"Bah! You filthy beggar, you've dirtied my shoes!"
"Let's go!"
The scolding and beatings on the street didn't last long before they quieted down.
Perhaps the Ninth Prince had vented his anger, or perhaps he was tired of hitting, or perhaps he thought beating such a beggar was pointless.
He glanced disdainfully at the beggar on the ground and turned to get into his carriage.
The luxuriously decorated carriage rumbled away down the street.
After the carriage was far away, Jiang Lin emerged from his hiding spot and ran to the old man's side.
"Old man, are you still alive?"
The air was silent for a moment, then the old beggar on the ground coughed twice and slowly got up.
"Can't die, can't die."
Jiang Lin helped him up and took a look.
Although the old man looked bruised and battered, he was at least alive.
For those in this line of work, being kicked and beaten was commonplace.
No matter how careful they were, someone would always take their anger out on them without reason.
The two returned to the abandoned temple. The other beggars looked over, but quickly averted their gaze.
In this world, everyone was living day by day, and might die any moment.
They didn't have enough sympathy to pity others; it was good enough that they didn't try to harm them.
Jiang Lin, while guarding against others trying to steal things, settled the old man.
"Old man, what medicine should I gather for you?"
"Cough cough!"
After coughing a few times, the old man covered his mouth and slowly named several herbs.
Jiang Lin wrote them down and then ran out.
They had no money for doctors, so when they got injured, they usually went to the hillsides to gather herbs themselves.
He now recognized most of the commonly used medicinal herbs.
But this time, something seemed different. The old man was growing weaker.
He had even coughed up blood.
Jiang Lin was helpless and had no choice but to go to a medical clinic to find a doctor.
He found a place to clean himself up, but still couldn't even get into the clinic.
He went to the next clinic, begging at each one.
The old man had told him that to survive, one couldn't be too proud, couldn't think too highly of oneself.
Pride was something that couldn't be eaten or drunk.
Finally.
A doctor in a dilapidated little clinic took pity on him, seeing how he had kowtowed until his head was bruised.
Based on his description, the doctor gave him some medicine.
Jiang Lin, holding the medicine, rushed back to the abandoned temple and served it to the old man.
However, the old man's weakness did not cease.
Jiang Lin didn't know if it was the wrong medicine or a lack of nutrition.
He didn't know.
Seven days later, the old man passed away.
Before he died, he asked Jiang Lin to move him to the entrance of the abandoned temple, saying that the sun could be felt there.
Jiang Lin had once asked the old man why he had taken him in and taught him so many things.
In this line of work, the more people there were to share the meager resources, the less chance there was of survival.
The old man said it was to atone for his sins.
This was the second time Jiang Lin had buried someone.
He dug the pit, placed the old man inside, and then covered him with soil.
From beginning to end, his face showed little emotion.
But Jiang Lin, the ghost messenger watching all this from the side, could sense the emotions of the child Jiang Lin.
It was like anger, and like unwillingness.
Jiang Lin was mostly calm and rational.
Whether it was the ghost messenger Jiang Lin or the child Jiang Lin, it was the same.
When faced with a situation, they would consider what was the correct course of action, what they truly desired.
The child Jiang Lin's past actions and choices were always driven by the priority of survival.
But now, he didn't want to do that anymore.
His mother had told him to live, and the old man had also told him to live.
But they were both dead.
Did living truly matter so much in a world like this?
After burying the old man, the child Jiang Lin returned to the temple.
He began to gather information while also contacting those who were dissatisfied with the royalty and nobility.
With the war pressing in and rumors spreading, it was clear that someone was deliberately fanning the flames.
Those people wanted to gain something from this.
Six months later, the enemy army reached the gates of the capital.
And within the capital, neither the military strength nor the food supplies could hold out for much longer.
Therefore, the Emperor and others decided to flee the capital under the protection of the Imperial Guards.
They gave up on defending.
During this process, the news accidentally leaked.
Suddenly, the capital was thrown into chaos.
Amidst the chaos, the Emperor unexpectedly died, the Crown Prince ascended the throne in an emergency, and fled with the Imperial Guards.
While escaping the capital, the Ninth Prince, through carelessness.
Was struck by an enemy arrow and died.
Meanwhile, within the capital, the common people began to pack their belongings, some fleeing, some hiding.
But where could they hide?
Jiang Lin remained in the capital; he had no intention of leaving.
In this moment of panic, someone stepped forward.
Prince Jian'an appeared in the capital with his household guards, calling on everyone to resist the foreign enemy together.
The common people had no Imperial Guards, and fleeing now might not be better than staying in the capital.
If they stayed in the capital, at least the city walls could offer some resistance for a while.
Prince Jian'an's appearance was unexpected by everyone.
The news they had received was that all the important royalty and nobility had left with the Emperor.
Those people had only taken the most important individuals and belongings, even abandoning concubines and illegitimate children.
And Prince Jian'an, he was the former Emperor's brother, the current Emperor's uncle!
He had actually stayed behind?!
Facing Prince Jian'an's call to arms, many citizens who were preparing to flee stopped.
If it had been someone else, they might have hesitated.
But if it was Prince Jian'an, they were willing to give it a try!
Since the start of the war, Prince Jian'an had been distributing porridge.
After refugees entered the city, he had done his best to find work for them.
Now, with the enemy at their gates and even the Emperor gone,
He had stayed behind and was going to resist the foreign enemy with them.
Such a person, the people were willing to trust him!
Jiang Lin also went.
He and the old man had also received relief supplies before.
Let him see the final fate of this capital.
Prince Jian'an?!
Upon seeing Prince Jian'an's face clearly, the ghost messenger Jiang Lin was stunned.
This person looked exactly like his superior, Captain Bai Wuchang.
He recalled the rumors he had heard before.
According to the rumors, his superior had been a prince in his past life, and had done many good deeds like distributing porridge.
He was a person of great merit.
After his death, he had been a diligent ghost messenger, and his dark circles had never disappeared.
As far as he knew, people of such great merit did not need a hundred years of probation after death; they could be directly made permanent!
In terms of strength, they would also receive promotions from the Underworld.
Then.
Could these two be the same person?