1380 A Mob

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Huifeng suddenly appeared before Mo Lian and reported grimly, "A mob has appeared at South Xiluo Street. Right now it has already escalated into smashing and looting residences."

Mo Lian's expression turned grave, and Qiao Mu quickly said, "Go quickly to take a look."

The two immediately mounted their horses and, along with the royal guard commander Hui Feng plus several hundred royal guards, galloped out of the palace toward South Xiluo Street.

Xiluo Street was originally the shack district, where impoverished people took shelter. However, now that a skirmish had arisen, the drawbacks were exposed.

The crowd had caused the cramped street to become congested.

Fourth Miss Shu Hui paled in shock while caught up in the crowd.

Fortunately, she was accompanied by two strong maidservants who were practiced in martial arts; otherwise, this fourth miss would have long been devoured whole by the surrounding mob.

She did not understand. She had only come to Xiluo Street with her eldest sister Shu Quan to do charitable work and give alms to the poor.

Everything was fine in the beginning, so how did things escalate into such a situation?

Several dozen robust men kept pushing as if their lives depended on it, shoving many elderly, infirm, women, and children to the ground.

Shu Quan was encircled by several guards. When she saw the chance, she rapidly scooped up two children who had tripped and frantically evaded to the side.

This unforeseen development happened very suddenly, and the royal guards were too late to stop those irascible men from stepping on and beating people like they had gone mad. Many common people had gotten hurt and were moaning in pain on the ground.

Shu Quan clenched her fists, practically unable to believe what was happening in front of her.

Botched, everything she did was botched!

"Ah!" The two maidservants beside Fourth Miss Shu, Shu Hui, staggered to the sides when they got pushed around by the crowd.

One of the maidservants grasped onto Shu Hui's arm and shouted in the crowd, "Miss, Miss."

Shu Hui's face had turned white from fright. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. After standing up again with difficulty, she got pushed again and stumbled to the side.

On the other hand, the maidservant who had grabbed onto her arm got jostled away at once.

"Xiaoju, Xiaoju!" Shu Hui's voice quavered in fright. This stumble launched her into a sweaty and smelly man's arms.

That man joyfully cracked a grin when he found a fragrant and tender girl in his arms, and he secured his arm around her waist. He remarked while baring his teeth, "Miss, you truly are as passionate as fire."

"No, no, let go of me, le-let go!" Shu Hui struggled to push away that man in agitation.

But as an ordinary woman, how could she counter that man's strength? He scooped her up by the waist at once and scurried into a side alley.

"No, no! Ah!! Let go of me, Sister! Sister, save me, Sister."

With a loud bash, several heartless and barbaric men had smashed the two large vessels of rice in front of the food pantry with hoes and metal rods. White rice gushed out, and many people rushed forth to scoop it up. They even started fighting each other for it, and the situation spiraled even more out of hand.

"Capture the mobsters. Do not let off even one!" Mo Lian had finally hurried over while holding Qiao Mu's petite hand.

"Yes!" The royal guards' shouts loudly rang out in concert.

Two thousand royal guards encircled the crowd, methodically splitting into 100 teams while wielding long ropes and iron hooks in their hands. Whenever they saw an evildoer, they would gallop forward and trip him with the hook. After lassoing him securely, they would drag him away by the neck while still on their horses.