After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 384 Got a big deal
"We are deeply grateful to our benefactor for saving our lives; we will repay this kindness tenfold."

After Chu Heng expressed his heartfelt gratitude, he opened the package, took out a steaming hot meat bun, and handed it to Xi Mu. "Eat up, or we'll starve to death."

Xi Mu looked at Su Chuan sitting outside the carriage, a struggle flashing in her eyes.

He doesn't believe in unconditional kindness.

Especially since they've fallen to such a state, everyone would love to kick them while they're down. So why would this person go to such lengths to save them?

Admittedly, Tang Yu was involved, but their relationship with Tang Yu was merely that of gentlemen. Moreover, Tang Yu had a family and an official position, so how could he possibly offend powerful figures for the sake of the two of them?

Before figuring out the other party's intentions, Xi Mu didn't really want to continue owing this favor.

Seeing that he was still hesitant, Chu Heng decisively stuffed the bun into his hand. "Eat it! Even if they really have some ulterior motives, we can't refuse. Once we're on their carriage, is there any turning back?"

Xi Mu took a bite of the steamed bun, looking like she was about to cry. "Tang Yu's character should be fine, right?"

Now all they can do is gamble on Tang Yu's character.

Chu Heng nodded emphatically and took a big bite of the meat bun. "Never mind, I'll eat my fill first!"

Seeing this, Xi Mu also began to eat attentively.

One steamed bun just makes you feel full, two steamed buns make you about 80% full, but they're a bit dry.

Su Chuan reminded them at just the right moment, "There's hot soup in the earthenware pot, it should still be warm. Gentlemen, you can quench your thirst and warm yourselves up."

This has all been taken into consideration!

Chu and Xi exchanged a glance, thought for a moment, and obediently picked up the pottery jar and the pottery bowl beside it. They had already accepted their fate, knowing that debts were a burden.

The two worked together, one holding the bowl and the other pouring the soup.

The rich aroma of mutton made their mouths water and their eyes well up with tears.

Even if they were going to die, they would accept it if they could have such a meal before they died.

Chu Heng's eyes lit up after taking a sip of the mutton soup. "This is even more delicious than what we had at the Imperial Capital Restaurant!"

Xi Mu nodded vigorously in agreement.

They were both short of money and didn't qualify to eat at fancy restaurants. It was only when Tang Yu hosted that they had the opportunity to broaden their horizons.

Thinking back on the years I spent in the capital, I not only accomplished nothing but also nearly lost my life. In the end, I tasted the most delicious thing in my life while on the run.

The two of them couldn't help but tear up again.

Su Chuan drove through the night, not daring to stop even as the cold wind howled. He was so sleepy in the latter half of the night that he kept one eye open while driving.

Noticing that the horse was running further and further off course, he quickly stopped it and let it walk slowly, taking the opportunity to doze off himself.

When the sun came out, Su Chuan found a grove of trees to stop the carriage, built a fire to heat the food, and warmed a pot of wine for Chu Heng and Xi Mu.

The two shook their heads repeatedly in refusal.

"I won't drink any more wine." Su Chuan didn't press the matter, but asked, "What are your plans, gentlemen? If you're going the same way, I can offer you a ride."

The two exchanged a glance, and Xi Mu finally gritted his teeth and asked, "We have no way to repay your life-saving grace. What do you want us to do, our benefactor?"

Su Chuan smiled and said, "If I said it was just a small favor and I didn't mean to coerce you two, would you believe me?"

"This"

Chu Heng bowed and said, "Our benefactor is noble and we admire him greatly, but we still have to repay the debt of saving our lives."

Su Chuan chuckled and shook his head. "Gentlemen, you don't need to play games with me. I just want to ask about your plans. Helping you is really not a big deal for me."

Seeing his sincere attitude, Xi Mu was moved to tears. "There are still good people in this world! To be honest, our homeland is far away, and we have offended powerful people. We really dare not return home, for fear of implicating our families. Yesterday, those officials gave us two taels of silver, but we don't know what to do with it."

To live thirty years and end up in this state is truly tragic!
Su Chuan nodded and rationally analyzed, "Gentlemen, even if you want to return to your hometown, it will take two or three years. We'll talk about it when things calm down. If you two have nowhere to go, you can come back to my hometown with me. My family is in Lizhou. We have some small plots of land and a few dilapidated houses. The conditions are far inferior to those in the capital. It can even be described as a remote and impoverished place. But it's not a problem for us to take you two in for a few years."

"If you gentlemen are willing, you may accompany me."

Chu Xi and his companion agreed almost without hesitation.

They hadn't repaid the debt of saving their lives, and they had nowhere else to go, so following Su Chuan offered them a glimmer of hope.

After agreeing on their terms, the three exchanged names and set off again.

Little did they know that the emperor was furious because of them, and went straight to the empress's palace after the morning court session.

"It seems it's time to replace the Earl of Weiyuan, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Rites!"

The Empress was shocked. "Your Majesty, why are you so angry so early in the morning? Have they started fighting again?"

The emperor plopped down, exhaled a long breath, and looked utterly disappointed. "Those old bastards actually forced the teachers and students of Lushan Academy to write a petition, demanding that I rescind my punishment of the Second Prince! I thought they were doing it voluntarily, and I figured the Second Prince had his merits over the years; at least there were people in the populace who loved him. I never imagined the truth would be so despicable!"

After listening for a while, the Empress finally understood and hurriedly stepped forward to pat the Emperor on the back, saying, "Your Majesty, it is my fault for failing to raise my son properly. Please punish me!"

The emperor's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Why would I punish you for no reason?"

The Empress was on the verge of tears. "If it weren't for the Second Prince's foolishness that caused such a huge mess, those people wouldn't have resorted to such lewd tactics, and the Emperor wouldn't be so angry."

The emperor comforted the empress, saying, "It has nothing to do with you! I have seen how you have treated the second son all these years. It is his own fault for not being good enough. This incident has served as a wake-up call for me, allowing me to see who has harbored inappropriate thoughts!"

He hadn't initially considered the possibility of forming cliques for personal gain, but this incident had given him many unpleasant suspicions. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Looking at his sons, he realized that his sixth son was the least troublesome. He didn't have any family support from his wife's family, and he only had a concubine from a commoner background. She was simple and straightforward and wouldn't cause him any trouble.

Thinking of this, the emperor pondered and said, "Send some things to the sixth prince's residence later, as well as his concubine, and send a few cups of bird's nest soup over there. Tell the second prince to stay at the border for a few years so that I won't be annoyed by him!"

"Yes!" the Empress replied, trembling with fear.

He immediately sent someone to the Sixth Prince's residence to bestow gifts.

The Empress Dowager soon heard the news and also bestowed a pile of treasures upon the emperor.

This infuriated the Third and Fourth Princes. The two plotted to trap the Second Prince's faction, but the Sixth Prince benefited instead. Why?
The third prince gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, "Father is so biased!"

Although the fourth prince was angry, he was much calmer than the third prince. "I guess Father Emperor knows that those censors are our people, and he's deliberately trying to put us in a bad light!"