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Okay, fine. If he kept refusing, he was worried this pretty young woman would burst into tears. He didn't know why, but he just felt that this young woman was capable of doing something like this in front of so many people.

"Then, we'll accept it..."

Watching the children carefully distribute the large bag of items and stuff them into their tattered clothes, trying to make them as inconspicuous as possible, Jiu Que narrowed his eyes slightly.

Despite having plenty of food, they were still so cautious. Although at their age they could avoid overeating instantly, their behavior was still somewhat strange.

"The weather is getting hotter, and if you don't eat it, it might taste bad."

When Jiu Que spoke to these children, his own voice involuntarily became like a child's, to the point that would normally elicit disgust.

But the children thought it was normal, and Xiao Niba even turned around and taught Jiu Que.

"Sister, although the weather is getting hotter, storing this food near water will keep it for a couple more days. Do you have a well? If you do, you can put the food in a basket and hang it in the water; it will last even longer. However, try not to eat food that has been left overnight."

They were used to eating spoiled food discarded on the street, but this woman looked like she came from a good family, so she probably wouldn't be used to it. He once saw a new child who ate a moldy steamed bun, and that night he had a terrible stomachache and died the next day.

Thinking of this, Xiao Niba glanced at Ying Jiuque with unease. Although this older sister was kind, her unguarded approach to them, a group of little beggars, suggested she had little experience going out. Xiao Niba knew that many ladies from wealthy and powerful families rarely left their homes, and this older sister was probably one of those refined young ladies.

After thinking it over and over, I decided to give her advice.

"Sister, I know you're a good person. But if you see beggars like us on the street in the future, please stay away from us."

Little Muddy spoke with great difficulty, knowing that once he uttered these words, little beggars like them would lose even a chance to survive.

But the girl in front of him was so kind, he really didn't want her to get hurt.

"why?"

Jiu Que squatted down, blinked her eyes, and asked curiously.

"Uh……"

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Little Mud's expression turned terrified, and it shook its head in resistance.

"Sister, don't ask anymore. Anyway, I won't hurt you..."

Just then, Little Mud suddenly pounced, shoving Jiu Que aside, her voice turning shrill. "Get out of here! We don't need your fake kindness. People like you only help once and then find us annoying, never helping a second time! If you don't genuinely want to help, don't offer your help. Giving us hope only to leave us in despair, do you think that makes you happy?!"

The children next to them, who had been timid and uneasy just moments before, now had fierce expressions on their faces.

Little Mud even bent down, grabbed a clump of mud, and threw it at Jiuque.

"Get out of here! We don't want to see a hypocrite like you!"

Pushed and shoved, Jiuque tumbled onto the top in a disheveled state, his clothes still stained with a clump of mud and emitting a faint stench.

She looked down at the few little ones hiding on the riverbank, her eyes lowered so that it was impossible to see what her expression was like in the sunlight. Several vendors watching nearby sighed with admiration.

"Girl, don't waste your time. These little beggars are heartless. I took pity on them and gave them some pancakes, and what happened? They started yelling and scaring away all my customers. They're a bunch of ingrates, just ignore them!"

"Exactly! Brother Wang said I saw it happen. A really generous customer came and wanted to buy a whole batch of sesame cakes! But these little brats were yelling and throwing mud at him, driving him away. No wonder they're called 'Little Mud,' they really are like rotten mud. Stinky and rotten!"

"Alright, let's stop talking. Just pretend they don't exist. Sigh..."

Jiu Que kept her head down, so her expression was hidden. The little mud-bear, still looking fierce in the shadows, now showed a hint of sadness on its face before turning and running off along the riverbank with its friends without looking back.

"..."

A faint sound came from under the dark bridge arch. Jiu Que glanced over, but because the light was so poor, she couldn't see what was inside. She only vaguely heard what sounded like cursing, but it also seemed like the vendors around her were denouncing the little beggars. She blinked, slowly straightened up, and looked at the gently flowing river water that seemed to wash away all the dirt, falling into silence.

The small vendors who had witnessed everything couldn't help but sigh. This girl was clearly from a good family and had a kind heart; she had gone to great lengths to buy them food and drinks, so why did she suddenly speak so rudely? If things continued like this, who would be kind enough to give them food and drinks in the future?
These kids have really ruined their own future; I have no idea what they were thinking...

Just then, the two spineless minor officials who had abandoned her came running over, their brows beaded with sweat, indicating they had been searching for her for quite some time. From a distance, they could see the newly appointed Imperial Censor's brand-new official robe stained with a clump of mud, and couldn't help but gasp in shock.

Oh dear, has this imperial censor been bullied by some spoiled brat from a wealthy and powerful family again? Good heavens! Her clothes are all dirty; is she going to run away?

"My lord! My lord, are you alright? Oh dear, why are you covered in mud? Who threw this on you? How dare they! Tell me, and I'll have them arrested and thrown in jail right now!"

"Old Wang, I am absolutely loyal to you. I will do whatever you say!"

Jiu Que lifted his eyelids slightly, his figure somewhat lonely.

"Oh, someone wearing shimmering brocade just threw that. Go and catch it for me."

"I'm sure, right? Floating, floating brocade? Is it that floating brocade that costs one inch of gold? Uh, well, my stomach suddenly hurts a bit, I need to find a latrine..."

"Ouch! I had lunch with Brother Wang, and my stomach hurts terribly too. I have to hurry! Help me, Brother Wang!"

Watching their departing figures disappear into the distance, Jiu Que scoffed, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

(End of this chapter)