Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Like a Person?

Xiang Ying was surprised: “Aren? What are you doing here?”

Aren waved his hand, gesturing to the person who brought Xiang Ying: “You go back first and stand guard at the door.”

“Yes.” After the man left, Xiang Ying took two steps forward.

Aren hurriedly raised his hand to stop her: “Big sister, don’t come close, I’ve contracted the plague.”

Xiang Ying was startled: “They said you ran away from the Martial Arts Arena by yourself. Why would you do something so foolish? Everyone outside has the plague; why didn’t you wait for the snow to stop before leaving Bai City?”

Aren pursed his lips: “I snuck in among them on purpose.”

It was only when Aren spoke that Xiang Ying realized what this child had done!

He did it to save her.

Aren saw Xiang Ying being taken away by the Sixth Prince’s men and locked up in the granary. He knew the Sixth Prince was likely to let Jie Chen and the others die in there.

With his inadequate strength and without any influence, Aren had no one to turn to for help.

The only person who had some say, Bu Feng, was also afraid to protest because of the Sixth Prince’s status.

Aren thought of a plan overnight.

All he could make use of were the sick commoners.

So he fled, sneaking into their quarters, telling them that the Sixth Prince had ordered to burn them alive.

Of course, the commoners didn’t want to die; after all, who would?

Already suffering from the lack of medicine, to be burnt alive was even more unbearable. Provoked by Aren’s words, they decided to resist, to make a last desperate fight.

Aren said gravely: “I told them that since it’s death either way, instead of waiting, they might as well break out.”

Xiang Ying was amazed: “These people were all obedient commoners before they got sick, they dare to rebel?”

Aren smiled: “Big sister, you’ve never been hungry. You might not understand what desperation for food can drive a person to become.”

“When I left, I took two bags of millet. As long as I give them something to eat, they are willing to risk their lives. Moreover, my reason is for their own good. These people had no choice but to follow me.”

Xiang Ying stared at him, speechless.

“But Aren, what you are doing can only take advantage of the moment. Once the snow stops, the court will send troops, and you will all be in danger!”

“Big sister, it’s this moment that I’m fighting for. A moment is enough!”

Aren coughed violently while speaking.

The young boy’s lean body seemed like a bone of jade wrapped in his large clothes.

Yet his eyes were shining black, looking at Xiang Ying: “Big sister once had Mr. Chu teach my younger brothers and sisters schooling, and I learned a little too. I remember one saying: The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. To defeat their strategy is next, then their alliances, and lastly, their army and siege.”

“I have nothing else. Only by stirring up the situation can I achieve my goal. I intentionally led these commoners to rebel. Soon, you can capture me and hand me over to the soldiers.”

“In that case, you stop a civil uprising and go from a criminal to a hero. Then, the Sixth Prince’s wish to take your life would mostly be wishful thinking!”

“Furthermore, the court will also notice that Bai City’s City Garrison is cowardly and greedy for life, hoarding all the grain and medicine in his own manor, and all the sick commoners receive no treatment.”

“Using my life for a double gain is worth it!” He said, pulling out a bundle of rope from his sleeve. “I will tie myself up. Big sister, later when you send me out, if they decide to kill me right away, I hope you will bury me.”

Xiang Ying was shocked by the youth’s decisiveness and bravery.

He managed to think of inciting a riot among the people at the most disadvantageous time for them, then to hand over the credit to her to make a merit.

Even at the cost of his own life.

It made Xiang Ying think, the highest play of the game is when the player also regards themselves as a chess piece, entering into the game with their own body.

“Aren! I only gave you a little food, yet you are so loyal to me, willing to give up your life for me; do you have no regrets?”

Aren raised his head, his face flushed red in the cold wind, mostly from a high fever.

But the young man endured it, his lips curling into a spirited smile.

“I said it before, for my elder sister, I’d dare to kill, what are these trifles in comparison!”

“From the moment you rescued me, I swore, in this life, I live only to do good for my elder sister!”

After speaking, he lowered his head and tightened the grass ropes on his wrists with his mouth.

Looking as if he was willing to face death.

Aren coughed twice, then added, “Just that, all those commoners are pitiful people, they rebelled with me out of desperation. If elder sister has a chance, please plead for them.”

Xiang Ying’s phoenix eyes shimmered with ripples of light.

She walked towards Aren, “Aren, you needn’t suffer so, because the Sixth Prince has already released me.”

Aren was startled on hearing this, thinking it was at his request that the Sixth Prince agreed to release Xiang Ying to see him.

Xiang Ying continued, “I can cure the epidemic, and I have come to an understanding with the Sixth Prince. He has given me the power to act as a Commander, so I will help him treat the disease.”

“So now, nobody can take our lives. Aren, you can rest assured and come back with me, I can cure your illness too, not just you, but all the people here.”

As she spoke, she reached out and took Aren’s hand, and this time the young boy did not avoid it.

Perhaps it was the pressure he had carried these days, living too hard, fearing that he couldn’t save Xiang Ying.

And he bore these emotions by himself, finally, upon hearing Xiang Ying say everything was okay, his eyes reddened, and he burst into tears.

“Elder sister!” Aren threw himself into her arms, “As long as you’re okay.”

Xiang Ying patted his back, “Aren, would you like to become my true younger brother?”

Aren looked up puzzled, “Aren’t I already your real younger brother?”

Of course, that was what he considered himself to be.

Xiang Ying smiled, “I mean, to share a surname with me.”

Aren was surprised, “To follow the royal surname of Xizhou?”

“It has nothing to do with Xizhou, my surname has always been Xiang,” Xiang Ying said earnestly, “from now on, you’re a part of me, whoever treats you badly is treating me badly, we, as siblings, will stand united. Are you willing?”

Aren was flattered, “Willing! Definitely willing! Then my name shall be Xiang Ren.”

Xiang Ying was stunned.

Xiang Ren??? Was that a good name?

“How about a different character? Xiang Yu, Xiang Ge… do you have one you like?”

“The character ‘Ren’ is good, because when I met elder sister, I was called Aren.”

Seeing his persistence, Xiang Ying laughed, “Alright, then Xiang Ren it is.”

She untied the grass rope from Aren’s wrists, “You go and tell those commoners to give up resistance. I can spare their lives and help treat them.”

Aren hesitated, “Won’t the Sixth Prince make things difficult because of this?”

“Not at all,” Xiang Ying replied decisively, “unless he doesn’t want to get better.”

Since she was given the power to command the troops, she had to utilize it, not waste it.

Aren nodded at once and ran towards the courtyard.

It was at this moment that Jie Chen hurried over from the direction of the inner courtyard.

When he saw Aren, he too was taken aback, but soon he reported an important discovery to Xiang Ying.

“I accidentally found that the cellar is full of medicinal herbs and foodstuff; the City Garrison hoarded all the city’s resources for themselves.”