Reforming the Treacherous Minister - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Furious, I lunged at him to snatch it back. The little beggar couldn’t get away in time, and I grabbed him by the hair.

Who knew how many days it had been since that hair had been washed. It felt awful. But that did not affect my performance.

“What is wrong with you? You could’ve robbed anyone, but you had to rob me? Can’t you tell I’m a beggar too?”

The little beggar refused to give in. He stuffed the chicken drumstick into his pocket and started fighting me.

“Let go! Let go of me!”

All the emotions I had bottled up over the past few days finally found an outlet. I fought without holding back, and the little beggar wasn’t about to quit either. He resisted fiercely.

In the middle of our scuffle, a shout rang out. “Where did you filthy beggars come from? Get out of the way! Don’t block Lord Xiao’s path!”

I was distracted for a split second. The little beggar seized the chance, shoved me away with all his might, and fled like smoke.

I stumbled backward, unable to stop myself, then fell to the ground. My back seemed to hit something, and the people around me cried out in alarm.

“Lord Xiao!”

Who was that? It couldn’t be some important big shot, could it?

I rubbed my aching backside and got up with a face full of resentment. What entered my vision first was a pair of black satin soft boots of excellent quality. Above them was the hem of a black robe embroidered with subtle gold-thread patterns.

I had seen enough of the world to know from his clothing that this person was no ordinary man. And since I had just crashed into him, my heart couldn’t help but tremble.

“I’m sorry!”

I lowered my eyes, stopped staring, and apologized with a ninety-degree bow. Then it suddenly occurred to me that this was ancient times, so I hurriedly dropped to my knees in a fluster.

I’m done for. I’m so done for.

He isn’t going to kill me, is he?

But the man remained silent for a long time. The people around us were quiet as well. After what felt like ages, I heard him speak, his voice slightly hoarse.

“Raise your head.”

Why raise my head?

I was full of doubts, but I had no way to refuse, so I could only look up. At the same time, I finally saw his face clearly.

His long brows were like carved jade, his black eyes deep and dark, the corners of his lips pressed downward. His ink-black hair was tied high, his bone structure and features both top-tier, and even his bearing was rarely seen in this world.

“System, he’s so handsome.” I felt a little bashful. But then, “Why does he look kind of familiar?”

“Yes, you certainly should find him familiar.” The System closed its eyes, its expression weathered. “He is the Male Lead.”

Nani?

The System’s words scared two of my three souls right out of me. I froze completely in place, not knowing what to do.

Listening to the women in the brothel call out one sultry “Dear guest” after another, I belatedly realized something. “Why did he come out of a brothel? He really has gone bad! No wonder you called me over here…”

The System was speechless. “Is this the time to be talking about that? Hurry up and reunite with him! Then you won’t have to starve anymore!”

True.

I gathered my courage, wanting to tell him it was me, Zhao Banban, but for some reason, I just didn’t dare lift my head.

“Um… how about tomorrow? I’m not really prepared yet…”

The System flew into a rage. “Hurry up! Otherwise, don’t ever acknowledge me as your father again!”

“No, listen. Back then, he treated me so well, and I disappeared without a word. Now I’m suddenly showing up again. I just feel so guilty…”

As I wavered, another person appeared at some point.

“Master, everything has been handled.”

That voice sounded pretty familiar.

I sneaked a look, only to meet the man’s eyes by sheer coincidence.

“Miss Zhao?!”

That face, which was expressionless all year round, actually showed a rare look of shock. His eyes widened, and a faint hint of joy seemed to show through. “Is it really you, Miss Zhao?”

Guard Jiang?

I completely panicked. I looked at him, then at Xiao Yan. The latter was expressionless, simply watching me quietly. But the aura around him was like a black hole, almost swallowing me whole.

“No, no, you’ve got the wrong person…” I covered my face with my hand and hurriedly got to my feet. “I don’t know any Zhao Banban at all…”

The System hissed.

“Are you out of your mind? Did he say you were Zhao Banban? Huh?”

I froze for a second. Come to think of it, he really hadn’t.

It was over. My cover had fallen off so hard even my underwear was gone.