Reborn on My Wedding Night #1-100
Author: 歌舒笑
Date: 2025-12-02T13:32:36+00:00

Chapter 1: Reborn on My Wedding Night!

The front courtyard of the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor was filled with guests, their congratulations and laughter blending into a lively scene. It stood in stark contrast to the silent rear courtyard, as if someone had cleaved the manor in two with a knife, creating a jarring divide.

Inside the Embroidered Splendor Pavilion.

Shen Lanxi glanced down at the cuffs of her wide sleeves. With her hands clasped, the embroidery formed a complete image of two phoenixes playing with a pearl.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had a strict social hierarchy. Only on her wedding day was a woman permitted the rare exception of wearing a wedding dress adorned with phoenixes, a privilege above her station.

She was back. Back on her wedding night!

On her wedding night in her past life, the groom, Zhou Ruyuan, never showed up. She sat alone in the nuptial chamber all night. The next day, an insolent old servant woman brought her two pieces of news.

The Shen family had been raided overnight, and her entire family was thrown into the Imperial Dungeon. Her husband, Zhou Ruyuan, had spent the night in his concubine’s chambers and had called for water three times.

She had wanted to go to the palace to demand an explanation, but the moment she stood up, she began vomiting blood. From then on, like a bird with clipped wings, she was confined to her sickbed, never to rise again.

Ten days later, the verdict came down: her entire family was exiled to Ningguta, to be slaves to the armored bannermen for all eternity. Upon hearing the news, she vomited blood again. In the days that followed, she’d overhear bits and pieces of news from outside, all deliberately spoken for her to hear.

It wasn’t until she was on her deathbed that she learned the one who had poisoned her was Zhou Ruyuan’s concubine, the beloved woman he had brought back from the southwest.

Consumed by monstrous resentment, she was reborn in the modern era. And reborn with her was an awakened personal dimension. From a spirit inside the dimension, she learned that she was supposed to have died on her wedding night. It was the dimension’s power that had neutralized a portion of the poison for her, but doing so had forced it into a deep slumber. It only reawakened when she was reborn into a poison-free body in the modern world.

Inside the dimension was a grotto-manor, along with three to four hundred acres of miniature mountains and rivers. In the grotto-manor were two books: one was the Qi Nurturing Art, the other the Blade Control Art. She had practiced these two techniques since she was young in that life. After discovering the internet and realizing the power of the two arts from her dimension, she had consciously begun hoarding supplies.

She didn’t let the land in her dimension go to waste either, planting it all with fruits, grains, and other crops. Given her sudden demise in her past life, she thoroughly understood the meaning of being prepared. But she never expected that what awaited her wasn’t the apocalypse, but a return to the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Her mother was Princess Minrou, the only daughter of Grand Princess Jialing. Grand Princess Jialing had died young, so Princess Minrou was raised by the Empress Dowager, whom she had doted upon since childhood. Although the Great Zhou Emperor was not the Empress Dowager’s biological son, he was exceptionally filial to her. Thus, Shen Lanxi had been ennobled as a County Mistress at birth, allowing her to live a life more carefree and pampered than most ordinary princesses.

Thanks to having an emperor for an uncle, the petty people lurking in the shadows didn’t dare to act against her openly. They could only resort to schemes to provoke and anger her, hoping to infuriate her to death.

Those black-hearted individuals had fed her plenty of “news,” including the exact time the imperial decree to raid the Shen family would be issued.

The third quarter of the Hour of the Tiger. Extremely precise!

It was currently the Hour of the Boar, around ten at night. The Hour of the Tiger began around three in the morning. That left five hours. Subtracting the travel time, she had less than four hours.

After composing herself, Shen Lanxi’s eyes were as calm as a deep, dark pool as she stared at the door. Within three breaths, she heard footsteps approaching.

Just like in her past life, the wedding matron was here with the maids to serve the nuptial wine.

“Princess Consort, we are coming in!”

With a creak, the door opened, and the wedding matron entered with four maids carrying cups and plates.

“Greetings, Princess Consort. Today is your grand wedding with His Highness. There are ever so many guests in the front courtyard, so His Highness has not yet returned!”

Returned? He won’t be returning. Zhou Ruyuan won’t set a single foot in this bridal chamber all night!

Shen Lanxi instructed in a calm voice, “You may all withdraw for now. His Highness is a prince and the War God of Great Zhou; it is only natural that many people have come to offer their congratulations. Go and rest. When the Prince returns, I will send for you!”

The wedding matron bowed repeatedly, fawning. “Your Highness is so considerate of us servants. For our Prince to marry someone as wonderful as you, Princess Consort, is truly a blessing for the entire Prince of Zhennan’s Manor.”

A blessing? I’d like to see you take this blessing for yourself.

Hidden behind the red wedding veil, Shen Lanxi let an undisguised, mocking smile spread across her face.

“Leave. You will all be rewarded tomorrow.”

The wedding matron rattled off a string of auspicious phrases, her face nearly cramping from her wide smile as she left.

The moment the door closed, Shen Lanxi ripped off the red veil. In a few deft movements, she removed the phoenix coronet that was making her neck ache and tossed it onto the wedding bed. With a wave of her hand, a black tracksuit and a pair of black trainers appeared on the bed!

I have to hurry!

She changed her clothes swiftly and called out.

“Chunxue, Qiushuang, guard the door. Don’t let anyone in. I need to rest!”

Qiushuang asked, “My Lady, what if His Highness wants to enter?”

“The same goes for him!”

“Understood, My Lady!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang were her dowry maids. They had grown up with her and were utterly loyal. During her confinement in the manor, they had stayed by her side, caring for her without ever leaving. Just before she died, the manor had them beaten to death on the pretext of “negligent care.”

Now that she was back, her first priority was to protect the lives of her family and those loyal to her. After that, she would seek vengeance against that despicable pair!

The fall of the Shen family had been too swift; even a fool could see something was wrong. Though she had lived two lives, she still couldn’t see through the conspiracy behind it all. Fortunately, the sentence was only exile. She had to use this time, before anyone could react, to prepare for their banishment!

Gathering her energy, Shen Lanxi leaped several times, vanishing from the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor like a falcon.

Today, the Prince’s Manor was welcoming a bride, and the Shen family was marrying off a daughter. Both households were full of guests.

Shen Lanxi took advantage of the banquet at the Shen residence. With the rear courtyard deserted, she slipped into the family’s treasury as if it were unguarded.

“Nu Bai, keep watch!”

The spatial spirit’s milky, childlike voice chirped.

“Okay~”

The Shen family’s ancestral home was in Jiangnan. An ancestor had once served as a Salt Commissioner, but the family’s fortunes had gradually declined. It wasn’t until her father, Shen Congwen, placed third in the imperial examination and was granted a marriage by the Empress Dowager that the entire family moved to the capital. Therefore, the Shens were at best new money, with no deep-rooted foundation.

Everything in the treasury consisted of three parts: one was her grandmother Grand Princess Jialing’s dowry, another was her mother’s dowry, and the rest were gifts from the palace, mostly from the Empress Dowager.

Shen Lanxi picked the treasury lock in moments and swept everything inside into her dimension. After exiting, she locked the door and continued her sweep.

Besides the main treasury, she knew her mother had built a secret chamber behind the Buddhist prayer hall she’d had constructed for her grandmother. It was filled with priceless treasures and large amounts of gold and silver. Her mother had taken her inside once when she was a child, explaining that these were also part of the dowry from the Empress Dowager.

Later, after her younger brothers were born, her mother never took her there again.

She gently twisted the Buddha statue, and a hidden mechanism opened. Shen Lanxi slipped in and out in a flash, leaving the treasure chamber so clean that not even a single nail remained.

“Nu Bai, check if there are any other hidden stashes.”

“Yes siree! With Nu Bai on the job, whether it’s high in the heavens or deep in the earth, no hiding spot can escape Nu Bai’s eyes!” The spatial spirit Nu Bai’s proud, eager voice rang out again.

“Master, Master, I’ve detected lots of shiny things in your parents’ room, and there’s a treasure chest under their bed!”

Chapter 2: Take It All!

This was perfect, as she was heading to her parents’ room anyway.

She dug up the treasure chest Nu Bai had mentioned and stored it in her space. Then she swept all the gold, silver, and jewelry from the vanity. Her father enjoyed collecting calligraphy, paintings, and vases, many of which were displayed in the room; she took them all.

Opening the wardrobe, she found it filled with clothes made from the finest brocades, each piece as new as if it had never been worn. She took them all. Though she wasn’t sure if she would ever have a chance to wear them again, they would surely fetch a good price if sold.

Most importantly, she wanted to ensure that the people coming to raid the manor wouldn’t find a single hair.

At that thought, she bundled up the bedding from the bed and tossed it into her space as well.

The raid was happening in the middle of the night. Even if it was mistaken for a clean sweep by a thief, who would care?

At most, the Grand Court would just rule that the Shen Manor was busy entertaining guests, causing its security to be lax and giving thieves an opportunity. By then, the plaintiffs would be in exile. Who would have the time or energy to investigate such a matter?

With this in mind, she took everything she could see.

The tables, chairs, valuable potted plants, and even the bed curtains were torn down and taken. If it weren’t for the fact that moving the bed itself would be too obvious, she would have absolutely taken the great carved bed made of valuable rosewood too!

Oh well. The absence of tables and chairs could be explained away, but a missing bed would border on the supernatural. If the Shen family were then accused of witchcraft, they would face more than just exile.

When she left, her parents’ room was left with nothing but a bare bedstead.

She certainly couldn’t forget her grandparents’ room. Her parents and the younger generation had given them plenty of fine things.

They, too, were left with nothing but the bedboards.

Next were her three younger brothers, her younger sister, her father’s two concubines, their three sons, and their three daughters.

All of them were left with nothing but the bedboards.

A quick hop over the wall brought her to her second uncle’s home. Next to that were the homes of her third and fourth uncles. A family had to stick together, so they, too, were left with nothing but the bedboards.

She didn’t miss her uncles’ kitchens either. All of their families had gone to her house for the banquet, and most of their servants had gone to help, leaving the kitchens ripe for the picking!

Chickens, ducks, fish, all kinds of cured and salted meats, vegetables, fruits, rice, flour, and oil—if it was in a kitchen, she took it all!

She even took the woks from the stoves. Her space had all sorts of pots and pans, but not these large, smoke-blackened iron woks!

She took the cooking utensils, too. The tall stack of chopped firewood in the corner—taken!

The fine red charcoal, the silver-frost charcoal, and the loose coal briquettes—taken!

A row of a dozen large water vats—taken!

The large vats of pickled vegetables and soy paste—taken!

“Master, Master, I accidentally scanned the house next door and found a cellar filled with shiny, sparkling treasures!”

If Nu Bai pointed it out, it had to be good. Taken!

She spent over two hours cleaning them out. After today, she would surely be watched by many eyes, and it would be difficult to collect things so freely again.

“Nu Bai, feel like going for something bigger?”

“Master, I know exactly what you’re thinking! I love collecting things with you. Go on, Master, just take, take, take!”

A glint shone in Shen Lanxi’s phoenix eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up. “Let’s go!”

To throw off suspicion, she used the Shen Manor as the center of her operation, specifically targeting unscrupulous rich merchants and corrupt, greedy officials. She went on a wild spree, randomly hitting a few houses and leaving nothing but the bedboards behind. Her choice of target was entirely based on her mood.

After completing her sweep in a circle, she made her way toward the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor.

Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground inside the manor, Nu Bai’s alert sounded.

“A troop of men in armor is heading toward the Shen Manor!”

They were here. The raid was beginning.

Instead of returning to the bridal suite, she went directly to the manor’s treasury. Everything Zhou Ruyuan had received as rewards for his military achievements, the spoils of war he brought back from the battlefield, the gifts from the imperial palace when he established his own manor, and the tributes from other officials—she took them all.

And then there was her dowry, a total of one hundred and eight chests, which had already been moved into the treasury to be cataloged.

Take it all. She wouldn’t leave Zhou Ruyuan so much as a box of sewing needles!

“Nu Bai, scan for any hidden treasures, will you?”

“Master, there aren’t any. But there are several rooms in the rear courtyard filled with glittering things. A man in red is flirting with a woman who looks a bit like you.”

The only man in the entire manor who wore red was Zhou Ruyuan. And the woman who looked a bit like her—could it be that beloved concubine of his?

Excellent. They had successfully managed to disgust her.

“Just you wait. Your turn is coming soon!”

“Master, Master, you should say, ‘It’s that shameless pair’s turn now.’”

Shen Lanxi smiled. Even a non-human entity like Nu Bai had a moral compass, yet those two didn’t know the meaning of honor or shame. It was a real eye-opener!

Returning to her room, she changed back into her wedding dress and called out, “Has His Highness returned?”

Qiushuang’s voice answered, “My lady, not yet!”

Shen Lanxi’s voice was thick with disappointment. “Is that so? Well, I’m going to rest then. Guard the door well and don’t let anyone disturb me. I might sleep in a little late today!”

“Understood, my lady. With me on guard, I guarantee no one will get in!”

Shen Lanxi waited for three breaths. Hearing no further sound from Qiushuang, she vaulted away from the manor in the next second, heading straight for the Imperial City!

The gates of the Imperial City opened at five-thirty in the morning to allow entry and exit for daily purveyors and night soil collectors. They opened formally at six. The civil and military officials would begin to enter the Imperial City in succession from six-thirty onward, with the morning court session starting around seven-thirty.

She timed her arrival for exactly five-thirty. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, the purveyors, and the night soil collectors, she ran to the city gates, disheveled and frantic.

At first, the guards didn’t recognize Shen Lanxi and pointed their gleaming spears at her.

“Insolence! The Imperial City is a restricted area—”

Before the guard could finish, Shen Lanxi pushed her messy hair to either side.

“I am Shen Lanxi! I want to file a complaint with the Grandmother Empress Dowager! I want to file a complaint with my uncle, the Emperor!”

Shen Lanxi had practically grown up in the Imperial City, her status nearly equal to that of a princess. There wasn’t a single person in the city who didn’t know her!

“I want to file a complaint! The Prince of Zhennan, Zhou Ruyuan, has deceived me and humiliated me! On our wedding night, he did not set a single foot in my room. He spent the entire night in his concubine’s quarters, and they called for water three times… I want to ask the Grandmother Empress Dowager why he would treat me this way!” Shen Lanxi cried and wailed as she held up a token for entering the Imperial City and walked inside.

This token was a special gift from the Empress Dowager, allowing her to enter the Empress Dowager’s personal chambers without being announced.

The token was real. No one dared to stop her.

The order to raid the Shen Manor was known only to a few; the city guards were not yet aware of it.

As if she were in an empty land, Shen Lanxi cried and shouted all the way, holding the token high as she ran toward the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

Along the way, no one uttered a sound, and no one dared to block her path.

Only after Shen Lanxi had disappeared from sight did the captain of the guards slap his own head, finally realizing what had just happened.

“What are you all staring at like idiots? Hurry up and report this!”

It was only then that the guards remembered that even if someone had a token, they still had to be reported.

They hadn’t been standing there dazed because they were stupid; they were stunned by what they had heard.

To ignore a peerless beauty as radiant as Shen Lanxi and sleep with a concubine instead? On his wedding night?

And to let Shen Lanxi find out about it? Even worse, she knew exactly how many times they had called for water! What was the difference between that and seeing right through his clothes to his underwear!

Prince of Zhennan Zhou Ruyuan was in for a major humiliation!

Chapter 3: To the Palace!

This matter concerned the royal family’s dignity. The guards reported it to their superiors, who in turn reported it to their own superiors.

By the time Shen Lanxi ran to The Empress Dowager’s Chambers, the head eunuch had just received the news.

“Your Majesty, something is wrong! Something has happened!”

The Emperor, Zhou Chengqian, hadn’t slept well the previous night. Hearing bad news so early in the morning, he was instantly infuriated. He picked up a teacup and smashed it forcefully on the ground.

“Insolent!”

The grand eunuch, Wang Bao, was so frightened he immediately knelt on the floor, silent as a cicada in winter.

“This servant deserves to die ten thousand times! This servant will slap this crow’s mouth of mine until it’s ruined!” Wang Bao said, slapping his own face hard as he spoke.

After a dozen slaps, Zhou Chengqian’s anger gradually subsided. He pinched the throbbing space between his eyebrows and asked, “What is so wrong this early in the morning?”

Wang Bao hastily replied, “Shen Lanxi of the Shen family has entered the palace. She says the Prince of Zhennan never set foot in the bridal chamber last night, spending the entire night with a concubine. And, and…”

Zhou Chengqian’s voice was laced with fury. “And what?”

Wang Bao’s head nearly touched the floor. Mustering his courage, he said, trembling, “He also called for water three times…”

“Preposterous…” Zhou Chengqian swept the entire tea tray to the floor.

With a loud crash, Wang Bao curled into a ball!

“She went to the Empress Dowager?”

Wang Bao said in a small, trembling voice, “She said she was going to complain to the Empress Dowager and to you…”

Zhou Chengqian had already been up all night because of the Shen family’s case. Now, hearing that his son had done something so outrageous, he was utterly enraged!

Regardless of the Shen family’s situation or whether Shen Lanxi would be implicated, his son—a prince of the blood and a great general guarding the frontier—could absolutely not commit such a scandalous act of favoring a concubine over his wife!

“Wang Bao, personally take men to the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor to investigate. If this is true, bring Zhou Ruyuan to me under arrest. As for that concubine, grant her death!”

Wang Bao immediately accepted the order. “This servant will take men to handle it at once!”

The Great Zhou dynasty revered filial piety, and Zhou Chengqian himself was a model of it. The Empress Dowager was advanced in years and had recently been bedridden. If Shen Lanxi were to upset her, even dying ten thousand times would not be enough to atone for it!

Zhou Chengqian immediately rushed over to The Empress Dowager’s Chambers with his entourage!

“Grandmother Empress Dowager, I can’t bear to leave you! I don’t want to be married anymore! I want to stay with you always!” Shen Lanxi knelt before the kind old woman’s bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

The Empress Dowager had been in poor health recently, spending more time asleep than awake. It was a stroke of luck for Shen Lanxi that she arrived just as the Empress Dowager was waking up.

“Xixi, my dear child, what’s wrong?” the Empress Dowager asked, stroking Shen Lanxi’s hair with a look of pity.

Shen Lanxi clung to the Empress Dowager’s hand and cried even harder.

In her past life, as she was on the verge of death, she had heard the funeral bells from the Imperial Palace. She vaguely remembered someone mentioning that six months had passed between the first time she coughed up blood and the second. In other words, the Grandmother Empress Dowager had at most half a year left to live!

This was very likely the last time she would ever see the Grandmother Empress Dowager. How could she not be heartbroken?

By the time Zhou Chengqian arrived at The Empress Dowager’s Chambers, the Empress Dowager had already soothed Shen Lanxi.

“You mischievous little thing, why didn’t you say sooner that you had your eye on this Dowager’s Luminous Pearl? If you had, this Dowager would have given it to you long ago to add to your dowry.”

Shen Lanxi quietly hugged the box, her face shy like a young maiden’s.

“Empress Dowager, how can you say such things~”

“Uncle Emperor is here~”

She quickly got up from the bedside to salute the Emperor.

“Dispense with the formalities. Why have you come so early and disturbed the Empress Dowager’s peaceful sleep? See how We will punish you!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at the old woman, whose face was etched with fatigue but who was forcing herself to joke with her.

“Empress Dowager, I just suddenly missed you and wanted you to see if my wedding dress is beautiful. Now that you’ve said it is, I will head back. I’ll come see you again next time!”

The Empress Dowager smiled and waved at her.

“Go on, go on. Chunlan, fetch some walnut cakes for Xixi. The child loves the walnut cakes from this Dowager’s palace the most!”

Chunlan curtsied. “Yes, this servant will go get them now!”

Shen Lanxi stepped out of the main doors of the chambers and stood to the side, waiting for Zhou Chengqian to come out.

Less than ten minutes later, he emerged.

Gone was Zhou Chengqian’s pleasant demeanor from inside. He stared at Shen Lanxi with a cold, stern expression.

“Do you know that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been unwell recently?”

Shen Lanxi immediately knelt, looking terrified.

“Uncle Emperor, I just feel so wronged!” she said, tears streaming down her face.

Zhou Chengqian looked at Shen Lanxi’s body, wracked with sobs, and sighed deeply.

“Follow Us to the side hall!”

As soon as Zhou Chengqian was four or five meters away, she quickly wiped her tears, clutched the box, and followed him!

Wang Bao returned in a hurry, his face bruised and swollen.

“Your Majesty…”

Zhou Chengqian glanced behind him. “Where is the Third Prince?”

Wang Bao lowered his head. “This servant was incompetent and failed to bring the Third Prince!”

Zhou Chengqian sensed something was wrong and immediately asked, “What happened to your face?”

Wang Bao raised a sleeve to partially cover his face as he looked up and reported truthfully, “This servant went to the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor to inquire, and… and it’s true. The Prince of Zhennan was originally willing to come to the palace with this servant, but after hearing you ordered the concubine to be put to death, he… he beat this servant up like this!”

Zhou Chengqian was instantly furious and slammed his hand on the writing desk.

“He is utterly lawless! Is he trying to rebel against Us?”

Rebellion was a capital crime punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan! If a prince were to be branded a rebel, his life would be over!

“Your Majesty, quell your anger!”

Everyone in the room, including Shen Lanxi, fell to their knees in fright.

To think that the God of War, so lauded and praised by the people, would defy imperial authority for a woman!

How blinded by love can he be!

“Uncle Emperor, since His Highness would treat me this way and treat you this way for a woman of unknown origins, I don’t want to be married to him anymore! I want a divorce!”

Zhou Chengqian had been about to summon the Imperial Guard to arrest Zhou Ruyuan when he heard Shen Lanxi’s words. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone laced with hesitation and consideration.

“You want a divorce?”

Shen Lanxi knelt respectfully. “Uncle Emperor, I know you think I’m being ridiculous. But I’m not. The Prince didn’t take a single step into the bridal chamber on our wedding night—everyone in the manor saw it. He wasn’t the least bit discreet, staying in that woman’s room… and he even called for… I’m too embarrassed to say it. Everyone in the manor knows he dislikes me and doesn’t want me. If I continue to stay at the manor, I will surely be ridiculed by the entire world. I would rather spend the rest of my life in the Imperial Palace, serving the elderly Empress Dowager!”

Zhou Chengqian’s gaze towards Shen Lanxi was filled with scrutiny and suspicion. The Prince of Zhennan’s Manor was at least an hour’s walk from The Imperial City. It was impossible for a delicate woman like her to have walked.

The Capital had a curfew at night that prohibited riding horses at speed. If she had come by carriage, it would mean she was arrogant and unruly, treating the law as if it were nothing. And after entering the palace, to so brazenly publicize a royal secret meant she had no regard for the family’s dignity. How could such a person be allowed to remain in the palace?

“We ask you, how did you get to The Imperial City?” The men who had gone to confiscate the Shen family’s assets had just left, and now Shen Lanxi had appeared in The Imperial City. The timing was far too coincidental.

Chapter 4: The Reason for the Raid!

Shen Lanxi swayed, her face contorting into an expression of restrained agony, as if she were enduring immense pain.

The single step she took revealed the spot where she had been standing, now stained a startling crimson!

Zhou Chengqian narrowed his imperial eyes and took a deep breath. She had actually run all the way here!

“Uncle Emperor, after hearing about that sordid affair, I couldn’t bear it! I really couldn’t!” Shen Lanxi stomped her foot as if in a fit of pique, and her face immediately twisted in pain.

Her petulant and frantic appearance registered in Zhou Chengqian’s eyes, reminding him of how she used to run rampant before the other princes and princesses, banking on the Empress Dowager’s affection.

The girl was artless, and it was only due to the favor shown to her in the palace that she dared to barge in so brazenly.

On any other day, Zhou Chengqian would have sternly reprimanded her, but now…

“Nonsense! Is the inner palace a place for you to trespass?”

Shen Lanxi immediately lowered her head in fear and shrank back.

Zhou Chengqian rubbed his temples, which were throbbing uncontrollably. “Wang Bao, fetch Us the urgent 800-li dispatch from last night!”

Wang Bao bowed his head and quickly withdrew.

“Xixi, last night, an urgent 800-li dispatch arrived from the Northwest. The Wei Army’s provisions, which your father was responsible for transporting, had all turned to stone by the time they reached the front lines. Without funds to purchase supplies, the Wei Army was besieged by a joint force of Turkic Tatars and Persians. The entire army was annihilated, and we have lost six cities in the Northwest. We have already ordered the Shen Manor to be raided overnight. All eighty-nine members of your family have been taken into custody in the Imperial Dungeon.”

Shen Lanxi looked as if she had heard the most appalling news imaginable. Her face was a mask of disbelief as she staggered backward until her back hit a wall, which was the only thing holding her up.

“Uncle Emperor, what you’re saying can’t be true! The provisions turning to stone… my father would never do such a thing! I implore you to investigate this thoroughly, Uncle Emperor!” Shen Lanxi fell to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly to Zhou Chengqian.

Wang Bao quickly returned with the memorial. Zhou Chengqian had him give it to Shen Lanxi.

“See for yourself. Four hundred thousand brave souls of the Wei Army, and not a single one survived. The person who stole and replaced the provisions deserves a thousand deaths!”

Shen Lanxi scrambled up and unfolded the memorial. She read it from beginning to end, not daring to miss a single word. After reading it three times, she handed it back to Wang Bao.

“Uncle Emperor, my father is most certainly innocent. I beg you, you must get to the bottom of this!” Shen Lanxi pleaded, her hands clasped as she kowtowed once more, both reverent and tense.

Zhou Chengqian looked down, his eyes filled with a complex, unreadable expression.

“Xixi, the morning court is about to begin. We must give an account to the ministers and the soldiers at the border!”

It was a full five or six seconds before Shen Lanxi looked up, her exquisite face now streaked with tears.

“So, Uncle Emperor, you intend to use my Shen family to appease the anger of the court officials and the border soldiers?” Her voice was soft, as if she were questioning him, yet also stating a fact.

“Xixi, We promise you that We will investigate this matter thoroughly. But right now, the most urgent task is to stabilize the court and the morale of the army. Do you understand what We are saying?” Zhou Chengqian said in a grave, heartfelt tone.

Shen Lanxi slumped to the floor in a daze, letting the blood from her feet stain the tiles red.

“But Uncle Emperor, my father truly is innocent! Our Shen family is innocent!”

Watching her desolate and grief-stricken state, Zhou Chengqian’s gaze seemed to drift, as if he were looking through her at someone else.

“We can promise you that We will do Our best to spare your family’s lives.”

Shen Lanxi looked up, a heart-wrenchingly beautiful smile on her face.

“Uncle Emperor, my family is gone. Did Zhou Ruyuan know about this all along? Is that why he dared to treat me that way on our wedding night?” Her eyes held a desperate resolve.

Hearing her words, a dark glint flashed in Zhou Chengqian’s eyes.

“Nonsense! He has been back from the Southwest for less than half a month. How could he possibly know of this matter?” One was in the Southwest, the other in the Northwest. What good would destroying the Wei Army do him?

“We know that the Third Prince has wronged you in this matter. We can assure you that the Shen family’s affairs will absolutely not involve you!”

Shen Lanxi immediately refuted him. “Uncle Emperor, don’t favor him just because he is your son! I am your biological niece! I am your family, too!”

Zhou Chengqian said, “We will immediately order that woman to be put to death.”

Shen Lanxi threw a tantrum like a madwoman. “I don’t want that! I want a divorce by mutual agreement! He is the one who wronged me! I don’t want him anymore!”

Seeing her throw a childish fit before him, Zhou Chengqian’s patience began to wear thin.

“You truly want a divorce?”

Shen Lanxi immediately scrambled up and knelt properly. “Yes, a divorce!” she said, her tone stubborn.

Zhou Chengqian’s eyes were inscrutable as he said in a low voice, “Have you thought this through? If you get a divorce, you will no longer be part of the royal family. The best outcome for the Shen family will be exile for the entire clan. Do you want to follow them to a place of exile and suffer?”

Shen Lanxi straightened her back, obstinate and unyielding. “If I must suffer, then I will suffer! As long as I am with my family, they won’t let me be wronged in the slightest!”

Zhou Chengqian stood up and took two steps, each one feeling as if it landed on Shen Lanxi’s heart.

“Very well. We grant you your divorce. In a few days, We will send someone to the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor to deliver the edict. You may go back and wait!”

Shen Lanxi let out a sigh of relief and placed the treasure box from the Empress Dowager in front of her.

“Uncle Emperor, after we part today, who knows when we will meet again. This Eastern Pearl was a gift from the Empress Dowager, which I now offer to you. I only ask that you do not forget this disobedient junior of yours!”

Zhou Chengqian’s gaze fell on the box, and then he glanced at Wang Bao.

“Princess Lanxi, allow this old servant to take you to have your wounds treated. To lose so much blood… we wouldn’t want it to scar!” Wang Bao pulled Shen Lanxi up and led her outside.

After they had gone, Zhou Chengqian bent down, picked up the treasure box, and opened it. Inside lay a massive, perfectly round pearl that seemed to glow with its own light.

…

“Eunuch Wang, I don’t need my wounds treated.” Shen Lanxi pulled her arm free from Wang Bao’s grasp. Her eyes fell on a palace maid holding a tray of pastries, and she took the box from the maid’s hands.

Wang Bao stood by with a bow. “You may return to your duties,” he said to the maid.

The palace maid curtsied and left.

With her back to him, Shen Lanxi opened the food box, took out a pastry, and then handed the rest, along with the basket, to Wang Bao.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is always getting it wrong. I clearly prefer chestnut cakes, but she always insists on giving me walnut cakes. Eunuch Wang, I’m not used to walnut cakes. You can have them!”

The basket felt heavy in Wang Bao’s hands. Placed inside along with the pastries was the access token to the Empress Dowager’s Chambers.

“Eunuch Wang, I’m leaving. You should go back and report,” Shen Lanxi said without turning around, nibbling on a walnut cake as she departed.

Wang Bao stood watching for a moment until she disappeared around a corner before taking the token and returning to make his report.

Without the access token, she would no longer be able to enter the Imperial City legitimately. Regardless of whether her act of feigned madness had fooled Emperor Renxiao, it was certain that it would lower his guard against her. Perhaps because of the blood on her feet, he might even feel a flicker of sympathy for her; otherwise, he would never have agreed to the divorce so readily.

An emperor’s word was his bond, his pronouncements were edicts. What she needed to do now was return to the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor. There was another important matter waiting for her there.

Chapter 5: Granting Your Wish is Simple. Drink This Cup of Wine!

In the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor, all servants and guards were kneeling on the ground. The Third Prince, Prince of Zhennan Zhou Ruyuan, knelt in the center of the servants, protecting the woman in his arms. The entire manor was surrounded by the Imperial Guard. The whole estate was silent; no one dared to make a sound!

Shen Lanxi slipped back into the bridal chamber unnoticed. Along the way, Nu Bai continuously reported information to her, only stopping when her feet crossed the threshold.

“Chunxue, has His Highness returned?” she called out softly.

Chunxue immediately pushed the door open and entered. “My Lady, His Highness has not returned. Would you like to wash up?”

There would be plenty of time to wash up later. Shen Lanxi’s gaze fell upon the nuptial wine on the table.

“Has anyone come in?”

Chunxue shook her head. “I have been guarding the door the entire time. No one has entered!”

Nu Bai’s voice sounded in her mind, “Master, Master, the Imperial Guard has completely withdrawn. Zhou Ruyuan is heading this way with that woman!”

“Chunxue, I’m hungry. Tell the kitchen to send some food over!”

Why is My Lady acting so strangely? Isn’t she going to freshen up first?

Filled with doubt, Chunxue withdrew.

She had already tended to herself. The fake blood on her feet had been washed clean in her storage space. Playing the victim was one thing, but she would never truly harm herself!

Just as she found a change of clothes, the door was violently kicked open by Zhou Ruyuan.

“Shen Lanxi…” A stern voice accompanied a powerful, handsome figure. A beautiful face came into Shen Lanxi’s view.

An aura of rage surrounded Zhou Ruyuan, and his voice was thick with accusation.

“Shen Lanxi, was it you who complained to Father Emperor?!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered, and a stunningly beautiful smile bloomed on her face.

“Your Highness, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes were dark, burning with fury. “Just because I brought Qingling back, you had to be so vicious as to ask Father Emperor to sentence her to death?”

Shen Lanxi sat down, her expression calm. Her hands were folded, her back straight. Every gesture revealed the strict upbringing of an aristocratic family.

She glanced at Zhou Ruyuan, then at Bai Qingling.

“Is she your mistress, the one you’ve been keeping outside?”

Her composed demeanor instantly infuriated Zhou Ruyuan. “She is not a mistress! She is the one I love!”

Bai Qingling wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but she knew how to dress, which lent her a certain heroic air.

“Sister Shen, please don’t misunderstand. The relationship between His Highness and me isn’t what you think!”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and sneered. “Then what kind of relationship is it? The kind where he spends his wedding night in your room and calls for water three times?”

Zhou Ruyuan was instantly enraged. “If it weren’t for Father Emperor’s decree, the position of Princess Consort would have been Qingling’s! If Qingling hadn’t constantly persuaded me not to defy the edict, do you think I would have married you?”

Shen Lanxi’s face was full of scorn. “And if I had known beforehand that you were entangled with a thing like her, do you think I would have married you?”

“Shen Lanxi…” Zhou Ruyuan pointed at her, furious. Seeing that they had become openly hostile, Bai Qingling quickly grabbed his arm.

“Your Highness, the imperial edict is Your Majesty’s sacred word. To go against it is to defy the decree!” After reasoning with Zhou Ruyuan, Bai Qingling turned to persuade Shen Lanxi.

“Princess Consort, I am not here to fight you for your position. You are the Princess Consort decreed by imperial edict, Ruyuan’s wife. You have a powerful maternal family to support you, while I am merely a commoner. You don’t need to worry about me competing with you. Ruyuan is our husband. Let us work together as his support, to help him go further and achieve more. Can we live in peace from now on?”

Shen Lanxi listened to Bai Qingling’s speech, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

“So you don’t dare to defy the edict, is that it? Then why are you still alive?”

A muscle in Zhou Ruyuan’s brow twitched.

Bai Qingling clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves.

“And you still claim to know nothing?” Zhou Ruyuan pressed aggressively.

Shen Lanxi looked at Bai Qingling. “Let me guess why she’s still alive. On the Prince and Princess Consort’s wedding night, a mistress uses her wiles to seduce the Prince, causing the Princess Consort to spend her wedding night alone. This makes her the laughingstock of the entire world and a scandal for the imperial family. That’s a major crime, enough to have her sentenced to death by a thousand cuts. So why isn’t she dead? It certainly isn’t because of her looks or her commoner background. There’s only one possibility: an imperial heir!”

Panic flashed in Bai Qingling’s eyes for an instant.

Zhou Ruyuan grabbed her wrist, his voice chillingly stern. “What have you done?”

Unafraid of Zhou Ruyuan, Shen Lanxi’s expression grew colder with every word she spoke, as if ice was creeping across her face.

“Before the official consort has even entered the manor, the mistress is already pregnant with an illegitimate child. This is also a great humiliation for the imperial clan. The moment the child in her belly is born will be the day she dies!”

Zhou Ruyuan was stunned for a moment, allowing Shen Lanxi to easily break free from his grip.

Shen Lanxi had to thank Eunuch Wang Bao for not revealing that the Shen family’s property had been confiscated. It allowed her to act outrageously in front of this shameless pair for a little while longer.

“Who do you think you are to sit with me as an equal, to call me ‘sister’? Should I have my father open the ancestral hall and add your name to the records?”

Bai Qingling turned to Zhou Ruyuan for help.

“Your Highness, that’s not what I meant!”

The thought of defying the imperial edict earlier cast a shadow over Zhou Ruyuan’s heart, and his tone became impatient and perfunctory.

“Qingling is soft-hearted; don’t twist her words. Later, when you go to the palace to pay your respects, tell Father Emperor to name Qingling a secondary consort.” With an official title, Qingling wouldn’t have to die. Having Shen Lanxi request this decree was the perfect solution!

Shen Lanxi slapped Bai Qingling directly across the face. The force of the blow was so great that Bai Qingling stumbled and fell against Zhou Ruyuan.

“What are you doing?” Zhou Ruyuan raised his hand to strike back on Bai Qingling’s behalf.

“You dare touch me!” Shen Lanxi’s gaze was like fire as she stared at Zhou Ruyuan. “Lay a single finger on me, and I’ll have my Uncle Emperor sentence this woman to death by a thousand cuts. Touch me twice, and I’ll have the Grandmother Empress Dowager execute her entire clan!”

A towering inferno of rage burned in Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes. He roared, “Your heart is black, rotten to the core! Qingling isn’t trying to take anything from you, so why can’t you show an ounce of tolerance?”

Shen Lanxi laughed brazenly. “I can’t tolerate her? Did you ask for my permission beforehand?”

Zhou Ruyuan was speechless.

A flash of malice crossed Bai Qingling’s brow, but in the next second, it was replaced by a worried expression. “No matter what, this is a private matter for the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor. You can’t tell His Majesty and get him to reprimand our Prince!”

Zhou Ruyuan immediately glared at Shen Lanxi.

“What status do you have? A shameful mistress who can’t be seen in public. What right do you have to call yourself part of this manor?” Shen Lanxi sneered.

“I’m going to the palace right now to report to my uncle and my grandmother, and I’ll have them sentence you to death by a thousand cuts, then have your bones ground to dust and your ashes scattered!”

Bai Qingling glanced at Zhou Ruyuan and, in a flash of desperate inspiration, swiftly knelt.

“Your Highness, I truly love the Prince! I would give my life for him! I beg Your Highness to grant us your blessing!” Bai Qingling pressed her forehead to the floor, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Shen Lanxi was so moved!

“I’ve never met a woman so devoted to a man. It’s not impossible for me to give you a chance!” She pushed the shorter of the two wine cups toward Bai Qingling.

“Granting your wish is simple. Drink this cup of wine!”

Chapter 6: A Vicious Vow!

“What trick are you trying to pull?” Zhou Ruyuan blocked her, refusing to let her drink.

Shen Lanxi gave him a calm glance, then lowered her head to look at Bai Qingling, who was kneeling on the floor.

“I’m only giving you this one chance. If someone stops you from drinking, there’s nothing I can do!”

Bai Qingling tentatively raised her head. Seeing that no one was stopping her, she slowly straightened her back and rose from the ground.

“Princess Consort, will you keep your word?” Bai Qingling was taking a gamble. On the surface, she was the one carrying an imperial heir. His Majesty had already spared her from death; she didn’t believe Shen Lanxi would dare to defy the imperial decree.

Hmph. So what if the Empress Dowager favors her? So what if she calls His Majesty ‘Uncle Emperor’? Her mother wasn’t a princess of direct imperial blood. If she dares to lay a hand on me, it’s tantamount to murdering an imperial heir. Let’s see if His Majesty will spare her then!

“Qingling, don’t listen to her!” Although Zhou Ruyuan had led armies since he was young and didn’t know Shen Lanxi well, he had heard from others that she was arrogant and looked down on everyone. Her current actions only solidified his impression of her as a vicious, cruel woman.

Her words could not be trusted!

Bai Qingling clutched the sleeve of Zhou Ruyuan’s arm, leaning against him slightly in a display of helpless adoration.

“Ruyuan, I would do anything for you!”

Looking at the person who depended on him with all her heart, Zhou Ruyuan was deeply moved. Only a kind-hearted woman like Qingling was worthy of him!

“Qingling, rest assured, I, Zhou Ruyuan, will never fail you in this life!”

Bai Qingling took a small step toward the table, her eyes falling on the shorter wine cup.

“I will drink this now. I trust the Princess Consort will keep her word, and that we may coexist peacefully from this day forward, supporting His Highness together in his great endeavors!” With that, she picked up the cup and was about to tilt her head back to drink.

“Qingling, don’t drink it! I’ll drink it for you!” Zhou Ruyuan snatched the cup and downed it in one gulp.

“Ruyuan, you don’t have to do this. It’s just a cup of wine…”

Shen Lanxi’s face was devoid of expression as she scanned their faces. In an instant, her heart plunged into a boundless darkness!

“What are you snatching it for? Not enough to go around? There’s still another cup!” She pushed the other cup on the table in front of Bai Qingling.

This time, Bai Qingling didn’t hesitate at all. She picked it up and drank it all!

Shen Lanxi had seen it clearly. Bai Qingling’s earlier stalling was a deliberate act to make Zhou Ruyuan drink that cup of wine. Her plan was to have him test for poison. It seemed she didn’t love Zhou Ruyuan as much as she claimed on the surface!

“Alright, we’ve both had our wine. You are not to make things difficult for Qingling ever again!” Zhou Ruyuan warned her coldly.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were as dark and deep as a bottomless, icy pool. Her tone was frigid. “If she comes knocking on my door looking for trouble, then she’s just debasing herself!”

Zhou Ruyuan suppressed his fury, his eyes sinister. “Qingling is open-minded, unlike the common women of the inner quarters. She is not like you, a woman who knows nothing but pleasure and scheming. She will never set foot in here again!” As he finished, his gaze made the bridal chamber seem like a filthy, trash-filled place.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “From now on, whichever one of you two sets foot in my chambers will be debasing themselves!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s voice was harsh and fierce. “You’re the one who said it. In the future, even if you go crying to the Empress Dowager and Father Emperor, I will never step into your room again.”

“And if you break your word?” Her sharp, phoenix-like eyes landed on Bai Qingling.

Seeing that she was still unrepentant and was using her gaze to threaten his beloved, Zhou Ruyuan spat out viciously, “If I break this vow, may I be struck down by lightning!”

Shen Lanxi’s expression was placid, as if she were handling a most trivial matter. Forcing her husband to make a vicious vow never to enter her chambers on their wedding day—no one could guess what she was thinking.

The food was brought in.

“You two remember the vicious vow you’ve made. If Bai Qingling is the one to step into my room, it is the Prince who will be struck by lightning!”

Zhou Ruyuan understood now. Shen Lanxi was trying to force him to submit. If he stayed away from the bridal chamber, she would use it as an excuse to file a complaint in the palace and put him in a difficult position.

Unfortunately for Shen Lanxi, she didn’t understand him at all. He never yielded to threats. As the commander of an army, his spine was unbending, even in defeat.

“Rest assured. I, Zhou Ruyuan, and Qingling will never set foot in your room. But if you deliberately have someone summon Qingling here, then may you be struck by lightning and die without a burial place!” Zhou Ruyuan had seen right through Shen Lanxi. This treacherous woman wanted to bind them with a vicious vow while she remained free to do as she pleased. Not a chance!

Shen Lanxi’s gaze fell upon the dishes. She feared it would be a long time before she could openly eat such fine food again.

These two pieces of trash were stinking up her good meal.

“Good. Now both of you, get out. Don’t disturb my meal, or don’t blame me for going back on my word!”

Zhou Ruyuan sneered inwardly as he watched the woman start to gorge herself before they had even left. This woman was truly heartless, shallow, and so narrow-minded that her world consisted only of the inner quarters. She couldn’t even compare to a single strand of Qingling’s hair.

“Qingling, let’s go!” Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling left, one after the other.

As she turned to leave the room, Bai Qingling pretended to glance back nonchalantly out of the corner of her eye.

That woman was burying her head in her food. To think that the dignified Princess Lanxi was such a simple-minded fool. She had barely done anything today, and Shen Lanxi had already fallen out with the Prince on her own. If it weren’t for her prominent family background, a woman like her wasn’t even fit to carry the Prince’s shoes.

Chunxue and Qiushuang braced themselves, not showing any weakness until they were alone with their mistress. Then, their faces immediately filled with anxious concern.

“Princess Consort…”

Shen Lanxi cut them off. “Call me Miss, not Princess Consort!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang had just discussed and agreed on the change of address, but their mistress stopped them after they had said it only once.

What had happened between their Miss and the Prince? Was it Bai Qingling who forced her hand?

“Miss, this servant will go and kill that woman!” Chunxue and Qiushuang declared, turning to leave.

“Stop. I have something for you to do!” Shen Lanxi took a box from her dressing table. Inside was the silver cash and silver notes she had prepared.

Thinking of her family imprisoned in the Imperial Dungeon, Shen Lanxi’s eyes darkened.

“The Shen family is in trouble. It’s highly likely they will be sentenced to exile. I want you to take this money and prepare everything we’ll need on the road.” She tore a few lists in half and handed them to the two maids.

“After you’ve prepared everything, do not return to the Prince’s Manor. Go to the Fulai Inn by the city gate and wait for me!”

The two maids were terrified, their trembling hands nearly dropping the items.

“Miss, how is this possible? Everything was fine when we left home yesterday!” Chunxue’s face was filled with grief and disbelief.

Shen Lanxi said, “There’s no time to explain. Zhou Ruyuan hasn’t received the news yet, but he will soon. Once he does, you won’t be able to get out. Go, quickly!”

Chapter 7: Who on Earth Was It That Harmed Her?

Chunxue wanted to ask more, but Qiushuang firmly dragged her away.

Her Miss was right. The downfall of the Shen family was a monumental event; she wouldn’t lie to them about it. They only needed to go out and ask around to find out if it was true. But if they were truly trapped in the Prince’s Manor, who would carry out the tasks their Miss had assigned?

The two maids, who knew martial arts, didn’t dare use the main gate. Taking advantage of the lax security at that moment, they leaped over the wall and were gone.

“Master, they have left safely!” Nu Bai reported.

Shen Lanxi, lost in thought, did not respond immediately.

The one who poisoned her was neither Bai Qingling nor Zhou Ruyuan!

It was impossible that she had misheard in her past life. Someone had deliberately fed her false information so that she would die without ever knowing who her true enemy was. They wanted her to die with a grievance, unable to rest in peace! This was a fate reserved only for someone who was utterly hated.

Who on earth was it that harmed her? Who hated her so much?

Shen Lanxi took out the poisoned wine she had switched earlier and poured it on a potted plant. In an instant, the plant turned black and withered to death.

What a potent poison. If Nu Bai hadn’t absorbed part of the toxin for her in her past life, she feared she would have died on her wedding night.

And if she had died, the crime of her murder would surely have been pinned on Zhou Ruyuan!

The person who poisoned her had wanted to kill two birds with one stone.

This city was like a great beast with a gaping, bloody maw. Thinking of the unseen enemy lurking around her, Shen Lanxi clenched her jaw and balled her fists.

“Nu Bai, get rid of this flowerpot and replace it with an identical one. Don’t arouse suspicion!”

Her fingers slowly unfurled. A light unlike any before shone in Shen Lanxi’s eyes.

She would dig up the person who harmed her, even if they hid in the earth’s core, and make them pay with their lives!

“Master, Zhou Ruyuan has learned about the Shen family’s property being confiscated. He’s on his way here!”

Shen Lanxi’s lips curled into a cold smile. “So what if he knows? Does he want to be a scoundrel, or does he want to be struck by lightning?”

If Nu Bai could have manifested a facial expression, its eyes would surely have turned into stars.

“Master, you’re so amazing! Nu Bai is in complete awe of you!”

“Ah… Master, he’s turned back. Now he can’t be a scoundrel, and he won’t be struck by lightning… What a shame!” Nu Bai’s voice was thick with regret.

Remembering the events of her past life, a frosty light glinted in Shen Lanxi’s eyes.

If Zhou Ruyuan wasn’t coming, someone else would!

The arrogant voice of an old crone sounded from outside the room.

“His Highness spent the entire night in the other courtyard. He called for water three times…”

“The Shen family has committed a crime worthy of having their entire clan exterminated. Their property was raided and confiscated last night, and the whole family has been thrown into the Imperial Dungeon to await their sentence…”

“Every one of you had better open your damn eyes and see clearly who you should be fawning over and who you shouldn’t! Don’t offend the wrong person, or you won’t even know how you died!”

Shen Lanxi sat gracefully inside her room. The old crone was certainly arrogant, but the last question she posed was a good one. She, too, wanted to know the answer.

She would let this crone be her touchstone, to help her distinguish the loyal from the treacherous among those around her.

“Mama Li, is what you’re saying true?”

“Mama Li, the Shen family is finished. What are we going to do? Our indenture contracts are still with the Eldest Miss.”

Mama Li raised her chin arrogantly, her hands tucked in her sleeves as she said disdainfully, “Since you’ve entered the Prince’s Manor, you are naturally the Prince’s Manor’s people. Those who are willing to change their contracts, follow me now. Once your contracts are changed, you’ll be servants of the Prince’s Manor, you’ll eat the Prince’s Manor’s food, and from now on, you’ll obey our Prince. Do you all understand?”

Some said they understood; others remained silent.

As Mama Li made to leave, the servants in the courtyard exchanged glances. When they saw one person follow her, the rest all went along.

The crowd departed in a rush, leaving the large courtyard eerily silent.

Shen Lanxi walked to the doorway and opened the door.

“Master, Master, there’s still a family in the corner that hasn’t left!” Nu Bai reported urgently.

Shen Lanxi stepped outside and turned to look at the family.

They were the dowry servants her family had arranged for her.

“They’ve all gone. Why haven’t you?”

Her words seemed to startle the family of dowry servants.

“Prin—” The family of six quickly knelt, unsure of how to address her.

“Just call me Eldest Miss.” A title was just a label. The Shen family’s estate had been confiscated, and now everyone in the Prince’s Manor believed her position as Princess Consort existed in name only. The title ‘Princess Consort’ only felt like a mockery to her now.

“Eldest Miss, something has happened to the Shen family!” Mama Wang reported urgently.

Shen Lanxi said, “If you go with them, you might be able to keep your lives!”

Mama Wang was very stubborn. “This servant is the Eldest Miss’s dowry servant. Even if something has happened to the Shen family, it does not implicate a married daughter. If we were to go with those people just now, it would be betraying our master. A servant who betrays their master is to be beaten to death with clubs!”

She had no real memory of this family. After being poisoned in her past life, she hadn’t seen anyone besides her personal maids, Chunxue and Qiushuang. The others must have been sold off or scattered and reassigned. Later, Chunxue and Qiushuang were also eliminated on some pretext.

“Wait here!” She turned and went back inside.

“Nu Bai, find the indenture contracts for the dowry servants!”

In the blink of an eye, the box containing the indenture contracts was in her hands.

“Find your family’s contracts yourselves.” Besides the contracts, she took out a hundred-tael silver note and handed it to Mama Wang.

“In my current situation, I can’t protect you. While they still don’t dare to do anything to me, take your contracts and this money and find a new livelihood!”

Mama Wang looked at the items, too frightened to accept, but Shen Lanxi thrust them into her hands.

“Hurry up!”

Trembling, Mama Wang glanced at her, then quickly handed the box to her son to find their contracts while she folded the hundred-tael note and tucked it into her hair.

Once the contracts were found, she personally escorted the family out.

Just as they left the rear courtyard, a crone ran up to block their way.

“His Highness has ordered that no one is to enter or leave Tingfang Courtyard!” The stout crone spread her arms to block them, a fierce look on her face.

Shen Lanxi slapped her squarely across the face.

“You insolent slave! How dare you block my, the Princess Consort’s, path? Who gave you such nerve?”

The crone, whose head had been knocked aside by the blow, flinched under Shen Lanxi’s intimidating aura. But then, remembering the Shen family’s fall from grace, her courage returned.

“This servant is following His Highness’s orders!”

Shen Lanxi slapped her again.

“And who does His Highness think he is? I can come and go as I please even in the Imperial Palace. Is his authority greater than that of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty?”

This accusation was enough to crush the stout crone, who no longer dared to be insolent.

Shen Lanxi lifted her chin, her eyes filled with arrogant disdain. “Even if something has happened to the Shen family, I am still Princess Lanxi, most beloved by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. I am the Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor. Crushing you would be easier than crushing an ant!”

The stout crone was terrified. The other crones who had been about to rush forward to help were also afraid.

She was right. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. What if His Majesty were to pardon the Shen family?

Everyone in the Capital knew that Princess Lanxi had grown up in the Empress Dowager’s Chambers, that the Empress Dowager doted on her like the apple of her eye. They must have been muddle-headed to listen to a few words from that woman in the other courtyard and assume this one had become an abandoned prisoner. That woman from the other courtyard had ill intentions, pushing them out to be cannon fodder. The stout crone was green with regret.

Chapter 8: Impotent Rage!

After making an example of them, she escorted Nanny Li’s family to the back entrance without any further obstruction.

The guards at the gatehouse had not received any orders forbidding the Princess Consort from going out, so they looked troubled as she approached.

“Hurry and report to His Highness!”

A guard scrambled off.

Shen Lanxi walked to the gate. “Open the gate!”

The captain of the guards hurried over to explain, “Princess Consort, please don’t make things difficult for us!”

Shen Lanxi understood the principle of kicking someone when they’re down. With a cold expression, she said, “I am still the Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor. Do I, the Princess Consort, not even have the right to release a servant of the Shen family?”

The captain of the guards glanced at Nanny Li’s family and breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the Princess Consort herself wasn’t leaving, it would be fine.

“Princess Consort, I have already sent a guard to ask His Highness. Why don’t we wait for his reply before…” Before he could finish his sentence, the captain was shoved four or five meters away by Shen Lanxi.

The captain’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had trained in martial arts since childhood and had been tempered on the battlefield with the Prince for years; he had long since ranked among the masters. And just now, he had been effortlessly pushed away by a woman who looked as if she couldn’t withstand a gust of wind?

It must have been because he was caught off guard!

The other guards thought their captain didn’t dare to confront the Princess Consort, and their own resolve wavered.

“Open the gate!” Shen Lanxi commanded sternly.

Momentarily intimidated by her imposing manner, the guards actually made way for her. Seeing that the guards were not stopping her, the gatekeeper nervously went to open the gate.

“Without His Highness’s order, I’d like to see who dares to move!” Bai Qingling arrived in a flurry, her people in tow.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were ice-cold. “Since when does a lowly mistress get to give orders in the Prince’s Manor?”

Bai Qingling seethed with anger as she looked at Shen Lanxi’s extraordinary bearing. So what if she was a phoenix? From now on, she was a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken.

The daughter of a convicted official dared to put on the airs of a Princess Consort in the manor. When His Highness returned, he would surely cast this woman aside.

Thinking of how she had kneeled to the daughter of a criminal that morning, Bai Qingling was so angry she could have coughed up blood. If only the news had arrived a little earlier, she wouldn’t have had to suffer such a great humiliation!

It was all Shen Lanxi’s fault. Just wait and see. Soon, there would be no more Princess Lanxi in the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor. She would return every single humiliation Shen Lanxi had inflicted upon her!

Bai Qingling’s demeanor was arrogant, and she clearly looked down on Shen Lanxi; her gaze was filled with disdain.

“Before His Highness went to the palace, he gave me full authority to handle all matters in the manor. All I know is that in the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor, everyone must obey His Highness!”

What damned mistress? She wasn’t a mistress. But this venomous woman, Shen Lanxi, would definitely become a cast-aside wife.

“What a joke. What gives you the right to speak to me like this? Even His Highness wouldn’t dare be so impudent in my presence. What are you!”

Bai Qingling’s face soured, and she struggled to suppress her anger. Then, her eyes shifted, and a triumphant smile crept onto her face.

“I suppose you don’t know that the Shen family’s property was raided and confiscated overnight. Your entire family has now been thrown into the Imperial Dungeon to await judgment!” Weren’t you just throwing your weight around because of your family’s status? Now that the Shen family is gone, let’s see what you have left to be arrogant about!

Shen Lanxi said mockingly, “Even if the Shen family is gone, I am still Princess Lanxi, personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. I am the Empress Dowager’s most beloved junior, and the Princess Consort of Zhennan by His Majesty’s decree. It is not your place as a servant to be so insolent to me!”

The moment her words fell, she struck like lightning.

Smack!

The force of the slap knocked Bai Qingling’s head to the side. She stumbled back several steps, only steadying herself with the help of the old woman behind her.

Bai Qingling’s eyes filled with disbelief and humiliation. How could Shen Lanxi still not understand her own status and circumstances? How dare she hit her?

A sneer was heard.

“That slap of mine didn’t cause you to miscarry, did it?”

Bai Qingling’s expression changed, and she subconsciously placed a hand on her stomach.

“I learned that move from Consort Shu. Back then, with a single slap, she caused Noble Lady Lan to miscarry her three-month-old fetus. My Uncle Emperor cherishes the imperial heirs, so he immediately demoted Consort Shu to Noble Lady Shu, and she has yet to regain her rank.”

Consort Shu was Zhou Ruyuan’s mother. According to custom, if she held the rank of a high consort, Zhou Ruyuan could have requested to have her join him from the palace when he married. Unfortunately, she was now only a Noble Lady.

By saying this, she was reminding Bai Qingling that even Zhou Ruyuan’s glorious military achievements were not enough to offset his mother’s crime. At the same time, she was reminding her of the importance of an imperial heir in His Majesty’s eyes!

Evidently, Bai Qingling understood this as well, and her face turned pale with fear.

“Do you have a child? If you don’t, you are deceiving the emperor. If you do, and you give birth to it, your fate will be death by imperial decree!”

Only then did Bai Qingling realize she had underestimated Shen Lanxi.

“No wonder Ruyuan says that women of the inner quarters only know how to scheme. He despises women like you who do nothing but play tricks and conspire in the inner quarters!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Someone, go to the palace and summon an imperial physician to check this mistress’s pulse. If the physician is unwilling to come because he disdains her filthy status, tell him it is Princess Lanxi who summons him!”

“You dare!”

“What is there to not dare? You keep going on about the women of the inner quarters. Are you not a woman yourself?”

Bai Qingling was exasperated. “How am I not a woman? I’m not a scheming woman like you!”

Shen Lanxi retorted sharply, “Since you know you are a woman, you should also know the meaning of propriety and honor. Yet here you are, a woman of no name and no status, having given yourself to Zhou Ruyuan and illicitly conceived a child. What right do you have to slander the women of the inner quarters? A woman like you, who knows nothing of propriety, honor, or shame—even slapping you would dirty my hands!”

Bai Qingling felt the eyes of everyone in the courtyard fixed on her. She felt utterly humiliated, her eyes turning red as she glared at Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi, you wait. Just you wait, I won’t let you get away with this!

“Hmph, you shameless thing. If I were you, I would have found a mouse hole to crawl into, too ashamed to face anyone. But you have the gall to parade around the Prince’s Manor, playing the hero. I suppose only that blind dog Zhou Ruyuan would treat you like a human being!” After saying this, Shen Lanxi turned and walked to the gate.

She opened the gate herself. Let’s see who dared to stop her!

As it turned out, no one dared.

After watching Nanny Li’s family of six leave, Shen Lanxi turned back and bolted the gate.

Bai Qingling glared at Shen Lanxi as if she wanted to eat her alive.

“What a pity Zhou Ruyuan went to the palace. He can’t see this look of impotent rage on your face!”

Bai Qingling gritted her teeth and said viciously, “Shen Lanxi, we could have coexisted peacefully. It’s a shame you had to ruin everything.”

“What? You want to hit me?” Shen Lanxi scoffed.

“You, a woman yourself, look down upon and slander the women of the inner quarters. Were you born from a crack in a rock? I wonder what your mother, grandmothers, and all the female relatives in your family would think if they heard you disparaging women like this. Would they be so angry they’d disown you?”

“Oh, that’s right. The Empress Dowager, the Empress, and all the consorts in the imperial harem are also women. By degrading women, you’ve included them as well. I wonder what they would think if they heard you?”

Chapter 9: Zhou Ruyuan is Stripped of His Military Authority!

Shen Lanxi gracefully departed, leaving Bai Qingling in a state of impotent rage and helplessness.

She had stalled for long enough; Nanny Li’s family should be far away by now.

Bai Qingling was clearly a narrow-minded person. Since she couldn’t deal with Shen Lanxi directly right now, she would surely go after those around her!

Sure enough, just as she left, Bai Qingling gave the order.

“Master, that woman has ordered the capture of Nanny Li’s family.”

Shen Lanxi had already instructed Nanny Li’s family to find a hiding place as soon as they left the manor. The men Bai Qingling sent out would definitely not dare to conduct a massive search!

Zhou Ruyuan was entitled to a seven-day leave for his wedding and did not need to attend court. He was only required to enter the palace with Shen Lanxi the next day to express their gratitude. But with the Shen family’s sudden downfall, he had to arrange matters at the Prince’s Manor and immediately head to the palace.

He stood at the palace gates for four full hours before being summoned. The moment he entered, he was met with a barrage of reprimands. His Majesty even had General Huwei temporarily take over all his military duties in the Southwest, effectively suspending his military authority.

Zhou Ruyuan’s face was dark as he galloped furiously back to the Prince’s Manor, heading straight for the rear courtyard!

“Shen Lanxi!”

His roar echoed as Shen Lanxi was polishing the swirling cloud patterns on a long staff.

“Zhou Ruyuan, have you forgotten the oath you swore this morning? Do you want to be a scoundrel, or do you want to be struck by lightning?”

In his burning rage moments ago, Zhou Ruyuan had completely forgotten all about the vicious oath he had sworn.

“You jealous shrew! It’s all because of you that Father Emperor stripped me of my military authority. What good does it do you for my power to fall into others’ hands?”

Shen Lanxi stood up, pointing the staff in her right hand at Zhou Ruyuan.

“Was it I who made you spend your wedding night in your mistress’s chambers?”

“Was it I who made you call for water three times in one night?”

“Was it I who lacked private virtue and allowed your mistress to bear your child?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face was contorted with rage, his fists clenched as if he wanted to devour her. “Qingling is the woman I love. I will not allow you to insult her like this!”

“What a joke. I insulted her? The one who insults her is you. You claim she is the one you love, so why didn’t you beg His Majesty to rescind the imperial decree when he arranged our marriage?”

“You had so much time, so many opportunities to refuse this marriage, yet you never said a word. You married me for no other reason than the power of my mother’s family and my generous dowry. It’s clear that in your heart, your ‘beloved’ is far less important than power and wealth.” Shen Lanxi’s exquisite face was filled with scorn.

“You’re the kind of person who wants to be a whore and still have a monument erected to their chastity!”

A towering rage surged in Zhou Ruyuan’s heart. Just as he was about to unleash it, he heard Shen Lanxi speak.

“I have already sent someone to the palace to summon an imperial physician to check Bai Qingling’s pulse.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart pounded. He couldn’t let an imperial physician see her, absolutely not!

At this thought, he could no longer be bothered with confronting Shen Lanxi and turned to leave.

“The heavens’ lightning must be blind, since it didn’t strike you down. That must mean you’re just a scoundrel!”

Zhou Ruyuan shot Shen Lanxi a vicious glare. The verdict for the Shen family had not yet been delivered; now was not the time to deal with her.

She had cost him his military authority and insulted the woman he loved. He would never let this vicious woman off easily.

Zhou Ruyuan strode quickly into the side courtyard. Bai Qingling had already received news of the Prince’s return and knew that he had gone to confront Shen Lanxi in a rage the moment he arrived.

Seeing that his face was still filled with fury, not looking like he had vented his anger at all, she immediately came forward with concern.

“You must be tired, Your Highness. I’ve brewed your favorite spring tea.”

Seeing Bai Qingling bustling about to pour him tea, Zhou Ruyuan was deeply moved.

“Qingling, you’ve been wronged!”

Bai Qingling smiled gently. “For you, Your Highness, no hardship is too great!”

Her words were very pleasing to Zhou Ruyuan.

“Shen Lanxi didn’t send anyone to the palace today, did she?”

Bai Qingling’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly replied, “No, I followed your instructions, Your Highness, and kept a close watch on the servants. I didn’t let anyone leave. Your Highness, did something happen?” Could it be that those few servants Shen Lanxi let go have caused trouble?

Zhou Ruyuan’s hand rested on Bai Qingling’s stomach. “She said she sent for an imperial physician!”

Hearing that the trouble wasn’t caused by those servants, Bai Qingling felt a wave of relief.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, I didn’t let anyone out!”

Zhou Ruyuan nodded in satisfaction. “From now on, I’ll leave all the affairs of the Prince’s Manor for you to manage!”

Bai Qingling feigned hesitation and difficulty. “Your Highness, the Princess Consort is still here. Isn’t it inappropriate to bypass her and give me the managerial authority?”

Zhou Ruyuan thought of the news he had gathered and sneered. “Their Shen family has no chance of ever making a comeback. From now on, she will only be a Princess Consort in name only in this manor!”

Behind her smile, Bai Qingling’s expression twisted. The entire Shen family had been thrown into the Imperial Dungeon, yet His Majesty had not punished Shen Lanxi in the slightest. How could she be so lucky!

“Your Highness, now that the Shen family is in trouble, will you be implicated?”

The moment she spoke, Zhou Ruyuan’s face darkened.

“Father Emperor has ordered General Huwei to temporarily take over my military duties in the Southwest!”

Bai Qingling’s eyes widened in shock. Shen Lanxi had actually caused His Highness to be stripped of his military authority. She deserved to die!

“It’s not your fault that the Shen family is in trouble, Your Highness. The mistake was that you shouldn’t have married Shen Lanxi. Besides, this was an imperial marriage decreed by His Majesty. He shouldn’t implicate you because of the Shen family’s matters. His Majesty is unjust!”

Zhou Ruyuan immediately looked around warily. Confirming that no one was around, he chided her in a low voice, “Is Father Emperor someone you can casually insult? Do you not value your life?”

Bai Qingling whispered her grievance, “I just feel it’s unfair to you, Your Highness! If it weren’t for the Shen family, you would not have been implicated!”

Zhou Ruyuan didn’t explain that, besides the Shen family, part of the reason was that he had spent his wedding night in Bai Qingling’s chambers. In his view, whose room he slept in was a private matter within the Prince’s Manor. Even if word got out, he would at most receive a few scolding words; it wouldn’t cost him his military authority.

The most important reason was still the crime committed by the Shen family—it was too great! Shen Lanxi was the Shen family’s most beloved daughter, and it was because of her that Father Emperor’s anger had been transferred to him, causing him to lose his command.

“Your Highness, Shen Lanxi is a daughter of the Shen family. That will never change. The four hundred thousand heroic souls of the Northwest and the sin of losing the city… as long as a Shen family member lives, they will bear this burden. Did His Majesty say how the Shen family will be dealt with?” Bai Qingling’s face was full of worry, but she was actually trying to fish for information.

Zhou Ruyuan shook his head. “From the looks of it, Father Emperor will likely be lenient!”

Bai Qingling muttered in displeasure, “If that’s the case, His Majesty will surely not punish Shen Lanxi either. If she remains the Princess Consort of Prince Zhennan, won’t you have to share the burden of the Shen family’s sins for them, Your Highness?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face was furious, his eyes sinister. “If Father Emperor doesn’t deal with Shen Lanxi, then she can only die of illness!”

Bai Qingling struggled to suppress the smile that was forming on her lips.

“The incident in the Northwest caused such a huge uproar. I guess His Majesty does intend to deal with the Shen family. He’s probably just holding back out of respect for the Empress Dowager. After all, she is of advanced age and cannot withstand great joy or sorrow!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s expression slowly softened, his eyes darkening. “The imperial physician’s diagnosis revealed that the Empress Dowager’s life is fading. She has six months at most!”

In six months, it would be Shen Lanxi’s time to die!

Chapter 10: The Imperial Edict has Arrived!

With Zhou Ruyuan’s definite reply, Bai Qingling swaggered into the main courtyard with her people, wearing the air of a victor.

“By order of His Highness, the Princess Consort is forbidden from taking another step out of the rear courtyard from this day forward!”

Shen Lanxi had already received word from Nu Bai and had come out to wait in the courtyard ahead of time.

“Some people are just born cheap, so eager to brand themselves with the word ‘bitch’!”

Bai Qingling looked at Shen Lanxi, who was leisurely sipping tea in the courtyard, a flash of venomous hatred in her eyes, quickly replaced by smugness.

Be arrogant. Let’s see how many more days you can keep it up!

“History is always written by the victors. Shen Lanxi, the more outrageous you are, the more His Highness will despise you. No matter what you say, I won’t get angry, because the more you act like this, the more His Highness will hate you!” And the faster you’ll die!

A look of vindictive pleasure crossed Bai Qingling’s face as she glanced contemptuously at Shen Lanxi and began issuing orders to the servants in the courtyard.

“From now on, the few of you will be solely responsible for this courtyard. If anything goes wrong, you will be beaten to death!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were as cold as ice. “The imperial edict hasn’t even been issued, yet Zhou Ruyuan dares to imprison me, bypassing His Majesty? Could it be that Zhou Ruyuan’s power is now great enough to blot out the sky with one hand?”

A flicker of panic crossed Bai Qingling’s face. If those words got out, it would be tantamount to treason.

“Nonsense! Your Shen family has committed a crime worthy of having its property confiscated and its entire clan exterminated. His Highness anticipated that you would try to drag him down with you, which is why he ordered you confined!”

Shen Lanxi was unhurried, like a cat toying with a mouse. “This morning, Zhou Ruyuan openly defied an imperial edict for you. What are you, anyway? You have no name or status, yet you’ve already implicated the Prince in the grave crime of defying an edict. And you have the audacity to accuse me of dragging him down? Even I, a woman of the inner quarters, understand that a married daughter should not be implicated in her family’s crimes. To think that His Highness is a general who leads troops into battle, yet he doesn’t even understand such a basic principle. I really don’t know how he won all those battles!”

Bai Qingling couldn’t bear to hear Zhou Ruyuan slandered like that and charged forward.

Shen Lanxi fixed her with a glare as sharp as a blade, freezing her in place.

“As long as the imperial edict has not been issued, I am the Princess Consort of Zhennan. No matter how powerful he is, he is not more powerful than my Uncle Emperor. My Uncle Emperor hasn’t even done anything to me yet, but you dare to run over here and clamor? Could it be that in your heart, you are greater than His Majesty?”

Bai Qingling’s face went white. She glanced around nervously and immediately tried to incriminate Shen Lanxi, “You’re mad! Your Shen family is in trouble, and now you want to drag the entire Prince’s Manor down with you. How cruel you are!”

Shen Lanxi laughed, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at Bai Qingling.

“I have a rule: never argue with bitches. You’ve just made me break it!” She stood up and walked toward Bai Qingling.

Stunned by Shen Lanxi’s sudden surge of imposing presence, Bai Qingling subconsciously took two steps back.

Shen Lanxi’s pace seemed unhurried, but she was pressing forward with every step, forcing Bai Qingling back out of the rear courtyard.

“See? I told you all you know is impotent rage, but you wouldn’t admit it. Here I am, offering myself up for you to hit, yet you don’t even dare to raise a hand. I insult you, and you don’t dare to talk back. With such little courage, you still dare to come before me and act all high and mighty. Are you just naturally a masochist?”

Bai Qingling’s face twisted instantly. With so many servants watching, this bitch Shen Lanxi was humiliating her again!

“Go back and tell Zhou Ruyuan to serve me good food and drink these next few days. Otherwise, don’t blame me for speaking ill of him when His Majesty and the Empress Dowager summon me!”

Bai Qingling gritted her teeth, her body stiff as she glared at her viciously.

“Yes, yes, that’s the look. I just love it when people stare at me with hatred but can’t do a thing about it!”

Bai Qingling nearly ground her teeth to dust. “Shen Lanxi, you just wait!”

“Some people just love to make the harshest threats, do the most cowardly things, and then offer themselves up for humiliation!” Shen Lanxi turned and walked back, her tone light.

“I’m a soft-hearted person, always happy to help others. Bitch, whenever you feel the urge to be a bitch again, feel free to come find me. I love putting bitches in their place!”

Bai Qingling was so angry she felt her lungs would explode. At the same time, it dawned on her that given how much the palace doted on Shen Lanxi, they might actually summon her.

She stomped her foot in frustration and turned to leave.

His Majesty had always been a suspicious man. The imperial edict had not yet been issued; who knew what he was planning.

At dinner, the quality of the food had not dropped, which meant her warning had been effective. She still had to stay in the Prince’s Manor for another eight or nine days, and she had no intention of making herself suffer.

“Nu Bai, scan this for poison.”

“Master, it’s not poisoned. You can eat without worry!”

Shen Lanxi didn’t eat it. She put it directly into her storage space. Although those people didn’t have the guts to poison her, they were certainly bold enough to do disgusting things like spitting in her food.

She had plenty of food in her storage space; there was no need to fuss over a few meals.

That night.

“Master, there are a total of seventy-six people watching from the shadows nearby!”

“It’s fine. These seventy-six people are here to keep an eye on me, but they’re also here to protect me. Rest easy!” The person who had tried to poison her still hadn’t appeared. A one-shot deal like that was definitely not the work of someone from the Prince’s Manor!

With these guards, she couldn’t get out, but anyone who wanted to harm her couldn’t get in either!

Six days passed in a flash. The verdict for the Shen family came down: the entire family was to be exiled to Dongchuan, departing in two days!

Another day passed, and Wang Bao arrived at the Prince’s Manor with an imperial edict!

Bai Qingling couldn’t hide the joy on her face. It was definitely an imperial edict to deal with that bitch Shen Lanxi!

She hurried with her servants to receive the edict, but as she went to greet them, she was pushed aside by the guards accompanying Wang Bao.

Wang Bao held his head high, brandishing the imperial edict. He let out a cold snort without even sparing Bai Qingling a glance, striding into the Prince’s Manor with an air of utter disdain.

Bai Qingling’s face contorted, and she cursed inwardly, Dead eunuch, dog eunuch!

“The imperial edict has arrived! Princess Consort of Zhennan, receive the edict!”

Bai Qingling’s expression changed, and she sent someone to fetch Shen Lanxi.

“Where are your manners? Where is the incense table? Surely you don’t expect this one to announce the edict just like this?” Wang Bao’s imposing gaze swept over the people of the Prince’s Manor.

“Who is in charge here? If word of this gets out, wouldn’t the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor become a laughingstock!”

Bai Qingling had never received an imperial edict before and didn’t know there were so many rules. She quickly looked at the steward, motioning for him to handle it.

The steward immediately ordered people to make arrangements and withdrew five thousand taels of silver from the manor’s accounts.

“Eunuch, this is a small token of our Prince’s esteem. Please buy yourself some tea to soothe your throat!”

Wang Bao glanced down but didn’t take it.

The steward understood. It was too little. He hurried back to the accounts and withdrew another five thousand taels.

This time, when he offered it again, Wang Bao accepted it!

“This one must return to the palace to attend to His Majesty’s ink and brushes. There is no time to wait for the Princess Consort. Where are the Princess Consort’s quarters? Lead this one there at once!”

The steward quickly led the way.

Bai Qingling was already displeased when she saw the steward give Wang Bao money, and was even more incensed to see that the dead eunuch thought it was too little. Such a thick stack of silver notes must have been worth several thousand taels. She resolved to punish the steward severely after Wang Bao left.

But now, hearing that Wang Bao served His Majesty, all such thoughts vanished. She even felt a faint sense that the steward had given too little.

Chapter 11: Leaving the Prince’s Manor!

Just as Shen Lanxi stepped out of the rear courtyard, she ran into Wang Bao.

Wang Bao unfurled the imperial edict and read it aloud: “By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor proclaims: From this day forth, the title of Princess Lanxi is revoked. Furthermore, a divorce by mutual agreement with Zhou Ruyuan, the Prince of Zhennan, is granted. The divorce decree has been drafted by the imperial family. Henceforth, Zhou Ruyuan, the Prince of Zhennan, and Shen Lanxi shall have no further connection. By imperial command!”

Shen Lanxi knelt and received the imperial edict with both hands.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s immense grace!”

Wang Bao rolled up the edict and handed it to Shen Lanxi.

“His Majesty has another verbal decree: Shen Lanxi is to leave the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor immediately!”

Shen Lanxi replied respectfully, “This commoner obeys!”

Bai Qingling, kneeling on the ground with the rest of the manor’s household, was overjoyed.

His Majesty had stripped Shen Lanxi of her title and even decreed her divorce from the Prince? The very thing she had been longing for for so long had come true so quickly.

She knew His Majesty wouldn’t be so foolish as to let anyone from the Shen family off the hook. It was just a pity that the bitch Shen Lanxi didn’t have to go into exile with the rest of her family.

A cold glint flashed in Bai Qingling’s eyes as she sneered inwardly.

“Miss Shen, do you have any personal belongings to pack?” Wang Bao asked casually.

Shen Lanxi understood. “This commoner has a message she would like the Eunuch to convey to her Uncle Emperor!”

Wang Bao raised his voice slightly. “His Majesty is thinking of you. Otherwise, he would not have sent this one to deliver the edict personally!”

Shen Lanxi said, “My dowry was provided by the Shen family. By rights, a woman is allowed to take her dowry with her after a divorce.”

Wang Bao nodded.

“Although my Shen family was not responsible for what happened to the Wei Army in the Northwest, my father did handle the matter. I am now willing to give my entire dowry to the families of the Wei Army to provide for their future.”

A smile spread across Wang Bao’s face. “Your magnanimity is admirable, Miss. This old servant will convey your words to His Majesty, exactly as you’ve said them, without omitting a single word!”

As they spoke, the two of them walked out the gate.

Wang Bao said, “After you, Miss. This one has another edict to announce!”

Shen Lanxi gave Wang Bao a curtsey, then turned and left.

Once Shen Lanxi’s figure had blended into the crowd, Wang Bao stepped back into the Prince’s Manor.

“Where is the incense table? You servants of the Prince’s Manor, have you no sense of propriety…?”

…

After walking some distance away, Shen Lanxi made sure no one was following her and immediately ducked into an alley.

She unrolled the edict. Inside was a thick stack of silver notes, amounting to a good seventy or eighty thousand taels.

Stowing them in her storage space, Shen Lanxi changed her clothes and disguised her face. When she emerged from the alley, she was a plain-looking middle-aged man.

First, she went to a brokerage to rent an empty house. Then she went to rice shops, butcher shops, grain and oil stores, general stores, and fabric shops. She placed orders for several hundred taels’ worth of goods at each one. Visiting hundreds of shops across the Capital, she spent nearly sixty thousand taels in total.

She arranged for deliveries at different times. As each merchant arrived, she paid the remaining balance and stored the goods directly in her storage space. She was busy until nightfall. Only a few deliveries overlapped, not enough to arouse suspicion.

When she was finished, she went straight to the Fulai Inn to find Chunxue and Qiushuang.

Upon seeing them, she offered no explanation, simply showing them the imperial edict.

“How is the procurement of the items I asked for coming along?”

Chunxue snapped back to her senses and hurriedly replied, “Everything has been prepared!”

“The place of exile is Dongchuan. The winters there are bitterly cold. Tomorrow, go and buy some more winter clothes and furs to have on hand.”

“Yes!”

She told them her plan: “I am going into exile with the Shen family. If you don’t want to go, I’ll give you back your indenture contracts and two thousand taels of silver each to settle down.”

Qiushuang said hastily, “Miss, we are part of the Shen family. The Shen family is our home.”

Chunxue added, “That’s right! Wherever you go, Miss, we will go!”

She still handed the indenture contracts back to them.

“You can follow me, but take these. From now on, you are free.”

Chunxue and Qiushuang took the contracts, their faces filled with emotion. “Miss, we will forever be your servants!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Get some good rest. We set off from the city gates early in the morning, the day after tomorrow.”

The next day, she gave Chunxue and Qiushuang some silver notes to go shopping. After they left, she changed her disguise again and went to buy more goods.

“It’s terrible, Your Highness! Everything in the storehouse… it’s all gone…!”

After returning to the palace, Wang Bao immediately relayed the message to Emperor Renxiao. The Emperor was worried about the empty imperial treasury and the lack of funds for the Wei Army families’ pensions. Upon hearing that Shen Lanxi was willing to offer up her dowry, he immediately ordered people to go to the Prince’s Manor to retrieve it.

If they hadn’t opened the storehouse for this reason, the people of the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor still wouldn’t have known it had been robbed.

Zhou Ruyuan had been ordered to reflect on his misdeeds in confinement and had been punished repeatedly. Just as he was racking his brains for a way out of his predicament, he was hit with another blow.

“What happened?”

The steward was sweating profusely with anxiety. “The palace guards came to collect the… the dowry. When this servant opened the storehouse door, everything inside was gone!”

Zhou Ruyuan could no longer sit still.

“What about the other storehouses?”

The steward replied, “We haven’t checked the other storehouses yet.”

“Go check them, now!”

A short while later, the steward returned, his face pale, to report, “Your Highness, it’s bad! The things in the other storehouses are gone too!”

Zhou Ruyuan strode quickly toward the storehouses.

Inside every storehouse, it was so clean that not even a single pin was left behind.

Bai Qingling also hurried over after receiving the news. Seeing the completely empty storehouses, she nearly fainted.

“Your Highness, why are the storehouses all empty?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s temples throbbed with anxiety. The storehouses contained all the spoils of war and rewards he had accumulated from his years on the battlefield. It was his entire fortune.

And now, it was all gone.

“Who usually guards the storehouses? Why has everything inside disappeared? If you people don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll have you all beaten to death!” Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes were red with fury.

Everyone responsible for guarding the storehouses, whether on duty or not, was brought to the entrance.

The storehouses had been robbed. Even if their entire clans were sold, they wouldn’t be able to compensate for the loss.

All they could do now was kneel on the ground, weeping and desperately trying to explain.

Zhou Ruyuan held a longsword, personally interrogating them.

“When was the last time the storehouses were opened?”

The steward quickly replied, “It was on the day of your grand wedding. Everything was still there then.”

Bai Qingling clenched her fists, her eyes burning with rage. “It was Shen Lanxi! It must have been Shen Lanxi! Why else would she offer to give her dowry to His Majesty? She was just waiting for this moment to frame you, Your Highness.”

The steward wiped away his sweat and asked, trembling, “Your Highness, the people sent by His Majesty are still waiting outside. How are we going to explain this to His Majesty?”

Bai Qingling said impatiently, “How else can we explain it? We tell the truth!”

“No!” Zhou Ruyuan rejected it outright.

“Father Emperor is deeply suspicious. He definitely won’t believe the dowry was stolen. He’ll suspect I’m hiding it, unwilling to hand it over.”

“Gather all the valuables in the manor. If it’s not enough, take my card and go borrow more!”

Bai Qingling exclaimed, “How can we do that!”

“Say no more. This is decided. Steward Sun, Commander Wang, take some men and investigate. I don’t care what methods you use, you must find my things!”

“Yes!”

Bai Qingling quickly called out to Commander Wang.

“Commander Wang, take your men and find out where Shen Lanxi is now. Once you find her, report back to His Highness and me immediately!”

Commander Wang looked at Zhou Ruyuan, who gritted his teeth and said angrily, “Go and investigate!”

Chapter 12: The Staff Howled! The War God of Great Zhou is Nothing Special!

The day of the Shen family’s exile had finally arrived. The city gates were set to open late in the Hour of the Tiger, around five in the morning. Everything they needed for the road had been prepared in advance. They had checked it once before bed last night, then checked it again. At four in the morning, they rose and checked it a third time. After three thorough inspections, they were certain nothing was amiss.

At half-past four, Chunxue and Qiushuang each set out driving a carriage. Just as they were approaching the city gate, they were suddenly stopped by a group of people!

It was Bai Qingling!

“Where do you think you’re taking the things from our Prince’s Manor?” Bai Qingling waved her hand, and the guards immediately surrounded the two carriages!

Shen Lanxi emerged from the first carriage. For the convenience of travel, she had changed into men’s attire. Dressed in practical, close-fitting clothes, she didn’t wait for Chunxue to help her, leaping down from the carriage with crisp agility!

“And here I was wondering who it could be. So, it’s you two. What’s this? Did you know I was leaving the city and come to see me off?”

Bai Qingling stared at someone who had already fallen to dust. She’s already in this state, yet she still puts on the airs of a noble princess. Who is she trying to impress?

“Search them!”

With a backhand motion, Shen Lanxi pulled a staff from the carriage and leveled it at Bai Qingling with a cold glare.

“I’d like to see anyone try!”

Bai Qingling was scornful but unwilling to play the villain in front of Zhou Ruyuan!

“Shen Lanxi, His Highness is a sentimental man. If you honestly hand over the stolen items from the Prince’s Manor, he might spare your life for the sake of your past relationship! If you don’t, then don’t blame His Highness for being merciless!”

Unafraid, Shen Lanxi slammed the staff onto the ground. The solid steel staff made a resounding thud as it hit the earth. Combined with her practical attire, it highlighted her agile figure, making her look valiant and heroic!

“You keep saying I took things from the Prince’s Manor. Do you have any proof? Who saw it? If no one saw it, it’s slander. If you dare to have your guards search my carriage, you’re just using your power to bully the weak!”

She gave a cold laugh and looked at Zhou Ruyuan. “Right under the Emperor’s nose, I dare you to try anything!”

Seeing the guards hesitate, Bai Qingling became furious and barked at them.

“What are you standing there for? Search them!”

The guards swarmed forward. Shen Lanxi’s figure moved like a bolt of lightning, her long staff howling through the air. The first guard to move didn’t even see what happened before he was sent flying five or six meters, landing heavily on the ground.

Shen Lanxi pointed her staff at the fallen guard, her expression icy. “Anyone else who makes a move will share his fate!”

Bai Qingling’s face was filled with shock. Impossible. How could a pampered princess like Shen Lanxi know martial arts?

“Get her! His Highness has ordered that the stolen goods must be recovered. If you fail, you’ll all be punished by military law!”

The guards moved again.

Shen Lanxi gripped her staff tightly and leaped, swinging it in a wide arc. The staff clashed with their weapons, producing a series of sharp metallic clangs.

Any guard whose weapon met her staff had it violently knocked from his grasp, and they clutched at their right arms, which felt as if the bones had been fractured by the shock.

She landed, using the momentum to spring up again, and flew to the other side of the carriage. A single sweep of her staff sent another five or six weapons clattering to the ground, leaving their owners howling on the floor and clutching their right arms.

Shen Lanxi seemed to merge with the night. Wherever her shadow fell, the staff whistled through the air in powerful gusts. Her speed was ghostly; the guards couldn’t even see where the staff was striking. By the time they regained their senses, an agonizing pain, as if their bones and sinews were snapping, was already shooting through their arms, and all they could do was scream and clutch them!

In the blink of an eye, all twenty-something guards were lying on the ground.

Bai Qingling stared at the scene in disbelief. Shen Lanxi was supposed to be a delicate noble who couldn’t lift a thing. She couldn’t possibly be this formidable!

Shen Lanxi leaped into the air, her staff moving like a swimming dragon as it shot straight toward Bai Qingling.

“Watch out!” Zhou Ruyuan’s voice rang out.

The next second, a piercing, ferocious clang of metal on metal resounded. Horror filled Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes. Ignoring the sharp pain in his right arm, he hastily moved to block Shen Lanxi’s attack.

Before three moves were even exchanged, he was sent flying with a kick!

“His Highness…” Bai Qingling cried out, rushing to his side.

Shen Lanxi slammed her staff into the ground with force, burying it several inches deep where it stood unmoving. Beside the staff, she stood tall and straight, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked down at the man who was too battered to get up.

“The War God of Great Zhou, greatly exaggerated, is nothing special!”

Zhou Ruyuan had recovered from his shock. He didn’t have time to process how her martial arts had become so powerful; the humiliation of her words made his blood boil, and rage consumed his every thought.

“Shen Lanxi…” Zhou Ruyuan clutched his throbbing right arm and staggered to his feet, a pathetic sight.

Bai Qingling’s eyes were vicious as she resentfully helped Zhou Ruyuan up.

“Shen Lanxi, how dare you injure His Highness so severely! I will never let you get away with this!”

Shen Lanxi sneered. “If you have a problem, then fight me!”

Bai Qingling’s pupils constricted, and her fingers trembled.

Even someone as skilled as His Highness couldn’t defeat Shen Lanxi. If… if she got injured, who would take care of His Highness!

“Shen Lanxi, you dared to assault and injure a prince of the blood. You won’t escape a death sentence for this!”

Shen Lanxi retrieved her staff, holding it in her arms.

“I dared to strike, so I’m not afraid of you reporting me! Zhou Ruyuan, my Uncle Emperor decreed that you were to be confined at home to reflect on your misdeeds. Your presence here is a defiance of an imperial edict! If I can’t escape a death sentence, then neither can you or the woman beside you!”

A furious fire burned in Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes as he stared at Shen Lanxi, his face a mask of cold fury.

Suddenly, a clamor arose in the distance. Bailiffs were escorting the prisoners for exile.

Not far away, the sound of the city gates opening could be heard.

Zhou Ruyuan’s face was dark as he commanded, “Back to the manor!”

Bai Qingling shot Shen Lanxi a venomous glare, glanced in the direction of the approaching prisoners, and carefully supported Zhou Ruyuan as they left!

“Wow! Miss, how did you become so strong?” Chunxue and Qiushuang excitedly surrounded Shen Lanxi, crying out in amazement.

Shen Lanxi said with a serious expression, “I’ve been watching you two practice for years. I just picked it up by observation!”

Qiushuang was puzzled. “Can you really learn just by watching?”

Shen Lanxi: “Your miss is exceptionally gifted. It’s like how some people can easily become the top scholar without much hard study, while others can study day and night until their eyes go bad and still can’t even pass the county exam!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang were stunned for a moment, then an expression of sudden understanding dawned on their faces.

It made sense. Their Miss must be one of those legendary, exceptionally gifted geniuses!

The city gates opened, and they went outside to wait.

“Miss, do you think His Highness will send people to arrest us?” Chunxue asked, a lingering fear in her voice.

Shen Lanxi gazed toward the Imperial City, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Don’t worry, he won’t have time. I’ve left two big gifts for him!”

The thought of the expressions on Zhou Ruyuan’s and Bai Qingling’s faces when they saw the first gift was sure to be priceless.

What a pity that she would already be ten or so kilometers away by then and would miss such a spectacular scene!

“Miss, what kind of gifts?”

“They’ve treated you so horribly, Miss. Why are you still being so good to them?” Gifts? they thought. Not splashing night soil on the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor was already merciful of her.

“Miss, there’s an ox cart coming toward us. I think it’s Mama Wang’s family!”

Shen Lanxi lifted the curtain to look. It really was Mama Wang and her family!

Chapter 13: On the Road to Exile!

Shen Lanxi looked at the family of six: “Are you all really going to accompany the Shen family into exile?”

Mama Wang bowed and said, “Miss, our Wang family has always served the Shen family and has no other relatives. Our family are your dowry servants and are willing to serve you always. Please, Miss, don’t send us away!” After she finished speaking, Mama Wang led her family to kneel on the ground and kowtow.

Shen Lanxi pondered for a moment: “Alright, if you serve me faithfully in the future, I will guarantee your family three generations of food and clothing!”

“Thank you, Miss!”

The exiles still had to wait at the city gate for a while to give the family members time to say goodbye. Taking advantage of this time, Chunxiao took out the steamed buns and tea eggs she had bought from Yunxue Restaurant the day before, and placed four small dishes on a plate. Qiushuang had already set up the folding dining table, and then they arranged the stools.

“Miss, things are simple outside, so please make do for now!”

The steamed buns from Yunxue Restaurant were famous throughout The Capital, with five different varieties, plus several small dishes. The one-meter-long folding table was almost full!

This was hardly “making do”!

“We need to be low-key when we’re out and about. We don’t need to set up a table for meals in the future. Let’s just eat with our hands!”

The dry rations that Chunxiao and Qiushuang prepared were cornbread. When they heard what Shen Lanxi said, they immediately felt aggrieved for her.

Where had the Miss ever suffered like this before!

She also saw the food in the hands of the two little maids.

“In the future, I’ll eat whatever you eat. There’s no need to prepare anything special for me!”

Chunxiao looked aggrieved: “Miss, we still have money. You don’t have to wrong yourself so much.”

Shen Lanxi naturally had her own plans.

“We’re traveling with all the Shen family members, a total of eighty-nine people. If they see us eating so well, won’t they ask us for some?”

“If they ask, should we give it to them?”

“If I gave it to my father, mother, grandparents, siblings, would they know that I have food and money and ask me to give it to my uncles, cousins, concubines? Would those relatives who have been implicated by the Shen family take advantage of the situation and demand that I take out the food and money?”

Chunxiao and Qiushuang were silent.

Shen Lanxi waved her hand to signal Mama Wang’s family to come over. Before they officially set off, she wanted to give these people a good lesson!

In less than half an hour, the black dots at the city gate began to move, and the exile team set off!

The people who had been lectured by Shen Lanxi quickly hid what they could into the carriage, and tied what couldn’t be hidden inside the carriage to the bottom with ropes.

Two carriages and an ox cart followed the exile team, neither too close nor too far. It wasn’t until noon when the exile team stopped to rest that Shen Lanxi carried the prepared items towards the guards.

When the guards looked over at her, she raised the large bag of things in her hand, as well as two water jars.

Stopping three meters away, she opened the package, revealing the contents.

Steamed buns, pickles, flatbreads, cornbread, plus two roasted chickens and a braised pork knuckle!

The things were right where the guards could see them at a glance. After confirming that there was nothing else, a burly guard with a saber came over to ask questions.

“What are you doing?”

Shen Lanxi winked at the guard and took out a small bag of silver from her pocket. The guard immediately understood and pocketed it, using the motion of turning around to conceal it.

“Sir, I am a merchant going to Dongchuan to do business. I was entrusted by the relatives of the exiles to take care of them along the way!”

There were rules for escorting prisoners, and they couldn’t just eat things made by outsiders.

Shen Lanxi walked directly to the food, broke off a little of each item, and ate it!

The guard raised an eyebrow at her, weighed the silver in his hand, and asked, “Which family’s prisoner are you looking after?”

“The Shen family!”

The guard: “Go call a few over.”

Shen Lanxi honestly walked towards the Shen family.

The Shen family had experienced great ups and downs, and after suffering ten days in prison, everyone was listless, and their eyes had lost their former luster.

“Yuanjing, Yuanjun, Yuanqing, come with me to get some food!” These three were her brothers from the same mother.

The three looked at her in disbelief, their eyes slowly changing from dull to shocked!

“Are you our eldest sister?” The youngest brother, Shen Yuanqing, exclaimed.

Shen Lanxi noticed that the other members of the Shen family were already looking over here, so she didn’t waste any words with the three of them.

“Follow me!” She left those words behind and turned to leave!

The three brothers looked at each other. Shen Yuanqing was the first to chase after her, followed by the other two.

“Eldest sister, why are you dressed like this? Why did you come here? Shouldn’t you be at the Prince’s Manor?”

Now was not a good time to talk!

“Shut up, say less!”

The guards were watching them closely.

Walking to the place where the food was placed, Shen Lanxi had her three brothers break off a piece of each food item and eat it.

The three brothers trusted their eldest sister. Although they didn’t understand what she was doing, they still broke off a piece of each food item as she instructed.

The food in the Imperial Dungeon was terrible, and there was only one meal a day. Although it was only a short ten days, all the Shen family members had lost a lot of weight. If things were like this in the Imperial Dungeon, what good food could they expect on the road to exile?

The guards saw that the three brothers were eating heartily, and didn’t seem to be having any problems, so they immediately went up and kicked each of them.

“Take the cornbread and get out of here!”

Saying “get out of here” was still because of the silver. Otherwise, they would have told them to scram long ago.

Shen Lanxi nodded to the three brothers, said a few flattering words to the guards, and then went to the carriages.

The three Shen Yuanjing brothers were drooling as they looked at the meat. Afraid of being beaten, they quickly left with the cornbread!

Before long, the guards gathered together to feast.

After the three brothers returned, they immediately ran to their parents’ side.

“Father, Mother, this is from eldest sister!”

The other members of the Shen family had gathered together to whisper when the three brothers were called over. Seeing the three brothers return, they immediately crowded around.

Shen Congwen and his wife heard that it was from their daughter and didn’t even bother to take the cornbread. They quickly grabbed their sons and asked.

“You said that the person who called you away was your eldest sister? Isn’t your eldest sister at the Prince’s Manor? How could she come here?”

Shen Yuanjing quickly begged for mercy: “I don’t know. Eldest sister didn’t say anything.”

Shen Yuanjun added in a aggrieved tone, “Eldest sister gave the guards a lot of food, including meat. The guards didn’t let us take it; they only let us take cornbread!”

Shen Congwen seemed to have suddenly understood something and sighed, releasing his son.

“Our whole family is exiled; your eldest sister must not be having a good time either!”

The Shen family was silent.

“Eat something. Yuanjing, share some of the cornbread with your grandparents!” Shen Congwen took two pieces of cornbread from his son’s hand, one for himself and one for his wife.

“Xinrou, eat something. Lanxi went to a lot of trouble to bring it to us!”

The former Princess Minrou had her title revoked as well. Now, with her rough clothes and messy hair, she looked more than ten years older!

Shen Congwen sighed when he saw that his wife didn’t take it, and placed the cornbread in her hand.

The food in the Imperial Dungeon was all leftovers, and there was only one meal a day. Although it was only a short ten days, all the Shen family members had lost a lot of weight. If it was like this in the Imperial Dungeon, what good food could they expect on the road to exile?

Chapter 14: A Grand Gift!

The cornbread bun his daughter brought was clearly mixed with white flour and freshly made, its rich, grainy aroma wafting to his nose. Having already fallen to this state, what was the point of fussing over such things?

Once Shen Congwen came to terms with it, his stomach rumbled like thunder. Just as he was about to bring the bun to his lips, he heard a clamor break out from his brother’s room nearby.

“How is this enough to eat? Yuanjing, we are one family. You can’t just eat your fill and ignore the rest of us, can you?”

“Yuanjing, you are in the wrong. Why didn’t you bring the food to your grandfather and grandmother first to show your filial piety? This is a great transgression…”

…

Shen Lanxi returned to her carriage for lunch. It was early spring, and the weather wasn’t yet hot. Even so, the pre-made food they had brought with them wouldn’t last more than three days. These first three days would be relatively easy. After that, they would have to build a fire to cook, and getting a single meal would take a couple of hours.

She took a cherished bite of a sweet steamed bun, eating it with small pickled vegetables and fermented tofu as she gazed in the direction of the Capital.

The grand gift she had left for Zhou Ruyuan should have been unwrapped and received by now!

At the thought of the ridiculous state Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling would be in, she ate another large steamed bun.

By the time Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling returned to the Prince’s Manor, it was almost dawn.

With so many guards injured at once and so many eyes on the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor, summoning the manor’s physician immediately would be far too conspicuous. There was no guarantee that spies hadn’t been planted within the manor.

Zhou Ruyuan endured the pain until daybreak, a thin sheen of sweat never leaving his body. As soon as the manor’s servants began to stir, he ordered the injured guards to be brought to the training grounds.

Under the legitimate pretext of having been injured while sparring with his guards, Zhou Ruyuan summoned the manor’s physician for treatment.

“His Highness has only strained his muscles and tendons; there is no serious damage to the bone. If you refrain from using your right arm for half a month, it will recover completely!”

The thought of Shen Lanxi filled Bai Qingling with rage. She carefully wiped the sweat from Zhou Ruyuan’s forehead as tears of distress slid down her cheeks.

“Your Highness, how dare Shen Lanxi injure you so grievously. Her heart is so venomous.”

“His Highness saw her as a delicate woman and deliberately went easy on her. Who would have thought she would take advantage of that to strike such a vicious blow!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s gaze was heavy as he looked at his still-trembling fingers. Only he knew that he had truly used his full strength. When Shen Lanxi’s staff had come crashing down, it had felt like a colossal boulder. The only reason his arm wasn’t broken like his guards’ was that he had dodged quickly!

Shen Lanxi had been hiding her true strength all along!

Recalling her humiliating words as she left, Zhou Ruyuan’s face flushed red. He clenched his fists so tightly that even the pain in his right arm couldn’t suppress the surge of resentment in his heart.

When did she become so powerful? And why didn’t she tell him?

“Your Highness, Your Highness, unclench your hand! The physician said you mustn’t strain your right hand!” Seeing Zhou Ruyuan’s fury, Bai Qingling assumed he now hated Shen Lanxi to the bone.

On one hand, she felt sorry for the Prince; on the other, she felt an immense sense of satisfaction!

His Highness was finally done with Shen Lanxi. The best fate for that woman was to die on the road to exile, preferably with her family watching her die!

“Trouble, Your Highness…” A servant from the Prince’s Manor rushed in to report.

Zhou Ruyuan snapped out of his daze and barked through clenched teeth, “What is it?”

The servant trembled in fear, bowing his head so low it nearly touched his chest. He mumbled softly, “Rumors about the Prince’s Manor are spreading all over the streets.”

The servant didn’t dare say the rest.

Zhou Ruyuan instinctively knew it was not good news. He slammed the table and roared, “Spit it out, or you’ll get twenty strokes of the staff before you answer!”

The servant quickly prostrated himself on the floor, kowtowing as he spoke. “They’re all saying… that on his wedding night, His Highness stayed in his mistress’s chambers and… called for water three times…”

Zhou Ruyuan shot up in a rage and flipped the table. The tea set clattered to the floor, shattering into pieces. The servants in the room trembled in fear.

Bai Qingling’s initial fury was quickly replaced by a deathly pallor.

This was a royal scandal. If it blew up, His Majesty wouldn’t do anything to his own son, but he would definitely punish her!

Bai Qingling glanced down at her flat stomach, and her eyes immediately hardened with determination.

“Your Highness, I have an idea…”

That same day, Zhou Ruyuan requested the Emperor’s permission to personally lead troops to the Northwest. Unfortunately, he was a step too late. During morning court, His Majesty had already appointed a commander-in-chief. If Zhou Ruyuan wanted to go, he could only do so as a deputy commander, subject to the commander-in-chief’s orders.

Zhou Ruyuan stood at the palace gates for a full hour before turning around and re-entering the Imperial Palace. When he emerged again, he held an official appointment letter as deputy commander. He was to rally his troops immediately and set out for the Northwest in three days!

As the city gates were about to close, a group of people blended in with the commoners and quietly set off in the direction of Dongchuan!

Among the group of exiles, all males over the age of fifteen, except for those from the Shen family, were bound in cangues and shackles, so their pace was not fast.

The government bailiffs knew of the Shen family’s status and did not dare to openly make things difficult for them, but the same could not be said for the other prisoners.

“Officer, please be kind. My grandmother is thirsty and would like a bowl of water…”

The prisoner hadn’t even finished speaking before he was kicked and whipped.

“Water? You’re prisoners! Do you think you’re still great masters? You want water? There’s no water, only piss! Want some?”

A chorus of curses and cries erupted.

“Cry, cry, cry! Wait until someone dies to cry! If I hear any of you crying, you’ll get the whip…” The whip cracked across a few more prisoners’ backs, and finally, no one dared to cry out loud.

Even if they wept, they swallowed their sobs.

On the first day of exile, the prisoners’ stamina held up. Aside from a few who hadn’t yet understood their situation and earned a beating, everyone else managed to persevere.

For dinner, each person received a cornbread bun made of coarse flour, about the size of a child’s fist.

The prisoners were all herded into the stables to sleep, while the bailiffs had a low-class communal sleeping platform—all standard arrangements that cost nothing.

Once the bailiffs had settled in, Shen Lanxi, having timed her arrival perfectly, made a leisurely appearance.

Several bailiffs were eating in the main hall.

Shen Lanxi walked over unhurriedly. “Officers, you work so hard. If you don’t eat well, where will you find the energy for tomorrow’s journey? Bring out your best food and wine!”

The burly bailiff saw that Shen Lanxi knew how to play the game. She had a scholarly and frail appearance, and the people with her were either old or young—they couldn’t possibly cause any trouble. His wariness subsided considerably.

“Young brother, what a coincidence. We meet again!”

They’ve been following the exile convoy the whole time; even a blind man could see that, she thought. ‘Coincidence’ is just a pleasantry.

Shen Lanxi smiled and cupped her fists. “It must be fate. In the end, I’m the one who has benefited.”

The burly bailiff raised a thick eyebrow. “How do you figure?”

Shen Lanxi immediately replied tactfully, “To be honest, I’m transporting a batch of goods from the Capital, and I was worried about running into bandits on the road. Your official uniforms are perfect for intimidating troublemakers and keeping them from eyeing my cargo! So, haven’t I benefited from your presence?”

The bailiffs were thoroughly flattered by Shen Lanxi’s words, feeling pleased without any sense of obligation.

Shen Lanxi then called out to the innkeeper, “Arrange the best rooms for all the officers, single rooms for everyone. Put it on my bill!”

Normally, the bailiffs would have been suspicious—thinking of the proverb “a weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken has no good intentions.” But after being so thoroughly flattered, they felt such an arrangement was only natural.

Chapter 15: Young Master Lan!

After eating and drinking her fill, Shen Lanxi arranged for a servant to give the head bailiff a back scrub. Only after he was comfortable and content did she begin to make her request.

“Brother Liu, I’ve bought some steamed buns and cornbread buns for the Shen family. Would it be possible to deliver them?”

This was a post station, not the open road, so the head bailiff, Liu Laohu, was quite relaxed.

“Go on, go on. Seeing as you know how to behave, let me give you a piece of advice: they’re prisoners.”

Liu Laohu didn’t believe for a second that she had no connection to the prisoners, but it was no business of his. As long as she didn’t break any rules, he wouldn’t meddle in other people’s affairs.

Shen Lanxi immediately made her stance clear: “Thank you for the advice, Your Excellency. This humble one understands. They are criminals. Having committed a crime, they should be punished, not here to enjoy themselves. I was merely entrusted by someone to ensure they don’t die on the road!”

Liu Laohu was very satisfied with how quickly she took the hint. “Go on!”

When she went over, two government bailiffs were guarding the prisoners.

The King of Hell is easy to see, but the minor demons are the troublesome ones. If the boss needs to be bribed, the underlings need it even more, because they’re the ones who actually get things done.

After leaving Liu Laohu, Shen Lanxi went to the back kitchen, picked up the food and wine she had asked the waiter to prepare earlier, and found the two bailiffs.

Two taels of silver for each of them, plus good food and wine and a few flattering words, and she was granted permission to enter.

When Shen Lanxi entered the stables carrying a large bundle, everyone saw her.

The members of the Shen family stirred, their eyes fixed eagerly on the bundle in her hands.

“Lanxi…”

Zhou Xinrou looked at her daughter, her eyes brimming with tears, and reached out to touch her face.

“Mother, I’ve smeared some dark mud on my face!” Shen Lanxi pushed aside the cornbread buns on top of the bundle, took a steamed bun from the very bottom, and placed it in her mother’s hand.

“Mother, I’m doing fine. I will travel with you to Dongchuan. Don’t worry about me!”

Clutching the steamed bun, Zhou Xinrou covered her face and wept bitterly.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes reddened as well, but now was not the time for tears.

“Father, this is yours!”

“Yuanjing, Yuanjun, Yuantang, Yuanqing…” She pressed a steamed bun into each of their hands.

With tears in her eyes, Yuanqing took a bite of the bun. After chewing twice, her eyes suddenly lit up. She broke the bun open and saw—meat!

“Eldest Sister, there’s…”

“Shh, don’t say anything!” Shen Lanxi shot a look at her four siblings. Shen Yuanjun’s eyes darted around, and he quickly stuffed the bun into his mouth.

Meat, there was meat!

The young man, who hadn’t tasted meat in eleven days, thought of his former life of luxury, and his eyes reddened. The next second, he began to wolf it down.

The other members of the Shen family swarmed forward.

“Eldest Miss, what about ours?” The concubine, Wei Rulan, reached out to snatch one.

Shen Lanxi caught her hand and swept a cold, expressionless gaze over her. “From now on, call me Young Master Lan. If my identity is exposed, it will be difficult to bring you anything else!”

Wei Rulan had been angry, but upon hearing Shen Lanxi’s words, she immediately understood. The Shen family were now criminals with a ruined reputation. If others found out about her, they would surely drive her far away.

After ten days of spoiled food in the Imperial Dungeon and one day of exile with cornbread buns so hard they could break your teeth, Wei Rulan’s greatest wish now was to eat and drink well on the road to exile.

“Understood, Young Master Lan!”

Shen Congwen sighed. “I’ll have a talk with them in a bit.”

Although his daughter hadn’t said it outright, her marriage engagement with the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor was likely null and void.

Shen Lanxi handed a steamed bun to Wei Rulan and then gave them to the other children of the concubines in turn.

Old Master Shen, Old Madam Shen, and their other three sons sat not far away, their expressions shifting from initial composure to faces full of fury.

“Father, Mother, Eldest Brother is going too far. He got food but didn’t bring it to honor you first. Instead, he’s distributing it among his own household!” The second son, Shen Conglian, glared angrily in the direction of the first branch.

The third son, Shen Congli, gritted his teeth, his anger uncontrollable. “We were all exiled because of Eldest Brother! His branch has let down our entire Shen family. Now that they have food, they only think of themselves and don’t even consider Father and Mother. Eldest Brother is so unfilial!”

The fourth son, Shen Congyi, shot a venomous look toward the first branch. “Eldest Brother only ever thinks of his own household, never of Father and Mother, or of us brothers. Hasn’t it always been this way? When he was an official, he never thought to help his brothers. Now he’s been convicted and has to drag us down with him. On what grounds?”

Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen were used to a life of luxury and comfort. After walking for a day, they were already exhausted and weak, but now they were so incensed that they found a new burst of energy.

“Second Son, go get your eldest brother! I want to ask him if he still recognizes me and your father!” Old Madam Shen was so angry she tried to stand up, but failed twice. She could only stomp her feet on the spot and make harsh threats.

In the first branch’s area, the masters got steamed buns and the servants got cornbread buns. Shen Lanxi spoke with her father and mother as she distributed the food.

“I wanted to get some rooms for you to stay in, but the bailiffs wouldn’t allow it.”

Shen Yuanjing and his two brothers had already told the family about how their meat had been confiscated earlier.

After swallowing the bun in his mouth, Shen Congwen said, “Having you follow us all this way to bring us food is already a great blessing. If you ask for more, it will be difficult for them to answer to their superiors!”

Shen Lanxi took out a pouch of loose silver and handed it to her father. “I’m looking after you in the capacity of a relative or friend of the Shen family, so it’s inconvenient for me to handle certain things. Father, Mother, take this money. You can use it to buy some water on the road and make things a little easier!”

In the past, Shen Congwen would have absolutely scorned such a pouch of loose silver, but now he could only accept it in silence.

“I’ve already bribed the bailiffs. As long as the Shen family doesn’t cause trouble, they won’t do anything to you!”

Shen Congwen looked at his daughter, who had arranged everything so methodically. Only eleven days had passed, yet he found it difficult to recall how she looked before, dressed in fine silks and surrounded by servants.

“Why do I seem to smell meat?” A son from Concubine Wei’s household, Shen Yuanqing, sniffed the air with a puzzled look.

The four siblings of the main wife exchanged a silent glance, quickly stuffing the buns into their mouths and surreptitiously wiping the grease from their hands.

Shen Yuanjing said, “What meat? You must be going crazy from wanting to eat meat.”

Shen Yuanqing hung his head and said no more.

Shen Congwen pressed his lips together, but in the end, said nothing.

“Eldest Brother, Father and Mother are calling for you!” Shen Conglian tossed out the words coldly, glanced at Shen Lanxi, and turned to leave.

In the past, the first branch had Princess Minrou to back them, so no one dared to say anything openly. But now that Princess Minrou’s title has been revoked and the entire family has been exiled because of Shen Congwen, how could the resentment from the other branches be suppressed?

“I’m heading back now.”

Her arrival to deliver food had long made the other exiled prisoners restless.

“Sir, my son is too small, he really can’t eat those cornbread buns. Please have pity on the child…” The disheveled, stooped woman was struck down by a whip before she could even finish her sentence.

“If you want food, then pay for it! We’re escorting prisoners, not running a charity. If you don’t have money, then get lost and die.”

The woman passed by Shen Lanxi, clutching her face and sobbing. A moment later, angry shouts erupted from the crowd of prisoners.

“Useless little bitch! Can’t even beg for a single steamed bun! What’s the use of a jinx like you…”

Chunxue and Qiushuang had been waiting anxiously and only relaxed when they saw their Miss emerge from the stables.

“Miss, let this servant deliver the things next time. There are all sorts of filthy people over there. You shouldn’t risk bumping into them!”

She had already explained what needed to be explained and arranged what needed to be arranged. She wouldn’t be delivering the food personally every day.

“Let Nanny Li do it. In my current disguise, I’m too conspicuous. It’s not convenient for me to show my face so often!”

Chapter 16: The Wei Army’s Families Have Arrived!

Strictly speaking, the Shen family was not entirely innocent. For years, they had relied on two powerful patrons in the palace, reaping endless benefits. The gold, silver, and treasures she had seized from the Shen family’s storehouse would be enough to set someone up for fifty years in the modern world.

It was time for the Shen family to learn a lesson!

Shen Lanxi slept dreamlessly through the night. The commotion in the backyard stables didn’t quiet down until after midnight. In the morning, when Nanny Li returned after delivering food, she brought back a message from Shen Yuanjing.

“Young Master, Young Master Yuanjing said that all the silver you gave last night was taken by the Old Madam! He wants you to send some more!”

Shen Lanxi was eating breakfast. The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the exiles were about to set off.

Nanny Li thought for a moment, then took out a fifty-tael silver note from her pocket and placed it on the table.

“Miss, of the one hundred taels you gave me before, I’ve spent some on grain and the ox-cart. This is the private savings I’ve accumulated over the years. Please take it to buy food!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Nanny Li, picked up the silver note, and placed it back in her hand. Then she had Chunxue give Nanny Li a pouch of silver.

“Your whole family is following us; how could I take your money? I will find a way to handle our finances. Give this pouch of silver to my father and tell him to be frugal!”

Chunxue frowned and said, “Miss, we don’t have much silver left.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “We’ll make do for now. I’ll figure something out on the road!”

Chunxue wanted to say a few words of complaint about her master. The Shen family was in this state; even if it was to show respect to the elders, giving half would have been enough. Why give all of it? If it was all given away, what would the first branch have to live on? In the end, however, her status prevented her from saying a word.

“Let’s get ready to leave!” The prisoners were already being herded out of the post station.

On the second day, the prisoners were clearly not as energetic as they had been on the first. Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen were unable to walk after only a short while and had their sons and grandsons start carrying them in turns.

The men of the Shen family had lived pampered lives for years and were all incapable of enduring hardship. Each one struggled to carry them for just a short while before an exhausted switch had to be made.

Fortunately, there were many men in the Shen family, so they could get long breaks between turns. Even so, by the end of the morning, the air was thick with complaints.

“Mother, why don’t we have Lanxi speak with the government bailiffs? You, Father, and the younger children could ride in the horse or ox carts.” After walking all morning, Shen Congyi’s feet were rubbed raw. He ignored the pain, eager to discuss the matter. He had no intention of carrying anyone again in the afternoon.

Old Madam Shen had actually wanted this for some time, but yesterday, her eldest son, Shen Congwen, had analyzed the pros and cons in front of the whole family. He had told them to keep their distance from Lanxi so as not to expose her identity as a member of the Shen family.

What if they became too close and aroused suspicion?

“Go ask your Eldest Brother!”

When Shen Congyi returned, Shen Congwen was following him.

“Father, Mother, your son feels this is inappropriate. We’ve only just left the Capital. Even if we want to ride in a cart, we should wait until we’re further away. The other exiles have had issues with us since yesterday. Just now, on my way over, I saw people speaking ill of our Shen family!”

The Shen family members who heard this were immediately enraged.

“What are they saying about us?”

Shen Congwen said, “They’re saying our Shen family committed a monstrous crime, that we sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers to their deaths, and that we don’t deserve to be treated so well!”

Old Madam Shen cursed angrily, “They’re talking nonsense! Our family was framed. Once His Majesty investigates and finds the truth, he will summon us back to the Capital! They are the real criminals, and they deserve to die ten thousand deaths!”

Shen Congwen lowered his head, his eyes lifeless. Investigates and finds the truth? It wouldn’t be that easy.

“Mother, we know we’re innocent, but others don’t believe it!”

Old Madam Shen retorted, “We can’t just let them slander us! You heard them, why didn’t you explain the truth to the bailiffs!”

Shen Congwen sighed silently. It seemed his mother had forgotten the way the government bailiffs used to look at them before Lanxi bribed them.

“Mother, let’s just wait. Once we’re further away and truly exhausted, the bailiffs will worry we’re slowing them down. It will be easier to bribe them and get their approval then than it is now!”

Old Master Shen spoke up.

“Let’s listen to the eldest. It’s an eight-month journey from the Capital to Dongchuan. If the other exiles see us living too comfortably, they’ll surely cause trouble. What if we anger the bailiffs and they stop Lanxi from bringing us food?”

Although Old Madam Shen’s expression was grim, she said no more.

Old Master Shen continued, “If the children can’t walk, the adults will carry them. If the women can’t walk, their husbands will support them. No matter what, our situation is easier than those wearing cangues. Don’t be ungrateful for the blessings you have!”

The Second, Third, and Fourth Sons looked at the prisoners stumbling ahead in their cangues and fell silent.

During the noon rest, a group of people suddenly ran over from a distance.

“We’ve caught up! Over there, it must be them!” someone in the crowd shouted.

Shen Lanxi quickly sent Chunxue and Qiushuang to investigate.

As the people drew closer, the government bailiffs immediately drew their waist-sabers and took defensive stances.

“Are the Shen family members who harmed the Northwest’s Wei Army in there?” a burly man holding a three-pronged wooden pitchfork stepped forward and yelled.

The bailiffs’ first thought was a prison break, but one look at the group’s attire and it was clear they were poor farmers. No one tries to break someone out of custody armed with farm tools.

Liu Laohu frowned and shouted, “Are you families of the Wei Army?”

The man with the pitchfork said, “That’s right! The Shen family destroyed my home and killed my family! My three older brothers were all in the Wei Army. We are all families of the fallen Wei Army soldiers! Today, even if we have to risk our lives, we will beat the Shen family to death!”

Liu Laohu bellowed, “We are heading to the Northwest! There’s no Shen family here, you’ve got the wrong people!”

Who would have thought that before he even finished speaking, a son of a concubine from the Shen family’s fourth branch collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way, and began to wail in fear.

“I don’t want to die! Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother, I don’t want to die…”

Someone among the Wei Army families immediately shouted, “It’s them! Don’t be fooled by them! It’s them!”

If the timing weren’t so bad, Liu Laohu would have dragged the crying whelp out and beaten him to death.

“A misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding!”

After saying this to the Wei Army families, Liu Laohu turned and glared at all the exiles with a warning.

“If I hear anyone else wailing like they’re at a funeral, I’ll cut out their tongue!”

Chunxue went to report back, while Qiushuang continued to watch.

“Miss, the families of the Wei Army have come to take revenge on the Shen family!”

Shen Lanxi had expected someone to try to kill the Shen family on the road, but she hadn’t thought the first attempt would be so blatant!

“Go see if any of those people know martial arts. If there are, point them out to Liu Laohu.”

“Yes!”

By the time Chunxue got there, a fight had already broken out.

Some twenty-odd bailiffs were pitted against over forty commoners, with crying and fleeing exiles mixed in between. It was complete chaos!

“Damn it all! If you don’t stop, don’t blame me for getting rough!” Liu Laohu roared, drawing his saber.

“Anyone who makes a move will be treated as a bandit and killed on the spot!” Liu Laohu’s bellow made many people freeze.

“All you exiles, get on the ground! Anyone who dares to run will be cut down, and all nine generations of your family will be thrown in prison!”

More people stopped.

“Don’t listen to him! It wasn’t his family who died!”

Chapter 17: It was Eldest Uncle who harmed the Wei Army, it has nothing to do with us!

“There are many more Wei Army families behind us! Just hand over the Shen family, and we promise we won’t cause any more trouble!” the shouting man roared, and the others raised their farm tools once more.

“That’s right! It wasn’t your family who died! My brother was only fifteen. If I hadn’t been born with a limp, my poor brother would never have had to take my place on the battlefield. When he left, he wasn’t even as tall as my shoulder…”

“My father’s service was ending this year. He was supposed to come home and be with us. I’ve never even met him, not once in my life. I fixed up the house, my mother made him new clothes… but he’s never coming back. I wanted to tell him I got married, that he was going to have a grandson…” The man speaking collapsed to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

“It’s all because of the Shen family! If the Shen family hadn’t embezzled the Wei Army’s provisions and pay, how could our relatives have starved to death?”

“They didn’t die at the hands of the enemy, but at the hands of our own people. What is the point of defending our country!”

“Hand over the Shen family!”

“Hand over the Shen family!”

In an instant, the relatives of the Wei Army soldiers united as one, and the other exiles were scared out of their wits.

“Your Excellency, this has nothing to do with us! The ones who caused the deaths in the Wei Army are the Shen family. As long as you hand them over, this will all be settled.”

“Your Excellency, just hand the Shen family over! They’re responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Wei Army soldiers. They deserve to die! With so many Wei Army families here, even if they beat the Shen family to death, the court would surely not hold it against you!”

The other exiles had long since found the Shen family an eyesore. Now that they were being implicated because of them, they couldn’t wait to see them beaten to death by the soldiers’ families.

To kill so many people and still get to eat and drink well… bah!

Liu Laohu gripped the hilt of his saber, his eyes scanning the surroundings. These people weren’t a threat, but he feared the “many more” they claimed were coming.

The Wei Army had guarded The Northwest for years. It was because of them that the foreign tribes didn’t dare invade Great Zhou. In his heart, Liu Laohu also admired them.

The Shen family deserved to die, but the court had sentenced them to exile. He and his bailiffs were just carrying out orders. If they handed the Shen family over and the court decided to blame them, they would be done for as well.

“Your Excellency, why don’t we just hand a few of them over? A few people always die during these exiles anyway,” one of Liu Laohu’s subordinates whispered, offering a suggestion.

Liu Laohu’s face was grim as he looked toward the Shen family, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

The members of the Shen family were all huddled together, terrified. The women covered their mouths as they cried, while the men’s legs trembled uncontrollably.

“Quick, tell them we’re not the Shen family. They don’t know who we are,” Old Madam Shen urged, pushing her fourth son.

“Mother, if we say that now, wouldn’t we just be exposing ourselves?”

“Then what do we do? They’re not going to just kill us all, are they? Fourth Brother, you’re quick-witted, think of something!” Shen Conglian pressed.

Shen Congyi’s eyes flickered. “Eldest Brother caused this whole mess! It has nothing to do with us. As long as we push him out, those people will definitely let us go!”

Old Master Shen immediately grew angry. “Shut up! That’s your eldest brother!”

Shen Congyi curled his lip. “Father, if it weren’t for Eldest Brother, our entire family wouldn’t have been sentenced to exile. Who knows if he didn’t embezzle that money and hide it away somewhere!”

Old Madam Shen struck Shen Congyi a few times, saying resentfully, “How could you say that about your eldest brother? If it weren’t for him, we’d still be farming back home, a family that could never get enough to eat.”

Shen Congyi said unhappily, “You’re the ones who told me to think of a solution. What else can I do? We can only save the many by sacrificing the few. We can’t let our entire family die, can we?”

Old Madam Shen couldn’t bring herself to hit him again. She covered her face and wept bitterly.

“What evil has our Shen family done…”

The Wei Army families were growing impatient.

“Have you made up your mind? Are you going to hand them over or not?”

An exile, who had long detested the Shen family, immediately pointed to where they were gathered and shouted.

“They’re the Shen family! The murderers who killed the Wei Army soldiers!”

Liu Laohu shot the shouting man a vicious glare but remained silent, not refuting the claim.

“See, I told you the Shen family was here! Let’s get them! Kill the Shen family and avenge our unjustly deceased relatives!”

“We can’t let our relatives die in vain! Killing one will sate some of our hatred. If we kill them all, our families can finally rest in peace…”

Shen Congli’s son, born of a concubine, suddenly stood up and shouted, “It was Eldest Uncle who harmed the Wei Army, it has nothing to do with us! We were all implicated! If you want someone, go find Eldest Uncle!”

Shen Congwen looked in the direction of the shout, and his vision went black. He staggered back two steps.

“Father…” Shen Yuanjing and his siblings rushed to support Shen Congwen.

Shen Yuanjing immediately cursed back, “When you were enjoying our family’s fortune, why didn’t you say you had nothing to do with us? Now that we’re in trouble, you come running to blame us. Do you have any idea what propriety and honor even mean?”

Zhou Xinrou and her daughter quickly helped Shen Congwen sit down to rest.

Chunxue and Qiushuang had already quietly blended into the crowd of Wei Army families. While they were demanding the prisoners from Liu Laohu, they slowly moved toward the person who had started the trouble.

Seizing the opportunity, they apprehended the instigator in one move and swiftly gagged him!

Shen Lanxi walked over with Mama Wang and her son.

“Your Excellency Liu!” she said, clasping her fist in a salute.

Liu Laohu had come to loathe the Shen family, and by extension, he had no pleasantries for Shen Lanxi either.

Shen Lanxi turned. “Bring him over!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang pushed the tightly bound man out of the crowd and kicked him to his knees.

“Miss, we’ve found the one who was fanning the flames!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Nanny Li!”

Nanny Li unfolded the cloth in her hands.

Just as the Wei Army families were about to shout, they heard Shen Lanxi ask, “Do you know what design this is?”

The families glanced at the pattern, then looked at Shen Lanxi.

“Where did you come from? What are you doing? Are you trying to stop us from killing the Shen family?”

Shen Lanxi smiled serenely. “I have no connection to the Shen family, nor do I know them. But I do know people from the Wei Army. I know your relatives!”

All the Wei Army family members fell silent.

“This is the military banner of the Wei Army! Surely you recognize your own army’s banner, don’t you?”

The man held by Chunxue and Qiushuang struggled, trying to speak, but the two women pinned him to the ground, each one twisting an arm and planting a foot firmly on him.

“I recognize it! That’s the Wei Army’s banner! My brother told me about it!”

“I recognize it too! My brother told me as well!”

A chorus of agreement rose from the crowd.

Nanny Li suddenly tilted her head and glanced at the cloth. “Oh dear, Miss, this old servant seems to have made a mistake. I brought out the stomach-protector I was embroidering for the baby!”

Instantaneously, a dead silence fell over the crowd.

Nanny Li’s son unfolded the cloth in his hands. “Mother, you grabbed the wrong one. The Wei Army’s military banner is this flame-shaped one.”

Nanny Li leaned in for a closer look. “These two patterns are so similar. I got them mixed up!”

A member of a Wei Army family immediately shouted, “Right, right! The two patterns are too much alike! We were the ones who were mistaken just now!”

Once one person shouted it, the rest followed suit.

Shen Lanxi asked in a loud voice, “Are you sure?”

“S-Sure! That’s the one!”

Chapter 18: Shen Congwen’s Awakening!

Shen Lanxi’s smile vanished, her eyes turning ice-cold as she looked at the so-called Wei Army family members.

“The Wei Army has no military banner. Who sent you to silence us?”

Panic flashed across the faces of the so-called family members, and they clamored in denial, “We’re just common folk, how would we know about the Wei Army’s military banner? You’re tricking us! What’s your relationship with the Shen family? Why are you speaking up for them?”

“Don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s here to help the Shen family! Kill them, quickly!”

Shen Lanxi shouted, “You don’t even know that the military banner of our Great Zhou army bears the character ‘Zhou’! You’re impostors posing as Wei Army family members. The Shen family has nothing to do with the theft of the Wei Army’s payroll—they were framed. The person who sent you here to silence them is the real culprit behind the theft!”

“Nonsense, we are Wei Army family members!”

“Kill her, she’s one of them too!”

Shen Lanxi’s voice was firm. “You’re scared. You’re panicking. Because there are no other Wei Army family members behind you. What you’re doing is tantamount to rebellion. Who in their right mind would give up being a common citizen to die with you?”

Chunxue immediately shouted in support, “You’re fake family members! You’re the real thieves who stole the Wei Army’s provisions and pay! I’ll take you to the authorities right now!”

Seeing the impostors’ disarray, Liu Laohu was now certain that Shen Lanxi was telling the truth. There was no one else behind them.

“Seize them and hand them over to the magistrate! The government will surely offer a handsome reward!”

The moment the government bailiffs heard “handsome reward,” they raised their blades and charged!

Seeing that their cover was blown, the fake Wei Army family members dropped their farm tools and turned to flee into the mountains.

After chasing them for a few dozen meters, the bailiffs were stopped by Liu Laohu.

“Don’t pursue a desperate foe! We need to get moving immediately!”

This whole affair was clearly not simple. Liu Laohu glanced at the Shen family, feeling they were a hot potato he could neither get rid of nor handle. Cursing his bad luck, he immediately drew his whip and began venting his frustration on the other exiles.

Shen Lanxi glanced in the direction of Shen Yuanzhan’s family. Eating her food and taking her things, yet they still wanted to push her father out to take the blame?

When they set off again, the bailiffs’ pace was noticeably faster. Anyone who lagged behind was met with the whip without a word of warning.

Wails and cries of misery filled the air, but thanks to the incident with the impostors, the Shen family members all walked obediently, and none of them were whipped!

“Miss, what about this one?” There was still one captured impostor, trussed up securely.

Shen Lanxi said, “Tie him to the back of the carriage. Don’t let him escape.”

“Yes!”

The blazing sun hung high in the sky. After walking for several hours, one of the prisoners became desperately thirsty and begged a bailiff for water. He was immediately lashed a dozen times. Seeing this, the others didn’t dare to risk it and obediently paid for water.

“Father, I’m so thirsty!” Shen Yuanqing said to her father, unable to bear it any longer after seeing her uncles’ families drinking water.

Shen Congwen saw it too. The memory of how his third brother’s family had tried to push him forward to take the blame flashed through his mind, and a look of disappointment crossed his eyes.

“The money is with your grandmother. I’ll go ask her for some!”

The children nodded eagerly. They were all thirsty.

It was unclear what Shen Congwen said to her, but he soon returned, looking completely dejected.

“Father, did you get the money?” Shen Yuanqing asked hurriedly.

Shen Congwen kept his head down, saying nothing.

“Father…” the younger children of the first branch called out again.

Suddenly, Shen Yuanjing cried out in alarm.

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Xinrou felt the world go dark. Her legs gave way, and just as she was about to collapse, Shen Yuanjing caught her with quick reflexes.

“Father, Mother is burning up!”

Alarmed, Shen Congwen quickly felt his wife’s forehead.

“Your mother has a fever!”

All the children of the first branch born of the principal wife grew anxious.

“Father, what do we do? Can we find a doctor here?”

“Father, let’s go beg the bailiffs! Eldest Sister will surely have a way!”

Shen Congwen looked at his wife with heartache, hating his own powerlessness. He slammed a fist against his own leg.

“Today’s incident has already made things very difficult for your Eldest Sister. The bailiffs nearly stopped her from bringing us food at noon. We can’t put her in a more difficult position!”

He finally understood why his daughter had to hide her identity, why she even had to sneak them meat in secret.

“You all wait here!”

When Shen Congwen stood up again, his eyes were filled with resolve. He strode purposefully toward Old Madam Shen.

When he returned, he was holding a water jug, a fever-reducing pill, and half a bag of silver fragments!

“Drink up. If it’s not enough, I’ll go get some more from the bailiffs!”

“Father, quickly, let Mother drink some first. I’ll carry her on my back for a while!” Shen Yuanjing said hurriedly.

“We can take turns carrying Mother!” the other children chimed in.

Shen Congwen’s eyes reddened, and tears welled up.

In the past, no matter how good he had been to his parents and brothers, now that disaster had struck, the only ones willing to help him unconditionally were his own children.

From now on, he would never be so foolish again!

That evening, with no post station in sight, the bailiffs found a flat area to make camp for the night after the sun began to set.

Once the exiles were given the order to rest, they immediately collapsed onto the ground, groaning and lying about in disarray.

The bailiffs didn’t usually travel at such a grueling pace. Even some of the older ones were finding it hard to keep up.

“Brother Liu, why are we in such a rush?” one of the bailiffs asked after sitting down.

Liu Laohu glanced around with a worried expression and didn’t answer.

“Brother Liu, was what she said today true or not? If someone really is trying to silence them, doesn’t that mean the Shen family was framed?”

Hearing this, Liu Laohu kicked the man who had spoken and berated him sternly, “If you don’t want to die, then shut your mouth!”

The bailiff who was kicked trembled in fear and didn’t dare to speak out of turn again.

“Tell the brothers to be on high alert tonight. You few, take turns on watch duty!” Liu Laohu assigned a few men.

From Liu Laohu’s arrangements, the other bailiffs also sensed the danger, and they all grew tense.

Nanny Li brought a bamboo basket of food over for Liu Laohu and his men: two roast chickens, two portions of braised beef, and a large bag of steamed buns!

If not for the day’s events, the bailiffs would have eaten heartily and praised her for her thoughtfulness. But now, none of them dared to reach for the food.

Liu Laohu looked at the fragrant braised beef, snorted, and was the first to take a piece.

“Eat up! We don’t normally get to eat something this luxurious!” He reasoned that if they meant them harm, they would have acted already. After several good meals, Liu Laohu had no desire to go back to hard, cold rations.

After returning, Nanny Li filled another basket with food.

“Miss, I’m taking some food to the Master and Madam!”

Since the bailiffs had accepted her food, they surely wouldn’t stop her from giving some to the Shen family.

“Chunxue, give Nanny Li some injury medicine to take over as well!”

Chunxue hurried to get it.

Shen Lanxi pulled a staff from the carriage, propped it upright on the shaft, and jumped down to stretch her limbs.

There was a hard fight ahead tonight. Time to warm up.

Chapter 19: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand!

“How can there be so little? This isn’t nearly enough to eat!” Shen Conglian stared at the six cornbread buns in the bundle, wanting to stomp on them fiercely, yet unable to bring himself to do it.

“Father, Mother, the first branch is too stingy. Lanxi sent over so many things, and Eldest Brother only gave us this little bit!”

Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen both had dark expressions.

“You pushed your eldest brother out today. He’s definitely angry now!” said Old Master Shen.

Shen Conglian resentfully took two cornbread buns, one for himself and one for his favorite concubine. Shen Conglian’s wife immediately shoved him, turned, and snatched the bun from the concubine’s hand to give to her own child.

“Mrs. Liu, are you mad!” Just as Shen Conglian was about to start cursing, Old Master Shen struck him with a stick.

“What time do you think this is? Still causing trouble!”

Shen Conglian glared viciously in Mrs. Liu’s direction. As he squatted down to grab another cornbread bun, he was shoved by his other two brothers.

“Second Brother, there are only six in total. You took two at once. How are so many of us supposed to share?”

“Second Brother, you can’t just think of yourself and ignore Father, Mother, and the children…”

The other branches of the Shen family erupted into a noisy quarrel.

Things weren’t peaceful with the first branch either!

“Kind Master and Madam, I beg you, please give me two steamed buns! If I don’t bring any back, my mother-in-law and my husband will surely beat me to death!” A young woman knelt before the first branch, kowtowing loudly to them!

This woman had already tried the same tactic with the government bailiffs earlier and received a beating for it. Unexpectedly, she was now targeting them.

“We don’t have any extra. Go ask someone else!” Shen Yuanjing quickly stuffed his steamed bun into his mouth.

There was a lot of food, but once it was divided, each person only got one bun. If that wasn’t enough, they had to eat the dry rations given by the bailiffs to fill their stomachs. How could there be any left to give away!

“I’m begging you! If I can’t bring anything back, not only will I be beaten, but my three-year-old child will be beaten too.” As the woman spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in black and blue bruises, some with broken, bleeding skin.

Seeing the desperation in the woman’s eyes, Shen Yuantang couldn’t bear it. She gave the woman the half-eaten steamed bun she had left, along with the rations issued by the bailiffs.

“Take these back with you. But this is the only time. I definitely won’t give you anything again!”

A flash of disdain crossed the woman’s eyes. Fearing Shen Yuantang would ask for the food back, she quickly clutched it and ran off.

Nu Bai reported everything that had happened on both sides to Shen Lanxi in detail.

“Master, actually, the bruises on that woman’s arms were all self-inflicted. Her husband and mother-in-law didn’t hit her!”

Shen Lanxi’s lips curved into a smile. Fearing Chunxue and Qiushuang might hear, she didn’t say anything.

“Master, there are three groups of people approaching from different directions!”

Shen Lanxi unhurriedly ate her steamed bun with meat, occasionally picking at some wild vegetables that Chunxue and Qiushuang had gathered from the mountains. When she was about half full, the rice porridge was cool enough to eat, and she drank a bowl of it.

“In a little while, you are to guard the Shen family. No matter what sounds you hear, do not leave!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang immediately stopped eating and looked at her.

“Nanny Li, take the family and stay behind Qiushuang and Chunxue. You’re with the child, so don’t get too close to the exiles!”

Shen Lanxi gave her orders methodically.

“Miss, is something going to happen tonight?”

The group immediately grew tense.

Shen Lanxi: “Those people failed to make their move during the day. Tonight is the perfect opportunity!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang quickly stood up and looked around.

In the blink of an eye, the sky turned completely dark.

“Remember what I said!” After speaking, Shen Lanxi picked up her staff and walked towards the mountains.

Chunxue wanted to follow, but Qiushuang grabbed her.

“Listen to the Miss!”

They had already witnessed their lady’s skill with the staff. Even a hundred of them combined would be no match for her. If something really happened, they would only hold her back!

Shen Lanxi plunged into the deep mountains like a tiger entering the forest. With Nu Bai providing her location data, it was like giving wings to a tiger!

“Master, the closest group is five hundred meters away in a mountain hollow. There are thirty-five men in total, with two lookouts posted thirty meters from our position!”

“Nu Bai!”

“Here, Master!”

“Take out the two ‘eyes’ first!”

“Yes, Master!”

After locking onto the targets, only one word remained in Shen Lanxi’s mind.

Kill!

The instant she tightened her grip on the long staff, it was as if her bloodline had awakened. A wild beast seemed to roar and clamor inside her. With a whistle of air, she swung the staff twice, with no wasted movements, just clean and sharp. As two figures fell to the ground, two lives were reaped!

“Nu Bai reporting: the positions of the remaining thirty-three have been locked!”

Shen Lanxi twirled her long staff and charged!

A figure as fast as lightning soared through the air like an eagle spreading its wings, landing among the thirty-three men. Before they could even react, a quarter of them had already become souls lost to her staff.

Even when they finally did react, they couldn’t withstand Shen Lanxi’s overwhelming assault. In the blink of an eye, they were all cut down!

The supplies they carried could not be overlooked. Weapons, rations, and money were all confiscated.

None of the thirty-five men carried anything that could identify them. The poison hidden in their teeth was the mark of death-sworn soldiers.

“Nu Bai, the remaining two groups!”

“Roger. The remaining two groups have been located. The closest is in the heart of another hillside, twenty men in total, with two lookouts!”

With a few leaps, Shen Lanxi had already covered a great distance. In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the mountain forest like a phantom.

By the time Chunxue and Qiushuang came over, Liu Laohu had already noticed them. His premonition had been correct—they were indeed going to strike tonight.

Just as he was about to alert his men to be on guard, Chunxue’s group stopped at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. Liu Laohu waited for a long time, but they didn’t take another step forward.

Could it be that he had misjudged?

Soon, a flying arrow dispelled Liu Laohu’s doubts. That single shot killed the fake Wei Army soldier who was tied to the back of the carriage.

Chunxue and Qiushuang immediately moved the horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts to face the direction the arrow came from, arranging them in a line to shield the exiles.

If he still couldn’t tell friend from foe, Liu Laohu would have to give up his position as head bailiff.

“You lot, herd all the prisoners together!”

“Listen up, you who deserve a thousand cuts! If any of you dare to move, don’t blame your gramps here for not warning you when you get shot to death by a volley of arrows!”

Liu Laohu shouted as he ran quickly towards Chunxue and Qiushuang.

The exiles immediately descended into chaos.

“They must be here to kill the Shen family! It’s all their fault!” Some prisoners took the opportunity to retaliate, grabbing the nearest member of the Shen family and beating them.

The government bailiffs had to draw their sabers and threaten them to intimidate the other prisoners who were eager to take a shot at the Shens.

The successive events of the day had already turned the Shen family into frightened birds, so scared they didn’t even dare to cry out loud.

“We’re under attack! Where is your Miss?” There were only a few people with Shen Lanxi in total. When Liu Laohu scanned the area and couldn’t find her, he immediately rushed up to question the two women.

Chunxue and Qiushuang were already burning with anxiety. Just as they were about to rush out to help, Shen Lanxi’s figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye, she was before them.

When Liu Laohu saw her clearly, his heart skipped a beat.

Shen Lanxi held a long staff in her right hand. Her clothes were pristine, not a single leaf on them, but the staff in her hand was dripping with fresh blood, as if it had just been pulled from a pool of blood.

Chapter 20: When Has My Daughter Ever Suffered Such Grievances!

Shen Lanxi flicked the staff in her hand. Crisscrossing streaks of blood were a jarring, shocking sight.

Liu Laohu’s brow twitched violently. This was no refined Miss; this was a living, breathing King of Hell!

“I just went into the mountains and killed a couple of chickens. Brother Liu, what brings you over here?” As she spoke, she tossed the things in her left hand to the ground.

They really were two pheasants!

No matter how foolish Liu Laohu was, he didn’t believe that much blood on the staff came from killing pheasants. His brow twitched violently again, and he quickly bowed, clasping his fists respectfully.

“There was a night attack, so I came to investigate. Is Miss alright?”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “I’m fine. We’ve been rushing for the past two days, and I’ve been feeling a bit weak. I thought I’d catch a couple of chickens in the mountains to make a nourishing stew.”

The corner of Liu Laohu’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. If he hadn’t misheard, this person claiming to be weak had been swinging that staff with an audible whoosh. From the sound and the force, the staff in her hand had to weigh at least ten to fifteen kilograms, yet she swung it around as if it were a toy. Anyone else might feel weak, but she definitely wouldn’t!

“Please rest well, Miss. I’ll go scout the surrounding area!” Liu Laohu respectfully took two steps back before turning around.

If he didn’t leave, he was afraid someone would see the corner of his mouth twitching nonstop.

Chunxue said, “This servant will go fetch water!”

Qiushuang added, “This servant will go bring the carriage over!”

Shen Lanxi grunted in acknowledgment. Pretending to pull a handkerchief from her sleeve, she actually took a piece of coarse cloth from her storage space to wipe the blood from the staff.

She had left the bloodstains on purpose to intimidate Liu Laohu and the other government bailiffs.

The horse-drawn carriage and the ox-cart were moved back to their original positions. Chunxue brought a basin of water for Shen Lanxi to wash her hands, while Nanny Li and the others went to prepare the pheasants.

The long staff was planted a few inches deep in the ground, standing right next to Shen Lanxi. The two maidservants didn’t dare to even glance at it, each finding something to do to keep themselves busy.

The firelight flickered across Shen Lanxi’s face, which was as calm as if nothing had happened, making her seem all the more unfathomable. Chunxue and Qiushuang were once again reminded of just how formidable their Young Lady was, and they served her with even greater reverence.

As the aroma of chicken soup began to waft through the air, Shen Lanxi stood up.

“I’m tired. You can have the chicken soup and the meat. Guard the carriage well and don’t let anyone disturb my rest.”

Qiushuang quickly asked, “Miss, what about that dead fake Wei Army soldier?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “There are wolves in the mountains. Find a place far away and dump him.” People who plot to harm others don’t deserve an intact corpse.

Qiushuang quickly took her orders and left.

Shen Lanxi entered the carriage, waited a couple of seconds to make sure no one would disturb her, and immediately entered her storage space to wash up.

The recent fight, though it hadn’t splattered any blood on her, had made her sweat quite a bit.

Nanny Li didn’t dare disturb the Young Lady’s rest. She quietly asked Qiushuang, “Should we send some of the chicken soup to the Master and Madam?”

Qiushuang shook her head decisively. “If the Young Lady didn’t say to send it, then we don’t send it.”

Nanny Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded and withdrew.

The rich smell of chicken soup drifted over to where the other exiles were, and one by one, their stomachs began to rumble incessantly.

Shen Conglian sidled up to Old Madam Shen. “Father, Mother, when Lanxi sends the soup over, tell her to bring some extra steamed buns.”

Old Madam Shen nodded. “And tell her to find a way to send more meat!”

The few sons gathered around the old madam nodded in satisfaction.

Over in the first branch of the Shen family, they were also waiting with eager anticipation.

“Father, will Eldest Sister send us some soup?”

Shen Congwen said with a worried expression, “Our Shen family has been too high-profile these past two days. When your Eldest Sister has someone bring soup, tell her she doesn’t need to send us food for every meal. Once a day is enough!”

Shen Yuantang was already so hungry her stomach was churning with acid. If she had known she would get this hungry so quickly, she definitely wouldn’t have pitied that woman and given her food away.

“Father, how can we do that? If Eldest Sister doesn’t send us food, how will we survive?”

Shen Congwen’s face turned cold. “Haven’t you noticed that the other exiles have already started to target our Shen family?”

His words silenced everyone.

“They’re just jealous that no one is bringing them food!” Shen Yuanqing grumbled.

Shen Congwen’s eyes were filled with worry. “During the night, was anyone beaten?”

Shen Yuanjun instinctively clutched his stomach. He had been beaten. Those despicable convicts had dared to hit him during the chaos, and the government bailiffs had all pretended not to see a thing.

“You saw what happened today. If our Shen family wants to reach Dongchuan safely, we must keep a low profile. Just do as I say!”

Shen Yuantang glanced in her Eldest Sister’s direction. Even if they had to keep a low profile, that would start tomorrow. Tonight, there was still meat soup to be had!

Who would have thought that the Shen family would wait and wait, until even the government bailiffs had fallen asleep, and still the meat soup never came. They could only close their eyes and go to sleep, filled with resentment.

The next day, Shen Lanxi personally delivered food to her family.

“Greetings, Father. Yesterday, I heard from Nanny Li that Mother was ill, and your daughter was terribly worried. I woke up early to personally make some meat congee for Mother. Please, have some.” Just as Shen Lanxi was about to feed her mother the congee, her father took the bowl from her.

“Lanxi, I know you worry about us. But you saw what happened yesterday. It isn’t wise for our Shen family to be so conspicuous among the exiles. From now on, only have someone send one meal a day. And you should stay in the carriage as much as possible; don’t show yourself.” This was the decision Shen Congwen had come to after a whole night of thinking.

His daughter was now their Shen family’s only support on the road to exile; nothing could happen to her!

“Father, only one meal a day? Can you endure that?” Shen Lanxi’s face was filled with heartache.

Shen Congwen thought of how the government bailiffs had given his daughter a hard time when she delivered the food just now, and a wave of sorrow washed over him.

“If others can endure it, so can we. Your two half-brothers were beaten yesterday. The other exiles have come to resent our Shen family. If they see us eating and living too well, they will definitely cause trouble for us behind our backs. I know you’re a filial daughter. We’ll just have to endure some hardship for now. Things will be better once we reach the place of exile.”

Zhou Xinrou looked at her daughter with tear-filled eyes. “My Lanxi, when have you ever suffered such a grievance!” The thought of her daughter having to humble herself before the government bailiffs made her heart ache endlessly.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes reddened as well.

“Father, Mother, I know you are both thinking of the entire Shen family’s well-being. But what if Grandfather, Grandmother, and my uncles are unwilling to suffer this grievance?”

Shen Congwen looked at his daughter with a pained expression. “Don’t worry, I already spoke to them this morning. The raid on our home was sudden, and no one in the family managed to hide any silver. At the city gate, not a single person dared to come see the Shen family off. From now on, their food and expenses…”

If it were the past, these household matters would have been managed by the women of the family. But now, his daughter was likely the only one in the entire Shen family with any money.

Shen Congwen was too ashamed to say the rest.

He couldn’t possibly say that his daughter had to support the entire Shen family by herself! He didn’t have the nerve for that.

“Lanxi, my daughter, life is so hard for you! If they dare to complain, don’t even send them one meal a day. Let them starve for a few days, then they’ll know who’s good to them and who isn’t!”

In the past, her father would never have said such things. Shen Lanxi nodded.

“I will follow Father’s arrangements. From now on, I’ll still have Nanny Li bring you your food.”

Several times, Shen Congwen wanted to ask his daughter how much money she had left, but he could never bring himself to open his mouth.

Chapter 21: The Great Drought!

“Lanxi, the journey is long and arduous. You must be frugal with your silver!” The Shen family had fallen to such a state. His daughter had left the Prince’s Manor and surely hadn’t brought much of her private savings with her. After spending one tael of silver on a single bag of water yesterday, Shen Congwen now deeply understood the saying, “a penny can foil a hero!”

These were words his wife should have been saying. But now his wife was ill, and his daughter, who had lived a life of luxury, had never managed household finances. He worried that if she continued to spend money as lavishly as before, the money she had on her would not be enough for the large Shen family.

Shen Lanxi understood her father’s meaning.

“Father, when I left the Capital, I bought many fashionable goods. I should be able to sell them for a good price in the next town. I plan to purchase a new batch of goods in every place we stop and sell them at the next, which should supplement our income!”

Shen Congwen understood from his daughter’s words that she had some money, but not much. She had to run a small business to ensure their future survival!

“I’ll go talk some sense into your grandmother and the others. Go on, the government bailiffs have already looked this way several times!” Shen Congwen said with a worried expression.

Shen Lanxi nodded and turned to leave.

Shen Congwen immediately began to lecture his children: “From now on, you must always remember your Eldest Sister’s kindness. She used to be such a proud person, and now, to take care of us, she’s had to compromise and humble herself…”

Shen Lanxi walked up to Liu Laohu and cupped her fist in her hand. “Brother Liu, shouldn’t we be setting off?”

If your Eldest Brother hadn’t gone to deliver food, we would have left long ago, Liu Laohu thought to himself.

“Yes, it’s time. We should be on our way!”

After speaking with Shen Lanxi, he immediately barked at the bailiffs to get moving. As Shen Lanxi walked away, he stole a glance behind him. Even now, he couldn’t imagine a delicate, scholarly young lady wielding a bloody club and wreaking havoc.

Remembering the scene from last night, Liu Laohu shivered and quickly cracked his whip to herd the prisoners along.

Because of the morning’s lecture, when that woman ran up to Shen Yuantang and kowtowed, begging for food again, Shen Yuantang refused. This provoked the woman into throwing a tantrum, rolling on the ground and cursing loudly, which drove Shen Yuantang to tears.

After they finally managed to drive the woman away, they were halfway on their journey when Shen Yuantang was suddenly knocked down by a child who appeared out of nowhere. She twisted her ankle and scraped her palms. The three brothers of the first branch had no choice but to take turns carrying her.

The men from the other branches were displeased. With fewer people to rotate carrying the old master and old lady, their own turns became longer. If not for Shen Lanxi keeping them in line, they would have certainly quit long ago.

“Young Lady, there’s a village ahead!” Chunxue reported.

Shen Lanxi lifted the carriage curtain and glanced into the distance. Smoke was rising from the village chimneys; it was inhabited!

“In a little while, go into the village and trade for some things we can use on the road!”

“Yes!”

The village entrance was guarded, and exiled prisoners were not allowed to enter. It was still early, so Liu Laohu planned to ask for some water and get some food before continuing on.

Shen Lanxi and her group were also stopped by a dark-faced man who watched them warily.

“Who are you? What are you doing in our village?”

Chunxue said, “Big brother, we are merchants transporting some rare goods to sell in a large town. We’re just passing through and would like to trade for some food and supplies!”

Seeing that Chunxue spoke politely and was just a young girl, the dark-faced man relaxed his guard.

“As long as you’re not refugees from the north, it’s fine. What do you have in your cart?”

Shen Lanxi still remembered every piece of information revealed to her while she was unconscious, including the great drought in the north.

Before Chunxue could speak, Shen Lanxi interjected, “Silks, porcelain, as well as rouge and powder. Would you have any need for them, big brother?”

A flash of disdain crossed the dark-faced man’s eyes. They could barely afford to eat; who would want things like that?

“If you don’t need any of that, we can also pay with money!”

The dark-faced man shouted into the village, and someone came to take his place on guard duty.

“Are some of you coming with me to buy things, or are you all going?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Chunxue, have Nanny Li and her son go with you!”

“Yes!”

They were heading north the entire way. She had to discuss the matter of the refugees with Liu Laohu.

“Brother Liu, I heard some news from the villagers!”

Liu Laohu had heard it too.

“The road north is going to be difficult, I’m afraid!”

Shen Lanxi stared at the road ahead. “We must prepare early!”

Since Shen Lanxi had come to warn him after getting this news, he felt it was only right to return the favor with a warning of his own.

“Your horse-drawn carriage and ox-drawn cart are too conspicuous!”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Thank you for the reminder, Brother Liu!”

The horse-drawn carriage could move faster in case of danger, but the ox-drawn cart would have to be replaced!

Chunxue, Nanny Li, and the others returned from the village having bought a great many things: eggs, dried vegetables, and dried meats, as well as a few live chickens and ducks, and some preserved goods. Everyone was laden with bags and bundles. They also filled all the waterskins on the cart before setting off again.

The column of exiles was already five or six hundred meters ahead.

“Miss, the household registrations you asked me to buy are ready!” As soon as they were clear of the village, Chunxue immediately took the documents from her robes and handed them to Shen Lanxi.

There were seven in total: one for herself, one for each of her two maidservants, and the remaining four for the four adults in Nanny Li’s family. The two children were too young to need them.

“Give the others theirs!” She took her own. For convenience on the road ahead, Chunxue and Qiushuang would be dressing as men from now on, so their new household registrations were also for men.

The next stop was Yongcheng, a relatively large town nearby. They expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

The further they walked, the hotter it became, and the more people they encountered on the road. Many families were traveling south toward the Capital on mule-drawn carts.

Even without being told, the exiled prisoners could tell something was wrong.

“Everyone is heading to the Capital, but we’re the only ones going north. Did something happen up north?”

“I don’t know. When we stop to rest later, let’s find a chance to ask someone passing by.”

Seeing so many people heading in the same direction while they were going the opposite way made them anxious!

“Master, this doesn’t look right. Should we ask the Miss?” the old Shen family servant asked as he approached.

Shen Congwen considered a possibility. Was there a war in the north?

“If something had happened, the bailiffs would have surely been notified. Don’t ask the Miss for now.” It cost silver to have the bailiffs pass a message.

The old Shen family servant looked worriedly at the people who all seemed to be fleeing a famine. He said hesitantly, “Master, they look like refugees!”

Shen Yuanjing was currently carrying his mother on his back, struggling with every step.

“That can’t be, right? We haven’t heard about any disaster.”

Shen Yuanjun added, “That’s right, steward. Aren’t you overthinking things?”

The steward was about to speak when the crack of a whip echoed.

“Move faster! One more word and you’ll get the whip!”

At first, the prisoners were only suspicious. But then, when some of them couldn’t bear it any longer and tried to buy water with their money, the bailiffs refused to sell!

Only then did real panic set in among the prisoners.

“We can’t go on! There’s a severe drought ahead! If we keep going, we’ll all die!”

Chapter 22: Arriving in Yongcheng!

Those who had personally experienced a great drought immediately turned and ran.

Liu Laohu strode over, cracking his whip. “Who the hell is spouting nonsense again?” he bellowed as he struck. “I’ll cut down anyone who does!”

“I don’t care if there’s a drought up ahead or not! Anyone who dares to run is an escaped convict, and I’ll kill you on the spot, no questions asked!”

He didn’t stop until his whip was stained with blood and the man who had tried to run was lying half-dead on the ground.

This move stunned all the exiled prisoners into submission. No one dared to speak a word after that, and a sense of dread hung over the group for the rest of the journey. That night, to prevent the prisoners from talking amongst themselves, they were all separated and kept under strict guard.

When Nanny Li returned from delivering food, her clean clothes were covered in dirt and handprints.

“Nanny Li, how did your clothes get torn?” Qiushuang asked, her eyes sharp.

Nanny Li walked over to Shen Lanxi to report. “When I was taking the food over just now, if a government bailiff hadn’t seen what was happening, the food and water would have been snatched away.” Recounting the incident, Nanny Li was still shaken with fear.

Shen Lanxi said, “Chunxue, give Nanny Li some money. When we get to Yongcheng, have her buy a new set of clothes!”

Chunxue quickly took out the money and pressed it into Nanny Li’s hands, allowing no refusal.

“Young Lady, when I was little, I heard my family talk about the great drought. Everything in the fields withered and died. People were so hungry they chewed on tree bark and so thirsty they even drank blood. Nine out of ten people didn’t survive. Many sold their sons and daughters, and when pushed to the brink, some even resorted to cannibalism.” Chunxue finished her story fearfully, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms.

Shen Lanxi stared pensively at the procession of exiles, her thoughts her own.

“There’s always a way out. We’re afraid, but aren’t the government bailiffs afraid too?”

Qiushuang’s eyes lit up. “Miss, do you think they’ll lock the prisoners in a jail and wait for the drought to pass before continuing?”

Shen Lanxi thought to herself that if they were just ordinary exiles, that might be a possibility. But with the Shen family among this group, it was the perfect opportunity for those lurking in the shadows.

However, it was also an opportunity for the Shen family!

Under the watchful eyes of the bailiffs, the prisoners dared not speak and went to sleep early. The next day, they set out two hours earlier than usual.

Less than an hour into their journey, they encountered three separate groups of refugees. Liu Laohu stopped one of the groups to ask some questions. When he finished, his expression was grim.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Lanxi approached Liu Laohu and pressed a one-hundred-tael silver note into his hand.

Liu Laohu didn’t dare to accept it. This silver note was too hot to handle!

“Brother Liu, you must have noticed that the refugees we met today look in worse shape than yesterday’s. They have fewer mules and carts, which means they must have come from farther away. When those refugees passed by my cart, the look in their eyes… it was like they wanted nothing more than to snatch everything!”

Liu Laohu silently pocketed the silver note. He understood that the farther they went, the more expensive goods would become, and money would be worth less and less.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Little brother here has a proposal I’d like to discuss with you, Brother Liu!”

Although Liu Laohu’s expression was stern, he didn’t immediately refuse.

“Speak!”

Shen Lanxi said, “We’re about six or eight hours from Yongcheng on foot. With horse-drawn carriages, we could surely cut that time by more than half. I want to use carriages to transport the bailiffs and the exiles in batches to get into Yongcheng before they lock down the city!”

Liu Laohu’s expression hardened, and he gave her a scrutinizing look.

Yongcheng was close to the Capital. Based on the current situation, it was unlikely to be locked down. She was deliberately exaggerating the severity.

But Liu Laohu had escorted prisoners for years and had seen a lot. It wouldn’t be hard to convince him!

“Alright. But I must be the one to decide which group goes first!”

Shen Lanxi smiled and cupped her fists. “Naturally!”

With a grave expression, Liu Laohu went to make the arrangements. Soon, their two carriages were commandeered. Among the first group to leave were Shen Congwen and his wife, along with a few Shen family servants, followed by other separated exiles.

Liu Laohu didn’t leave, so Shen Lanxi invited him to ride on the ox-cart. This time, he didn’t refuse. The cart couldn’t hold so many people, so the four adults of Nanny Li’s family got off, leaving their two children on the cart.

This gesture made the bailiffs completely lower their guard, and they traveled together with them.

The rest of the Shen family watched Shen Lanxi sitting on the ox-cart with envious eyes.

“Lanxi is being a bit unreasonable. She has an ox-cart and doesn’t even invite your grandfather and grandmother to ride!” Shen Congyi said, gritting his teeth as he walked.

Shen Yuanjing retorted indignantly, “Fourth Uncle, it was already very difficult for Eldest Sister to persuade the bailiffs to let us take carriages. If you keep talking like this, you’re just making things difficult for her!”

Shen Yuanjun chimed in, “Exactly! Eldest Sister isn’t a bailiff. It was hard enough to get them to let exiles ride in carriages. What if we annoy them by making more requests? Do you want to get whipped?”

Shen Congyi glared at the two, his face ashen. “Couldn’t she have gotten down herself and let your grandfather and grandmother ride?”

Shen Yuanjing countered, “Fourth Uncle, why don’t you ask if the bailiffs are willing to sit with exiled prisoners? At their age, would Grandfather and Grandmother be willing to bow and scrape before the bailiffs?”

Thinking of her granddaughter bowing to a government bailiff, Old Madam Shen’s expression turned sour.

In the past, even the wife of a first-rank official would have to bow to her. The thought of bowing and speaking sweet words to a mere government bailiff was beneath her dignity!

“Congyi, say less. Yuanjing and the others are right. We have no connection to these bailiffs. If we keep making demands, they’ll get annoyed with us, and they have plenty of ways to make us suffer on the road. Things are different now. We must endure and not offend petty people!”

With a dark face, Shen Congyi stomped ahead without another word. It was his turn to carry Old Master Shen next, but he pretended not to hear and just kept walking, so the duty was passed on to the next person!

Chunxue and Qiushuang had left with the first group. Upon their arrival, they immediately entered Yongcheng and rented four open-bed carriages. They let the first two horses rest and sent the four new carriages back to transport more prisoners.

They made a total of six round trips, finally bringing all the prisoners to the foot of Yongcheng’s walls.

They didn’t rush to take everyone inside, because an hour and a half earlier, they had started charging an entrance fee at the city gates!

Liu Laohu had his men watch the prisoners at the gate while he and two other bailiffs went into the city with official documents.

Shen Lanxi no longer needed to inform the bailiffs in advance to speak with her family, but she still followed the rules and spoke to her father and mother in front of a bailiff.

“Father, Mother, I’m going into the city to sell the goods. I’ll leave Qiushuang here. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. Is there anything you need me to bring back?”

Shen Congwen said worriedly, “You don’t need to bring anything specific for us. Once you’ve sold the goods, buy some grain and store some water. Don’t spend the money recklessly!”

“I know!” Shen Lanxi replied.

She gave Nanny Li some money, telling her to arrange for carriages and grain, and they agreed to meet back at the city gate in two hours!

She took Chunxue to leave the carriage at an inn. Then she sent Chunxue to buy a set of clothes and a pair of shoes for everyone in the Shen family while she went to buy grain. They agreed to meet back at the inn in an hour.

The price of grain in Yongcheng had already doubled. As before, Shen Lanxi rented an empty room and had the grain shop’s workers deliver the grain there. On the way, she passed a seed shop and bought a large quantity of grain and vegetable seeds.

She did this over a dozen times, changing her appearance for each purchase. After buying the goods, she tossed them directly into her storage space.

Taking advantage of the still-low prices for bedding, fabric, cotton, needles, and thread, she bought a large quantity and stockpiled it in her storage space.

Chapter 23: Something’s Wrong!

Half an hour later, she met up with Qiushuang at the inn’s entrance. On their way back, they bought some more food before returning to the city gate.

Liu Laohu had already returned. He was squatting anxiously at the city gate, gnawing on a flatbread with the other government bailiffs.

Chunxue, after getting a signal from Shen Lanxi, took a parcel of food over to them. When she returned, she brought back the news Liu Laohu had shared.

“Miss, the Yongcheng county government office isn’t allowing exiled prisoners into the city!”

Shen Lanxi listened as she ate a steamed bun. A meat bun like the one in her hand would only cost four wen in the Capital, but in Yongcheng, it was already twenty wen. From the looks of it, the price was still going to rise!

Qiushuang added, “When we first arrived, the entrance fee was one tael of silver per person. Now it’s risen to two taels!”

Shen Lanxi carefully licked the bun crumbs from her hand and ate them. In the past, there was never a rule forbidding exiled prisoners from entering the city!

Before she could finish her meal, Liu Laohu came over to find her.

“Young Master Lan, Yongcheng isn’t letting people in. It’s clear you’re a scholar, smarter than us rough men. Under these circumstances, I’d like to hear what ideas you have!”

Shen Lanxi gave a faint smile. “Since Brother Liu has asked, I’ll be so bold as to share my thoughts.”

The expression on Liu Laohu’s face relaxed slightly.

“I suggest we take advantage of the fact that there aren’t too many refugees at the city gate yet, prepare the supplies we need for the road, and leave immediately!”

As for where they would go, that was for Liu Laohu to worry about.

Liu Laohu had already made up his mind before he came to see Shen Lanxi. Yongcheng’s refusal to let the exiled prisoners in was a clear sign they were unwilling to accept them. With more and more refugees gathering at the gate, conflict was bound to break out if they lingered too long.

Once a conflict erupted, people like them, wearing the uniforms of government officials, would be the first targets for the refugees’ anger.

Just as Liu Laohu was about to make his decision, several refugees suddenly rushed out from the side and knelt before them, begging for food.

“Kind masters, young master, please spare us a sip of water, a bite to eat!”

“The elders and children in my family haven’t eaten in two days…”

Although these people were kneeling and begging, their eyes were fixed on the horse carriage. Their gazes suggested that if their request was denied, they would likely rush forward and rob them.

Liu Laohu acted decisively, immediately drawing the saber at his waist.

“Scram if you don’t want to die! I’m escorting prisoners. If you dare come any closer, it’s considered an attempt to free them, and the government won’t hold it against me if I cut you down!”

Liu Laohu’s burly frame and fierce demeanor were intimidating enough that the people immediately ran away in fear.

“I’ll send people into the city to procure supplies right now. As soon as they’re back, we leave immediately!”

Shen Lanxi nodded, informed the Shen family, and moved the three carriages a short distance away to wait.

After waiting for about half an hour, Liu Laohu returned, and the convoy of exiled prisoners set off.

“Miss, they only bought a few sacks of grain!” Qiushuang said, her eyes sharp.

Shen Lanxi replied, “The price of grain in the city is skyrocketing right now. Getting even a few sacks is quite good.”

Qiushuang nodded.

They hadn’t been on the road for long when Liu Laohu sent someone with a message: a female member of the Shen family and two children had come down with a high fever.

Liu Laohu was starting to show her favor, doing her a good turn.

The woman with the fever was her father’s concubine, Zhang Zifen. The children were from the households of her second and fourth uncles—one was three and the other four, both still very young.

“Father, when Mother had a fever before, I didn’t take her in. This time, with the concubine, I won’t either. I will only take the two children.”

Shen Congwen glanced at the other exiled prisoners, who were watching them like hungry tigers, and nodded.

“Go on. If you have any spare medicine, share some with the other exiled prisoners as well.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. After returning to her carriage, she had Qiushuang and Nanny Li go around and give fever-reducing medicine to each of the prisoners.

At first, the prisoners were resentful, but upon receiving the medicine from Qiushuang and the others, they ultimately refrained from saying anything negative.

The other three branches of the Shen family also fell silent obediently.

Unsure if the children’s fevers were contagious, Shen Lanxi had Qiushuang place them in a separate carriage. Under the pretext of caring for them, she gave them some anti-inflammatory medicine.

Inside the carriage, she emptied out the containers of rouge and powder she had bought in a Yongcheng shop and filled them with a dark foundation she had purchased in modern times. She taught Qiushuang and Chunxue how to darken their faces, and she did the same to her own, even using an eyebrow pencil to dot freckles all over her face.

The further north they traveled, the more refugees they encountered. The green on the ground grew scarcer, and along the way, they even came across several mutilated corpses.

At first, the exiled prisoners would cry out in fear, but the longer they walked, the more numb their expressions became. Eventually, seeing a corpse was like seeing a dead cat or dog on the roadside; they no longer even showed a hint of sorrow.

This transformation took only two days.

On the third day, Liu Laohu was running out of the grain and water he’d brought. Fortunately, just as he was about to ask Shen Lanxi for help, they finally arrived at a post station.

“What the hell? You’re asking us for money? We’re government bailiffs under orders to escort prisoners!” Liu Laohu slammed his hand on the table, roaring at the Innkeeper.

The Innkeeper was so frightened his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed. He hurriedly begged for mercy, saying, “We have no choice! The price of grain is skyrocketing, and even water costs money now. The court hasn’t sent last month’s payment yet.”

Seeing the Innkeeper so terrified only made Liu Laohu more belligerent.

“Scram! Get us served quickly so we can get back on the road. If you delay us, I’ll report you to my superiors and have you stripped of your position as innkeeper!”

The Innkeeper hastily tried to curry favor and told a shop assistant to prepare a meal.

Shen Lanxi glanced at the Innkeeper and the assistant, then immediately called Liu Laohu outside to talk.

“Something’s wrong!”

Liu Laohu had come to trust Shen Lanxi completely, so when he heard her say something was wrong, he immediately became vigilant.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Lanxi frowned and said, “The clothes the Innkeeper and the assistant are wearing are clearly ill-fitting. And their complexions are too dark!”

An innkeeper and an assistant spend most of their time indoors; their skin shouldn’t be that dark. They’re also thin, looking just like the sun-scorched refugees we’ve seen on the road from the north!”

A vicious glint appeared in Liu Laohu’s eyes. “Damn it! They dare to plot against me? I’ll go kill them!”

Shen Lanxi quickly grabbed him. “A post station is staffed by at least six people. Those two alone couldn’t have taken on all six!”

Liu Laohu came to a sudden realization. “You mean there are others?”

Shen Lanxi said, “I’ll stay here and keep the Innkeeper and the assistant occupied. You take the bailiffs, circle around to the back, and sneak in.”

Liu Laohu nodded, then called out loudly in the Innkeeper’s direction, “I’m going out to count the prisoners first! I’ll eat when I get back!” The moment he was outside the inn, he immediately ordered half of the bailiffs to sneak around to the back.

Shen Lanxi walked over to the Innkeeper.

“Innkeeper, we’ll need four of your best rooms. And bring us your finest food and wine. What dishes do you have? Is your cook’s work clean…?”

Liu Laohu circled to the back of the inn. He had just stepped on a bailiff’s shoulders to peer over the wall when he saw the situation in the courtyard. He quickly ducked back down, clapped a hand over the mouth of another bailiff who was about to speak, and rushed back to get reinforcements.

Holy hell, the courtyard was full of people! They were all armed, staring like hungry tigers at the inn, looking ready to charge in at any moment!

Chapter 24: Officials and Convicts Collaborate!

Liu Laohu had intended to call a few more bailiffs to charge in with him, but he hesitated after seeing them. His eyes flickered, and he rubbed his nose as he went to find Shen Lanxi.

“Miss, there are simply too many people in the back courtyard,” Liu Laohu said, biting the bullet. “My men still have to watch the prisoners. We really can’t spare the manpower to subdue them!”

Shen Lanxi had already learned of the situation in the back courtyard from Nu Bai, so she knew what Liu Laohu was getting at. He simply didn’t want his bailiffs to suffer any casualties.

She seized the opportunity and proposed, “I have an idea!”

Liu Laohu’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly leaned in.

In just a moment, Liu Laohu was utterly impressed by Shen Lanxi, silently hailing her as both courageous and brilliant.

Liu Laohu gave his bailiffs a heads-up, telling them to follow Shen Lanxi’s every command. Once that was arranged, he immediately went to the main hall to keep the innkeeper and the shop assistant occupied.

After roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Lanxi returned from outside with a faint smile, calmly taking her seat and remaining still.

Liu Laohu immediately bellowed, “Innkeeper, get some people to send some food out to the exiled prisoners, and make it quick! Holy hell, don’t make me keep telling you! You call yourself a post station innkeeper, yet you have no sense at all. Watch out, or I’ll report you to my superior and have you sacked!”

The innkeeper quickly called the shop assistant over and muttered something to him. A moment later, he put on an ingratiating smile and said, “I’ll have the kitchen staff arrange it right away. It might take a little while.”

Liu Laohu replied, “That’s fine. Just send them some water first. Those accursed prisoners are about to turn into dried husks from thirst!”

The innkeeper and the shop assistant exchanged a look, then hurried to the back courtyard to make arrangements.

A short while later, the shop assistant emerged from the back courtyard, followed by three men and one woman, each carrying water buckets and wooden bowls.

Shen Lanxi and Liu Laohu exchanged a glance and waited quietly.

A moment later, Liu Laohu began pounding the table again.

“Holy hell, innkeeper, did the cook’s father die or something?” he roared. “I haven’t even seen a single steamed bun yet! Are you trying to starve me?”

The innkeeper was frowning as he looked outside. Why haven’t the people who went to deliver water come back yet?

“Officer, please don’t be hasty. Good food is worth the wait,” he said. “I’ll go to the kitchen and hurry them along. If you’ll just wait a moment!”

On the pretext of going to the kitchen, the innkeeper headed straight for the back courtyard.

“A few of you, go outside and see why the water carriers aren’t back yet.”

“First, bring me some food to stall them out front. And add plenty of extra ingredients. You have to sacrifice the bait to catch the wolf. I saw they have several large carts of goods with them. Once we’ve dealt with them, all of it will be ours.”

After the innkeeper finished speaking, four men immediately opened the back door and ran out to check. He took the doctored food and headed for the main hall, his face a mask of malevolence.

The moment the four men appeared, their mouths were gagged and they were wrestled to the ground by a flurry of hands. Before they could even cry out, an immense weight slammed down on their stomachs, almost forcing their intestines out. This was immediately followed by a furious lashing to their heads with the soles of shoes. In the blink of an eye, they were beaten senseless and couldn’t move a muscle.

The people in the back courtyard kept waiting. There was no news from the main hall, and no news from the back door. Something was wrong.

“Xiao Sanzi, take a few more men and go check outside!”

Xiao Sanzi accepted the order and led four men out of the back courtyard.

The moment they poked their heads out, they were yanked out like radishes by those lying in wait. Their mouths were stuffed, and they were subjected to a tempestuous beating.

The Main Hall

“Officers, why aren’t you eating?” The innkeeper stared expectantly at the fine wine and dishes on the table. Aren’t these men supposed to be reincarnated starving ghosts? Shouldn’t they be pouncing on the food like wild dogs, not even lifting their heads?

Why are they only looking and not eating?

Liu Laohu glared furiously at the innkeeper and the shop assistant. “You two, holy hell, get over here! If you didn’t want me to eat, you should’ve just said so. Why disgust me by putting a dead fly in the food?”

A dead fly?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

If there really was a fly—one that big—how could I have missed it?

The moment the innkeeper and the shop assistant drew near, Shen Lanxi and Liu Laohu each knocked one of them unconscious.

“Drag them out!”

At the command, Chunxue and Qiushuang each began dragging a body outside.

Liu Laohu, feeling a little embarrassed, quickly called a bailiff over to help.

“Brother Liu, you and your men guard the main hall. I’m going out to take a look,” Shen Lanxi said.

Liu Laohu nodded. “Alright.”

The gang in the back courtyard were now like mice trapped in a cage, and they were the cats guarding the mousehole. Any mouse that dared to show its head would be caught instantly.

The Back Courtyard

“Still no word from the main hall or Xiao Sanzi’s group? Should we go and see?”

“Fine. You take a few men over there, and I’ll take two to the main hall!”

With the plan set, they moved out.

Shen Lanxi had not expected that the moment she stepped outside, she would be met with such a sight.

Good heavens… Who did this? True geniuses at work.

Not only were the bandits from the back courtyard trussed up, but they’d also been stripped of their underpants. Every last one of them was exposed, airing themselves out in the breeze.

Just as she was about to ask for an explanation, the exiled prisoners provided one with their actions, turning a mere description into a vivid, live demonstration.

The moment four more men poked their heads out, the exiled convicts—who had been lying in wait, watching like tigers—pounced. Some gagged them, while others laid into them with the soles of their shoes.

What was truly astounding was one woman who shot out like a cannonball. First, she landed on them with the force of a falling mountain, then immediately began stripping them. She hastily stuffed the stripped-off clothes into her bodice, as if terrified someone would try to steal them from her.

Though other women joined the fray, none were as ruthless as her; they at least left the men their underpants.

After the formidable woman finished with her quarry, she ran over and stripped the underpants off the other three as well, stuffing them all into her bodice.

Shen Lanxi felt as if her entire worldview had been shattered and rebuilt several times in just a few short moments.

Suddenly, a shout rang out.

“Come out quick, something’s happening outside!”

This alerted the people in the back courtyard, and they all rushed out.

Suddenly, someone yelled, “Get them! Whatever you can grab is yours!”

Shen Lanxi glanced over and saw a young man charging forward, brandishing the sole of his shoe and shouting.

“…”

But the most incredible sight was yet to come. When two bandits charged toward the Shen family’s first branch, her normally refined and scholarly father rolled up his sleeves, kicked off a shoe, and charged right at them with it in hand.

Her pampered younger siblings swarmed forward, pinning the bandits to the ground and even frisking them for valuables!

Not stripping them naked was the last line they wouldn’t cross.

The corner of Shen Lanxi’s mouth twitched as she headed back inside. In the main hall, Liu Laohu and his bailiffs had also dealt with more than a dozen bandits.

“Brother Liu, all the bandits in the back courtyard have been dealt with!”

With none of his bailiffs injured, Liu Laohu was delighted. He immediately had his men search the post station. Before long, a bailiff returned to report.

“Brother Liu, we found thirty-five people tied up upstairs—men, women, young, and old. They’re all unconscious, most likely drugged.”

Liu Laohu was furious. Cursing under his breath, he headed upstairs.

“Xiao Tian, bring a basin of water and wake them up!”

Even with the bandits all taken care of, Chunxue and Qiushuang didn’t dare use anything from inside the post station. The firewood, at least, was safe. The two of them, along with Nanny Li and her family, began cooking outside.

Chapter 25: The Best Route!

No one dared to eat the drugged food. The government bailiffs, lamenting the waste, took it outside to dump it.

The recent joint effort between officers and criminals had considerably improved the bailiffs’ attitude toward the exiled prisoners.

The woman who had pulled down the bandit’s pants earlier saw the bailiffs throwing the food away and approached them with a pained expression.

“Officer, why are you throwing away such good food? What a waste!”

The bailiff recognized the woman and instinctively took two steps back.

“This food has been laced with knockout drops. Who would dare eat it?”

The woman asked, “Will knockout drops kill you?”

The bailiff replied, “No, not at all. At most, they’ll just make you fall into a deep sleep!”

Upon hearing that it wasn’t lethal and could even help one sleep, the woman quickly pulled out a piece of cloth and wrapped all the food up in it.

The bailiff took a closer look at the cloth, which increasingly resembled a pair of underpants. He glanced at the woman as if he were looking at something utterly foul and quickly put some distance between them.

After the thirty-five refugees were revived, they began to wail their hearts out. From their cries, it was learned that some of their sons and husbands had been killed immediately after being captured. The bandits had kept them alive—the women for abuse, and the old and young as emergency rations. Their actions were appalling enough to enrage both heaven and humanity.

Liu Laohu felt a murderous urge right then, but as an official, there were some things he could not do with his own hands.

“Young Master Lan, what do you think we should do with these bandits? We’re escorting bailiffs, so we can only move forward, not back. It’s too inconvenient to bring them along!”

Taking the opportunity, Shen Lanxi replied, “Brother Liu, if you trust me, then leave it to me. I’ll have someone take them to the authorities in Yongcheng!”

Liu Laohu readily agreed. After the group of exiles had traveled some distance, he quietly slipped back and saw Shen Lanxi giving travel money to the victims.

Even if he wanted to help the victims, he was powerless to do much. He could only give them some food and let them flee.

Then he saw Shen Lanxi draw two knives. Two of the victims took them without hesitation and began stabbing the trussed-up bandits.

They stabbed them several times before stopping. Once two of them had started, the others joined in. As if to vent their fury, they each stabbed every bandit seven or eight times before their hatred was sated.

Liu Laohu quietly retreated, and Shen Lanxi caught up with him shortly after.

After this incident, Liu Laohu proactively came to ask if the Shen family members should take turns riding in the carriage.

Shen Lanxi rejected the offer outright.

“The Shen family can only survive by keeping a low profile! Just keep treating them the same way you did before!”

Liu Laohu departed respectfully.

Under normal circumstances, they would have rested longer at the post station. But now, the post station was a blatant target. After dealing with the bandits, Liu Laohu immediately led everyone back on the road, even eating their meals on the move.

After the incident at the inn, the exiled prisoners’ morale was not low. Instead, they were in a state of inexplicable excitement, tinged with a strange sense of unity.

This unity was evident when Nanny Li brought food to the Shen family. No one tried to snatch it, nor did anyone make any snide remarks.

That night as they rested, a few dull thuds sounded. Shen Yuantang, who had been listening with her ears pricked, could no longer contain herself and bolted toward a spot not far away.

The others stared at her, stunned.

It wasn’t until they saw her run up to the woman who had stripped the bandit earlier, fumble around for a moment, and then slap the hand of the child beside the woman that they understood!

The little girl really held a grudge. That woman had tried to beg for a steamed bun from her, and when she failed, she had her son knock the girl to the ground. She had remained silent then but had remembered it until now!

Shen Yuantang was very smart. She found a few pieces of silver, but she only took one before running to her father to hand it over.

When the other women, who had been watching like tigers, saw that the bailiffs did not intervene, they all pounced like hungry wolves.

They were all women; they had no qualms about doing what needed to be done.

Some men, impatient with their wives’ slowness, even kicked them forward to make them search the pockets of the woman’s husband.

The robbery was swift, and it ended just as quickly.

Even Old Madam Shen was tempted. She furtively lectured her three sons beside her, “Look at the child you’ve raised, and then look at the one the eldest raised! You don’t even know how to snatch things. You’re so useless you couldn’t even get to shit while it’s hot. And you always say the eldest is lucky. The opportunity is placed right in front of you, and you don’t even take it. What can be done…”

Nu Bai reported everything that had happened to Shen Lanxi in meticulous detail.

“Master, that woman was so unlucky, but it was her own greed to blame!”

“That younger sister of yours is both vengeful and bold!”

“The Shen family’s Old Madam is so biased, actually egging on your uncles to rob someone!”

Shen Lanxi listened as if they were amusing stories while studying a map.

The map was a modern one. Apart from the different place names, the terrain and mountains hadn’t changed much. She wanted to get a map of the Great Zhou dynasty, but privately creating maps was a serious crime. Only the regional garrison troops had maps, and those were just local military deployment charts, which were useless to her.

The fastest way to reach Dongchuan was to go to Jinmen Ferry, take a boat straight down the river to Xiguan, and then change course for Dongchuan. If they followed her route, they could reach Dongchuan in at least half the time.

The difficult part was that Jinmen was in the southeast, while they were heading north. To get to Jinmen, they would have to return to Yongcheng and then head southeast.

Would Liu Laohu agree to it?

Putting away the map, Shen Lanxi felt it wasn’t the best time to negotiate with Liu Laohu. It would be better to hit him with another strong dose of medicine first.

Unexpectedly, this dose of medicine came sooner than she thought, and it was Liu Laohu who chose it himself.

A scream in the morning woke everyone up, followed by a woman’s shrieks and curses.

No matter how foully she cursed, no one paid her any attention. Her fate was simply a warning from a bailiff’s whip.

Liu Laohu decided to take a smaller path and informed Shen Lanxi in advance.

Shen Lanxi: “Can the carriage pass?”

Liu Laohu: “Yes!” He now had an inexplicable trust in Shen Lanxi, feeling more at ease with her around.

Soon, the crack of whips echoed as the bailiffs began to urge the prisoners to hurry.

The two children who had fevers had recovered, so Shen Lanxi had Chunxue send them back.

When Chunxue returned, she reported angrily, “Young Master, the Old Madam wanted the other young masters to feign illness to ride in the carriage.”

Shen Lanxi: “Did you agree?”

A smile touched Chunxue’s lips. “The Master of the first branch stopped her and even chided the Old Madam!”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly without a word. A short while later, Chunxue took a waterskin to the Master of the first branch to wet his throat. There were only a few mouthfuls of water, and once the first branch of the Shen family finished it, there was no more.

Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen waited with an air of confident expectation. When they saw Chunxue walk away with the empty waterskin, they were so angry they beat their chests in frustration.

The path Liu Laohu led them down was an abandoned official road. It had once collapsed, leaving several large pits on the ground that made it difficult for carriages to pass, so gradually, no one used it anymore.

After walking for half a day, they had just entered a winding mountain road when an arrow suddenly shot through the air, striking a bailiff at the very front. The arrow pierced through his chest, and the bailiff died on the spot.

Chapter 26: Is Your Estate in Need of an Accountant?

The accompanying government bailiffs were mostly Liu Laohu’s sworn brothers. Seeing his brother killed, his eyes instantly glared fiercely in all directions, and he roared with hatred, “Who is it? If you have the guts, come out! Stop skulking in the shadows!”

The exiled prisoners screamed and fled in all directions. The bailiffs all drew their swords and gathered back-to-back in a defensive circle.

“Master, there are twenty archers ambushing us at the highest point of the winding mountain path!”

Shen Lanxi’s phoenix eyes glanced over, their sharp glint concealed, like the eyes of an eagle that had spotted its prey.

“Everyone, get against the cliff face!”

Hearing Shen Lanxi’s shout, Liu Laohu was the first to lead the bailiffs toward the cliff, yelling as he ran.

“If you don’t want to die, get against the cliff! Hurry!”

With Liu Laohu and the bailiffs leading by example, the quick-witted exiles immediately turned and ran toward them.

Nu Bai had already locked onto the archers’ positions. Shen Lanxi instructed Chunxue and Qiushuang, “Protect yourselves, and don’t let anyone notice I’ve left!”

The two nodded hastily.

Taking advantage of the chaos, she used both her hands and feet to scale the side of the cliff, darting towards the summit!

Throughout this time, the archers’ arrows flew relentlessly. Fortunately, since everyone had scattered while running, there were only injuries, and no one else died.

After climbing to the summit, Shen Lanxi leaped a few times, locked onto the nearest archers, and took them down one by one. The archers were knocked unconscious and thrown off the cliff, one after another.

The cliff was over twenty meters high. At best, they would be half-dead after tumbling down; without medical attention, they would surely die!

In the blink of an eye, she had dealt with twenty archers. As she threw them down, she also tossed down half of their bows and arrows and confiscated the other half into her storage space.

Liu Laohu had just peeked out to look up the cliff when he saw a bundle-like object tumbling down from above.

At first, he thought it was a large rock, but when the person hit the ground with a splatter of blood, he realized it was a martial artist in combat attire!

Immediately after, a bow and its arrows landed on the ground!

Did a martial artist lose his footing? How is that possible!

Then, the continuous fall of more people and bows and arrows further confirmed Liu Laohu’s suspicion.

There was definitely an expert on the summit. Was this person friend or foe?

A thought suddenly struck him, and he immediately turned to look where Shen Lanxi had been, only to see her two servants, not Shen Lanxi herself.

Liu Laohu’s pupils contracted. He instantly pressed his lips together tightly!

After twenty people had hit the ground, Liu Laohu waited a while longer. Seeing no one else fall, he didn’t rush out until Shen Lanxi reappeared, holding and wiping a staff.

A vein on Liu Laohu’s forehead throbbed violently. Only then did he emerge from beside the cliff face, walk over to an archer, and kick him viciously, sending the man flying more than a meter away!

“You bastards killed my brother! He who kills will be killed—you all deserved this. My brother’s one life in exchange for your twenty!”

Liu Laohu kicked each archer to vent his anger. After he was done, he had the other bailiffs search their bodies.

They found a small pouch of silver on each archer, and some also had silver notes and wound medicine.

Thinking of his dead brother, Liu Laohu’s anger was still not sated. Recalling the method Shen Lanxi had used before, he immediately said to the exiled prisoners, “The bracers they’re wearing are worth a lot of money, and their shoes are wearable too. Anyone who wants them, go ahead and strip them. Whatever you take is yours!”

The exiled prisoners already had experience with this. Hearing Liu Laohu’s words, they instantly swarmed forward and started scrambling for the loot.

Some even started fighting because they couldn’t get their hands on the leather bracers!

The woman from before made another stunning move, directly stripping their clothes—from the inside out, not a single piece was left.

“Pah! A dead man’s clothes! Aren’t you afraid of bad luck?”

The woman stuck her neck out defiantly. “I can just sell them, can’t I? If I don’t say anything, who’s to know they came from a dead man? This fabric is so sturdy, you can tell it’s valuable at a glance!”

The eyes of several other women lit up, and they immediately joined the clothes-stripping army.

One archer who wasn’t quite dead yet saw himself being stripped bare by the women in the blink of an eye. With a pfft, he spat out a mouthful of blood and died of sheer rage!

Shen Lanxi, holding her staff, silently turned away.

Pfft~

Once the door to a new world is opened, it’s hard to close it again.

Sometimes, all a person lacks is a new way of thinking. Once your mind is open, your options broaden!

Liu Laohu had his own thoughts as well. Once these people had taken something, they would all be in the same boat.

“Some of the money I’m holding will go to my brother’s family as a settlement, and the rest we’ll use on the road. You’ve all taken things and benefited, so keep your mouths shut! If anyone finds out you looted dead bodies, it won’t be just a simple matter of exile anymore!”

Every single one of the exiled prisoners clamped their mouths shut and said nothing.

Liu Laohu shouted again, “Did you hear me?”

The prisoners quickly responded, “We heard you!”

A bailiff asked Liu Laohu, “Brother Liu, what should we do with these people?”

Liu Laohu picked up a bow and examined it. The bows and arrows appeared well-made, but they had no markings, which was unusual.

He took the bow and went to find Shen Lanxi.

“Young Master Lan, what should we do with these things?”

Shen Lanxi put the cleaned staff back into the carriage.

“There’s a ready-made pit. Just bury everything—the bodies and the bows—together.”

Hearing Shen Lanxi’s casual words, Liu Laohu’s pupils trembled. He hurried off to make the arrangements!

With a ready supply of labor, everything was soon buried.

This time, it was her turn to seek out Liu Laohu.

“Brother Liu, we’ve only just left the Capital, and we’ve already run into several dangerous situations. If we stick to the original route, I’m afraid everyone will die on the road!”

Liu Laohu understood her implication and quickly asked, “Young Master Lan, do you have a plan?”

Shen Lanxi told Liu Laohu the route she had planned out earlier. After finishing, she added in a heavy tone, “This is the only way for us to survive!”

Liu Laohu cursed his bad luck inwardly. Why did the higher-ups send me on this trip? Now that they’d come this far, it was useless even if he cursed the heavens.

He had family waiting for him and his bailiff brothers to return. Those officials in the Capital didn’t care about their lives, so they had to look out for themselves.

“Alright. It’s the great drought right now, so the court probably won’t send anyone to verify. We’ll follow the route Young Master Lan suggested!” The routes for exiled prisoners were all standardized by the court, but with refugees running rampant, if their superiors asked questions later, they could just say they were scattered by the refugees.

Liu Laohu only told the exiled prisoners that they were changing routes, nothing more. To speed up their travel, the cangues and shackles were removed from the male prisoners. Instead, their hands were tied together in a line.

Even though many recognized the road back to Yongcheng, no one asked any questions. Relieved of the burdens weighing dozens of kilograms, they guessed that Liu Laohu genuinely wanted them to move faster.

As expected, the number of refugees at the foot of Yongcheng’s walls was six or seven times what it was before. The price to enter the city had also risen from two taels of silver per person to five.

Using the excuse of saving money, Shen Lanxi had Chunxue alone follow Liu Laohu into the city to buy water.

They hadn’t used much food, but their water consumption was high. They had to replenish their water supply sufficiently to continue their journey.

While she was resting, a young exiled prisoner approached and offered his services.

“Is your estate in need of an accountant?”

Chapter 27: In Chaotic Times, Humans Are Scarier Than Wolves!

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow at the scholarly-looking young man. She remembered him. Back at the inn, he had been the one holding up a shoe sole, shouting the loudest that whoever snatched it would own it.

“You’re an exile, and I’m a merchant. We’re not on the same path!”

The young man cupped his fist respectfully. “Before my exile, I had just been promoted to a director in the Ministry of Revenue. I once had the honor of visiting Your Excellency Shen’s residence, where I caught a glimpse of your poise, Miss!”

He recognized her.

“What’s your name?” she asked, her eyes cast downward.

Liu Yanhui cupped his fist in a salute. “My surname is Liu. Yanhui, as in ‘the wild goose returns’. Liu Yanhui!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Yanhui, a sharp glint in her eyes.

“I’ll remember you. Go back and wait for news.”

Liu Yanhui didn’t press his case and respectfully withdrew.

She immediately sent Qiushuang to her father to ask for information.

“Miss, the Master says this Liu Yanhui was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue just half a year ago. Before that, he was sidelined, responsible for managing the Ministry’s files. It just so happened that the files he was responsible for archiving—the ones concerning the Wei Army’s provisions and payroll in the Northwest—went missing. The Master says he was also implicated because of the Shen family!”

Liu Yanhui was clearly seeking to align with her. If it was true, as her father said, that he was implicated because of them, then Liu Yanhui should hate the Shen family.

He was very clever, and the cleverer a person was, the harder they were to control. She wouldn’t keep anyone by her side who could be a threat. Liu Yanhui was to be used with caution.

Once the people sent to procure supplies returned, they set off immediately.

The road to Jinmen passed through range after range of lofty mountains. A few of the rockier mountains were particularly notorious. Although vegetation was sparse, they were home to wolf packs. More importantly, bandits often roamed the area. Unless they had no other choice, no one dared to venture into those mountains. People who lived nearby would rather take a detour of fifty kilometers, adding ten days and nights to their journey, than take the shortcut.

But this was the very path Shen Lanxi chose, and she gave Liu Laohu a sound and persuasive reason.

“Brother Liu, in chaotic times, humans are scarier than wolves!”

Liu Laohu immediately grabbed his whip and went to the front to clear the way, cracking it as he walked and shouting, “Anyone who doesn’t want to take this path can just dig a hole and bury themselves now! Better that than taking another road and ending up as food for refugees!”

The exiled prisoners, who had just been clamoring in protest, all shrank like timid quails, not daring to say another word.

Walking on the rocky mountains was hard on both shoes and feet. Those who had previously laughed at the women for stripping clothes and shoes from the dead were no longer smiling. They watched as those same people now took out boots, tearing up clothes to stuff inside if they didn’t fit.

Everyone gritted their teeth and pushed forward, grimacing through the pain of the blood blisters forming on the soles of their feet.

Compared to the other prisoners, the Shen family was the most comfortable. They wore new shoes with multi-layered cloth soles and new clothes. The masters even wore straw hats to shield them from the sun. If not for the government bailiffs guarding them, they would have looked like they were on a spring outing.

Yet, some were still not satisfied.

Shen Conglian found his eldest brother, Shen Congwen. “Eldest Brother, next time Lanxi has someone bring things, you should tell her to get a cart for Father and Mother. Taking turns carrying them like this is no solution!” Besides, he couldn’t carry them anymore.

Shen Congwen bluntly refused. “No. People have only just stopped holding a grudge against our Shen family, and now you want to stir up more resentment. Do you want to get beaten up when you go to relieve yourself?”

His eldest brother really knew how to touch a sore spot. He’d been beaten up by some damn bastard while relieving himself a while back, and his ribs still ached when he breathed.

“Eldest Brother, I’ve seen that Lanxi is on good terms with Liu Laohu. I’m sure no one would dare lay a hand on us again. Even though we’re carrying Father and Mother, it can’t be as comfortable as riding in a cart. Mother has been eating and drinking very little these past two days. I’m afraid if this goes on, Father and Mother won’t be able to bear it!”

Thinking of his parents’ age, Shen Congwen sighed and ultimately didn’t refuse.

At noon, when Nanny Li returned after delivering the meal, she faithfully relayed Shen Congwen’s words.

Shen Lanxi didn’t indulge them. She personally paid a visit to Liu Laohu, and the next day, she cut off the Shen family’s food supply entirely.

Shen Congyi immediately found Shen Congwen and demanded, “Eldest Brother, why hasn’t Lanxi sent anyone with food yet?”

Shen Congwen’s face was dark with anger.

“It must be because of yesterday’s business about getting a cart for Father and Mother. It must have angered the bailiffs, which is why they won’t let Lanxi send us food today. If it weren’t for your terrible idea, would this have happened? And you still have the nerve to question me?”

A flash of panic crossed Shen Congyi’s eyes as he thought anxiously, Don’t tell me the bailiffs will stop Lanxi from ever bringing us food and water again?

That would be a disaster!

“It wasn’t me who insisted on getting a cart for Father and Mother. Even if you’re resentful, Eldest Brother, you shouldn’t take it out on me!”

Shen Congwen looked coldly at his fourth brother. “Then was it your idea to have the bailiffs push me forward?”

Shen Congyi hadn’t expected his eldest brother to know. His eyes darted away, not daring to meet his brother’s gaze, and he offered a flimsy excuse. “Eldest Brother, don’t wrongly accuse people. It was clearly the Third Son’s son of a concubine who said it. What does it have to do with me? Even if you’re upset, don’t project your anger onto me!” After saying his piece, Shen Congyi quickly flicked his sleeves and left.

The temperature was rising. Not only did the people need water, but so did the horses pulling the carts. One horse could drink as much as a dozen people, and the water in the carts was quickly being consumed.

Shen Lanxi decided to ride ahead to scout for water.

After she left, the Shen family grew anxious.

Surely Lanxi hasn’t run off and abandoned us?

It was only then that they remembered they were the ones sentenced to exile; the imperial edict had never said a word about her. One by one, they all stared anxiously in the direction Shen Lanxi had gone, praying for her swift return.

After riding for a distance, Shen Lanxi first took a bucket of water from her storage space to give to her horse. Then she grabbed a vitamin C drink and an energy bar to fill her own stomach.

“Nu Bai, scout ahead!”

“Acknowledged, Master!”

“Nothing within a five-kilometer radius. Over this rocky mountain, at its foot, there’s a nearly-dry waterhole. There are animal paw prints around it! Any farther is beyond Nu Bai’s detection range!”

Shen Lanxi: “Are there any tails following us?”

She had already dealt with several tails at night on the road. When Liu Laohu had gone into Yongcheng to show his face earlier, he had certainly picked up some followers.

Nu Bai: “Yes, they have just entered the detection range. Master, should I eliminate them?”

A smile touched Shen Lanxi’s lips. “Does that even need to be said?” She had chosen this path precisely so that all the tails following them would be buried in these rocky mountains.

Nu Bai locked onto their positions, and Shen Lanxi spurred her horse onward.

Two hours later, she found Liu Laohu.

“Over this mountain, at the foot, there’s a nearly-dry waterhole. It’s the only water source nearby!”

Liu Laohu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was water, they would be fine.

Even better, they hadn’t encountered any refugees along the way.

“Everyone up, let’s move! We cross these mountains before dark. There’s water at the foot of the mountain.”

At the mention of water, everyone found a new burst of energy. Liu Laohu even untied their ropes. Out here in the desolate mountains, anyone who dared to run would be courting death.

Without the ropes binding them, their pace quickened considerably.

Shen Lanxi suggested using the horse carts to transport the old, the weak, the women, and the children in batches. Liu Laohu agreed.

With the help of the carts, their speed increased even more. Before the sky had even grown dark, everyone had arrived at the small waterhole.

Chapter 28: The Missing Wei Army Payroll Archive!

Although it was a nearly-dry pool, it was enough for the people and horses to drink for a few days.

Qiushuang and Chunxue, having received their orders early, stopped the people who rushed forward to quench their thirst. Taking two large black cauldrons from the carts, they began to boil water.

“Our Miss said that water must be boiled before drinking. If we’re out in the wilderness and get diarrhea from unclean water, not even the gods can save us!”

Most of the exiled convicts were former officials and understood this principle, so they forced themselves to endure and wait for the water to boil before drinking.

Another portion of the exiles were common folk. Believing that a little dirt never hurt anyone, they ignored the advice and drank directly from the pool, secretly mocking the others for being fussy.

Liu Yanhui greeted the government bailiffs and came over to help boil the water.

Shen Lanxi watched calmly, saying nothing.

A short while later, Shen Yuanjing and his siblings also came to help. Seeing them all diligently gathering firewood, Shen Lanxi decided to splurge for once.

“Nanny Li, set up a few more pots to make congee. Add plenty of rice and make it thick!”

Nanny Li quickly led her son and daughter-in-law to unfasten the large cauldrons from the carriages.

“Chunxue, give each person ten peanuts!”

“Qiushuang, take two dried chickens, chop them up, and make a soup. Add some dried vegetables to it!”

Liu Laohu had been watching from the start. Seeing everyone working in an orderly fashion, he immediately brought over the convicts’ dry rations to be heated and lent a hand.

In a flash, the sky turned dark, and the aroma of food filled the mountain air. This was the best and most fragrant meal any of the exiles had eaten.

No one could be bothered to speak; they were all too busy burying their heads in their bowls, eating and drinking heartily.

Liu Yanhui carried his bowl over to Shen Lanxi and sat on a large rock beside her, just as she was doing.

“Miss, I’ve seen wolf tracks nearby. Wolves are nocturnal, so we must be prepared tonight!”

Shen Lanxi ate unhurriedly. “Go tell Liu Laohu. He’ll surely commend you for it.”

Liu Yanhui knew Shen Lanxi didn’t trust him yet, so he proactively offered up his vulnerability.

“He’ll be returning to the capital after delivering the convicts to Dongchuan. Currying favor with him won’t do me much good. I can endure hardship and suffering, but my mother and sister have no one to look after them. They certainly won’t make it to Dongchuan!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered. “You have a mother and a sister?”

A guilty look crossed Liu Yanhui’s face. “I studied to give them a good life, but after only a few good days, they’ve been implicated because of me and forced to go to that bitterly cold land!”

A man doesn’t cry easily, but Liu Yanhui’s eyes were already moist with tears.

Shen Lanxi didn’t believe in tears. She believed that people with family ties would think twice before acting.

She put it to him bluntly, “You were implicated by my Shen family. Don’t you hate us?”

Liu Yanhui sensed that the person before him disliked insincere talk; she preferred honesty.

“I did at first. But after I learned that the Shen family wasn’t the true culprit in the payroll theft, I stopped hating them. The Shen family gained nothing; instead, you were all exiled along with us. My hatred for the Shen family has been resolved.”

Shen Lanxi raised her head and looked Liu Yanhui squarely in the eye.

“How do you know the true culprit isn’t a Shen? You were responsible for filing the payroll archives. Did you notice anything?”

Her sharp gaze locked onto Liu Yanhui.

“I based my judgment on the assassination attempts on the road. And that missing document… I am extremely meticulous in managing the archives. Every person who checks out a file has to be recorded. The archive room door has two locks, and only a few high officials from the Ministry of Revenue and I have keys. During the period the document went missing, none of those officials entered or left the archive room, and there were no signs of the locks being broken.”

Shen Lanxi said, “So you, the one holding a key, were convicted?”

Liu Yanhui opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself, but he didn’t know where to begin. He could only channel his grief and anger into his appetite, forcefully shoveling a few mouthfuls of rice.

“That archive file, did you look at it carefully?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Liu Yanhui quickly swallowed the food in his mouth. “I did. It was just a normal official document, with your esteemed father’s signature and seal on it.”

Shen Lanxi didn’t believe it. Before the incident, the file was insignificant. Afterward, it vanished without a trace. Other than it containing evidence about the stolen silver, she could think of no other explanation.

“You want to overturn the verdict,” she blurted out decisively.

Liu Yanhui nodded. “If you, Miss, can help me overturn the case and clear my name, I am willing to pledge my life in your service, to follow you loyally forever!”

Shen Lanxi stared at Liu Yanhui and chuckled lightly. “I don’t have that kind of power. You’re asking the wrong person!”

Liu Yanhui’s tone was firm. “Even if we can’t overturn the case, as long as you can ensure my mother and sister’s safety, Miss, my life is yours from now on!”

Shen Lanxi pondered for two seconds. “This isn’t a very good deal for me. Even when I get to Dongchuan, hiring an accountant would cost half a tael of silver a month at most. To hire you, I’d have to pay your salary and also support your mother and sister. With that money, I could hire four accountants!”

Liu Yanhui gritted his teeth and knelt directly before Shen Lanxi, his head pressed tightly to the ground in a gesture of submission.

“Miss, I can be more than just an accountant. I can also be your retainer. I was the third-ranked scholar in the eighteenth year of the Renxiao era. While I may not know the secrets of the heavens, I am well-versed in the ways of the world!”

“And if I’m not mistaken, our current detour is heading towards Jinmen. From there, we will travel by boat to Xiguan, and then proceed overland to Dongchuan!”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. He had actually guessed correctly.

“A monthly salary of ten taels of silver, and I will ensure your mother and sister arrive in Dongchuan alive.”

Kneeling on the ground, Liu Yanhui said respectfully, “Thank you, Miss!”

Now that he was the accountant, Qiushuang ladled another full scoop of chicken from the soup pot for Liu Yanhui.

Liu Yanhui brazenly asked for two more scoops of broth, filling his bowl to the brim before returning.

Watching this, Chunxue’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

“What kind of third-ranked scholar is so thick-skinned?”

Nu Bai: “Master, he took the chicken and soup back to share with his mother and sister!”

Shen Lanxi replied to Chunxue, “A thick skin is good for collecting debts. It’s perfect for an accountant.”

Chunxue thought for a moment. “I suppose that’s true!”

That night, Shen Lanxi discussed with Liu Laohu about arranging a four-person rotating watch, promising them they could sleep in the carriages the next day to catch up.

Some of the exiled convicts wanted to sign up, but the government bailiffs snatched up the spots. It was so much cooler at night, and the days were so hot. What could be better than sleeping soundly in a carriage!

In the latter half of the night, the howl of a wolf echoed from the distance.

The four men on watch were instantly on alert.

“Was that a wolf howling?”

“It still sounds pretty far off!”

The words had just left his mouth when Shen Lanxi leaped down from her carriage, a wooden staff in hand.

“Wake everyone up! The wolves are here!”

The four bailiffs were startled by Shen Lanxi’s sudden appearance. Hearing her shout, hesitation showed on their faces.

“Young Master Lan, the wolves are still quite far away, aren’t they? What if they don’t come?”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze pierced the darkness. “They’ll be here in the blink of an eye!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang were woken up and rushed to rouse the others.

Thirty meters, twenty meters, fifteen meters…

There was just enough time for everyone to become fully awake and grab any weapon they could find.

“Awoooo…”

The wolves were here!

Chapter 29: When Did Eldest Sister Get So Strong?

The wolf pack thundered forward, arriving in the blink of an eye. A sea of eerie green eyes stared back at them, stretching as far as they could see.

“Master, this pack has thirty adult wolves and twenty-five sub-adults, fifty-five in total!”

Shen Lanxi knew the exact count from Nu Bai, but the others didn’t, and she couldn’t tell them the specific numbers.

Thus, seeing the oppressive, dark mass of the wolf pack, everyone panicked, completely forgetting their previous arrangements.

“Pour the wine!”

“Light the fires!”

“Kill the alpha wolf!”

Shen Lanxi strode to the front, staff in hand. She slammed her long staff onto a rock with a loud bang, instantly shocking everyone’s scattered wits back into place.

“If you don’t want to die, hurry up!”

“The able-bodied men will form a circle around the old, the weak, the women, and the children! Anyone with a weapon, get it ready!”

At Shen Lanxi’s sharp command, Liu Laohu shuddered and quickly drew his blade, shouting, “Quick, listen to her! Do whatever she says!”

At this moment, nothing else mattered—only survival.

Chunxue brought over the wine jars and quickly poured some wine on each pile of firewood. Qiushuang followed behind, lighting them. Using a branch from the existing campfire, she could instantly set them ablaze.

Wolves are naturally afraid of fire. Seeing the bonfires ignite, they retreated, growling. They crouched with arched backs, baring their fangs, waiting for an opportunity to charge.

There wasn’t much firewood on the Stone Mountains to begin with. The roaring flames looked formidable, but they wouldn’t last long. Everyone nervously clenched their fists, silently staring at their surroundings.

Suddenly, with a howl, the wolves found a spot where the flames were weaker and charged into the crowd, heading straight for the government bailiffs.

Shen Lanxi stood before the Shen family, staff in hand. Her slender figure, elongated by the firelight, was like an unshakable mountain, guarding the people behind it.

The bailiffs, armed with swords, immediately began to slash at the charging wolves. More and more wolves breached the circle of fire. At first, the prisoners could hide behind the bailiffs, but when that was no longer possible, they grabbed rocks and joined the wolf-slaying fray.

Shen Yuanjing rushed in front of Shen Lanxi, spreading his arms to shield her.

“Eldest Sister, I’ll protect you!”

Shen Congwen ran over as well.

“Lanxi, get back!”

“Eldest Sister, give me the staff!” Shen Yuanjun reached for the staff in Shen Lanxi’s hands. When he took it, he staggered and nearly fell.

Why is this staff so heavy? It must be because he hadn’t eaten properly for days and lacked strength. If his eldest sister could wield it, there was no way he couldn’t!

In an instant, the members of the Shen family’s first branch had formed a protective circle around Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi looked at her father and brothers protecting her on all sides, her eyes curving into a smile. She reached out and took the staff back from Shen Yuanjun’s hand.

Shen Yuanjun was stunned. “Eldest Sister…” She must want the staff for self-defense. That’s fine, I still have rocks!

Just as he was about to bend down and pick up a rock, the person they were protecting in the center suddenly shot forward. She leaped several meters into the air and, a second later, to the dumbfounded expressions of her father and brothers, shot toward the wolf pack like a meteor!

The Shen Congwen and his sons: “…”

A whistling sound rose, followed by the pained yelps of wolves. The long staff was like a force of nature tearing through an undefended field. With a single sweep, any wolf it struck would first emit the crack of breaking bones before being sent flying five or six meters. The wolf would land with a thud, twitch a few times, and then fall silent.

The wolf’s corpse hitting the ground was followed by a moment of dead silence.

The wolves and the people stared at her in unison.

The next second, Shen Lanxi raised her staff again. Before anyone could react, there was a sharp crack and a heavy thud as another wolf’s corpse hit the ground.

This roused the wolves’ ferocity, and they all roared and charged at Shen Lanxi, attacking as one.

Everyone’s gazes toward Shen Lanxi had changed. When their eyes shifted to the Shen family, their expressions had changed as well.

Shen Lanxi’s long staff moved like lightning. With every whistling pass, any wolf in its path was either sent flying, killed, or seriously wounded.

Not a single one was left standing whole!

The mournful howls of the pack rang out from a short distance away. Shen Lanxi stood with her staff, exuding a powerful and cold aura. Though she held a staff, with no blade or point, it felt as if she were wielding a greatsword or a long spear.

She took a step forward, and the wolves surrounding her rapidly retreated, their eerie green eyes fixed on her, maintaining a distance of about five meters.

In the distance, the mournful howls sounded again.

The wolves crouched, whimpering at her one last time as if unwilling to give up, then turned and fled!

After a deathly silence, someone’s rock slipped from their grasp and clattered to the ground. The person who dropped it shuddered violently, as if from a great shock.

The others also snapped back to reality. Their gazes on Shen Lanxi were filled with fear, apprehension, and a hint of awe.

Among them, the Shen family members were the most shocked, especially those from the first branch.

“Eldest Sister, when did you get so strong?” Shen Yuanjing said in a daze.

Shen Congwen immediately scolded him, “Call her Eldest Brother! There are too many people around. If they find out she’s a woman, there could be trouble!”

“When did Eldest Brother get so strong?” Shen Yuanjun clenched his fists and swallowed hard.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, he had no choice. It wasn’t that he hadn’t eaten enough; it was that his eldest sister was just too strong.

“Father, do you think those wolves… are dead?” Shen Yuanqing asked, his voice laced with lingering fear.

The memory of the bones cracking made Shen Congwen’s scalp tingle. The wolves weren’t moving at all; they had to be dead, right? They couldn’t have just fainted from the pain, could they?

Liu Laohu knew Shen Lanxi was skilled, but he never expected her to be this skilled.

She killed wolves as if they were kittens, without even blinking.

“Young Master Lan, what should we do with these wolves?”

Shen Lanxi cradled her staff. “Kill them and eat the meat, or dig a pit and bury them. It’s up to you.”

Liu Laohu: “…” Not only was Young Master Lan incredibly skilled, she was also remarkably generous.

A single wolf pelt, properly tanned, could sell for at least a dozen taels. He had just counted—there were eleven wolves. Even if they only sold the pelts, they’d make a fortune.

Only after Shen Lanxi went to rest did Liu Laohu dare to lead the bailiffs to deal with the carcasses.

“Skin the wolves to sell the pelts, and we’ll eat the meat!”

At the mention of eating meat, all the prisoners subconsciously swallowed. With so many wolves and such hot weather, the meat wouldn’t keep. Surely they would get a share?

Liu Laohu called over a dozen prisoners to help process the wolf meat. Although he didn’t say it outright, they all worked with a tacit understanding, moving cautiously and quietly, afraid of disturbing a certain someone’s sleep.

When Shen Lanxi woke from her nap, the first thing she noticed, even before opening her eyes properly, was the rich aroma of cooked meat wafting toward her.

The others had already started eating. A separate pot had been prepared for Shen Lanxi, simmering over the low embers. The meat stew inside was still bubbling gently. Seeing that Shen Lanxi was awake, Nanny Li sprinkled a handful of chopped scallions into a bowl, ladled out a portion, and set it aside to cool.

Having had two consecutive meals with meat, the atmosphere among the prisoners was more harmonious than ever before, and every one of them had a look of satisfaction in their eyes.

Chapter 30: That Bandit Lair, Should We Raid It?

After a satisfying meal, the water in the small pool was nearly depleted. With their waterskins filled to the brim, the exile convoy set off once again.

The prisoners walked ahead, with Shen Lanxi’s carriage following at a discreet distance.

Two more Stone Mountains lay ahead. Liu Yanhui, relying on his knowledge of the terrain, obtained permission from Liu Laohu and then openly went to see Shen Lanxi.

“Miss, I’ve read about this road to Jinmen in a travelogue. There should be two more Stone Mountains like the ones we’ve crossed, and the road will get easier after that. But there’s something else we need to watch out for.”

Shen Lanxi invited Liu Yanhui into the carriage to talk.

Inside the carriage were brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, exquisite teacups and snacks, silk-embroidered stools, a soft couch, and cushions woven from purple bamboo. After Liu Yanhui entered, he was so overwhelmed he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.

“Have a seat.”

Liu Yanhui dared not sit on the soft couch, nor on the embroidered stools.

“I’ll just sit on the floor,” he said. His clothes were so dusty, he felt a single shake would release a kilogram of dirt; he worried he would make the floor dirty just by sitting on it.

Shen Lanxi took out a detailed, to-scale map of the route from Yongcheng to Jinmen and hung it on the wall of the carriage.

When Liu Yanhui saw it clearly, his pupils contracted in shock.

This was a map! Private possession of one was a serious crime!

Shen Lanxi pulled out a meter-long bamboo stick from the side and pointed to a location on it.

“We should be right here at the moment.”

Liu Yanhui lowered his gaze, his eyes flickering, and quickly nodded.

“I once saw in a memorial submitted to the court that bandits are active on the road from Yongcheng to Jinmen. The Stone Mountains are bare, which is bad for concealment and not ideal for the bandits to live on. I’m guessing their base is in the larger mountains just beyond the Stone Mountains!”

Shen Lanxi: “If there are bandits, why doesn’t the court send troops to suppress them?”

Liu Yanhui looked ashamed. “Because the memorial was suppressed. Suppressing them would require silver, and the Ministry of Revenue has no funds to allocate. Even if they did, the border conflicts would take priority!”

Shen Lanxi gazed at the map, her eyes dark and profound. Her intense stare made Liu Yanhui’s heart pound in his chest.

“That bandit lair… should we raid it?” Shen Lanxi mused, propping her chin on her hand, her eyes shining.

Liu Yanhui shuddered violently. A sudden thought flashed through his mind—he felt like he’d boarded a pirate ship with no way off!

“That’s not a good idea, is it? We don’t know anything about the situation in their den.”

An idea had already formed in Shen Lanxi’s mind.

“The information you provided is very useful. You may go now. We still have two mountains to cross, and I need to think about our next steps.”

Liu Yanhui quickly bowed and respectfully backed out of the carriage.

For a brief moment, he felt like a eunuch in the Imperial Palace. The instant the thought appeared, he pinched himself in alarm.

If he was a eunuch, what did that make Shen Lanxi?

The rest of the journey went smoothly. Shen Yuanjing and his siblings even ran up to the carriage to talk to her, and none of the government bailiffs stopped them.

“Eldest Brother, how did you get so strong?”

“Eldest Brother, who taught you martial arts? Can you teach us?”

Looking at the chattering children, Shen Lanxi smiled and replied, “Alright! If you want to learn martial arts, you must first not be afraid of hardship or fatigue. I wonder if you can persevere.”

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes lit up. “I can! I can definitely persevere. Eldest Brother, please teach us.”

Shen Lanxi said, “You’re not quite ready to learn from me yet. How about this: you can start by building a foundation with Chunxue and Qiushuang. Once your foundation is solid, I’ll teach you myself.”

The Shen brothers were a little disappointed.

Shen Lanxi explained, “My techniques are fierce and powerful. If you learn from me without a proper foundation, a minor injury would be torn muscles and broken bones. A serious one, and you’ll end up dead like those wolves last night!”

The Shen brothers recalled the force with which their Eldest Sister had fought the wolves yesterday. If she were to teach them, and a staff were to accidentally strike them… The thought was terrifying, absolutely terrifying!

Since they were on the move, practicing horse stance was impractical. So, Chunxue and Qiushuang had the three brothers hold heavy objects from the carriage.

At first, the three brothers were still talking and laughing, but after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they were all grimacing in pain.

The other young members of the Shen family were all focused on the three brothers.

“Concubine Mother, I want to learn martial arts too!” Shen Yuanqing quietly begged his Concubine Mother, Wei Rulan.

Wei Rulan said with a pained heart, “My son, the road to exile is already hard enough. How can you bear even more hardship?”

She said this to her other son as well.

“Just wait. They’re only excited now; they won’t be able to keep it up for long.”

Zhang Zifen’s son was also pleading with her.

Zhang Zifen lowered her head and said scornfully in a low voice, “My son, your Eldest Sister was born of the principal wife. She will surely only teach the children of the principal wife. It’s not that Mother doesn’t want you to learn; if you were born of the principal wife, I certainly wouldn’t object. Even if you begged your father and he agreed, your sister’s people wouldn’t teach you sincerely. Let’s not go and make ourselves disliked.”

Watching from not far away, a hint of gloom passed through Shen Yuanxin’s envious eyes.

In the other branches…

“Third Brother, Fourth Brother, should we send our children to learn skills from Lanxi?” Shen Conglian asked with a frown.

Shen Congli replied, “All pursuits are inferior; only scholarship is noble. At best, learning martial arts will only make you a household guard. What kind of future is there in that?”

Shen Congyi nodded. “Lanxi treated so many people to a meal before, so she must have a lot of money on hand. When we get to Dongchuan, we’ll let Mother manage the household, get that money from her, and hire a tutor for the boys in the family. Teaching them to study for the imperial examinations is much better than learning martial arts, isn’t it?”

“That makes sense, that makes sense. Eldest Brother made his way through scholarship. Back home, we just focused on farming and earning money to support his studies. Since Eldest Brother has a talent for it, we can’t be too bad ourselves. Our children must take after us and be good material for scholarly pursuits!”

“Right, right, Fourth Son has a point!”

As usual, Shen Lanxi went out to scout the road for a while each day, rotating the horses to let them drink their fill of water. On the next mountain, no water source was found, and Liu Laohu began to ration the daily water supply.

The exile convoy began to revert to its previous bleak state, trudging forward numbly each day, their lips cracked from thirst.

After they had been thirsty for a full day, Shen Lanxi began to supply a limited amount of water.

The Shen family had priority, as did Liu Yanhui and his family.

When the prisoners saw the water, their eyes turned red with greed, and they wanted to snatch it.

Shen Lanxi walked a circle around them, holding her staff. Everyone immediately behaved, meekly lining up to receive their water.

She had plenty of water in her storage space, but she was no saint and would never engage in selfless charity.

They finally crossed the second Stone Mountain. When they were a third of the way over the third one, Shen Lanxi went out to scout the road and was gone for the entire day.

While Shen Lanxi was away, some prisoners tried to incite the government bailiffs to seize the water. The instigators were dealt with harshly by Liu Laohu, and no one dared to speak of seizing the water again.

In the evening, Shen Lanxi returned, bringing back news.

“There’s a small river at the foot of this mountain, just on the other side!”

Liu Laohu licked his cracked lips, his eyes shining.

“Dammit, no sleeping tonight! We’ll march through the night to get to that water!”

Shen Lanxi continued, “Don’t celebrate just yet. Next to the river is a bandit lair called Black Wind Fortress! The fortress is huge; a place that size must have at least a hundred people inside!”

Chapter 31: Absolutely No Regrets!

The light that had filled the hopeful faces of the people only a moment ago vanished in an instant!

“Oh, heavens! Over a hundred bandits! Are they even going to let us live?”

“If I’d known, we wouldn’t have taken this road. Why don’t we turn back?”

“Turning back means dying of thirst. We could just go get water at night and avoid Black Wind Fortress, couldn’t we?”

One by one, they all started chattering, throwing out their ideas.

Liu Laohu’s head throbbed from the noise. “What’s all the racket? A bunch of idiots! If it weren’t for Young Master Lan, would any of you have full stomachs? Everyone listen to Young Master Lan!”

After everything they had been through on the road, Liu Laohu had come to see Shen Lanxi as his lifeline.

“Young Master Lan, you’re an insightful person. Please, give us an idea!”

“Yes, Young Master Lan, you’re so capable, you must have a plan!”

Some people joined Liu Laohu in begging Shen Lanxi for help, while others remained silent.

Shen Lanxi pretended to think hard, then after a moment, she said, “Turning back is a dead end, for sure!”

Liu Yanhui squeezed next to Shen Lanxi and said, “Young Master Lan is right. We’re already out of water. Going back means we’ll just die of thirst on the road. The feeling of dying from thirst is unbearable!”

He spoke with such genuine emotion that many people nodded in agreement. After all, they had been thirsty for a whole day. Their mouths were bitter, and they felt as if their bodies were about to dry up and crack like wooden sticks. It was a fate worse than death!

Shen Lanxi continued, “Our only option now is to risk it all and push forward. That’s the only way to find a chance of survival!”

Liu Yanhui added, “Bandits are people too. No matter how fierce they are, can they be fiercer than wolves? We’ve killed wolves, so why can’t we kill them?”

This sentence was like the finishing touch on a painting. Some people’s eyes lit up, while others fell into deep thought.

Shen Lanxi said, “We can use the same method we used at the inn. We’ll lure some people out of Black Wind Fortress and find out how many are inside. That way, we’ll know our enemy and ourselves!”

Liu Laohu asked, “That’s a good idea, but how do we lure them out?”

A glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s phoenix eyes. “Back in Yongcheng, when I went shopping, I heard that the Yongcheng garrison commander’s brother-in-law came from the Capital for a visit. We can use this identity!”

Liu Laohu looked utterly confused. He didn’t understand, but that didn’t stop him from pretending he did!

“Mmm, that makes sense!”

The corner of Shen Lanxi’s mouth twitched, and she continued, “We can do it like this…”

They had a plan; now they just needed the right person for the job.

Liu Laohu immediately turned to the prisoners and bellowed, “Who is willing to play the part of this brother-in-law and lure the bandits out? Succeed, and you’ll get preferential treatment for the rest of the journey!”

This was no easy task. One wrong move, and it could cost them their life!

Shen Lanxi’s eyes swept over Shen Yuanjing and the others. The moment Shen Yuanjing saw his eldest sister look over, he took a step forward, only to be pulled back by his mother.

“Yuanjing, my head hurts. Quickly, help your mother!” Zhou Xinrou said, collapsing weakly against her son.

Shen Lanxi averted her gaze. Suddenly, she heard Liu Yanhui beside her volunteer his services.

“Young Master, Brother Liu, do you think I’ll do?”

Liu Yanhui spun around in front of them.

Liu Laohu said, “I think you’re perfect. You’re so refined and scholarly. You look more like a brother-in-law than all of us bailiffs put together!”

Under normal circumstances, those words would have been an insult!

“Are you sure?” Shen Lanxi asked seriously.

Liu Yanhui nodded firmly. He felt this was a golden opportunity to pledge his allegiance to Shen Lanxi!

Whether he could earn her trust all depended on this one act!

“I’m sure!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Good. Come with me!”

Since Liu Yanhui had decided to go, he certainly couldn’t wear his current rags.

Back at the carriage, she took out a set of clothes made of gold-threaded brocade, a pair of boots made of cloud-patterned brocade, a jeweled gold coronet with a white jade hairpin, a mutton-fat jade pendant, and four rings of gold, emerald, and agate.

“Chunxue, Qiushuang, get him changed!”

The moment Liu Yanhui heard someone else was going to change his clothes, he clutched his collar tightly.

“Young Master, I can do it myself!”

Shen Lanxi reminded him, “Get the clothes and shoes a little dirty!”

Liu Yanhui nodded quickly, grabbed the clothes, and found a hidden spot to change.

When he appeared before everyone again, he had the perfect look of a down-on-his-luck young master from a wealthy family!

The group continued on their way. When they were close enough, the exiled convoy stopped, while she and Liu Yanhui pressed on.

By the time they reached Black Wind Fortress, it was almost dark. Shen Lanxi stopped at a spot hidden from the fortress’s view. The rest was up to Liu Yanhui.

“If you regret this, you can come back at any time!” she reminded him.

Without looking back, Liu Yanhui walked on, saying, “I absolutely will not regret this!”

When he was about twenty meters from Black Wind Fortress, Liu Yanhui suddenly broke into a run, stumbling towards the small river.

As he threw himself down by the riverbank to drink, the men from Black Wind Fortress reached him!

Shen Lanxi watched as Liu Yanhui was dragged into the fortress like a dead dog, and immediately called for Nu Bai.

“Give me a real-time report of what’s happening inside!”

“Roger that, Master!”

Shen Lanxi hid in the shadows. About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, a party of men emerged from Black Wind Fortress, and with them was Liu Yanhui!

He had succeeded!

“A total of twenty men on the carriage, all armed!”

Shen Lanxi immediately mounted her horse and rode back to deliver the news!

Those who needed to retreat, retreated. Those who needed to hide, hid. And those who needed to act, began their performance!

Sitting on the carriage, Liu Yanhui saw the few carriages parked in the distance and immediately shouted, “Those are my carriages!”

Hearing this, the bandit driving the carriage whipped the horses furiously. The Yongcheng garrison commander’s brother-in-law had said the carriages were filled with rare treasures from the Capital. Charge!

Damn it, with so many rare treasures, how could they let those refugees get them?

They would take the riches from the carriage, then find the treasures the brother-in-law had hidden. As for the brother-in-law himself, he could stay in the mountains and become brother-in-law to the wild wolves!

The bandits were all grinning so wide their eyes had nearly disappeared. Suddenly, the carriage jolted with a loud crash. It was a violent bump. More than half the bandits sitting on the edge were thrown off, and the few who remained were left sprawling and disoriented on the carriage bed.

Liu Laohu’s eyes widened. Seeing the bandits fall, he immediately raised his blade and roared, “Charge! Whoever kills a man gets to keep everything on him!”

He sounded more like a bandit than the bandits themselves!

The bandits who had been thrown to the ground were all badly injured. Gritting their teeth, they had just started to get up when they were decapitated with a single slash!

Liu Yanhui seized the opportunity to leap from the carriage. Halfway down, he pulled his foot back, grabbed a dizzy bandit, and started beating him!

There were twenty bandits, not even enough for all the bailiffs. In just a few moves, like chopping melons and cutting vegetables, they killed nineteen, leaving one alive for questioning.

The woman who liked to strip people’s underwear had also wanted to join in, but she wasn’t as fast as the bailiffs.

As the bailiffs searched the bandits for valuables, the woman rushed up and stripped them all over again.

Her motto was basically: while others eat the meat, she drinks the soup!

The scene was rather bloody. Several other women looked on with envy, but they didn’t have the guts to reach out.

Shen Lanxi glanced sideways at the woman stripping the clothes, a strange feeling of wistfulness rising in her heart.

If she had possessed that kind of shamelessness in her past life, she might have lived a few more days!

Chapter 32: Attacking Black Wind Fortress!

Interrogation was the government bailiffs’ job. Shen Lanxi stood to the side, not interfering.

Liu Laohu cracked his whip. “Speak! How many people are in your fortress in total? If you dare tell a single lie, I’ll chop off one of your fingers!”

The dazed bandit instinctively knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

“Brave hero, our fortress has over one hundred and fifty people in total, including men, women, old, and young!”

Liu Laohu: “How many are able-bodied men who can fight?”

“Eighty to ninety, maybe a little over a hundred!”

“What kind of weapons do you have?”

“Sabers, axes, bows and arrows, spears, whips—we have them all!”

Liu Laohu: “How many men guard the fortress, and what weapons do they carry? How often do the shifts change? Besides the main gate, are there any other ways in?”

After another round of furious whipping, they got all the information!

Shen Lanxi had Chunxue prepare a brush and ink, then began to plan the next phase of the operation on paper.

“We can’t be sure if he’s telling the truth or not. I suspect the numbers are inflated.”

Liu Yanhui nodded in agreement. “We’d best wait a bit longer. If no one has returned after a couple of hours, they’ll surely send someone to investigate.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Agreed.”

She took her brush and drew a square, writing “Black Wind Fortress” inside it.

“Keep two of them alive. Interrogate them separately to confirm if their stories match!”

Liu Yanhui nodded.

“If they match, we can split into two groups. One will circle around to the back gate of Black Wind Fortress and sneak in! Then, the other team will…”

As Liu Yanhui listened, the hairs on his arms stood on end. He couldn’t help but steal several glances at Shen Lanxi.

Was conquering strongholds and seizing territory something a young lady raised in the inner chambers could learn? And what about her formidable martial arts? He had only ever heard that she was arrogant and spoiled; she had never revealed even a hint of these skills!

What on earth was the Shen family trying to raise their Eldest Miss to be?

“Let’s go gather some people!” Relying on the government bailiffs alone definitely wouldn’t work.

Liu Laohu walked ahead. Shen Lanxi gave Liu Yanhui a look, and he quickly caught up.

Liu Laohu brandished his whip. “This time, as long as we work together to take down Black Wind Fortress, I won’t stop you from taking whatever you want from inside!”

Liu Yanhui added, “Silver, meat, water, grain—whoever grabs it, gets to keep it!”

Liu Laohu announced, “Whoever wants to go, step forward now! Those who go this time will receive preferential treatment on the road!”

The woman who stripped pants from corpses was the first to step forward.

“Are you taking women?” Having benefited several times in a row, she had gotten a taste for it.

Liu Laohu stared at the woman blankly for two seconds, then burst out cursing at the men.

“You cowards! You’re not even as brave as a woman! You deserve to starve to death on this road to exile!”

Some men started to sign up, and Liu Laohu had them stand to one side.

Shen Yuanjing glanced toward his Eldest Sister, then at his mother, and ran straight over.

“I’ll sign up too!”

When Zhou Xinrou saw her son run off, she hurried to pull him back.

Seeing this, Shen Yuanjun and Shen Yuanqing also ran over.

Zhou Xinrou would grab one, only to let another go. In a moment of carelessness, they all ran off. She was so anxious she was about to faint. Shen Yuantang saw this and quickly ran over as well.

“I’ll sign up too!”

Looking heartbroken, Zhou Xinrou clutched her husband’s clothes tightly.

“Quick, call them back! Our Shen family can’t afford any more mishaps!”

Shen Congwen looked worriedly in his children’s direction. If his wife hadn’t been holding him back, he would have gone too.

“I’ll sign up!”

“I’ll sign up too!”

“Auntie, let go! I want to go too!” Shen Yuanqing struggled toward the group of volunteers while Wei Rulan desperately held him back.

“Son, are you trying to kill me? If you dare to go, I’ll smash my head against a rock right now and kill myself…”

Nanny Li, her husband, and their son all signed up, leaving their daughter-in-law to look after the children.

Besides the Shen family members, almost everyone else signed up.

From the Shen family, only a few children from the first branch, who were born of the principal wife, and a few servants joined. Not a single person from the other branches came forward.

“Lanxi is such a good fighter. She alone is worth ten people. Her representing our Shen family is enough. The first branch is so foolish, still trying to show off at a time like this!”

“No way, we’re not going. Swords have no eyes. If we all get hurt, what will Father and Mother do? How will the women and children left in the family survive?”

…

Liu Laohu glanced disapprovingly at the Shen family members, but out of consideration for Shen Lanxi, he said nothing.

Two hours later, as expected, someone came out to search for the missing men.

This time, only a small group of five came out.

Using the same pitfall trap as before, they took care of three and left two for separate interrogations. The results were the same as the first time.

They quickly finished off the two and kept one alive. Liu Laohu immediately led a group of people to circle around to the back of Black Wind Fortress.

Shen Lanxi led her group slowly toward Black Wind Fortress. When they reached the small river, she even took the time to water the horses.

When the sentries saw the handcarts and the carriage, they thought the group they’d sent out had returned. They opened the main gate and shouted.

“Did you bring back the gold and silver?”

Chunxue pressed her saber against the captive bandit’s neck. “Say, ‘We’ve brought it back!’”

With a blade at his throat, the bandit immediately shouted with a tremble, “We’ve… we’ve brought it back!”

The person on the other side called out, “Is that you, Xiao Sanzi?”

The blade nicked the bandit’s neck, and the man wet his pants again.

“It’s me, it’s me!” a panicked voice rang out.

The man on the other side said, “Hurry up and come on in!”

The bandit replied, “Coming!”

The fortress gate swung wide open, and three more bandits came out from inside.

Shen Lanxi made a “two” gesture to Chunxue and Qiushuang. She would take care of two; the other two were for them.

The four bandits had their throats slit and were tossed into the carriage.

After the carriage entered the fortress and she confirmed that no one was around, Shen Lanxi whispered for everyone in the carriage to get out.

“Everyone find a place to hide! Act when you see an opportunity! If you encounter a bandit who is alone, kill him!”

The people from the carriage quickly melted into the darkness.

Next, Shen Lanxi split up from them, adopting a strategy of picking them off one by one as she headed straight for the Black Wind Fortress storehouses.

The granary was filled to the brim with grain. She took more than half, leaving about a dozen sacks behind. Then she went to the treasure vault and took all the dozens of chests of gold, silver, and jewels.

In the armory, there were dozens of long spears and dozens of greatsabers. She wasn’t picky, so she took them all.

There were still a lot of supplies left outside, which she left for the people who had stepped up that night.

She quickly dealt with a third of the fortress’s men, leaving the rest for the others.

Shen Lanxi had Nu Bai for positioning, so her kills were fast, ruthless, and precise. The others were different. They were terrified, constantly on guard against being discovered and watching their surroundings, all while wondering if their small frames could even handle a fight. They prayed they would only run into smaller, weaker bandits… for all these reasons, it wasn’t until dawn that the first and second teams finally met up.

With the two teams meeting, they had successfully executed a pincer attack and now had the bandits completely surrounded.

“Young Master Lan, all the men at the back have been dealt with!” Liu Laohu reported the battle’s progress, his face flushed with excitement.

Shen Lanxi nodded. “The ones at the front are all taken care of. Take your men and search the place one more time!”

Liu Laohu immediately led his men to search the fortress openly.

The woman who stripped pants from corpses came forward, her expression shifty and greedy.

“Young Master, what about the things you promised?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Wait until Liu Laohu finishes his search, then ask him.”

The woman’s face immediately fell. Fortunately for her, she had already stripped plenty from the dead bodies. Hmph, I knew they wouldn’t keep their word.

Chapter 33: I’ve Always Been Generous to Those Loyal to Me!

Liu Laohu returned quickly, and Liu Yanhui immediately reminded him about the spoils of war!

“Take them! Take whatever you want! As much as you can carry, it’s all yours!”

The eyes of the woman who had tried to strip them down to their undergarments lit up, her expression a mask of unrestrained glee. She bolted straight for the largest, most luxurious room!

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Laohu. “Aren’t you going?”

Liu Laohu replied, “I’m a government bailiff. I can’t knowingly break the law!”

If it weren’t for Nu Bai’s running commentary, Shen Lanxi thought, I would have actually believed him!

Liu Yanhui respectfully presented the rings, gold crown, and jade hairpins to Shen Lanxi. “Young Master, these are…”

“They’re yours.”

Liu Yanhui blinked. He hadn’t even finished his sentence.

Shen Lanxi said, “I’ve always been generous to those loyal to me!”

A jolt went through Liu Yanhui as a wave of joyous surprise washed over his heart. Did this mean she trusted him now?

“And you don’t need to return the clothes or shoes, either.”

Uh… Liu Yanhui looked down at his filth-covered clothes and shoes, too embarrassed to even lift his head.

If this weren’t the road to exile, he would have thought she was disgusted by how he had soiled her things and was insulting him by refusing to take them back.

But this was the road to exile! A few wen could save a life. The gold-threaded brocade he was wearing was worth a hundred pieces of gold per bolt. If he were to pawn it, he could get at least one hundred taels of silver. That would be enough for his entire family to reach Dongchuan comfortably and even set up a small business to live on.

If this was considered an insult, then let such insults come even more fiercely!

Watching the ecstatic Liu Yanhui, Shen Lanxi’s eyes remained perfectly calm as she methodically instructed those around her to also take advantage of the opportunity to strike it rich.

Everyone else was busy; why were they the only ones standing around doing nothing? Did they think they were above it all?

Shen Lanxi also began taking things. She selected the dried vegetables hanging from the eaves, the salted vegetables sunning on the windowsills, and any edible grains and water she could find!

Soon, someone noticed her. Seeing that she was only taking food, they sneered at her for not knowing what was valuable. But a moment later, those who had been mocking her caught on and scrambled to find food for themselves.

Damn it, that Young Master Lan was sharp! There was a great drought outside. Even if they found money, they might not be able to buy any food!

In an instant, a crowd joined the army of people searching for food and water.

Liu Laohu herded all the female family members and children of Black Wind Fortress into the courtyard. Some of them were adorned with gold and silver, while others were covered in purple bruises and scars, their statuses worlds apart.

With Liu Laohu’s tacit approval, the women dripping in gold and silver were stripped of their valuables and given a sound beating.

“Young Master Lan, how should we deal with these people?” Liu Laohu asked for Shen Lanxi’s opinion.

Shen Lanxi replied, “The women and children are innocent. After we leave, give each of them some food and let them flee for their lives.”

“An excellent idea!” Liu Laohu said.

The other government bailiffs had already grown accustomed to Liu Laohu seeking Young Master Lan’s input on every matter. In times like these, whoever fed you was your mother, and whoever had money was your father. Young Master Lan had made them rich, making him dearer than their own fathers.

They would have to risk their lives to save their own fathers if they got into trouble, let alone someone who was dearer than a father. So what if their leader asked a few questions? They were all blind and deaf—they hadn’t seen or heard a thing!

Shen Lanxi said, “We didn’t rest well last night. I suggest we recuperate at Black Wind Fortress for two days. We can continue on our journey after we’ve eaten and drunk our fill!”

This happened to be exactly what Liu Laohu was thinking.

“The Young Master’s words are most reasonable!”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll go rest. Brother Liu is a government bailiff, the highest-ranking official here. I’ll leave the matters of Black Wind Fortress in your hands!”

Liu Laohu stood at attention. “Of course. Young Master, please go and get some rest!”

Shen Lanxi had Chunxue and Qiushuang prepare a habitable room. The two maidservants were very efficient, picking the cleanest one, tossing all the bedding and furnishings out the door, and replacing them with Shen Lanxi’s own familiar items.

“Chunxue, Qiushuang, you two should also go rest. The fortress is safe now. I’m going to sleep very deeply. Don’t let anyone disturb me, and don’t wake me. I’ll come out on my own when I wake up.”

After the two left, she immediately bolted the door and entered her storage space.

The space was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers, and the air was fresh. A three-meter by two-point-eight-meter luxurious bed—wasn’t that a thousand times better than some earthen kang bed that who-knows-who had slept on?

Meanwhile…

“The sun is up. I wonder what’s happening at Black Wind Fortress?” The government bailiffs gathered and discussed amongst themselves.

Shen Congwen and his wife were frantic with worry, especially Zhou Xinrou. Her children were in a den of tigers. If Shen Congwen hadn’t held her back, she would have certainly chased after them last night.

“Master, let’s go check on Black Wind Fortress, shall we? I’m begging you!” Zhou Xinrou had never begged anyone so humbly in her life.

The Old Madam had guessed she would be like this and had been watching her since the night before.

To her shock, Zhou Xinrou actually dared to incite her son to go to his death. The Old Madam’s face darkened as she furiously berated her, “Zhou, yesterday you failed to control your own children, but I said nothing, considering you had just recovered. Today, you’re trying to send my son to his death at Black Wind Fortress! What are your intentions? Do you want to get our entire Shen family killed before you’re satisfied?”

Zhou Xinrou stared at her mother-in-law in disbelief, shocked that she would say such a thing. That was right. She was no longer Princess Minrou, so the Old Madam no longer had to feign politeness with her. All her past praise had been solely because of her royal status.

Now she was just a criminal’s wife. Those who had once fawned over her and flattered her surely couldn’t wait to trample on her and vent the resentment they’d felt for having to grovel in the past.

Seeing his wife’s face turn cold and dark, Shen Congwen frowned and said, “Mother, that’s not what Xinrou meant. She’s just worried about the children!”

The Old Madam’s face was grim. “She’s worried about her children, and I’m worried about my child! Congwen, if something were to happen to you, do you want your mother to see a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person?”

Shen Congwen said, “Mother, they are my children too!”

Seeing her son act this way, the Old Madam assumed he was determined to protect Zhou Xinrou. She immediately closed her eyes and slumped to one side.

“Mother…”

A chorus of startled cries erupted.

Shen Conglian and his brothers hurried over and immediately began to condemn Shen Congwen.

“Eldest Brother, how could you be so unfilial and disobedient as to anger Mother until she fainted?”

“Eldest Brother, and you call yourself a scholar! Mother only said a few words to you out of concern. How could you anger her like that? Do you want her dead?”

The accusations rained down on him like a storm. Even if Shen Congwen had any intention of scouting out Black Wind Fortress, it was completely washed away by the flood of criticism.

It wasn’t until noon that a few government bailiffs rode over from the fortress on horseback.

“Brothers, get on the carts! We’ll be eating soon!” the bailiffs called out.

After the bailiffs mounted, the Shen family was about to help the Old Master and Old Madam onto a cart when a whip lashed out, nearly striking the Old Madam as she was about to climb aboard.

Terrified, the Old Madam stumbled backward. If not for her sons and grandsons behind her to catch her, she would have surely fallen to the ground.

Chapter 34: Some Eat Rice and Meat, Others Can Only Stare!

“Who said you could ride in the carts? You’re exiled convicts! You didn’t lift a finger last night, and today you have the gall to ask for a ride? Ptooey! In your dreams!”

“Every last one of you, get walking, holy hell! If you’re too slow, watch your damn legs!” the officer snarled, cracking his whip twice with a snap. The Shen family flinched violently in terror.

The officers sat in the horse-drawn carts, talking and laughing, while the Shen family trailed behind them, panting and grimacing from the effort.

Originally, the grandsons would have taken turns carrying Old Master Shen and the Old Madam. Now, with the elders on their backs, they fell far behind.

Fearing the officers would actually strike them, the Old Master and Old Madam gritted their teeth, pushed their grandsons away, and let them pull them along as they ran.

“Will that Young Master Lan cause trouble for us for treating them like this?”

“Probably not. The boss said these people are cowards who fear death; they need to be taught a lesson. Even if Young Master Lan finds out, he won’t do anything to us. We’re just following the standard procedures for the exile journey—we’re already a hundred times better than most other officers. Don’t believe me? Just wait and see when Young Master Lan wakes up.”

Hearing their boss say this, the officers relaxed a little.

Black Wind Fortress had been entrenched in the mountains for years and had accumulated a fair amount of valuables. After Shen Lanxi went to rest, Liu Laohu led his men to search the place again.

He had been too self-conscious to be thorough while she was awake, holding back. But now that they were all asleep, who was there to see? He’d scrape the very plaster off the walls!

Sure enough, they found another trove of gold, silver, and treasures.

The exiled convicts weren’t idle either. They didn’t dare compete with the officers, so they went to rooms the officers hadn’t touched. After a thorough search, they also found many valuable items.

The woman who had previously stripped people down to their undergarments was now familiar to some, who called her Madam Song.

“Madam Song, you want this junk too?” The other women sneered with disdain when they saw Madam Song packing up cotton clothes and bedding.

“The weather is only going to get hotter, we won’t need these. And it’s too much to carry. We can’t expect the officers to haul our things in their carts!”

Madam Song spat on the ground. “A bunch of sour grapes. You’re just jealous I found good things but don’t have the nerve to take them yourselves, so you prick me with your words. If you’re so smart, then don’t take anything! Give all your bedding and cotton clothes to me!”

Hearing this, the women rolled their eyes in unison and walked away, speechless.

They could better use the time they were wasting bickering with her to check a few more rat holes. They might even find some silver!

Madam Song snorted and rolled her eyes, then bellowed for her mother-in-law, husband, and son to come and help her pack.

At noon, Liu Laohu made good on his promise and gave preferential treatment to all the convicts who had participated in taking down Black Wind Fortress the night before.

They were allowed to eat at the tables, and they were allowed to eat the same food as the officers.

As for those who hadn’t participated, their situation remained unchanged. If they wanted to eat the good food, they could—by paying for it.

Shen Yuanjing and his siblings tried to take their food to their family, but Liu Laohu stopped them all.

“If you want to eat, eat here. If not, go have the cornbread buns!”

Without even looking up from his bowl, Liu Yanhui said, “The officer is wise and merciful. Eating is entirely voluntary!”

Liu Laohu loved hearing that. He immediately nudged one of his men, who added an extra chicken leg to Liu Yanhui’s bowl.

Shen Yuanjing stared longingly at the food, then glanced toward his family. He felt a knot in his stomach, but the food itself was delicious.

Fragrant, all-you-can-eat rice with meat and vegetables… It was heavenly!

“The audacity! Where is Lanxi? Get Lanxi over here. She was the one who did the most last night, so why aren’t they letting us eat?”

“This is too much! They have so much food, more than they can finish. Why won’t they let us have any?”

“Those unfilial brats, Shen Yuanjing and the others! They only care about stuffing their own faces while their elders and younger siblings starve. How can they even swallow…”

“Lanxi isn’t here. Could she be injured? She’s just a woman. Even if she knows some martial arts, can she really compare to those bandits who kill without batting an eye?”

“I hope nothing happened to her. If something happened to her, what will we do for the rest of the journey?”

The people who had just been cursing were now wearing expressions of deep concern.

“Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, don’t blame me for being blunt, but if something has happened to Lanxi, we need to make plans quickly!” Shen Congyi nudged his mother.

The Old Madam immediately straightened her back. “The things on her cart belong to our Shen family!”

Shen Congli remembered something and quickly leaned in to whisper in his mother’s ear.

The Old Madam nodded. “Congwen, when Yuanjing and the others bring their things back later, have them hand everything over to me. From now on, I will manage and distribute all your expenses!”

Shen Congwen’s face was a mask of disbelief. “Mother, the children risked their lives for those things!” How could his mother talk about taking them to distribute to others?

Rebuffed by her eldest son yet again, the Old Madam flew into a rage. “Your father and I aren’t dead yet, and you’re already trying to split up the family?”

“Shen Congwen! After all the family’s hard work to support your studies, is this how you treat us?”

“Eldest Brother, how can you be so ungrateful? Have you forgotten where the money for your education came from? The entire family saved every penny for you! Now that the family has fallen on hard times and we need you to repay us a little, you refuse? If we had known it would come to this, we brothers never should have given you the opportunity to study!”

Overwhelmed with remorse, Shen Congwen clutched his head, blaming himself relentlessly.

Shen Lanxi didn’t wake up until five in the afternoon. The moment she opened her door, she saw Shen Yuanjing and his three siblings squatting listlessly against the wall opposite her room. The second they saw her, they forced smiles and rushed over.

“Eldest Sister…”

An officer stood guard not far away. With aggrieved expressions, Shen Yuanjing and the others poured out their troubles to Shen Lanxi.

“Grandmother took everything we got last night!” Shen Yuantang seethed, grinding her teeth at the memory.

Shen Lanxi asked, “You risked your lives for those things. What right does she have to take them? Did Father and Mother agree?”

At the mention of their parents, the four siblings wilted.

“They agreed, then?” Shen Lanxi said, her tone certain.

Shen Yuanjing hung his head. “Mother is too lost in her grief to manage anything, and Father couldn’t argue with Grandmother and the others.”

“Now that Grandmother has our things, she’ll definitely give them to Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle!” Before the Shen family’s fall, Shen Yuantang had often seen things her parents gave to their grandparents end up in the hands of the children from the other branches.

Back then, the first branch was well-off, wealthier than all the other branches combined, so she didn’t care about a few small items. But things were different now. This was the road to exile. More importantly, they had earned those things by risking their lives to kill bandits.

“They didn’t have the guts to kill bandits themselves, but they dare to demand things from us. Shameless!”

Normally, Shen Yuanjing would have chided his sister for her language, but now he didn’t have the heart to. She was right. Their relatives were no different from vultures that fed on rotting flesh.

Shen Lanxi looked at her fuming younger siblings and chuckled softly. “From now on, whatever you get, just put it on my cart. I’ll keep it for you. If it’s with me, they won’t dare come asking for it!”

Chapter 35: If I Didn’t Bring Them Food, Did They Starve?

The four siblings nodded listlessly.

Shen Lanxi said, “Instead of sitting around in a daze, you’d be better off searching the fortress again. See if there are any other hidden stashes of treasure, or perhaps food and clothing we might need on the road, or anything that can be exchanged for money.”

It was as if a light had switched on in the four siblings’ minds.

“Eldest… Brother, you get some rest. We’re going to find more things!”

Shen Lanxi nodded, watching them go.

Seeing that she was awake, Chunxue and Qiushuang went to prepare a meal.

Their Miss would never eat from the common pot!

Nanny Li’s culinary skills were superb. She had prepared braised mutton, a cold and crisp bamboo shoot salad, chicken stewed with sausage, sweet and sour spareribs, and mixed vegetables, all served with a bowl of fish ball soup and a small bowl of glistening, fragrant pearl rice.

After roughing it on the road for so long, this was the best meal they’d had.

Having slept for a whole day, she was indeed hungry. She had just picked up her chopsticks and taken two bites when she heard soft sobbing from the side.

“Miss, you’ve been so wronged. In the past, such coarse food would never have been worthy of your table!”

The sparerib in Shen Lanxi’s mouth was stuck; she knew not whether to swallow or spit it out.

Had she really been such a pampered heiress in the past?

If this wasn’t worthy of her table, then what was? The meat of dragons and phoenixes?

Had she forgotten what kind of family situation they were in now?

“Chunxue, Qiushuang, will you be dining with me, or eating on your own?”

How could Chunxue and Qiushuang dare to eat with their Miss?

“Miss, Nanny Li has saved some food for us!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Then go and eat. Your Miss, as I am now, does not like to be watched while eating.”

“Take the chicken stew with sausage and the braised mutton and share them with Nanny Li’s family.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare!”

Habits instilled since childhood could not be changed overnight. Not that she intended to change them; after all, this was an era of imperial power, and this was how its mechanisms operated. She hadn’t returned here to overthrow the throne and preach equality.

“I’ve just woken up, so I shouldn’t eat anything too greasy. The mutton is also too strongly flavored. Take it away.”

Chunxue and Qiushuang quickly carried the mutton away and went to have their meal.

The small courtyard was secluded. As Shen Lanxi ate, she contemplated their next steps.

Liu Yanhui had just delivered some food and drink to his mother and sister. He had been meaning to check if Shen Lanxi was awake, but instead, he found her having a meal.

He straightened the now-clean brocade robes on his body, glanced down at his spotless brocade boots, and adjusted the coronet on his head before walking over respectfully.

“Miss is awake.”

Shen Lanxi had known he was there all along but hadn’t called him out. Hearing his voice now, she looked over and thought to herself, what a flamboyant peacock!

“Have you had dinner?” she asked casually.

Liu Yanhui’s face flushed. Seeing the Miss eating, he should have stayed away.

If he said he had eaten, well, it wasn’t quite dinnertime yet.

What if he said he had eaten and the Miss thought him a glib and insincere person?

“I have not,” he answered honestly.

Shen Lanxi said, “Go see if Liu Laohu is busy. If not, ask him to come and have a meal with us.”

Liu Yanhui understood immediately. Treating it as a mission, he took his leave and went.

Liu Laohu arrived shortly after. Without Shen Lanxi having to say a word, Liu Yanhui went to Nanny Li to ask for a bowl and chopsticks.

Seeing that they were hosting a guest, Nanny Li added a large plate of scrambled eggs and filled two large bowls with brown rice.

There were only two bowls of refined white rice. One was for the Miss, and the other was kept in reserve for her.

Looking at the exquisitely arranged dishes, Liu Laohu became so awkward and constrained that he forgot how to use his chopsticks.

Liu Yanhui had been through this refinement twice before, so he was much more at ease now—at least, more so than Liu Laohu.

As she ate, Shen Lanxi discussed their upcoming plans in a consultative tone.

“I suggest we take everything we can carry, and burn everything we can’t.”

Liu Yanhui nodded. “Refugees are gathering in droves right now. We can’t rule out the possibility that some might venture into the mountains just as we did. We can’t leave them the means to become bandits.”

Liu Laohu nodded. “Hmm, that makes sense.”

The corner of Shen Lanxi’s mouth twitched. Thankfully, she had only invited Liu Laohu to listen, not to offer his own opinions. Otherwise, she would have choked on his constant refrains of “makes sense.”

“Black Wind Fortress has enough carriages. We should make the best use of them.”

Liu Yanhui said, “The situation outside is volatile. We don’t know if we’ll run into refugees. I suggest we all travel by carriage.”

Liu Laohu nodded. “Makes sense.”

Shen Lanxi continued, “We’ll rest one more night tonight. Starting tomorrow, we’ll organize the prisoners to boil water, load everything that needs to be packed onto the carriages, and prepare three days’ worth of dry rations—something that can be stored and won’t spoil easily.”

Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu nodded.

Before they knew it, the food was all gone. Liu Laohu and Liu Yanhui left one after the other.

After dark, Shen Yuanjing snuck over.

“Eldest Sister, Grandmother is forcing Father to ask you for food and money. I lied and told them you were injured and got nothing!”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “I’ll remember that. Have you eaten?”

Shen Yuanjing grinned slyly. “I have! I ate with the bailiffs. We had white rice and meat dishes, and we could eat all the rice we wanted!”

That was normal. The bailiffs were afraid they wouldn’t be able to take all the food with them, so they were feasting without restraint.

“Eldest Sister, you have no idea. Grandfather, Grandmother, and all the uncles and aunties were furious. So were the two Concubine Mothers and their children. They still have the nerve to expect us to bring them food. Even if the bailiffs hadn’t stopped me, I still wouldn’t have brought them anything!”

Shen Yuanjing’s lively nature unwittingly revealed itself.

Shen Lanxi said, “And so you should. If they want something, why don’t they strive for it themselves? You earned it, yet they want to leech off you and demand it. By what right? You don’t owe them anything!”

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes flickered. “Eldest Sister, you really think I did the right thing?”

The fact that he could still ask such a question meant that life hadn’t dealt him enough harsh lessons yet.

“You didn’t bring them food. Did they starve to death?” she asked.

Shen Yuanjing’s expression darkened. “They bought their own food with their money.”

She continued to press, “Did the bailiffs give them free cornbread buns?”

“They did.” He had personally seen them toss the hard, dry buns aside.

“Ah, Yuanjing! You have to understand, they can live just fine without you. And if you stop worrying about them, you will live even better!”

Shen Yuanjing was speechless.

“Go back. Think carefully about what I’ve said.”

Shen Yuanjing returned as if in a daze.

The next day, none of the four Shen siblings went to pay their respects to their grandparents. Their excuse was perfectly valid: they had to work for the bailiffs and make a good impression so that the Shen family would receive better treatment.

It was an excuse that not a single member of the Shen family could find fault with.

The four siblings, hard at work.

“Brother, I feel so much better not having to go pay my respects to our grandparents.”

“Me too. Every time we went, we had to serve them tea, massage their shoulders, and pound their legs. We’re in exile, yet the things we have to do when paying respects haven’t decreased at all. In fact, they’ve increased!”

“That’s enough. If we don’t want to go in the future, then we won’t. For the past few days, we’ve been the only ones fulfilling our filial duties. It’s about time someone else did their part.”

Chapter 36: Help Grandparents or Help Parents?

Shen Lanxi wasn’t idle either. The prisoners had their own arrangements, which had nothing to do with her group.

They also needed to prepare for their departure the next day.

Nanny Li’s son and daughter-in-law boiled water, while Nanny Li, Chunxue, and Qiushuang prepared rations for the next few days.

Their Miss had said they wouldn’t be able to eat properly for the next few days, so it was essential to make something tasty that could be easily stored.

The three of them discussed it and decided to make some pastries, crispy rice, dry biscuits, and jerky!

Shen Lanxi helped them, occasionally offering ideas. The dry biscuits were her idea—to bake the finished flatbreads until they were dry. For better flavor, sugar or salt could be added, making them similar to toasted bun slices.

Both sides were working feverishly. After lunch, there was a break for a tea’s time. Shen Congwen, after having arranged things with the bailiffs, came looking for her.

After giving her maidservants instructions, Shen Lanxi went into the room ahead of time to lie down.

“Master, the Miss is resting in the room!”

Shen Congwen thought of his daughter’s injury and felt deeply worried. With his daughter in the room, it was inconvenient for him to enter.

“Is the Miss’s injury serious?”

Chunxue lowered her head. “It’s nothing serious. She just needs more bed rest!”

When Shen Congwen heard she needed bed rest, his heart clenched. His daughter must have specifically instructed her maidservant to say this because she didn’t want him to worry!

“Master, should I go in and inform the Miss?” Qiushuang asked.

The thought of his injured daughter still having to take care of the family filled Shen Congwen with a deep sense of guilt.

“Don’t disturb your Miss’s rest. I’ll come back to see her next time!” Shen Congwen said and then left.

What Shen Lanxi didn’t expect was that “next time” would be so soon.

Before dinner, Shen Congwen came again.

If she didn’t let him have his say, he probably wouldn’t give up.

“Father!”

Shen Lanxi opened the door and went out.

Shen Congwen sized up his daughter. She still wore the same disguise; from her appearance, there was no sign of injury, which put him slightly at ease.

“I heard from Yuanjing that you were injured, so I came to see you.”

Shen Lanxi invited her father to sit at the stone table in the courtyard.

“Father, is Mother’s health any better?”

Thinking of his wife, Shen Congwen’s eyes darkened. “Your mother’s illness is of the heart. With time, it will surely get better.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Father, I only suffered a minor injury. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”

Shen Congwen replied, “I see. In that case, rest well. Leave any tasks to the servants.”

Chunxue brought over some tea, and Shen Lanxi personally poured a cup for her father.

“I will remember your concern, Father.”

Shen Congwen clenched his fist. The words he had to say next were difficult to voice. But if he didn’t say them, it would be hard to explain things to his own father and mother. They were his daughter’s grandparents, and surely they wouldn’t want their dearest kin to suffer.

“Lanxi, your grandparents haven’t been eating or sleeping well these past two days. Their bodies are starting to give way. Could you speak with the bailiffs and ask them to let your grandparents eat with them?”

Shen Lanxi continued to sip her tea, raising an eyebrow at her father.

She had never realized her father was such a filial son.

“Father, you are so good to Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Shen Congwen looked a little uncomfortable. “As a child, it is my duty to be filial to my parents.”

Shen Lanxi nodded in agreement. “I’ll discuss it with Liu Laohu. I’ll ask him to let you and Mother eat with the bailiffs.”

Shen Congwen was taken aback, his narrow eyes staring at his daughter. “Lanxi, do you hold a grudge against your grandparents?”

Shen Lanxi shook her head. “My words carry little weight, and our Shen family must be cautious now. If I am to take a risk, it will be for my parents first, and then for others. Your daughter’s abilities are truly limited.”

Hearing his daughter say she would prioritize her parents first softened Shen Congwen’s heart, but then he considered the other meaning behind her words and immediately frowned.

“I’m fine right now. You should just help your grandparents first!”

Shen Lanxi’s phoenix eyes turned cold. “You are healthy, Father, but what about Mother?”

Shen Congwen thought of his wife, sickly yet still insisting on walking by herself, and a pang of guilt shot through his heart.

“Father, I understand how you feel. You care for your parents, and I care for mine. If I can only risk asking Liu Laohu for a favor once, would you have me ask him to help my grandparents, or to help you and Mother?”

He could choose for himself.

“Lanxi, can’t you just let the rest of the Shen family have proper meals?” Shen Congwen didn’t understand. Liu Laohu was clearly friendly when he spoke with his daughter; couldn’t she just plead for the entire Shen family?

Shen Lanxi looked at her troubled father and said, “Liu Laohu gave the Shen family a chance before. Whoever was willing to contribute would receive preferential treatment. Liu Laohu is a man of his word, and now he has fulfilled his promise, giving better treatment to those who worked.”

“Father, do you want Liu Laohu to go back on his word? If everyone receives the same treatment, who would be willing to step forward the next time we encounter bandits?”

Shen Congwen was overwhelmed with shame by his daughter’s words.

“Lanxi, rest well. I’ll be going back now.”

Shen Lanxi watched her father’s retreating back. “Father, I will speak to Liu Laohu about improving your and Mother’s meals!”

Shen Congwen’s voice was dejected. “There’s no need. You’re right. I was being narrow-minded. We’ll just follow whatever arrangements Liu Laohu makes.”

Shen Lanxi watched her father’s departing figure with dark, somber eyes. Had a few good days made him forget the hardships at the beginning of their exile?

Reforming the Shen family was going to be more difficult than she had imagined.

Well then, let these minor flaws disappear bit by bit on the long road of exile.

In the evening, Shen Yuanjing and his three siblings came over.

“Eldest Brother, we did a lot of work today. Chunxue and Qiushuang even taught us how to do a horse stance!”

Looking at the four of them, their faces covered in sweat, Shen Lanxi smiled. “The family hired tutors to teach you the Four Books and Five Classics, but not martial arts. Your bodies are already somewhat set, but thankfully, it’s not too late to start now. Don’t be too hasty, and be careful not to injure yourselves.”

Yuanjing and his two brothers nodded.

Shen Yuantang asked, “Eldest Brother, can I learn too?” She also wanted to become as formidable as her Eldest Sister!

“Yes, you all can learn.”

Shen Yuanjing asked the question that had been weighing on his mind. “Eldest Brother, who did you learn martial arts from? Why have we never seen you practice before?”

Shen Lanxi answered evasively, “I used to go to the palace often. Naturally, I practiced there.”

Could it be that the palace guards taught her? Shen Yuanjing wondered.

“Chunxue, bring the flower pastries we made today and give them some.”

Shen Yuanjing waved his hands in refusal, embarrassed. “I’ve already had dinner. I’m full!”

Shen Lanxi said, “This is a reward for your martial arts practice. Take it back and eat it slowly.”

In the past, Shen Yuanjing disliked sweets the most, but now they had become a luxury. He felt embarrassed to take something from his Eldest Sister.

“Eldest Sister, you’re so kind! I haven’t had pastries in so long!” Seeing Chunxue approach with a basket, Shen Yuantang eagerly took a piece and started eating. As she ate, tears began to fall.

“I wish nothing had happened to our family!”

Shen Lanxi patted her head comfortingly. “It will be alright.”

Chapter 37: Master, You Can’t Be Partial!

Shen Yuanjing and the other three didn’t dare stay too long. After talking for a little while, they left with the pastries.

While speaking with her father, she’d remembered something else. With such a large family on the road, it wouldn’t do to not have a doctor!

They were headed to a cold and bitter land. Even with a hefty sum of money, an ordinary doctor might not be willing to go.

This matter had to be resolved before they reached the next city!

While Shen Lanxi was enjoying a comfortable bath and a peaceful sleep, the first branch of the Shen family was in an uproar.

“Master, Yuanqing and Yuanzhao are your sons too! You can’t just care for the children of the principal wife and ignore them!” Wei Rulan couldn’t sit still after seeing Shen Yuanqing secretly eating pastries.

Shen Congwen had just received a lecture from his parents, and now hearing Wei Rulan say this, his face couldn’t help but darken!

“Wei-shi, you will hold your tongue!”

Wei Rulan immediately threw a tantrum. “Master, you say I’m talking nonsense, but why do Yuanqing and the others get to eat pastries while my Yuanqing and Yuanzhao get none!”

Although Zhang Zifen said nothing, she stared intently at Shen Congwen.

Shen Congwen turned to his son Shen Yuanqing with a frown. “Yuanqing, what is this about?”

Shen Yuanjing answered for his younger brother, “This is a reward from Eldest Brother for practicing martial arts with him!”

Shen Congwen looked coldly at Wei Rulan. “Did you hear that?”

But unexpectedly, Wei Rulan found another fault to pick at. “Master, why do you only let the Second Young Master and the others practice martial arts? Why not let Yuanqing and Yuanzhao learn as well?”

Shen Congwen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately grew angry. “Did I arrange that? It was something the children sought out themselves. Even the preferential treatment the bailiffs give them is something they earned on their own. Let me ask you, when the four of them went to Black Wind Fortress to kill bandits, why didn’t Yuanqing and Yuanzhao go?”

Wei Rulan’s eyes immediately started to dart around.

“That’s because… that’s because I was worried for my children’s safety.”

Remembering the questions he had just faced from his parents, Shen Congwen immediately raised his voice. “You yourself stopped your sons from going, yet when you see others gaining benefits, you complain that your sons have nothing? Utterly foolish!”

He said this loudly on purpose so that his three brothers could hear.

“You foolish woman! I never should have been soft-hearted enough to agree to let you personally tutor the children. Look what you’ve taught the three of them to be!”

Wei Rulan’s face turned ashen, yet she dared not retaliate.

Shen Congwen declared, “Yuanqing, Yuanzhao, Yuanxin, starting tomorrow, you will follow your Second Brother and go learn martial arts from your Eldest Brother!”

Wei Rulan, who had been scowling just a moment ago, now beamed as if she had found a treasure. If her son built a good relationship with the Eldest Miss, there would surely be benefits in the future!

Before the sky had fully brightened, the convoy of exiles was already packed and ready to depart. After dispersing the women and children from Black Wind Fortress, they set the fortress ablaze and continued on their journey.

Ten tall horses were hitched to flatbed carts, which were loaded with either supplies or prisoners. The large group set off with great momentum.

Shen Lanxi still maintained a distance from them, not too close and not too far. Only now, there was an extra person in her cart—Liu Yanhui!

“Our group is missing a doctor!” Shen Lanxi said, looking at the map hanging in the carriage.

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up, and she said at once, “If I remember correctly, after we cross two more mountains and head fifty kilometers west, there’s a place called An Town. This town is the largest supplier of medicinal herbs in our Great Zhou. Every year on the Medicine King’s birthday, a large number of herb merchants and physicians go to An Town to stock up!”

She had heard of this place before but had never had the chance to see it.

Shen Lanxi began to ponder. “Besides the Medicine King’s birthday, are the medicinal supplies in An Town well-stocked at other times?”

Liu Yanhui replied, “We’re in luck this time. The Medicine King’s birthday is in half a month, so all the herb merchants must have already prepared their stock!”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Find a way to make Liu Laohu pass through An Town!”

Liu Yanhui immediately went to see to it!

Once they were back on the road, the prisoners’ food rations were reduced. Those who had helped the bailiffs attack Black Wind Fortress received the same food as the bailiffs. Those who had not were still eating the tooth-breaking cornbread buns.

During the noon break, Shen Yuanjing and his siblings, along with their half-brothers from the concubines, found Shen Lanxi and explained last night’s events with their heads lowered.

Shen Yuanqing apologized with a guilty look. “Eldest Brother, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for being greedy and letting them see me!”

Shen Lanxi patted his head and comforted him in a low voice, “If someone wants to keep an eye on you, it’s useless no matter where you hide!”

Shen Yuanqing was still upset. Because of the pastries, his father had scolded him last night and made them share the pastries with the others.

Those were a gift from Eldest Sister!

Shen Lanxi gestured for Shen Yuanqing and the other two sons of the concubine to come over and asked, “You want to learn martial arts?”

Shen Yuanqing nodded with a resolute expression. “I want to be like Eldest Brother and kill a wolf with a single strike. Once I’ve mastered martial arts, no one will be able to bully us again!”

Her gaze fell on Shen Yuanzhao. “And you?”

Shen Yuanzhao nodded. “I also want to protect our family!”

Her eyes finally rested on Shen Yuanxin. “Yuanxin, what about you?”

Shen Yuanxin thought for two seconds before saying, “Eldest Brother, we’re exiles. Can we still take the imperial examinations?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “The decree was only to exile the Shen family. It didn’t say you couldn’t take the imperial examinations!”

A flicker of light appeared in Shen Yuanxin’s eyes. “Then I’ll learn martial arts from Eldest Brother first, and after we reach Dongchuan, I’ll resume my studies!”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Very well!”

After they had agreed, she gave each of them two pastries and had Chunxue and Qiushuang go teach them.

Just as she sent them away, a commotion broke out among the prisoners.

It started because the bailiffs had thrown away the quilts and cotton-padded clothes Madam Song had hidden on a cart. The reason was that Madam Song had secretly stashed things taken from Black Wind Fortress onto the grain cart, and the bailiffs were afraid it would exhaust the horses!

After a long argument, the several bailiffs were no match for Madam Song. In the end, somehow, Madam Song found her way to Shen Lanxi.

“Young Master, you have to stand up for me!” Madam Song plopped onto the ground and began to wail and beat the earth.

Shen Lanxi glanced at Liu Laohu, who was already walking over, and calmly asked, “What do you want me to stand up for?”

Madam Song’s voice immediately rose. “You were the one who said it that day, whoever snatches something gets to keep it! How can you go back on your word?” As Madam Song spoke, she slapped the ground, putting on a full theatrical performance.

Shen Lanxi asked Liu Laohu, “Did I say that?”

Liu Laohu raised his whip to strike, but Shen Lanxi stopped him.

“She was a hero at Black Wind Fortress, after all. For the sake of the friendship we forged through hardship, there’s no need to use the whip!”

Liu Laohu had only meant to frighten her anyway. Hearing her words, he readily put his whip away.

“Who gave you the nerve to come and harass Young Master Lan? Get the hell back to where you belong!”

Madam Song retorted, “No, I won’t go back. If you don’t let me take those things, I’ll sit right here and not get up!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Madam Song, her eyes glinting and a smile playing on her lips.

“Madam Song, are you a prisoner?”

Madam Song stiffened and fell silent.

“Brother Liu, did Madam Song or did she not contribute at Black Wind Fortress?”

Liu Laohu did not deny it.

Chapter 38: Encountering Refugees, Getting Separated!

“Madam Song, let me ask you, if this were any other exile convoy, would you still be able to eat your fill and ride in a carriage?”

“Brother Liu has been very lenient with the prisoners. If it were other bailiffs, they’d point their blades at you, make you act as human shields at Black Wind Fortress, and you’d have no choice, right?”

Madam Song pursed her lips and said nothing, clearly resentful!

Shen Lanxi said, “You two, do me a favor. Let’s handle this according to business rules! Madam Song’s goods do indeed belong to her, but the quantity is a bit excessive. Madam Song, do you agree with this point?”

A bailiff interjected, “The horse pulling her goods is so tired it’s about to foam at the mouth.”

Madam Song rolled her eyes at the bailiff!

“Since there are so many goods, shouldn’t a carriage fee be paid?”

Madam Song remained silent.

Liu Yanhui sidled up to Liu Laohu and explained, “I think this will work. Madam Song made quite a haul at Black Wind Fortress. She can definitely afford a few taels of silver for the carriage fee.”

“If the goods on the carriage are too heavy and the horse can’t move, and we get caught by refugees, or wolves, and someone dies, that would be a huge responsibility!”

Madam Song’s eyes darted about as she weighed her goods against her silver. Once she had calculated which was more worthwhile, she immediately said, “I’ll pay the silver!”

Problem solved!

Afterward, Liu Yanhui found Shen Lanxi. “Miss, why did you help Madam Song?” As far as he knew, Madam Song was not a good person. He had intended to give his Miss a warning.

Shen Lanxi replied, “Someone like her will be useful sooner or later!”

Liu Yanhui understood. His Miss was aware of Madam Song’s character.

Perhaps the journey had been too smooth. On the way to the last great mountain, they encountered a group of refugees—two groups, in fact!

Compared to the sallow and emaciated refugees, their convoy, with its carriages, horses, and food, seemed obscenely wealthy!

“Chunxue, go tell Liu Laohu to speed up and push through!”

Chunxue quickly spurred her horse to catch up.

Liu Laohu was just about to ask what was happening when he heard Chunxue’s words and immediately ordered everyone to accelerate forward!

“All bailiffs, draw your blades!” Liu Laohu somewhat regretted having destroyed all their weapons when they left Black Wind Fortress.

The group of refugees came down from the mountain on the side. Upon seeing the convoy, they practically tumbled and crawled in their direction.

The two groups combined numbered at least several hundred people. If they were caught, losing lives would be the least of their worries!

“Faster, faster! Whip the horses harder!” Liu Laohu watched the dark mass of refugees charging down, his heart burning with anxiety.

Shen Lanxi emerged from her carriage, holding a staff as she looked at a mountain ahead!

Pointing her long staff forward, she shouted, “There are refugees on the other mountain too! Change course! Head east!”

The neighing of horses being reined in echoed through the mountains. Shen Lanxi, who had been at the rear of the convoy, now found herself at the front after they changed direction!

After traveling a hundred meters, they came to a fork in the road.

Shen Lanxi ordered her carriage to take one of the paths and stopped, quickly giving an order: “You all take this other road. If we get separated, we rendezvous in An Town.”

“Chunxue, Qiushuang, and Nanny Li’s family, you go with Liu Laohu. After I lead them away, I’ll find you!”

Having given the rapid instructions, she immediately tossed Chunxue from her carriage onto Qiushuang’s with one hand. Holding her long staff, she leaped down from the carriage and directed the exile convoy to leave!

In the emergency, there was no time to think. Liu Laohu immediately obeyed and had everyone enter the side road.

Chunxue and Qiushuang wanted to stay, but Liu Laohu whipped their horse’s rump. The carriage shot forward as if it had gone mad. Liu Laohu then did the same to get Nanny Li’s family’s carriage moving with the convoy.

Once the exile convoy was out of sight and the refugees drew closer, Shen Lanxi immediately got back on her carriage and drove away.

After confirming that all the refugees were chasing her, Shen Lanxi immediately called for Nu Bai!

“Quickly scan the surroundings. Is anyone else there?”

Nu Bai reported, “Besides the refugees chasing from behind, there’s no one else!”

Shen Lanxi let the carriage continue at a steady pace for a while longer. Once she was sure that the refugees wouldn’t be able to catch Liu Laohu’s group even if they turned back now, she immediately accelerated!

When she was sure no one could see her, she quickly stored the carriage in her storage space and rode the horse up the mountain!

After riding intermittently for three two-hour periods, she saw the exile convoy in the distance!

“Are there any refugees nearby?”

Nu Bai replied, “Reporting to Master, no, there aren’t!”

She didn’t rejoin them, choosing instead to scout ahead!

She scouted ten kilometers ahead and encountered no refugees, though she did come across a few small villages.

Under the cover of darkness, she scouted the villages. After confirming they were just ordinary villages, she immediately headed towards An Town!

Along the way, she encountered a few merchant caravans and a few small groups of refugees. Confirming they posed no great threat, she continued toward An Town.

A day and a half later, she successfully arrived at Prosperity Village, near An Town.

She spent another half a day in Prosperity Village, gathering information about businesses and famous doctors. Just as she was preparing to leave for An Town, she saw a group of a dozen or so burn victims pass by.

Every one of them was emaciated, their faces and bodies covered in burns of varying degrees. The most severe case was a person lying on a flatbed cart, their face and upper body festering and oozing pus. If not for the faint rise and fall of their chest, no one would have believed it was possible to survive such an injury!

These people were moving with haste, clearly heading for a specific destination!

Shen Lanxi changed her mind and quietly followed them.

The group crossed most of Prosperity Village until they reached a house at the very end of the village, where they knocked and went inside.

She had previously heard that Prosperity Village had an old, limping doctor with superb medical skills, but he had a strange temper and charged high fees. Could this be his house?

Shen Lanxi followed and, seeing the main gate was wide open, walked right in.

“Who are you? Who let you in? Get out!” the limping old man said, his face dark as he tried to shoo her away.

Shen Lanxi took out two silver notes. “Are you Doctor Zhang? I heard from the villagers that your medical skills are brilliant. I wanted to ask, do you make house calls?”

Zhang Niu didn’t even glance at the silver notes in her hand and simply tried to drive her out.

“No house calls! I’m busy today. If you need a doctor, come back in a few days!”

Shen Lanxi quickly said, “Then I’d like to buy some good typhoid medicine, fever-reducing medicine, and frostbite medicine!”

Seeing he couldn’t get rid of her, Zhang Niu glared at her, snorted, and turned to go inside.

Shen Lanxi pretended not to notice and silently followed him.

“Doctor Zhang, we…” The person speaking saw Shen Lanxi enter and immediately fell silent.

Zhang Niu looked like he had swallowed fire and snapped irritably, “Don’t you understand first-come, first-served? If you want to be seen, queue up honestly!”

Shen Lanxi quickly retreated to the doorway to wait.

Zhang Niu began to clean the most severely burned patient’s wounds, cursing under his breath as he worked.

“When you came, couldn’t you have sprinkled some wound medicine on him first! A bunch of idiots, the lot of you! Why haven’t you died from your own stupidity!”

“Damn it all! I don’t see a single burn victim for a year and a half, and then a decade’s worth all show up at once! Where the hell am I supposed to have so much medicine stocked for you lot!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes lit up. “Doctor Zhang, I happen to be going to An Town. If you’re short on medicinal herbs, I could bring some back for you!”

Chapter 39: Ghost Valley, Medicine King Valley!

Zhang Niu was just looking for an excuse to send her away, and she had handed him the perfect one on a silver platter. He immediately seized the opportunity.

“Go on, then. Mention my name at Four Seasons Hall and buy some extra burn medicine. That pharmacy doesn’t sell fakes.”

Shen Lanxi nodded and immediately left to buy it.

Hearing her footsteps recede into the distance, Zhang Niu turned, went back to close the door, and then rushed into the house with a speed that belied his age.

Nu Bai: “Master, he went inside!”

Shen Lanxi immediately flew back!

An angry voice came from inside the house.

“How could he be so seriously injured? How did you all protect the Young General?”

“Doctor Zhang, we’ve already done everything in our power just to get here!”

Zhang Niu pressed urgently, “What happened? Did something happen to the Wei Army?”

“It has. The military pay that was supposed to be delivered to the Northwest all turned out to be stones. And just as the Wei Army ran out of provisions, the city was set on fire and its people massacred. Apart from the few of us, there are no survivors from the Wei Army!”

Zhang Niu let out a mournful roar, “Who wants to annihilate my Wei Army?”

“We don’t know. On the day the city was burned, we were with the Young General grooming the horses. When we saw the city was on fire, the Young General immediately led us to help put it out, but then we were ambushed and pursued by a large group of men in black!”

“There were simply too many of them, and we were all forced into the inferno. Fortunately, heaven left us a way out. We hid in the sand and mud meant for building the city walls, and that’s how we managed to escape!”

“But the Young General was too severely burned while covering for us!”

Zhang Niu cursed again, his voice filled with rage.

Shen Lanxi flew away. These people absolutely could not be allowed to die.

The memorial to the court had clearly stated that the entire Wei Army had died in battle, with no mention of a fire.

Emperor Renxiao had handed her that memorial himself; there was no mistake!

And the men in black they spoke of—who were they?

More and more filth was rising to the surface, churning the already muddy waters into an even murkier mess.

She sped toward An Town and arrived at the Four Seasons Hall that Zhang Niu had mentioned. She gave Zhang Niu’s name, bought the best burn medicine, and then, using his name again, ordered five thousand taels’ worth of medicinal herbs, arranging to pick them up in the afternoon. Then she rushed back to Prosperity Village.

More than a two-hour period later, Shen Lanxi returned with a large bundle of herbs. From it, she took out two porcelain vials.

“Doctor Zhang, when I went to An Town to buy medicine just now, I ran into a miracle-working doctor and bought some ready-made burn medicine from him. Also, I heard from a medicine merchant that people from Medicine King Valley have been seen in An Town these past two days. I wonder if the medicine I bought was sold by them.” She handed the porcelain vials to Zhang Niu.

The moment he heard the words “Medicine King Valley,” he immediately set aside what he was doing and watched Shen Lanxi intently.

Seeing her take out the vials, he carefully accepted them with both hands. He opened one with great anticipation and sniffed it. After a few moments, he frowned.

“It’s not!”

Shen Lanxi asked deliberately, “Doctor Zhang, are you saying I was tricked? That I bought fake medicine?”

Zhang Niu shook his head. “The medicine is good, but it’s not from Medicine King Valley.”

Pretending not to understand, Shen Lanxi asked, “Can’t this medicine be used?”

Zhang Niu shook his head and gave her a strange look.

“It can be used. Who did you hear say they saw people from Medicine King Valley?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Everyone in An Town is talking about it!”

Zhang Niu turned back and applied all the medicine from the vials to the person with the most severe burns. Only after treating the others did he have time to speak with Shen Lanxi again.

“What was it you said you wanted before?”

Shen Lanxi said, “The best typhoid medicine, frostbite medicine, and fever-reducing medicine!”

Zhang Niu: “I don’t have any. Go buy them somewhere else!”

Looking disappointed, Shen Lanxi cupped her fists in a farewell gesture and left for An Town.

She had already left a mark in a conspicuous place. No one knew that when she was a child, she had been traveling with the Empress Dowager and, upon passing Peach Mountain, was accepted as a disciple by the Sage of Ghost Valley of that time.

No one in the world knew the location of Ghost Valley, but legends of the Sage of Ghost Valley had been circulating for centuries. The legends said that the Sage would always appear in times of chaos. Uncannily wise and a master of strategy and political maneuvering, he would seek out an enlightened sovereign to assist. The most widely spread saying was, “He who wins the Sage of Ghost Valley wins the world!”

What no one knew was that the Sage of Ghost Valley wasn’t a single person, but a group of people!

Each person in this group possessed unique skills. The head was responsible for strategy, the hands for creation, the feet for travel, and the torso for guarding Ghost Valley. Each part performed its own duty.

The Medicine King’s Birthday was a major event. The branch of Ghost Valley responsible for gathering intelligence abroad would surely come!

She returned to the place where she had left her mark. A merchant had already set up a stall there.

“Do you have any pigeons for sale?”

The merchant kept his head down. “I sell cakes here, not pigeons!”

“I want to buy a carrier pigeon, the kind with long legs that can fly!”

The merchant asked, “How do you know a pigeon can’t fly if it doesn’t have long legs?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Because I have a brain!”

The merchant immediately stood up straight, his previous indifferent attitude completely gone.

“What are your orders?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Contact the people from Medicine King Valley. Have them make a high-profile appearance in An Town!”

“Yes!”

Once news of Medicine King Valley’s appearance spread, Zhang Niu would certainly come to An Town to investigate. She wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; Zhang Niu would naturally find a way to get the people of Medicine King Valley to treat the Wei Army.

She had originally planned to contact Ghost Valley only after reaching Dongchuan. Since things had been moved up, it was a good opportunity, as she had a few matters she needed Medicine King Valley’s help with.

Afterward, she rented a place, went to Four Seasons Hall to pay the remaining balance, and had them deliver the medicine to her rented location. She then placed another order for five thousand taels’ worth of medicinal herbs!

Later, she changed her disguise and, under the guise of an herb merchant, ordered a large quantity of herbs, all to be delivered to the rental.

After a comfortable night’s rest, she went out into the streets again. Rumors about Medicine King Valley were already spreading, and by noon, its members had made a high-profile appearance in An Town.

Shen Lanxi waited at the city gate. Just as she expected, Zhang Niu soon entered the city. Not long after, the people from Medicine King Valley hurried out of the city with him.

A short time later, the convoy of exiles arrived!

Shen Lanxi waited for them at the city gate without going out. Leaving and re-entering would cost five taels of silver. No matter how wealthy she was, she wasn’t about to waste it!

Qiushuang and Chunxue, who had arrived earlier, were so thrilled to see Shen Lanxi that they were on the verge of tears.

“Miss, it’s so good to see you’re alright!”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Are refugees more formidable than a pack of wolves?”

Chunxue quickly wiped her face. She knew the Young Lady was formidable; it was just her eyes that wouldn’t listen, unable to stop the tears from falling!

“Qiushuang, go tell Liu Laohu not to reveal his status as a bailiff. Give him the household registrations we prepared and the silver for entering the city.”

“Yes!”

With someone else paying their entrance fees, the prisoners would only be secretly delighted.

As they entered the city, she noticed that the daughter of Wei Rulan, from the first branch’s concubine-born line, had an injury on her face.

“What happened to Yuanxin’s face?”

At the mention of this, Qiushuang’s anger flared. “It was Shen Yuanruan from the fourth branch! On our way here, we ran into a slightly larger group of refugees. They climbed onto the cart and were about to grab Shen Yuanruan, but she pushed Young Lady Yuanxin out in front of her.”

Chapter 40: Rumors!

“Shen Yuanruan is so cruel,” Qiushuang said. “Not only did she push Young Lady Yuanxin, but she used that push to knock a refugee who was boarding the cart off along with her. If that refugee hadn’t broken her fall, Young Lady Yuanxin would have been much more seriously injured!” She might have even fallen to her death.

Fearing she would anger her lady, Qiushuang didn’t elaborate on the severity.

“Those refugees swarmed them. If Liu Laohu hadn’t acted decisively and led his men to fight back, the consequences would have been unthinkable!” Even so, thinking of how Young Lady Yuanxin had looked as if she’d lost her soul the entire way, Qiushuang couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

They might not be full sisters, but they shared the same grandmother; half their blood was the same. How could she disregard someone else’s life for her own sake!

Shen Lanxi watched the departing figures, her gaze profound.

She had thought that without her protection, certain members of the Shen family would learn to see reality for what it was. Clearly, they hadn’t learned.

They had only become more pragmatic and self-serving!

If the silver for entering the town had given Liu Laohu pause, then the cost of food and lodging after arriving in An Town taught him another lesson entirely!

Everything was expensive. The places to eat and stay were several times more expensive than even The Capital. If Shen Lanxi hadn’t had a plan, Liu Laohu would have certainly taken his men to stay at the post station. At this rate, the spoils they had acquired at Black Wind Fortress would be gone in a matter of days.

Leaving the bailiffs to watch the prisoners, Liu Laohu immediately went to find Shen Lanxi to discuss the matter!

“Miss, why don’t we stay at the post station? It’ll save money!”

Shen Lanxi said, “You must be aware of the situations we’ve encountered on this journey. Someone wants the Shen family dead. If we expose our whereabouts, we won’t live to spend any money we have!”

Liu Laohu was rendered speechless for a moment. A trace of resentment rose in his heart—they were being dragged down by the Shen family.

Things having come to this, she didn’t bother hiding anything anymore.

“Just listen to me, and I guarantee you’ll deliver the prisoners to Dongchuan safely. Only after all the prisoners have reached Dongchuan will you have fulfilled the court’s mission and be able to walk away!”

Liu Laohu felt as if he were riding a tiger, unable to get off. He had faintly sensed this when the bailiff was killed by an arrow. Now that Shen Lanxi had laid it bare, the feeling was even stronger.

The people who wanted the Shen family dead had no regard for the lives of the bailiffs. Those people wanted to kill their entire party!

Shen Lanxi continued, “They just have to be a little clever, disguise themselves as bandits, brigands, or even refugees, and invent a reason like robbery for money or grain. In the current climate, the court wouldn’t even investigate!”

A chill ran through Liu Laohu’s heart. Though he was unwilling to admit it, what she said was the truth!

“Whatever you wish to do, Miss, just give the order. My bailiff brothers and I have elders to support and children to raise; they all depend on us to get by!”

Shen Lanxi was very satisfied with Liu Laohu’s flexibility. “Treat the prisoners as you did before. The same goes for the Shen family members—no exceptions!”

Liu Laohu asked, “Are you worried that someone with ill intentions might notice, Miss?”

Shen Lanxi didn’t answer, adding instead, “From now on, unless it’s a special situation, use the household registrations I prepared for you. Do not reveal your identities as bailiffs!”

Liu Laohu nodded.

“After you deliver the prisoners to Dongchuan, I will give each of you one thousand taels of silver as payment for this journey!”

Hearing this, Liu Laohu was inwardly joyful, but his face showed nothing. The words he spoke carried a tone of refusal.

“How could we accept? We are merely acting on orders!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Consider it compensation for being implicated by the Shen family! This matter of compensation must be kept secret. We can’t have anyone with a loose tongue bragging about it and revealing our whereabouts!”

Liu Laohu immediately focused on the latter half of her sentence. “Understood, understood!”

Such a large group couldn’t just squat on the streets, and she had no desire to pay for unrelated people, lest they take her for a fool!

“Many of them gained quite a bit at Black Wind Fortress. Let the prisoners sort out their own food and lodging. After warning them of the stakes, you can grant them some freedom to go out and purchase supplies. Just have Liu Yanhui arrange it!”

Liu Laohu nodded.

Shen Lanxi said, “I plan to stay in An Town for three days. We’ll set out after that!”

Liu Laohu hurried off to find Liu Yanhui. Any later, and he’d start forgetting what Shen Lanxi had said!

An Town was a hub for medicinal herb merchants from all over, and all sorts of news mingled there. The hottest topic was the divorce between the War God, Zhou Ruyuan, and Shen Lanxi. Even the annihilation of the Wei Army and the Shen family’s exile to Dongchuan were secondary!

“The Shen family committed a monstrous crime; that Shen daughter deserved to be cast aside! It’s our War God of Great Zhou who’s pitiful, getting demoted because he was dragged down by the Shen family.”

“That woman was never worthy of our War God of Great Zhou. If they hadn’t divorced, who knows how badly she would have dragged him down…”

“Divorce is letting her off easy. If you ask me, she should have been exiled with the rest of the Shen family!”

“If the Shen family hadn’t married a Princess, it would have been far worse than simple exile…”

Qiushuang and Chunxue were incensed as they listened to the gossip.

“Why don’t they talk about how Zhou Ruyuan has been keeping a mistress for ages, even spending his wedding night in her room? They’re all just sycophants, fawning over Zhou Ruyuan…”

Shen Lanxi’s phoenix eyes deepened. Such crucial matters as the annihilation of the Wei Army, the loss of a city, and the invasion of foreign tribes were being ignored. Instead, people were discussing a daughter of the Shen family and pitying Zhou Ruyuan for his demotion?

Were they belittling her while crying injustice for Zhou Ruyuan?

She hadn’t been entirely sure at first, but she became absolutely certain when she saw a familiar face—a guard from the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor!

In her past life, this was the man who had killed Chunxue and Qiushuang!

He was here to spread rumors for Zhou Ruyuan!

Since you’ve come, don’t even think of going back!

After Liu Yanhui made the arrangements for the prisoners according to Shen Lanxi’s instructions, no one was happier than Madam Song!

“Can we really go out and buy and sell things as we please?” Madam Song asked, breathless with urgency.

Liu Yanhui said, “Remember, do not reveal your status as a prisoner. Otherwise, if the authorities beat you to death, no one can save you!”

Madam Song nodded hastily. “Got it, got it! I’ll definitely remember!” Her eyes darted about, making it unclear whether she had truly taken his words to heart or was just pretending.

“Then I’ll go sell the things I brought?”

Without another word, Liu Yanhui simply made a gesture for her to proceed.

Besides Madam Song, the others who had profited at Black Wind Fortress were also eager. After a brief discussion, they went out in a group.

Shen Congwen’s face was filled with shame. He felt utterly mortified that his own children had to pay for his lodging!

The money the Old Madam had extorted from the first branch was already spent. Assuming her eldest son would pay for them to stay at an inn, she and her other sons and grandsons sat waiting at the entrance.

Seeing that her eldest son’s family was about to go inside, the members of the other branches grew anxious.

“Father, Mother, why is Big Brother only looking after his own family?”

“Even if he doesn’t care about us, he has to care about you, right? What does Big Brother mean by this? Does he not want to acknowledge you as his parents anymore?”

Goaded by her sons’ words, the Old Madam was consumed with rage. She cast aside her matriarchal airs and stormed forward to question him.

“Congwen, what arrangements are you making for your father, me, and your brothers?”

Chapter 41: Dog Meat Doesn’t Belong at a Banquet!

Just as Shen Congwen was overcome with shame, he was struck dumb by his mother’s sharp rebukes.

“Mother, why would you say such a thing?”

Seeing her eldest son still playing dumb, Old Madam Shen thought he was truly abandoning them and angrily slammed her body into him!

Shen Congwen was caught off guard and fell heavily backward onto the ground.

Old Madam Shen froze. She hadn’t used much force just now, had she? How could her son have fallen so hard?

“Father…” Shen Yuanjing and the others immediately rushed over. Just as they were about to help their father up, they saw him clutching his lower back in pain.

“Don’t move him yet. Father has injured his back!” Shen Yuanjing said decisively.

Seeing her son’s pained expression, Old Madam Shen guiltily took two steps back. But then she remembered that she was his mother and he was her son, and she stopped.

It was just a light bump, wasn’t it? How serious could it be?

“Grandmother, why did you push Father to the ground?” Shen Yuanjing asked, standing up.

“That’s right, Grandmother. Hasn’t Father treated you well enough? He gives you money when you ask for it, and when you want our things, Father gives them to you too. Isn’t he good enough to you? Why would you hurt him?” Shen Yuantang, who had been holding back her resentment for a long time, seized the opportunity to speak her mind.

When Old Madam Shen saw her own children and grandchildren daring to question her and point out her faults in the middle of the street, her chest tightened with rage and she began to tremble all over.

“Well, now! So you’ve all decided to rebel against me. Your first branch has brought the Shen family to this state, and I only say a few words, yet every one of you dares to talk back and defy me! What a fine son I’ve raised! He drags the entire family down with him, yet he only cares for his own branch, completely ignoring the rest of the Shen family. What sins did I commit in my past life to raise such a pack of ungrateful wolves…”

Old Madam Shen sat on the ground and began wailing, cursing her eldest son’s family for being unfilial.

“Mother, I haven’t abandoned you. I’m helpless as well…” In front of so many people, Shen Congwen simply couldn’t bring himself to say that he was penniless and now had to rely on his son and daughter to support him.

The other branches of the Shen family had already gathered behind Old Madam Shen, their sharp, glinting eyes fixed on the first branch as if watching a magnificent show.

Hmph, weren’t you always so arrogant? Just because you married a Princess, you expected the entire family to bow and scrape before you, didn’t you?

Things were different now. There was no blasted Princess anymore. They were all the same—criminals sentenced to exile. They no longer had to put up with the first branch’s attitude!

“Hey, isn’t that the Shen family?” someone in the crowd suddenly said.

“You know them? Which Shen family?”

The person who recognized them replied, “The one that embezzled military funds and provisions, leading to the deaths of the Wei Army! Weren’t they sentenced to exile? What are they doing here?”

“You must be mistaken.”

“How could I be? The Shen family once called me to their home to provide a medical diagnosis.”

…

“Miss, this is bad! The Shen family has been recognized at the inn’s entrance!” Nanny Li took advantage of a moment when no one was watching to hurry back and report.

After hearing the cause and effect, Shen Lanxi’s face turned dark. She never imagined that even with such a meticulous plan, something could still go wrong.

And this problem had been caused by the Shen family themselves!

Shen Lanxi ground her teeth viciously. “Excellent. They are just too excellent!”

“Miss, what do we do now?” Qiushuang asked anxiously.

Shen Lanxi’s face was cold. “It’s too late. We can only wait!”

Before long, Liu Laohu and Liu Yanhui arrived in a hurry.

“Miss, it’s bad, something’s happened! The Shen family has been arrested by men from the yamen!”

“I already know,” Shen Lanxi said calmly. “Quickly, gather the convicts. Put cangues on those who should wear them and shackles on those who need them. Make them look as wretched as possible!”

Liu Laohu nodded.

“You go to the prefectural yamen to negotiate. If they ask for a reason, just say we were chased by refugees on the road and ran in the wrong direction!”

Liu Laohu asked, “Should I use some silver?” He was worried the yamen wouldn’t release them.

Shen Lanxi said, “If the prefectural yamen is smart, they’ll release them immediately. If not, tell them we were pursued by assassins on the road and ask the yamen to protect the Shen family!”

Liu Yanhui said, “I’m worried something might happen to the Shen family at the yamen!”

Shen Lanxi continued to issue orders, “You, go spread the news that the Shen family is being detained at the prefectural yamen. The more people who know, the safer they’ll be.”

Liu Yanhui understood. This move would also pressure the yamen to release them quickly. The Shen family was a hot potato right now; no one wanted to be involved.

Having Liu Laohu go and retrieve them would be perfectly logical!

County Yamen

“Your Excellency, all members of the Shen family are locked in the cells. This is a hot potato; our county yamen can’t possibly take this on!”

The County Magistrate nodded. “But getting rid of them won’t be easy either. There must be many people watching the yamen from the outside right now!”

Just as the two were fretting, a bailiff came to report.

“Your Excellency, a bailiff named Liu Laohu is here. He says he’s come to pick up the Shen family.”

The County Magistrate and his clerk exchanged a look.

“Bring him in!”

Once inside, Liu Laohu immediately recited the lines he had memorized on the way.

“Your Excellency, this humble one is the bailiff responsible for escorting the Shen family. His Majesty, in his grace, exempted the Shen family from wearing cangues and shackles. Not long after our group left the Capital, we were attacked by refugees and several groups of unknown assailants. We were so panicked that we fled for our lives and ended up running in the wrong direction!”

When the Magistrate and his clerk heard the word “assassins,” their hearts skipped a beat.

The Shen family had to leave the county yamen. Immediately!

The Magistrate said, “So that’s how it is. Clerk, go personally and bring the Shen family out of the cells. Let Head Constable Liu take them away!”

The clerk hastily accepted the order. In less than a tea’s time, every last member of the Shen family was delivered, completely unharmed, into Liu Laohu’s hands.

After handing them over, the clerk swiftly ordered the yamen gates to be shut and announced that the County Magistrate was feeling unwell and would be taking two days’ leave!

Looking at the ashen-faced members of the Shen family, Liu Laohu sneered inwardly, cursing, “Dog meat doesn’t belong at a banquet!”

People had been watching the county yamen from nearby. The moment the Shen family emerged, a crowd surged forward and surrounded them.

“How did they get out? Is the county yamen afraid of the Shen family’s power?”

Liu Laohu immediately roared, “What nonsense about being afraid of their power! The Shen family has fallen; what power do they have left? I am the bailiff escorting them to exile. We ran into refugees on the road and got lost!”

“The heavens are blind! A family as wicked as the Shens, why didn’t the refugees tear them limb from limb…”

“The Shen family doesn’t deserve to live! So many men of the Wei Army died, why don’t they go and die!”

“My son was in the Wei Army! I want revenge for my son…”

Seeing that the crowd was no longer talking about fearing the Shen family’s power or questioning how they ended up here, Liu Laohu bothered with them no more.

He let the Shen family endure the curses.

It wasn’t just curses. Some people started throwing rotten eggs and spoiled vegetables. Liu Laohu quickly stepped away!

The Shen family was on the verge of breaking down from the assault. When they were thrown into the jail cells, they had thought they were going to die there. To their surprise, they were released not long after being locked up.

But their joy was short-lived. They were now being insulted, cursed, and pelted with filth. Not even in the Imperial Dungeon had anyone dared to treat them this way.

They wanted to open their mouths to retaliate, but the moment they did, a thick, foul stench filled their nostrils, so putrid it brought tears to their eyes.

They would have been better off staying in the cells!

Chapter 42: Chaos Befalls the World, a Wise Ruler Emerges!

When the Shen family’s identity was exposed, no one was more furious than the other convicts!

They had been happily enjoying the money they earned from Black Wind Fortress in An Town. Before they could even spend it all, they were summoned back, slapped into cangues and shackles, and then promptly kicked out of their inn and escorted out of the city gate, forced to settle with the refugees milling about outside.

Only after asking around did they learn it was all because of the Shen family!

Damn it! They hadn’t gotten a single bit of help from the Shen family this whole trip, only gotten dragged down by them!

“If the Shen family wants to die, let them die! Why do they have to drag us down with them?”

“Just wait till they get back. I’ll show them a thing or two!”

The convicts were all cracking their knuckles, waiting for the Shen family. However, when the Shens finally arrived, they truly couldn’t bring themselves to lay a hand on them.

It wasn’t a sudden bout of compassion, but disgust.

“It’s not that I don’t want to beat them, it’s that they reek!”

“Same here. In this heat, aren’t they going to start attracting maggots?”

“Ugh~ The stench is awful! Tell them to stay away from us, it’s going to make me puke!”

The convicts spoke deliberately loudly so the Shen family would hear.

The Shens had never been treated with such contempt. In the past, wherever they went, they were flattered and fawned over like the moon surrounded by stars. Never had they been so humiliated.

Old Madam Shen could bear it no longer. Her vision went black, and she collapsed forward.

“Mother…”

“Grandmother…”

As glorious as the Shen family’s entrance into the city had been, their exit was just as wretched!

Prosperity Village

A person rushed back to Prosperity Village.

“The Shen family has appeared in An Town! Let’s kill them and avenge the Wei Army!”

“Where are they?”

“When I was leaving, they were being driven out of the city to stay with the refugees.”

“Miss, the Shen family has been taken outside the city!” Liu Yanhui reported.

Shen Lanxi said, “Tell Liu Laohu and the others that they’ve been put through some trouble these past two days.”

Liu Yanhui replied, “Given your generosity, Miss, I’m sure they won’t feel troubled at all!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at his attire and smiled faintly. “I have a task for you, and your current outfit is perfect for it.”

Liu Yanhui looked down at his brocade robes and smiled confidently. “Your orders, Miss!”

She took out a pre-prepared casket. “I’ve rented a warehouse in South Alley. I want you to pose as a medicinal herb merchant and use this money to buy herbs for me. You only have two days. Buy as much as you can!”

Liu Yanhui opened the casket and saw a thick stack of silver notes. The smallest denomination was one hundred taels. Given the thickness of the stack, it was conservatively estimated to be at least several hundred thousand taels.

“Is Miss planning to go into the medicinal herb business?” Liu Yanhui asked.

Shen Lanxi casually fabricated an excuse, “I have reliable people who will help me ship the medicinal herbs to various places to be sold.”

Liu Yanhui asked no more questions. Just as he was about to leave with the casket, he heard her voice from behind him, “Hire some reliable guards.”

Liu Yanhui turned and replied respectfully, “Yes!”

Later that night, she had other business to attend to.

The guard from the Prince of Zhennan’s Manor who had been spreading rumors was staying in the inn adjacent to hers. On a dark and windy night perfect for murder, a life was silently extinguished in that inn.

Outside the city.

More and more refugees gathered outside An Town. To be safe, Liu Laohu had his convicts camp amidst the refugees.

It was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately, the foul stench emanating from the Shen family was so overpowering that it drove the other refugees away. A distinct empty circle formed a safety zone between the exiles and the refugees. If Liu Laohu didn’t have to watch over the Shens to keep them alive, he would have taken his bailiffs and hidden far away himself.

The weather grew hotter, and the hotter it got, the less wind there was.

The stench, with the Shen family at its epicenter, slowly spread outwards. The smell lingered, and whoever was closest to the Shens was the unluckiest.

This was the last straw for the other convicts.

“Holy hell, if you hadn’t exposed your identities, we’d be eating and drinking our fill in the city right now!”

“To hell with you~” Life was miserable enough. Everyone was human for the first time; who was going to yield to whom?

A hot-tempered convict landed a swift kick.

The women also glared fiercely at the Shen family. They wanted to kick them too, but they were afraid of getting dirty.

“Look at you pathetic lot, get out of the way! Let me at ’em!” Madam Song shoved the women blocking her way aside and pounced on one of the Shen women like a hungry wolf, her hands immediately scratching.

“Master, save me…”

The woman who had been tackled to the ground and was being clawed was the Second Madam of the family. The children of the Second Branch immediately begged for help.

“Father, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, please help!”

No matter how much they pleaded, not a single person stood up, including the Second Master, Shen Conglian.

Seeing that no one was helping and hearing their mother’s continuous cries, the children of the Second Branch finally went to her rescue.

Seeing that the bailiffs weren’t intervening, the other convicts grew bolder. But they all found the Shen family too smelly to touch, so instead of using their hands, they all started kicking.

“Father, where are you going?” Shen Yuanjing immediately called out when he saw his father about to step forward.

Shen Congwen struggled to his feet. “Yuanjing, quickly, go and help! Protect your grandfather and grandmother!”

Shen Yuanjing’s face was grim. “Father, have you forgotten that it was because of Grandmother making trouble that we were recognized?”

“Father, you shouldn’t go. Mother has only just started to feel a bit better. If you go over there and draw their attention, what if they start beating us too?” Shen Yuantang said unhappily.

Shen Congwen watched as the others began to attack his own father and mother. His face hardened as he scolded his children.

“I told you to go. Are you going to listen to me or not?”

“Those are your grandfather and grandmother. Do you want to be branded as unfilial?”

Reluctance was written all over the faces of Shen Yuanjing and his siblings, but they had no choice but to obey their father. They slowly trudged over.

As one could imagine, there was only one outcome: they were beaten along with the rest.

Not far away.

“Looks like we don’t have to do anything, huh?”

“What’s that smell on them? I really don’t think I could bring myself to touch them~”

“Me neither~”

“Killing them outright would be letting them off too easy. It’s quite good to see them tormented day after day like this.”

“True. I’ll keep watch here. You guys go back and take care of the Young General. When he wakes up, we’ll see what he says.”

After coming to an agreement, the group split into two.

In the latter half of the night, a convict got up to relieve himself. Groggy with sleep, he tripped over something and reflexively kicked it.

A clattering, rolling sound echoed, exactly like the sound of silver ingots. The convict was instantly wide awake. He looked down, dropped to his knees, and began thanking his ancestors for their blessings.

Liu Yanhui was highly efficient. When Shen Lanxi went to check the warehouse, merchants were already beginning to deliver medicinal herbs.

When she went to a teahouse to gather news, the gossip about Zhou Ruyuan’s divorce by mutual agreement had already been replaced by an even more sensational piece of news.

“Have you heard? The heir of the Sage of Ghost Valley has reappeared!”

“I heard, I heard!”

And that was as far as the conversation went. No one dared to continue, because what came next was a capital offense.

Legend had it that when the heir of the Sage of Ghost Valley reappeared, chaos would befall the world, and a wise ruler would emerge!

Chapter 43: The Shen Family Wants Money!

The re-emergence of a successor to the Sage of Ghost Valley meant one thing: the realm was about to have a new master! Such a treasonous thought was something one could only grasp intuitively; who would dare speak it aloud?

Shen Lanxi knew who had released the news, and a warmth spread through her heart.

Although she only entered Ghost Valley for two months each year, her master, senior brothers, and senior sisters all saved the best things for her. The moment she arrived, they would stuff her with everything all at once.

Everything she owned was recorded, so she couldn’t casually bring things back to the manor. Her master and seniors had prepared the largest room in Ghost Valley for her, just so she could store all the gifts they gave her.

That place was her second home.

If her wedding date hadn’t been set so suddenly, and if she hadn’t been subsequently confined to the palace studying wedding etiquette with no time to slip out and notify Ghost Valley, she would never have been so silently murdered in the inner courtyards.

As Shen Lanxi thought of the people who had harmed her, her aura instantly turned frigid.

She left another marker, and a short while later, someone from Ghost Valley appeared.

After exchanging the secret codes, she said, “Tell Silver to come see me. Tell him I’m Little Nine, and to find me at the Great Fortune Inn!”

“Yes!”

“Your Excellency Liu, did Young Master Lan say when he would be here?” Shen Yuanjing clutched his throbbing stomach as he found Liu Laohu.

The latter replied with a cold, hard, “I don’t know!”

A jolt of anxiety shot through Shen Yuanjing, and the spot on his stomach where he had been punched began to ache with sharp, stabbing pains again.

“Your Excellency Liu, I’d like to buy some wound medicine!” he said, enduring the pain as he took out the last of his money and handed it over.

Liu Laohu took the silver and weighed it in his hand. “Two taels of silver. That’s not even enough to buy two steamed buns these days!”

Shen Yuanjing’s face flushed red, but he didn’t dare to argue.

“Give him some wound medicine!” Liu Laohu gave one of his bailiff brothers a meaningful look.

When Shen Yuanjing received it, he saw it was only enough for one person. Just as he was about to ask for more, a cry of alarm came from the prisoner’s area.

It was his sister’s voice.

Shen Yuanjing clutched his stomach and, gritting his teeth, ran back.

“Give it back! That’s mine!”

“Pah! What do you mean, yours? You’re a heinous criminal. Are you worthy of owning anything?” a refugee cursed before immediately turning to run.

Shen Yuantang hurried after him, but after only a few meters, she was grabbed at by other refugees with wandering hands, causing her to scream in terror.

“Get away! Get your filthy hands off me…”

The members of the Shen family’s first branch immediately rushed over to save her, and only then did the refugees reluctantly let go.

“Pah! You think we’re dirty? We’re commoners. You’re just a criminal who anyone can beat and curse.”

“Everyone knows you Shens deserve to die! You still think you’re some high and mighty young lady?”

All sorts of vile insults floated through the air, and Shen Yuantang covered her face, crying in grievance.

The Old Madam’s money had also been stolen. After a long discussion with her sons, she went to find her eldest son.

“Have Lanxi send more money and food over. She’s a divorced, cast-aside wife. If she looks after the family more now, our Shen family won’t treat her unfairly in the future!”

Shen Congwen was unwilling to hear his mother speak of his daughter that way and immediately retorted, “Mother, don’t talk about Lanxi like that! It was a divorce by mutual agreement; she is not a cast-aside wife. His Majesty did not decree her exile, she could be living perfectly well in the Capital!” Instead of traveling thousands of kilometers with them to a barren, cold land!

The Old Madam’s face was grim. “What’s the difference between a divorce by mutual agreement and being cast out? Our Shen family has a clean reputation; there has never been a divorced woman. If her character were upright, then no matter how great our family’s crimes, it wouldn’t have affected a married daughter. It must be that her character is despicable and intolerable to the royal family! She’s too ashamed to stay in the Capital and has no one to look after her, so she’s following us, begging for the protection of the Shen family!”

Shen Congwen looked at her in disbelief. “Mother, you’ve seen Lanxi’s skills. With abilities like hers, does she need our protection? It’s been her protecting us this whole time!”

The Old Madam’s face turned ashen. “I knew you’d protect that little wench. No matter how capable she is, she’s still a woman. A woman cannot survive without the protection of her maiden family! All I’m asking is for her to take out some money, and you’re making all sorts of excuses. What are your intentions?”

Shen Congli walked over. “Mother, what other intentions could he have? Big Brother must be thinking that since Lanxi is the daughter of the first branch, her money should only be spent by the first branch, and it has nothing to do with the rest of us!”

Shen Congyi added, “Big Brother, this is where you’re wrong. Lanxi bears the name of a cast-aside wife and has that kind of relationship with Zhou Ruyuan. Who would dare to marry her in the future? If she gives some money now, Father and Mother will surely let the family’s juniors give her a place to stay. It’s not impossible that they’ll even support her when she’s old! Big Brother, must your first branch hoard all the money Lanxi has?”

The Old Madam declared, “Lanxi is a Shen. Her money is the Shen family’s money. Everything she has now was given to her by the Shen family. Eldest, if you are truly thinking of Lanxi’s well-being, go and ask her.”

Shen Conglian chimed in, “That’s right, Big Brother. If she gives a little money, we’ll protect her a little. If she gives a lot of money, we’ll protect her a lot. People aren’t made of stone; we will remember Lanxi’s kindness to us!”

Shen Congwen fell silent. His daughter was divorced from Zhou Ruyuan; it would likely be difficult for her to find another suitor. He was getting old; how much longer could he protect her? If it was as his brothers said, that they would look after Lanxi in the future…

“Let me think about it!”

Shen Conglian and his brothers exchanged a look. They knew their elder brother’s temperament. When he said he’d consider it, it was as good as done nine times out of ten.

“Take your time, Big Brother. Mother, you and Father should go back and rest to cool down. Big Brother will certainly not disappoint you!”

…

Shen Lanxi took some time to go to the warehouse and collect a portion of the medicinal herbs. When she returned to the inn, she saw a chubby young man.

Shen Lanxi blinked three times at him. A quarter of an hour later, the young man appeared silently in her room.

“Junior Sister, long time no see!” The chubby young man placed the gift he was carrying on the table and opened it.

Inside was a palm-sized, miniature golden and jade peach tree. The branches and trunk were all made of gold, so lifelike it looked like a real peach tree. The small peaches on it were carved from imperial jade, each the size of a soybean and studding the branches, so laden with fruit that they looked as if they were about to bend under the weight.

“Third Senior Brother, is this for me?” Shen Lanxi’s eyes grew moist as she held the ornamental tree.

“Of course, it’s for our most, most, most adorable Junior Sister, Little Nine! Quick, see if you like it!”

Shen Lanxi quickly blinked away the wetness in her eyes. These senior brothers and sisters of hers were more family than her actual family!

She was happy; she should be smiling.

“Third Senior Brother, I love it. Thank you!”

Silver said, “What’s there to thank me for? As long as you like it. I happened to be nearby on business for the Medicine King’s Birthday, or you wouldn’t have seen me so soon!”

Her third senior brother had always been direct. Shen Lanxi carefully placed the peach tree on the table and led him to a corner of the room.

Six large chests were stacked in the corner. She opened one for him to see.

“Third Senior Brother, these chests are filled with gold, silver, jade, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings. Take them and sell them. We’re going to make a big deal!”

Chapter 44: With Resentment Lingering in My Heart, I Cannot Save Everyone!

Silver scratched his head, glanced casually at the chests, and asked in a puzzled tone, “Little Nine, didn’t you call me here to save your family?”

A smile touched the corners of Shen Lanxi’s lips. “No!”

Silver was stunned, not understanding what his Junior Sister wanted to do. Could it be that gold and silver were more important than family?

“Well, Little Nine, what business are you talking about?”

Shen Lanxi broke into a smile. Although she knew her Senior Brother would help her without reservation, she still wanted to ask one question. Why?

Didn’t her Senior Brother think she was cold-blooded and heartless?

“Senior Brother, aren’t you going to ask me why?”

Silver said naturally, “You must have your reasons for doing this. You’re the brains of the operation, the one who does the thinking. You’ve definitely thought about it more than someone like me who doesn’t use his brain!”

Hearing this explanation, Shen Lanxi’s tears turned to laughter.

Seeing his Junior Sister smile, Silver grinned as well. Master had said that their Junior Sister must be terribly sad, having divorced from the Shen family and then being exiled.

Now that he had made her laugh, her mood must have improved a little.

“Senior Brother, while coal, charcoal, cotton, and linen are cheap, buy them up in large quantities!”

Silver didn’t know what “large quantities” meant; he needed a specific number to work with.

“Is five hundred thousand taels enough?”

Shen Lanxi thought about her current wealth and said, “Four million taels. Don’t store it all in one place. Stockpile more in the towns further north, especially the ones near Dongchuan!”

Silver was shocked. Four million taels all spent on fuel? The amount they could buy would be enough to last more than half of Great Zhou for an entire winter!

“Senior Brother, I’ll give you another two million taels later!”

Silver said hesitantly, “Just give me one and a half million. Aren’t we partners in this business? Ghost Valley will go fifty-fifty with you!”

A flash of gratitude crossed Shen Lanxi’s eyes. She knew her Senior Brother was trying to share the risk with her.

“Senior Brother, after the autumn harvest, have your people go to the rich and fertile regions to buy grain, and transport it all north!”

Silver nodded without hesitation. “Alright!”

He finally understood what was going on. Who did business in charcoal at this time of year?

His Junior Sister was just kind-hearted. She said it was a business in coal, cotton, and linen, but in reality, she was giving the disaster victims a way to survive. With the great drought, the crops had failed completely. For the common people who lived off the land, it would be a blessing if even one in ten survived from the beginning of the drought to its end.

His Junior Sister was giving them a path to life! If she hadn’t specifically reminded him to buy grain after the autumn harvest, he might not have understood her act of kindness!

Shen Lanxi didn’t know what her Senior Brother was thinking. If she did, she would have had to explain that while buying grain after the harvest was an act of charity, the coal business was genuinely for-profit.

In her past life, she had died deep in the winter. The old crones in the rear courtyard, fearing they couldn’t torment her to death fast enough, had left her door wide open when it snowed, leaving her with only a tattered, thin autumn quilt. That was how she knew there would be a snow disaster that winter. Goose-feather-sized snowflakes fell continuously for half a month without stopping. In unswept corners, the snow piled up as high as a person!

She had a sense of right and wrong, of greater justice, but after two lifetimes, she had also added self-interest to the mix. She could look after herself in times of hardship, but she couldn’t extend her aid to the entire world in times of prosperity.

Right now, she was just a wronged soul who had died unjustly and been reborn full of resentment. With this resentment lingering in her heart, she couldn’t save everyone!

In modern terms: the fact that she hadn’t taken revenge on the entire Great Zhou empire was a testament to her good character!

“Little Nine, do you need guards?”

Shen Lanxi thought of the assassins on the road and the Wei Army. The exile convoy already had enough tails; there was no need to add another.

“Not for now. When I need them, I’ll find you!”

Silver was still a little worried. “I’ll leave two men behind. If something comes up, you’ll be able to contact me quickly!”

She didn’t refuse this offer.

Nu Bai: “Master, Liu Yanhui is back!”

Shen Lanxi: “Senior Brother, leave the things here. When I go out later, bring your men to pick them up!”

Silver heard the voice too and glanced at the door.

“Little Nine, someone’s here. I’m leaving!”

Shen Lanxi nodded.

Five or six seconds later, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in!”

Liu Yanhui reported to Shen Lanxi on the progress of collecting medicinal herbs, and also about the Shen family.

“There are people from the Shen family clamoring to see you!” It wasn’t that he didn’t specify who; it was that everyone wanted to see her.

Shen Lanxi’s expression didn’t change. “I won’t be showing myself for the next few days. If Liu Laohu asks, just say I went to do business and will be back in a few days!”

Liu Yanhui thought about the chaotic mess of the exile convoy; after all, it was the Shen family members who were suffering.

If something happened to the Shen family, what if Shen Lanxi decided to hold him accountable? He needed to know her attitude toward them in advance.

“Miss, the other convicts are all bullying the Shen family, and the bailiffs are all turning a blind eye.”

Shen Lanxi: “I ordered Liu Laohu to do that.”

Liu Yanhui: “…”

“Do you have any other questions?” Shen Lanxi glanced at him.

Liu Yanhui silently took a list of medicinal herbs from his pocket. “This is a detailed list of the herbs we’ve purchased in the last two days, along with the quantities! On my way here, I saw people from Medicine King Valley auctioning a miraculous healing medicine at Fuman Lou. Should we go buy some?”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes lit up. It was like someone handing her a pillow just as she was getting sleepy.

“Let’s go take a look!”

She had originally planned to use Ghost Valley’s name to buy it, but now that she could get it just by spending money, the more the better, of course!

No sooner had the two of them left the inn than someone entered the room and carried away the six large chests.

Liu Yanhui said, “I’ve made inquiries. The people from Medicine King Valley originally planned to bring out the sacred medicine tomorrow for the Medicine King’s Birthday, but for some unknown reason, they’ve done it early!”

The two of them talked as they walked.

The area outside Fuman Lou was already packed with carriages, all belonging to fabulously wealthy herb merchants.

Liu Yanhui: “Miss, they check your assets at the door here. You need to have one hundred thousand taels on you!”

Without batting an eye, Shen Lanxi pulled a stack of silver notes from her sleeve and handed it to Liu Yanhui.

He glanced quickly at the denominations on the notes, then hastily shoved them into his pocket and clutched it tight.

One hundred thousand taels was just the entry requirement. Inside, a seat near the front started at five hundred thousand taels. To get even closer, you had to rely on your spending amount.

The more you spent, the further forward your seat would be.

She was shown to a seat in the very last row. By the time she entered, the bidding had already begun.

“Whatever price they offer, bid higher!” Shen Lanxi instructed Liu Yanhui.

He was taken aback. “Shouldn’t we first ask what’s being sold?”

Shen Lanxi: “Does Medicine King Valley sell inferior products?”

A single sentence was enough to convince Liu Yanhui.

In a flash, the price shot up from one hundred taels to five thousand.

Liu Yanhui: “Six thousand taels!”

The people in front turned around in unison, their gazes strange.

She had originally thought she would be moving to the front soon and didn’t bother sitting, but seeing that something was off, she promptly took her seat.

“Sixty-five hundred taels!”

“Sixty-six…”

Liu Yanhui: “Seven thousand!”

The atmosphere in the room tensed. The next person who called out a bid sounded a bit strained.

Chapter 45: Shameless Robbery!

“Eight thousand taels!”

Seeing how fierce the competition was, Liu Yanhui immediately concluded that the medicine being auctioned must have extraordinary effects. Could it be a life-saving golden elixir?

“Nine thousand taels!”

The atmosphere in the room tensed again. Several older men turned to look at Liu Yanhui with frowning faces. Their gazes swept idly over his upper body before quickly zeroing in on his lower half!

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flashed, and she subtly put some distance between herself and Liu Yanhui!

“Nine thousand five hundred taels!” You could hear the grinding of teeth in his voice!

Liu Yanhui: “Ten thousand taels!”

The atmosphere froze, followed by a few snickers.

“To think he’s so young and already needs it!”

“Compared to him, we’re still sharp as ever. Let’s let him have it!”

“Yes, let him have it. He should hurry up and secure his family line while he’s still young…”

The more Liu Yanhui listened, the stranger it felt. As he took in the probing, pitying, annoyed, disdainful, gloating, and superior looks, he vaguely seemed to understand something.

“Is there anyone else who wants to bid? If not, the Revitalizing Vigor Pill belongs to this young master!”

Liu Yanhui’s face instantly turned beet red, and he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it. He quickly looked for Shen Lanxi to explain, but where was she?

She was right beside him just a moment ago.

Liu Yanhui hurriedly searched the area and, a few seconds later, found her sitting in a corner, as steady as a rock.

She even made a two-handed pushing gesture toward him!

Stay away, I don’t know you!

Liu Yanhui: “…” He desperately wanted to ask if anyone wanted to buy this thing. He’d sell it at a discount!

The little episode passed quickly. After spending ten thousand taels, they were moved forward two rows.

The wound medicine introduced next was much more straightforward. For the first time in his life, Liu Yanhui enjoyed the feeling of spending someone else’s money—the taste of washing away his previous shame!

After successfully bidding on four types of medicine in a row, they had moved from the back rows all the way to the front!

“Next up for auction is the Snow Toad Detoxification Pill. It can cure a hundred poisons! Its ingredients include the Tianshan snow lotus, the snow toad from the Polar Frigid Pond… The starting bid is ten thousand taels!”

The main event had arrived!

In the blink of an eye, the price soared to five hundred thousand taels!

As long as Shen Lanxi didn’t stop him, Liu Yanhui continued to bid. In a flash, the price hit eight hundred thousand taels, and no one else made a bid!

The detoxification pill was the last item of the auction, and the event concluded after it was sold.

She and Liu Yanhui had just stepped out of Fuman Lou when they were chased down.

“Young Master, a member of my family has been poisoned. I was wondering if you could spare the detoxification pill for me?” Qu Yanling blocked Shen Lanxi’s path.

Then, another person from Fuman Lou rushed out to stand beside Qu Yanling.

Shen Lanxi: “I can!”

The two were overjoyed.

“Seven hundred thousand taels!”

What?

Qu Yanling and Sun Miaolian froze simultaneously.

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “I bought this detoxification pill for seven hundred thousand taels. Out of consideration for your devotion to your family, I will now transfer it to you at the original price.”

Resentment flashed in Qu Yanling’s eyes. If she had the money, she would have bought it inside. Why go through the extra trouble of chasing them out?

Sun Miaolian said, embarrassed, “We don’t have that much money on hand. Could you make it a little cheaper?”

Shen Lanxi didn’t miss the look of disbelief on their faces when this woman had asked them for money earlier.

“No.”

Qu Yanling’s smile vanished. “You don’t have anyone poisoned in your family. If you keep the detoxification pill, it will lose its potency over time. You might as well sell it to me for a lower price.”

Shen Lanxi: “First, I just bought this medicine. Even if it were to lose its potency, that would be at least half a year or a year from now. Second, how do you know that my family and I won’t need it?”

Qu Yanling’s gaze turned cold. “Do you know who has been poisoned?”

Shen Lanxi: “I don’t want to know. It has nothing to do with me!”

A contemptuous scoff was heard.

“The one who was poisoned is my father, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Cangzhou City.”

Shen Lanxi turned to leave. These days, smart kids didn’t shout “Do you know who my father is?” when they got into fights; they shouted someone else’s father’s name. This woman was really setting her father up for a fall!

“Stop! Did I say you could leave?” Seeing her walk away, Qu Yanling was instantly enraged and gave chase!

Shen Lanxi didn’t stop. She was about to collide with Qu Yanling, who was so frightened she quickly dodged.

“Do you have no sense of propriety and honor? Can’t you see a living person standing right in front of you?”

Shen Lanxi retorted mockingly, “You are a man. You saw me walking briskly toward you, yet you didn’t know to step aside. Instead, you ask if I understand propriety and honor?”

“If you were a woman, I could have avoided you. But you are a man. The road is wide open, yet you stood in the middle with blind eyes to deliberately block my way. On what grounds should I yield?”

Qu Yanling’s face turned ashen. She had come to An Town to find medicine for her father and had been wearing men’s clothes for convenience. She never expected her filial piety to be met with such ridicule and sarcasm.

This person was truly detestable!

“Seize him!” At Qu Yanling’s command, a dozen guards rushed out from the side, surrounding Shen Lanxi and Liu Yanhui.

A sharp glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes as she feigned surprise and asked, “Even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. Are you going to assault us in the street just because I refuse to give you the detoxification pill I bought for seven hundred thousand taels for free?”

“Where is justice? Where is the law? I’m going to report this to the authorities!”

Someone in the crowd recognized Sun Miaolian and immediately tried to persuade Shen Lanxi, “You were willing to spend seven hundred thousand taels on the detoxification pill, so you must not be short on money. Just give it to them. Consider it a small price to pay to avoid disaster!”

Shen Lanxi said with a face full of indignation, “I refuse to believe there is no place for reason in this world! If they dare to lay a hand on us today, I will go to the Prefectural Yamen and sue them!”

Qu Yanling thought she had some powerful backing. Was this it?

“I’ll ask you one more time. Are you going to hand over the detoxification pill or not?”

Shen Lanxi shouted, “In broad daylight, you’re trying to rob me of a detoxification pill I bought for seven hundred thousand taels! You completely disregard the law, treat human life like grass, you are treacherous and wicked, despicable and shameless! This is robbery!”

Qu Yanling was used to having her way in Cangzhou Prefecture. How could she tolerate being slandered like this? She was instantly infuriated.

“Do it!”

Shen Lanxi whispered quickly to Liu Yanhui, “Leave during the chaos, change your clothes, and continue acquiring medicinal herbs!”

Liu Yanhui thought: We’re about to be captured, and you’re still thinking about buying herbs?

The guards swarmed forward. Shen Lanxi fought back while drawing them away.

Seeing that she was serious, Liu Yanhui quickly blended into the crowd! He had just run back to the inn when he brushed past Shen Lanxi, who had already changed into women’s clothing.

“Where are you running off to?”

The familiar voice nearly made Liu Yanhui slip and fall flat on his face!

“I told you to change your clothes. Why haven’t you?”

The first sentence left him confused, but at the second, Liu Yanhui immediately came to his senses.

“Miss!”

Shen Lanxi: “Change your clothes. Carry on with what I arranged for you to do before!”

Liu Yanhui didn’t even dare to look up as he hurried back to his room to change!

Qu Yanling had announced her background, so there was no need for Shen Lanxi to investigate. As for the other person, she had already found out about her as well.

The local prefect’s surname was Sun. An honest prefect for a year still makes a hundred thousand taels of silver. An Town was a treasure trove where a single bottle of medicine could cost tens or hundreds of thousands. Prefect Sun must have raked in quite a bit!

After nightfall, a shadowy figure flashed into the prefect’s inner residence like lightning!

“Nu Bai, scan all the places where treasures are hidden!”

“Roger!”

Chapter 46: Hiding One’s Accomplishments and Fame!

Shen Lanxi started from the backyard, sweeping through it bit by bit. She took everything useful. Nothing of value was left behind!

Upholding the principle of not even leaving behind a ball of thread or a single needle, Shen Lanxi took everything in sight!

“Master, there’s a secret door in the study, and it’s filled with gold, silver, and treasures!”

Gladly accepted!

“Master, there are two treasure boxes on the ceiling beams!”

“Master, there’s a hidden compartment behind the dressing table!”

“Master, there’s a lot of gold and silver in that room!”

All of it, gladly accepted!

“Master, that courtyard is heavily guarded. There are many boxes inside, and they’re all filled with medicinal herbs!”

Shen Lanxi leaped onto the roof to take a look. The boxes were all marked with the character for ‘tribute’—they were tribute items for the court!

Judging by all this gold and silver, this person surnamed Sun was clearly corrupt.

Take it!

The contents of several dozen large boxes vanished in the blink of an eye!

After leaving the Sun residence, she flew to the herb collection warehouse and emptied all the medicinal herbs with a wave of her hand.

When she returned, she knocked on Liu Yanhui’s door.

“Pack your things. I’m getting you out of here!”

The words immediately jolted Liu Yanhui awake. She hurried to pack her belongings, and in the blink of an eye, the two were at the city gates.

“Get ready!”

Liu Yanhui looked bewildered. Ready for what?

The next second, Shen Lanxi grabbed Liu Yanhui and leaped into the air. Liu Yanhui’s eyes flew wide open in shock, then she squeezed them shut and clamped a hand over her mouth!

They landed as light as a feather. “Alright. After daybreak, leave with Liu Laohu and the others first. I’ll catch up later!”

Even after Shen Lanxi had left, Liu Yanhui’s legs were so weak she couldn’t stand up.

If she were Qu Yanling and had failed to catch her target, the first thing she would do is post guards at the city gates to screen everyone passing through.

The Sun Manor would do the same.

She had originally planned to stay for three days, but now she had to leave a day early!

She moved to a different inn and left a sign. The next morning, her Third Senior Brother knocked on her door.

“Little Nine, why did you move?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Something came up. I’ll be leaving this afternoon.”

Silver handed her a whistle. “From now on, if you need anything, have Little Xue send me a message. It’ll be faster!”

She hung the whistle around her neck, handed over the one million five hundred thousand taels she had mentioned before, and then took out two pieces of paper.

“Senior Brother, this paper has the locations for grain storage, and the other has the locations for charcoal. Build large warehouses at these places I’ve written down and stockpile these goods!”

Silver took them, glanced over them, and nodded, putting away both the papers and the silver notes.

“Junior Sister…” Silver looked at her somewhat bashfully.

Shen Lanxi rarely saw him like this. “Senior Brother, just say what’s on your mind.”

Silver scratched his head awkwardly. “Do you want Senior Brother to go teach Zhou Ruyuan a lesson for you?”

Senior Brother must have heard about the “called for water three times” incident!

“Senior Brother, we’re not assassins. We can’t just resort to fighting and killing all the time.”

Silver’s eyes darkened. Does Junior Sister still have feelings for Zhou Ruyuan? That scoundrel hurt her so much… How can she be so foolish!

“I heard he’s gone to the Northwest to fight the enemy. If we’re going to kill him, we should at least wait until the foreign invaders are driven out of Great Zhou’s territory.”

Silver thought: I knew it! Junior Sister has always been the smartest!

“He can be spared a death sentence, but he can’t escape punishment. If he dared to do it, he must have the courage to face the consequences!” A cold smile spread across Shen Lanxi’s face.

Silver jumped. Seeing that expression on his junior sister’s face, why did he feel like this ‘punishment’ would be worse than death?

“Senior Brother, let me tell you…”

Silver’s eyes widened bit by bit. He understood. His junior sister wanted Zhou Ruyuan to wish he were dead!

One two-hour period later, the teahouse was packed to the rafters.

“The Prince of Zhennan, Zhou Ruyuan, has a mistress in his manor, and she’s as ferocious as a tigress! On his wedding night, she kept His Highness so entangled that he never even set foot in the bridal chamber. He called for water thirty times in one night…”

“Thirty times?”

“We might believe three times, but thirty… isn’t that a bit much?”

“That’s not a sign of stamina, it’s a sign of weakness…”

“Doesn’t that mean he’s finished as soon as he’s in… hahaha!”

Shen Lanxi waved with a brilliant smile, hiding her accomplishments and fame!

She continued to buy medicinal herbs. On the way, she glanced at the city gates and saw that, just as she expected, they were now under heavy guard.

It wasn’t until evening, just before the city gates were about to close, that Shen Lanxi, disguised as a woman who had come into the city to buy rice, swaggered out of the gates carrying a bag of rice.

…

“Stop hitting us, stop hitting us…” Within the column of exiles, the Shen family’s pleas for mercy rose and fell.

“Hmph, you deserve it! If it weren’t for you, would we be wearing cangues and shackles? Would we be walking on our own two feet? We’re being easy on you by not beating you to death!”

“Stop, you’re going to kill someone if you keep hitting them.”

“Please, stop hitting us…”

Except for the first branch, no one in the Shen family was spared. Even Old Madam Shen’s face was scratched all over by Madam Song.

Now, they couldn’t even get the luxury of being carried. If any Shen family member tried to climb onto someone’s back, the other prisoners would relentlessly bully both of them.

After being beaten twice, Old Master and Old Madam Shen no longer dared to climb onto their children’s or grandchildren’s backs. They didn’t even dare to raise their heads—raising your head meant you were defiant, and defiance meant a beating.

Sitting in the carriage, Liu Yanhui would glance back from time to time. Every time she looked, her body would tremble.

Those who knew the truth understood they were her family; those who didn’t would think Young Master had a blood feud with them.

“Young Master Liu, why hasn’t Young Master Lan caught up yet?” Liu Laohu craned his neck to look into the distance. There was no sign of a person, not even a cloud of dust.

Liu Yanhui averted her gaze and said, “Young Master Lan went to conduct some business. He won’t be back for a while.”

Liu Laohu was worried about something else. “What if we run into refugees on the road again?”

With a worried expression, Liu Yanhui glanced back at her mother and sister, silently praying for the Young Master to finish dealing with the herbs in the warehouse quickly.

Not long after Shen Lanxi left the city, she saw a dozen or so riders emerge from An Town with murderous intent. Among them was Qu Yanling.

After leaving An Town, she made another trip to Prosperity Village.

Regarding the incident with the Wei Army, the ones who knew the most were, of course, the members of the Wei Army who had personally experienced it.

When she arrived, Zhang Niu was changing the dressing for the Wei Army’s Young General, muttering as he worked.

“The skills of Medicine King Valley are truly unfathomable. The Young General has regained consciousness in such a short time. He should make a full recovery soon!”

“Young General, don’t rush to speak. Your throat was burned by the fire, but the people from Medicine King Valley left medicine. It should heal within a month.”

“It’s just that their appearance this time was so sudden. Could there be something strange about it?”

Wei Dongzhu raised a hand and pointed at a few people in the room, then made a number with his fingers. Someone immediately understood.

“Young General, we spotted tracks of the Shen family in An Town. Little Mao and Ah Li have gone to follow them.”

Upon hearing the words “Shen family,” Wei Dongzhu reacted violently. He struggled to sit up, roaring as if trying to speak, but not a single word came out. If not for the bandages wrapped around his face, his expression would certainly be contorted with hatred.

“Young General, don’t worry, they won’t get away.”

“The Shen family is in a miserable state now. They’re like rats scurrying across the street—everyone wants to beat them on sight!”

With red-rimmed eyes, several people worked together to gently push Wei Dongzhu back down.

Chapter 47: I Have a Feeling Something’s Going to Happen!

With that much strength to struggle, they were definitely not going to die.

Shen Lanxi thought for a moment, then took a chest out from her storage space, placed it silently by the door, and left just as quietly.

Not long after the exile procession set out, they encountered refugees. Fortunately, it was a small group of about a dozen people. The bailiffs brandished their sabers, intimidating them enough that they didn’t dare approach. But they didn’t leave either, instead following the procession from a distance.

At first, Liu Laohu didn’t notice. It was only when they stopped for a break at noon and an old woman with two skeletal children came forward to beg for food that he realized the gravity of the situation.

“Xiao Fang, go in the direction that old woman came from and scout things out. See how many of them there are. Be careful not to be seen!” Liu Laohu ordered cautiously, then immediately went to find Liu Yanhui.

“Young Master Liu, why don’t we let the prisoners ride in the carts?” Liu Laohu said with concern.

Liu Yanhui thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Let’s wait a little longer.”

Liu Laohu paced back and forth anxiously. After a short while, Xiao Fang returned to report.

“Brother Liu, it’s that group we ran into before, about a dozen of them. They’ve been following us the whole time. I followed them secretly and heard them say that we’re government bailiffs and must have a lot of grain in our carts, so we surely wouldn’t watch them all starve to death!”

Liu Laohu was instantly enraged. “They’re trying to leech off us! This won’t do. We have to pick up the pace. What if we run into a larger group of refugees who team up with them to rob us?”

Liu Yanhui felt a surge of anxiety, but he didn’t let it show. He just felt that Miss must have had a reason for arranging things this way.

“Let’s wait a bit longer. If the refugees become too numerous, then we’ll let the prisoners get on the carts,” Liu Yanhui said, glancing carefully at Liu Laohu. With Miss gone, he wasn’t sure if he could keep him in line.

Liu Laohu clenched his fists and paced back and forth a few times before letting out a frustrated sigh.

“Fine, we’ll wait. We’ll run into refugees no matter where we go anyway!”

Liu Yanhui’s heart relaxed. He turned to find his mother and sister for lunch.

Thanks to Miss, his mother and sister no longer had to stay with the exiled prisoners. He didn’t dare let them stay with the bailiffs either, and he certainly couldn’t trouble Miss’s people, so he had openly paid to rent a carriage when they set out.

The bailiffs were happy to make the money, and the prisoners had no grounds to object.

“Yanhui, hurry and eat.” After preparing the meal, Liu Yanhui’s mother had wrapped it in old cotton clothes and hidden it away. Seeing her son return, she furtively stuffed it into his hands like a thief.

“My son, eat quickly, before those shameless people start eyeing it!” Mrs. Su shot a glare in the direction of the Shen family.

Liu Yanhui didn’t understand, nor did he ask. He obediently took the bowl and began to eat.

Beneath the fragrant rice were plump, round eggs and several slices of salted meat. It smelled wonderful!

Seeing her brother eat with such relish, Liu Yanjun couldn’t help but swallow.

“Mother, sister, you have the eggs and salted meat,” Liu Yanhui said, having finished the rice but leaving the food hidden underneath untouched.

Although Liu Yanjun desperately wanted to eat it, she forced herself to resist. “Brother, Mother and I have already eaten. You should eat quickly, before someone comes begging for food!”

Liu Yanhui now understood why his mother had spoken in such a strange, passive-aggressive tone earlier.

“Did someone come asking you for food? Who?”

Mrs. Su’s face fell as she pushed the bowl back into her son’s hands. “Who else could it be but the Shen family? With their benefactor’s help, they were all so smug, acting like they were some high and mighty officials with their noses in the air, looking down on everyone. Now look at them! The benefactor isn’t helping them anymore, and they’re all scrambling about in a panic, sponging off everyone they can!”

Liu Yanhui frowned. “It wasn’t someone from the first branch, was it?”

Mrs. Su replied, “I don’t know which branch. I don’t recognize her. A young girl, probably sent by her elders.”

Liu Yanhui downed the egg and meat in his bowl in a few bites. After he finished, he had an idea.

“Mother, sister, things will be a little tough for the next few days. Don’t cook any meat. We’ll eat whatever the bailiffs eat.” Boiled eggs were one thing, but the aroma of meat and rice was just too overpowering. The feeling of being watched was like having spikes on his back—extremely uncomfortable.

“My son, is something wrong?”

Liu Yanhui replied, “I don’t know. I just have a feeling something’s going to happen.”

His feeling was vindicated that very afternoon. A wealthy man ostentatiously emerged from the crowd of prisoners. He claimed to be a relative of the Prime Minister and the son of a rich merchant. He said his family had stuffed a lot of money on him for the exile, and he bragged that once they reached Dongchuan, his family would send people to serve him, and he would be living a life of luxury.

This wasn’t just idle boasting. He actually took out money to pay for a seat in a cart and to buy meals. He even paid people to massage his back and legs. He was extremely generous with his money.

Escorting prisoners was a difficult journey, but for the bailiffs, encountering a wealthy family meant the tips and bribes they received could equal a year’s salary, or even several. It was a lucrative assignment that depended on luck.

Since someone was willing to pay, the bailiffs were happy to take the money. It wasn’t as if they had to carry him themselves. There were ready-made carts available for anyone to ride.

“Anyone who wants to ride a cart, just pay up!”

Besides the Shen family, everyone else’s eyes lit up.

They had money! Why didn’t you say so earlier!

The prisoners who had originally planned to spend a sum in An Town immediately spent their money on a ride in the carts instead.

The Shen family was dumbfounded.

They had no money.

“Your Excellencies, please be merciful. When our relative arrives, we’ll have money for you. Could you let us ride in the carts now?”

The crack of a whip was their answer.

“No money and you still want to ride? In your dreams!”

“It’s so chaotic now, who knows if that relative of yours will even show up? Trying to fool us? We’ll whip you to death!”

Although the whip didn’t actually strike any of the Shen family members, it was enough to terrify them.

“Yuanjing, aren’t you on speaking terms with the bailiffs? Go talk to them right now and get me and your grandfather a ride!” the Old Madam said, her face contorted in pain. She couldn’t walk another step.

Shen Yuanjing said with difficulty, “Grandmother, you already had me go ask two two-hour periods ago. I was almost whipped!”

The Old Madam flew into a rage. “If your sister had just kept up, would your grandfather and I be suffering like this? She’s your older sister. If she makes a mistake, you have to bear the responsibility. Go a few more times. Consider it atoning for your sister’s mistake and fulfilling your filial duties. Now go!”

Shen Yuanjing felt a deep unease. If it weren’t for his sister, they would have all died long ago. Not only was his grandmother ungrateful, but she was now blaming his sister?

“Grandmother, we’re prisoners. This is how it’s supposed to be. My sister did nothing wrong, so why should I atone for her?”

The Old Madam was so angry she could have spat fire. Pointing at her eldest son, she yelled, “Eldest! Look at the fine son you’ve raised! He’s learned from you, openly talking back to and disrespecting his elders. Is this how you teach your son?”

Shen Conglian said, “Big Brother, it’s one thing for you alone to anger Father and Mother, but how could you lead the children astray as well?”

Shen Congli added, “Our family does not tolerate unfilial descendants. If we weren’t on the road to exile, I would definitely have Father and Mother expel your entire family from the clan!”

Shen Congyi chimed in, “Unfilial children and grandchildren are the beginning of a family’s misfortune!”

Shen Congwen’s face turned beet red. He turned and began to scold his son.

“Yuanjing, how could you speak to your grandmother like that? Do whatever your grandmother tells you to do. Go on, hurry!”

Chapter 48: Is the Shen Family Finished?

Shen Yuanjing looked at his father, his face etched with disappointment. The towering image of his father in his heart came crashing down.

It was pointless. Even if his father went again, the result would be the same. Even if they were allowed to ride in the carriages, his father would forbid it once he returned.

It was just a bit of walking, wasn’t it? If they had to walk, they would all walk together!

With the first person succeeding in getting food, a second and third soon followed.

Watching the line of exiles and the group of refugees grow dangerously close, Liu Laohu immediately decided to pick up the pace!

The horse-drawn carriages sped up, and the prisoners began to run!

The Shen family had thought that walking and eating cold, hard cornbread buns was their worst nightmare. They never imagined an even more terrifying nightmare would be chasing after carriages.

And that wasn’t all. Refugees were chasing them from behind. They were caught in the middle. If they didn’t run faster and were caught by the refugees, the consequences were unthinkable!

“Father, Mother, run!”

“Older brother, older sister, run faster!”

“Concubine Mother, run!”

The refugees had far more stamina than the Shen family. Seeing the mounds of grain on the carriages pulling away and leaving them behind, they pursued with every ounce of their strength.

In no time, they caught up to the Shen family!

“Look at them, with their delicate skin and tender flesh. My mouth is watering!”

“Grab them! We’ll each get a leg—that’s enough to feed us for a dozen meals!”

“Don’t eat those young ladies yet. Save them for last. We’ll kill them after we’ve had our fun!”

These terrifying and vulgar words completely shattered the sanity of everyone in the Shen family.

“Why isn’t Lanxi back yet?”

“That little bitch, has she already been killed by the refugees?”

“Let go of me! Father, save me! Older brother, save me…”

Shen Yuanruan was captured by the refugees, her shrieks for help heart-wrenching.

Just as the Shen family was about to rush to her rescue, more cries for help rang out.

The other female family members had been caught as well.

In that instant, the lines between close and distant relatives became crystal clear.

Each branch of the family tried to save its own, and no one paid any mind to Old Master Shen and the Old Madam, who were kicked to the ground and beaten by the refugees.

“First Son, Second Son, Third Son, Fourth Son! Come save me and your father!”

Shen Congwen was in the middle of rescuing one of his daughters from another concubine when he heard his mother’s cry. Just as he turned to go to her, a refugee tackled him to the ground.

Wails and cries of despair rose from the Shen family. The Shen family was finished!

The thundering of horse hooves grew from a distant rumble to a deafening roar, startling everyone into stopping what they were doing.

From the other direction, the sound of carriages grew louder. Liu Laohu was returning with his men!

The cavalry and the carriages came to a halt simultaneously. The moment they stopped, weapons were drawn in unison!

“I am the Miss of the Qu family of the Cangzhou Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. Who are you?” Qu Yanling announced her family’s name.

As soon as Liu Laohu heard they were government officials, he immediately ordered his bailiffs to put away their weapons.

“This humble one is a bailiff escorting prisoners into exile. We were merely passing through when we were attacked by refugees!” Liu Laohu presented his escort documents and his bailiff’s token.

Qu Yanling was pleased with Liu Laohu’s shrewdness. She accepted the documents, gave them a cursory glance before handing them back, and her eyes fell upon the ten large carts laden with supplies behind Liu Laohu. A glint appeared in them.

“Does your journey take you through Cangzhou?”

Liu Laohu put the documents away and replied, “It does.”

The corners of Qu Yanling’s mouth tilted upward. “Our Cangzhou City is providing congee for the refugees. Government bailiffs like you, on official business, can enter the city without paying the entry fee.”

Liu Laohu’s face lit up at the news, and he immediately expressed his thanks.

Qu Yanling said, “I have urgent matters to attend to and must return to the city quickly. After you arrive in Cangzhou, if anyone gives you trouble, you can come find me at the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s residence.”

Liu Laohu clasped his fist. “Many thanks, Miss!”

Qu Yanling’s smile vanished, a flicker of disdain crossing her eyes before she spurred her horse and galloped away.

Once the refugees saw how the situation had changed, they took to their heels and ran in the direction Qu Yanling had gone. They had heard it just now—there was food in Cangzhou!

Liu Laohu glanced at the members of the Shen family, who looked as if they had just survived a catastrophe, and barked coldly, “Get up! Stop lying on the ground playing dead!”

The female family members, along with a few of the men, broke into hysterical sobs. They had barely cried out twice before Liu Laohu’s whip cracked, forcing them to crawl up from the ground and follow behind the carriages like walking corpses.

In the distance, three carriages trailed behind.

“We didn’t go up to help them. If the Master finds out, will he blame us?” Chunxue asked worriedly.

“The Miss said we weren’t to interfere unless lives were at stake. You heard them earlier—the Old Madam and those other masters were going to treat our Miss like that. If it weren’t for our Miss, they would have been dead long ago. A bunch of ungrateful wretches! If you want to save them, you go. I’m not going!” Qiushuang fumed just thinking about it.

Chunxue was just as angry, but she was afraid that if something went wrong, their Miss would blame them.

“Where did the Miss go? How has she not caught up with us yet?”

“Miss me?”

Chunxue froze, turning her head to see Shen Lanxi riding on horseback right beside them.

When had the Miss caught up? They hadn’t even heard hoofbeats.

“Miss, you’re finally here!” Chunxue was on the verge of tears.

Shen Lanxi tied her horse to the carriage and leaped aboard.

She had dealt with a few troublesome groups along the way, which had delayed her, but thankfully nothing major had happened.

“I didn’t sleep well. I’m going to get some rest now.”

She had spent all night collecting things and had dealt with quite a few people. She hadn’t even had a moment to sit down and rest until now. Her body needed time to recover.

Qiushuang and Chunxue immediately fell silent.

She didn’t wake until after nightfall.

Because they were in a secluded area and their master had returned, Nanny Li had generously made two large flatbreads covered with chunks of meat and cooked several side dishes. Seeing that Shen Lanxi was awake, she immediately brought out a table and set it up.

“Miss, Liu Laohu and his group are just ahead of us. There’s no one else around,” Qiushuang reported.

Shen Lanxi sat down on a stool, picked up a piece of the meat-filled flatbread, and began to eat.

“You all eat too.”

Qiushuang and the others each took a bowl and sat around Shen Lanxi, taking turns describing the events of the day.

Shen Lanxi ate heartily. When she was about half full, she wiped her mouth, took out a whistle, and blew a long, clear note.

Two seconds later, a sharp cry echoed as a flash of white, with wings beating, appeared before them in the blink of an eye.

Chunxue and the others jumped in fright, immediately standing up to protect Shen Lanxi.

“It’s all right. It’s mine.”

Their Miss was raising a hawk? When did that happen? How did they not know?

It was enormous, standing at least half a meter tall, with a sharp, hooked beak. If not for the splash of white on its neck, it would have been nearly invisible in the dark.

“Little Xue, want some meat?” Shen Lanxi said with a smile, holding up the chunks of meat she had picked out in her bowl.

Little Xue’s two eyes were fixed intently on Qiushuang and the others, its wings spread high and its beak half-open, poised to attack at any moment.

Shen Lanxi sighed and carried her bowl a short distance away.

“You all eat slowly. I’ll go a little farther to feed it.”

Chunxue and the others didn’t dare move. Being watched by the hawk felt like a mouse being eyed by a cat. They were afraid that if they moved, it would swoop down and peck out their eyes.

They wanted to leave, but their legs were weak. Their bodies simply wouldn’t obey.

After she had moved about a dozen meters away, Little Xue gradually folded its wings and smacked its beak a couple of times, revealing its true nature as a gluttonous hawk.

Shen Lanxi walked even farther, and after confirming that they were truly alone, she took out six different kinds of pet snacks from her storage space. She lined them up in a row and began opening them one by one.

“To celebrate our reunion, I’ll whip up a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast for you…”

Chapter 49: The Ten Thousand Poisons Gate! A Disappearance!

After walking for the better part of another day, they finally saw Cangzhou City.

“Miss, should we go meet up with the Master and the others?”

Shen Lanxi shook her head. “Now is not the time. We’ll enter to restock our supplies after they’re inside the city.”

The two maidservants nodded. Once inside the city, they wouldn’t have to worry about the refugees anymore.

At first, they had been genuinely worried that the city guards wouldn’t let the convicts in, but their fears turned out to be unnecessary.

“Miss, not only did the city guards let the convicts in, but they also didn’t charge an entry toll.”

Shen Lanxi watched the dozen or so large pots simmering with congee at the city gates, an eyebrow raised. Cangzhou City was a little different from what she had expected.

Could it be that she had misunderstood Qu Yanling?

“We’ll see after we get inside.”

She had a feeling that when things were this out of the ordinary, something was amiss.

“Master, there’s no problem with the congee in the relief shelters.”

She had gone to look herself. It wasn’t the kind of thin, watery gruel that could reflect a person’s image; it was thick and substantial. If the weather had been favorable, this wouldn’t be an issue, but there was a great drought! Where did the local authorities get the money? Even if they had money, where could they buy grain?

Surely they hadn’t touched the local strategic reserves?

They entered the city without any trouble. The pedestrians and vendors on the streets were no different from those in any other city.

“Go buy a meat bun.”

The measure of local life was the price of its most common food.

The bun was brought back quickly.

“How much was it?”

Chunxue said with a pained expression, “Forty copper coins. In the past, that would have been enough to buy a whole basket of buns!”

The prices hadn’t changed; in fact, they had risen slightly. That was normal.

“Let’s find an inn and settle in for now.”

“Yes!”

The inn was near the city gate. When the shop assistant saw them enter, he immediately greeted them with a smile.

“Are you here for a meal, or to stay?”

Chunxue: “To stay, and to eat. And feed our horses, too.”

The shop assistant quickly explained in an ingratiating tone, “With the great drought, we’ve been affected too. Water for the horses used to be free, but now…”

Understood.

Chunxue: “How much? We’ll pay.”

The shop assistant’s troubled look instantly transformed into a smile.

“One horse needs a bucket of water, and one bucket costs one tael of silver. The water our inn sells is the cheapest in the entire city!”

“How much did you say?” Chunxue’s voice shot up.

The shop assistant quickly bowed and explained, “We didn’t set this price; the Prefectural Yamen did. We’re just following their orders. There’s nothing we can do!”

Shen Lanxi had just been wondering how the local authorities were lining their pockets. She hadn’t expected the answer to be delivered to her so quickly.

The wool comes from the sheep’s back.

They were just finding different ways to fleece them.

Shop assistant: “Really, there’s no place cheaper than our inn!”

Shen Lanxi: “Buy it.”

Qiushuang went out to gather information. When she returned, Liu Yanhui was with her.

“Miss, we’re staying at the post station. When I came out, Liu Laohu and the others were arranging their accommodations.”

Shen Lanxi: “You’ve worked hard.”

Liu Yanhui quickly smiled. “It’s no trouble, not at all. My family even got to ride in a carriage because of you.”

Shen Lanxi: “Tell Liu Laohu that we leave early tomorrow morning.”

Liu Yanhui took the leftover money from buying medicinal herbs out of his sleeve. “Miss, there’s still a lot of money left from the herb purchase.”

Shen Lanxi said without batting an eyelid, “Aren’t you the accountant? You keep the money.”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up. He didn’t stand on ceremony and put the money back in his pocket.

“Miss, from now on, I will record every single coin spent.”

After sending Liu Yanhui off, she took a stroll through the streets.

As night fell and everyone was asleep, Shen Lanxi, dressed all in black, flitted through the air and stopped twenty meters away from the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s residence.

“Master, in the surrounding area, there are a total of thirty people guarding from the shadows. Two squads, twenty men, are patrolling in the open. Their positions are at…”

The positions these men held nearly surrounded the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s residence like an iron barrel.

The patrols were too dense. It was impossible to get inside without alerting anyone.

“Nu Bai, check for any other possible entrances.”

“Acknowledged, Nu Bai. Yes, in the house right beneath our feet. There’s a secret tunnel that leads to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s residence.”

Shen Lanxi immediately jumped down. No one would have guessed that this dilapidated, abandoned house held such a secret within.

For a mere Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, he was playing a rather big game.

“Check if there’s anyone in the tunnel.”

“It’s clear. Master, you can proceed safely.”

She had thought it would be a single, straight passage, but it turned out to be a complex network below, with four separate tunnels leading in different directions.

Following Nu Bai’s directions, she snuck all the way into the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s residence and pinpointed Qu Yanling’s location.

“It’s all that ugly man’s fault! The next time I see him, I’ll rip out his tendons, peel off his skin, and throw him into a snake pit to feed the vipers!”

“Young Lady, people from the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate will be here in a couple of days. We can buy the antidote from them!”

“Hmph, you want us to grovel like dogs, begging them for the antidote? Father might like living like this, but I certainly don’t!”

“Young Lady, why don’t we wait until this month is over and use the money to buy the antidote from Medicine King Valley?”

“Money? Where are we supposed to get money? Father is watching that money like a hawk; he won’t let me touch it at all. He’s really getting senile. If I could just buy the antidote, we would no longer be controlled by the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate…”

“Shh, Young Lady, quiet down! Someone might hear you!”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. The Ten Thousand Poisons Gate? Was there such a sect in the martial world?

From what Qu Yanling said, it seemed they were all being controlled by the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate with poison.

Why would the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate want to control them?

Although she couldn’t solve these puzzles for now, one thing was certain.

The Qu family’s money was ill-gotten.

She could just rob the rich to help the poor.

“Nu Bai, scan.”

“Acknowledged, Nu Bai!”

There were two treasure rooms, three storerooms, and another three storage rooms in the underground tunnels. In one of the secret chambers, she also found two ledgers.

The ledgers detailed the annual tributes of gold and silver from officials of all ranks in the five surrounding cities, along with various gifts, beautiful women, servants, and so on.

How could a mere Provincial Surveillance Commissioner have so much power? Or was this power actually the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate?

She would take them first and look at them later when she got back.

After collecting the items, she explored the other tunnels. The remaining three all ended at abandoned houses.

They were unguarded, with nothing suspicious about them.

It was getting late. She returned to the inn, called for Little Xue, and placed a slip of paper with the words “Ten Thousand Poisons Gate” written on it into a small bamboo tube.

The stars were still in the sky as the vendors selling breakfast began their busy morning.

To the sound of the night watchman’s clapper, Shen Lanxi slowly closed her eyes.

“Miss, this is bad! Liu Laohu and the others are all gone!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes snapped open. She quickly opened the door and let the two in.

“They didn’t leave the city?”

Qiushuang: “No. I was watching since early this morning. From the moment the city gates opened until now, I haven’t seen them!”

Chunxue: “I went to the post station to ask. The people there said they left early in the morning!”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze drifted icily toward the door, silently telling the two of them.

You were followed!

Chapter 50: Darkness Under the Lantern!

The two immediately looked back in alarm, but unfortunately, all they could see was the tightly shut door.

Shen Lanxi deliberately raised her voice. “Instead of doing your work properly, you two are curious to see what exiled criminals look like? They’re all heinous villains. One look is enough to bring you misfortune. You’ve got some nerve!”

Qiushuang reacted instantly, rushing to say, “Miss, we’ve never seen an exiled criminal in our entire lives! Can’t we just take a peek out of curiosity?”

Shen Lanxi said, “What’s there to see? If you have that kind of time, you’d be better off giving your Miss a shoulder and leg massage. You two little vixens, were you hoping to see some other men?”

Chunxue shivered violently and quickly chimed in, “Miss, we are devoted only to you. No man can compare to you~”

“You little vixen, you really have a sweet mouth~”

The person spying outside had left, but it was still not wise to stay for long!

The city gates were surely guarded now. Staying in the city was actually safer than trying to leave.

But they couldn’t stay at the inn. Where could they go?

Her eyes lit up; she had thought of a good place!

“Miss, why did you bring us to this abandoned residence?” Qiushuang and Chunxue, along with Nanny Li’s family, had all been brought along.

She had previously inspected the four underground passages. One was frequently used, while the other three were not. Of those three, this one was the most dilapidated, its entrance covered in the thickest layer of dust.

This maneuver was a case of darkness under the lantern—hiding in plain sight!

“You and Nanny Li’s family will hide here for the time being. Try not to make too much noise in your daily movements!” The bundles contained water and food, enough for them to live on for three days!

“Miss, we’ll go with you!” Chunxue and Qiushuang said.

Shen Lanxi replied, “I’m going to gather information, not to rescue anyone. A larger group makes for a bigger target. You wait here for my news.”

Chunxue and Qiushuang could only nod.

After leaving, Shen Lanxi went straight to the post station.

The post station was bustling with people. She noticed that half of them were martial artists, arriving in a hurry and leaving just as quickly.

She followed three different people in turn, and they all ended up at the same place: the congee stall set up for refugees outside the city.

Large groups of refugees were flocking over, happily lining up to receive their congee.

Shen Lanxi disguised herself and blended into the crowd of refugees, waiting until nightfall.

A group of men arrived from the city, skillfully greeted the people distributing congee, and then began issuing orders: “All of you, follow us. Go sleep in the tents set up by the government. No sleeping at the city gates, or you’ll all be arrested as vagrants and thrown in jail!”

Someone was unwilling to go and was dragged away on the spot by the bailiffs. Terrified, the man quickly begged for mercy and obediently followed along.

Shen Lanxi mingled with the crowd. Almost a two-hour period had passed, and they still hadn’t reached their destination. Some people began to mutter, no longer wanting to walk, and turned to go back. Without a word, the man leading them stabbed one of them with a knife!

Screams erupted in an instant. The terrified refugees scattered in all directions, but after taking only a few steps, they were forced back by sharp weapons pointed at them.

“Behave and keep walking, or you’ll end up just like him!”

The refugees wept and wailed in terror, but no one dared to run again. The men then herded them like animals. Anyone who cried too loudly was beaten, and anyone who tried to run had their hand chopped off.

After walking for nearly another four hours, they reached the foot of a mountain. A dozen men with sabers came down from the mountain and took over from those who had brought them. They were then driven up the mountain by the saber-wielding men.

Before long, they were brought to a cave.

She heard someone say, “Another fifty-six black rats have been delivered. You handle the distribution. Old Sixth told me to tell you that a few of his black rats have all fallen down the rat hole, and he wants you to assign him a few more!”

“Got it. That Old Sixth is too damn ruthless. The rats under him die the most, yet he keeps demanding more!”

“What can you do? The man is Manager Zheng’s nephew. If you could claim kinship with the higher-ups, you could also be in bed with a woman right now!”

“We’re not as lucky as him, not born into a good family…”

Not long after the voices stopped, their group was split up.

“The twenty at the back stay in this cave. The rest of you, follow me!”

She was in the middle of the group, so she followed the people in front.

After a short walk, they arrived at another cave.

“Twenty of you stay in this cave. The rest, keep following me…”

She and nineteen others were left in the second cave.

“All of you, get in! Work starts at dawn!”

They were driven inside. It was pitch black, so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

“Master, there are members of the Shen family in the cave!”

Shen Lanxi heard a choked sob. It was Shen Yuanxin’s voice.

The cave was crammed with people. As she made her way toward Shen Yuanxin, she nearly stepped on someone.

Shen Yuanxin was huddled in a corner. When Shen Lanxi approached, she shrank back in panic, looking utterly terrified.

Shen Lanxi moved swiftly, clapping a hand over Yuanxin’s mouth and pressing a boiled egg into her hand.

“Don’t make a sound. It’s me!” she whispered into Shen Yuanxin’s ear.

The girl froze, then the next second, her sobs grew even louder.

A low curse was heard.

“Who are you mourning? If you attract those guards, we’ll all be killed!”

Hearing the scolding, Shen Yuanxin dared not cry anymore and quickly clutched the egg in her hand.

“Do I smell an egg?”

“You must be dreaming.”

“You’re right, it must be a dream. How could there be the smell of eggs in here?”

Shen Lanxi quietly led Shen Yuanxin deeper into the cave.

“Eldest Sister…” Shen Yuanxin called out, her voice thick with tears.

Shen Lanxi asked, “What happened? How did you end up here?”

Shen Yuanxin quickly explained, “We were taken from the post station in the middle of the night. The people at the post station are in league with them! Eldest Sister, you must save our other sisters! They were all taken to the Pleasure Cave!”

“I heard them say the Pleasure Cave is… is a place where they violate women!”

“I was wearing men’s clothes, so they thought I was a man and assigned me here to dig rocks!”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Besides you, are there any other Shen family members in this cave?”

Shen Yuanxin replied, “There are a few Shen family servants!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Go back and hide. I’m going to find the Pleasure Cave!”

“Eldest Sister, I want to go with you!”

Shen Lanxi said, “You’re safer here than with me!”

She left quickly after speaking.

It was now the latter half of the night. The guards at the cave entrance were slumped over, fast asleep. Under the cover of darkness, she immediately vanished into the night!

“Nu Bai, find the cave with the women!”

The female family members of the Shen family were all remarkably beautiful. Falling into the hands of these men would surely lead to a terrible fate.

Following Nu Bai’s guidance, she quickly located the Pleasure Cave.

The light inside the cave was dim. A cacophony of screams, mocking laughter, curses, and other unbearable sounds blended together.

A dozen men were gathered at the entrance, arguing about who would go first. Shen Lanxi drew her scimitar and, with one slash per person, slit all their throats!

Chapter 51: The Iron Mine!

The moment she entered the cave, the putrid smell of decay assaulted her nostrils. Inside, two or perhaps several people were huddled together in a scene too vile to look at.

She was wearing a bailiff’s uniform stripped from one of the men. When she went in, the people inside gave her a cursory glance before shooing her away impatiently.

“Get lost, it’s full over here!”

“Don’t you know the rules…”

Shen Lanxi suppressed the urge to kill, her eyes quickly scanning the women. Her heart had been in her throat since she entered the cave, and it only settled halfway after she had seen the last person.

None of the Shen family were here!

There was no time to linger. The bodies of the dozen or so men outside still needed to be dealt with.

The area was full of abandoned pits. If she simply threw the bodies in, anyone searching for them could work themselves to death and still find nothing.

“Nu Bai, besides this place, are there any other women?”

Nu Bai: “The mountaintop. It’s some distance away, I can’t get a specific head count.”

Shen Lanxi immediately sped toward the summit. The mountaintop and the area below were two extremes—one a heaven, the other a hell.

The entire summit was covered in grand halls with carved beams and painted rafters. There were rows upon rows of rooms, large and small, dozens of them in total.

Nu Bai: “I’ve located the Shen family’s female members. They’re in a room in the back row.”

Shen Lanxi immediately snuck in and woke everyone in the room.

“Eldest Miss…” Upon seeing Shen Lanxi, the Shen women were moved to tears, their eyes welling up with emotion.

Shen Lanxi: “Why are you here? Where are the others?”

Shen Yuantang, her voice choked with sobs, recounted their story. It matched what Yuanxin had said.

“We were supposed to be thrown into the Pleasure Cave, but the men escorting us said a big shot was coming in the next couple of days. They said we were good-looking and decided to keep us to entertain him.”

At this, the Shen women began to choke up.

Shen Lanxi: “If you want to attract their attention, then keep crying.”

The women all quickly covered their mouths.

“Eldest Miss, please save Yuanqing and Yuanzhao. We don’t know where they’ve been taken, or if they’re even still alive,” Wei Rulan said, on the verge of tears again at the mention of her sons.

Shen Lanxi frowned. “I’ll get you all out first.”

“Yes, yes, Eldest Sister, please get us out of here quickly!” several of the Shen family’s daughters from concubines nodded eagerly.

Shen Yuantang shot the other girls a glare and forcefully interjected, “Eldest Brother, I heard the people guarding us say they’re going to teach us the ‘rules’ in the next two days, so they probably won’t do anything to us just yet. You should go save Father and our brothers first!”

“How can we do that? We’re women! What if those men burst in and violate us?”

“Our brothers and Father are men. The worst they’ll suffer is some physical pain. But we’re women. If those men ruin our chastity, we’d be better off dead!”

“Yuantang, you’re young and don’t understand. Don’t speak out of turn. Listen to the adults’ arrangements.”

The women all started talking at once, pushing Shen Yuantang behind them.

Shen Lanxi changed her mind.

“Dawn is breaking. If I take you with me, we won’t even make it to the mid-mountain before we’re discovered.”

“Then what do we do?”

Shen Lanxi glanced at the fruit and pastries on the table. “If what Yuantang says is true, they probably won’t touch you for the next two days. I’ll find a place to hide first, then come back tomorrow night to get you down the mountain.”

After a few seconds of silence, defeated voices of compromise could be heard.

“Alright. You must come back for us as soon as possible tomorrow night.”

“Okay.”

Someone was heading this way—and there was more than one!

“Someone’s coming. I’m leaving.”

After leaving the summit, she immediately returned to the mid-mountain. The sky was already showing the first faint light of dawn, and the mountain guards had begun whipping and shouting at the people in the caves to get up and work.

She found the nearest cave and slipped inside.

“Get the hell up and work for me now, you black rats!”

“Anyone who dawdles, I’ll throw ’em in the pit to feed the vipers!”

Whip in hand, Shen Lanxi avoided the other guards and followed the prisoners deeper inside.

Torches were placed every eight or nine meters inside the cave. She thought she’d be able to see everyone’s faces clearly, but they were all disheveled and filthy. Their faces were as black as Judge Bao’s—if your eyesight was poor, you couldn’t even make out their noses and eyes.

Luckily, she actually spotted Liu Laohu.

Perhaps because he hadn’t been here long, you could still make out his features. Besides Liu Laohu, there were also a few bailiffs and Liu Yanhui.

Taking advantage of a dark spot, Shen Lanxi tapped Liu Yanhui.

Liu Yanhui turned his head.

Shen Lanxi mouthed: It’s me.

Liu Yanhui didn’t recognize her until they reached another dark area and a piece of dried meat was pressed into his hand.

The familiar, sweet and savory taste—he had only ever eaten it from Shen Lanxi.

Liu Yanhui quickly stuffed the meat into his mouth, lowered his head, and chewed rapidly.

The sense of helplessness and uncertainty he had felt since being brought here yesterday vanished in an instant.

Using another dark spot, Shen Lanxi gave Liu Yanhui two eggs and ate a little something herself.

Once they reached the deepest part of the cave, the prisoners were herded and forced to dig rocks.

Shen Lanxi dug up a piece as well, but she couldn’t tell what it was just by looking.

“Master, it’s iron ore!”

The Great Zhou’s control over salt and iron was extremely strict; both were state-run monopolies. This mine, at a glance, clearly did not meet the standards of a government operation.

Judging by the skin tone of the miners, the depth of the cave, and the scale of the grand halls on the summit, this place had likely existed for more than ten years, perhaps even longer.

Furthermore, the mine wasn’t very far from Cangzhou City. It was impossible for it to go undiscovered by the court for so long.

Unless… this mine was backed by officials from Cangzhou City, or they were already in collusion with them.

She had originally thought the Great Zhou was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity, but it was all an illusion. Not only were there foreign enemies at the gates, but the inside was rotten to the core.

“Miss, it’s an iron mine!” Liu Yanhui whispered, taking the opportunity to move closer to Shen Lanxi as he mined.

Shen Lanxi: “Your mother and younger sister are on the mountaintop. They’re both safe.”

Liu Yanhui breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of whipping and cursing erupted not far away.

“Stop playing dead! You dare play dead? I’ll beat you ’til you’re really dead!”

“He’s really dead? Not breathing?”

“Damn it. You two, come over here and drag him to the snake pit to feed the snakes!”

Hearing the words ‘snake pit’, all the other prisoners began to tremble with fear.

Shen Lanxi was one of the two chosen to dispose of the body.

“Shit, what rotten luck. Why did they have to pick me to go to the snake pit…”

Shen Lanxi lowered her voice. “Big Brother, I’ll go in and throw him in. You can wait outside.”

“You’re a smooth one, kid. You new here?”

Shen Lanxi grunted in affirmation.

“You seem like a sharp kid. I’ll remember you if anything good comes up.”

“Thank you, Big Brother.”

After walking for about twenty-something minutes, they arrived at the snake pit.

“You go on in. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—don’t get too close. Just toss him in the pit and get out quickly.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. After dragging the man inside, she immediately switched to carrying him with one hand.

The man was still breathing, but without treatment, he wouldn’t last long.

After walking another forty or fifty meters, Shen Lanxi set the man aside.

“Four of you, come out!”

Chapter 52: Rescue!

Several sounds of something slicing through the air suddenly rang out. Shen Lanxi spun and dodged, her figure vanishing from her spot like a phantom. When she reappeared, she was standing before the pit, one hand gripping a man’s neck, holding him suspended over the abyss. His life depended entirely on the strength of Shen Lanxi’s arm.

Though the pit was a swathe of darkness, making it impossible to see anything, the distinct hissing of snakes flicking their tongues was audible, enough to make one’s blood run cold.

“Let him go!” Three men rushed out from three different directions, stopping three or four meters away from her.

Shen Lanxi said, “Don’t move. If you try to pry my hand off again, I’ll throw you in!”

The man whose neck she held immediately froze like a statue. Though he was still grabbing her arm, he didn’t dare make another sudden move.

The other three all watched her with wary expressions.

“Who are you?”

One of the three quickly spoke in a low voice, “We are commoners from Cangzhou City who were captured and brought here to dig for stone.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at the speaker. He was likely the leader of these four men.

She flung the man in her grasp to the ground and kicked a rearing poisonous snake back into the pit.

The speaker’s eyes flashed, and he quickly lowered his head.

“How long have you been held here?” People were waiting for her outside; she couldn’t afford to delay here for too long.

“I was brought here over three years ago!”

“I’ve been here for more than two years!”

“I was captured over four years ago!”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Do you want to leave?”

All four men stared at her.

“You’re not one of the cruel officials here?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “I was also captured and brought here.”

The four men said nothing.

She took a bottle of wound medicine and four cornbread buns from her pocket and tossed them to the men.

“I was hiding these for my family, but you can have them.”

The four men hastily picked the items up from the ground to examine them.

“Now is not a good time to talk. Think carefully about whether you want to escape. I will come back tonight.” After speaking, she walked swiftly toward the exit.

A short while later, the sounds of a cruel official’s mockery and taunts came from outside the cave.

“Took you long enough. Did you piss your pants in fear?”

As the voice faded into the distance, the four men in the cave looked down at the items in their hands, speechless for a long time.

Taking advantage of her uniform, she visited the other caves and found all the members of the Shen family and the Bailiffs.

At noon, each person was given a black cornbread bun and a bucket of water. During the meal break, Shen Lanxi called Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu to a secluded spot.

“I plan to make a move tonight. Your job is to take this opportunity to spread the word of the uprising and persuade the other captives here to act together when the time comes.”

Liu Yanhui asked, “Isn’t this too rushed?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Every extra day the women stay here is another day of danger.”

Liu Yanhui seethed, “I truly wish we could tear this devil’s den down right now!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Don’t worry. I will send some people away first.”

Liu Laohu looked shocked. “Miss, you just got here, and you’re already a leader?”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze was dark as she looked at him. “Just listen and do as you’re told.”

Two seconds later, Liu Laohu nodded. “Understood!”

After finalizing the arrangements, Shen Lanxi quickly descended the mountain. Four hours later, fifty people came down from the mine and hurried in the direction of Cangzhou City.

Shen Lanxi returned to the Snake Pit once more, this time dragging a woman with her and carrying a bag of food.

The four men were hiding inside. They had been about to greet Shen Lanxi, but just as they stood up, she turned and left.

She still had to notify the people in the other caves.

Before nightfall, she would notify as many as she could.

After dark, she returned to the Snake Pit.

“So, what have you decided?”

The four men rushed to speak. “We want to leave this place!”

A small smile touched Shen Lanxi’s lips as she glanced down at the two people lying on the ground.

One had been sprinkled with healing medicine, and the other was entwined with poisonous snakes.

“I brought you food. Eat it. You’ll need your strength to escape.”

The four men quickly opened the bundle she had brought. Inside were steamed buns and pickled vegetables, as well as two waterskins filled to the brim.

“We used the healing medicine you gave us on this brother. Whether he lives or not is up to him now,” one of the men said.

Another said, “This woman you brought is a venomous witch. She’s one of them, the ones who captured us. She whips us whenever she feels like it, and anytime she’s displeased, she threatens to throw us in here to feed the snakes!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Qu Yanling, who was unconscious from the snake poison, and felt not a shred of pity.

“Do with her as you please.”

Hearing this, the four men relaxed, the tension in their hearts easing.

“At midnight, there will be a great fire on the mountaintop. When you hear people shouting to put out the fire, run down the mountain. Don’t go back to Cangzhou City!”

Hearing her arrangements, the four men kneeled on the ground in unison.

“Thank you, savior, for helping us escape this devil’s den!”

Leaving the Snake Pit, Shen Lanxi reached the mountain’s summit. She stood on the upturned eaves, quietly gazing in the direction of Cangzhou City, waiting for the right moment.

In the blink of an eye, it was midnight. A fire, spreading like wildfire, quickly extended from the side hall to the main hall.

While the guards were busy fighting the fire, Shen Lanxi swiftly dispatched the two men guarding the gate and kicked down the locked door.

“Let’s go!”

Although the Shen family women had been desperate to leave, they hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

“Eldest Miss, you’re finally here!”

Shen Lanxi turned and tossed a single sentence over her shoulder: “Keep up!”

The women immediately forgot their tears and scurried to follow her.

At first, the women were extremely cautious, but after walking for a while and seeing not a single guard, they broke into a full sprint.

Shen Yuantang asked, “Eldest Brother, how come there’s no one on this path?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “They’re busy.”

“With what?”

“Busy putting out the fire.”

Shen Yuantang slapped her own forehead. She had been locked up for two days and it had made her stupid. With a fire that big up there, of course they’d be fighting it.

When they reached a cave halfway up the mountain, Shen Lanxi went ahead and took care of the guards.

“Go inside and call the people out. Tell them to run for their lives!”

Some were unwilling.

“Why call them? What if we alert the people here?”

Shen Lanxi retorted, “If you don’t call them, you think the people here won’t be alerted?”

No one moved, so Shen Lanxi went in to shout herself.

Soon they reached another cave. She took out the guards in the same manner and called for the people inside to escape.

There was a great commotion not far away, and people were running toward them.

“Miss, we’ve rescued everyone from that cave over there!” It was Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu.

Shen Lanxi said, “Proceed as we discussed. I’ll go draw the guards away.”

“Alright!”

Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu split their people into two teams. One team would escort the female family members away, while the other would continue to rescue the trapped prisoners.

Shen Lanxi moved swiftly through the mountain forest, her speed so great that she left almost no afterimage.

In an instant, she had reached the other side of the mountain peak.

Here, one side of the mountain was being quarried for ore, while the other was being used for smelting and casting.

Chapter 53: Confiscating Weapons!

On another mountain, all the caves, large and small, were brightly lit. The people inside were still forging and smelting tirelessly at this hour.

Watching the cruel officials who relentlessly whipped the workers, Shen Lanxi’s hand, gripping her blade, began to itch for a kill.

“The fire on the summit is too big! We’ve been ordered to go put it out!”

“Hurry, hurry! Everyone to the summit to fight the fire!”

The man driving them had just raised his whip mid-air when he fell backward.

“The guards at the foot of the mountain have all gone to fight the fire! Kill them and run!”

Shen Lanxi shouted, personally demonstrating how to kill and escape.

Two slashes reaped the lives of two of the bastards.

“Run, brothers! If we don’t run now, we’ll never get another chance!” a blacksmith yelled, and more than half the men responded.

One by one, they grabbed tongs, hammers, and iron ladles and rose up in rebellion.

The men, who had forged iron for years, were strong and powerful. When they swung the red-hot tongs, the cruel officials were already scurrying away, covering their heads, before the blows even landed.

Rebellion was that easy!

Those fierce-faced cruel officials who had beaten them weren’t so terrifying after all. In fact, they cowered like mice, terrified of their former victims.

In an instant, all the blacksmiths united. They grabbed whatever tools they could use as weapons, formed a group, and after cutting down the cruel officials, they surged down the mountain together.

Shen Lanxi glanced at their retreating backs and turned into the storeroom.

The contents of the storeroom shocked her. It was filled with weapons!

The court stipulated that all ironware crafted, whether by the government or private blacksmiths, had to bear an official mark.

She opened ten crates in a row, inspecting all the weapons inside. Not a single one had a mark.

The storeroom was packed, with at least five or six hundred large crates, all bound tightly with straw ropes. Where were they being shipped?

She had a feeling that these weapons might be connected to the theft of the Wei Army’s provisions and pay.

Unfortunately, with an uncertain road ahead and pursuers behind, there was simply no time to investigate.

Today’s fire had surely alerted the enemy. Even if she returned later, all traces here would have been wiped clean.

She emptied the warehouse, then collected all the iron ore, half-finished weapons, and forging tools from the workshop into her storage space.

As she left, she tossed a torch inside. Since it would all be cleaned up eventually anyway, she might as well finish the job for them.

From the front and back mountains, all the prisoners surged downhill like an unstoppable force. The journey was surprisingly smooth; they only had to kill a few people before successfully reaching the foot of the mountain.

Liu Yanhui looked at the bodies strewn on the ground and said, “Miss must have dealt with these people beforehand.”

Liu Laohu: “What about Miss? Is she back yet?”

Liu Yanhui: “Miss told us to wait for her at the city gate. We should do as she says.”

Liu Laohu had wanted to wait a bit longer, but hearing this, he immediately nodded.

“All bailiffs, count the prisoners.”

“All prisoners, sound off! If anyone is missing, speak up now. If you say something halfway there, we’re not coming back to save you!”

“Don’t even think about running off. If you run into refugees who are like starving wolves, they’ll pick your bones clean!”

Those who had been entertaining thoughts of escape immediately behaved themselves after hearing Liu Laohu’s shout.

“Everyone’s here! Let’s go!”

At the Hour of the Tiger, Shen Lanxi, along with Qiushuang and the others, retrieved their stored belongings from the inn, bought out all the ready-made food, and headed straight for the city gate.

“Miss, last night, the residences of all the officials in Cangzhou City caught fire. The city’s soldiers and many of the common folk went to put them out!”

“I’ve never opened a city gate before. It’s so heavy!”

Qiushuang, Chunxue, and Nanny Li’s family pushed open the heavy city gate with all their might. The group then swaggered out of Cangzhou City.

After walking a short while, they met up with Liu Laohu and the others.

Besides them, there were also many refugees.

The refugees’ eyes, like those of starving wolves, were fixed greedily on the carriages and the supplies they carried.

Just moments ago they had fought side by side, but in the blink of an eye, they had become mortal enemies.

Liu Laohu cursed in anger, but he was helpless. The refugees outnumbered them. Had they just escaped the tiger’s mouth only to enter the wolf’s den?

“Brother Liu, catch!” Chunxue and Qiushuang quickly handed out weapons to the bailiffs.

Liu Laohu stared wide-eyed at the broadsword. Wasn’t this the standard issue for bailiffs from the government? Hadn’t they all been taken by those villains?

“Miss told us to give them to you,” Qiushuang said.

Clutching the broadsword, Liu Laohu’s courage returned. He immediately drew it and made a threatening gesture.

“Who dares to come closer? This blade in my hand has no eyes!”

“You ungrateful lot! Have you forgotten how you escaped from that devil’s den?”

“All bailiffs and prisoners, get on the carriages! Whoever dares to block our way will be shown no mercy!”

The refugees, both fearful and ashamed, no longer dared to step forward. Liu Laohu cracked his whip against the carriage and glanced back.

Only after they had traveled more than a hundred meters and saw no one was following did he finally collapse onto the carriage seat.

“Damn it,” he cursed, his head covered in a cold sweat from the fear.

The horses ran without stopping for over a two-hour period before finally slowing down.

After Chunxue and Qiushuang distributed food and water, just as they were about to eat something themselves, they heard an eagle’s cry and froze in unison.

Shen Lanxi had been sleeping in the carriage ever since she got in, only waking up after dark.

Where were Chunxue and Qiushuang?

Usually, whenever she woke up, the two of them would rush to her side immediately.

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she saw them standing not far away, both pointing up and to the side.

She looked back and understood.

No wonder the two of them were hiding so far away!

“Little Xue, come down!” she called, raising her left arm.

With a screech, the giant eagle spread its wings and circled once above Shen Lanxi’s head before landing steadily on her left arm.

The people watching from a distance all held their breath.

A single swipe from that eagle’s talons could tear flesh to the bone!

One peck of its beak, and an eyeball would be gone!

The faint of heart immediately turned away, unable to watch.

Shen Lanxi steadily supported the giant eagle, which weighed fifty-five kilograms, on her left arm. After playfully teasing it a couple of times with her right hand, she opened the bamboo tube tied to its leg and took out what was inside.

The letter read:

The Ten Thousand Poisons Gate was a minor sect that appeared over a decade ago. It was obscure at first but later became infamous in the martial world for a poison called Green Silkworm. Because of their vicious methods, they were wanted by the court. Their members were either killed or captured, and the remaining survivors migrated to the Western Regions, having not been seen in the Central Plains since!

Although Ghost Valley remains secluded from the world, it knows all of its affairs. This intelligence cannot be wrong!

“Chunxue, brush and ink!”

“Yes!”

She finished writing the reply and placed it in the message tube.

Little Xue was unwilling to leave.

Shen Lanxi looked at its small, dark, darting eyes and knew what it was thinking.

To command people, one must entice them with benefits, balance kindness with authority, employ them boldly, and yet remain cautiously vigilant!

But to command an eagle, one only needed a few tasty treats. People were so much more complicated than eagles.

“Go!”

Whether they were demons or devils, their true forms would be revealed sooner or later.

The next day, news of the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate’s reappearance in the martial world spread rapidly through cities, villages, and even among the refugees.

Three carriages trailed the exiled convoy from a distance.

“Young General, it’s time to change your dressing.”

Chapter 54: Ungrateful!

Wei Dongzhu stared blankly at the sky. The searing heat reminded him of the great fire in the Northwest. That fire had not only taken his family and the Wei Army, but it had also taken him with it.

If not for the conviction to seek revenge that had sustained him, he would have died long ago on the road seeking medical treatment!

“Young General…” a soldier called out again.

Wei Dongzhu drew back his gaze. “We are already dead men. To avoid exposing our identities, you will all call me Big Brother from now on!”

As if they had received a military order, the soldiers under his command responded in unison, “Yes, sir!”

A thoughtful look crossed Wei Dongzhu’s face. “There must have been an expert pulling the strings yesterday. Otherwise, with just those refugees, it would have been absolutely impossible to escape so easily!”

“Young… Big Brother, when we searched the mountain, a large fire had started at the summit. Many of the guards went up the mountain to fight it!”

“We followed the Shen family all the way back to the city gate and saw thick smoke rolling over Cangzhou City.”

A flicker of understanding showed in Wei Dongzhu’s eyes. “Lure the tiger from the mountain, feint to the east and strike in the west!”

The soldiers who followed Wei Dongzhu were his personal guards and had also studied the art of war. Hearing his words, they immediately understood why the refugees had been rescued so easily!

Thinking of the battles in the Northwest, Wei Dongzhu’s eyes revealed a sense of regret.

“If it were the past, for a person who understands how to command troops and is familiar with the art of war, I would have gone to any length to recruit them for the army!”

As he finished speaking, the regret in his eyes slowly dimmed.

How ridiculous. What Wei Army was there now? There were only these nameless figures, neither men nor ghosts!

“Apply my medicine!”

His only reason for living now was to avenge the Wei Army, his family, and the dead and wounded common folk!

He absolutely could not die before his great vengeance was achieved!

The further they traveled southeast from Cangzhou City, the hotter and more arid it became. The weather grew increasingly sweltering, the oppressive heat like being in a furnace, roasting everyone until they were drenched in sweat and rapidly dehydrating.

“Miss, we have two days’ worth of water at most,” Chunxue said, her tone anxious.

Qiushuang added, “A person can last a while without drinking, but a horse can’t go even a day without water!” The carts were loaded with supplies and had to pull people, which was a huge drain on the horses’ stamina. The weather was hot, and the horses’ mouths were already foaming from thirst. If this continued, the horses would dehydrate before they did!

Shen Lanxi said, “All prisoners are to get out and walk. Throw away anything non-essential from the carts. Set aside the water for the horses separately!”

“Yes!”

After Chunxue relayed the orders, the bailiffs quickly began herding the prisoners off the carts.

The prisoners were already hot and thirsty. Hearing that they had to walk, they all began to complain, stubbornly refusing to get down.

Liu Laohu cracked his whip a few times, and no matter how reluctant they were, none of them dared to be the one to stick out!

“We’re all off the carts, so why isn’t he getting off?!” a prisoner shouted angrily, pointing at Shen Lanxi’s carriage.

The other prisoners immediately voiced their support.

“Exactly! We’re all walking, so why should he be an exception? Our horses have no water to drink, but his do?”

“That’s right! If we get off, everyone gets off. No one is an exception!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang stomped their feet in anger!

“These ungrateful things! They’ve forgotten who saved them! If we’d known they’d bite the hand that feeds them, saving a dog would have been better than saving them!”

“I’ll go talk to them!” Qiushuang stormed over, but before she even arrived, she heard Liu Laohu’s angry curses and the sound of his whip.

“Do I need to remind you lot that the carriage and horse belong to her in the first place? You shameless bastards have been eating, drinking, and riding for free, and now you have the nerve to bite back? If people like you aren’t sent into exile, who is?!”

“You should have been eaten as food by the refugees! You should have been worked to death in the mountains! Anyone who dares to spout more nonsense, watch out for the blade in my hand!”

After Liu Laohu’s tirade, the prisoners finally remembered that the carriage, food, and water were not their own. One by one, as if their throats were being squeezed, they wanted to argue but had no grounds to do so and didn’t know what to say.

Liu Laohu glared. “I see I’ve been too lenient with you all on this journey, letting you exiled prisoners live too comfortably. You don’t want to walk on a perfectly good road, so all of you can push the carts for me. If anyone dares to slack off, I’ll cut them down right now. It’ll save us food and water!”

Continuing like this was not a solution. Liu Yanhui, his head covered in sweat, rushed to find Shen Lanxi.

“Miss, the weather is too hot. Traveling like this consumes energy too quickly. I suggest we rest during the day and travel at night!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Alright. There’s an abandoned village up ahead. We’ll rest there!”

Liu Yanhui stood on his tiptoes and looked into the distance, but he couldn’t see anything.

How does the Miss know?

Could it be she used the eagle to scout the road? That must be it!

Hearing that there was an abandoned village ahead, Liu Laohu looked at the defiant prisoners, unable to suppress the fire in his heart.

“Unhitch the horses and let them rest. Have the prisoners push the carts!”

The bailiffs immediately went to carry out the order. They had long been displeased with these prisoners. In the past, when they escorted prisoners, which one of them would have dared to talk back like this?

They had all grown impossibly arrogant. If they didn’t get taught a lesson, they wouldn’t know their place!

The prisoners began to complain again. The bailiffs, already fuming, were looking for a chance to deal with them. Hearing their complaints, they immediately lashed out with their whips.

They didn’t care if they were from the Shen family or anyone else. They whipped them all!

Under the violent suppression of the bailiffs, the prisoners all became outwardly submissive. As for what they were thinking in their hearts? Did anyone care?

Shen Lanxi was the first to arrive at the abandoned village with her carriage. Using the excuse of scouting the village, she sent Chunxue and the others away and gave the horses water herself!

These horses were now their most important laborers. Without them to pull the supplies, these people would die just the same!

The people could go thirsty, but the horses could not!

To avoid arousing suspicion, she only gave each horse half a bucket of water. Before Chunxue and the others returned, she cleaned up the buckets and any traces of water.

The abandoned village was not yet completely dilapidated. Most of the houses were semi-new, but because they were uninhabited, the place seemed empty and desolate. There wasn’t a single blade of grass or a tree, all of it clearly having been pulled up for food by the original villagers!

“Miss, there’s no one in the village. The wells are all cracked and dried up. We checked a few houses, and there isn’t a single grain of food. The people from this village must have all left to flee the famine!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Tidy up two of the houses!”

“Yes!”

Not long after they finished cleaning, Liu Laohu arrived with the prisoners.

The prisoners were clamoring for water, which provoked Liu Laohu into lashing his whip a few more times before he went to find Shen Lanxi!

Nanny Li had already prepared a meal. Because water was scarce, everything was done to conserve it. She had only prepared a few pieces of roasted buns, a few slices of roasted meat, two pickled vegetables, and a bowl of water.

When Liu Laohu arrived, Shen Lanxi was placing a piece of pickled vegetable inside a steamed bun, taking a bite of the bun and then a sip of water, showing not a trace of disdain.

He was a coarse man and didn’t know how to say nice things, but he felt that a Miss like this was all the more convincing!

Chapter 55: Every Man for Himself

“Miss, we have to find a water source quickly!” Liu Laohu said, though he wasn’t confident.

The people of this village had obviously all gone to flee the famine. If there was water nearby, who would be willing to leave their hometown!

Shen Lanxi said, “The dust on the tables isn’t thick, which means the villagers haven’t been gone for long. The local villagers know the area best. If we can figure out which direction they went, we should be able to find water!”

Liu Laohu’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go check which road has footprints!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “It’s not too late to go when it’s cooler.”

Now that he had a plan, Liu Laohu didn’t want to linger while Shen Lanxi was eating, so he left at once.

Not long after, Shen Yuanjing arrived with several of the children, both those born of the principal wife and those born of a concubine.

“Eldest Brother, when they were causing a commotion earlier, we didn’t react in time. I’m sorry!” Shen Yuanjing was the first to apologize.

Shen Yuanjun and the others followed suit.

“Eldest Brother, we were all stunned. By the time we wanted to curse at those people, Liu Laohu had already dealt with them. It’s not that we didn’t want to help you!”

“We didn’t realize at the time that the carriage and the food all belonged to you, Eldest Brother.”

“Eldest Sister, if something like this happens again, we’ll definitely be the first to stand up and curse at them!”

“Eldest Sister, please forgive us…”

Shen Lanxi took in each of their expressions and nodded. “I’m not angry, you don’t need to apologize! I’m very gratified that you came here to tell me this.”

Shen Yuanjing and the others hung their heads, their faces full of guilt.

“You must be thirsty. I still have a little water here. Drink it, and don’t tell anyone!”

The children immediately looked up at her.

“The fact that you came here shows that you genuinely want to protect me. I will return the same care to everyone who truly cares for and protects me.”

The more she said this, the guiltier Shen Yuanjing and the others felt.

“Eldest Brother, once I’ve mastered my martial arts, I will definitely protect you and not let anyone bully you!” Shen Yuanjing said with a serious expression.

“Me too!”

“Me too…”

The others chimed in.

Shen Lanxi said, “Chunxue, go get some mung bean cakes. A reward of one for each of them!”

Chunxue replied, “Yes!”

With both water and cakes, Shen Yuanjing and the others felt rather embarrassed.

“Eldest Brother, I’ve already learned a set of fist techniques. I’ll go back and practice hard later!”

“I’ll go back and practice too!”

Shen Lanxi said, “I saw how each of you performed on the mountain. You’ve all made great progress.”

“Yuanjing, you killed four guards with the others. You’ve made the most progress, and you’re good at using your head. When you practice martial arts in the future, you can think about which moves use the least amount of stamina to kill the most enemies.”

Shen Yuanjing was taken aback, then immediately began to seriously ponder her words.

“Yuanjun, you’re a bit timid, but you’re agile. When you practice, you can try adding some weights. That way, even if you encounter someone much larger than you, you can rely on your dexterity and speed to kill them!”

Shen Yuanjun also fell into thought.

“Yuantang, Yuanqing, you two…”

After the children left, they didn’t speak a word on the way back, all lost in thought.

“How did you all come back empty-handed?” the Old Madam asked immediately upon seeing them return.

Shen Yuanjing frowned. “Grandmother, Eldest Brother doesn’t have much water left either!”

Shen Conglian scoffed, “How is that possible? She has such a big carriage, it must be filled with water. How much can one person drink!”

“Is there any need to ask? She’s just unwilling to share with us!” Shen Congli said with a dark expression.

Shen Congwen retorted with a frown, “Lanxi isn’t that kind of person!”

Shen Congyi said, “‘Every man for himself.’ Who knows when we’ll find a water source? She’s definitely just looking out for herself.”

“Fourth Uncle, my Eldest Brother is not that kind of person!” Shen Yuanjing countered.

A cold snort sounded. Shen Congyi said with contempt, “We’ll just have to wait and see. Time reveals a person’s true character!”

Shen Congwen, his face dark, snapped, “That’s enough! When the prisoners told Lanxi to get out of the carriage, none of you said a word. Now you remember her when you want something? Search your conscience and ask yourselves, has she not helped us enough along the way?”

Shen Conglian and his two brothers immediately lowered their heads and fell silent.

“She’s part of our Shen family. Isn’t it her duty to help us?”

The members of the Shen family all turned to look at Shen Yuanzhan in unison. Some had thoughtful expressions, while others glared angrily.

“Yuanzhan, on the road, did you not eat the food your Eldest Brother gave you? Did you not use the silver your Eldest Brother gave you? How could such words come out of your mouth?” Shen Congwen couldn’t believe that a child in his teens could say such a thing.

Old Madam Shen slammed her hand on the table. “I think Yuanzhan is right. Lanxi is also part of our Shen family. The family raised her, so she ought to support the family now!”

Shen Congyi said, “Big Brother, Yuanjing and the others don’t have enough clout. I think you’ll have to be the one to go ask Lanxi!”

Shen Congli’s eyes lit up. “Right! If you don’t go, Father and Mother will have to. And if they have to go ask Lanxi for things, her crime would be great indeed!”

Shen Conglian added, “She has good food and drink, but doesn’t think of honoring the elders of the family and only cares for herself. If this were in The Capital, she’d certainly be branded as unfilial, unjust, selfish, and malicious!”

A woman’s reputation is more important than her life. Shen Congwen couldn’t bear to hear them slander his daughter like this and immediately started walking outside.

“I’ll go take a look!”

The Shen brothers had achieved their goal, and triumphant smiles appeared on their faces.

Shen Yuanjing and his siblings looked annoyed. Their father was always like this.

Shen Congwen had only taken a few steps when he saw someone begging the bailiffs for water.

“Your Excellency, I’m dying of thirst. I beg you, please just give me a mouthful of water~”

“Get lost! I’m thirsty too! If you don’t scram, I’ll make you drink your own blood!”

“I have money~” A piece of silver was offered, but the bailiff didn’t even glance down.

Another piece of silver was offered. The bailiff weighed it in his hand, and only then did he relent.

“This is only enough for one mouthful of water!”

“Thank you, Your Excellency! One mouthful is enough!”

Seeing that money worked, the prisoners rushed to pull out their own to buy water. One of them, a man of means, bought ten mouthfuls at once, making the other prisoners’ eyes red with envy.

Shen Congwen turned on his heel and went back.

“Does anyone have money? Let’s buy some water. If we don’t buy now, the bailiffs will sell it all!”

One by one, the members of the Shen family all turned their heads away.

“Boss, where would we get any money? You go ask Lanxi for money!” the Old Madam said.

Shen Yuanjun said, “Second Aunt and Fourth Aunt have money! When we were escaping from the mountain, I saw them search the guards’ money pouches!”

Shen Yuantang added, “Third Aunt has money too! I saw her find something on a guard’s body as well!”

Shen Yuanjing declared, “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, you searched them too!”

Yuanxin said in a small voice, “I saw Grandmother find something too!”

The Old Madam immediately glared at Yuanxin with uncontrollable fury, scaring the girl into quickly hiding behind Wei Rulan.

Wei Rulan laughed in a strange, mocking tone. “So it turns out only the people of our first branch are honest and didn’t take anything, while everyone in the other branches did!”

Chapter 56: Shen Yuanruan’s Choice!

The Old Madam immediately raged, “You’re a lowly concubine, you have no place to speak here!”

To say she was honest was really just to say she was foolish.

Wei Rulan snorted coldly, “We are all prisoners now. No one is nobler than anyone else!”

This sentence was like a dagger to the hearts of the Shen family, and they all glared furiously at Wei Rulan.

“Boss, are you just going to let a lowly concubine treat your mother like this? The family provided for your education, taught you propriety and honor—did you learn it all just to feed it to a dog?” the previously silent Old Master Shen sternly questioned his eldest son, Shen Congwen.

Shen Congwen had never been reprimanded like this by his father. For a moment, he was dazed and at a loss for words.

“Big Brother, we won’t say anything about the Shen family’s misfortune. But because of you, Father and Mother have to suffer displacement and hardship in their old age, and now they’re being pressured by one of your concubines. Big Brother, you are a disgrace as a son!” Shen Congyi stepped forward to accuse him.

Shen Congwen clenched his fist, then raised his hand and slapped Wei Rulan across the face.

“Shut up! Considering you’ve been diligent on this road to exile with the Shen family, this slap is your punishment for disrespecting your elders. If there’s a next time, I won’t be so lenient!”

Wei Rulan’s eyes filled with tears. She stared hard at Shen Congwen, her voice full of grievance and resentment. “They are humiliating our first branch, and I was speaking up for us. How could you do this to me?”

She had wholeheartedly defended the first branch, stood up for them, only to perform a thankless task. It was one thing for the Master not to be grateful, but how could he treat her like this?

Wei Rulan’s heart grew cold, bit by bit.

The Old Madam sneered, “What’s your status? A lowly concubine. If we were in the Capital, you would have been sold off long ago!”

Wei Rulan’s heart turned completely to ice. A self-mocking smile appeared on her face as she walked to a corner and sat down, not saying another word.

The children of the Shen family’s first branch all watched their father expressionlessly, unable to understand how the refined, scholarly, wise, and brilliant man they knew had turned into this.

Shen Congwen felt his face burn with shame and didn’t dare to meet his children’s eyes.

“Father, Mother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, let’s just pool our money and buy some water!”

Mrs. Liu, wife of the Second Branch, pulled Shen Conglian behind her, her words sharp and biting.

“Big Brother, when all is said and done, you’re just unwilling to take out the first branch’s money for us to use, aren’t you? Don’t forget, Father and Mother are still alive, and the Shen family hasn’t been divided. The family’s wealth should be managed by Mother. The money you have with Lanxi should, by rights, be handed over to Mother as well.”

Shen Congwen was unable to defend himself and subconsciously looked toward his children.

One by one, they all turned their heads, pretending not to hear or see his predicament.

“Sister-in-law, even if Lanxi has money, it’s her own money. All of the first branch’s funds have already been handed over to Mother.”

Mrs. Miao of the Third Branch also stepped forward.

“Big Brother, you’re wrong to say that. After her divorce by mutual agreement, Lanxi is to return to our Shen family. She is still a Shen. When she married, her dowry procession was a magnificent sight. The dowry alone was two hundred and eight palanquins’ worth, and that was carried out from our Shen family. Since it was a divorce, the dowry must be returned in full. As long as we are members of the Shen family, everyone has a right to a share of her money!”

Shen Congwen hadn’t expected them to keep pressing him even after he had compromised so much. Was he in the wrong?

“If you want money, go ask for it yourselves if you have the guts!” Shen Yuanjing said suddenly.

“See what happens if you provoke my Eldest Brother. He might just abandon us and return to the Capital by himself!”

The Shen family members all glared at Shen Yuanjing, but none could say a word in rebuttal.

After a while, the Old Madam was truly parched. Seeing that everyone else had water to drink while they had none, she feared the water would be sold out and hurriedly told her sons to pay up.

“Mother, where would we get any money? Don’t you have money on you? Use that for now. When Big Brother gets the money from Lanxi, we’ll give it all to you!”

“That’s right, Mother. All the money Big Brother sent was given to you. We haven’t seen a single wen!”

Looking at her sons, each one crying poverty, the Old Madam’s chest ached with anger.

“You unfilial wretches! If I had known you’d be like this, I would have thrown you out of the family long ago!”

No matter how harshly the Old Madam cursed, no one took out any money. Finally, seeing it was hopeless, she had no choice but to take a money pouch out of her wide sleeve.

“Mother, buy us some water too! We’re dying of thirst!”

Seeing the Old Madam take out her money, Shen Conglian and the others immediately surrounded her.

“Get lost! I asked you to pay for your old mother’s water, and you all cried poverty. Now don’t even think about getting me to pay for your water. If you want a drink, buy it yourselves!”

After speaking, the Old Madam immediately took her money pouch to find the bailiffs.

At first, Shen Conglian and his two brothers just watched, thinking their mother wouldn’t be so heartless as to only think of herself. It wasn’t until she returned empty-handed that their expressions changed, and they reluctantly paid for their own water.

Soon, all the other branches of the Shen family were drinking water, leaving only the first branch to watch with longing eyes.

“Father, I’m thirsty~”

Shen Congwen looked at his son’s chapped lips, clenched his teeth, and went to borrow money from his mother and brothers.

The result was predictable!

Out from under the scorching sun, the prisoners rested for a while and recovered some of their strength. Those who had no money for water reported to the bailiffs and then began to search the village.

The outcome was predictable. Anything that could be taken had already been taken. However, they did find several corpses inside the houses. Liu Laohu deduced they were elderly people who could no longer walk. Some had stayed behind willingly, not wanting to burden their children. Others had been abandoned as nuisances.

After this incident, the prisoners were no longer willing to go out and search. They all found places to rest, waiting for night to fall.

In the blink of an eye, night arrived. Liu Laohu had already taken some men to examine the footprints and cart tracks; all of them headed southeast.

Southeast was also the direction of Jinmen, which was precisely where they were headed.

“Everyone up! Time to move out!”

After carefully rationing water for the horses, Liu Laohu immediately ordered the convoy to set off.

The bailiffs all rode in the carts. Prisoners who could afford it could also ride. Those who couldn’t pay had to run alongside the horse-drawn carts.

The horses were now more valuable than human lives!

Having spent all their silver on water, only a few people could afford to ride in the carts. In the Shen family, only the Old Madam and the Old Master rode; everyone else ran. As for the first branch, they were the poorest of the Shen family.

Some could endure it, but some could not. After falling once again, Shen Yuanruan looked at the wealthy person on the cart ahead, who was brazenly holding a waterskin and drinking. Her eyes gradually turned crazed.

Her father was right: Every man for himself. She just didn’t want to suffer. She wasn’t wrong!

After running continuously for a two-hour period, the bailiffs had the horses stop to rest.

Taking advantage of this break, Shen Yuanruan quietly crept towards the cart.

Shen Lanxi emerged from her cart carrying a club, swung herself onto a horse, and rode up to Liu Laohu.

“I’m going to scout ahead!”

Liu Laohu looked at the club in her hand and nodded wordlessly.

Chapter 57: From Now On, I Am at Your Command!

Shen Lanxi rode forward for more than five hundred meters and saw a group of refugees surrounding several carriages, looting them.

She hid her horse, then with a few leaps, landed on the shaft of one of the carriages!

“Who are you? Don’t you dare harm my Big Brother!” A long spear thrust from the side. Shen Lanxi waved a hand, and the man, along with his spear, was sent flying three meters away.

A person lying in the carriage suddenly reached out to grab her ankle. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Shen Lanxi slammed her staff down, pinning the hand to the carriage.

The men holding weapons were unwilling to use the sharp edges against the refugees. The result of their compassion was being swarmed. Despite their formidable skills, they couldn’t withstand the sheer numbers. In less than an hour, they would all be beaten to death by the refugees’ chaotic fists!

Wei Dongzhu was filled with grief and indignation, but could only watch helplessly as his brothers were held down and beaten by the refugees. He wished he were the one being kicked and beaten instead!

Had the heavens let him escape a sea of fire just so he could die at the hands of refugees?

These people were once the subjects of Great Zhou whom they had protected. How tragic!

“Please, save my brothers…”

“I’m begging you, save my brothers…” In that moment, the proud Young General, once so vibrant and high-spirited, had his pride broken.

Shen Lanxi retrieved her long staff and, with a blank expression, sent a refugee who tried to grab her flying with a swing of her staff.

“What’s in it for me if I save you?”

Wei Dongzhu: “I have a chest of gold and silver. It’s all yours!”

Shen Lanxi was unmoved.

Wei Dongzhu clenched his fists tightly, allowing his freshly scabbed wounds to tear open again, staining his bandages with blood.

“There’s also myself and my brothers. From now on, we are at your command!”

Shen Lanxi: “What if you go back on your word?”

Wei Dongzhu swore: “If I go back on my word, may I die without a burial place!”

Shen Lanxi: “If you go back on your word, then may you and your brothers be unable to avenge your grudges, unable to return to your homes, and may everything you wish to do end in vain!”

Wei Dongzhu looked up at the sky and shouted himself hoarse, “Fine! If I break my promise, may I suffer all the curses you’ve sworn and die without a burial place!”

The next second, Shen Lanxi shot into the crowd like a swift cheetah.

The long staff descended with devastating force, whistling through the air.

The refugees, who had been sneering contemptuously just moments before, all paled at the whistling sound. By the time they tried to dodge, it was too late.

Like fish stunned by a crashing wave, they were all sent flying to the side. After hitting the ground, they didn’t even twitch.

Another wide swing of the staff sent another row of refugees flying.

With each full swing of the staff, no one in its path was spared. They were sent flying, their fate unknown.

The terrified refugees scattered and fled, but some remained defiant.

“What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just one person! There are so many of us. Let’s rush him and take his staff!”

Shen Lanxi flew directly toward the person who had shouted and thrust her staff forward!

Wei Dongzhu struggled in agitation. The staff had no blade; a thrust like that would at most just push the person away. It would be better to swing it at his head!

Who would have thought that the refugees would react as if they’d seen something terrifying? They all took several steps back, then turned and fled in a panic.

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes were wide with shock. How was that possible?

Shen Lanxi pulled the long staff back with a slight effort. With a flick of the tip, a spray of blood flew through the air, an awe-inspiring sight!

Records of weaponry state that those who wield a staff bear kindness in their hearts. They defend against foes without killing, always leaving a way out, for they are the most merciful!

She did indeed use a staff to restrain her killing intent, but clearly, what was written in the records was not absolute. In the hands of a true master, even a firewood stick or a small pebble could become a lethal weapon.

To kill or not to kill depended not on the weapon in hand, but on one’s control and one’s heart.

Clearly, she was still lacking in both.

“He’s a demon! A demon has come to reap our souls…”

The refugees had never seen someone impale a person with a staff. She had cut down a huge swath of them, blood pooling on the ground, without even blinking. In the refugees’ minds, only a vicious demon would act like this. For a moment, they were so terrified that all they could do was flee in all directions.

In the blink of an eye, the refugees had run so far that not even their shadows could be seen.

Wei Dongzhu struggled to sit up and lean against the carriage. What he had seen while lying down was shocking enough, but sitting up and getting a clearer view horrified him even more.

Droplets of blood still clung to the long staff. Shen Lanxi gave it a couple of flicks and was about to take out a cloth to wipe it clean when a man in front of her quickly pulled a cloth from his robes and ran up to her.

“Savior, your long staff is dirty. Let me wipe it for you, don’t dirty your hands!”

Shen Lanxi looked at the person running over to curry favor. He was one of the four from the Snake Pit, the bold leader. A sweep of her eyes revealed the other three as well.

“Wipe it.” She raised her arm, holding the staff at an angle.

The man hurriedly knelt on one knee and began to wipe it meticulously.

Wei Dongzhu explained, “Those four aren’t with us. We saved them from the refugees. There was another one, but his injuries were too severe, and he didn’t make it.”

Shen Lanxi took back her clean staff and asked, “What are the four of you planning to do?”

The four immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded respectfully, “We have no family left. We want to follow you, savior, to repay you for saving our lives!”

“You’ve been following me this whole time?”

Guilty and afraid, the four men hesitated before replying, “…Yes!”

Shen Lanxi: “The road ahead is not safe. I won’t take on useless people. What can you do?”

Afraid she would reject them, the four quickly said, “We used to be hunters. We know how to hunt!”

They had survived being thrown into the Snake Pit, so they clearly had some extraordinary qualities.

“Alright! You will join them. Follow me!”

The four were overjoyed. They thanked Shen Lanxi, then went to thank Wei Dongzhu.

After waiting in place for a while, Liu Laohu and the others caught up.

“Miss, who are they?” Liu Yanhui asked.

Shen Lanxi was concise: “Refugees. They used to be hunters, and they know some martial arts. I saved them, and to repay the favor, they’ll escort us to Jinmen.”

Liu Yanhui heard her, as did the others.

Although the men were all injured, which displeased Liu Laohu and the other bailiffs, they were at least adult men who knew martial arts. They would provide an extra layer of security if they encountered more refugees.

“What about their food and drink?” Liu Yanhui asked in a low voice.

Shen Lanxi: “They’ll handle it themselves.”

Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu exchanged a look. A good deal!

Seeing the dead bodies lying scattered on the ground, the quick-witted prisoners rushed forward to search them. Unfortunately, they were all refugees; even after searching every body, they didn’t find a single copper coin.

They walked for a two-hour period and then rested for a while. At dawn, they saw cooking smoke rising in the distance and were so excited they cried with joy.

“There’s smoke, so there must be people! And where there are people, there’s water. We’re saved!”

Overjoyed, Liu Laohu ordered all the prisoners onto the carts. With a crack of his whip, they sped toward the smoke.

On the memorial arch at the village entrance was written: Liu Zhao Village.

“Don’t go in yet, it could be a trap!” Wei Dongzhu said suddenly. One of his men immediately went to pass the message to Shen Lanxi.

“For an entire village, why is only one chimney smoking? Don’t the other families cook?”

Chapter 58: You Reap What You Sow!

Shen Lanxi received two consecutive messages from Wei Dongzhu and immediately had Chunxue and Qiushuang relay her orders to Liu Laohu and Wei Dongzhu, respectively.

“Give up your position!” This message was for Liu Laohu.

“Take your men to the front and scout ahead!” This was for Wei Dongzhu.

The head and tail of the column immediately swapped places. Wei Dongzhu led his men into Liu Zhao Village to scout ahead, while the others waited outside.

The convicts all listened to Liu Laohu, and Liu Laohu certainly wouldn’t listen to someone who had just joined their group. He went to ask Shen Lanxi personally.

“Miss, should we listen to him?”

It was the Miss who had them switch positions before, so Liu Laohu figured she must have a plan.

Shen Lanxi said, “Listen to him. Let’s see what he’s capable of.”

Liu Laohu understood and immediately went to stop the convicts from advancing.

Watching the group depart, Liu Yanhui felt a threat to his own position. He glanced at the crowd of convicts, then promptly went to report to Shen Lanxi.

“Miss, a young lady from the Shen family is getting very close to a wealthy convict!” He put special emphasis on the word “wealthy.”

Then he asked, “Should we do something about it?” If they didn’t, trouble was sure to follow.

Shen Lanxi replied, “You reap what you sow!”

Liu Yanhui was stunned by her words. His face remained placid, but his mind raced with curiosity. What was she planning?

If she were displeased with certain members of the Shen family, killing them would be easier than crushing an ant. She wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; the vast mountains could make them disappear without a trace.

Yet she had saved them all, which meant she didn’t want certain people to die.

She was an enigma, impossible to decipher.

The sky had already brightened. Shen Lanxi took out a map, hung it up, and pointed to a spot.

“There’s a lake here, a three-day journey from Liu Zhao Village!”

Liu Yanhui looked at the map, his heart pounding. This map was even more detailed than the last, covering a much wider area!

This map had been brought back by Little Xue. It was drawn three years ago. In the two years prior, Great Zhou hadn’t experienced a drought. So even with the current dry spell, this lake should not have disappeared.

Liu Yanhui leaned in for a closer look. It was marked as Moon Lake. Moon Lake was named for its crescent-like shape and was one of Great Zhou’s more famous lakes.

“I didn’t expect us to be so close to Moon Lake.” He had only ever read about it in history books and miscellaneous records.

Shen Lanxi said, “Our water won’t last three days.”

The excitement Liu Yanhui felt at seeing the map was instantly doused, as if by a basin of cold water.

“I hope we can find water in this village!” Even as Liu Yanhui said it himself, he felt it was a long shot.

Even if there was water, there wouldn’t be much, and the villagers here would certainly not give it to them.

“Miss, I’ll go tell Liu Laohu to conserve water!” And to stop the bailiffs from selling it so casually.

Shen Lanxi nodded and casually picked up a book from the side to read.

Liu Yanhui’s gaze swept past it. The corner of the carriage was piled high with books. Who brings so many books with them while fleeing a famine in exile?

The higher-ups have policies, and the lower-downs have countermeasures. Liu Laohu’s order went out, and the price of water immediately became as precious as gold.

Even if most convicts had money, it was only a few taels of silver. If they pooled their money together, they could buy a mouthful, but who would get to drink it?

And who would be willing to spend their money for someone else’s benefit?

At this moment, the convict with connections to the Prime Minister made another show of his wealth, buying a full waterskin with a single silver note and keeping it close to his body.

The way the other convicts looked at him was so heated it could have sparked a fire.

The Wei Army soldiers who had entered the village soon returned with news that was both enraging and horrifying.

“The people inside Liu Zhao Village are all refugees. They’ve taken over this village and are raising the villagers like livestock!”

Everyone who heard the news turned deathly pale. Some, realizing the implication, immediately ran to the side and began to retch.

“How many people are in there in total?” Liu Laohu asked.

The Wei Army soldier replied, “At least three hundred!”

This number made everyone who heard it gasp.

All of them combined, including the old, the young, and the women, didn’t even add up to one hundred. How could they possibly fight?

“Let’s hide first, don’t let the people inside discover us!”

The Wei Army soldier said, “That’s probably not necessary. They’re all eating right now!” At this, the soldier who made the report ran to the side and dry-heaved.

Even though he had been through no fewer than fifty battles, the scene inside had made his stomach churn, and he wished he could rush in and finish off that pack of animals.

Those who understood what he meant turned another shade paler upon seeing the soldier’s reaction.

“Quick, go ask the Miss what to do!” Liu Laohu’s steps were frantic.

The Wei Army soldier quickly stopped him. “My Big Brother has already thought of a plan. We’ll split up and hide in the unoccupied houses in the village. Then we’ll lure those people out and pick them off one by one!”

Wasn’t this the same method they had used against the refugees masquerading as post station staff? And they had used the same tactic at Black Wind Fortress as well.

Both times, they had achieved victory against a larger force.

Liu Laohu’s eyes lit up. He steadied himself and immediately commanded, “The carriages are too noisy. Don’t enter the village yet. Find a place to hide!”

Liu Yanhui added, “The convicts will form their own teams, just like at Black Wind Fortress. Whatever you can plunder is yours to keep!”

The convicts, who had been hesitant and uneasy, felt their resolve harden at his words.

You have to sacrifice the bait to catch the wolf. Fortune favors the bold, while the timid starve.

The most important reason was that they had already spent all their silver on water.

Liu Yanhui added another incentive, “For so many people to hole up here and not leave, there must be water!”

At the mention of water, the convicts’ eyes gleamed.

A chance to get both silver and water—they could hardly wait!

Without any need for Liu Laohu to assign them, the convicts began to form their own teams.

Of course, there were exceptions.

“Your family is too large a target. You need to split into at least three teams!” Liu Laohu hadn’t figured it out, but Liu Yanhui could see that the Shen family had no intention of participating at all.

Certain members of the Shen family stiffened at Liu Laohu’s words.

“Your Excellency, our family is full of scholars. We can’t carry heavy loads or lift things with our hands. We’d only get in the way if we went,” Old Madam Shen said, using her advanced age to her advantage.

Liu Laohu immediately cursed, “What nonsense are you spouting? What damn scholars? You don’t pitch in when work needs to be done, but you eat more than anyone at mealtime. The moment there’s trouble, you hide. That’s not a scholar, that’s inhuman! You’re parasites!”

“Let me tell you, unless you plan on not eating or drinking for the rest of the journey, you will step up!”

Shen Yuanjing had wanted to participate. If his grandmother hadn’t threatened to kill herself, he would have stepped forward long ago.

Now that Liu Laohu had put it so bluntly, his grandmother would surely not stand in his way again.

“Your Excellency, I’ll join!”

All the children born of the principal wife in the first branch stepped forward, and several children born of concubines followed suit.

“We’ll form a team!”

Chapter 59: Kill!

Liu Laohu glared at the people from the other branches of the Shen family, who all cowered and ducked back.

“Useless cowards!”

The Old Madam was about to call Shen Yuanjing and the others back. With Lanxi around, they would never go hungry. Why couldn’t these children understand her painstaking efforts?

“Mother, don’t say anything. What if you anger Liu Laohu and he makes us go to the front to block the blades?” a member of another Shen family branch quickly whispered in persuasion.

The Old Madam was still wary of Liu Laohu, so she retreated with a dark expression. She had made her plans, but the children of the first branch were disobedient. No matter what happened, she couldn’t be blamed!

Shen Lanxi formed a team with Chunxue and Qiushuang, leaving Mama Wang and her family to watch the children and the horse-drawn carts.

Under Wei Dongzhu’s command, the six small teams infiltrated Liu Zhao Village from four different directions.

The closer they got to where the refugees were, the stronger the smell of fire roasting fat became.

The faces of those who drew near turned deathly pale. At first, they could endure it, but when someone saw clean-picked human bones on the ground, they could no longer bear it and ran to the side, vomiting until it felt like they were spitting up bile.

“Beasts!”

“Worse than pigs and dogs…”

“Completely inhuman…”

Muttered curses filled the air. Everyone already hated the people inside, who were as ferocious as evil spirits, to the very bone.

Shen Lanxi also saw the human bones. These people had casually tossed the bones aside, their hearts completely devoid of human conscience. They had all become vicious beasts in human form.

They slipped into the house closest to the refugees, where Wei Dongzhu and the Wei Army were already hidden.

“You stay here. We’re going to the house next door!” It was only a single wall away. She leaped over it with Chunxue and Qiushuang.

Faint cries, angry curses, and the sounds of beatings mixed together. Everyone who heard it gripped their weapons tighter, or clenched their fists if they had no weapon, all poised and ready to strike.

One refugee came out to urinate, another to gather firewood. They went in different directions, and soon both were taken care of, their mouths covered.

Seeing that the person who went for firewood hadn’t returned, another person came out from the house to hurry them along.

Dealt with again.

When three people failed to return, the refugees grew suspicious. This time, more than ten of them came out.

“Should we split up to search?”

“Nah, how big can this village be? Let’s stick together.”

“You’re such a coward…”

Although the dozen or so men were grumbling and cursing, they didn’t separate. Having done too many wicked deeds, they were naturally fearful in their hearts and could only rely on spouting a few curses to bolster their courage.

To avoid alerting the people inside, they certainly couldn’t rely on just the convicts.

Shen Lanxi remained still, watching the Wei Army’s movements.

Since she had entrusted the command of this operation to Wei Dongzhu, if he couldn’t control the overall situation, he wasn’t a qualified commander.

After the group of more than ten had walked some distance away, they were all eliminated by the Wei Army.

This move stunned the convicts and bailiffs hiding nearby. The Wei Army soldiers were so swift that with a single slash, they slit the refugees’ throats. It was something that simply couldn’t be done without training.

The method of picking them off one by one was viable. The strength of the Wei Army once again bolstered the confidence of the convicts and bailiffs.

They had plenty of time. They refused to believe the refugees would hide inside forever.

Before long, more people came out from inside.

This time, the refugees were cunning. They tied the women and children of the village together and shoved them forward. They stood guard on the side with knives, ready to take the villagers as hostages at the slightest sign of trouble.

“Hurry up, hurry up…” The women and children being pushed along were gaunt and haggard, their clothes in tatters. They were so thin they looked like skeletons draped in skin, stumbling forward with numb expressions.

In contrast, the men pushing them were all brawny and stout, with cruel faces. One look and you could tell they had never gone hungry; in fact, they had been eating very well.

One woman’s body could no longer hold up. She swayed twice and collapsed to the ground, breathing out more than she was breathing in.

“Get up! If you don’t get up, I’ll throw you in the pot and cook you!” one of them yelled, kicking her.

The people hiding all around could no longer restrain themselves and charged out in unison.

“Who’s there?”

“Quick—” Before they could finish the cry for help, their mouths were covered, their weapons were seized, and their lives were ended by the charging bailiffs.

Liu Laohu quickly directed the convicts to clean up, then began to rapidly summarize the experience.

“Be more careful next time. Wait until their knives are a little further away before you strike. Otherwise, by the time we run over, they’ll already have their blades to the hostages’ throats!”

The people who had charged forward all learned their lesson and nodded in agreement.

The convicts quickly untied the women and children. Just as they were about to tell them to hide, they saw one of the women run off, screaming.

“Help! There are people here…”

“Damn it, she’s one of them!”

Everyone panicked. It was too late to chase her down. It was over; they were going to be discovered.

Suddenly, a whistling sound cut through the air. They then saw a rock fly by, hitting the fleeing woman and sending her flying.

With a thud, the woman, who had run twenty or thirty meters away, crashed heavily at their feet.

Blood poured from the woman’s mouth and nose. Her sternum was caved in. The rock, the size of a watermelon, had nearly pierced through her chest.

There was no time to wonder who had done it. All that mattered was that it was an ally.

Liu Laohu quickly ordered people to dispose of the woman’s body in a flurry of activity.

The women and children were taken to a safe place, where Liu Yanhui immediately began to question them.

“How many people are inside? How many are tied up like you, and how many are the bad guys?”

“How many weapons do they have, and what kind? Are there any martial artists?”

“What kind of furniture is in the house? Like tables, chairs, iron plates—how many things are there that can be used for cover?”

The women and children huddled together, trembling and crying softly. Their miserable state was hard to look upon.

“Don’t be afraid, we’re here to save you!” Shen Yuantang and a few other women stepped forward to speak.

“Sisters, please tell us quickly. The sooner you speak, the more lives we can save!”

This sentence struck a nerve with one of the women.

“Save my child! Please, save my child!”

Watching the female villager kowtow repeatedly, the other women turned away one by one to wipe their tears.

Liu Laohu took out his bailiff’s token. “Ma’am, I am a bailiff. Don’t worry, as long as they’re alive, we will save them!”

Hearing Liu Laohu’s identity, the women and children clung to him as if he were their last straw, and the information about the situation inside came pouring out of them.

“The leader inside is a former bandit, and he knows martial arts. There are more than ten of them, and the rest are refugees who follow their orders.”

“They have more than ten large blades, and many others are armed with kitchen knives and hoes. Oh, and two of them are carrying bows and arrows!”

“There are only thirty or forty of our villagers left. They have a lot of people, maybe three or four hundred, including men, women, and children.”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up. “How many able-bodied men do they have who can fight?”

The women and children fell into thought, trying to recall.

“Two or three hundred!”

“Over two hundred!”

“There are seventy or eighty women and children. They have children of their own, so why would they harm my child…”

Chapter 60: Slaughter!

Making these women and children recall what happened was somewhat cruel, but the information they got was optimistic!

The number of people inside who could fight wasn’t as high as the initial estimates!

The Wei Army soldiers on guard heard this and inwardly cursed themselves for their carelessness, rushing back to report.

On the battlefield, they were used to simply counting all enemy combatants, making no distinction between men, women, or children.

Soon, Wei Dongzhu’s revised strategy was delivered.

“Have twenty men disguise themselves as people fleeing the famine and infiltrate the village to rescue the hostages first!”

“If the refugees inside have hidden the hostages, the men outside will split into two teams. One will coordinate with the team inside, and the other will go rescue the hostages!”

“If the refugees haven’t hidden the hostages, then we’ll wait for our men to rescue them before we charge in and attack from both inside and out!”

The Wei Army soldier had just finished speaking when the convicts rejected the plan.

“No way, that won’t work. We’re not like you. We don’t have your skills. Those refugees are savage. If we go in, we’d just be walking to our deaths!”

“Yeah, yeah! I still think we need to lure more of them out. There are still too many people in there. Even the women and children, when they start hitting people, it really hurts!”

All eyes turned to the man who had spoken.

“What are you looking at me for? Women hit hard! Haven’t you ever been hit by your own wives?”

After a suffocating silence, the speaker was shoved to the back of the group.

He must think everyone’s wife was like his!

Still, Madam Song was quite formidable. If there were a few more like her inside, it would indeed be troublesome!

The Wei Army soldier hadn’t expected the Young General’s plan to be shot down so easily and quickly returned to report.

They didn’t have to wait long before another twenty or so people came out.

“Let’s stick together! Hold your weapons tight!”

“Something feels off, don’t you think?”

“Bah! It’s broad daylight, stop talking nonsense!”

After the twenty people had walked some distance away, they were immediately overwhelmed by the convicts hiding nearby, who also snatched the weapons from their hands!

Some were hesitant to take the weapons, looking repeatedly at Liu Laohu.

“What time is it to be hesitating? Survival is what matters!”

With Liu Laohu’s command, those holding the blades suddenly felt as if they’d swallowed a calming pill, and their hands steadied.

While the people outside were endlessly debating strategies, Shen Lanxi had already slipped into the houses.

Like a wolf among sheep, with two blades in hand. They treated human lives like two-legged sheep, and today, she would let them taste what it was like to be butchered like sheep themselves!

Shen Lanxi’s blades moved like lightning, her strikes fierce and powerful. Facing these people, she didn’t want to give them an easy death. When she struck, she deliberately avoided vital spots.

She was just hacking at them!

Anyone who crossed her path was spared no mercy. A single strike cut to the bone, sent an arm flying, or left a body in pieces!

This wasn’t killing!

It was slaughter!

Screams erupted instantly. The refugees had never seen such a method of killing. They were psychologically defeated, so terrified they didn’t even dare to charge forward. As if they had seen some terrifying superweapon, they turned and fled in panic!

“Run, there’s a killer!”

Shen Lanxi sneered. She was a murderer? Then what were they? Just tickling people?

In just a few moments, the ground was covered with refugees. They were either clutching severed limbs, howling in agony, or pressing down on their wounds, trying to slow the bleeding!

Every one of them had lost the ability to fight!

Seeing things go wrong, the wives and children of the refugees who had been left behind abandoned their own children and turned to flee for their lives!

Shen Lanxi watched their retreating backs with cold eyes. She kicked at the fire, sending the large, bubbling pot toppling over!

The people outside heard the screams and quickly took cover.

“What’s going on?”

“Could they be killing people inside again?”

They didn’t have to guess for long. The next moment, they saw the refugees fleeing in a state of utter panic!

They had only one thought now: What damn strategy? Was there any need for one now?

“Kill these bastards!”

“Charge!”

With a roar, Liu Laohu was the first to charge forward, broadsword raised. Immediately, the other teams leaped out to intercept them.

In the blink of an eye, the refugees who ran in this direction were all cleanly taken care of.

The refugees who fled in the other direction were dealt with by the Wei Army.

When the fighting subsided, everyone was covered in the refugees’ blood.

The convicts were so exhausted their hands began to tremble. In their hearts, however, was not the fear of killing, but excitement and disbelief.

So many people… they had actually done it!

But Liu Yanhui knew that if these people hadn’t been fleeing in panic, their fighting spirit completely broken, it would never have been so easy!

What had happened inside?

Although the convicts were exhausted, they didn’t dare to rest. If they were a step too slow, all the good stuff would be taken by others.

They scrambled to their feet and began to search for spoils!

The Wei Army soldiers pushed Wei Dongzhu toward the houses. They too were curious. What terrifying event had occurred inside to scare the notoriously vicious refugees so badly?

Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu also hurried in to see!

Inside, there were only the trembling villagers, the ceaselessly wailing children, and a floor covered in blood and refugees who were not yet dead!

Liu Laohu asked dryly, “Who did this?”

No one answered for a long time.

“What do we do now?” Liu Laohu wiped his face and asked, his confidence wavering.

The Wei Army soldiers pushed Wei Dongzhu away.

Liu Yanhui met Liu Laohu’s pleading gaze and said, “Brother Liu, you’re the only official from the yamen here. You’re in charge. We’ll all listen to you!”

Liu Laohu blinked. He was in charge? Why did he feel like he was the most pathetic one here!

“Alright, fine. You go help clean up too!”

Liu Yanhui quickly ran outside, not to clean up, but to find Shen Lanxi!

There was no one else here. He couldn’t think of a second person besides Shen Lanxi who possessed such overwhelming combat strength!

“Miss, the people have been rescued. All the male refugees have been dealt with. What about the female refugees and the children?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Leave them for the villagers to deal with!”

Liu Yanhui raised an eyebrow. He had guessed correctly!

“Have men search the village. Find a water source!”

“Yes!”

After dealing with matters in the village, Liu Laohu immediately found Shen Lanxi.

“All the adult men in the village were killed by them. Only women and children are left. If they stay here, they definitely won’t survive for long!”

Putting aside food and water, there were surely other refugees out there. If they were to run into another group, these people would only live a few more days before meeting the same fate as before—becoming a meal for other refugees!

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Liu Laohu glanced at her cautiously. “Can… can we take them with us?”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Did you hear about Moon Lake from Liu Yanhui?”

Liu Laohu lowered his head in embarrassment.

The greatest fortune for the Shen family during this exile was encountering bailiffs like Liu Laohu, who still had kindness and a sense of justice in their hearts.

“You’re the bailiff. You’re in charge here. We’ll listen to you!”

Liu Laohu’s mouth twitched. He was too embarrassed to even lift his head!

Chapter 61: I’ll Find You a Good Master!

An old well in Liu Zhao Village still had some water. Liu Yanhui directed the prisoners to boil it.

The prisoners hadn’t rested all night and were initially unwilling.

“There’s only a little water left. Every extra day we stay, the more we’ll consume.”

“Tonight, when we travel, everyone who fought today will ride in the carriages!”

“Those who fought today will all get a full meal!”

With these three sentences, the prisoners’ complaints vanished, and they quickly got to work on their assigned tasks.

The villagers wanted to help but were all turned away.

They could barely stand on their own; they shouldn’t cause more trouble.

The refugee women and children were all tied together. The surviving villagers cursed them for a long time, brandishing their knives, but in the end, they couldn’t bring themselves to strike.

They decided to take all the food and water from the village, leaving these people here to fend for themselves—to be killed by Heaven.

At noon, the members of the Shen family who hadn’t fought watched with longing as the participants feasted. Whenever any of them tried to approach, they were driven back by the bailiffs’ knives after just a few steps and subjected to the other prisoners’ veiled curses.

Liu Laohu sternly warned the children that if they took their food back to the other Shen family members, they too would have nothing to eat.

The few Shen children had no intention of sharing anyway, and now they had a perfectly legitimate reason not to take the food back.

Besides the Shen family members, there was one other prisoner who hadn’t fought. But he was wealthy and paid for his own food and water, which the bailiffs accepted.

Just as this prisoner was carrying his food and drink back, Shen Yuanruan walked in his direction. As she passed him, a handkerchief fluttered lightly to the ground.

Yuanxin, who had been watching Shen Yuanruan the entire time, curled her lips into a scornful smile. What an idiot. All I did was mention that Eldest Sister has no money left, and she already thinks the Shen family is hopeless. To debase herself by seducing such a disgusting man… She’s really not picky!

If not for the court’s regulations and out of consideration for Shen Lanxi, Liu Laohu wouldn’t have even wanted to give so much as a cornbread bun to the Shen family members who hadn’t fought.

They were really damn lucky to have the Miss looking out for them!

The other prisoners, not content with just eating and drinking their fill, went out of their way to taunt the Shen family with sarcastic remarks.

“These freshly griddled cakes are so oily and savory. Delicious!”

“The water from the old well is so much sweeter than water from any other well!”

“What a shame. Some people can’t eat or drink any of it. All they can do is stare~”

The Shen family members were seething with rage.

“Boss, hurry up and tell Lanxi to bring us some food. She’s not a prisoner, Liu Laohu has no authority over her!” Old Madam Shen had been so anxious and angry these past few days that her eyes were bloodshot and her mouth had broken out in blisters. The fire in her heart raged uncontrollably.

Shen Congwen hadn’t fought either. He was so thirsty and hungry now that he didn’t even have the strength to lift his head.

“Mother, Lanxi may not be a prisoner, but Liu Laohu is a government bailiff. It’s obvious he’s deliberately targeting us. If we go to Lanxi now, wouldn’t we just be adding fuel to the fire and making him hate us even more?”

Shen Conglian said, “Then what should we do? It’s one thing for us to be thirsty and hungry, but Father and Mother are so old. Can you bear to see them suffer along with us?”

Shen Congwen didn’t even have the energy to speak. He was also exhausted, not having slept since yesterday, and had been assigned to gather firewood. He was on the verge of falling asleep just sitting there.

“Big Brother, I’m talking to you.”

Shen Congwen truly had no strength left.

“If you want to go, then go. I don’t have the energy.” After saying this, he slumped to the side and fell asleep.

“Big Brother, Big Brother…”

Little Xue arrived again with a delivery. Shen Lanxi walked a little further away, fed it something to eat, and untied the message.

This time, there was also a small box containing four porcelain vials, all filled with excellent medicine for healing injuries and illnesses.

As she carried the items back, she saw Shen Yuanruan and another prisoner hiding a short distance away, holding hands. She didn’t look away.

Shen Yuanruan probably saw her, as she pulled the man to an even more secluded spot.

In the afternoon, the prisoners searched the village in twos and threes, and the villagers also began their own preparations.

Occasionally, someone would return carrying a full or half-full sack, but they wouldn’t open it, so no one knew what was inside.

The prisoners who hadn’t gone searching saw them return with things and quietly joined the search parties themselves.

Back with the Wei Army, they were joined by another person—Zhang Niu had caught up.

As the sun began to set in the west, Shen Lanxi came out of her carriage for some fresh air. Not far away, piles of charcoal fires were being buried with dirt to extinguish them.

Liu Laohu had the prisoners feeding the horses and inspecting the vehicles, just waiting for the sun to set completely before departing.

“Miss, have something to eat.”

Shen Lanxi looked at the meat on the plate and said, “I’ll be eating vegetarian for the next two days.”

Mama Wang disagreed. “How can you only eat vegetables? I’ll go boil some eggs for you, Miss.”

Shen Lanxi didn’t refuse.

From a short distance away came waves of pleading cries—it was the refugee women and children.

“Please, give us some food! If not for us, at least give some to the children!”

“The children are innocent!”

This was immediately followed by screams and furious curses.

“Innocent? They ate the most heartily…”

“We’ll beat you to death! Beat you inhuman monsters to death…!”

The villagers swarmed forward, venting their rage with fists and feet.

Seeing that the bailiffs did nothing as the villagers approached, Shen Yuanjing and the other children immediately ran over to find Shen Lanxi.

“Eldest Brother, I have something I want to give you.”

Shen Lanxi: “What is it?”

Shen Yuanjing and the others immediately took out the things they had hidden. Some had a few taels of broken silver, some had a handful of copper coins, and others had silver hairpins and bracelets.

“Did no one from your family ask you for these?” she asked with a smile.

Shen Yuanjing: “They did, but we said we didn’t take anything.”

Shen Lanxi: “You earned these through hard work. I’ll hold onto them for you. Whenever you need them, just come and get them from me.”

Shen Yuanjing said bashfully, “Eldest Brother, we’ve been eating your food and using your things this whole journey. I really want to give these to you.”

“Us too!” the others chimed in eagerly.

Shen Lanxi: “I accept your kind intentions, but this money was not easily obtained. It’s not too late to gift it to me when you have more.”

Seeing that she was adamant about not accepting, Shen Yuanjing and the others lost the confidence to insist.

“Eldest Brother, we’ll practice our boxing for you. You can see if we’ve improved.”

Shen Lanxi: “Alright.”

After the children finished a set of their boxing forms, Shen Lanxi nodded in satisfaction.

“You’ve all been practicing very diligently!”

The children were overjoyed.

“Eldest Brother, when can we learn martial arts from you?” Shen Yuanjing asked, his face full of admiration.

These kids have only been learning for a few days, and they’re already getting impatient.

“Don’t you want to learn from Chunxue and Qiushuang anymore?”

Shen Yuanjing hurriedly said, “No, that’s not it. We were just asking.”

Shen Lanxi thought for a moment. “Chunxue and Qiushuang have to take care of me and also oversee your training. It’s true that it’s not ideal for them to continue teaching you.”

Shen Yuanjing and the others immediately looked up at her.

“I’ll find you a good master!”

Chapter 62: To Get Something, You Must First Give Something!

What did she mean? Didn’t Eldest Sister want to teach them herself?

Shen Lanxi said, “Come with me!”

She led the children to the Wei Army soldiers.

“I’ve found you all some apprentices!”

Shen Yuanjing and the others stared wide-eyed. Eldest Sister wanted them to learn from these men?

“A teacher for a day is a father for life. If you wish to learn from them, you must respect them as you would a father. If you can’t do that, then go back to practicing your punches with Chunxue and Qiushuang!”

Shen Yuantang asked, “Eldest Brother, aren’t you going to teach us?”

“You’re not worthy yet!” Shen Lanxi replied.

When Shen Yuantang asked the question, Shen Yuanjing and the others had felt a glimmer of hope. But after hearing Shen Lanxi’s reply, all that remained was disappointment.

“If you keep thinking the grass is greener on the other side, you’ll be like a bear trying to carry corn—you’ll end up learning nothing at all!”

The children quickly admitted their mistake.

“Eldest Brother, we were wrong!”

“Although I’ve brought you to your potential masters,” Shen Lanxi said, “whether they’ll teach you or not depends on your own efforts!”

The Shen family and the Wei Army now shared a blood feud. After she had spoken, the fact that these men hadn’t rushed over to cut them down was already a testament to the Wei Army’s strict discipline!

With that, she left, abandoning the two awkward groups to their discomfort.

As the sun set, Liu Laohu cracked his whip and bellowed for them to move out!

The villagers from Liu Zhao Village were assigned to the prisoners’ carts. The Shen family members also tried to climb aboard but were immediately pushed off by the bailiffs and refugees.

“Those who didn’t fight only get to walk!”

Under the immense pressure of the other Shens’ stares, Shen Yuanjing and the other children wanted to get off the cart. But the bailiffs held them down.

“Sit tight! If you dare move, you’ll taste the whip!”

The children didn’t dare to budge.

“What a sin… The grandchildren ride while their elders have to walk!” Old Madam Shen had just started wailing when a whip cracked down on her.

“If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll leave you in this village to keep those refugees company!”

Old Madam Shen’s face turned pale with terror. Those refugees were worse than pigs and dogs. If she were left behind, they would surely break her old bones and boil them for soup!

“I’ll stop, I’ll stop! I won’t shout anymore!” Old Madam Shen was terrified.

Seeing that even the old madam couldn’t cause a scene, the other Shen family members could only trail behind the carts, running to keep up!

“I can’t… I can’t run anymore!”

“Mother, tell Big Brother to go beg Lanxi! Let us ride in Lanxi’s cart!”

“Grandmother, I can’t run anymore!”

Just as Old Madam Shen was about to call for her eldest son, a whip cracked beside her.

“Still have the energy to talk? Then you have the energy to run!”

“Your Excellency, I really can’t run anymore! I’ll pay to ride!” a man named Wu Youliang quickly pulled out some money.

The bailiff took the silver and turned a blind eye, letting him climb onto the cart himself.

“Brother Wu, I can’t run anymore either!” Shen Yuanruan cried out.

Wu Youliang looked at Shen Yuanruan’s beautiful, flower-like face, gritted his teeth, and produced another handful of silver.

“Your Excellency, let her get on too!”

The bailiff gave them a half-smiling look, took the money, and waved them on.

The other Shen family members were stunned that Shen Yuanruan had managed to get on the cart in such a way. Some watched with contempt, others hurled insults, and some even started getting crooked ideas.

“Shen Yuanruan, how could you secretly consort with a prisoner? You are not fit to be a descendant of the Shen family!”

“You little vixen, when did you start hooking up with strange men?”

“Yuanruan, Father and Mother are tired too. Give your seat to them for a while.”

Shen Yuanruan sneered inwardly. She had gone to great lengths to get on this cart; why should she give it up for someone else?

Let them curse, she thought. They’re just jealous!

The Shen family was hopeless. She didn’t want to end up like them, exhausted as a half-dead dog. As long as she latched onto Wu Youliang, she could travel to Dongchuan in comfort!

The water prepared on the carts wouldn’t last three days if everyone drank their fill.

During a break, Liu Laohu gathered the prisoners for a briefing.

“The horses drink first. Each person can only have two sips of water a day. That’s the only way we’ll all make it to Moon Lake!”

After speaking to the prisoners, Liu Laohu went to have a word with the bailiffs, forbidding them from privately selling water anymore, no matter how much money was offered.

They traveled for another night, and thankfully, they didn’t encounter any more refugees. To speed things up and give the horses a rest, the prisoners would get out and push the carts whenever they came across difficult terrain.

As a new dawn broke, a flock of birds flew across the sky, catching the prisoners’ attention.

“Birds! There are living creatures!”

“Birds look for water! If we follow the birds, we’ll find water!”

Other than wolves, they hadn’t seen any other animals along the way. The sudden sight of life was like a beacon of hope.

“These birds must be heading towards Moon Lake too!”

“If we just hold on a little longer, we’ll have water to drink!”

Shen Lanxi already knew from the latest information that ahead of them lay not only Moon Lake but also large groups of refugees.

These refugee groups were traveling close together, each of a similar size, totaling over a thousand people.

If they wanted to avoid them, they would have to take a detour, which would add at least five to seven days to their journey to Moon Lake.

Judging by the direction the refugees were headed, they were likely going to Moon Lake as well. No matter which path they took, they would eventually meet.

During the next break, Shen Yuanjing and the others came over.

“Eldest Brother, they won’t accept us!”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Did they say your aptitude was too poor, or were you not humble enough? Did you fail to show the sincerity required to respect a master?”

“Yuanjing, I remember when you were studying, Mother went to plead with a good tutor several times before he finally agreed to come to our home and teach you.”

Shen Yuanjing understood. Eldest Sister was determined to have them learn martial arts from those men.

“Eldest Brother, can I trade you some silver for a few things?” He was older now and couldn’t just take things from his eldest sister for free.

Shen Lanxi guessed what he was planning.

“You may. Go find Chunxue.”

A short while later, the children returned to the Wei Army’s camp, carrying pastries and other food.

She wanted to teach her younger brothers and sisters that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. To get something, you must first give something!

Meanwhile…

“Big Brother, they’re back again!”

“They’re from the Shen family, our mortal enemies. Why would he want us to teach our enemies martial arts?”

“It’s because he doesn’t know we’re from the Wei Army!”

“Big Brother, what should we do?”

Wei Dongzhu was already regretting following the Shen family. They were the ones who had brought the Wei Army to this state, and now he wanted them to teach the Shens martial arts.

A simple death would just be a beheading, but the Shen family didn’t just kill—they crushed their spirits!

What was that person’s relationship with the Shen family? Why was he protecting them so fiercely?

“Tell them to leave!”

“What if they won’t leave?”

“Then make them leave!”

“…” Wasn’t that the same thing?

Shen Lanxi was gone for a two-hour period. When she returned, she sent for Liu Laohu and Liu Yanhui.

She also had someone summon Wei Dongzhu.

“There are two groups of refugees ahead of us. Each group has more than four or five hundred people.”

“Both groups have ox carts and mule carts, as well as elderly and children.”

“Do any of you have a good plan?”

Chapter 63: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them!

Wei Dongzhu waited a moment, and when no one else spoke, he began.

“These two groups must be from one or more villages that have joined forces!”

“The presence of the elderly and children means they travel slowly.”

“I suggest we send scouts out again to confirm the exact number of women, children, and elderly in both groups!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Laohu and Liu Yanhui. The former quickly looked down and pretended to scratch his itchy head.

Liu Yanhui said, “I agree with this brother’s method. Let me add my own thoughts!”

“We absolutely cannot let these two groups merge into one. Then, we find out which group is weaker, and we can figure out a way to join them!”

Liu Laohu finally thought of something to say. “If you can’t beat them, join them. That’s a great idea, a great idea!”

Shen Lanxi shot him a glance, and Liu Laohu quickly lowered his head again.

“For these two groups to have made it this far without one consuming the other, they can’t be stupid. What method do you have to convince them to let us join?” Shen Lanxi asked calmly.

Liu Yanhui straightened the wrinkled brocade robes on his body and said, “I can pretend to be the brother-in-law of the Yicheng Prefect!”

An idea struck Liu Laohu, and he joked, “Playing the brother-in-law again? Then I’ll play the elder brother-in-law~”

Shen Lanxi gave him another sideways glance, which made Liu Laohu wave his hands in embarrassment. “I just saw you all looking so serious and wanted to lighten the mood~ Just pretend I was talking nonsense.”

Shen Lanxi took a deep breath and looked away, speechless.

“Continue!”

Liu Yanhui smiled. “Since ancient times, the common people have always feared the government. I will approach the weaker party, give them two bags of grain, and promise that after we reach Yicheng, I will help them settle down. The condition is that they must protect us along the way!”

Wei Dongzhu pondered, “How confident are you?”

Liu Yanhui considered it. “Sixty percent!”

Shen Lanxi said, “You could also sow discord!”

The three men looked up at her.

“We have quite a few able-bodied men, and some who know martial arts. We don’t necessarily have to put ourselves in a position of weakness. We are a force to be reckoned with in our own right!”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up, and he immediately followed her line of thought. “As the two groups travel together, there must be friction between them. The reason they haven’t fought is that the price is too high. Even if they did, the winning side would suffer heavy losses!”

Wei Dongzhu looked at Shen Lanxi with a strange expression. This person had such a sharp mind.

Shen Lanxi was thinking of even more. She said enigmatically, “Besides sowing discord, there are other ways. Think about it again.”

Liu Yanhui sensed that Shen Lanxi was intentionally guiding him. After thinking seriously for a long while, he said, “We could also win them over and make them our own!”

Wei Dongzhu glanced at Liu Yanhui. He was a man of war; Liu Yanhui’s methods were more like those of a strategist. Left to him, he would only think of using force!

“We can divide and conquer. After taking control of this group, we can negotiate with the other one to merge!”

Liu Laohu nodded earnestly. “That makes sense!”

“…”

Shen Lanxi concluded, “For now, let’s proceed with Liu Yanhui’s plan. After we join a group, we’ll adapt to the circumstances!”

“Alright!”

“This was Liu Yanhui’s idea, so ask him what you need to be aware of!”

“Yes!”

After the three men left, they began discussing the details again, such as how much grain to give, what to say upon meeting them, and what kind of demeanor to adopt.

During the break, the members of the Shen family could no longer hold back. Taking advantage of the fact that the bailiffs were busy with other matters and not watching them, they sought out Shen Lanxi!

“How dare you, two servants, block my way!” The Old Madam led a crowd of Shen family members behind her. She had expected her granddaughter to be flattered and welcome her with open arms, but instead, she was stopped by two insolent wenches.

“Old Madam, Miss is resting. It is inconvenient for you to have male relatives with you. Please allow us to announce your arrival first!”

Hearing this explanation, the Old Madam’s expression softened considerably.

Males and females should not sit together after the age of seven. When a girl grew up, she had to maintain a distance even from her own father and brothers, let alone uncles and cousins from other branches of the family!

“Go and call her. Tell her to come down and see me!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang were unwilling to go. Their Young Lady had just lain down to rest not long ago. Did these people have to disturb others just because they couldn’t sleep?

Even a biological grandmother shouldn’t be so inconsiderate of her grandchild!

During the days of exile, the two maids had long seen the true colors of the Old Madam and the people from the other branches. Although they were reluctant, these people were, after all, the masters of the Shen family, and they were servants. Years of ingrained servility forced them to put aside their prejudices and inform their Young Lady.

“Miss, the Old Madam and the masters and madams from the other three branches are here!” Chunxue whispered hesitantly.

She hoped in her heart that her Young Lady wouldn’t hear. In any case, she had delivered the message. If her Young Lady was too tired and didn’t hear, it wasn’t her fault!

Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed.

A long staff lifted the carriage curtain. Chunxue quickly scurried to the other side to hold the curtain open.

Shen Lanxi, carrying her long staff, leaped down from the carriage and was before the Old Madam in a few steps.

The Old Madam’s face changed slightly at the sight of the iron staff in her hand. She subconsciously took two steps back, only stopping when she stepped on her son’s shoe.

“Grandmother, Uncles, Aunts!”

Looking at her granddaughter’s extraordinary presence, the Old Madam gritted her teeth and composed herself!

No matter how capable she was, she was still a woman. To live a stable life, she would have to rely on the men of the Shen family in the future!

At this thought, a kindly smile appeared on the Old Madam’s face.

“Lanxi, you’ve gotten thinner, and darker!”

Shen Lanxi looked at these relatives who had come with ill intentions, and a flicker of bitterness crossed her heart!

“Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. It’s normal to get thinner and more tired from the exhaustion of the journey!”

The Old Madam had expected Shen Lanxi to reply by saying how hard it had been for the Old Madam, which would have given her the opening to make her demands.

Who would have thought her words would be like punching cotton, deflected so painlessly.

“Lanxi, you’ve only gotten a bit thinner and darker. Your grandparents are the ones who have truly suffered. The bailiffs wouldn’t let us ride in the carts, and the soles of our feet are worn raw. Your grandparents are old, so it’s even worse for us. Haven’t you noticed how much older your grandmother looks?” Shen Congyi finished speaking and shot his mother a look. The Old Madam immediately pretended to be on the verge of fainting from exhaustion, leaning against her son.

“Lanxi, no matter how hard it is for you, you at least have a carriage to ride in. Your grandparents had to walk here every single step of the way!” said Shen Congli.

Shen Lanxi asked, “Why does everyone else have a carriage to ride in, but you don’t?”

The Shen family members, who were preparing to continue their pitiful tale, froze!

“What other reason could there be? It’s because we are from the Shen family!” Shen Congyi sighed!

Shen Lanxi pressed, “Why can other members of the Shen family ride, but specifically not you? Are they not from the Shen family?”

Resentment flashed in Shen Congyi’s eyes. Did this damned girl still think she was Princess Lanxi, favored by the imperial family?

She was nothing now!

Chapter 64: How Could She Not Change!

A look of displeasure crossed the Old Madam’s face. She had never liked this rebellious, ill-mannered eldest granddaughter of hers. In the past, she had only been willing to feign the part of a loving grandmother to a filial grandchild out of deference to certain people in the Imperial Palace. Now that this girl had been abandoned by the royals and stripped of all her titles, how dare she still act so arrogant?

Little bitch, she thought. Today, I’ll teach her that loyalty and filial piety are greater than heaven itself.

“Insolence! You talk back to every word an elder says. Have you no respect for us?” the Old Madam斥scolded, her eyes fierce.

A mocking glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. She had never imagined that the family she had longed for across two lifetimes, the family she returned to after her rebirth, would be like this. It made her years of hatred and regret feel like a joke!

“Lanxi, how did you become like this?” Mrs. Liu frowned, her face a mask of heartache.

That was a good question. Having lived an extra life, she replayed the past in her mind every single day. Every day she wondered what methods she would use for revenge if she could go back, how she would save her family, and what her family would become.

Her way of coping with her longing for them was to recall every moment of their interactions, to remember their every glance, their every movement.

She couldn’t stop her mind from devising a new plan for revenge each day.

When you analyze a person’s words and actions to the extreme, you uncover many things hidden beneath the surface!

Her previous belief that her family was harmonious and happy was all a pretense!

How could she not change!

“Second Aunt, what have I become? I can’t see it myself, so why don’t you tell me!” Shen Lanxi’s cold gaze swept over her.

Mrs. Liu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly said, “You ride in the carriage yourself but make your family run behind it. Tell me, what do you call that?”

“You feast and drink your fill but let your family suffer from hunger and thirst. How can you be so heartless!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Was I the one who wouldn’t let you ride in the carriage?”

“Was I the one who made you suffer from hunger and thirst?”

Shen Congyi’s face darkened. “Don’t twist my words. You were sending food and drink to the family before, so why did you stop?”

Shen Lanxi said coolly, “You angered the bailiffs yourselves, and they’re the ones stopping the deliveries, yet you come here to blame me. Shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourselves and why you angered the bailiffs?”

The Old Madam roared, “You’ve gone mad! How dare you speak to your elders like that! How did our family raise such an unfilial and disobedient thing! If I had known you were like this, I would have… I would have…”

“You would have suffocated me, strangled me, and drowned me in a chamber pot? When my mother gave birth to me, the Empress Dowager was watching over her. Did you dare?”

“Although my surname is Shen, I was raised at the Empress Dowager’s side. Back then, why didn’t you claim me as a Shen family descendant and bring me back to the family?”

Shen Lanxi looked coldly at these so-called family members. “I know full well why you’ve come to me!”

“And you know full well what I’ll do to you if you push me too far!”

“Even if you hadn’t come looking for me, I would have found the time to look for you!”

The Old Madam was afraid. The weapon of filial piety, which she so often used against her children and grandchildren, was useless against Shen Lanxi.

For the first time, she realized that this ultimate, ever-victorious weapon had no hold on her rebellious granddaughter.

“You unfilial and disobedient thing, shut your mouth! Wives of my second, third, and fourth sons, go and slap her hard! Today, I will discipline this disrespectful, disgraceful creature on behalf of her parents!”

How would Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Miao dare to step forward? The three of them together wouldn’t be a match for a single swing of Shen Lanxi’s staff.

If the Old Madam hadn’t been leading the charge, they wouldn’t have even dared to come!

“Mother, please calm down. Lanxi is still a child.”

“Yes, Mother. Lanxi is still young. She doesn’t understand the plans we adults have made for her!”

They were there for money, not to burn their bridges. To put it bluntly, they were convicted criminals. Even when they reached Dongchuan, their status would be less convenient than Shen Lanxi’s as a commoner. They would definitely have to rely on her to get things done in the future. They couldn’t afford to completely alienate her now!

“Mother, calm your anger. If you fall ill from anger, Lanxi will truly be branded as unfilial and disobedient!”

“Lanxi, quickly say a few nice words to your grandmother. Your grandmother is just worried about you. Why else would she give up her rest time to come and see you?”

Shen Lanxi watched them coolly, some playing the villain, some playing the hero. Her heart was like a rock, completely unmoved.

“None of you speak for her! The trouble her father caused has implicated our entire family. If she doesn’t hand over the money today, I will, on behalf of the Shen family clan, expel her from the family!” The Old Madam glared with a stern expression. Once expelled from the clan, she would be a person without roots, with no further connection to the Shen family.

Could she truly not handle this unfilial and disobedient thing?

“Fine! You said it yourself. I agree. From now on, I have no connection to you Shen family. You can go now!” Shen Lanxi said decisively.

The Old Madam was dumbfounded.

Did this girl not understand that without the protection of a clan, she would be bullied by anyone, just like a stray dog?

The three Shen brothers also panicked. Weren’t they here for money? How did it escalate to expulsion from the clan?

If Lanxi was no longer related to them, wouldn’t she have even more reason to ignore them in the future?

How could Mother be so muddle-headed!

“Mother, if you don’t know how to talk, then don’t!” Shen Congyi shot his mother a glare.

They had taken great pains to come over while the first branch was away, not to make Shen Lanxi sever all ties with them!

“Lanxi, your grandmother is just anxious seeing our Shen family fall to such a state. She’s just considerate of the juniors. Your youngest cousin is only three years old, and there are several other very young children. They were seriously ill a few days ago, and now they’re on the verge of collapsing again. Your grandmother is so worried she can’t even sleep well; she has blisters on her lip. She misspeaks when she’s agitated. She asked you for money because she wanted to buy medicine from the bailiffs, that’s all!” Shen Congyi quickly tried to mediate.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes settled on him ominously. “Fourth Uncle, I recall that when we encountered the bandits on the road, it was a child from your branch who shouted to hand over our first branch, wasn’t it?”

Shen Congyi’s face stiffened. The hand hidden under his wide sleeve nearly dug a hole in its own palm.

He could finally see it clearly. This daughter from his Big Brother’s branch was one to hold a grudge. So many days had passed, yet she still remembered. She was ruthless and cunning, completely unlike that idiot, Big Brother!

Shen Congyi turned, walked over to his son of a concubine, and slapped him across the face. The force was so great that it sent Shen Yuanzhan tumbling to the ground, the corner of his mouth bleeding.

“I’ll beat you to death, you little bastard! The Shen family rises and falls as one. The glory of our entire family was built by the first branch. Without your Eldest Uncle, who knows where you’d be.”

Shen Congyi’s words had a double meaning, simultaneously reminding Shen Lanxi she was a member of the Shen family and trying to curry favor with her.

“Lanxi, that little brat was raised by a concubine and doesn’t know any manners. I’ve already taught him a harsh lesson. In the future, if any more filth comes out of his mouth, feel free to punish him as you see fit, even if it means beating him to death!”

Terrified, Shen Yuanzhan kept covering his face and shrinking back.

Chapter 65: My good granddaughter, you can’t abandon us~

The rest of the Shen family was stunned by Shen Congyi’s slap. They remained utterly silent, leaving Shen Congyi to deal with the situation.

Shen Lanxi said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “Regarding the case of the stolen Wei Army military pay, whether the Shen family did it or not, we all know the truth in our hearts!”

“It’s precisely because I was mindful that our entire Shen family prospers or falls together, and because I didn’t want you to be frightened along the way, that I secretly took care of the assassins hunting our family!”

Hearing this, every member of the Shen family stared with wide, horrified eyes.

“I went to great lengths on this journey to shake off the assassins. I changed our household registrations and gave our family new names. But what did you do? The whole family went and caused a scene at the County Yamen. The Yamen knew you were from the Shen family and couldn’t wait to send you away as if you were a plague. You all fancy yourselves so clever, don’t you understand what that means?”

As the realization dawned on them, the Shen family members began to tremble uncontrollably with fear.

“I tried so desperately to hide the Shen family’s tracks, but what about you? It’s as if you couldn’t wait to shout to everyone that you’re from the Shen family. Do you have any idea of the consequences?”

A cold, severe aura radiated from Shen Lanxi, pressing down on every last member of the Shen family until they could barely breathe.

“Considering you are all part of the Shen family, you will all behave from now on. In return, I will ensure your safe arrival in Beichuan!”

“But if you don’t… the assassins hunting us and the refugees we see everywhere—bumping into either could make the Shen family disappear without a trace!”

Old Madam Shen’s face was deathly pale. She shuddered violently, and her legs gave way as she collapsed to the ground.

Although the others didn’t fall, they weren’t much better off. Each one was ashen-faced and covered in a cold sweat, their steps unsteady, looking as if they’d just been pulled from drowning.

“Lanxi, my good granddaughter, you can’t just abandon us~” Old Madam Shen scrambled and crawled towards Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi replied, “If I were going to abandon you, I wouldn’t have followed you all the way from the Capital to here.”

“Go back and think carefully about what I’ve said. From now on, you’d better weigh your actions and consider what you should and should not do!”

The Shen family members quickly helped Old Madam Shen up and left, murmuring flattering words to Shen Lanxi as they went.

“Miss, that was so satisfying!” The two maids had overheard their slanderous words when they delivered things to the Shen family earlier. Not wanting to upset their Young Lady, they had kept quiet.

Who would have thought these people would get even worse? Thankfully, their Young Lady was formidable and wouldn’t be swayed by them. If she had a softer personality, she would surely be bullied to death by these people!

Shen Lanxi looked at the two of them. “From now on, you only need to listen to me. Ignore everyone else!”

“Yes!”

When the master is firm, her servants must be firm too!

After the Shen family returned, they were silent for a long time.

“Do you think… what Lanxi said about assassins… is it true?” Shen Conglian asked.

Unfortunately, no one answered him.

They knew in their hearts that even if there were no assassins, they wouldn’t dare do anything to Shen Lanxi.

A short while later, Shen Congwen returned with the people from the first branch. They had just been helping the Bailiffs with some work.

Shen Conglian walked up to his older brother. “Big Brother, from now on, when you go to work for the Bailiffs, call a few people from our branch!”

Shen Congyi looked at his second brother in astonishment. What had happened? Weren’t they just saying they would rather die than lift a finger?

“It was Mother’s idea.” Overcome with shame, Shen Conglian dropped this sentence and walked away.

As they traveled after sunset, Liu Laohu didn’t even have to use his whip; the Shen family obediently walked behind the carriage.

It wasn’t long, however, before the Shen family’s old habits resurfaced. But this time, the target of their scolding and complaints had changed—they were all unanimously aimed at Shen Yuanruan!

“Shen Yuanruan, you unfilial and disobedient thing! Your grandmother’s feet are cracked from walking, so hurry up and give me your seat!”

“Yuanruan, your younger brother is still little. Let him have the carriage seat for a while!”

“You wretched girl, that filial appearance of yours was all an act. Look at the fine daughter you’ve raised!”

“Master, please stop hitting me. Yuanruan, can you bear to see your Concubine Mother get beaten? Hurry up and give your seat to your Father…”

Liu Laohu had been thinking of letting them ride in the carriage for a bit once they reached a flat stretch of road. But looking at them now, it seemed they weren’t tired at all.

“Grandmother, why don’t we go and beg Lanxi?”

Old Master Shen snapped, “Shut up! None of you are to go near Lanxi!”

The Shen family members all looked dejected.

“If you want to ask someone, go find your Big Brother!” As soon as Old Master Shen said this, the eyes of the other Shen family members lit up.

That’s right! Big Brother was so filial and obedient, he would definitely be willing to give up his seat!

A short while later, the rest of the Shen family were seated in the carriage.

Everyone from the first branch, except for Zhou Xinrou, was now walking on foot.

“You are the eldest, the family’s firstborn son. The Shen family will have to rely on you in the future!”

“If you get tired, just switch with them. Take turns sitting!”

After saying this, Old Madam Shen leaned against the grain sacks, tilted her head, and fell into a deep, snoring sleep.

“Father, why did we have to give them the carriage?”

“Father, my feet hurt…”

“Quiet! You’re tired, but aren’t your grandfather and grandmother tired? And here you are, thinking of practicing martial arts. Just treat this as physical training…”

Traveling on and off, they finally caught up with the exile convoy ahead on the second evening.

This time, Liu Yanhui took the lead, with the Wei Army soldiers and Bailiffs acting as his guards, and the others as servants and attendants.

He chose the rearmost group of refugees. This group had over fifty fewer able-bodied men than the one ahead, but more women, children, and elderly.

“Everyone, on my command, dismount and guard the carriages!” Liu Yanhui ordered, letting out a deep breath.

He never expected to have such a commanding moment!

Their group had already rehearsed this. At Liu Yanhui’s command, all those with children skillfully moved them into the covered carriages.

The frail women also got into the carriages with the children.

Frail women and children were the group’s weak points. These weak points had to be hidden when the other party was assessing their strength.

Liu Yanhui led the guards forward. Two of the guards each carried a sack of grain on their shoulders, while the others remained in place, awaiting news.

When the refugees ahead saw them, they passed messages among themselves. A few men who held authority stepped forward.

Liu Yanhui bowed with a fist-in-palm salute. “Greetings, everyone. I am from Cangzhou City, on my way to Yicheng. The garrison commander of Yicheng is my brother-in-law.”

The village heads leading the group began to deliberate.

“I’ve come this time hoping to travel with you. As long as you escort our group safely to Yicheng, I will have my brother-in-law help you all settle down and establish household registrations there. These two sacks of grain are a deposit. Once we arrive, in addition to helping you settle, there will be a generous reward!”

The four village heads walked a short distance away to discuss the offer.

“We can agree, but we don’t have any extra food or water!”

Liu Yanhui felt a wave of relief. “You don’t have to worry about that. We have enough food and water for two days. If we ration it, we can last until Moon Lake.”

The four men nodded.

“Alright. Have your people follow us.”

Liu Yanhui immediately sent someone back with the message, taking the opportunity to display their strength to the refugees as a deterrent.

“I have over forty guards with me. They are all skilled in martial arts and carry weapons. If we encounter other groups of refugees on the road, we can help fend them off!”

Chapter 66: With Guts Like That, They Dared to Steal Military Funds?

The four village heads nodded in satisfaction.

They were placed at the very back of the group. The refugees ahead of them were talking amongst themselves and glancing back, clearly discussing the newcomers.

“Miss, we’ve successfully joined them!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Chunxue, pour him a cup of cold tea.”

A cup of cold tea was soon in Liu Yanhui’s hands. Besides tea leaves, it also contained sugar, which could help replenish fluids and electrolytes.

Liu Yanhui took a sip, and his eyes instantly lit up.

So sweet!

Sugar was expensive, and under these conditions, it was even more precious. For a moment, Liu Yanhui wanted to shamelessly take it back for his mother and younger sister to drink.

But on second thought, he decided to drink it himself. He couldn’t always appear so petty in front of the Miss.

Holding the bowl with both hands, he carefully finished the tea and handed the cup back to Chunxue, completely satisfied.

“Miss, on the road, a woman from Liu Zhao Village had a miscarriage. She intentionally fell from the cart to induce it. Fortunately, Doctor Zhang was there, so she’s out of danger now.”

It was the child of one of the villainous refugees.

Shen Lanxi said, “It was Liu Laohu who insisted on bringing those women and children. Have him go thank Doctor Zhang.”

“Alright, I’ll tell him in a bit.”

Shen Lanxi closed her eyes, and her cool, detached voice passed through the carriage curtain to Liu Yanhui’s ears.

“If they intend to make a move on us, it will only be during the next two nights when we rest.”

Liu Yanhui said, “I’ll arrange for our men to take turns resting.”

“Good.”

After leaving, Liu Yanhui immediately gathered his men and organized them into four small squads based on their fighting abilities.

The skilled martial artists were paired with those who knew none.

Those with poor martial skills were paired with those who knew a few basic moves.

The men of the Shen family were all split up and assigned to different people. Some went with Liu Laohu, some with other bailiffs, and some with the Wei Army soldiers.

Originally, Shen Yuanjing and the others had wanted to be with the Wei Army, but they were classified as having only rudimentary skills and were assigned to the bailiffs instead.

The masters from the Shen family who knew no martial arts and a few children with no fighting skills were assigned to the Wei Army.

A Wei Army soldier stared at the Shen family men, who were shaking like leaves in the wind, his eyes glinting.

With guts like that, they dared to steal military funds?

During the rest period in the dead of night, more than twenty men, under the cover of a moonless, cloudy sky, stealthily approached the exiled group.

They thought they were being incredibly discreet, but they were already within the surveillance range of the squad on watch.

These men split into two groups. One group targeted the two carriages at the front, and the other targeted the two at the back.

Shen Lanxi’s carriage was the very last one, which happened to be in the area guarded jointly by the Wei Army and the Shen family men.

“They’re sneaking over. What do we do?” Shen Conglian asked, trembling as he clutched a wooden stick.

“Shh, don’t talk. Let the tall ones handle it when the sky falls.” They didn’t need to act; someone else would act for them.

“Where did they go?”

The Shen men looked back, only to find that the Wei Army soldiers who had been standing guard behind them moments ago had vanished.

“They promised we’d team up. How could they just abandon us?”

“Quiet, here they come, here they come!”

The Shen men were all trembling uncontrollably with fear, barely able to hold on to their weapons.

One man was so scared that the rock in his hand fell directly to the ground.

“What was that sound?”

“Sounds like someone kicked a stone. Who kicked a stone?”

No one spoke.

“Everyone, keep it down!”

“We’ll just take some of their things. I doubt they’ll dare to say anything. Just keep your mouths shut!”

Soon, a dozen men crept up. In a flurry of activity, they began untying ropes, some moving grain, others grabbing waterskins.

The Shen men all kept their eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. Not a single one of them moved to stop the thieves.

The Wei Army soldiers, intending to teach the Shen family a lesson, hid nearby and did not intervene. They watched as the thieves, with sacks on their shoulders and bags in their hands, were about to make off with their bounty. Deciding they couldn’t just teach the Shen family a lesson anymore, they quickly sprang into action.

They knocked out one thief after another. Once it was over, one of them turned to the Shen men and hissed angrily.

“Are you all blind? They were right under your noses! Why didn’t any of you do anything?”

Faced with the terrifying burned faces of the soldiers, the Shen men, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, didn’t dare to confront the Wei Army and turned on their own family instead.

“Big Brother, that man was right under your stick. Why didn’t you hit him?” Shen Conglian demanded in a low voice.

Shen Congwen, equally terrified, blurted out without thinking, “I am a scholar. How could I stoop to clubbing someone from behind?”

“Pah! If you’re scared, just say you’re scared! What damn scholar? I think all that reading has made you stupid.”

“Big Brother, if you don’t even have the guts to fight, how did you have the nerve to steal military funds?”

Shen Congwen retorted, “I did not steal anything! I was an honest official. Since I took charge of the Ministry of Revenue, I have not embezzled a single wen. If I stole military funds, may I die a horrible death!”

“Who’s going to believe that? If you didn’t steal, where did all the money in our household come from? Your meager salary isn’t even enough to pay the servants’ monthly wages.”

“The wealth in my household came from the Empress Dowager’s rewards and the Princess’s generosity. I do not lack money!” Shen Congwen argued.

Shen Conglian scoffed, “To hell with you, you bloody bookworm! It would’ve been better if you had been corrupt. Using women’s money, you actually feel proud of it, don’t you? What a disgrace!”

Shen Congwen declared, “I have a clear conscience!”

“Shut up! The whole family has been wronged because of you. If you say one more word, we’ll beat you…”

The masters of the Shen family’s first branch berated Shen Congwen one after another, filled with frustrated disappointment. By the looks of it, they wanted to crack his head open to see what was inside.

The nearby Wei Army soldiers fell silent.

If a man like Shen Congwen could steal military provisions, then they could pluck immortal peaches from the heavens.

“You few, keep an eye on them. I’m going to find our Big Brother.”

The other side had a smoother time. The dozen or so men had just crept onto the carriage when they were knocked unconscious.

“Tutor Liu, what should we do with these people?”

Liu Yanhui didn’t want to let them off easy, but he couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless with over twenty lives on the line.

“Miss, what should we do with these men?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “He who kills will be killed in turn. Food and water are life. By stealing our food and water, they were attempting to murder us.”

Liu Yanhui’s resolve hardened.

“Miss, I know what to do!”

Shen Lanxi acknowledged him with a soft “en,” and soon the group resumed their journey.

The twenty unconscious men were left behind.

After traveling all night, the group finally stopped to rest and cook a meal as the sky began to lighten.

The families of the twenty-odd men had waited anxiously all night. As the sun began to rise, they finally started to panic.

They had only gone to get some food and water; it was impossible that they hadn’t returned by now.

There was only one possibility: they had been discovered.

They dared not even imagine the consequences of being caught.

Find the village head! Must find the village head!

Of the four villages that had merged, men from two of them were now missing. The village heads immediately took the matter seriously.

“Why would they all disappear at once? They weren’t resting when we stopped for the night. What were they all doing?”

“Village head, it must have been those outsiders! They must have killed our men! Village head, you have to get justice for us!”

Chapter 67: Crisis Averted!

The four village heads couldn’t all be fools. They immediately questioned the families of the missing people, and after learning the truth, they erupted in fury.

“Didn’t I tell you that their guards know martial arts?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to provoke them?”

“Why didn’t you listen?”

“Since you wouldn’t listen, don’t come crying to me when something happens!”

A villager retorted, “Village head, why aren’t you protecting your own people? Why are you siding with outsiders? We chose you as our village head, not for you to turn your back on us!”

“That’s right, village head. We’re running low on food and water. What’s wrong with borrowing a little from those outsiders?”

“It’s their fault for being so stingy. We protected them this whole way, and they only gave us a tiny bit of grain.”

“Village head, they have horse-drawn carriages and so much grain and water. There are many of us, so why don’t we just…”

The village head couldn’t listen anymore and bellowed, “Shut up! Have you all lost your minds?”

“Have you forgotten about the refugees ahead of us who have been eyeing us like tigers this whole time?”

“If we make a move on those outsiders now, we’ll surely suffer heavy casualties. Won’t the refugees ahead of us just swarm in and finish us off?”

The villagers, who had been so defiant just a moment ago, all fell silent.

The village head continued, “I don’t think it was them anyway. If it really was, why didn’t they raise a fuss when our people went to steal their grain?”

“Then where did our people go, village head?”

With a grim face, the village head pondered for a moment. “We’re only a day away from Moon Lake. Tell everyone to be on their guard, keep their distance from those outsiders, and stop trying to provoke them!”

He truly shouldn’t have been greedy for a few bags of grain and let these outsiders tag along. But it was too late for regrets now!

“Village head, I have an idea. Why don’t we join forces with the group of refugees ahead and together…”

Liu Yanhui went to see the four village heads, carrying four waterskins.

Under normal circumstances, giving waterskins as a gift would be laughable. But now, these four waterskins were a most sincere and valuable present.

“Village heads, we’re only one day from Moon Lake. I have here a map of the area around Yicheng!” Liu Yanhui took out the map he had drawn himself.

“This is Moon Lake, and this is Yicheng. It’s only half a day’s ride by horse between them. Moon Lake is one of the most famous lakes in our Great Zhou. Even in the worst droughts, it can help weather the disaster!”

The four village heads stared intently at the map. It was something they had only ever heard of, never seen. Rumor had it that only the court possessed maps.

This finely dressed young master’s family must be high-ranking officials, and he must be exceptionally favored.

Liu Yanhui began to paint a rosy picture for the four village heads. “The farmland near Moon Lake is surely in high demand, but you saved my life, so I will definitely have my sister and brother-in-law repay you handsomely. I was born to my parents late in their lives. My sister and brother-in-law have been married for many years without children, so they treat me like their own son. By saving me, you have saved their child!”

The four village heads had just been discussing teaming up with the refugees ahead to swallow Liu Yanhui’s group whole. Now, hearing his words, it suddenly seemed like a very bad deal.

Although Liu Yanhui’s party had carriages and grain, if they split it two ways and then distributed it among all the villagers, it would only last a few meals at most.

But what Liu Yanhui was offering them was a stable future. The choice between a full belly for a day and long-term security and prosperity was one even a fool could make.

One of the village heads immediately spoke up in a fawning tone, “Young Master, you are too kind. We will be outsiders when we get there. If we have to compete with the locals for land, we will surely lose!”

With one village head speaking up, the other three hurried to agree.

“Yes, yes, it’s fine if we’re a little farther from Moon Lake, as long as the farmland we’re given can be irrigated!”

Liu Yanhui immediately began to help them carefully select plots of land a little ways from Moon Lake.

This selection process took up the better part of the day.

Soon, the procession of refugees set off again. Nothing much could be seen at night, but after daybreak, patches of lush greenery came into full view.

If there were trees and grass, could water be far behind?

All the refugees’ attention shifted to finding water. With water in sight, who would still think about scheming for others’ possessions?

Only upon reaching this point did Liu Yanhui truly breathe a sigh of relief.

“Young Master, the crisis is averted!”

Chunxue, having already received Shen Lanxi’s instructions, brought a packet of food and a waterskin to Liu Yanhui.

“Miss sent this for you!”

Clutching the items, Liu Yanhui felt a surge of emotion he had never experienced before. He quickly found a hidden spot and gave the food and water to his mother and younger sister.

With hope on the horizon, the refugees no longer rested. They marched on under the sun, the greenery growing denser with every step. Many who had long suffered from hunger and thirst covered their faces and wept as they walked.

“There’s water… We won’t have to starve or go thirsty anymore…”

The refugees at the front didn’t stop either. They even saw other refugees, who had come from different paths, all heading towards Moon Lake to seek water.

Ordinarily, the different groups of refugees would have already started fighting, but now they were all smiling and even greeting one another.

“Moon Lake is just ahead!”

“The plants here are so green, there must be more water than we can drink!”

The refugees merged into a single stream, chatting and laughing as they walked towards Moon Lake.

Shen Lanxi quietly gave an order to slow down and break away from the main column of refugees.

Liu Laohu dared not risk another polite refusal from Shen Lanxi, so he quietly asked Liu Yanhui.

“Tutor Liu, aren’t we going to Moon Lake?”

Liu Yanhui replied calmly, “We are, but not like this. What do you think will happen if those refugees ask the ‘little brother-in-law’ to divide up the land? Don’t you think our cover will be blown?”

Was there any need to ask?

“You, the fake little brother-in-law, will definitely be exposed!” Liu Laohu stated bluntly.

The corner of Liu Yanhui’s mouth twitched. He had no desire to speak with Liu Laohu any further.

Shen Lanxi said, “One team will go to Moon Lake to fetch water. The other will head towards Yicheng to replenish our supplies.”

Liu Laohu asked, “Who’s going to Moon Lake? All of our faces are known to those refugees!”

No, not everyone’s face was known.

Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu both looked at Shen Lanxi in unison, a sense of shock dawning in their hearts.

So, she had already planned an escape route in advance?

Shen Lanxi announced, “I will go with the women of Liu Zhao Village to fetch water. We will rendezvous outside Yicheng.”

Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu replied, “Understood!”

Liu Laohu looked from one to the other. What’s with all the riddles?

After feeding the last of their water to the horses, Shen Lanxi took Chunxue, Qiushuang, Nanny Li, and the women of Liu Zhao Village, bypassed the main body of refugees, and spurred their horses toward Moon Lake.

The closer they got to the lake, the more humid the air became, and the lusher the vegetation grew. Of course, they also encountered more and more refugees.

The refugees who had arrived earlier had already set up camp around Moon Lake.

From their calm expressions, it was clear that they had been there for quite some time.

“Miss, look! So much water!”

Shen Lanxi pulled back the carriage curtain and stood on the footboard. The moist air caressed her face, making her break into her first genuine smile since heading north.

Chapter 68: Pay a Little Respect to the Staff in My Hand!

“Fill up with water. Once you’re done, leave at once!”

The water problem was solved, but the refugees here faced another grave issue: they had no food!

Although they had let Liu Laohu and his men drive away the grain-laden carts when they arrived, horse meat was also food!

They had brought ten horse-drawn carts, which meant ten horses.

In the eyes of the refugees, these were a blatant, tempting source of food that could fill their bellies!

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before some people noticed they were all weak women and children and decided to make a move on them!

Shen Lanxi walked over to a wooden stake as thick as a water vat. With a flick of her long staff, she sent the stake flying more than a person’s height into the air.

The next second, a whistling sound rang out, followed by the crackling of splintering wood.

The log, as thick as a water vat, was smashed into three pieces by a single strike of her staff, which went flying off in three different directions.

Thud! Thud! Two heavy thuds sounded as the pieces of wood smashed into the earth.

Another piece flew directly into Moon Lake, its immense impact sending a splash of water more than two meters high.

It drenched everyone who had wanted to come and cause trouble, soaking them like drowned rats!

“Pay a little respect to the staff in my hand!”

“Our group is only here for water. Once we’re done, we will leave immediately. Let’s not get in each other’s way!”

No one answered. The surroundings were dead silent.

A few seconds later, the men who had been soaked like drowned rats all scurried away in disgrace!

After that, collecting water went very smoothly. Even when Shen Lanxi stepped away for a moment, no one dared to approach the women who were gathering water!

Shen Lanxi took a walk around and discovered that most of these refugees drank untreated water and had very poor hygiene. Some of them poured used, dirty water directly back into Moon Lake, and even did their washing and laundry right in the lake.

Although running water has self-purifying qualities, it couldn’t stand up to the ever-increasing number of refugees using it. If the drought wasn’t resolved soon, Moon Lake would sooner or later turn into a pool of sewage!

But water pollution alone wasn’t the worst of it; the truly terrifying prospect was the high possibility of a plague breaking out!

“Tell everyone that no one is to drink the water until it has been boiled!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang hurried off to inform the others.

After filling their water containers, the group set off toward Yicheng without stopping, just happening to pass the group of refugees they had teamed up with earlier!

“So much water!”

“Where’s Young Master Liu? Quick, call him over to take the first drink!”

What Young Master Liu? The group of exiles had already arrived at the foot of Yicheng’s walls!

“Are we going in?” At that moment, Liu Laohu felt a complete lack of confidence as he asked the question.

The household registrations Shen Lanxi had acquired were given to Liu Yanhui to manage. He carefully checked each person’s gender and age before distributing the documents.

Liu Laohu and the other bailiffs took their new household registrations without a word, silently tucking their original ones safely away!

When Liu Yanhui got to the Wei Army soldiers, he hesitated for a moment before walking over to them.

“Do you have your household registrations?”

The Wei Army soldiers replied, “We lost them while we were fleeing!”

Liu Yanhui distributed the registrations to them.

“Half of you will go into the city to buy supplies, and half will stay behind. In two hours, come back and switch with those who stayed!”

“Alright!”

Liu Yanhui called Liu Laohu aside and separately gave him the silver for the city entrance fees and for purchasing supplies. Of course, a portion of it was a kickback, given under the guise of procurement funds to make it sound better—an unspoken understanding between them.

Liu Laohu led half of the bailiffs and a third of the well-behaved prisoners into the city first.

“Brother Wu, when they come back later, they won’t refuse to let us in, will they?” Shen Yuanruan said deliberately.

Wu Youliang was leaning lazily against a cartwheel, but his eyes were restless, roving greasily over the female family members before finally landing on Shen Yuanruan.

“I doubt it. We’re not in a hurry to travel right now. If they go back on their word, who would ever trust them again!”

Shen Yuanruan said, “That’s not certain. Even if they do go back on their word, there’s nothing we can do about it. They’re bailiffs, after all!”

Wu Youliang thought she had a point and quickly got to his feet.

“I’ll go ask!”

Shen Yuanruan followed him. “Brother Wu, I’ll go with you!”

The Old Madam was about to die of anger watching Shen Yuanruan throw herself at him.

“Third Son, does your daughter have no shame? Aren’t you going to go and teach her a lesson? She’s going to make the entire Shen family lose all face!”

Shen Congli wore a helpless expression. “Mother, look at the times we’re in. We’re about to lose our lives. Who has time to worry about shame!”

The Old Madam was so angry she started pounding on her son.

“Don’t think that just because I’m old and my eyes are failing that I can’t see you secretly asking her for things! I’m not dead yet! That sort of base creature won’t ever be allowed to step foot in the Shen family’s home again!”

“The rest of you, listen up! If any of you act like her, don’t you dare say you’re part of the Shen family in the future. This old woman cannot afford to lose that much face!”

Shen Congyi said, “Mother, don’t ruin your health over someone who willingly debases herself. We should see how much silver we have and what we can buy once we get into the city!”

Shen Conglian said, “Our Second Branch doesn’t have a single wen left. We spent it all on water earlier!”

“Our Third Branch is the same…”

Shen Congyi said, “Don’t look at me, our branch has no money either! Mother, Yuanjing and the others have such a good relationship with Lanxi. They must have money.”

…

Shen Yuanjing and his siblings had tried to give things to the Wei Army soldiers, attempting to curry favor, but had been rejected four times already.

This time, although they entered the city with Liu Laohu and the others, they didn’t have much money left.

They had already spent most of it buying pastries, dried meat, and sweet water from their Eldest Sister.

“How much money do you all have left?” Shen Yuanjing asked his younger brothers and sisters.

Shen Yuanjun said, “I have four wen left!”

“I still have a silver hairpin!”

“I have a silver ring.”

…

Shen Yuanjing said, “I have an idea. I want to buy some special gifts for Master Hu and the others!”

“Brother, what kind of special gift?”

“I haven’t thought of it yet.”

“Brother, even if you do think of something, we can’t afford it with the little money we have. A single steamed bun costs eighty wen!”

“…”

Liu Yanhui asked about the price of water—it was comparable to the price of meat!

He then asked about the price of grain, which had already surpassed the price of meat. After that, he sat in a teahouse for a while to gather some information.

When Liu Laohu and his men were about to finish their shopping, they went to the teahouse to fetch Liu Yanhui.

Pained by the expense, Liu Yanhui bought some steamed buns and water before hurriedly leaving the city!

Just as the second group of people entered the city, Shen Lanxi returned.

Liu Yanhui reported the news he had heard to Shen Lanxi.

“Over a month ago, the Empress suffered a miscarriage and began to hemorrhage. Fortunately, people from the Medicine King Valley arrived in time to save her life. But a few days later, overcome with grief and sorrow, she stopped eating and drinking, and passed away!”

Little Xue had already brought her this news, and in much greater detail than what Liu Yanhui had heard.

“Last time in An Town, the people from the Medicine King Valley left in a hurry. It seems they were summoned to the Imperial Palace!”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Continue!”

“The Prince of Zhennan was ordered to lead an expedition to the Northwest. His rank has been demoted again and again, and he is now a Commander in the Northern Expeditionary Army, in charge of escorting grain and fodder!”

A smirk played on Shen Lanxi’s lips. “From a first-rank general to a fifth-rank commander. He gets demoted faster than he gets promoted. Truly a first in the Great Zhou!”

Chapter 69: Despicable People Will Get Their Comeuppance!

Others didn’t know the story behind this, but Liu Yanhui did.

Previously, when Zhou Ruyuan had won a great victory in the Southwest, His Majesty had personally praised him as the foremost general of the age. From then on, he had gained the title of “War God of Great Zhou.”

For Shen Lanxi to now call him the foremost person in Great Zhou was clearly a sarcastic remark!

Liu Yanhui suspected a personal grudge was hidden within this sarcasm, and he felt a little awkward.

“The Prince of Zhennan is the Third Prince. Even if it’s because of…” Liu Yanhui was too embarrassed to say the rest.

Shen Lanxi bluntly completed his thought for him: “Divorce by mutual agreement. He wore her out three times in a single night!”

Liu Yanhui grew even more awkward. The version he had heard was thirty times. He had originally planned on finding a chance to sell the Revitalizing Vigor Pill he’d won at the auction to Zhou Ruyuan.

Now, it seemed what Miss Shen said was the true version. The thought that he might be stuck with the ridiculously expensive medicine made his heart ache with sharp pangs.

“Even so, His Majesty couldn’t possibly demote his own son by four ranks!”

Shen Lanxi’s lips curled up slightly. “Despicable people will get their comeuppance!”

She wouldn’t tell anyone that she had a hand in it.

Liu Yanhui looked up at her. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the person before him was frighteningly intelligent. Someone like her would never allow herself to suffer a loss.

He didn’t dare to speculate any further.

Meanwhile…

Shen Yuanjing and the others pawned all their valuables, bought a bottle of burn medicine from a pharmacy, and went straight to the Wei Army’s camp after leaving the city to show their sincerity.

“Master Hu, this is the burn medicine we bought!”

“We didn’t have much money left, so we could only buy one bottle!”

“Next time we get a chance to earn money, we’ll earn some more and buy a few more bottles!”

Wei Dongzhu, under the alias Hu Zhu, and the rest of the Wei Army looked at the ugly bottle in Shen Yuanjing’s hand with indescribable expressions.

Ever since they had come to fully understand the character of the Shen family’s men that night, half of the hatred in their hearts had already dissipated.

Now, seeing the Shen family’s children bringing them burn medicine, their feelings were incredibly complex.

Before, they had wished they could hack every member of the Shen family into a million pieces. Now, amidst their complicated feelings, they were even slightly touched…

“You didn’t buy any food?” Wei Dongzhu asked.

Shen Yuanjing’s face flushed, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.

This single bottle of burn medicine had used up all the money they had. Even then, it wasn’t enough; they had to beg for a long time before the pharmacy staff agreed to sell it to them at a cheaper price.

Wei Dongzhu looked at the young boys, and the scenes of the Wei Army’s casualties suddenly flashed through his mind. His heart immediately hardened.

“Go back. You don’t need to bring anything here again.”

Disappointment filled the faces of Shen Yuanjing and the others. As they were leaving, Shen Yuanqing snatched the medicine from his brother’s hand, dashed over to Wei Dongzhu’s side to put it down, then grabbed his brothers and took off running.

Zhang Niu picked it up, sniffed it, and chuckled wryly. “What fools. They got swindled. This is just common cooking oil!”

The expressions on Wei Dongzhu and the other Wei Army soldiers became even more indescribable.

Meanwhile…

The Shen family members entered the city to buy supplies. When they saw vendors selling buns and flatbreads, they all stopped in front of the stalls, unmoving.

No one spoke up to buy anything, because of an unspoken understanding: whoever spoke up had to pay.

“Big Brother is really something, can’t even get money from a few kids. What a useless bum!” Shen Conglian no longer bothered to hide his disdain for his older brother.

Old Madam Shen didn’t want to hear it. Although she resented her eldest son, she had to admit that their past life of luxury was all thanks to him. If she had had to rely on her other sons, she might still be scrabbling for food in the fields right now.

“Second Son, shut your mouth. If your big brother hears you and you anger the first branch, I won’t help you!” In her heart, Old Madam Shen was mainly wary of Lanxi, but she was too stubborn to say it out loud.

No matter how outrageous Lanxi was, she couldn’t defy her parents. As long as her surname was Shen, she had to be filial. She wouldn’t be allowed to be unfilial and disobedient!

“Ma’am, if you’re not going to buy any buns, then please don’t block others from buying!” If not for the fact that the group still carried themselves with some dignity, the bun stall owner would have shooed them away long ago.

Old Madam Shen looked towards her three sons, but all of them kept their heads down, refusing to meet her gaze. For a moment, she was filled with resentment. To think that she had always felt her three sons had it harder than the first branch and would often give them things the first branch had presented to her out of filial piety. Yet, the moment trouble arose, all they knew how to do was scheme against an old woman like her.

They were worse than her eldest!

Old Madam Shen recalled how her eldest would always be the first to bring her any fine things he obtained, and she began to miss his good qualities again.

So be it. Children were a debt from a past life.

“Give me twenty vegetable buns and ten steamed buns!” Thinking of the servants who were exiled with them, she also asked for some cornbread buns.

Old Madam Shen had assumed the vegetable buns would be cheaper. It was only after the owner had packed everything up that he told her the price.

“The vegetable buns are seventy wen each, the steamed buns are sixty wen, and with the cornbread buns, the total is nine taels and eighty wen!”

Old Madam Shen choked. So expensive?

The bun stall owner was a swindler, not stating the price beforehand. If she were to say now that she didn’t want so many, she would surely be ridiculed and pestered.

Old Madam Shen had maintained her dignity for decades; her pride was practically welded to her face. She couldn’t bring herself to argue with such a rogue merchant.

With a grunt, the Old Madam, pained by the expense, took the money from her inner clothes and handed it over.

“Let’s go!” Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed and was now bleeding profusely.

“Ma’am—” the bun stall owner suddenly called out.

Old Madam Shen suddenly remembered what her granddaughter had said about assassins and nearly jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“Shen? What Shen? This old woman’s family name is Tian, not Shen!”

The bun stall owner felt quite wronged by her shouting and immediately retracted the hand he had been about to extend. After the Shen family was far away, he spat and muttered, “I was going to remind you about your change. Hmph, serves you right for being suckers!”

After walking some distance away, Old Madam Shen grew more and more frightened the more she thought about it, so she warned her children and grandchildren once more.

“Remember, our family name is Tian, not Shen. If you reveal our real surname and bring disaster upon us, our entire family will die without a burial place!”

Shen Conglian said with some nonchalance, “Mother, is it really that serious? We haven’t run into any trouble on this whole journey. Could Lanxi have been just trying to scare us?”

Shen Congyi had already sensed that something was amiss. For once, he spoke up in support of his eldest brother.

“Second Brother, listen to Mother. Mother has eaten more salt than we have eaten rice. If she senses danger, there must be danger!”

Hearing her fourth son siding with her, Old Madam Shen finally felt a little comforted.

“Let’s finish our shopping and go back quickly. I feel unsafe in the city.”

The Shen family fell silent and obediently followed behind the bailiffs. The goods in the city were too expensive, and the bailiffs, having saved up a little money, didn’t want to be swindled either. They just browsed around and asked for some prices. Seeing that the Shen family wasn’t buying anything, they lost interest and led the group out of the city.

After drinking their fill at Moon Lake, those refugees would surely head to Yicheng to gather information.

Once everyone was out of the city, Shen Lanxi immediately gave the order to leave.

The other prisoners had actually wanted to stay for a few more days. Even camping outside the city walls was safer than being in the wilderness.

But they had no say in the matter, so they could only follow along, complaining endlessly in their hearts.

Chapter 70: One More Offense, Banishment!

After setting out, Shen Lanxi immediately summoned Liu Yanhui, Liu Laohu, and Wei Dongzhu for a meeting.

Liu Yanhui asked, “The women from Liu Zhao Village, are we taking them with us the whole way?”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Liu Laohu. The man, who had been fired up at the mention of a meeting, was now completely deflated.

“If we leave them here, their fate will not be a good one,” Wei Dongzhu said.

“But bringing them along will be a huge drain on our resources,” Liu Yanhui countered.

Liu Laohu silently curled into a ball. He understood now. He hadn’t been called over to discuss matters, but to be the matter of discussion.

Wei Dongzhu thought for a moment and said, “I suggest we head a little further southeast. Once we reach a place with lush water and grass, we can leave them there.”

This was what Liu Yanhui was thinking as well. “Using Yicheng as a dividing line, the closer we get to Jinmen, the less severe the drought should be.”

Shen Lanxi took the map from a chest and handed it to Liu Yanhui, who received it carefully and hung it up to be secured.

Holding a bamboo stick, Shen Lanxi pointed at the map. “This is our current position.”

Liu Laohu and Wei Dongzhu, who had never seen her map before, stared at it in utter shock.

“Jinmen is here.” Her bamboo stick slid across the surface, tapping on Jinmen’s location.

“The closer we get to the coastal areas, the less we’ll have to worry about water. If we ration what we have now, we shouldn’t have any more water problems after we reach the next location.”

Wei Dongzhu stared at the map in a daze. It was incredibly detailed, recording every village and every small river. Even in the army, he had never seen a map this precise.

Shen Lanxi had called them over to give them an important reminder.

“Past Yicheng is the fiefdom of the Third Princess. The Third Princess’s mother was of low birth, and in her youth, she was taken in and raised by the Empress Dowager. Later, instigated by a servant, she attempted to harm Princess Minrou. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager discovered the plot in time. Since then, the Third Princess has been sent to her fiefdom and has not been allowed to set foot in the Capital to this day!”

The three of them were stunned to hear such a secret.

“We absolutely cannot reveal anyone’s connection to the Shen family!” Liu Yanhui said.

“Good point!” Liu Laohu agreed.

Believing they all understood, Shen Lanxi began to plan the next leg of their journey with them.

At noon, they stopped in a shady grove, and Liu Laohu began assigning prisoners to boil water and cook.

They took advantage of the shade to cool down and boil all their remaining water.

During the meal, someone noticed that one of the women from Liu Zhao Village seemed unwell and immediately reported it to Liu Laohu.

Liu Laohu saw the woman shivering uncontrollably, her face pale, and suffering from a dry cough and nausea. A terrible premonition suddenly washed over him.

“Everyone, spread out! The women from Liu Zhao Village, stay where you are and don’t move!”

He went to fetch Zhang Niu personally.

After hearing Liu Laohu’s description, Zhang Niu’s expression immediately darkened.

“Miss, I’ll go with him to take a look,” he said to Wei Dongzhu.

Wei Dongzhu nodded.

Zhang Niu took a cloth mask from his medicine box and covered his face. The gesture made Liu Laohu’s heart plummet.

“All of you, scatter! Get back to what you were doing!” Seeing the prisoners had stopped working, Liu Laohu immediately drew his whip and cracked it in the air a few times.

“You all stay here,” Zhang Niu instructed. “I’ll go over alone.”

Liu Laohu nodded, his face etched with worry.

Liu Yanhui had already reported the news to Shen Lanxi.

“As the saying goes, after a great disaster, a great epidemic is sure to follow. Miss, do you think it could be…?” Liu Yanhui’s face had also turned pale with anxiety.

“Fire and water are merciless, and so are calamities,” Shen Lanxi said. She hoped it wasn’t an epidemic. Otherwise, given their current conditions, they might as well stop traveling and start digging their own graves.

In truth, she was more inclined to believe it was a common illness. They had been traveling in a dry, sun-drenched environment, which was not conducive to the growth and spread of bacteria.

“I have a few bottles of medicine here. Take them to Zhang Niu.”

Liu Yanhui recognized one of the bottles as the antidote pills they had bought from Medicine King Valley for a hefty price.

“Yes!”

Shen Lanxi went over with Liu Yanhui.

After a careful examination, Zhang Niu removed his mask and let out a long sigh of relief.

“This is an inability to acclimate to the new environment, possibly combined with eating something unclean, leading to an upset stomach. I’ll prescribe some medicine to regulate her digestion. For the next few days, she should only have plain congee and avoid other foods. She’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”

The others breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

A woman from Liu Zhao Village suddenly spoke up. “Was it because she drank the unboiled water from Moon Lake?”

Shen Lanxi’s sharp gaze shot toward her.

Qiushuang said loudly, “When we were collecting the water, didn’t our Miss tell everyone not to drink it directly, but to boil it first?”

The woman from Liu Zhao Village who was being treated immediately knelt on the ground, crying and apologizing. “I’m sorry, Miss! I’m sorry, everyone! I was too thirsty. I was just so thirsty…”

Many people felt a pang of sympathy. They had all been that thirsty, let alone the people from Liu Zhao Village who had been treated like livestock for so long.

“Miss, please spare her this time. Look how thin and withered she is, it’s so pitiful.”

“She must have been desperately thirsty. Seeing so much water all of a sudden, she couldn’t control herself.”

“Miss, please just forgive her this once!”

Shen Lanxi remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Liu Yanhui stepped forward to smooth things over. “Do you see? This is what happens when you don’t listen to our Miss!”

“Miss didn’t want you to drink the water from Moon Lake directly because she knew it wasn’t clean. Think about it carefully. Of all the water sources we’ve encountered on this journey, has she ever stopped us from drinking it after it was boiled?”

“We are refugees on the run. We have no doctors or medicine. If we get sick, nine times out of ten, we won’t survive. Miss is doing all this for our own good. Think about it: for those of you who drank boiled water, have any of you had even a single stomachache on this journey?”

The prisoners who had previously grumbled in private that boiling water was a pointless waste of effort now hung their heads in shame.

After speaking, Liu Yanhui looked at Shen Lanxi expectantly.

“This once, and only this once. If it happens again, you will be banished!”

Liu Yanhui let out a breath of relief and announced loudly, “Everyone must remember this!”

Not far away, Wei Dongzhu looked at the waterskin handed to him and asked instinctively.

“Has this water been boiled?”

The Wei Army soldier was taken aback. “No!” They had been rushing the entire way; where would they find the time?

Wei Dongzhu frowned at the waterskin. “Boil it before you drink. From now on, we will only drink boiled water.”

The Wei Army soldier hurried off to find firewood and start a fire.

Even with Zhang Niu’s assurance, the prisoners were still distrustful and unwilling to be near the villagers from Liu Zhao Village.

“Who knows if that doctor is telling the truth or not? What if it really is an epidemic? We’ll all be doomed!”

“We have to drive them away! Keeping them here is dangerous, not to mention a waste of food and water!”

“We can’t let them drag us down.”

The speakers did not bother to lower their voices, in fact, they deliberately spoke loudly for the Liu Zhao Village women to hear.

The sick young woman was both miserable and regretful. If she had known a few sips of unboiled water would lead to this, she would have rather died of thirst.

“I’m sorry, I’ve implicated you all. If I hadn’t drunk that water, this wouldn’t have happened!” The young woman apologized repeatedly to the villagers around her.

Chapter 71: Martial Arts Practice!

“Han Niang, it wasn’t your fault. We used to drink well water at home all the time, straight from the well, and nothing like this ever happened!”

“That’s right, the water in Moon Lake must be too dirty.”

“Heavens! Han Niang only had a few sips and ended up like this. The people living near Moon Lake drink that water raw every day. They must get terribly sick!”

Those who had previously complained about the hurried pace began to avoid eye contact.

No one dared to ignore the issue of water safety anymore. At the same time, they subtly began to target the women from Liu Zhao Village.

Just after the food was distributed to the women of Liu Zhao Village at noon, some people took advantage of the bailiffs’ inattention to snatch it away.

The culprits didn’t dare to be too obvious, only robbing a few people. Afterward, they fiercely threatened the women of Liu Zhao Village to keep silent.

The lunch distributed today was a coarse grain bun, which was a little better than the dark cornbread buns.

The old rule still applied: those who had participated in the fight received an extra portion of meat, two strips of pickled vegetables, and half a bowl more water than the prisoners who hadn’t fought.

After receiving their dried meat, the children of the Shen family’s first branch stayed by the bailiffs to finish eating before they left. The bailiffs had told them to do this before, so they didn’t think anything was amiss.

The members of the other branches of the Shen family all watched them with jealous eyes. What was different from before was that they no longer demanded that the first branch give them their food.

“Mother, I heard from Big Brother that the children who practice martial arts get some food every time they go to Lanxi’s.” Shen Congyi’s eyes glinted with calculation.

Old Madam Shen’s eyes flickered; her son’s words had given her an idea.

“Call your Eldest Brother over!”

Shen Congyi said, “Second Brother, you go!”

Shen Conglian didn’t want to move, but after a sharp glare from Old Madam Shen, he went reluctantly.

“Mother, would you like the pickled vegetables?” Shen Congwen offered her the remaining half of his cornbread bun and the pickled vegetables in his hand.

The Old Madam frowned instinctively. She had no taste for such coarse food.

“If Mother won’t eat it, I will!” Shen Conglian reached out to grab it. One cornbread bun per meal could only line his stomach, not fill it. He felt like he was starving every day!

Seeing her second son trying to snatch food from her eldest, the Old Madam was reminded of the various incidents when they bought steamed buns in Yicheng. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes turned cold as she barked.

“Second Son, give that back to your big brother. Are you trying to starve him by taking his food?”

Shen Conglian had never heard his mother speak to him so coldly. His eyes drooped, and he reluctantly shoved the cornbread bun and pickled vegetables back to his older brother.

“What are you saying, Mother? I just thought that since Lanxi gives Big Brother food, he wouldn’t care for these cornbread buns and pickled vegetables,” Shen Conglian muttered in explanation.

Old Madam Shen knew her second son cared about his pride, so she didn’t press the matter.

“Congwen, the journey is fraught with danger. We can’t go on like this!”

Shen Congwen nodded. “I just heard Liu Laohu say that even if we don’t lack water from now on, the road ahead won’t be peaceful!”

Old Madam Shen said, “The men in the family must be able to protect themselves. I think Yuanjing and the others are doing quite well. When they trade fists with others, they already show some proper form.”

Hearing this, Shen Congwen felt a sense of relief, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

“I don’t expect them to become masters who can fight a hundred men, I just hope they learn how to protect themselves!”

Initially, Old Madam Shen was only interested in the food from Shen Lanxi, but after hearing her eldest son’s words, other thoughts began to form in her mind.

“The next time Yuanjing and the others go to Lanxi for martial arts practice, have them take the children from your three younger brothers’ branches. We are all one family, all named Shen. We must watch out for and help one another in times of trouble!”

Shen Congwen felt that his mother made a great deal of sense. If they were attacked again, every extra person who knew how to fight would be one more pair of hands to help.

“I’ll go tell Yuanjing and the others right away!”

Just as Shen Congwen left, Shen Conglian could no longer sit still.

“Mother, if the children are going to practice martial arts, I think I could too…”

When Shen Yuanjing and his sister stood before Shen Lanxi again, a huge crowd of people was behind them.

“Eldest Brother, they… they want to practice martial arts too!” Shen Yuanjing was so ashamed he couldn’t even raise his head.

Shen Lanxi glanced at her second uncle, who was hiding far behind, and then at the toddlers at the front who were so unsteady they needed to be held by the hand.

“Alright. They don’t have any foundation yet, so let them follow Chunxue and Qiushuang to learn the basics.”

Shen Yuanjing secretly peeked at his eldest sister, remaining silent. After everyone else had left, he quietly snuck back.

“Eldest Brother, I’m sorry!”

Shen Lanxi looked at her younger brother and patted his shoulder.

“Yuanjing, don’t take all the responsibility upon your own shoulders. You’re still just a boy yourself.”

Shen Yuanjing frowned. “I am the eldest male of the first branch. It is my responsibility to restore our Shen family!”

Shen Lanxi looked at him, her lips parting slightly. “Good. Then you, the man of the house, will hand out the pastries today. You will supervise them. Those who train diligently will get more, and those who slack off will get none! If they cause trouble, you handle it.”

Shen Yuanjing suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier, but a sense of responsibility surged from the bottom of his heart.

His eyes were clear and bright as he said with a serious expression, “Don’t worry, Eldest Brother. I will supervise them well!”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly and went to arrange for Mama Wang’s family to handle the preparation of pastries in the future.

After just one day of practice, Liu Yanhui came looking for her on the second day.

“Miss…” Liu Yanhui was a little hesitant, looking embarrassed.

Shen Lanxi said, “Speak!”

Liu Yanhui had a slight understanding of her temperament by now and didn’t dare waste time. He said directly, “Can my younger sister and I practice martial arts with you?”

He quickly added an explanation, “We don’t want any pastries. We just want to train so that we’ll have a way to protect ourselves the next time something happens!”

He thought he would have to argue his case, and that she might not even agree, but he never expected…

“You may. I give pastries to everyone who trains. If your mother is free, she can help Mama Wang’s family make them.”

An unusual light immediately flared in Liu Yanhui’s eyes. He quickly thanked her and went to inform his family.

Just as she had said, the closer they got to Jinmen, the lusher the vegetation became. After a day’s journey, everyone knew they no longer had to worry about water!

After another two days of travel, the exiled group saw dozens of chimneys smoking in the distance. It was noon, just the time for making lunch.

“That should be Gulan Village up ahead.”

The bailiffs rode ahead to scout and quickly returned with information.

“It’s Gulan Village, alright.”

Because of their previous experience in Liu Zhao Village, the bailiffs made sure to add, “They’re all people who’ve just come back from farming in the fields!”

Smiles appeared on the faces of everyone in the group.

If they have land to farm, there won’t be trouble. They could finally rest their feet!

“Let’s go. We can trade for some vegetables in Gulan Village.”

Since leaving the Capital, their party had only eaten vegetables a few times—so few you could count them on one hand.

To put it bluntly, if they didn’t eat some vegetables to ease their digestion, they’d have a hard time even using the latrine!

Chapter 72: Gulan Village: A Birthday Tribute for the Third Princess!

Liu Laohu was delighted and cracked his whip. “Everyone, on the carts! Let’s pick up the pace!”

The Shen family was overjoyed. They scrambled onto the carts in a flurry of activity. In their past life of luxury, they had never felt such joy. Now, just hearing the words “get on the carts” made them so happy they wanted to cry.

On the way, Liu Laohu gave them another warning, primarily targeting the Shen family.

After all, they were the ones most likely to cause trouble!

“When we get to Gulan Village, don’t say anything reckless. Have your household registrations ready, understand?” Liu Laohu circled the Shen family’s cart twice on his large horse, whip in hand.

“Your Excellency, we understand. This old woman’s surname is Tian. The whole family’s surname is Tian!” the Shen elder hurriedly replied.

Satisfied, Liu Laohu rode off to warn the other prisoners as well.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Gulan Village.

Gulan Village was a small hamlet with only thirty-four households. Seeing so many people arrive at once, the villagers’ eyes filled with panic and fear.

Liu Laohu, with a saber at his waist, had only taken two steps forward when the villagers fell to their knees in terror.

Do I look that scary?

Liu Laohu was baffled. His hand instinctively went to his saber, but then he realized what was happening. The villagers had probably never seen such valiant and martial-looking men. He turned and pulled Liu Yanhui forward.

“This is the county magistrate’s little brother-in-law! We’re just passing through and want to trade for some grain!”

Liu Yanhui was stunned. This “little brother-in-law” persona had really taken root in Liu Laohu’s mind!

He calmly and composedly pulled a pouch of silver from his sleeve. “I’m the reasonable kind of little brother-in-law. We’ll pay.”

The villagers looked at Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu with suspicion, their eyes clearly showing they didn’t believe a word.

“Brother Liu, wasn’t our act ridiculous enough?” Why are the villagers still so terrified?

Liu Laohu: “It could be they’re scared out of their wits by the big saber at my waist!”

Liu Yanhui: “…”

Fortunately, the women from Liu Zhao Village were with them. Only after the people of Gulan Village saw them did they begin to believe that the group was fleeing a famine.

“You’ve come at a bad time!” an elderly villager said, starting to weep and cover his face.

Liu Laohu and the others were confused.

“Old man, the drought hasn’t affected you here, has it? Has the village run into some trouble?”

The old man explained, “All our village’s grain was taken by the County Yamen. They said it was for the Third Princess’s birthday, a tribute to her!”

The Third Princess?

Liu Laohu sucked in a sharp breath.

Liu Yanhui frowned. “They took all your grain? What will you eat? The autumn harvest is still several months away, isn’t it?”

The old man broke down completely. A villager beside him continued, “If we didn’t give it to them, they’d kill us or arrest us. Old Brother Wang’s son, so handsome and capable, was forcefully taken away. Several people in our village had their legs broken, and two even died. They’re officials. How can we possibly fight them?”

“There’s no grain left at home, but at least we have water to drink. There are wild vegetables and weeds in the fields. We can pull them up and eat them. We won’t starve to death; we can make it to the autumn harvest!”

Many villagers sighed heavily.

No wonder they were so terrified at the sight of men with sabers.

They had thought they could get a decent meal in Gulan Village, but it turned out the people here were worse off than they were.

“Miss, we won’t be able to trade for a single grain of food in this village!” Liu Laohu had originally planned to settle the women from Liu Zhao Village here.

But now he saw that the villagers couldn’t even fend for themselves. Leaving the women from Liu Zhao Village behind would only be a burden to them.

Shen Lanxi, however, read another meaning into the situation.

“The people from the County Yamen have already been to this village. They won’t be back anytime soon.”

“Fill our water skins. We’ll rest for a day and set out tomorrow morning.”

Liu Laohu understood. He quickly went to negotiate with the villagers. Staying the night would certainly cost some silver, so he called Liu Yanhui to come along.

That afternoon, Liu Yanhui arranged for some people to purchase dried and fresh vegetables. They could be paid for with grain or with silver.

Their group was immediately treated like gods of wealth and was granted the freedom to move about the village.

Madam Song began taking her family to trade for things again, while the other women could only watch on with envy.

The Shen children rested for a while before spontaneously going off to practice their martial arts.

Shen Yuanjing and the few others who had already built a foundation took the pastries they had saved up and went to make an offering to Wei Dongzhu.

The women from Liu Zhao Village were assigned the task of boiling water. It was the height of summer, and tending to the fires was hot, scorching work. No one else wanted to do it, so it was all shoved onto them.

Only at times like these did the other prisoners not find the women from Liu Zhao Village to be “dirty.”

While everyone was busy with their respective tasks, she took the opportunity to scout the nearby area.

After arranging the matters at hand, Liu Yanhui wanted to find Shen Lanxi to discuss the Third Princess, but he learned from Chunxue that she had gone out to scout the path ahead.

He tapped his head lightly. He was a step too late; Miss had already thought of it.

Wei Dongzhu finally couldn’t stand Shen Yuanjing and the others’ pestering anymore. Aren’t the Shen family scholars?

Their elders act all high and mighty, so how did they raise children who are so annoyingly persistent?

“Do you lot really want to learn martial arts from us?” Wei Dongzhu asked, his tone impatient.

Shen Yuanjing and the others’ eyes lit up. “We do!” they said in unison.

Wei Dongzhu took a deep breath. “Each of you, go find a staff!”

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes shone. “A staff like Eldest Brother’s?”

“Yes,” Wei Dongzhu snapped.

The boys scrambled off to find staffs in the village. They didn’t dare dream of getting one like Eldest Sister’s; hers looked heavier than they were.

They’d just have to find some wooden ones.

Shen Lanxi made a loop of the surrounding area, then called Little Xue over and fed it. She then scouted ahead for tens of kilometers, only returning to the village as the sun set, leaving just a faint red glow in the sky.

Mama Wang had steamed buns and stir-fried several exquisite side dishes—half meat, half vegetable.

“You may go eat as well.”

Chunxue and the others withdrew.

The Shen family had changed noticeably over the past few days. When there were chores to be done, they would step forward to help. At dinnertime, they ate the same food as everyone else.

One coarse-grain steamed bun mixed with white flour, and a mixed soup of pickled vegetables, salted meat, and other vegetables—as much as one could eat. The bailiffs ate a little better than the prisoners, each receiving two extra salted eggs and a bowl of salted meat, which Liu Yanhui had specially bought from the villagers to show respect to the officials.

Most people ate with great satisfaction, their spirits high.

There were two exceptions: one was Wu Youliang, and the other was Shen Yuanruan.

Wu Youliang leaned lazily against a half-crumbled wall, his gaze drifting about, his thoughts a mystery.

Having been able to ride in a cart and avoid manual labor recently, Shen Yuanruan had put on some weight, making her features even more striking. Watching the others hungrily devour their food, her stomach began to shamelessly grumble.

Why hasn’t Wu Youliang paid for some better food yet?

Shen Yuanruan waited a little longer. Seeing that Wu Youliang still hadn’t moved and fearing the pots would soon be empty, she brazenly went to find him.

“Brother Wu…”

Chapter 73: Hot Soup!

Her voice, as crisp and sweet as an oriole’s song, drew Wu Youliang’s wandering eyes back to Shen Yuanruan.

Wu Youliang’s gaze first swept over Shen Yuanruan’s eyes, then unabashedly moved downward, from the gentle swell of her chest to her slender, cinched waist. Recalling how the young lady’s hands and face had felt as soft and smooth as tofu yesterday, he quickly wiped the drool from his mouth.

“Come here, Sister Ruan, come sit with Brother and rest a while~” Wu Youliang patted his lap with a lecherous grin.

A flash of disgust crossed Shen Yuanruan’s eyes, but she kept a sweet smile fixed on her face.

“I can’t. My family is over there eating. It wouldn’t look good if they saw!”

Thinking of his empty coin purse, Wu Youliang was desperate to devour this tender morsel.

“You’ve been with me these past few days, so your family must have already tacitly approved of our relationship. Once we get to Dongchuan, I’ll write a letter to the Capital and have my family send me more silver. Then I’ll buy a large mansion, hire a few servants, and take you as my proper wife!”

Shen Yuanruan’s eyes flickered, and she feigned a coy shyness as she shuffled a couple of steps forward.

“Brother Wu, they’re all eating. When are you going to buy food?”

Wu Youliang’s eyes darted away for a moment before he immediately said, “I’ve had too much rich food lately and I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I’ll skip this meal to cleanse my system.”

Shen Yuanruan, whose stomach was growling with hunger, silently cursed Wu Youliang. What rich food? It wasn’t even as good as what her servants ate back in the Capital.

“Brother Wu, go buy me some hot soup. I’ll drink it like hot water!”

Wu Youliang hesitated for a moment, then said, “Alright, you wait here!”

Seeing him actually go, Shen Yuanruan let out a sigh of relief. Since he was going, he certainly wouldn’t be so shameless as to only buy soup. She had just suspected that Wu Youliang was out of money, but now it seemed he still had some!

The moment Wu Youliang reached the bailiffs, his demeanor changed completely. He bowed fawningly to the bailiffs.

“Your Excellency, I see there’s still some hot soup in the pot. Could I have a bowl?”

Without looking up, Liu Laohu said, “Two taels of silver!”

Wu Youliang was flabbergasted. “I only want the soup, not the vegetables in it!”

“I am talking about the price of the soup. If you want vegetables, it’s five taels!” Liu Laohu had disliked Wu Youliang for a long time. When they first left the Capital, he hadn’t seen anyone see the boy off, and he had no idea where his silver had come from. The boy was lazy and did nothing, yet he expected to get free soup? The nerve of him.

He had only ever shown him respect for the sake of his silver!

Wu Youliang seethed with resentment but didn’t dare let it show. He only had a few taels of loose silver left in his pouch. If he spent it all on soup, he wouldn’t have any money for a spot on the cart when they set off tomorrow.

“Are you buying it or not? If not, get lost!” Liu Laohu scolded impatiently.

Thinking of that sickeningly sweet “Brother Wu,” he finally gritted his teeth and paid.

Just you wait, he thought. My silver isn’t for just anyone to take for free.

Shen Yuanruan waited and waited, and finally, Wu Youliang returned. She joyfully took a few steps forward, expecting to see a lavish meal, only to be met with a bowl of clear broth with just a couple of scallion bits floating in it.

Where was the meat? The vegetables? The steamed buns?

When they were cooking, she had seen the women slice a lot of cured meat into the pot. How could there not be a single strip of meat in it?

As if he didn’t notice the sour expression on Shen Yuanruan’s face, Wu Youliang said, “I was too late, this was all that was left. Didn’t you say you wanted hot soup? It’s quite hot, so hurry up and drink it!”

Shen Yuanruan was furious. When she said she wanted hot soup, she didn’t mean she actually just wanted hot soup. But since Wu Youliang had already brought it back, she couldn’t very well explain herself. She could only pull a long face, take the soup to the side to drink it, and refuse to even look at Wu Youliang.

Watching her back, a sinister glint flashed in Wu Youliang’s eyes. When he had money, he was a master; when he was broke, she wouldn’t even spare him a glance. Some Eldest Miss? Just a whore from a brothel.

Because Liu Yanhui had traded grain for vegetables, the villagers, feeling grateful, cleared out a few houses for them.

After discussing it with Shen Lanxi, Liu Yanhui arranged for a separate courtyard for her, with another courtyard separating it from where the other exiles were staying. This way, any small commotion from the exiles wouldn’t disturb her, but if there was an emergency, she would be able to hear a shout immediately.

Shen Lanxi suitably delegated some more authority to Liu Yanhui. The main demonstration of this was having Chunxue formally inform Liu Laohu that they had already hired Liu Yanhui as an accountant.

She specifically emphasized that for any necessary purchases, they were to get the money from Liu Yanhui.

She probably didn’t need to be so explicit, but she was worried Liu Laohu wouldn’t understand.

On this point alone, Liu Yanhui’s freedom of movement among the exiles would henceforth be second only to Liu Laohu’s!

Mindful that they had to set off early the next morning, Mama Wang led the family members in preparing more pastries. Now that most of the Shen family was practicing martial arts, their consumption of pastries was very high.

That night, when it was time to rest, Wu Youliang shot several meaningful glances at Shen Yuanruan, but she pretended not to understand any of them. This infuriated Wu Youliang, who stormed out, cursing under his breath.

“You little bitch, I’ll get my hands on you sooner or later, you cheap thing…”

All the exiles were resting in the same courtyard. When Wu Youliang went out, the others just assumed he was going to relieve himself and paid no mind.

Wu Youliang walked to a bend in the road, then quickly turned and hid in a corner to peek back.

Seeing that no one was following him, the thought of escaping suddenly popped into his head.

But then he reconsidered. It was impossible. Setting aside the matter of household registration, with the famine raging, where could he possibly run? At least if he stayed with the exiles, he could count on a dark cornbread bun for each meal.

Besides, what if he ran into cannibalistic refugees? The bit of fat he’d put on during this journey would look no different from a succulent piece of meat to the starving refugees.

He couldn’t run. He had to find a way to get money! As long as he had money, he could continue to feast and live well!

Having figured this out, Wu Youliang looked at Gulan Village as if it were a village of treasure.

The night was deep, and all was still. The villagers, exhausted from a long day’s work, had gone to bed early.

Wu Youliang felt his opportunity had come. Using the excuse of relieving himself, he secretly snuck into Gulan Village.

He broke into five or six houses in a row but only found some copper coins in three of them, along with a tarnished silver hairpin. Feeling a little disappointed, Wu Youliang was about to rob one last house before heading back when he suddenly heard a noise coming from a chicken coop.

His eyes lit up. He immediately crept into the coop, and when he left, he was holding a big, fat chicken in each hand.

He had already twisted their necks. Having skipped dinner, his stomach was now churning with acidic hunger. He forgot all about raiding another house and immediately found a dilapidated, unoccupied hut to start a fire and prepare the chickens!

He was experienced. He coated the chickens in mud and then buried them in the embers of a low fire. With no visible flame, the smell of the meat wouldn’t spread. Even someone with the sharpest nose living next door wouldn’t be able to smell it!

Two fat chickens would be more than enough for a good meal. After eating his fill, he would go back for a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow he would still ride in the cart to set out!

The more Wu Youliang thought about it, the better it seemed. He didn’t even notice a bright flame ignite behind him. It wasn’t until the blaze lit up the sky and the heat began to scorch his back that he finally turned around.

He was so scared he nearly jumped out of his skin!

“Fire! Someone, help, fire…!”

The villagers quickly emerged, each carrying a bucket of water, but they didn’t rush to put out the fire.

They were all stopped by the village head.

“Water is scarce in many places now. Although we’re not in a severe situation here, we can’t afford to waste it!”

“This house has been abandoned for a long time, and there isn’t much inside to burn. There’s no wind, so it won’t spread to the other houses. We’re not putting it out. Save the water!”

Chapter 74: Serves Her Right!

Trapped in the courtyard, Wu Youliang heard the villagers’ plan and scrambled to run out in a panic.

“Why is there someone running out of there?”

The villagers all saw Wu Youliang as he burst forth.

He said hurriedly, “I saw no one was living here, so I went in to take a piss.”

“Is that so? The place you’re staying is at the village entrance, and this is the end of the village. You ran quite a long way to take a piss!”

Wu Youliang offered a strained explanation, “I was afraid of stinking you all up if I went too close to the village!”

A sharp-eyed villager noticed something was off.

“What do you have tucked in your shirt? It’s all bulging out.”

Sensing something was wrong, the villagers reached out and pulled at him.

“Hey, isn’t this the red bridal veil I got for my daughter?” The villager, afraid of being mistaken, lifted a corner to confirm.

“It really is mine! Look, this spot has the mark my mother-in-law stitched!”

With the evidence right there, it was useless for Wu Youliang to deny it.

“This man came to our village to steal things! We can’t let him off so easy… Beat him…”

The villagers surrounded Wu Youliang and rained down a flurry of punches and kicks.

“Go get the village head! He’s with that group from this afternoon. Who knows what kind of people they are? They have to give us an explanation!”

“Right.”

“Ouch! What’s this digging into me? He’s got something else in his shirt…”

After seeing what it was, the villagers gave Wu Youliang another round of punches and kicks!

A loud knocking sounded on the door.

Shen Lanxi opened it.

“Miss, something’s happened!”

If it had been about anyone else, they would never have disturbed their Miss’s rest!

“It concerns the Shen family!”

Chunxue earnestly recounted what had happened, then began to describe the events after the villagers had dragged Wu Youliang over.

“That scoundrel Wu Youliang actually told the villagers to their faces that he’d compensate them with Shen Yuanruan! He said she’d been eating his food and using his things the whole journey, so she was his woman long ago. He’s deliberately trying to get the Shen family to pay his debts!”

Shen Lanxi: “What was Shen Yuanruan’s reaction?”

Chunxue said unhappily, “From the looks of it, she was scared senseless. She was kneeling on the ground, crying and screaming for the Shen family to save her!”

Shen Lanxi had already made up her mind. “Don’t bother with it. You two go rest.”

Chunxue and Qiushuang stared in astonishment at the closed door. The Young Lady wasn’t going to get involved with the Shen family?

Liu Yanhui was still waiting outside for a response. Seeing Chunxue and Qiushuang come out, he immediately asked, “Did your Miss say what to do?”

Chunxue answered truthfully.

After hearing her, Liu Yanhui was equally astonished. Other matters could be overlooked, but a woman’s honor was paramount. If she didn’t intervene, wasn’t she afraid the Shen family would come to hate her?

Seeing Liu Yanhui return, Liu Laohu immediately walked over. He didn’t ask outright, but his gaze said everything.

Liu Yanhui shook his head. His eyes glinted as he said, “We’ll just watch the show!”

Liu Laohu didn’t understand. Watch Wu Youliang get beaten to death, or watch Shen Yuanruan get taken away by the villagers to pay the debt?

Every member of the Shen family wore a grave expression, especially Shen Congli and his wife.

“Third Son, Shen Yuanruan is your daughter. You tell me what to do,” said the Old Madam. She had just managed to get a peaceful night’s sleep, only to be woken up for this sordid affair. Her face was dark with fury. Having already let out a torrent of curses, she now felt a sharp pain in her chest from the anger.

“Mother, didn’t you say before that Yuanruan was to be expelled from the clan? She has nothing to do with our third branch anymore!”

Hearing her husband say this, Mrs. Miao felt the world go dark. Yuanruan was her first child. She had endured several years of hardship with them, and when their lives improved, she had wanted to make it up to her eldest daughter. Of all her daughters, she doted on this one the most. Even when she saw her daughter trying to latch onto Wu Youliang for wealth and status, she hadn’t said a word.

After all, if her daughter struck it rich, her maternal family would also benefit.

Now that this had happened, she could be punished in any way, but how could she be expelled from the clan? If a woman lost the protection of her clan, her fate would be unimaginably miserable.

This was her precious child, her own flesh and blood whom she had doted on since birth. How could she bear it!

“Master, Yuanruan is our first child. When she got food before, she even thought of sharing it with us. It shows she’s a filial daughter.”

“Mother, Yuanruan is still so young, and you used to be so fond of her. She must have thought that by following Wu Youliang, she could help our Shen family once her life improved.”

“Mother, Master, Yuanruan is a good, filial child!”

Hearing her mother’s words, Shen Yuanruan quickly begged for mercy, “Father, Grandmother, I was just thinking that Eldest Sister might not have money in the future, and our Shen family would have no one to care for it. I wanted to be like Eldest Sister and do my part for the family!”

Hearing her granddaughter expose her eldest granddaughter’s status, the Old Madam glared furiously. “Shut your mouth! Are you trying to get our whole family killed?”

The Shen family members froze. The madams of the several branches rushed forward and each gave Shen Yuanruan a slap.

“Shut up! Think clearly about what you can and cannot say. If you don’t want to live, we’ll borrow silver if we have to, just to buy a white silk sash to wrap around your neck!”

Shen Yuanruan was terrified by the ferocious expressions of her aunts. Her mind went blank, and a wet patch on the ground beneath her slowly spread.

She had wet herself in fear.

The women of the branches pinched their noses and backed away in disgust.

“Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother, I don’t want to die! Please save me, save me…” Shen Yuanruan knelt on the ground, kowtowing relentlessly.

The villagers from Gulan Village were blocking the doorway. If they didn’t get an explanation tonight, they would not let the matter rest!

“Wu Youliang, aren’t you very rich? Why are you sneaking around the village pilfering things?” Liu Laohu asked with a frown.

Seeing a chance for the situation to turn, Wu Youliang immediately said, “If you help me pay them off, I’ll pay you back tenfold when my relatives in the Capital send my money!”

Madam Song spat, “Bah! What rich relatives? You’re just a common ruffian who steals things. Others might not know you, but I do. You broke into a house to steal, causing the master of that house to fall ill and die. Your old mother lived right next door!”

A prisoner next to her wanted to ask, if he’s guilty of theft and causing a death, what are you here for?

But in front of outsiders, he didn’t dare ask.

Shen Yuanruan looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. She lifted her head and stared at Madam Song in disbelief. “He said he was a relative of the Prime Minister…”

Before she could finish, she was cut off by Madam Song’s derisive cackle.

“I could also say I’m a relative of the Prime Minister. Who doesn’t know how to boast? What, if I dare say it, do you dare go and ask the Prime Minister yourself?” What an idiot, unable to see something so obvious.

“That’s right! We all left the city together. We never saw anyone give Wu Youliang anything! Where did all his money come from?”

“Who knows? It was probably stolen.”

Shen Yuanruan’s face was deathly pale as she collapsed into the puddle of her own urine. In the crowd, Yuanxin wore a cold sneer.

Serves her right!

It wasn’t just Shen Yuanruan; the faces of everyone in the Shen family’s third branch were grim. They had thought their daughter had latched onto a rich man, and that once they reached Dongchuan, they could live a comfortable life with her.

They never expected that not only would they fail to secure a comfortable life, but their reputation would be sullied by a common ruffian. If word of this spread, how would the unmarried men and women of the third branch ever find spouses!

Chapter 75: Wu Youliang’s Death!

Exposed, Wu Youliang flew into a rage out of sheer humiliation. If his life was ruined, he would drag everyone else down with him.

“What’s there to be so proud of? Village head, I bet you don’t know what kind of people you’ve taken in, do you?”

Everyone’s expression changed drastically. They rushed forward to stop him, but it was too late.

“They are members of the Shen family, the ones who caused the death of the Wei Army! They’re exiled criminals who stole military funds!” Wu Youliang finished shouting, a triumphant, sinister grin on his face.

“Scared now, are you?”

“Trying to shut me up? Where were you earlier?”

“It’s too late!”

“Everyone here is an exile! I’m just a petty thief, but they are traitors to the nation!”

The faces of everyone in the Shen family turned deathly pale, and they trembled uncontrollably.

The people of Gulan Village were also badly frightened, and for a long moment, no one spoke.

Then, a figure charged forward, pinning Wu Youliang down and beating him.

“You’re spouting nonsense! Just because your own hands are dirty, you want to drag us all down with you. We should have let those refugees tear you apart on the road, you ungrateful dog…”

Liu Laohu snapped back to reality. Seeing that Liu Yanhui couldn’t restrain Wu Youliang, he rushed over and delivered two swift kicks.

“You bastard! We gave you food and drink on this entire journey. How have we wronged you for you to harm us like this?”

Shen Yuanjing also ran up and kicked him.

“He’s a toad lusting after a swan, and because our family didn’t agree, he holds a grudge! Let’s give him a good beating and send him to the county yamen to rot in jail!”

At the mention of the county yamen, the villagers of Gulan Village seemed to relax. If they were truly criminals, they would surely be steering clear of the yamen.

Shen Yuanruan’s eyes filled with hatred. She scrambled to her feet and pointed at a corner of the wall, shouting, “I saw him hide all the money he stole in that corner!”

The Shen family members looked at Shen Yuanruan with complicated expressions.

Liu Laohu quickly ordered the bailiffs to dig up the money pouch. Inside were a few scattered pieces of silver, amounting to less than ten taels in total.

“Village head, please take this money as compensation for his theft.”

The village head was about to take the silver when a woman ran over and said to him, “Husband, someone stole our two chickens.”

The village head’s expression shifted, and he was about to withdraw his hand when Liu Yanhui spoke up, “When we leave tomorrow, we will leave another sack of grain for the village.”

Remembering the weight of the grain sack from earlier that day, the village head silently took the money pouch.

“You all should leave quickly tomorrow morning. No matter who you are, our village will act as if you were never here!”

Liu Laohu, Liu Yanhui, and the others quickly nodded in agreement.

As soon as the villagers were gone, the other exiles swarmed over Wu Youliang and beat him mercilessly.

They could have had a good night’s sleep after a full meal, but this bastard had ruined everything. He had even exposed their identities as convicts. He was trying to get them all killed!

If he wanted them dead, they wouldn’t let him live either.

Fists and feet rained down on him like a storm, with no one holding back. At first, Wu Youliang grunted and groaned, but after a while, he fell silent.

No one cared if he was dead or alive. They only stopped when they were tired.

Liu Laohu casually had a bailiff tie Wu Youliang up, then went to sleep.

They had to travel again tomorrow and couldn’t let a single scoundrel delay their journey.

After everyone had fallen asleep, a hushed voice whispered in Shen Yuanruan’s ear.

“If Wu Youliang wakes up, he’ll definitely slander your reputation again. What if he pesters the family to make you marry him? In the eyes of outsiders, your reputation is already ruined. You’d have no choice but to marry him.”

Not long after, a dark figure quietly slipped out.

“Wu Youliang is already stiff. He must have been dead for a while!”

“Brother Liu, what should we do?”

“Is it so strange for someone to die on the road to exile? Do as we always do: cut off an ear to report back to our superiors, put the body in a sack, and we’ll bury it once we’re far away from here.”

…

After their martial arts practice, the Shen family members lined up to receive pastries.

Shen Yuanjing watched as Shen Yuanruan walked up to him, and he handed her a piece.

“What’s past is past. You must learn from your mistakes and practice your martial arts diligently.”

Shen Yuanruan accepted it in silence. As she walked to the shade of a tree to eat it, a hand appeared before her.

“Older sister, I remember you don’t like sweets. From now on, you can give all your sweets to me!”

Shen Yuanruan stood up, intending to leave.

“Older sister, you wouldn’t want anyone to know what you were doing outside last night, would you?”

Shen Yuanruan’s expression changed, and her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach.

“Younger sister, I don’t like sweets. From now on, I’ll give you all the pastries I get.”

A harmless smile appeared on Yuanxin’s face. “I must have been dreaming last night. I dreamt that my older sister went out, but in reality, she didn’t go out at all.”

“Older sister, you must remember what you just said. If one day you should forget, but I happen to remember, that wouldn’t be very pleasant, now would it?”

“Eldest Brother, I see you haven’t eaten your pastry. Here, this sweet one is for you!” Yuanxin, with an innocent look, held a sweet pastry in both hands and presented it to Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi reached out and took it, holding it in her hand without eating.

Yuanxin noticed this, and her smile grew even more innocent. “Eldest Brother, yesterday I heard Second Aunt say that grandmother might be getting sick. She was discussing with the other two aunties that if grandmother falls ill, they’ll have Father come to you.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Yuanxin and nodded, indicating for her to continue.

Seeing that she was willing to listen, Yuanxin’s heart leaped with joy, and she immediately continued, “Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle saw that Second Uncle got pastries, so they said they want to learn martial arts too!”

“They said it right in front of Father, and he didn’t say a word. He might even be happy that they’re willing to come.”

“My older and younger brothers have gone to learn staff techniques from Master Hu. Eldest Brother, can I go learn too?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “You can.” As for whether Wei Dongzhu was willing to teach, that was not her concern.

Because their identities had been exposed in Gulan Village, both Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu were deeply worried. After discussing it, they went to find Shen Lanxi.

“I suggest we don’t rest during the day anymore and quicken our pace,” Liu Yanhui said.

Liu Laohu: “Agreed!”

Shen Lanxi also nodded in agreement.

They traveled like this for another two days. Due to exhaustion and excessive worry, Old Madam developed a high fever during the night. Less than half a day later, Old Master Shen also fell ill.

Shen Congwen didn’t go to his daughter; he went straight to Zhang Niu.

“Doctor Zhang, the elders in my family are sick. I must trouble you to take a look at them.”

Zhang Niu wasn’t here to treat criminals. If he hadn’t been worried about Wei Dongzhu, he would never have come along to suffer this ordeal.

“Do you have silver for a consultation fee?”

Shen Congwen was taken aback.

Zhang Niu said mercilessly, “You don’t think I’m a criminal too, that you can see me for free, do you?”

Shen Congwen’s face filled with guilt at his words, and he quickly lowered his head and walked away.

The result was predictable. The Shen family searched through all their belongings, but they couldn’t find a single coin.

There was truly nothing.

Their greatest hope now was to run into another opportunity to make money. When that time came, they would surely all pitch in.

Shen Congwen had originally thought he could solve the matter without turning to his daughter, but it seemed he had to go to her in the end.

“Lanxi…” Facing his daughter, he felt no confidence at all.

Chapter 76: You Have to Sacrifice the Bait to Catch the Wolf!

“Father, please speak your mind!”

Shen Congwen found it difficult to say. “Your grandmother is ill.”

Shen Lanxi said, “The medicine I gave the family before included remedies for colds, fevers, and bruises. I gave you everything!”

At the mention of this, Shen Congwen’s face filled with even greater shame.

“All of that medicine has been used up.” In truth, his mother had traded it away and sold it, but Shen Congwen couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Shen Lanxi said, “Father, go get some medicine from Chunxue. Use it sparingly, there isn’t much left!”

Shen Congwen nodded quickly and went to find Chunxue as if he were fleeing.

After another day of travel, they finally saw signs of people.

Liu Yanhui ran over and said, “Longevity Town should be just ahead.”

Shen Lanxi ordered, “Send someone ahead to scout!”

Liu Yanhui immediately reported back to Liu Laohu, and the bailiffs set out within seconds.

Who would have thought that almost a full two-hour period would pass, yet the bailiffs had not returned?

Shen Lanxi said, “Halt! Rest here. I’m going to check what’s ahead!”

“Yes!”

The unusual situation made the prisoners as tense as frightened birds. They watched Shen Lanxi’s departing figure, silently praying that nothing was wrong!

Shen Yuanjing didn’t want to rest. He had already mastered the new staff techniques he’d learned and wanted to practice for Master Hu, hoping for some guidance!

Before long, all the juniors of the Shen family had gone over.

Ahead lay Longevity Town, that much was true, but upon entering, there was not only a fee but also an inspection.

Two city guards were specifically holding portraits and comparing them to people’s faces. Shen Lanxi put her horse away, changed into a set of coarse cloth clothes, and slung a vegetable basket over her arm. She disguised herself to have a square face and joined the line of people waiting to enter the town!

“Why is it so slow?”

A woman in front of her immediately struck up a conversation. “How many days has it been since you’ve been to town? It’s only been this slow for the past few days.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “I haven’t been in town for about half a month now. I’m here to see my younger sister. She’s a kitchen helper for a wealthy family!”

“Oh, is that so? Your younger sister must be an excellent cook.”

“She is. My father plays favorites. He only taught her how to cook, not me!”

“My father plays favorites too. We’re both unfortunate souls…”

As they chatted more and more congenially, Shen Lanxi started to get to the point. “Why is there still blood in that area over there?”

The woman in front let her guard down and said in a low voice, “Just now at the city gate, a bunch of people were beating one guy. They said the men from the County Yamen caught a horse thief. The beating was so brutal~”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes darkened, but she continued to chat idly with the woman, her expression unchanged.

When it was their turn in line, the city guard held up a portrait and began to compare.

She tilted her head, feigning curiosity, and glanced at the portrait twice, immediately earning a sharp rebuke.

“What are you looking at? Is this for your eyes? Scram!”

She had seen it clearly. The portraits were of the Shen family—every single member!

After laughing and talking with the woman to blend into the crowd, she left the city guards’ line of sight, bought a few things, and discreetly asked for the location of the County Yamen. Then, she immediately raced towards it.

The backyard of the County Yamen.

“Nu Bai, is anyone in the backyard?”

“No one!”

Shen Lanxi swiftly snuck in. Just as she was about to look for the jail cells, she heard a familiar voice.

“Your Excellency, their group is extremely vigilant, especially a person called Young Master Lan. This man is highly skilled in martial arts and can kill a wolf with a single strike of his staff. It would be best to prepare for him in advance!”

“Have you found out this person’s background?”

“No. At first, I thought it was Shen Lanxi, but then I realized it wasn’t. Shen Lanxi doesn’t know martial arts, nor is she that clever. This Young Master Lan must come from a noble family and has received an excellent education…”

“The Princess’s intention is to capture them all in one fell swoop…”

The voices grew more distant. Shen Lanxi had anticipated that a spy might be planted in their group, but she never expected that the first one to be exposed would be one of the Third Princess’s people!

This place was thousands of miles from the Capital. How many days had it been since their imprisonment and sentence of exile?

How could the Third Princess have learned of the situation in the Capital so quickly and even managed to place bailiffs into the exiled group?

There was only one possibility: the Third Princess had people in the Capital, a trusted confidant who could issue orders on her behalf.

The Third Princess’s reach extended all the way to the Capital. Could she have been the one who framed the Wei Army in the case of the stolen provisions?

The more Shen Lanxi thought, the more unsettled she became. She had to seize every clue regarding the provisions!

An hour later, she returned to the group!

“Go bring Liu Yanhui, Liu Laohu, and Hu Zhu here for a meeting.”

Chunxue hurried to call them!

When the three arrived, Shen Lanxi said with a grave expression, “We’ve been exposed. The bailiffs are dead. In less than an hour, the soldiers from Longevity Town will come to hunt us down!”

The pupils of the three men constricted in shock.

“Miss, what do you plan to do?”

A cold, sharp smile appeared on Shen Lanxi’s face. “You have to sacrifice the bait to catch the wolf. I plan to push the Shen family forward as bait!”

The three of them: “…”

“Liu Yanhui, go gather the Shen family and tell them my decision. Who comes forward as bait is entirely voluntary.”

Liu Yanhui rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and left quickly.

Seriously, what was he getting chills for in the middle of summer!

“Liu Laohu, take the remaining people and find a detour. If anyone dares to expose our identities on the way, kill them!”

Liu Laohu’s eyebrows twitched, and he nodded quickly.

“Hu Zhu, you and your men will follow me. Be ready to provide rescue at a moment’s notice!”

Wei Dongzhu: “Alright!”

He was certain now. The Shen family’s identity had been exposed, and someone wanted them dead!

Could it be related to the military provisions?

On the Shen family’s side, there was no such thing as volunteering. The members of the Shen family’s first branch were simply pushed forward!

“Boss, don’t blame Mother for being heartless. The first branch is the one that caused all this trouble. Even if someone else wanted to take your place, those people wouldn’t accept it.”

“Big Brother, if it would work with us, we would definitely take your place. This isn’t our fault. Lanxi is so capable, she’ll surely protect you!”

“Big Brother, go without worry. We will take good care of Father and Mother!”

“Big Brother…”

“I’m not going! Why should we be the bait? Miss… Mmph…” Before Zhang Zifen could finish, the women of the Shen family quickly covered her mouth and forced her to the ground.

“You vile concubine, are you trying to get us all killed?”

The Old Madam seethed through gritted teeth, “This bitch! It’s as if she wants to shout it so everyone knows. Gag her and tie her up!”

“Mother, all of you, let my mother go!” Zhang Zifen’s son and two daughters cried, trying to rescue her.

The Old Madam glared furiously. “Anyone who wails again will be tied up with this bitch!”

The Shen family was already facing total annihilation. She didn’t mind sacrificing one branch to save the rest, or the children of concubines to save the legitimate heirs.

Seeing their grandmother so angry, Zhang Zifen’s children all stood aside in fear, not daring to approach again!

Liu Yanhui came back after arranging for his mother and younger sister, only to see this scene.

Had he not explained it clearly?

“The Miss said it’s entirely voluntary. If someone who’s not willing goes and ruins her grand plan, which of you can bear the responsibility?”

Zhang Zifen’s eyes widened, and she began to struggle frantically.

She wasn’t volunteering. She didn’t want to go to her death!

Chapter 77: The Shen Family’s First Branch is Captured!

After listening, the Old Madam strode forward and kicked Zhang Zifen.

“You useless thing! Eldest Son, Mother wanted her to take your place. Who would have thought this spineless wretch would act all high-and-mighty when she wasn’t needed, but when we actually need her, she’s as useless as a pile of mud! If I had known, I never would have let you bring her into this family!”

The more the Old Madam spoke, the more she regretted it. Zhang Zifen was a cousin’s daughter from her side of the family. She had once seemed filial and respectful, always trying to please her. Who knew it was all an act? Deep down, she was so selfish that she couldn’t even bear to suffer alongside her son. She had truly been blind.

Consumed by hatred, the Old Madam slapped Zhang Zifen’s face ten times in a row, only stopping when her own hand ached!

With her mouth gagged, Zhang Zifen’s face was nearly beaten to a pulp. She clenched her teeth tightly. As long as she wasn’t being sent to her death, she was willing to have her face ruined!

Seeing his mother stagger and almost fall, Shen Congwen quickly reached out to steady her.

“Mother, don’t work yourself into a state. It’s fine for us to be the bait. This way, most of our Shen family can be safe!”

This was precisely the Old Madam’s plan, but Shen Congwen was her own flesh and blood. To watch her son go to his death was like a knife twisting in her heart.

The more critical the situation, the more she thought of her eldest son’s good qualities. The Old Madam gripped his hand tightly.

“Eldest Son, do you really have to be the bait? Can’t we just split up and go our separate ways?”

Shen Congwen shook his head with a bitter smile. “If we don’t act as a diversion, those people will capture every last member of the Shen family!”

The Old Madam’s lips moved, but no words came out. All she could do was beat her chest repeatedly.

“If Mother could take your place, I would willingly go…”

Hearing his mother’s devoted words, Shen Congwen was deeply moved.

“Sacrificing the few of us to ensure Father and Mother’s safety is worth it!”

Liu Yanhui didn’t believe for a second that Shen Lanxi had no preparations.

“Hurry up, Liu Laohu is getting impatient!”

Wei Rulan stepped forward. “I am willing to be the bait. I only ask that my two sons and daughter be allowed to leave with the Old Madam!”

The Old Madam looked at Wei Rulan, moved. “You are a good one. If you can return safely, I will personally see to it that you are elevated to an honored concubine.”

Wei Rulan smiled bitterly to herself. At a time like this, who cared about status?

Outwardly, however, she expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Old Madam!”

The Old Madam was overcome with emotion. “From now on, just call me Mother!” After saying this, she immediately turned to Zhang Zifen with a vicious scowl.

“You wretch, you are forbidden from calling me Mother ever again! As long as I am alive, you will forever be the lowest of lowly concubines.”

Shen Yuanjing and his siblings spoke up, “Father, grandmother, we are also willing to be the bait.”

Shen Yuanxin, Shen Yuanzhao, and Shen Yuanqing also chimed in, “Father, grandmother, so are we!”

Hearing her children say this, Wei Rulan became frantic.

She was trying to sacrifice herself to protect her children, so why couldn’t they understand her intentions? Why were they joining in this mess?

Liu Laohu hurried over. “Have you decided?”

Liu Yanhui replied, “Yes, we have!”

“Quickly, split up! If you don’t go now, it’ll be too late!” The other prisoners had already been organized; only the Shen family remained.

The Shen family members hurried toward the government bailiffs.

Zhang Zifen’s two daughters quickly ran over to untie her, supporting her as they left. Her son had long since abandoned her and run ahead.

Shen Yuanjing looked in Shen Yuanxin’s direction and snorted coldly. “Pathetic!”

The other juniors knew who he was talking about and all kept their faces taut, saying nothing.

Liu Laohu left them a horse-drawn carriage, some food, and water. After making these arrangements, he led his people away without a moment’s delay.

Shen Lanxi had Mama Wang’s family leave with Liu Laohu, keeping only Chunxue and Qiushuang with her.

Seeing that Liu Yanhui hadn’t left yet, she urged him, “Still not going?”

Liu Yanhui said, “You’ll always need someone to make purchases and watch the carriage, Miss.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Did Liu Laohu agree?”

Liu Yanhui replied, “I gave him half my money to hold onto for now!”

Shen Lanxi still didn’t agree. “I have a mission for you…”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up as he listened.

“Rest assured, Miss. Before you return, I will definitely clean up the ranks!”

Shen Lanxi personally saw Liu Yanhui off as he rejoined the group.

The members of the Shen family’s first branch had already set off. They had only gone a short distance when a troop of cavalry appeared before them!

In a blink of an eye, the soldiers had surrounded the carriage!

“Is it them?”

One of the men unfurled a portrait.

“Yes, it’s them!”

“Why are there so few of them? Where are the others?”

Shen Yuanjing recited the lines they had agreed upon earlier, pretending to be flustered. “Officer, we ran into refugees on the road and got separated while fleeing!”

The officer was skeptical.

“Search the area!”

The hearts of the Shen family members in the carriage began to pound like thunder!

A man dismounted at a fork in the road to examine the tracks. “There are signs of carriages, horses, and footprints in several directions. It looks like they scattered!”

“Split into two teams and pursue in two of the directions!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Put them in the prisoner cart and take them to Jinmen!”

“Yes, sir!”

Isn’t the Third Princess looking for them? Then they’ll deliver themselves to her doorstep and give her a surprise!

“Miss, they’ve left. Should we follow?”

Having confirmed that her family was in no immediate danger, Shen Lanxi was in no hurry to follow.

“If we follow them now, we’ll just be ambushed!”

Chunxue, feeling lost, asked, “What should we do then?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “First, we’ll find a place to trade the horse-drawn carriage for a mule cart. Then, we’ll enter a city to rest for the night and replenish our supplies.”

A horse-drawn carriage was too conspicuous.

The men of the Wei Army were once again baffled by this Young Master Lan.

She had made the Shen family practice martial arts to protect themselves, provided them with money, food, and medicine, and made so many arrangements—it was clear she was protecting them.

But today, she had used them as bait and was now talking about entering a city to rest. It was as if she didn’t care whether they lived or died.

What on earth was this person thinking?

Upon entering the city again, security was much more relaxed. Although there were still people checking faces against portraits, they did so with a perfunctory glance, likely not even getting a clear look at their faces.

They found an inn to stay in. Chunxue and Qiushuang went to replenish their supplies, as everything they had brought had been given to Liu Laohu and Nanny Li.

After a tea’s time, Shen Lanxi also went out.

“Big Brother, Young Master Lan went to an apothecary and bought a lot of medicine. Then he went to a shop selling dried goods and bought a large quantity. After that, it was a clothing store, a grain store… He bought so many things, he’s already made six trips delivering them back to the inn, and he’s still buying!”

“It seems he really is just replenishing supplies!”

Wei Dongzhu focused his thoughts and gave an order. “You two, follow the Shen family members discreetly. Don’t be discovered!”

“Big Brother, if those people try to harm the Shen family, should we save them?”

Wei Dongzhu was silent for a moment before saying, “Save them, but don’t get hurt because of them. You are more important than they are!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Have the men watching him withdraw and go buy supplies as well.”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhang Niu came over with a bowl of dark medicinal ointment.

“It’s time for your medicine. Your wounds are healing very well. I estimate that by the time winter arrives, your scars will have healed completely!”

Chapter 78: Ride the Favorable Wind to the Highest Clouds!

Around midnight, a figure appeared like a phantom in the County Yamen, heading straight for its storehouses.

To her surprise, the small yamen had no fewer than four storehouses. Two were filled to the brim with grain, while the other two held gold, silver, and jewels extorted from the local gentry and wealthy merchants.

Collect!

Under the Third Princess’s administration, the County Magistrate of Longevity Town had become a malevolent official. Using the pretext of offering birthday congratulations, he had ruthlessly plundered the common folk. Those below followed the example of those above, and his greed was even greater than the princess’s.

Next to the yamen was the County Magistrate’s private residence. Shen Lanxi slipped inside and went directly to the family’s ancestral hall.

“Master, beneath the floor tiles, it’s all gold bricks!”

“And behind the ancestral tablets, there are several white jade Guanyin statues and idols made of pure gold!”

Collect!

This was all the blood and sweat of the common people; these parasites would not get to enjoy it!

Tables, chairs, benches, quilts, silks, and fabrics—all were taken. The food in the small kitchen was completely cleared out. Anything of use was taken, not a single item left behind!

She didn’t even leave them the potted plants in the courtyard.

Everywhere Shen Lanxi passed was left barren. Her signature move was a complete sweep!

After clearing out the other areas, only the County Magistrate’s living quarters remained.

The magistrate was sound asleep, his arms around his young concubine. Shen Lanxi slipped in without a sound. A quarter of an hour later, she emerged with a cold smirk and headed straight for the guest rooms.

She despised traitors above all else. Since that bailiff was one of the Third Princess’s men, he could go pledge his loyalty in the underworld ahead of time.

The next morning, just as the city gates opened, the street vendors selling food were already shouting at the top of their lungs to attract customers.

“Sir, buy some fried pancakes! I can tell you’re setting out on a journey. Fried pancakes last well. I’ve even added scallions and salt-cured meat, so they’re full of flavor!”

“I’ll buy some!”

“Sir, how about some meat buns? Made with freshly butchered pork from this morning. One bite and your mouth will be filled with savory juices…”

“I’ll buy some!”

“Miss, should we send some over to Master Hu and the others?” Chunxue asked.

Shen Lanxi said, “Look behind you.”

While they were buying at the front, Wei Dongzhu and his men were buying at the back. No one knew when their next meal would be, so everyone cherished the food they had now.

“I thought they didn’t have any money.”

Shen Lanxi simply smiled without speaking. The things she had left them were enough for Wei Dongzhu and his men to live on for ten lifetimes.

They continued on, buying as they went, and soon reached the city gates.

The moment they paid their toll and left the city, a troop of soldiers came and shut the gates behind them.

“Did you hear? There was a thief at the County Yamen yesterday.”

“What thief? I heard it was a ghost! My uncle’s neighbor’s second grand-aunt’s little granddaughter is a maidservant to the magistrate’s concubine. According to her, the yamen and the magistrate’s residence were completely emptied this morning. The magistrate and his concubine were found lying naked on the floor all night…”

That wasn’t even the half of it. For the rest of his life, that County Magistrate would be confined to his bed, needing others to tend to his every need—eating, drinking, and relieving himself.

Death was too easy. Lying in bed, watching your life slowly fade away as your body decays day by day—that was what truly tore at the heart and soul. That was the ultimate punishment!

After leaving the city, the group headed straight for Jinmen.

Wei Dongzhu had his soldiers drive the mule cart faster to ride parallel with Shen Lanxi.

“Young Master Lan, if we just chase after them, we’ll still fall into whatever trap the Third Princess has set for us.”

Shen Lanxi said, “That’s why I plan to hijack one of the convoys delivering birthday gifts.”

Wei Dongzhu was stunned, his eyes shining brightly. “We can disguise ourselves as the soldiers escorting the gifts!”

Shen Lanxi’s expression was relaxed. “One hundred li southeast of Longevity Town, there’s a large town. Both the soldiers escorting prisoners and those delivering gifts will stop to rest and resupply at Pan Heng in that town.”

A sharp glint appeared in Wei Dongzhu’s eyes. “We’d best hurry. That way we can choose a suitable target from among the many gift convoys!”

Shen Lanxi took out a map and tossed it to him to see for himself.

“Chunxue, speed up!”

“Yes!”

The moment the map was thrown, Wei Dongzhu scrambled to his feet to catch it with both hands.

He had seen this map before and understood its value. Even if he were to fall from the cart, he could not let the map be sullied with dust.

Ahead lay Beiheng Town. At their current pace, traveling day and night, they could arrive in less than two days.

He finally understood why she was so certain all the soldiers would stop at Pan Heng in Beiheng Town. It was a necessary stop on the way to Jinmen.

And if he wasn’t mistaken, Liu Laohu’s group would also be heading to Beiheng.

They had to seize the initiative before they encountered the prison escort!

Looking at the mules, which, despite running at a full gallop, were still no match for horses, Wei Dongzhu once again regretted not switching to a horse-drawn carriage when they left the city.

At that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be unable to have your cake and eat it too.

During the hottest part of the day, they took a short break to prevent the mules from getting heatstroke.

The cry of an eagle rang out. Little Xue had arrived with a message.

Shen Lanxi first tossed it a fish stick before raising her left arm, allowing Little Xue to perch upon it.

Inside the message tube was a slip of paper with a single line written on it: A fair wind lends its strength, to help you soar to the highest clouds!

She put away the note and tucked a new one inside.

A low murmur arose from the Wei Army soldiers.

“What a massive eagle! Who on earth is this Young Master Lan?”

“He must be connected to the Shen family.”

“Nonsense. If you had to describe them, the Shen family are a bunch of good-for-nothings, while he is the eagle in his own grasp. Can you even compare a fierce eagle to a useless straw bag?”

“Could he have been hired by the Shen family?”

“If he was hired, how much would that have cost?”

It was now the hottest time of day. The ground was scalding to a bare foot. The more intense the heat, the more severe the drought became. As Liu Laohu’s group rested, they kept looking up at the sun, which felt hot enough to cook a person alive.

“Good thing we moved quickly!”

Even though they no longer lacked water, they were still very careful whenever they drank.

“We have water to drink now, but if it doesn’t rain up north, no one there will survive!”

Liu Yanhui gazed north. It was no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten homes were empty. He hoped the court would send disaster relief soon, or the Great Zhou would surely fall into chaos.

The cry of an eagle rang out, and Liu Yanhui immediately stood up.

Among all the people he knew, only one person raised such a fierce bird!

Little Xue circled twice in the air before landing on a distant, withered tree stump.

Liu Laohu hurried over to Liu Yanhui. “Isn’t that Young Master Lan’s eagle?”

Considering a certain possibility, Liu Yanhui immediately asked Mama Wang for a piece of dried meat and walked over.

When Little Xue saw Liu Yanhui approaching, it let out a sharp cry, folded its outstretched wings, and reined in some of its ferocity.

Seeing this, Liu Yanhui let out a breath and strode over.

“Did my master send a letter for me?”

Little Xue glanced at the dried meat offered to it, let out another cry, and turned its head away.

Liu Yanhui scratched his head in embarrassment. Why did he feel like he was being scorned?

“Lord Eagle, I’m going to take the letter now?”

Just as Liu Yanhui was about to pop the dried meat into his own mouth so he could use both hands to open the message tube, Little Xue slapped him on the head with its wing.

“Chaa—”

Liu Yanhui’s legs went weak with fright. What had he done wrong to offend Lord Eagle?

Recalling his actions just before he was hit, Liu Yanhui carefully presented the dried meat with both hands.

Little Xue opened its beak and took it.

Liu Yanhui was filled with amazement. Did the eagle actually understand politeness? It was a divine eagle!

Chapter 79: Hijacking the Birthday Convoy!

When the bailiffs and prisoners saw Liu Yanhui get buffeted by the giant eagle’s wings, they were so frightened they nearly stopped breathing.

Fortunately, scholars were quick-witted and even knew how to flatter an eagle. As expected of a former official. They themselves couldn’t even properly suck up to people, let alone an eagle.

The difference between one person and another was simply astounding!

…

Yuezhou was located on the fringe of the Third Princess’s fiefdom, so every year, its birthday tribute had to be sent a month earlier than other places. In previous years, ten large carts of grain, treasures, and other goods would have been sent. But this year, Yuezhou had also been affected by the drought. The local populace was on the verge of fleeing the famine, so how could they have any extra wealth to offer as tribute?

The local officials racked their brains for half a month before finally coming up with a solution. They might not have money or grain, but they had plenty of people!

Every year, there were always some officials who gifted handsome men to the Third Princess, and she kept them all. If others could send them, so could they!

From a distance, Shen Lanxi and her group watched a convoy of carts and horses approach. The carts held no gold, silver, or grain—only a cartload of young men.

The men all had handsome faces. A few had more ordinary features but were well-built. All of them were dressed like young masters from noble families. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were students from some academy out on a spring outing!

“Target sighted. Ten escorting soldiers, seven men on the carts, for a total of seventeen. There are two horse-drawn carts in total. Only the ten soldiers are armed, with broadswords, long spears, and the like. The lead cart is flying the banner of Yuezhou!” A scout from the Wei Army ran over to report.

Shen Lanxi looked at Wei Dongzhu and asked, “How many men do you have available?”

Wei Dongzhu said, “Twelve!”

“How’s their combat strength?”

“Each is a match for a hundred men!”

Shen Lanxi said, “I only need ten. One man for each soldier.”

Wei Dongzhu asked, “What about the people on the front cart?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “They are the birthday gifts!”

Wei Dongzhu was speechless. “…”

Soon, the carts drew near. Shen Lanxi waved her hand, and the Wei Army soldiers, who were already lying in ambush on both sides, leaped out, felling one man with each slash.

The Yuezhou soldiers were killed on the spot before they could even react.

The “gifts” on the cart stared directly at Shen Lanxi.

“There’s no need to be alarmed,” Shen Lanxi said. “As long as you cooperate, we guarantee we’ll send you to Jinmen to live a life of luxury!”

One of the men on the cart replied, “Alright, we’ll listen to you!”

The corners of Shen Lanxi’s lips curved up. She raised her hand and commanded, “Collect the spoils, change into their uniforms, and clean up the scene.”

The Wei Army soldiers immediately followed her orders, stripping the uniforms from the Yuezhou soldiers and putting them on. Then, they found the travel documents and other items.

A moment later, they had transformed into Yuezhou soldiers.

The document listed the number of soldiers and the number of “birthday gifts.” With a stroke of her brush, Shen Lanxi added ten people to the document.

“Chunxue, bring the pastries. I’ll go hand them out and take the opportunity to ask about the situation in Yuezhou.”

Chunxue was puzzled. She could have scouted for information as well! But she figured that if her Young Lady had a reason for doing it this way, she should just follow her orders.

Carrying the pastries, Shen Lanxi leaped onto the cart. She made up an excuse to send away the Wei Army soldier who was driving. Just as she was about to take the reins from him, someone else took them a step ahead of her.

“Let me. I know how to drive.”

Shen Lanxi naturally yielded the spot, took a step further in, and sat down on the cart’s floorboard.

“Fifth Senior Brother, what are you doing here?” Shen Lanxi’s cold demeanor vanished as she greeted a handsome man sitting beside her with warm affection.

The handsome man subconsciously touched his lips but felt nothing there. He snorted irritably. “If Third Senior Brother hadn’t sent word, we still wouldn’t know about the Shen family’s misfortune! Little Nine, you’re treating us like outsiders.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes reddened. She quickly composed herself and said, her voice slightly nasal, “Fifth Senior Brother, my journey has been so uncertain that even I don’t know where my next destination is. Even if I had sent you a message, you wouldn’t have known where to find me!”

Hearing her explanation, Feng Wu’s expression finally softened a little.

“Fifth Senior Brother, after I arrived in An Town, it happened to be the Medicine King’s Birthday. I figured on such an important day, someone from our Ghost Valley would surely be there. If it were any other time, it definitely wouldn’t have been so easy to contact Third Senior Brother!”

Feng Wu nodded. Ordinarily, their people would not be stationed in An Town.

“You were lucky!”

Shen Lanxi immediately beamed. “Fifth Senior Brother, are Master and everyone else in the valley doing well?”

Feng Wu nodded. “They’re all very worried about you. They all want to come and bring you back to Ghost Valley!” This was also the purpose of his trip.

Shen Lanxi’s gaze immediately became resolute. “Fifth Senior Brother, I’m not planning to return to Ghost Valley for now. I must escort the Shen family to Dongchuan, and then I must uncover the truth behind the theft of the Wei Army’s provisions and pay, to clear the Shen family’s name.” And to get justice for herself!

Feng Wu frowned, his disapproval clear. “The Great Zhou is on the brink of chaos. Even if the Shen family reaches Dongchuan safely, they won’t be able to stay out of trouble and live in peace!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Fifth Senior Brother, I have my own plans!”

Feng Wu looked at her for a moment. Seeing the determination in her eyes, her entire being like a newly sharpened blade, he knew her mind would not be swayed.

“Master often said that although you’re young, you have the sharpest mind among all of us. Given time, you would surely achieve great things. Master was not wrong!”

Shen Lanxi felt a pang of shame. If she were truly as Master said, she wouldn’t have met such a tragic end in her previous life.

Fortunately, what she had failed to learn in Ghost Valley, she learned after dying once.

“I’ve brought six helpers for you. From now on, they will all be at your command!”

After Feng Wu finished speaking, the other six men on the cart all cupped their fists in a salute to Shen Lanxi. If not for the cramped space, they would have already knelt on the ground to acknowledge her authority.

Although Fifth Senior Brother looked cultured and refined, he was actually in charge of training Ghost Valley’s guards. These guards were divided into two types: overt guards and shadow guards.

In their spare time, these guards would take on bounty or assassination jobs, partly for money and partly to gather information.

These men were silent and stoic; they were clearly shadow guards.

“Fifth Senior Brother, thank you!”

Feng Wu frowned, looking displeased. “When one of our own is in trouble, as a disciple of Ghost Valley, it’s our duty to protect them!”

Shen Lanxi said, “I was talking about your beard. Thank you, Senior Brother, for shaving off the precious beard you’ve grown for over a decade just to come and protect me. You must be heartbroken, right?”

Feng Wu froze, his eyes instantly widening like bronze bells.

“Fifth Senior Brother, I don’t want to reveal our connection to Ghost Valley for now. In front of outsiders, I’ll just call you Fifth Brother!”

“I’ll be going now. Let’s talk again when we have the chance~”

Watching his junior sister’s graceful departing figure, Feng Wu was certain that if he hadn’t shaved his beard, it would be bristling with anger right now.

This Little Nine was still as mischievous as she was when she was a child!

Along the way, they passed a post station, where they exchanged their mules for tall horses. The group then hurried towards Beiheng Town at top speed.

This time, they didn’t rest, galloping madly until after midnight.

“There are people up ahead!” Several campfires were clearly visible in the night.

Chapter 80: Turning the Enemy to One’s Advantage!

Shen Lanxi raised her hand. “Slow down. Light the torches and illuminate the Yuezhou banner!”

The men from the Wei Army immediately complied.

Soon, they drew closer. When she got a clear look, Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow.

It was also a team escorting a birthday tribute!

“Who goes there?” The men opposite them immediately drew their weapons, on guard.

Chunxue and Qiushuang went forward, holding the large banner and the official documents.

“We are from Yuezhou, delivering a birthday gift to the Third Princess. Who are you?”

“We’re from Dengzhou, also delivering a birthday gift for the Third Princess.”

“Excellent! So we’re all on the same side!”

After the men from the other side inspected their documents, they smiled and put their weapons away.

“You’re still traveling at night?”

Chunxue said, “We have no choice. Yuezhou is on the outskirts. If we don’t press on, we’ll fall behind.”

The men looked over at them curiously. “What are you delivering?” How come there are no chests or grain?

Chunxue said awkwardly, “As you know, Yuezhou has suffered a disaster. We don’t have any money or grain, so we can only offer some handsome men, hoping to catch the Third Princess’s eye so she might provide some relief for Yuezhou…”

The corners of the opposing soldiers’ mouths twitched. Everyone else was presenting gifts, but Yuezhou was something else—they were actually asking the Third Princess for money and grain.

Still, these Yuezhou officials were certainly resourceful to send so many people.

It was too dark to see clearly, but since they were being sent as gifts, they had to be good-looking.

The leader of the Dengzhou party began to lament the treasures and grain they were escorting. If they had known, they would have sent a few handsome men too.

Send one man, save a chest of fine goods. Send two, save two chests…

“It’s still a while until the Third Princess’s birthday banquet. Why don’t our two groups travel together? We can look out for each other on the road!”

“That sounds wonderful!”

The next morning, the Dengzhou soldiers finally got a clear look at their group. Seeing the scarred faces, they all grew uneasy.

Chunxiao naturally had to provide an explanation again.

“Yuezhou is in chaos. Hordes of refugees are desperate with hunger…”

The Dengzhou soldiers had also encountered refugees on their way here. Hearing Chunxue’s explanation, she didn’t even need to finish; they understood the rest.

Refugees would do anything to survive!

“You people from Yuezhou have truly had it hard!”

Chunxue replied, “It’s no hardship. Once we deliver the birthday gift and please the Third Princess, she’ll send people to provide disaster relief, and the crisis in Yuezhou will be easily resolved!”

The Dengzhou soldiers scoffed inwardly. None of them believed the Third Princess would actually provide disaster relief!

After traveling for another half a day, they finally arrived at Beiheng Town!

Soldiers on official missions like them could enter the town for free and received food and lodging at the post station at no cost. So, naturally, after entering the town, they headed for the post station.

At the entrance of the post station, Shen Lanxi saw the members of the Shen family locked in prisoner carts!

Aside from being somewhat listless, they seemed to be all right.

Wei Dongzhu and his men were incredibly easy to recognize. The moment Shen Yuanjing saw them, he excitedly pressed himself against the bars of the prisoner cart.

Shen Lanxi gave him a look that said, “Be patient,” then turned her head and followed the Dengzhou soldiers into the post station without a second glance.

Inside the post station, besides them, there were two other groups also delivering birthday gifts. Realizing they were all there for the same reason, they instantly found common ground. Within moments, the sound of drinking and talking in the post station had doubled in volume.

The shop assistant received an order from the escorting soldiers to deliver food and water to the people in the prisoner carts.

Halfway there, he suddenly twisted his ankle and nearly dropped the food on the ground.

Shen Lanxi steadily caught the shop assistant.

“Brother, are you all right?”

Seeing Shen Lanxi in a soldier’s uniform, the shop assistant immediately said respectfully, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Your foot looks like it’s bothering you. I’ll take this for you. You wait here.”

The shop assistant hastily refused, “Officer, how could I let you do that?”

Shen Lanxi took the items and walked off. “Just consider it your Officer doing his good deed for the day…”

The moment the shop assistant put his foot down, a sharp pain shot through it. Seeing that she was really just delivering the food and not up to something else, he muttered a few words and sat down to wait.

Under the cover of her wide sleeves, she swapped all the cornbread buns for steamed buns stuffed with meat and added some salt and sugar to the water jug, shaking it to mix.

“Eldest Brother~”

Shen Yuanjing had just told his family that Eldest Sister was here, but not a single one of them had believed him!

Now that they saw Eldest Sister bringing them food, they had to believe him, right?

“Keep your voice down and eat quickly!”

There were two prisoner carts in total. After giving food to Shen Yuanjing’s side, she went to the other cart.

Except for Zhang Zifen and her child, everyone from the first branch was present and accounted for.

“Eldest…” Once Yuanxin saw her clearly, tears immediately streamed down her face.

“Eat. Don’t talk!”

Seeing her eldest sister in a soldier’s uniform, Yuanxin finally felt a sense of reassurance. The idea of acting as bait had been Eldest Sister’s; she would definitely be able to save them!

After distributing the food, Shen Lanxi went around pouring water for each of them.

The steamed buns were filled with plenty of meat, and the water was sweetened. The Shen family, who had endured two days of wind and sun, ate with their heads down, not even noticing when Shen Lanxi left.

After the meal and a rest of three hours, everyone set off again.

A single meal had turned the escorting soldiers and the gift-delivering soldiers into sworn brothers. They agreed to travel to Jinmen together.

Shen Lanxi’s team brought up the rear. They had no treasures, just a cart of people. Fortunately, the other soldiers were wary of the “gifts’” disfigured appearances, so while they were friendly on the surface, they didn’t dare to cause any trouble.

From then on, whenever there was an opportunity, Shen Lanxi would send some food and water to the Shen family, sometimes having Chunxue and Qiushuang deliver it.

Setting aside the first two days, the first branch of the Shen family was now living a life where they had food to eat, water to drink, and even a cart to ride in.

Leaving other things aside, just in terms of food, drink, and travel, it was even better than being in the exile convoy. In the exile convoy, they had to work for food and constantly worry about dangers like refugees. Now, not only did they not have to work, but they also had soldiers protecting them.

Once they realized this, the members of the Shen family’s first branch all began to relax. The more optimistic ones were even in the mood to joke around from time to time. In just a few short days, they had even gained a bit of weight!

They encountered refugees on the road, but their group was large and composed entirely of soldiers, so the refugees gave them a wide berth.

Inside the prisoner cart, Shen Yuanjing and the others whispered among themselves.

“If only we weren’t being sent to the Third Princess, this would be great!”

“All those refugees, a whole dark mass of them, they all go around us when they see us~”

“Do you think… Eldest Brother is using these soldiers to escort us to Jinmen?”

Isn’t this what they write about in books—turning the enemy to one’s own advantage?

“Eldest Brother is so amazing! If it were me, I never would have thought of this…”

After another four days of travel, they passed a market town.

“Once we pass Yan Family Market, it’s just another three days to Jinmen!”

“When we get to Jinmen and get our reward money, I’m gonna spend a whole damn month in a brothel…”

“Listen to you, aiming so high~”

Shen Lanxi had just sat down at a teahouse stall when she saw another gift convoy arrive.

The crack of a whip and the sound of cursing carried over from the distance.

Chapter 81: The Most Shameless One Is Here!

“Officer, please, I really can’t walk anymore~”

“Damn it, looks like you’re asking for a whipping!” The crack of the whip sounded again.

The soldiers in the tea shed were long accustomed to such scenes. They all drank tea, chatted idly, and waited.

“Oh, it’s the gift-bearers from Qingxian County!”

“Why are they dragging so many people behind them?”

“Qingxian is also up north~”

Shen Lanxi and her group ignored the various gazes directed their way, calmly sipping their tea.

Someone nearby muttered in a low voice, “As expected of people who give men as congratulatory gifts. They’re truly shameless.”

When the people from Qingxian drew closer, the person who had just muttered had their jaw hanging open in an exaggerated fashion.

The Qingxian convoy consisted of three large horse-drawn carriages. The first carried gold, silver, and jewels. In addition, a handsome young master in fine, embroidered clothes sat atop it.

Behind that was a cart full of men and women, all skin and bones. The last cart was loaded with grain, and following behind it was a crowd of men, women, old, and young.

The burly man at the front, holding a whip, stepped forward with a document in hand. “We are from Qingxian County, here to deliver a birthday gift to the Third Princess. Are you all here for the same reason?”

The people from Dengzhou couldn’t quite figure out Qingxian’s angle. One of them stood up and said, “We are too. What are you delivering?”

The burly man grinned. “Just some local specialties from our Qingxian County!”

Do people count as local specialties in your Qingxian County?

They had thought a cart full of men was bizarre enough, but they never expected something so shocking and outrageous to be right here.

“Our Qingxian County suffered a severe disaster this year, so we don’t have many fine things to offer the Third Princess. The first cart has some gold, silver, and jewels, along with a famously handsome scholar from our area!”

“The second cart holds young boys and girls. Our superior learned a wondrous method from a wandering master—having these children serve her personally can preserve the Third Princess’s youthful beauty!”

“The third cart contains the very last of our grain in Qingxian. We’ve brought it all for the Princess!”

“And following behind are the servants our Qingxian has prepared for the Third Princess. Everyone in Jinmen knows that the people of Qingxian are the most hardworking and resilient. We guarantee the Third Princess will be satisfied with their service!”

Upon hearing this, the corners of the other gift-bearing soldiers’ mouths twitched.

The most shameless one is right here.

They really didn’t want such a bizarre county’s group following them!

The burly man, Liu Laohu, said, “Let’s travel together! We can look out for each other on the road!”

They didn’t want to, but it was awkward to refuse outright.

Liu Laohu said with a confident expression, “If the Third Princess rewards me, you all can share in the glory!”

With that one sentence, he had offended all the other gift convoys.

No one spoke up to refuse, but no one nodded in agreement either.

And so, Liu Laohu’s group shamelessly tagged along behind Shen Lanxi’s convoy.

The grand and sprawling procession finally arrived safely in Jinmen!

“Miss, it’s so lively here!”

“If we had traveled by ourselves, it definitely would have taken many more days. Following these people, we’ve arrived ahead of schedule.”

Gazing at the two characters for ‘Jinmen’ on the city wall in the distance, Shen Lanxi’s expression softened considerably. She sighed inwardly, All thanks to the Third Princess!

There were designated officials at the city gate to receive the Birthday Convoy. Judging by the speed of the inspections, it would be at least another two to four hours before it was their turn.

“Go buy some tea and snacks!” There were many vendors doing business at the base of the city wall, all of them profiting from the Third Princess’s birthday.

Chunxue bought a large bag of food and distributed it.

The other groups were also buying things; no one paid them any mind.

The soldiers escorting the Shen family members soon broke away from the queue and were escorted inside separately by a squad of soldiers.

Everyone could see that something was wrong, and their voices quieted down.

Soon, the members of the Shen family disappeared through the city gate.

Three hours later, it was their turn.

“Where is your birthday gift?”

Chunxue stepped forward and presented three money pouches—one large and two small—all filled with silver notes.

“We are from Yuezhou. We were worried about being robbed by refugees if we carried goods, so we converted everything into silver notes. Some are for the Third Princess, and the rest is for Your Excellency to have some tea!”

There were two inspecting officials in total. Whether he shared with the other was none of their business.

Chunxue continued, “There are also some scholars. Some can compose poetry, some can paint beautiful women, some are skilled in music, and some know how to serve people. Every one of them is exceptionally handsome!”

The inspecting official tilted his head for a look and happened to see Feng Wu’s face. He was immediately stunned by his heavenly good looks. His eyes darted around, and he returned one of the money pouches to Chunxue.

“You people are truly thoughtful. In the future, when you from Yuezhou find favor with the Princess, remember to give a brother a little boost~”

Chunxue exchanged a few more pleasantries with him, and they were easily let through.

The inspector looked at the handsome faces in the carriage and couldn’t help but slap his own cheek. If he had a face like that, he would have climbed to the top long ago.

Behind them was Liu Laohu’s convoy.

Liu Yanhui, dressed in fine embroidered clothes that complemented his refined, handsome face, once again caught the inspecting official’s eye.

He casually opened a box for inspection, then immediately waved them through!

“What’s in that cart behind?”

Liu Laohu immediately said fawningly, “Young boys and girls.” Then he pointed to the people following behind.

“Those are servants to be presented to the Third Princess!”

The inspecting official looked at their faces, one after another like refugees, and his expression changed drastically as he took a few steps back.

He had heard there was a plague up north. These people looked half-dead. What if they were carrying the disease?

If the Third Princess saw these people, would he get to keep the black gauze cap on his head?

“Get lost! How dare a bunch of filthy things from who-knows-where enter the city and sully the Princess’s eyes?”

“Watch them! None of them are allowed to enter the city. If anyone dares to try, beat them to death immediately!”

“Yes!”

Liu Laohu immediately signaled to the people on the cart with his eyes. The people on the cart and those following behind quickly ran to a spot further away from the city gate.

Many of them ran a few steps before collapsing to the ground, looking completely exhausted.

After a brief discussion, the two inspecting officials immediately expelled everyone from Qingxian, only keeping the valuables they had brought.

“They’re all so skinny. What if they really are sick!”

“We absolutely cannot let a single one of them in!”

“Have someone keep an eye on them!”

Even Liu Yanhui was expelled.

It didn’t matter how handsome his face was. If he was carrying a disease, even a hundred of their heads wouldn’t be enough to be chopped off!

The inspection line continued. Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu took their people to a distant tea shed to eat.

Soon, two squads of cavalry charged out from Jinmen.

“A few of you go east, a few of you go west. The rest of you, split into two teams and cover the remaining two directions.”

“If you don’t find the remaining members of the Shen family, you will all present your heads to me!”

“Yes!”

Liu Laohu, Liu Yanhui, and the others all buried their heads in their food. This was especially true for the members of the Shen family who overheard them; they wished they could just shove their heads into their wonton bowls.

They would never have dreamed in a million years that the very Shen family members they were being ordered to find or lose their heads over were right under their noses, brazenly eating wontons!

The Third Princess’s Residence

“Mother, I want to slash Shen Lanxi’s face, chop her into pieces, and make her die after suffering endless torture!” The Third Princess’s daughter, Wang Xiangyi, gritted her teeth at the mere mention of Shen Lanxi’s name, looking so ferocious it seemed she wanted to devour her flesh and sleep on her skin.

Chapter 82: A Nightly Visit to the Dungeon!

Zhou Qiwu looked at her daughter’s angry expression, her heart aching for a moment before her face twisted with venomous hatred.

“If the Empress Dowager hadn’t been so biased, how could I have been exiled to this godforsaken place? I waited here until I was twenty, and with no marriage bestowed upon me, I had no choice but to marry into some declining local clan.”

“The year you came of age, I was summoned back to the capital, only to be humiliated by that bitch’s daughter. That mother and daughter have wronged us. In the past, I couldn’t do anything to them, but now that they’re on our turf, I’ll make them unable to live and unable to die!”

Seeing her mother digging her nails into her own palm until it bled, Wang Xiangyi grew frightened and immediately pressed close to her.

“Mother, please don’t be like this. You’re scaring me. I would rather not have revenge than see you ruin your health in anger!”

Zhou Qiwu, realizing her ferocious expression had frightened her daughter, quickly forced a loving smile. Patting Wang Xiangyi’s hand, she reassured her, “Don’t worry, Mother is perfectly fine. Once I use them to lure out Shen Lanxi, I’ll let you vent all your anger on her!”

Wang Xiangyi looked worried. “You’ve been so busy with the birthday banquet these past few days, Mother. Why don’t you leave the matter of capturing Shen Lanxi to me? I want to ease your burdens!”

Zhou Qiwu didn’t take her daughter’s words seriously, but seeing her so well-behaved, she softened and agreed, “Very well, I’ll leave it to you!”

Besides, with so many guards in the manor, her daughter wouldn’t be in any danger.

Wang Xiangyi left her mother’s residence with an innocent smile. But the moment she stepped out of the courtyard, her expression changed to one of venomous hatred. All traces of filial piety and kindness vanished from her eyes, replaced by the sinister malevolence of a viper.

“To the dungeon!”

A guard immediately led Wang Xiangyi toward the dungeon.

If she couldn’t get to Shen Lanxi, she would start by collecting some interest from the Shen family!

Shen Lanxi and her party were settled in the city’s post station to rest, while the birthday gifts she had brought were taken to the Princess’s Manor.

When the night was deep and still, Shen Lanxi quietly left the post station and headed straight for the Princess’s Manor.

Feng Wu and six Shadow Guards were already waiting. When they saw Shen Lanxi arrive, they immediately led her to the dungeon.

“The Third Princess’s daughter, Wang Xiangyi, was planning to torture the Shen family this afternoon, but she received some news and left in a hurry. She hasn’t returned yet.”

“The dungeon is heavily guarded. Only those with the Third Princess’s token can enter.”

Feng Wu took out a stick of incense. “This incense is called Daze. When lit, it will cause anyone who smells it to fall into a drowsy state for a few moments. It’s smokeless and odorless, so no one will notice.”

Shen Lanxi nodded.

The Daze Incense was lit. The guards on watch closed their eyes as if dozing off. Four or five seconds later, they snapped them open again, thinking to themselves that no matter how well one slept during the day, one could still get sleepy at night.

Lighting the Daze Incense along the way, the group of eight, including Shen Lanxi, slipped into the dungeon as silently as ghosts.

They had expected to find only the Shen family in the dungeon, but to their surprise, it was full of people, most of them young men.

As they passed one of the cells, a person who should have been sound asleep suddenly reached out a hand.

A scimitar flashed like lightning to the man’s neck, poised to kill, but it stopped short.

The young man in the cell opened his mouth wide. It was an empty cavity—his tongue had been cut out.

The young man frantically traced words in the air: Save me!

A grim look flickered in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. She gave Feng Wu a meaningful glance, and he stayed behind to handle the situation.

The Shen family was in the innermost cell. Shen Lanxi unlocked the heavy lock, then covered their mouths as she woke them one by one.

“Listen carefully. When you see the Third Princess or Wang Xiangyi, ask them why they are harming the Shen family.”

After hearing this, Shen Congwen didn’t even bother to stand up. He crawled frantically on his hands and knees to his daughter.

“Was it her who stole the military funds and framed us?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “We can’t be sure. To catch a thief, you need the stolen goods. We haven’t seen the goods, nor have we heard a confession.”

Half the light went out of Shen Congwen’s eyes, while the other half hardened with the conviction that it was indeed the Third Princess who was persecuting the Shen family.

“Eldest Brother, some of the people in this dungeon have had their tongues cut out! Some have had their hands and feet chopped off and their noses sliced away! I don’t want to stay here, please get us out!” If not for the fear of alerting the guards, Shen Yuantang would have already broken down into hysterical sobs.

Shen Lanxi said, “I will leave people here to protect you. Your lives will not be in danger.”

“Eldest Sister, you’re so capable. Can’t you just take us with you?”

Shen Lanxi’s sharp gaze swept over. “The truth of what happened to the Shen family might be right in front of us. Do you want to be stuck in Dongchuan for the rest of your life?”

Staring at her Eldest Sister, who had become terrifying in an instant, Shen Yuantang was too frightened to speak.

“Eldest Brother, don’t worry,” her younger brother piped up. “If Wang Xiangyi comes tomorrow, we will definitely get the information out of her!”

Shen Lanxi looked at her younger brother and nodded in approval.

“Take care of Father and Mother.”

“I will!”

She gave them some food and water. When she returned, the man in the other cell had calmed down.

Feng Wu nodded at the man. The Daze Incense was lit again, and the group departed as silently as they had come.

That very night, the Third Princess’s son, Wang Xiangrong, was spending the night in his concubine’s room when he was struck by a sudden, severe illness. All of Jinmen’s most skilled physicians were summoned overnight to treat him.

The next morning, Wang Xiangyi received the news at a villa. She threw down a bloody, barbed whip and rushed back to the Princess’s Manor.

The Princess’s Manor, which should have been bustling with activity, was now under a pall of gloom. Everyone moved about with grim faces, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing their betters and being severely punished.

A teacup was smashed hard against the concubine’s forehead, followed by a rain of slaps from the coarse-handed servant women.

Zhou Qiwu had only one son and one daughter, and she doted on them as if they were the apples of her eye—especially her son.

Now, seeing her son lying pale and unconscious on the bed, her heart ached so much that tears streamed down her face. Her grief quickly turned to hatred for the concubine who had caused her son’s condition.

“Don’t let her die! If my son doesn’t wake up, I will have her flayed and her tendons pulled out! I’ll use her skin to light a sky lantern to ward off this disaster for my son!”

The concubine was already terrified of the Third Princess’s cruel methods. Hearing this threat, her spirit broke, and unable to bear it any longer, she fainted dead away.

“Pah! Useless slut. Your Highness, she’s fainted!”

Zhou Qiwu’s face was contorted with hatred. “Stab her with a needle to wake her up, and keep hitting her!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Wang Xiangyi rushed through the door.

“Mother, what’s wrong with my brother?” Wang Xiangyi fell before the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls.

“Manor physician, you must cure my brother. As long as you can cure him, I’ll give you anything you want!”

Zhou Qiwu, who had been feeling displeased with her daughter for arriving so late, let out a frustrated breath and questioned her.

“Why are you only just arriving?”

Wang Xiangyi lowered her head, a venomous glint flashing in her eyes twice before she spoke in a choked voice, “Mother, I’ve suffered so!” With that, she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Seeing her daughter looking so deeply wronged, Zhou Qiwu quickly had a mama help her up.

“What happened? You two, speak!” she demanded, glaring fiercely at the maidservants beside her daughter.

The two young maidservants dropped to their knees with a thud. Pleading for mercy, they explained, “Your Highness, it was the master. The mistress he’s been keeping secretly gave birth yesterday. Disregarding the fact that your birthday banquet is imminent, he went to the villa personally to be with her. The Young Lady didn’t want such a sordid affair to trouble your ears, so she went to handle it herself. As soon as she heard the Young Master had taken ill, she didn’t even take the carriage. She rode back on horseback and nearly fell off on the way…”

Chapter 83: The Shen Family Watches a Torture!

After listening to the maidservant’s explanation, a flash of pity for her daughter crossed Zhou Qiwu’s eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by hatred.

“It’s all Zhou Xinrou and her daughter’s fault! If it weren’t for Zhou Xinrou, Mother wouldn’t have been cast out to this barbaric land. If it weren’t for Shen Lanxi, you, as my daughter, wouldn’t be without even a noble title, nor would you have had to marry down to a common peddler. This is all because of them!”

Hatred surged in Zhou Qiwu’s eyes. She patted her daughter’s shoulder and comforted her softly, “Yi’er, the Liu family is an influential clan in Jinmen; we can’t afford to fall out with them just yet. You must endure for now. Find an opportunity to deal with that mistress and her illegitimate son. Do not let that wench destroy the bond between you and Cheng’en!”

Wang Xiangyi was furious. Her mother always told her to endure, but she was a princess’s daughter! Who did Liu Cheng’en think he was? His actions were an insult to the entire Princess’s Manor!

“I understand, Mother!”

Zhou Qiwu said, “The Liu family controls the Jinmen fleet. More than half of the annual tax revenue submitted to the court relies on their maritime trade. Do you understand what I’m saying?” She fixed her daughter with a cold, intense stare.

Wang Xiangyi quickly feigned obedience and nodded.

“Mother, I know, I understand everything. It doesn’t matter how many women Liu Cheng’en finds, in secret or in the open, but he cannot have children with them. If word of this gets out, our Princess’s Manor will also lose face!”

Looking at her daughter, Zhou Qiwu sighed internally. This child was clever and decisive, so much like herself. A pity she was born a girl!

The manor physician and the doctors summoned from outside had all examined him, and their diagnoses were all the same.

“No serious issues? Then why hasn’t my son woken up yet?” Zhou Qiwu slammed her hand on the table, her face dark with rage.

“If anything happens to my son, all of you and your families will be buried with him!”

The doctors, terrified, immediately fell to their knees and begged for mercy. Even under such a threat, they dared not speak their true diagnosis. They knew that saying nothing might allow them to live, but speaking the truth would mean facing the Third Princess’s wrath directly.

The mere thought of the Third Princess’s brutal methods sent shivers down their spines!

“Your Highness, if you wish for the Young Master to awaken sooner, we can perform acupuncture on him now.”

“The Young Master is clearly suffering from a deficiency of vital energy and is overly depleted. The best treatment is plenty of sleep and rest, with less worrying and fewer desires!”

“Your Highness, we are willing to stake our lives as a guarantee that the Young Master is in no mortal danger!”

Hearing the doctors all wager their lives, Zhou Qiwu’s anger gradually subsided.

“What would happen if he were to be woken up now?”

One of the doctors immediately replied with trepidation, “He would suffer from weakness in his back and knees, soreness in his limbs, and possibly persistent headaches. It would be best for the Young Master to remain bedridden for a year or a year and a half. During this time, he must absolutely abstain from carnal relations!”

Zhou Qiwu gritted her teeth. Her son had been drained dry by those little wenches. All they did was dress up provocatively every day, knowing only how to cling to a man, the wanton sluts.

“All of the Young Master’s concubines and bed-servants are to be given fifty strokes with the rod and sold off! All the maidservants will be sent to the estates to do hard labor! Everyone serving in his chambers is to be replaced with male attendants!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Fifty strokes with the rod was something even a grown man could not endure, let alone a woman. The Third Princess was clearly sentencing those women to death.

Zhou Qiwu turned to the kneeling doctors. “You will all remain here on watch. You may leave only when the Young Master has fully recovered!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Wang Xiangyi, standing to the side, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mother, should we inform Father about my brother’s situation?”

At the mention of Wang Mingru, Zhou Qiwu’s expression turned cold. The Wang family was a clan that had been entrenched in Jinmen for a century. Back then, she was already getting on in years, and seeing that the path of a royal-arranged marriage was closed to her, she had no desire to settle for some good-for-nothing. So, she had set her sights on the Wang family, which held great prestige in the region.

Who would have thought the Wang family would be so shameless as to refuse her? Fortunately, after some scheming, she had ultimately succeeded.

But she never expected that Wang Mingru, resentful that she had ruined his career at court, would insist on living in a separate residence even after their marriage.

If this were in the Capital, would the Wang family dare to disrespect her like this?

It was all Zhou Xinrou’s fault. She had stolen the honor that rightfully belonged to her. But now, at last, Zhou Xinrou had fallen into her hands.

Dungeon

Manor guards were torturing a prisoner in the dungeon, forcing the Shen family to watch.

If anyone in the Shen family dared to close their eyes in fear, they would be whipped.

The whips were barbed. After Shen Yuantang received one lash, she fainted. She was jolted awake by a splash of salt water. Overcome with pain and terror, she didn’t dare to pass out again, biting her lip and forcing her eyes wide open.

Seeing Shen Yuantang’s fate, the rest of the Shen family, no matter how unbearable it was, did not dare to look away. They could only force themselves to watch as the manor guards carried out their brutal tortures!

Whipping, burning, branding—they went through them one by one. When a prisoner could take no more, another was brought in to replace them.

In just half a day, everyone in the Shen family was ashen-faced. The moment they returned to their cell, they could no longer hold it in and began to vomit uncontrollably.

It was too horrifying. Those torturers didn’t see their victims as human beings. Even when slaughtering livestock, it was a single, fatal blow. But the guards’ cold eyes seemed to regard the prisoners as something lower than cattle, sheep, pigs, or dogs.

“Sob… sob… They’re not human! Father, Mother, I don’t want to die…” Shen Yuantang’s face was deathly pale, her eyes filled with terror as she rambled deliriously, drenched in a cold sweat!

“Yuantang, just hold on a little longer. Eldest Brother will come and save us!”

Shen Yuantang suddenly shrieked as if she had gone mad, “He won’t! She won’t! If she really cared whether we lived or died, she wouldn’t have… sob…”

Shen Yuanxin clamped her hand tightly over Shen Yuantang’s mouth.

Idiot, can you just say things like that out loud?

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes flickered. He immediately understood why Yuanxin had acted so swiftly!

“Father, it must be the Third Princess who framed our Shen family. The theft of the Wei Army’s provisions must be connected to her!”

Shen Congwen looked up at his son in astonishment.

Shen Yuanjing quickly pointed to an air vent on the wall, then pointed to his own ear.

“Yes, that’s right! I have always been an honest official and never made enemies at court. I could never figure out who wanted to harm our Shen family, but now I finally understand. It was all the Third Princess! She brought us to her manor to silence us by death!”

A glint appeared in Shen Yuanjing’s eyes as an idea struck him. He immediately raised his voice, “I was wondering why we were only sentenced to exile for a crime as serious as the theft of the Wei Army’s provisions. It turns out our Uncle Emperor plans to use us as bait to lure out the mastermind!”

Shen Congwen’s hands began to tremble. He hurriedly followed his son’s lead, “No wonder that on the road to exile, all the other convicts died while only our Shen family survived. It was His Majesty protecting us in secret all along!”

“Father, as long as news of this gets back to him, our Uncle Emperor will pardon the Shen family, and we’ll be able to return to the Capital!”

Shen Congwen was laughing and crying at the same time. “Wonderful! The injustice done to my Shen family will finally be cleared for all the world to see!”

Next Door

Zhou Qiwu gritted her teeth and swept the tea tray off the table onto the floor. “Bastards! It’s their own Shen family that committed countless injustices, yet they dare to dream of pinning the crime of stealing provisions on me! That bitch was simply born to be my nemesis!”

“Your Highness, if what they are saying is true, doesn’t that mean their every move is being monitored by the one in the Capital?” Counselor Yuan Lang said with a frown.

Chapter 84: Treat the Shen Family as Guests of Honor!

Zhou Qiwu panicked, immediately grabbing Zhou Lang’s hand. “Zhou Lang, what should we do? Should we send them away?”

Zhou Lang’s brow relaxed. He affectionately helped Zhou Qiwu to a chair.

The guards tactfully withdrew.

Zhou Lang walked to the chair, and Zhou Qiwu nestled against him.

“If what they say is true, it’s already too late to send them away!”

Zhou Qiwu’s eyes turned cold. It just so happened that she didn’t want to let Zhou Xinrou and the Shen family off so easily either.

“Then let’s have them secretly executed!”

Zhou Lang shook his head, his eyes deep. “Shen Lanxi’s whereabouts have been unknown since she left The Capital. I suspect she’s secretly following the Shen family. Doesn’t the Princess want to capture them all in one fell swoop? Now is the perfect time!”

Zhou Qiwu didn’t understand. “Zhou Lang, if you have a good idea, just tell me!”

Zhou Lang wrapped his arm tightly around Zhou Qiwu’s waist. They switched places, with him sitting in the chair and Zhou Qiwu on his lap.

Feeling his dominant masculine strength, she smiled sweetly like a young girl and nestled shyly against him!

“Not only should we release the Shen family, but we should also treat them as guests of honor!”

Just as Zhou Qiwu was about to speak, Zhou Lang’s hand slipped under the hem of her skirt.

“The Shen family was exiled to Dongchuan. They should have been heading north, yet they came to our southeast without any government bailiffs escorting them. This can be considered a secret escape!”

“Your Birthday is approaching. You can invite them to your birthday banquet with great fanfare. Even if word gets back to The Capital, we can explain that news travels slowly in Jinmen, and we were unaware that the Shen family had been condemned!”

“Shen Lanxi is just a woman. When she hears that her parents and family are being treated as guests of honor in the Princess’s Manor, enjoying a life of luxury, she will certainly come to seek refuge. At that time, we can capture the entire Shen family in one fell swoop, pin the crime of escaping exile on them, and they will surely have their crimes compounded and their entire clan executed!”

As Zhou Lang’s hands roamed, Zhou Qiwu’s body may have melted into a pliant puddle, but her mind remained sharp.

This idea was excellent. It would both absolve the Princess’s Manor of suspicion and ensure that mother-daughter pair would die without a burial place. It truly was killing two birds with one stone. As expected of Zhou Lang!

“Zhou Lang, not here… let’s go to the inner chamber…”

The Shen family waited and waited, their hearts filled with terror. They didn’t know how much time had passed, only that they were starving and no one had brought them food. Unconsciously, they had fallen asleep.

Suddenly, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed, and a group of manor guards burst in. They unlocked the shackles on the family and half-carried them upward.

What was the Third Princess planning to do? Surely she wasn’t going to have them killed?

Fear, like a great hand, gripped the hearts of every member of the Shen family. Their breathing grew tight, and just as they felt they were about to suffocate, a bejeweled woman rushed to Zhou Xinrou and grabbed her hands.

“Younger sister Xinrou, how could they treat you like this?”

“How audacious of you! Steward, tie them up and give them a beating! Don’t stop until my younger sister Xinrou is satisfied!”

“Yes, Princess!”

This bejeweled woman was the Third Princess!

The Shen family stared at her without blinking.

“You children, why don’t you greet your aunt when you see her?”

Zhou Xinrou slid limply to the ground. Zhou Qiwu’s expression changed, and she screamed while clutching her hand.

“Younger sister Xinrou, what’s wrong with you? Someone, quickly! Physician, call for the manor physician!”

This bitch could die anywhere, but she couldn’t die in the Princess’s Manor!

After a chaotic flurry of activity, the Shen family was led away to be settled in by maidservants and male attendants, and a manor physician was arranged to examine Zhou Xinrou.

“Princess, this person has clearly suffered for a long time. Her mind and body are greatly depleted, and her vitality is severely damaged. She will require careful nursing to recover!”

Zhou Qiwu looked at the unconscious figure on the bed, whose face was as gaunt as a beggar’s. An indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up inside her, and she could barely suppress a gloating smile.

“No matter what medicinal herbs it takes, you must cure her for me!”

“Yes!”

After hearing about her mother’s arrangements from a guard, Wang Xiangyi immediately went to find her.

“Mother.”

Zhou Qiwu’s face turned cold. She gave her daughter a look and walked outside.

“Mother, why did you let the Shen family out of the Dungeon?”

Zhou Qiwu despised being questioned by others. Her gaze immediately turned bone-chilling.

Wang Xiangyi was startled and hurriedly explained, “Mother, I know you must have your reasons for this arrangement. You know I have a bit of a short temper. I only wanted to ask if there’s anything I can do to help.”

Zhou Qiwu’s expression did not soften much. In a warning tone, she said, “Xiangyi, you are a married woman now. If you continue to be so rash, you will tarnish the dignity of the Princess’s Manor. If there is a next time, I will assign two disciplinary Mamas to you to properly teach you some etiquette!”

The thought of her mother’s disciplinary Mamas made Wang Xiangyi shudder!

“I understand, Mother!”

Seeing her daughter’s obedience, Zhou Qiwu’s expression finally eased a little.

“Have you been to see your younger brother?”

Wang Xiangyi replied, “I have. When I went, my younger brother had already taken his medicine and fallen asleep, so I didn’t go in to disturb him.”

Zhou Qiwu grunted with satisfaction, then explained her plan to kill two birds with one stone.

“Didn’t you want to help me? Then help me spread the news that the Shen family are here as guests!”

“Yes!”

“In a little while, go to the accountant to withdraw some extra silver. Take the Shen family’s daughters out for a stroll and buy them plenty of expensive things. Let everyone see just how well our Princess’s Manor treats them!”

Wang Xiangyi understood. She gave a curtsey and said, “I will go at once!”

When Zhou Qiwu returned, Zhou Xinrou had already woken up, and the rest of the Shen family had also washed up and come back.

“It’s all my husband’s fault. He heard that some people were impersonating you and worried they might tarnish your reputation, so he had you taken to the dungeon. Fortunately, when he told me, I asked an extra question, otherwise…” Zhou Qiwu shed tears, a look of lingering fear on her face.

Zhou Xinrou leaned against the bed, listless and extremely weak, and said, “It’s alright.”

“Sister, don’t talk anymore. Save your strength and focus on recuperating!”

Zhou Xinrou nodded lightly.

“As it happens, my Birthday is in a few days. You should all rest and recuperate here in the manor. If you need anything, just find the steward. We can talk about everything else after my birthday banquet!”

Shen Congwen watched Zhou Qiwu with a guarded expression, saying nothing. Shen Yuanjing smoothed things over, “Thank you, Aunt!”

Zhou Qiwu smiled. “You must be tired from your journey. I’ve had the kitchen prepare some food and wine.”

Shen Yuanjing said, “Aunt, with your Birthday approaching, you must have many things to attend to in the manor. You don’t need to stay and keep us company. After we eat, we’d like to get some sleep!”

Who wants to keep you company? Zhou Qiwu cursed inwardly.

“Of course, you all need to rest well. I’ll go hurry the kitchen along. You rest here for a bit first!”

“Alright, Aunt!”

Chapter 85: I am Shen Lanxi!

The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth, almost like a dream!

Even after Zhou Qiwu left, no one from the Shen family spoke. The food was soon brought in, and the Shen family ate in continued silence.

Meanwhile…

Shen Lanxi stared at the message that had been sent back to her, reading it word by word, slowly, for fear of missing anything.

It detailed every line of dialogue between Zhou Qiwu and Zhou Lang. Even their actions were described with painstaking detail.

Could it be that the Wei Army’s provisions really had nothing to do with Zhou Qiwu?

Soon, she received another message that overturned her previous conclusion. Zhou Qiwu must have allied with someone powerful in the Capital. Otherwise, with her intellect alone, she couldn’t have extended her reach so far.

She had been guessing who the ally might be, but now she no longer needed to. The person had appeared.

The Second Prince of Great Zhou, Zhou Ru’an.

Before Zhou Ru’an’s arrival, she had planned to leave with the people from the first branch today, but now she had to adjust things slightly.

“Chunxue, take a trip out of the city and give this letter to Liu Yanhui!” A thick letter was placed in Chunxue’s hand.

“Yes!”

Not long after receiving the letter, Liu Yanhui took his men, disguised themselves, and went to the docks to begin buying up seafood in large quantities.

Shen Lanxi sent Qiushuang to summon the men of the Wei Army for a meeting. Closing the door, she turned and took a red outfit from her storage space to change into.

By the time Qiushuang brought the Wei Army men, she was already dressed.

Wei Dongzhu was startled when he entered the room. Why was there such a beautiful woman in Young Master Lan’s chambers?

“Miss?” Qiushuang cried out in surprise. She had seen the door was ajar and brought the men in without knocking. Had she ruined the Young Lady’s plans?

Shen Lanxi said, “It’s fine. I have a plan.”

Hearing the Young Lady say this, Qiushuang immediately and obediently stepped aside.

Wei Dongzhu and the men behind him were all so shocked they forgot to breathe.

She was Young Master Lan? They hadn’t misunderstood, had they?

Young Master Lan was a woman, and one of breathtaking beauty at that. He—she—with such profound martial arts and a peerless intellect, was actually a woman?

“Close the door now that you’re inside!” Shen Lanxi said coldly.

The man at the back was jolted back to his senses by the voice, as cold as ice, and he quickly shut the door.

Aside from her gender, everything else about her was still Young Master Lan.

Shen Lanxi said, “It’s fine to tell you. I am Shen Lanxi, the Princess Lanxi personally ennobled by His Majesty, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Shen family’s first branch!”

The four men who had been rescued from the Snake Pit along with the Wei Army soldiers did not know the title “Princess Lanxi,” but having traveled with the exile convoy, they knew of the Shen family.

They had also heard snippets about Shen Lanxi from the other prisoners. So, she was the royal cast-aside wife the prisoners spoke of?

A storm raged in the hearts of the Wei Army men. Just two days ago, they had even been speculating that Shen Lanxi had either been imprisoned or killed.

They never imagined that not only was she not imprisoned or killed, but she had been by their side all along!

It was all because her previous disguise was too good. Compared to her current, stunningly exquisite beauty—a beauty that made one’s heart stir—she seemed like a completely different person!

Wei Dongzhu didn’t remember to breathe until his chest ached from the pressure. For some unknown reason, a strange feeling welled up inside him, making him extremely uncomfortable. He subconsciously lowered his burn-scarred face and pulled some of his newly grown hair to cover the side facing her.

“Miss Shen!”

Shen Lanxi looked with amusement at the clearly uncomfortable men. “You listened to me when I was a man. Now that I am a woman, you won’t listen anymore?” Her voice grew faintly oppressive by the end.

Wei Dongcheng hurriedly explained, “No, it’s not that. We’re just… a bit surprised!”

Shen Lanxi retorted, “Surprised about what? That a woman not only knows martial arts but is superior to all others? Surprised that I’m not spoiled and foolish like the rumors say, but resourceful and intelligent?”

Wei Dongzhu lowered his head even further, his hand subconsciously running through his hair a few more times.

“I may be a woman, but I am upright and honorable. Many, though born men, are treacherous villains! This shows that when judging a person, one should not look at their appearance, much less their gender. You must look at what they have done, and whether they possess the strength and mind to command respect!”

Upon hearing Shen Lanxi’s words, Wei Dongzhu’s mind reeled with shock.

“We were narrow-minded. Whether you are a young master or a young lady, we will honor our original promise and follow your command!”

Since Shen Lanxi had summoned them, she wasn’t going to hide anything from them.

“I suspect that Zhou Qiwu is connected to the theft of the Wei Army’s provisions. Ever since my Shen family left the capital, we have been pursued by death-sworn soldiers from several unknown factions. I dealt with those death-sworn soldiers in secret, but I didn’t expect Zhou Qiwu to have a person among the escorting bailiffs. The moment the Shen family’s first branch was arrested, the Second Prince arrived at the door. I don’t believe this is a coincidence!”

The pupils of Wei Dongzhu and the other Wei Army men contracted in shock.

Shen Lanxi continued, “I have already determined that their purpose for treating the Shen family as guests of honor with such fanfare is to lure me to the Princess’s Manor!”

Wei Dongzhu, thinking of her current attire, immediately tried to stop her. “Then you absolutely cannot show yourself.”

Shen Lanxi’s tone was laced with ferocity.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. My Shen family cannot suffer this injustice and the torment of exile for nothing. The four hundred thousand souls of the Wei Army cannot have died in vain. The people in the occupied cities of the Northwest cannot have been humiliated for nothing!”

“The mastermind behind all of this is within reach. Not to kill them would be an insult to the souls of the four hundred thousand soldiers of Great Zhou!”

The eyes of Wei Dongzhu and the other Wei Army men turned red.

Wei Dongzhu, in particular, clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He gritted his teeth and endured, “What if the true culprits really are the Second Prince and the Third Princess?”

Shen Lanxi declared, “Stealing military provisions, causing our Great Zhou’s territory to be seized, and causing four hundred thousand of our iron-willed men to be buried beyond the frontiers. Such a criminal should be tried for treason and collaborating with the enemy.”

“According to the laws of Great Zhou, those who commit treason and collaborate with the enemy shall have their nine relations exterminated. The ringleader shall be executed by a thousand cuts. Accomplices, depending on the severity of their involvement, will face dismemberment by chariots, the burning pillar, being cut in half at the waist, decapitation and public display of the head, the white silk sash, or poisoned wine…”

Even though each of these punishments, taken alone, was enough to make one’s soul scatter in terror, it was still not enough to quell the fury in the hearts of the Wei Army men.

It was too light. Any punishment was too light. Even if all nine relations were executed, how many people would that be?

And how many of the Wei Army had died?

Moreover…

“His Majesty is also within the nine relations!” Wei Dongzhu could no longer suppress his murderous aura.

This sentence was meant for Shen Lanxi, but also for himself.

Wei Dongzhu’s tone was mocking, each word laced with heart-wrenching pain. “It has always been that if the sovereign wants his subject to die, the subject must die!” The Second Prince was of royal blood. How could His Majesty possibly punish his own son!

Shen Lanxi stood up, flicked her long sleeve, and with her hands behind her back, spoke with a domineering and unyielding tone, “There is another saying: A prince who breaks the law is to be judged the same as a commoner!”

Chapter 86: My Lord!

For a moment, Wei Dongzhu was swayed, but he quickly came to his senses. Rules were made by the strong. For all he knew, that saying was fabricated by some emperor who was dissatisfied with his son, all so he could punish him justifiably. That way, he wouldn’t be reviled by the world as cold-blooded and ruthless, and could even be praised for upholding justice against his own family with impartiality!

“Is it really possible?” he muttered to himself.

Shen Lanxi was succinct. “Success depends on human effort!” If you don’t try, there is only one outcome. If you try, the outcome is uncertain.

A bitter smile appeared on Wei Dongzhu’s face. He didn’t hold much hope for Shen Lanxi’s words!

However…

“If you can truly overturn the verdict for your Shen family and find the culprit who killed the Wei Army, we will serve you as our lord!” Compared to his previous vow, this one was a solemn oath.

The rest of the Wei Army soldiers repeated Wei Dongzhu’s words, one by one, with grave earnestness.

“If you do it, we will serve you as our Master!” Being at someone’s command was different from having a master. Once they acknowledged a master, they would be slaves whose very lives and deaths were in their master’s hands.

With things said to this extent, it was as if Wei Dongzhu and the others were indirectly acknowledging her identity. They didn’t state it outright, and neither did Shen Lanxi.

“Then let’s wait and see!”

Wei Dongzhu: “Alright!”

Shen Lanxi thought of how they had called her “Miss Shen” before, and it sounded very awkward.

“From now on, you will call me ‘My Lord!’”

Wei Dongzhu and the Wei Army soldiers had been shocked by her words several times before. Now, hearing her tell them to call her “My Lord,” they accepted it without any mental barrier. In fact, they felt this title was perfectly fitting!

“My Lord!” Wei Dongzhu led the Wei Army in a respectful address.

If they were to call her Miss Shen or Miss, they would feel like mere household servants. But calling her “My Lord” was different. It made them feel as if they were free men, still generals.

Although the Wei Army was no more, their spirit remained. As long as they lived, they would forever be generals, forever soldiers!

Shen Lanxi had given them the dignity of soldiers!

“I’m going to the Princess’s Manor and must take two maidservants and four guards with me. You all have burn scars and exude a heroic martial aura, which will make the people at the Princess’s Manor wary and defensive!”

Wei Dongzhu nodded. “Take Shi Da and his three men with you. We will provide support from within the city!”

Shen Lanxi said, “No need. Leave the city in batches and find Liu Yanhui outside. He will tell you what to do!”

She doesn’t need our protection? Even if her martial arts are superb, she can’t possibly protect her entire family while surrounded by the city’s soldiers, can she?

Does she have another plan?

“Yes!”

Chunxue, Qiushuang, Shi Da, and his three men immediately went to change their clothes.

An hour later, the carriage Shen Lanxi was riding in came to a steady stop before the gates of the Princess’s Manor.

Shi Da stepped forward to announce, “Our master, Princess Lanxi of the Shen family from the Capital, has come to offer birthday congratulations to the Third Princess!”

The manor guards at the entrance immediately went inside to report.

“Princess, Shen Lanxi is here!”

Zhou Qiwu was in the middle of a discussion with the Second Prince, Zhou Ru’an. Hearing the report, she immediately shot Yuan Lang a triumphant glance.

The little bitch really walked right into the trap.

“Ru’an, you should withdraw for now. I’ll go meet that little bitch!”

Zhou Ru’an was lecherous by nature. Back in the Capital, he had long coveted Shen Lanxi’s beauty, but with the Empress Dowager and His Majesty protecting her, he didn’t even dare to look at her twice. It was different now. A fallen phoenix was no better than a chicken. The thought of Shen Lanxi’s face and her alluring figure made Zhou Ru’an’s heart itch with impatience!

“Aunt, please spare Shen Lanxi’s life…”

One look at Zhou Ru’an’s eyes and Zhou Qiwu knew what he was thinking.

“Go wait in the room. Aunt will help you get your wish!”

That little bitch. She had just been worrying about how to humiliate both the little bitch and her mother, and a ready-made idea presented itself.

The thought of Zhou Xinrou seeing her daughter being ravaged by Zhou Ru’an made her eager for that moment to arrive sooner.

After receiving the news, the Shen family members immediately headed for the entrance, just in time to meet Zhou Qiwu and Wang Xiangyi.

“Perfect timing. Let’s all go to the entrance to greet Lanxi!” Zhou Qiwu said with great enthusiasm.

Shen Congwen frowned in disapproval. “You are a princess, and Lanxi is just a junior. By rights, she should be the one to come and pay her respects to you!”

Zhou Qiwu adopted a friendly and approachable tone. “You’ve traveled a thousand miles to offer me birthday congratulations, and Lanxi was separated from you on the way. She must have suffered a lot. As her aunt, I’m simply concerned for a junior. Status and such are secondary. Let’s go and greet Lanxi at the gate first!”

Shen Congwen couldn’t refuse, so he had no choice but to follow behind with the children.

By the time they arrived, Shen Lanxi was just stepping down from the carriage.

Dressed in a crimson robe that glowed like a flame under the evening sun, her already porcelain-white skin was tinged with a rosy hue, making her beauty even more stunning!

Seeing Shen Lanxi like this, both Zhou Qiwu and her daughter were filled with a dark resentment, especially Wang Xiangyi, who was about to tear her embroidered handkerchief to shreds.

She was even more beautiful than before. Wang Xiangyi remembered when she first came to the Capital. Having been forced from her home, she was timid and her features had not yet fully blossomed. Those social-climbing little bitches in the Capital would always compare the two of them.

They said she was a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken. Even though her mother was a princess, she was not favored by the imperial family, making her no better than a wild pheasant that anyone could trample on. They also said that Shen Lanxi had the favor of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, so even though her mother was only a princess of a commandery, she could still outshine her and be the phoenix atop the branch.

Remembering all the humiliations in the Capital, Wang Xiangyi wished she could grind Shen Lanxi under her foot right now, smash her face in, and see how she could keep up her pretense without that face!

“Lanxi~” Zhou Qiwu composed herself and, playing the part of an aunt, walked forward warmly.

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly and gave a curtsey. “Aunt!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang were each holding a casket. Shen Lanxi smiled and said, “I wasn’t sure what you would like, Aunt, so I prepared two gifts. One is the Thousand Treasures Brocade Robe, and the other is the ‘Vying Peonies’ painting by the scholar Chunmian of the previous dynasty!”

Zhou Qiwu’s eyes lit up. “Is that the Thousand Treasures Brocade Robe that keeps one warm in winter and cool in summer?”

“The very same!” Shen Lanxi opened the box right in front of her.

Seeing the various gemstones glittering brilliantly under the sun’s rays, the sight was so breathtaking that Zhou Qiwu almost forgot to breathe.

Legend had it that this brocade robe was an imperial treasure, always kept in the Imperial Palace’s collection. She never expected it to be in the hands of this little bitch. Without a doubt, it must have been a gift from the Empress Dowager.

Zhou Qiwu’s face nearly contorted with jealousy.

“How can I accept something so valuable? Hurry and put it away!”

Shen Lanxi closed the lid and said with a smile, “Only someone as noble as you, Aunt, is worthy of this Thousand Treasures Brocade Robe. This is a token of affection from a junior. If you refuse again, it would mean this junior is unfilial!”

In her heart, Zhou Qiwu desperately wanted to refuse out of pride, but the words just wouldn’t come out of her mouth!

“Alright, but you should take that peony painting back!”

A glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “How could I do that? That painting is a gift for Uncle. It’s also a token of this junior’s affection. It wouldn’t be right to remember my aunt but forget my uncle!”

Zhou Qiwu didn’t want to waste any more words on Wang Mingru and said vaguely, “You are so considerate. Hurry, come inside, and we can sit and talk!”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Of course!”

Wang Xiangyi fell a few steps behind, her eyes fixed on the two maidservants and four guards who followed Shen Lanxi through the gates.

Chapter 87: The Scheme!

The two young maidservants were as thin as bamboo poles; together, they weren’t as sturdy as the old matron by her side. As for the four guards, they were utterly unpresentable—dark, skinny, with unsteady steps. Even she could tell they had no martial arts training and were surely just a few peasants hired from goodness-knows-where.

None of them were a threat!

After Shen Lanxi entered the manor, she made an excuse to go see her mother. Zhou Qiwu also used the pretext of arranging for the opera troupe and the evening banquet. After a few pleasantries, the two families went their separate ways.

When Shen Lanxi returned to the guest room with her father, her mother had already taken her medicine and was resting.

“The doctor has seen your mother. It’s nothing serious, just a case of extreme exhaustion. She’ll be fine with some slow recuperation.”

Shen Lanxi lowered her eyes. “Mother lived in splendor for most of her life, only for it to end with our entire family’s exile. It’s only normal that she can’t accept it.”

Even the most broad-minded person might not be able to stand firm after experiencing such drastic ups and downs.

Shen Congwen sighed. He wanted to speak, but he was afraid of being overheard and didn’t dare open his mouth.

“Father, if you have something to say, just say it. There are no outsiders here.”

Trusting his daughter, Shen Congwen lowered his voice. “Lanxi, was it the Third Princess who stole the Wei Army’s provisions and pay?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “I originally thought not, but now I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean?”

She didn’t hide anything and told him about the Second Prince’s visit.

Shen Congwen frowned at once. “Ever since the Third Princess was sent to her fiefdom, she has been forbidden from entering the capital without an imperial edict. Over the years, I’ve never heard your mother mention His Majesty summoning her to the capital. How did she get involved with the Second Prince?”

Shen Yuanjing asked, “Could His Majesty have sent the Second Prince to offer birthday congratulations to the Third Princess?”

Shen Congwen was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue; if His Majesty had allocated gifts for the Third Princess, he would surely have known.

“Impossible. The Ministry of Revenue has records of all of His Majesty’s bestowals, and I am certain the Third Princess has never been among the recipients.”

It was customary for the princes and princesses to exchange gifts during festivals and on birthdays. His Majesty valued etiquette and would always command a return gift be sent upon receiving tribute or birthday felicitations. The Third Princess had never been on any of these return-gift lists, a fact he remembered very clearly.

“Could it be that the Second Prince framed our Shen family, and the Third Princess was merely his accomplice?” Shen Yuanjing cried out in alarm.

“Whether she was or not, we should be able to find out soon enough.”

Before long, Zhou Qiwu sent someone to invite them to the banquet.

Having lured Shen Lanxi into her trap, Zhou Qiwu no longer bothered with pretenses. To showcase her lavish lifestyle to Zhou Xinrou, she had arranged for a grand spectacle of singers and dancers to perform in succession.

Half of the performers were handsome men, and they were all scantily clad, wearing only a thin layer of gauze over their underbreeches. The female members of the Shen family didn’t know where to look.

When Wang Xiangrong heard from a servant that Shen Lanxi had arrived, he refused to stay in bed any longer and insisted on having his male attendant carry him to the banquet.

The attendant had described Shen Lanxi’s stunning beauty. As the son of a princess, Wang Xiangrong had seen all kinds of beautiful women, but the attendant’s wide-eyed wonder piqued his curiosity. He had expected some common, rouged-up beauty, but he was utterly captivated at first sight.

How could such a beautiful woman exist in this world?

Wang Xiangrong stared foolishly, not even noticing when he spilled wine all over himself.

Seeing her son’s state, Zhou Qiwu coughed in displeasure.

The male attendant immediately tugged on his master’s sleeve as a reminder.

“Sister Lanxi, your brother has been rude.”

Shen Lanxi simply nodded slightly without a word.

Wang Xiangyi shot her brother a look, cursing him as a stupid pig under her breath. But thinking of her mother’s arrangements, a new idea popped into her head.

A short while later, the male attendant whispered some news to Wang Xiangrong, and he instantly grew anxious.

How could such a peerless beauty be given to a lowly attendant in the manor? And his mother! How could she have such a wonderful opportunity and not think of her own son first?

“Mother, I can’t seem to hold my liquor. I’ll be returning to my room to rest.”

Zhou Qiwu wanted her son gone as quickly as possible, so upon hearing his words, she hastily had an attendant escort him back.

Apart from this small, displeasing incident with her son, Zhou Qiwu felt overwhelmingly superior for the rest of the evening.

She had heard that Shen Congwen was a man of no great talent, yet he had several concubines, numerous sons and daughters by them, and a pair of parents-in-law who liked to take things from her room to subsidize their other sons.

So what if Zhou Xinrou had the Empress Dowager’s favor? She was still constrained by her in-laws, unloved by her husband, and had to listen to a gaggle of concubines and their illegitimate children call her “Matriarch.”

The thought filled Zhou Qiwu with glee.

The Shen family found the banquet hard to swallow. Just as it was about to end, maidservants brought out sobering soup, one bowl for each person.

While pretending to drink their soup, Zhou Qiwu and her daughter stared intently at Shen Lanxi. When they saw her finish the entire bowl, a cold smirk secretly crept onto their faces.

Pretending she couldn’t hold her liquor, Shen Lanxi was escorted to her room ahead of time by two maidservants Zhou Qiwu had arranged.

Chunxue and Qiushuang were a step too slow and couldn’t get past the manor’s maidservants, so they had to settle for helping the other young ladies.

Just as they left the main hall, Shen Lanxi’s eyes closed, and she slumped against the maidservants.

The two maids exchanged a look and quickly carried Shen Lanxi toward her guest room.

A person hiding behind the rockery saw everything and quietly followed.

After his meal, Zhou Ru’an had been waiting in his guest room, but a guard suddenly reported that the chest containing his important belongings was missing.

At the thought of what was inside that chest, Zhou Ru’an felt his soul about to leave his body and immediately ran to check.

In the guest room, the maidservants announced their arrival twice, but there was no response.

“Should we just put her in the room and wait outside?”

“Fine. She’s been drugged, anyway. She won’t be waking up so easily.”

After placing Shen Lanxi down, the two maidservants immediately closed the door and went outside.

A ghostly black shadow drifted down from the roof.

Lying on the bed, Shen Lanxi’s eyes snapped open.

The black-clad figure handed a scroll to Shen Lanxi and informed her in a low voice, “Everything has been unloaded from the ship. It is now in a warehouse at the docks.”

A corner of Shen Lanxi’s lips curled up, her eyes as cold as winter stars.

“We leave tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Zhou Ru’an had been extremely cautious. He hadn’t put his most important possessions on the ship, nor had he brought them into the Princess’s Manor. Instead, he had left them in the carriage he had traveled in.

He never imagined that something would still go wrong.

By the time he arrived, all he saw was a smashed carriage frame. The horse and everything inside the carriage were gone.

“Can you tell who did it?”

A guard surmised, “It was likely just common thieves after money. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made such a commotion.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Go and catch them!” Zhou Ru’an roared, seething with a thunderous rage.

“Yes!”

The guards hurried off to search.

The fire of anger in Zhou Ru’an’s heart was unbearable. Desperate for a release, he thought of the beauty in the room and immediately turned and dashed back into the Princess’s Manor.

Beauty, you’ll have to suffer today and let me vent my anger!

Seeing the two maidservants guarding the door, Wang Xiangrong quietly slipped around to the other side and climbed in through a window.

Beauty, I’m here!

Just as Wang Xiangrong pounced toward the bed, his legs gave way, and he stumbled onto it. Shen Lanxi picked up the “sobering soup” from the banquet, forced the entire cup down his throat, and then lit two sticks of aphrodisiac incense in the corner of the room.

She had just leaped onto the roof, preparing to leave.

“Master, Wang Xiangyi is here!”

Wang Xiangyi tiptoed around the rockery and approached the window. She had just pushed it open a crack when her legs went weak, and she fainted.

Chapter 88: Aunt, Are You Saying My Fate is Bitter?

Just as she set Wang Xiangyi down, Zhou Ru’an’s cursing voice drew closer from a distance!

She glanced down at Wang Xiangyi. She hadn’t originally planned to make a move against her, but who could she blame when Wang Xiangyi, with her own venomous heart, had delivered herself to her doorstep?

Zhou Ru’an felt a hazy sensation, as if someone had asked him something. Then, an arm reached for him, and he forcefully pushed it down!

Shen Lanxi hurried to the docks, found the warehouse where Zhou Ru’an was storing the disaster relief silver and grain, and with a wave of her hand, swept them into her storage space.

She then went to check on the arrangements for Liu Yanhui and the others. Without revealing herself, she took one look and returned to Jinmen city.

The birthday gifts for Zhou Qiwu had all been placed in a warehouse near the city gate and hadn’t yet been transported to the Princess’s Manor.

Taken!

By the time she returned to the Princess’s Manor, it was nearly dawn.

Shen Lanxi closed her eyes and rested for a while. When she opened them again, it was to the sound of knocking.

“Young Lady, the Third Princess’s maidservant has come to invite you for breakfast!”

“Young Lady?”

“Oh no, the Young Lady is gone!”

The Shen family rushed into the room, only to see Zhou Qiwu, looking positively radiant, waving at them with a wide smile.

“Come, sit down and have breakfast.”

“Sister, I was worried you wouldn’t be used to the food, so I had them make it in the a style of The Capital. There’s also golden thread and candied date congee. Come and try it!”

Shen Yuanjing, helping his mother with his sister, hastily explained, “Aunt, my Eldest Sister is not in her room. We asked the servants, and they all said they didn’t know. Have you seen my Eldest Sister?”

Zhou Qiwu sneered inwardly but put on a worried expression. “I didn’t hear the servants say she went out. Did she go to the garden?”

“Someone, go find Miss Shen!”

A guard immediately ordered people to begin the search.

“Sister, brother-in-law, don’t worry. The Princess’s Manor is very safe. Nothing will happen to Lanxi. Hurry and sit down for breakfast. I had the kitchen add blood bird’s nest to the congee—it’s very nourishing!”

Although the Shen family sat down, they were all preoccupied, their minds far from the breakfast before them.

Zhou Qiwu’s internal sneer grew more rampant. They can’t even swallow their food now. When they see their daughter consorting with another man, won’t they just cough up blood from anger?

“Princess, it’s terrible, something has happened!” a maidservant reported, rushing in frantically.

“What is it?” Zhou Qiwu stood up at once, feigning annoyance as she scolded her.

“Have you no manners at all? What’s the meaning of this, running in here in such a panic?”

The maidservant knelt on the floor in fear. “The guest room… Miss Shen is in the guest room, and there’s a man from outside the family in there with her. They’re… We were too embarrassed to go in!”

Zhou Qiwu had been waiting for the maidservant to say exactly this. She immediately smashed her rice bowl to the floor.

“What nonsense are you spouting? How could Lanxi possibly be consorting with another man? If you dare to spout such nonsense and slander her, I’ll have you skinned alive!”

The terrified maidservant kowtowed and begged for mercy while insisting, “If this servant is lying, may I die a horrible death! Miss Shen is truly consorting with a man. They aren’t wearing any clothes, and they’re making… those kinds of sounds!”

Zhou Xinrou slid to the floor in a dead faint.

The panicked voices of Shen Yuanjing and the other children rang out, “Mother! Mother…”

Seeing Zhou Xinrou faint was more satisfying and exhilarating for Zhou Qiwu than she could put into words.

But how could I let this big bitch and little bitch off so easily?

They haven’t even seen it with their own eyes yet!

“Nonsense! I will go and see for myself!”

“This concerns Lanxi’s reputation. You all will come with me to confirm it!”

Zhou Qiwu walked in front. If the Shen family didn’t follow, someone would make sure they did.

The large group stormed towards the guest room.

Indecent sounds drifted intermittently from the room. Zhou Qiwu cast an imperceptible glance at two maidservants.

The two young maidservants nodded in unison. They had watched Zhou Ru’an leave and had sent another male attendant in to replace him. Otherwise, after toiling all night, how could Zhou Ru’an still have the energy to make such a racket?

Just from the sounds, she knew the little bitch was still under the drug’s influence. At this point, even if a pig was on top of her, she wouldn’t be able to tell if it was a pig or a dog!

Zhou Qiwu deliberately paused to observe the Shen family’s reaction. They were staring blankly at the door, surely dumbfounded!

“Outrageous! This is a guest room! How can such a filthy act be committed here? Open the door at once! Seize the man inside and beat him to death with a staff!”

“Yes!” Eight or nine guards swarmed forward.

Zhou Qiwu had arranged for so many people on purpose. She wanted to blow the matter up, to let everyone see the little bitch’s debased state.

Zhou Xinrou’s daughter is nothing but a common whore available to any man!

At this thought, she could barely suppress the smile on her lips.

She feigned a cry of alarm. “Oh no! With so many people rushing in, won’t Lanxi be completely exposed?”

“Sister, poor Lanxi has such a bitter fate. What are we to do?”

A clear voice drifted from a distance.

“Aunt, are you saying my fate is bitter?”

Zhou Qiwu froze as if struck by lightning. She turned towards the source of the voice and saw Shen Lanxi, changed into an even more magnificent red dress, strolling towards them!

If she was here, who was in the room?

A terrible premonition suddenly washed over her.

At the same time, a scream erupted from within the room.

“Young Master… Young Lady…”

“Help! The Young Master is bleeding profusely!”

Zhou Qiwu’s face turned white as a sheet. She pushed aside the maidservant beside her and charged into the guest room like a madwoman!

Shen Lanxi also dashed inside in a few quick strides. Meeting Zhou Qiwu’s pale face, she asked curiously, “Three people on one bed?”

“My dear cousins, why are you not wearing any clothes?”

“And the other person… let me see who it is.”

Zhou Qiwu snapped to her senses and lunged to push Shen Lanxi away.

Unfortunately, Shen Lanxi was a step faster. She reached out and yanked the blanket covering Zhou Ru’an onto the floor.

“The Second Prince!”

“Aunt, the Second Prince is lying naked in the same bed as my cousins. If word of this gets out, and my Uncle Emperor finds out…”

Zhou Qiwu’s face was deathly pale, her eyes venomous as she stared at Shen Lanxi.

“It was you! It must have been you! You planned all of this, didn’t you?”

Shen Lanxi wore an innocent expression. “Aunt, I drank too much last night. I went back to my room and fell asleep. How could I have come here?”

“Besides, since the Second Prince was here at the Princess’s Manor, why didn’t he appear at the banquet?”

Zhou Qiwu pointed at her, shrieking madly, “Yesterday, I received news from The Capital! Your Shen family is finished! You are criminals wanted by the court! You were supposed to be exiled to Dongchuan, but you fled to Jinmen! You are fugitives, and that adds to your crimes!”

“Guards! Tie them up and hand them over to the Prefectural Yamen for punishment!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes turned instantly chilling. She picked up a pot of cold tea from the table and poured the entire thing over Zhou Ru’an’s head.

As if she had just caught Shen Lanxi in another crime, Zhou Qiwu screamed, “Guards! She dares to assault and harm an Imperial heir! Her crime is even greater! No need to take her to the Prefectural Yamen, just beat her to death on the spot!”

Doused with the cold tea, Zhou Ru’an slowly regained consciousness. The first words he heard were “beat her to death,” and he immediately tried to sit up.

But he only made it halfway before dizziness overcame him, and he fell back down.

Shen Lanxi kicked away the guards who rushed forward and roared, “The Second Prince was supposed to be in the north overseeing disaster relief, yet he appears at the Third Princess’s manor. One is in the north, the other in the southeast. How does the Second Prince explain defying an imperial edict?”

Chapter 89: My Shen Family Are Fugitives, But Your Princess’s Manor Isn’t Clean Either!

Accused of defying an imperial edict, Zhou Qiwu’s expression changed instantly!

Shen Lanxi continued to question her sharply, “His Majesty is wary of princes consorting with court officials. When you were sent to your fiefdom, the Second Prince hadn’t even been born. His Majesty has never summoned you to the capital in all these years. How could you possibly know the Second Prince?”

Zhou Qiwu’s face paled in an instant.

“And don’t try to tell me His Majesty sent him to offer birthday congratulations. His Majesty has already dispatched the Second Prince for disaster relief; it’s impossible for him to come here for your birthday. Unless you believe that your birthday is more important than the tens of thousands of citizens suffering from the disaster?”

Zhou Ru’an tried several times to explain, but a wave of dizziness washed over him whenever he opened his mouth. He could only clutch his head, enduring the dizzy spells.

A half-smile played on Shen Lanxi’s lips. “My Shen family are fugitives, but your Princess’s Manor isn’t clean either! If you dare to leak any information about the Shen family, I don’t mind dragging a princess and a prince down to accompany us in death!”

Yuan Lang entered from outside and walked to Zhou Qiwu’s side.

“Do you think you can leave the Princess’s Manor an in one piece?”

As if she had found her backbone, Zhou Qiwu instinctively leaned against Yuan Lang.

Shen Lanxi scoffed, “Why do you think you still haven’t found the other members of the Shen family?”

Yuan Lang’s expression tensed.

“I’m not afraid to tell you the truth. If anything happens to us, the remaining members of the Shen family will take a blood letter to the capital and file a complaint.”

Yuan Lang was unafraid. “Do you think His Majesty will believe your Shen family? The northern part of our Jinmen was also affected by the disaster. The Second Prince came to provide relief, and it happened to coincide with the princess’s birthday. It is perfectly reasonable for him to come and offer his congratulations as a sign of respect to an elder!”

Shen Lanxi’s sharp gaze swept over him. “What if we add the crime of conspiring to steal the Wei Army’s provisions and pay?” After saying this, a crazed smile bloomed on her face.

Zhou Qiwu shrieked like a madwoman, “Nonsense! Don’t you dare try to pin your Shen family’s crimes on us!”

Even on the verge of fainting, Zhou Ru’an could no longer lie still.

He struggled to sit up. When his eyes swept over the two naked people on the couch, his face darkened, and he almost fainted again!

“Shen Lanxi, you’re slandering us! How could I possibly steal military provisions? If you utter one more wild accusation, don’t blame me for…”

Shen Lanxi cut him off. “Executing nine generations of my family? Fine, go ahead. But don’t forget, you are also within those nine generations!”

Rage surged in Zhou Ru’an’s chest. Combined with the foul sight he had just witnessed, he began to vomit.

He threw up all over the Wang siblings. They were already nauseated, and now, with this added revulsion, they started to retch uncontrollably.

Yuan Lang frowned and shot Zhou Ru’an a disdainful look. Useless thing.

“What do you want?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Simple. I’ve heard that my younger female cousin’s husband, Liu Cheng’en, is in charge of Jinmen’s sea transport. Have him dispatch men to escort us to Jiangnan!”

“Impossible!” Yuan Lang refused flatly.

Shen Lanxi took out a whistle and blew it. The sharp cry of an eagle suddenly echoed in the air.

“There’s a letter attached to the eagle. What do you think will be faster? The eagle flying to the capital, or you killing my Shen family?”

Zhou Qiwu commanded, “Quick, shoot down that eagle outside!”

The guards rushed out, but it was too late. All they saw was Little Xue circling high in the sky, as if deliberately showing off. It circled twice more before flying out of sight.

“Did you shoot it down?” Zhou Qiwu asked a guard.

The guard lowered his head and answered with little confidence, “By the time I gave chase, the eagle… had already flown out of sight!”

Zhou Qiwu was about to explode with rage.

“Princess, the Young Master and Young Lady still haven’t woken up. Shouldn’t we call the manor physician?”

Zhou Qiwu, muddled by anger and fear, quickly and frantically ordered her children to be carried away and for the manor physician to be summoned.

Yuan Lang pulled Zhou Qiwu aside.

“Princess, our men truly haven’t found any trace of the other Shen family members! In my opinion, we might as well agree to her request.”

Before Yuan Lang could finish, Zhou Qiwu cut him off with a shriek.

“No! I want them dead.”

Yuan Lang quickly pulled Zhou Qiwu to a secluded spot, holding her close and whispering intimately into her ear, “Once they’re on the ship, it’s our men who will be in charge.” This stupid woman. Does she really need me to spell it out for her to understand?

Zhou Qiwu finally understood, and she slowly calmed down. A bloodthirsty, vicious light began to gleam in her eyes.

“They will surely rendezvous with the other members of the Shen family. That’s when we can truly capture them all in one fell swoop!” Yuan Lang said.

Thinking of her children’s miserable state, Zhou Qiwu’s lips turned down, and she immediately clung to Yuan Lang tightly.

“Yuan Lang, they humiliated my children and me like that. You’re the only one I can rely on…”

An hour later, Yuan Lang reappeared, but Zhou Qiwu was not with him.

Zhou Ru’an had already been carried away by the guards for treatment, leaving only the Shen family members in the courtyard.

“The princess has agreed to your request!”

“You will wait for two days…”

Before Yuan Lang could finish, a guard suddenly rushed in to report.

“Master Yuan, it’s terrible! The warehouse at the city gate is on fire!”

Yuan Lang’s expression changed drastically, and he turned and bolted from the room!

Not long after, all the manor guards in the Princess’s Manor were dispatched to the city gate to fight the fire.

Shen Lanxi raised her hand and made a retreat signal. Feng Wu and six others descended from the sky!

“Split up, disguise yourselves, and leave the city!”

“Yes!”

Shen Lanxi took Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanqing, while the others split into six groups, each led by a shadow guard.

The Princess’s Manor was in utter chaos. No one noticed the Shen family’s departure.

“Eldest Sister, that man already agreed to send us away. Why do we still have to run?” Shen Yuanjing asked quickly.

Shen Lanxi replied, “So you’ll just listen to whatever he says, and believe whatever I say?”

“Remember, this is called strategy. Feints and bluffs, a mix of truth and lies. By keeping the enemy guessing, we make them afraid to move against us so rashly.”

“So now he’ll be afraid of us?”

“Wrong. It was to buy us time to escape!”

Shen Yuanjing thought about it for a moment, and his eyes lit up!

“What if they come after us once we reach Dongchuan?” They had deeply offended those two, who would surely seek revenge.

Shen Lanxi gave a mysterious smile. “They won’t dare!”

Shen Yuanjing was confused.

“Why?”

“Whoever makes a move against us will be seen as the true culprit behind the theft of the Wei Army’s provisions. Therefore, anyone might dare to attack us, except them!”

Shen Yuanjing was still puzzled.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Many people know that we arrived in Jinmen and entered the Princess’s Manor. If something were to happen to us, the blame would be pinned firmly on Zhou Qiwu and the Second Prince.”

Shen Yuanjing asked, “Why?” Who in the court would help them? If they had allies, they wouldn’t have been sentenced to exile. Why did his sister sound so certain?

The city gate was just ahead. Shen Lanxi said, “You’re still young. In the future, after you experience more and read more books, you will understand.”

She took Shen Yuanqing’s hand, a vegetable basket on her other arm, and put some distance between herself and Shen Yuanjing, who was carrying a shoulder pole.

One after the other, they exited the city smoothly.

Not long after they left, the city guards gave the order to close the gates.

Shen Lanxi glanced at the slowly closing gates, then turned and boarded a horse-drawn carriage that was already waiting for them.

“My Lord, are you settled?”

“Let’s go!”

“Giddy-up!”

Chapter 90: Abandon the Horses, Board the Ships!

At the docks, dozens of ships were either moored or preparing to depart.

Two merchant ships had already raised their sails and weighed anchor, yet they hadn’t moved an inch.

The decks were crowded with people, some even having climbed the masts to get a better view.

“Do you see them?”

“No.”

“Why aren’t they here yet? Did something happen?”

“Pah, shut your jinxing mouth! While we’re waiting, if anyone needs to go ashore to buy something, go now.”

Who would go ashore?

Conversations like this had been repeated dozens of times since before dawn. Forget food, they had already bought several rounds of toilet paper.

There was truly nothing left to buy. More importantly, they were afraid that the Young Master would return the moment they disembarked. What if they couldn’t get back on board in time?

Suddenly, a cheer came from the mast.

“They’re here, they’re here~”

Several carriages sped towards them from a distance, arriving in the blink of an eye.

Shen Lanxi had already changed out of her conspicuous clothes in the carriage. When it stopped, the one who stepped out was Young Master Lan!

“Abandon the horses, board the ships!” This was her first command after leaping from the carriage.

Liu Laohu’s heart ached to hear it. The carriages and the horses were worth a good amount of silver. Selling them would fetch a tael or two!

Just as he was about to order his men to sell the horses, Shen Lanxi had already strode onto the ship and was giving the order to set sail.

“What a waste!” Liu Laohu stomped his foot, glanced back one last time, and turned to board the ship.

Liu Yanhui asked, “Young Master, by leaving the carriages at the docks, won’t we be leaving a trail?”

Walking towards the cabin, Shen Lanxi replied, “No. The docks are a place where all sorts of people gather!”

They wouldn’t even need to do anything. Within a two-hour period, the carriages would have changed hands several times!

Once the order to set sail was given, the two passenger ships departed simultaneously, quickly leaving the port behind.

“My Lord, Fifth Brother brought back many seriously injured people. I’ve already had Zhang Niu treat them!” Wei Dongzhu reported respectfully.

Beside them, Liu Yanhui heard the title and raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi sat in the seat of honor, her gaze deep and restrained, her presence naturally imposing.

“Take them to Dongchuan with us!”

“Yes!”

Liu Yanhui once again felt his position was being threatened.

“My Lord, we still haven’t found a suitable place to settle the women from Liu Zhao Village. Should we take them to Dongchuan as well?”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Have they been obedient on the journey?”

Liu Yanhui reported truthfully, “They have been training in martial arts with the Shen family members, practicing diligently every day. A couple of days ago, they even helped kill a spy hidden among our ranks!”

Shen Lanxi gave a simple four-word reply: “Evaluate and retain them.”

Liu Yanhui understood what that meant. Whoever didn’t measure up would be expelled!

“I’ve placed them on the grain ship in the back, together with the people Fifth Brother brought back!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Very well.”

Wei Dongzhu voiced another concern, “Will the Second Prince and the Third Princess send people to pursue us?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “I’ve already bought us time. As long as we sail out of Zhou Qiwu’s fiefdom, they won’t dare to openly use military force against us!”

Her earlier claim to Zhou Ru’an about going to Jiangnan was not an idle boast. There happened to be several merchant ships at the docks today heading to Jiangnan, and they had departed around the same time as them. Even if their enemies were brilliant strategists, they would never imagine that “fugitives” like them would run to Dongchuan and walk right into a trap.

By the time Zhou Ru’an and Zhou Qiwu’s men chased the merchant ships to Jiangnan and turned back to pursue them, they would have already left the Third Princess’s fiefdom.

Furthermore, even if their enemies thought to split their forces, they wouldn’t be able to identify their ships so quickly among all the merchant vessels heading north!

Once they were outside the Third Princess’s fiefdom, for their pursuers to brazenly deploy troops in another vassal king’s territory would be tantamount to rebellion!

That was the ultimate purpose of this web of feints and deceptions!

Seeing that Wei Dongzhu had called Shen Lanxi “My Lord” without being rebuked, Liu Yanhui’s heart lifted, and he continued his report.

Liu Laohu looked at the two men reporting to Shen Lanxi, one on her left and one on her right. He opened his mouth several times; though he had had much to say before, his mind was now completely blank. He couldn’t utter a single word!

Realizing he was superfluous here, he quietly backed out, conveniently pushing out Shen Yuanjing and the others who were about to enter.

He couldn’t even understand what they were talking about. Kids had no business in there, so they shouldn’t go in and cause trouble!

While Shen Lanxi was methodically arranging matters, certain members of the Shen family were once again huddled together, whispering.

“Mother, Big Brother is back, but he hasn’t brought his branch of the family to pay respects to you and Father. Could it be that he resents us for pushing them out before?”

“Nonsense. They won’t come, so are Father and Mother, our whole family, supposed to go to them?”

“Father and Mother did it for the sake of the entire Shen family. Would Big Brother only not resent us if we had died along with them?”

“Fourth Son, go get the Boss. I’d like to see just how he can resent me, his own mother!”

“…Second Brother, you go. Big Brother was already complaining that my branch’s children speak out of turn. If I go, he definitely won’t come!”

Shen Conglian wore a look of reluctance. “Why don’t you go? You’re the one who annoyed Big Brother, and now you want me to go and get rebuffed? You’re quite the schemer!”

Shen Congyi said, “Second Brother, ask Third Brother. Among all of us, isn’t your relationship with the first branch the best?”

Shen Congli chimed in, “Second Brother, just go. Among us all, you and Big Brother are the closest. Every day, you always received one more pastry than the rest of us brothers!”

Shen Conglian didn’t have the face to explain that those were gifts from his own children to him.

“Well, Mother wasn’t calling for me. Whichever of you wants to go, go!” Shen Conglian turned and went back to his room.

What a joke. He would have to be a fool to give up his comfortable life and go provoke the first branch.

He wasn’t like some people, who were quick to bite the hand that fed them. He was well aware of who had protected the family and kept him fed all this time.

Lanxi had made it crystal clear before. When she sent the people from the first branch out as bait, she didn’t even bat an eye—and that was her own father and mother! If she could treat her own flesh and blood like that, what would she do to mere uncles like them?

Shen Congyi watched his second brother’s retreating back, a dark look flashing in his eyes. But thinking of the two ships full of wealth, his expression immediately changed to one of concern.

“Big Brother and his family were captured by the Third Princess for days. They must have suffered terribly. Lanxi was truly ruthless to let that happen~”

Hearing this, the Old Madam’s face instantly darkened.

“Mother, let’s just let Big Brother and his family rest for now. Big Brother is a filial son. Once he’s rested, he will surely bring his branch to see you!”

The Old Madam recalled the scene of her eldest son’s departure, and a pang of heartache shot through her.

“Your big brother’s family has suffered. The few of you, come with me to see him!”

A glint shone in Shen Congyi’s eyes, and he immediately said, “Mother, the assets on these two ships were all acquired by our Shen family. Big Brother is unwell. Even if he wanted to manage them, he surely lacks the strength. Why don’t you let us brothers ease his burden?”

Shen Congli’s eyes lit up, and he added his support, “Mother, Lanxi is a woman, after all. It’s one thing for her to manage the inner residence, but when it comes to matters outside, she still needs to rely on men.”

Chapter 91: How Did It Become Her Fault?

Mrs. Miao and Mrs. Tian of the fourth branch took turns fanning the flames.

“A woman, showing her face in public every day and mixing with men—what does that look like!”

“She already has the reputation of a cast-aside wife, which already makes the women of our Shen family unable to hold their heads high. If people find out she’s shouting about fighting and killing every day, it’s the entire Shen family that will be affected.”

“Our Shen family still has many unmarried young men and women. If their marriages are affected, our Shen family can forget about ever getting back on its feet in this lifetime!”

Old Madam Shen’s face grew darker and darker. She snorted coldly and stomped outside angrily. The others hurried to follow her.

“Where is Lanxi? Get Shen Lanxi out here!” After leaving, Old Madam Shen began to shout loudly.

On the ship, Liu Laohu, Liu Yanhui, and Wei Dongzhu were arranging matters. Hearing the commotion, the three of them walked over.

Seeing that things had taken a bad turn, Shen Yuanjing and the others hurried back to their room to get help.

Liu Laohu was just worrying about how to deal with Old Madam Shen when Liu Yanhui immediately offered a plan from the side. After listening, Liu Laohu looked thoughtfully in Old Madam Shen’s direction, his expression growing more and more subtle.

During their meeting in the room, Liu Yanhui had specifically asked how to handle the Shen family. It was the first time he had formally questioned Shen Lanxi about the matter.

Before, it had all been his own speculation. The address of “My Lord” had made him understand that he could no longer get by on guesswork. If his speculation was wrong and it affected the chain of command, the hard-won trust he had earned would be washed away in an instant!

Shen Lanxi hadn’t been vague, giving him a very clear answer.

Liu Laohu put on a fierce expression, drew his whip, and walked over, cracking it furiously.

“After two days of full meals, you’ve all forgotten what you are!” As Liu Laohu spoke, he cracked his whip hard, and it landed squarely on Shen Congyi.

Shen Congyi immediately let out a pained scream and squatted on the ground.

“You lot, come here! Drive them all into the bilge! A bunch of exiled criminals daring to shout and scream in front of me? You’ve got some gall!”

“Brother Liu, should we lock up the other prisoners too?”

Liu Laohu said impatiently, “Lock them up! Put cangues on those who need cangues, and shackles on those who need shackles. Holy hell, I let you catch your breath for a bit, and you really started thinking you were human!”

As he spoke, Liu Laohu lashed out with his whip again, causing the Shen family to scream in terror.

The bailiffs also drew their whips and began herding the prisoners into the bilge.

“Your Excellency, our things are still in the room.”

“Get lost! What things do you have? You’re just a bunch of penniless exiles! You have nothing but the skin on your backs!” a bailiff cursed as he drove them, cracking his whip.

The prisoners’ hatred for the Shen family flared up once more, especially toward Madam Song.

“It’s all because of you, you old hag! You pissed off the bailiffs! You useless old thing, you’re a waste of food, a burden to everyone. Why don’t you just die!”

Old Madam Shen had been terrified since Liu Laohu’s first lash. Hadn’t she just called out for her granddaughter? What heavenly law had she broken?

How did it become her fault?

“You’re full of crap! If you dare to spout any more nonsense, see if I don’t rip your stinking mouth off!” Old Madam Shen snarled, grinding her teeth.

Madam Song was fired up. “It was you, it was you! I heard you. Do you still think you’re the matriarch of some great manor? Pfft! You’re just posturing in front of a pile of dog crap, thinking you’re the center of the universe. How dare you act all high and mighty with me? You’re just a shameless old coward!”

Old Madam Shen was so angry her vision went black. Just as she was about to order her son and daughter-in-law to attack, her foot was suddenly tripped, and she fell right on top of her third daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Miao was caught off guard and was pinned firmly to the ground by her mother-in-law.

When Shen Congwen arrived in a hurry with his children, he saw bailiffs cracking their whips, his mother on the ground, his fourth brother injured, and his third sister-in-law crying on the floor. He immediately rushed forward in a rage.

“What are you doing?” Shen Congwen ran over and spread his arms to protect his family.

“How can you just hurt people like this?” Shen Congwen’s eyes were bloodshot. Filled with rage, he told his children to help his mother up.

Liu Laohu pushed his tongue against his back molars and subconsciously glanced at Liu Yanhui, who was looking straight ahead. Casually hurt people?

“Get the hell out of my sight!” Liu Laohu kicked Shen Congwen to the ground and followed up with two lashes from his whip!

“You’re prisoners! You’re criminals! You’re pigs and dogs, not people! Daring to bargain with me? You lot, cut off their ears and throw them in the water. We’ll write in the official report that they tried to escape on the road and were executed on the spot!”

The faces of the Shen family instantly turned pale with fear. Old Madam Shen frantically begged Liu Laohu for mercy.

“Your Excellency, I was having an episode just now. I didn’t mean to offend you. Please, Your Excellency, have mercy and spare us!”

Shen Congwen clutched his stomach, his face deathly pale, as he was helped up. He didn’t dare say another word.

“Hmph, a bunch of fools who don’t know what’s good for them. Shove them all inside. You think you’re tough, don’t you? You dare to shout at me? You can starve for three days first.”

The prisoners all glared at the Shen family with venomous eyes. For the past few days, the Shen family, backed by Young Master Lan, had not only pushed to the front for food and drink but had also picked the largest and best rooms after boarding the ship. The other prisoners, afraid of angering Young Master Lan, had been as meek as grandsons, letting them have their way.

Now, it seemed they didn’t count for much in Young Master Lan’s eyes after all!

They had suffered terribly because of the Shen family along the way. Once on the ship, they thought they could have a comfortable journey to Dongchuan. Who would have thought these troublemakers from the Shen family couldn’t stay quiet no matter where they were?

The Shen family had ruined their comfortable days, so they would make sure the Shens wouldn’t have it easy either!

The bilge was damp and dark, with no windows. Its only light came from the passage leading down to it. Except for the lack of rats and dead bodies, it was no different from a prison cell.

After the prisoners went in, each found a corner to occupy. Once the bailiffs had left, dozens of pairs of venomous eyes turned in one direction, and soon the sounds of fists and feet landing on flesh could be heard.

“Everyone cover your mouths! I’ll kick to death anyone who dares to make a sound!”

The Shen family members couldn’t even see who was hitting them. They all clamped their hands tightly over their mouths, not daring to make a single sound.

The one who had cried out earlier had already been gagged and dragged aside to be beaten.

Liu Yanhui, Liu Laohu, and Wei Dongzhu stood at the hatch, listening to the commotion for a while.

“I’ve never seen people with such short memories!” Liu Laohu clasped his hands behind his back and clicked his tongue, in a very good mood.

Wei Dongzhu had an unreadable expression.

Liu Yanhui smiled faintly. “They deserve it!”

“Do you think the Princess’s Manor has discovered the Shen family is missing by now?” Wei Dongzhu asked casually.

Liu Yanhui shook his head. “Hard to say.”

Princess’s Manor

The sounds of pleas for mercy and the thwack of boards hitting flesh rang out together.

“Princess, this servant truly saw the Second Prince leave.”

“Princess, spare our lives! We servants are not lying, we guarded the guest room door all night. This servant truly did not see the Young Master and the Young Lady go inside… Please, Princess, have mercy!”

Chapter 92: Pursue them, dead or alive!

Zhou Qiwu recalled the scene she had witnessed upon pushing the door open, wishing she could have the two begging wretches drawn and quartered.

“Beat them! Beat them ruthlessly! Let all the servants of the Princess’s Manor see what happens when you betray and deceive your master!”

The clubs fell like rain, and soon, the two maidservants lost consciousness.

“Princess, they’re dead!”

Zhou Qiwu said viciously, “Then what are you waiting for? Drag them away and feed them to the dogs!”

“Yes!”

The guards hastily dragged the two away, leaving a trail of blood that was quickly cleaned up by the manor’s servants.

Zhou Qiwu’s anger had yet to subside, and she was now worried about another matter.

“What about Yuan Lang? Is he back yet?”

“Reporting to the Princess, the fire at the city gate is not yet under control. Tutor Yuan is doing his utmost to direct the firefighting efforts.”

Zhou Qiwu was deeply moved upon hearing this, then asked, “Is there any movement from the Second Prince’s side?”

The guard replied, “After the Second Prince’s guards took him back to the inn, they surrounded it so tightly that none of our people can get in.”

Knowing Zhou Ru’an as she did, Zhou Qiwu knew this matter would not be so easily resolved.

Yuan Lang did not return to the Princess’s Manor until the afternoon. Seeing the disheveled state he was in, Zhou Qiwu’s heart ached for him. She immediately ordered someone to fetch water for him to wash up.

After he had cleaned himself up, Yuan Lang dismissed the attendants. He first held Zhou Qiwu in a long, tender embrace, and only after their passion subsided did he speak of the fire.

“Although I led the men to extinguish the fire with all our might, the birthday gifts sent by officials from all over have all been burned to ashes! A row of shops next to the warehouse also burned down. The authorities are currently calculating the casualties and losses, and the Princess’s Manor is jointly investigating the cause of the fire with them.”

The composure Zhou Qiwu had just regained instantly turned to fury.

“Investigate! We must find the cause of the fire! If it turns out to be arson, I’ll skin that person’s entire family alive!”

Yuan Lang flexed his burned fingers, a piercing pain shooting through them. As he frowned, a vicious, sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

“Princess, the Second Prince ran into trouble at the manor this time. Regardless of who plotted against him, the blame will certainly fall on our Princess’s Manor.”

This was precisely what worried Zhou Qiwu. Before Yuan Lang returned, she had no one to discuss it with.

“Yuan Lang, what do you think we should do?”

Yuan Lang said coldly, “The Second Prince is greedy for wealth.”

Zhou Qiwu recalled the money she had already sent Zhou Ru’an and felt a little reluctant.

“Xiangyi and Xiangrong were also caught up in this. They suffered the greater loss!” The thought of her son’s blood-stained lower body sent another wave of resentment through Zhou Qiwu.

Yuan Lang said, “Princess, don’t you find this matter too strange?”

Zhou Qiwu looked up at Yuan Lang.

“It was supposed to be Shen Lanxi in that guest room. Why was it the Young Master and Young Lady instead?”

Zhou Qiwu could no longer sit still. “Shen Lanxi planned this?”

Yuan Lang replied, “Even if it wasn’t Shen Lanxi, it’s inextricably linked to the Shen family!”

Zhou Qiwu immediately shot to her feet. While calling for someone to help her dress, she ordered the guards to seize the Shen family.

It must have been the Shen family who harmed her two children. She would have them torn to shreds!

Before Zhou Qiwu was even fully dressed, a guard came running to report.

“Princess, this is bad! The Shen family is gone!”

Zhou Qiwu furiously threw the golden hairpin in her hand to the ground.

“What did you say? When did they disappear? Have you searched every corner of the Princess’s Manor?”

“We have. Not a single member of the Shen family was found!”

Rage blazed in Zhou Qiwu’s eyes. “What are you all good for? You can’t even keep watch over a single family?”

Yuan Lang advised, “Princess, now is not the time for blame. They can’t have gone far. If you send men to pursue them now, they can still be caught!”

Zhou Qiwu was so angry her chest ached. “Mobilize all the manor guards! Pursue them! Dead or alive!”

“Yes!”

After giving the order, Zhou Qiwu saw Yuan Lang standing there, lost in thought, and immediately asked, “Yuan Lang, what are you thinking about?”

Yuan Lang narrowed his eyes and said with certainty, “I was always puzzled as to why the Shen family came to us. Now, I finally understand.”

Zhou Qiwu quickly pressed, “Understand what?”

“They knew they had a grudge with you, yet they came here specifically. It’s because they wanted to take a boat!”

“Princess, the master has been inspecting the coastal defenses recently. Quickly have him send troops to intercept all ships departing from Jinmen!”

Zhou Qiwu’s gaze faltered for a moment, and her expression soured, but she still had a guard take a personal letter to the Liu family to inform them.

The guard had just left when a maidservant rushed in to report frantically.

“Princess, this is terrible! The Young Lady woke up and is trying to kill herself…”

A flash of impatience crossed Zhou Qiwu’s eyes. Things were chaotic enough, and now she was adding to the mess!

Another maidservant came running.

“Princess, this is awful! The Young Master is refusing his medicine! He’s already smashed two bowls of it.”

Zhou Qiwu, who had been about to visit her daughter, turned on her heel and strode quickly toward her son’s courtyard instead.

At the inn, Zhou Ru’an had physically recovered, but he couldn’t stop the feeling of nausea. He had soaked in the bathtub three times before the churning in his stomach finally settled.

How dare Shen Lanxi plot against him like this! If he ever got his hands on her, he would throw her into the vilest brothel and let her taste what it felt like to be ridden by a thousand men and pressed by ten thousand!

“Reporting to the Second Prince, the Shen family has disappeared,” a guard quickly reported.

Zhou Ru’an slammed his hand on the table in frustration. “What do you mean, disappeared? They were in the Princess’s Manor, how could they just disappear? Did the people from the manor hide them?”

The guard reported truthfully, “I don’t believe so. This subordinate saw people from the Princess’s Manor search the entire estate and then lead a city-wide search.”

Zhou Ru’an didn’t believe it. His dear aunt considered the Shen family a thorn in her side. Although the Shen family could move about freely in the Princess’s Manor, they were effectively under house arrest.

The Princess’s Manor is heavily guarded. How could a few people from the Shen family possibly disappear on their own?

Zhou Qiwu must have hidden them to keep them from him.

Whatever the reason, he had been schemed against in the Princess’s Manor. That meant security at the manor was lax. How could he, the dignified Second Prince of Great Zhou, be so humiliated!

“Go and pass a message to the Third Princess. I want everyone who knows about this matter silenced!”

That included his aunt’s precious pair of children. He just wondered if his aunt would be willing to part with them.

Zhou Ru’an thought of the luxury of the Princess’s Manor and the mountains of congratulatory gifts sent to her fiefdom, and his eyes filled with greed.

…

Shen Lanxi hadn’t slept well for several days. After arranging everything, she finally had a long, deep sleep, not waking until nightfall.

“Miss, the weather on the sea is so strange. It was clearly sunny before, but now it looks like it’s about to rain!” Chunxue and Qiushuang helped Shen Lanxi get up.

Shen Lanxi wiped her face and handed the towel to Chunxue.

“Have you asked the boat captain about the weather?”

Qiushuang replied, “Mr. Liu has already asked. The captain said it’s nothing to worry about. The waves aren’t rough this season. At worst, a small cloud will drift by, bring a shower, and it’ll be over soon!”

Shen Lanxi gave a soft “mm”.

Chunxue went out and returned with a clay pot in her hands, followed by Mama Wang carrying a tray.

Chapter 93: The Copper Coins Went Out for a Spin, and Came Right Back!

“Miss, when we boarded the ship, we bought a few old hens and kept them in the cabin. We slaughtered one this afternoon and stewed it with dried abalone to make a pot of chicken soup. It’s been simmering over a low fire all afternoon and is ready to eat now!” Nanny Li placed the clay pot on the charcoal stove, and with a few swift movements, artfully arranged the side dishes from the tray before respectfully stepping aside.

Shen Lanxi glanced at the steamed fish placed in the very center, picked up her chopsticks, and took a bite. It was exquisitely fresh.

“Is this a sea fish?”

Mama Wang hurriedly replied with a smile, “It is. My son just caught it from the sea today!”

Shen Lanxi took another bite and said, “Tell everyone on the ship that if they want to improve their meals, they can go catch fish themselves!”

The three of them answered in unison, “Yes!”

Mama Wang thought of something. “Miss, I heard the ship’s captain say we’ll be at sea for over a month. During this time, perhaps we could catch more fish and store them?”

Shen Lanxi understood Mama Wang’s meaning and agreed, “Yes. Tell them they can exchange their daily catch for silver with Liu Yanhui!”

“Yes!”

Seeing that her young lady was eating quietly with no other instructions, Chunxue said a word to Qiushuang and went to find Liu Yanhui to pass on the message.

Mama Wang, having nothing else to report, also withdrew.

It wasn’t long before Liu Yanhui came over.

“Miss, regarding what you said about exchanging catches for silver—does that apply to everyone on the ship?”

Shen Lanxi: “Yes!”

“Since you’ve told them to come to me for the money, what should the price be per catty of fish?”

Shen Lanxi: “You decide!”

His Miss had certainly given him a difficult challenge!

“Miss, I don’t have that much small change on me. Could I keep a running tab for them?”

Qiushuang brought over a casket from the side and opened it, revealing it to be full of copper coins.

Liu Yanhui did a quick calculation in his head. If he were to be unscrupulous and offer only one wen for one or two catties of fish, with over a hundred people on the ship, even if each person caught just one catty, that would be more than a hundred wen. If there were skilled fishermen who caught more than a catty a day, the number of copper coins paid out would be even greater.

This casket of copper coins seemed like a lot, but over time, it wouldn’t last.

Shen Lanxi said with an air of complete composure, “Make arrangements with the kitchen. If they want anything, they can pay for it.”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes widened. The copper coins went out for a spin, and then came right back!

Brilliant!

Suddenly, Liu Yanhui had the courage and the confidence to press the price of the catch down to one wen for three catties.

Liu Laohu was on patrol when he saw Liu Yanhui with an exaggerated grin on his face. He walked over to tease him a little.

“What are you smiling about? Did you find some money?”

Liu Yanhui grinned like a fox. “It’s even better than finding money!”

Liu Laohu was puzzled. “Is there anything better than finding money? Tell me, quick!”

Liu Yanhui deliberately kept him in suspense. “Get a good night’s rest. You’ll find out tomorrow!”

Liu Laohu watched Liu Yanhui’s retreating back with a puzzled expression and muttered, “Don’t tell me he’s found a wife?”

If Liu Yanhui had heard him, he surely would have retorted: What’s finding a wife? Finding a wife doesn’t guarantee a lifetime of happiness, but looking back on this matter in the future—now that would make him smile for a lifetime!

Unfortunately, before the next day arrived, trouble started with the Shen family.

“Your Excellency, my grandmother is sick! I beg you, Your Excellency, please let Doctor Zhang see her!” Shen Yuanjing cried, running hastily out of the cabin.

The bailiffs guarding the cabin hatch had been asleep and were jolted awake. Hearing Shen Yuanjing, their expressions soured, and one of them snapped impatiently, “A mere exiled prisoner, and you still think you’re so precious? Get back inside and bear with it!”

Shen Yuanjing said anxiously, “Your Excellency, I beg you, please pass a message to Young Master Lan! Once my grandmother recovers, Young Master Lan will surely reward you handsomely!”

When the bailiffs heard him mention Shen Lanxi, they reluctantly tossed out a “wait here” and turned to find someone.

“Brother Liu, Shen Yuanjing says Old Madam Shen is sick. But I heard them talking during the day about faking an illness.”

Liu Laohu also suspected Old Madam Shen might be faking it, but what if she wasn’t?

“Come on, let’s go ask Mr. Liu!”

Liu Yanhui was in his room working on the account books when he heard a knock and got up to open the door.

“Mr. Liu, here’s what happened…” Liu Laohu explained the situation.

Liu Yanhui hadn’t expected the account books to be of use before the next day even arrived!

“It’s so late, let’s not bother Doctor Zhang.” The main reason was that he would have to negotiate the consultation and medicine fees with the doctor.

“I have some ready-made medicine here. Does she have a fever, a cough, a cold, or is it an injury from a fall?”

Liu Laohu stared blankly at Liu Yanhui, his burly frame shuddering.

“You’re going to give her medicine?” Since when was he so kind-hearted?

Liu Yanhui tucked the account book into his clothes, picked up his ink, brush, and a medicine box, and called Liu Laohu to head straight for the cabin!

“Mr. Liu!” When Shen Yuanjing saw Liu Yanhui arrive, it was as if he had seen his savior.

Liu Yanhui wore a smile. “Ah, Yuanjing, does your grandmother have a cold and fever, or an injury from a fall?”

Shen Yuanjing said hurriedly, “A fever. It must be from the hardships of the journey. Her body couldn’t take it anymore!”

Liu Yanhui opened the medicine box, found a porcelain bottle inside, and held it out.

Just as a delighted Shen Yuanjing was about to take it, he heard Liu Yanhui say, “Out of respect for Young Master Lan, I won’t overcharge you. Ten taels of silver per bottle!”

Shen Yuanjing’s outstretched hand froze, and his smile twisted unnaturally on his face.

He wants money?

“Can I get the money from my Eldest Brother?”

Liu Yanhui’s smile slowly vanished. “No,” he said flatly. “This is an internal matter for our group of exiles. We don’t involve outsiders.”

Shen Yuanjing quickly turned to Liu Laohu for help, but the latter said, “He’s right. Do as he says.”

Shen Yuanjing’s face fell. “I don’t have that much money.”

Liu Yanhui offered a “conscientious” suggestion, “Why don’t you go back and see if your family can pool some money together?”

Shen Yuanjing asked Liu Yanhui to wait and went back into the cabin, only to return a moment later, dejected.

“No money, is it?” Although the outcome was obvious, Liu Yanhui couldn’t resist the urge to strike a blow at Shen Yuanjing.

After all, he had ended up in this predicament because of the Shen family. Taking a little jab at him wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

“Mr. Liu, my grandmother is truly sick. Can’t you be a little flexible? I’ll definitely have my Eldest Brother reward you generously afterward!”

Liu Yanhui: “No!”

Just as Shen Yuanjing was about to plead further, he heard Liu Yanhui add, “But you can write an IOU. Your family can work to pay off the debt.”

As he finished speaking, he also finished writing in the account book.

“Will you sign it, or will the person in charge of your family sign it?”

Shen Yuanjing thought to himself that it was only ten taels of silver. His signature would be enough.

“I’ll sign.”

Liu Yanhui raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Shen Yuanjing hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’m sure!”

Liu Yanhui handed the brush to Shen Yuanjing. Once he had signed, Liu Yanhui briskly picked up his medicine box and left.

Early the next morning, Liu Yanhui summoned everyone from the lower cabins.

“One wen for three catties of fish! Those who want to participate, register with me. Those who don’t, go back to your cabins!”

When Shen Yuanjing heard the price, he looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

At that rate, he could fish for a lifetime and still never pay off the debt!

Chapter 94: Zhou Qiwu Gives Compensation!

The Third Princess’s Manor

After hesitating all night, Zhou Qiwu decided to follow Yuan Lang’s advice and appease Zhou Ru’an with money and valuables.

“Open the storehouse, take out half of its contents, and create an inventory. Make sure the list is completed today. After I review it, send it to the Second Prince.”

Yuan Lang patted Zhou Qiwu’s hand reassuringly. “I will personally oversee it.”

Zhou Qiwu reminded him, “Only our most trusted confidants can handle this!”

Yuan Lang nodded. “Our men just reported that the Prince Consort will be arriving at noon!”

Zhou Qiwu frowned, a bad premonition creeping over her.

Yuan Lang prompted, “Usually when the Prince Consort returns, he calls for the Miss and the Young Lady to dine with him!”

Zhou Qiwu’s heart sank. Of her two children, one was trying to kill herself and the other was injured; neither was in a state to see anyone.

“Princess, the Prince Consort usually only visits the Princess’s Manor once a month, but it’s only been ten days since his last visit. This manor isn’t clean!”

The Wang family had planted spies in the Princess’s Manor!

At this thought, Zhou Qiwu’s face darkened, and she gripped the arm of her chair tightly.

“That damnable Wang Mingru, daring to extend his reach into my manor.” The thought that Wang Mingru likely knew everything she had done filled Zhou Qiwu with shame and anger, and she wished she could have him suffer death by a thousand cuts.

“Princess, should we find a way to stop the Prince Consort from returning?” Yuan Lang asked.

Zhou Qiwu thought for a moment, a vicious smile suddenly spreading across her face.

“You said last time that he was keeping a concubine?”

Yuan Lang replied, “I haven’t heard of her being formally elevated to a concubine; at most, she could be considered a serving-maid concubine. However, I heard that after she began warming his bed, she was not given contraception soup.”

In other words, that bitch might already be carrying a bastard child?

“I wonder what Wang Mingru’s reaction would be if he found out that mistress of his was having an affair?”

Yuan Lang understood. “I’ll go make the arrangements at once!”

By noon, the gift list from the Princess’s Manor was in Zhou Ru’an’s hands.

After reading it, he closed the register with satisfaction.

“Go back and tell my Aunt that the people who know about that matter don’t all have to be silenced, but the fewer who know, the better!”

The steward of the Princess’s Manor hurriedly flattered him, “You are truly benevolent and merciful. Our Princess asked whether the items should be delivered to the inn or somewhere else.”

A satisfied smile spread across Zhou Ru’an’s face. “Take them directly to the docks!”

“Yes, I’ll arrange it right away!”

Zhou Ru’an instructed his two guards to split up—one to follow the steward, the other to make arrangements at the docks.

Everyone had been watching him during this disaster relief mission, so not only was there no profit to be made, but he even had to spend some of his own money to build a good reputation.

Fortunately, this trip to the Princess’s Manor not only recouped his losses but also earned him a considerable profit.

His good mood lessened the disgust churning in his heart.

Once his great enterprise succeeded, he would definitely deal with that disgusting brother-sister pair.

Zhou Qiwu watched as box after box of fine goods was carried out like flowing water, her heart aching as if twisted by a knife.

“Is there any news of the Shen family?”

Yuan Lang replied, “We have searched the entire area within a hundred-li radius of Jinmen and found no trace of the Shen family. They must have traveled by water!”

“As for the waterways, the Liu family has not yet responded with any news!”

Hearing this, Zhou Qiwu started to resent her daughter.

It was just a mistress giving birth, did she really have to get involved personally? Childbirth was like passing through the gates of hell. She could have just quietly arranged for an accident afterward, and no one would have ever found out.

Now look, she had completely ruined her relationship with Liu Cheng’en. Although the Liu family hadn’t made a scene publicly, they surely harbored resentment. Now that the Princess’s Manor needed their help, they were certain to be deliberately slow.

“Yuan Lang, select a few beauties to send to the Liu Manor. Say that the Young Lady chose them as concubines for the master!”

A glint shone in Yuan Lang’s eyes. “Yes!”

On the top deck of a ship, Shen Lanxi was practicing her martial arts. She leapt and dodged, the air whistling around her. The wind whipped fiercely wherever her long staff pointed, and no one dared to take a single step onto the deck.

With a sharp cry from an eagle, the staff’s momentum ceased. She laid it across the ship’s railing, and Little Xue landed steadily upon it, its sharp talons gripping the staff firmly.

As Shen Lanxi untied the document from the eagle’s leg, she called out, “Chunxue, has any fresh fish been caught?”

Chunxue and Qiushuang had started out on the deck as well, but the fierce wind generated by the staff stung their faces, forcing them to retreat to the stairway to wait.

“Miss, I’ll go have a look!”

Three catties of fish for one wen coin. The price was too low, and more than half the people had returned to their cabins, preferring to eat one dark cornbread bun a day than work as cheap labor.

But there were some willing to earn this hard-won money, such as Madam Song’s family, a dozen or so exiled prisoners who had made their living by fishing, and Shen Yuanjing and his siblings.

The ship was equipped with fishing nets and tackle. For a small fee, which would be deducted from their earnings, the ship’s captain was willing to let them use the equipment.

Liu Yanhui was also fishing with his family. Since pledging his allegiance to Shen Lanxi, he had arranged for his family to stay with Mama Wang’s family, so that his mother and younger sister would have someone to look after them if he had to leave on urgent business.

“Mr. Liu, the Miss is asking if there is any fresh catch,” Chunxue said, hurrying over.

Liu Yanhui handed the fishing rod to his younger sister. “I have one fish here. Brother Zhao caught it!”

Brother Zhao was Mama Wang’s son, an honest, quiet man of few words.

Chunxue bent down to look. It wasn’t small, at least over two catties.

“I’ll take it to the Miss first!” she said, picking it up to leave.

Liu Yanhui quickly asked, “The Miss wants to eat fish?”

Wasn’t she just practicing her martial arts? He had heard the whistling of the staff and hadn’t dared to go up.

Chunxue guessed it was probably for the eagle, but it was only a guess, so she didn’t say it out loud.

“I don’t know. I’ll be taking this!”

Liu Yanhui thought for a moment, then took a stroll over to where people were fishing. When he left, he was carrying a bucket with two palm-sized sea fish inside.

The sea fish were very lively; they were still flopping about when Shen Lanxi scooped one out of the bucket. She tapped it on the head twice, slit open its belly, and removed the bones and innards, leaving only the snow-white flesh.

With a swift slide of the blade against the skin, the scales and skin were removed and cut away. The entire fish was prepared without her fingers ever touching the flesh, without a single drop of blood on her hands or a scale out of place.

Chunxue and Qiushuang watched with wide eyes. It felt as though they had blinked twice, and the fish was already prepared.

They hadn’t even seen clearly where she made the first cut or how she did it.

Little Xue devoured the fish meat, one piece at a time, cleaning it all up in a few bites!

Still not full, its sharp eyes stared intently at Chunxue.

Shen Lanxi couldn’t bear to look at her gluttonous eagle.

“Go see if there are any more.”

Chunxue nodded blankly and hurried off. Just as she was about to go down the stairs, she saw Liu Yanhui coming up with the bucket.

“Miss.” Liu Yanhui had heard the eagle’s cry earlier, so he wasn’t surprised to see it now.

Shen Lanxi handed the small knife to Qiushuang. “You and Chunxue, go prepare the fish!”

Qiushuang took the knife, steeling herself.

“Let’s talk over there,” Shen Lanxi said, pointing to a tea pavilion in the corner.

Liu Yanhui followed two steps behind her. On the table were several books and a bamboo tube.

“My Lord, why did the Second Prince suddenly appear in Jinmen?”

Chapter 95: I Have a Bold Idea!

As Shen Lanxi opened the bamboo tube, she said, “Disaster relief!”

Liu Yanhui lowered his eyes. “For disaster relief, we should be heading north. Why have we come to the southeast?”

Shen Lanxi handed him a piece of paper. “After you’ve read this, call Master Hu and Liu Laohu.”

Liu Yanhui looked down and read the contents. His breathing grew tight. He gently set the paper down, weighed it with a book, and hurried to fetch the others.

Liu Laohu and Wei Dongzhu arrived quickly.

Shen Lanxi gestured with her eyes for Liu Yanhui to show them the paper.

Their reactions were the same as his.

“How could riots have broken out?” Liu Laohu muttered in disbelief.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “The drought has been going on for half a year. Before we left the capital, had any of you heard a single word about it?”

Liu Laohu and Liu Yanhui shook their heads.

Wei Dongzhu, who had traveled all the way from the west, hadn’t heard anything either.

“Are you saying the local Prefectural Yamens concealed it and didn’t report it?” Liu Yanhui asked, his voice cracking.

Shen Lanxi replied, “Other than that, I can’t think of any other explanation!”

“But why?” Liu Yanhui said, incredulous. “How dare the Prefectural Yamen hide something so major?”

Shen Lanxi’s tone was cold. “As long as the officials have food to eat, who cares if the common people live or die?”

Liu Yanhui gritted his teeth, his face filled with resentment.

Liu Laohu was also seething. “Don’t they know that when a drought is severe and the fields yield nothing, the people will have no choice but to rebel to survive?”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were dark. “If they report a drought to the court and it’s considered minor, their superiors will judge it as poor local governance. At best, it affects their promotion; at worst, they get demoted.”

Wei Dongzhu clenched his fists. “So they covered it up, and now the truth can no longer be contained?”

Shen Lanxi said, “For us, this is an opportunity!”

The three men stared at her. With riots breaking out, what kind of opportunity could there be?

“Without the riots, our exile convoy would need an official seal on our documents at every prefecture we pass. If we fail to arrive within the stipulated time, our crimes will be compounded!”

“But now, with riots in multiple regions, the prefectural and county yamens are nothing but decorations. No one will pursue the matter if we’re missing a few seals on our documents!”

Liu Yanhui and the others frowned. That sounded more like an excuse than an opportunity. The word “opportunity” seemed a bit of a stretch.

Shen Lanxi handed them a second intelligence report.

“An epidemic…”

The three men gasped in unison.

Shen Lanxi analyzed the situation. “As our ships head north, we absolutely cannot stop at any port we encounter!”

“Large numbers of famine refugees will flee to places with water. If the riots are real, the ports are bound to be occupied by rebels. Docking for supplies would be like sending sheep into a tiger’s den!”

Liu Yanhui said, “The grain I purchased at the docks is only enough for both ships for half a month. If we can catch a considerable amount of fish each day and ration carefully, we might be able to last a month!”

It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to buy more; it was that there simply wasn’t that much grain available anywhere. He had only been able to procure half a month’s worth by sending people to buy small amounts separately over many trips.

Shen Lanxi’s third piece of intelligence was a sea map!

“At our current speed, in another three days, we will reach the Jiaozhou Archipelago. It’s a place where sea bandits have been active for years. With riots everywhere and crop failures, the pirates will have lost their food supply. They will certainly resort to desperate measures!”

So what?

Where was the opportunity?

Shen Lanxi announced, “I have a bold idea!”

The hearts of Liu Yanhui and the other two men skipped a beat. Why did that sentence sound so familiar?

“What idea?” Liu Yanhui asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Shen Lanxi curled her fingers into a claw and poised her hand over the Jiaozhou Archipelago on the map.

“Wipe out these pirates for the good of the people and take everything they have!”

Liu Yanhui, Liu Laohu, and Wei Dongzhu thought: Aren’t we the sheep?

“My Lord, those are well-trained pirates! If we act rashly, who knows who will be the ones getting devoured?” Although Liu Yanhui didn’t want to pour cold water on her plan, he had to.

Wei Dongzhu gave a pragmatic analysis based on the men they had. “The disparity in strength between the enemy and us is too great!”

Liu Yanhui glanced at Wei Dongzhu for a moment, then lowered his head to study the map again.

Shen Lanxi withdrew her hand and said nonchalantly, “That’s why I plan to borrow troops!”

Her words struck the three men like a clap of thunder. They stared at her, speechless for a long time.

Finally, Liu Yanhui asked with a quiver in his voice, “My Lord, who do you plan to borrow them from?”

A smile touched Shen Lanxi’s lips, and she uttered the words as if each one was worth a thousand gold pieces: “The Third Princess!”

Was this some kind of joke?

Weren’t they being hunted by the Third Princess right now?

Unless the Third Princess had lost her mind, why would she ever lend them troops?

“My Lord, could you explain more clearly? We don’t understand.”

A rare look of disdain flickered in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “Is the Third Princess hunting the Shen family?”

Liu Yanhui nodded.

“What if the Third Princess’s people learn that the Shen family is in the hands of the pirates?”

Wei Dongzhu raised an eyebrow. “They’re not fools. Wouldn’t they just sit back and reap the rewards of our conflict?”

Shen Lanxi said, “What if we go and seek refuge with the pirates?”

Wei Dongzhu: Is that even an option?

Liu Yanhui and Liu Laohu both wore expressions of utter disbelief.

“Throughout the Great Zhou, who doesn’t know that the Shen family stole the Wei Army’s provisions and pay? Why do pirates become outlaws? Isn’t it for money? What if the Shen family were to offer those provisions and pay to the pirates in exchange for protection?”

The three men were silent. Could a criminal charge be used like that?

Liu Laohu rubbed his nose. “Isn’t that a bit… unscrupulous?”

Shen Lanxi shot him a sideways glance, took a deep breath, and snapped, “This is called ‘all’s fair in war’!” If you don’t understand, you can at least pretend to. Why did you have to state the obvious?

Don’t you know that blockheads die from speaking the truth?

Strategy… she actually understands military strategy?

The revelation sent a shock through Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu.

Shen Lanxi pulled out a fourth intelligence report, pointed at an isolated island on it, and said, “First, we take Tongluo Island!”

Wei Dongzhu said, “To be undefeated in a hundred battles, one must know oneself and know one’s enemy. Right now, we know nothing about the situation on Tongluo Island. We must first ascertain their numbers, troop deployment, and what kind of weapons they have!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Choose one of you to go and pretend to surrender.”

Liu Laohu and Wei Dongzhu’s eyes immediately fell on Liu Yanhui.

Liu Yanhui’s heart trembled under their gaze. “W-why are you looking at me?”

Liu Laohu grinned. “Among all of us, you look the most like a little brother-in-law!”

A rare smile touched Wei Dongzhu’s lips.

Shen Lanxi said, “The one who goes will be rewarded with five thousand taels of silver. For those who participate in the battle, for every pirate killed, you will receive one tael of silver!”

Liu Yanhui’s attitude changed in an instant. He said respectfully, “No one is more suited to be the Shen family’s little brother-in-law than I!”

Hearing the five thousand taels, Liu Laohu was sorely tempted.

“I think I look more like the elder brother-in-law!”

Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu were speechless.

Shen Lanxi tapped the table lightly. “The prerequisite for this plan is that the Third Princess’s people must be in pursuit. Only then can we use them to make both sides suffer heavy losses! If her people don’t show up and the pirates find us first, the ocean will become a grave for us all!”

Chapter 96: Old Madam Shen Gets Beaten!

“What if the Third Princess’s people don’t come?” Liu Yanhui asked.

Shen Lanxi pulled out the sixth intelligence report.

“Zhou Qiwu’s in-law is Liu Binglin, the Admiral of the Jinmen fleet.”

Liu Yanhui took a deep breath. “Zhou Qiwu really found a good match for her daughter!”

Shen Lanxi said with certainty, “Zhou Qiwu’s hatred for the Shen family runs too deep. She will absolutely have the Liu family send troops after us!”

Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu looked at the thick stack of intelligence reports, knowing she had good reason for her confidence.

“It’s only a matter of time before the Liu family catches up to us,” Shen Lanxi stated firmly.

The three of them nodded.

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Yanhui. “Have you made your decision?”

Liu Yanhui gritted his teeth and said resolutely, “I have!”

Shen Lanxi said, “After another two days of sailing, our ships will slow down. At that time, you’ll take a few people and go to Tongluo Island to pledge allegiance first.”

Liu Yanhui: “Alright!”

“As for who goes with you, discuss it amongst yourselves. Go and prepare now.” Shen Lanxi glanced at the ship behind them. After the three left, she found the ship’s captain, had him lower a small boat, and went over to the other vessel.

“Fifth Brother, how are they?” She was referring to the people brought back from the Princess’s Manor dungeon.

Feng Wu: “Two are dead, three are in critical condition, and the rest are barely hanging on.”

“Most of them are students from Qinglan Academy. Zhou Qiwu and Wang Mingru don’t get along, and these students are the victims of their struggle.”

Feng Wu sighed. “Their tongues have all been cut out. Some have had their legs crippled, others their hands. Even if they’re saved, they’ll be invalids.”

He was in charge of the Assassination Department. When he killed, it was always with a single, fatal blow; he never tortured people. Zhou Qiwu clearly took pleasure in torturing and humiliating others. Encountering someone like that made his hands itch.

If someone paid him to kill Zhou Qiwu, he would take the mission even if the price wasn’t right.

“If they hadn’t been thrown into the dungeon, they would have been the future pillars of Great Zhou.” Some people just loved to torture the talented to display their power and feel superior. These students must have been outstanding and brilliant at the academy.

“Fifth Brother, please do your best to treat them.”

A smile touched Feng Wu’s lips. “I knew you’d say that. I’ve already given them the best medicine.”

Ghost Valley had some ties to Medicine King Valley, so all the medicine they used came from there.

Shen Lanxi understood her Fifth Senior Brother’s temperament. He had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and he was fiercely protective of his own. Since she had agreed to save these people, he would definitely see it through and take good care of them for her.

She briefed her Fifth Senior Brother on her upcoming plans, then went to check on the women from Liu Zhao Village before returning.

Previously, Liu Laohu had talked about starving the prisoners for three days, but in reality, it had only been one day. This morning, he had already ordered people to distribute the prepared cornbread buns.

The exiled prisoners were all from the Capital. More than half of them couldn’t swim, and the female family members were even worse off. The most they had ever done was take a pleasure cruise, and even then, they wouldn’t have been on a boat for more than a two-hour period.

Yesterday, their stomachs were empty, so it wasn’t so bad. But after eating today, they began to get seasick. One by one, they hunched over in the ship’s hold and threw up the dark cornbread buns they had just eaten.

“Mother, I don’t want to stay in the ship’s hold anymore!”

“Grandmother, I’m dizzy. I feel so awful. Grandmother, am I going to die? Save me…”

Over half of the Shen family was seasick, and the other exiled prisoners weren’t much better. In no time, the hold was filled with the sour stench of vomit.

“Doesn’t your Shen family have a benefactor helping you? Tell them to let us out!” the other exiled prisoners demanded.

“We were dragged into this by your Shen family in the first place! If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be wearing cangues and shackles. We might even be sleeping in the cabins above, with good food and drink!”

“That’s right, it’s all the Shen family’s fault. They’ve been causing trouble the entire journey, as if they’re afraid they won’t drag us all down with them. We’ve had eight lifetimes of bad luck to run into them. They’re jinxes!”

“You’d better get someone to let us out of here, or don’t blame us for getting rough!”

Hearing the threats, the members of the Shen family recalled the nightmare of being beaten the day before. They couldn’t understand how their family had fallen to this state.

“It’s all this old hag’s fault! If she hadn’t rushed out screaming, we wouldn’t have been thrown down here!”

“Right, she was the one who offended the bailiffs. Beat her!”

Old Madam Shen shrank back in fear. Clatter. The porcelain bottle in her arms fell to the floor.

A nearby exiled prisoner with sharp eyes immediately lunged for it.

“That’s mine!” Seeing her medicine snatched away, Old Madam Shen pounced forward, only to be sent flying by a kick.

“Bullshit! It’s mine now that I have it! Come near me again and I’ll kill you!” the prisoner threatened, raising his fist with a ferocious expression.

Kicked back two steps, Old Madam Shen lost her footing and fell right into a pile of vomit.

“Ugh—” Mrs. Miao was the closest and was splattered by the flying vomit. Her face went pale, and she immediately started to dry-heave.

“Mother…” Shen Congwen ignored his seasickness and hurried over to help his mother up.

Old Madam Shen could no longer bear it and collapsed into her son’s arms, wailing loudly.

“All this old hag does is cry! What’s the use of crying? Can it get us back up there?”

“If I hear you wailing like that again, I’ll slap your old face raw!”

Shen Congwen’s face was filled with grief and indignation as he glared at the others.

“You’ve gone too far!”

A prisoner sneered, “So what if we have? Who’s going to help you?”

“Tch. If anyone was willing to help them, would they still be down in the hold with us?”

“Some people just can’t face reality. She acts high and mighty just because she’s old and has offended everyone!”

Old Madam Shen couldn’t believe that her able-bodied sons and grandsons couldn’t even defeat a few prisoners in cangues and shackles.

“Congwen, all of you, beat them senseless for me! Avenge me!” Old Madam Shen pointed at the person who had pushed her down and snarled.

Unfortunately, of all her sons and grandsons, only Shen Congwen stood up. The others didn’t move an inch.

Seeing only one man stand, the prisoners immediately burst into contemptuous, wild laughter.

“And here I thought they were tough. Turns out they’re just a bunch of cowardly good-for-nothings!”

The men didn’t even have to lift a finger. The female prisoners took care of Shen Congwen with a few kicks each.

“You old hag, you dare tell people to hit my husband? Everyone, come and beat her!”

A group of female prisoners swarmed over and began punching and kicking Old Madam Shen.

“Stop hitting her! Stop!” Shen Congwen crawled over to shield her, grimacing in pain.

Old Madam Shen was terrified. Afraid she would scream, the women stuffed the sole of a shoe into her mouth. Who knew what disgusting things had been trod on by that shoe—it was smelly and nauseating!

These ungrateful wolves! She had doted on them for nothing. They just stood there and watched her get beaten, not even coming to protect her.

Only her eldest son was protecting her. Sob… She regretted it. She shouldn’t have favored her other sons. She should have favored her eldest…

After returning to her ship, Shen Lanxi began to read. Cries of surprise occasionally came from below, but after Liu Yanhui’s warning, even when they caught a large fish, they didn’t dare to cheer, their shouts replaced by whispers.

Every so often, a bucket of fish would be sent to the top deck. After eating its fill, Little Xue flapped its wings and flew away.

Beside them, Chunxue and Qiushuang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Being stared down by a giant, menacing eagle while gutting fish was terrifying!

Chapter 97: Those Who Worked and Those Who Didn’t!

At first, Shen Yuanjing and the others were a bit seasick, but after eating and drinking their fill, they quickly adapted.

Half of the bailiffs were down as well, all lying in their rooms.

At noon, Madam Song shamelessly went to Liu Yanhui to ask for money.

“Mr. Liu, the elders and children at home really can’t stomach the dark cornbread buns. Could you pay me a little in advance so I can get my family some better food?”

Madam Song felt a little uncertain; that morning, Liu Yanhui had said wages would be paid in the evening.

“Alright, you were the first to step forward. I won’t deduct the cost of the fishing net rental for now. Your family caught over eight catties of fish this morning. I’ll count it as nine, and you can make up the difference this afternoon!” He handed the settled copper coins to Madam Song and had her press her thumbprint.

Madam Song cupped the copper coins as if in a dream. Was he really this easy to deal with?

She had some silver left over from her previous dealings, so today she would treat her family to a good meal!

She just didn’t know if the things sold on the ship were expensive.

She went into the galley alone, leaving her husband and child waiting at the door.

“Mama Wang, how much for a steamed bun?”

If they were expensive, she would just buy half a bun for her child.

“The prices change daily. Today, steamed buns are one wen each. Meat, fish, and vegetables are all one wen per serving!”

Madam Song was stunned. Was she still on the run from refugees, hallucinating from hunger and thirst?

Mama Wang was also quite puzzled. Grain was so precious, and meat and vegetables even more so. This price was a losing deal.

But Mr. Liu had set the price at one wen. The galley was now under his management, and if Mr. Liu said one wen, then it had to be sold for one wen, even if the original cost was as high as gold!

“Are you buying or not?” Mama Wang urged.

“Yes, I’ll buy six steamed buns and a serving of meat.” Since meat and vegetables were the same price, she wasn’t a fool—of course she’d buy the meat!

Mama Wang found a wicker basket, filled it deftly, and said, “Bring the basket back to me when you’re done!”

As if in a dream, Madam Song carried the basket out of the galley. The one-wen serving of meat consisted of three pieces—not small ones, but large, squarish chunks. The three pieces together had to be at least two or three taels.

What a bargain!

“Husband, let’s go eat quickly!” Afraid of being seen, Madam Song walked ahead briskly, clutching the basket as if she were a thief.

The other prisoners had been waiting and watching ever since Madam Song went in. The moment she came out, they rushed over.

“Get lost, get lost! Who said you could look? If you want to eat, go buy your own. If you dare try to snatch what’s your old mother’s, I’ll kill you!”

“Tch, so stingy. It’s not like we didn’t earn any money. Can’t we just take a look?”

Madam Song shoved the basket into her husband’s hands, put her hands on her hips, and shot back, “No! Are you looking for trouble? Step up, and let’s see what you’ve got.”

Someone tried to break up the fight.

“Forget it, forget it. A good man doesn’t fight with a woman.”

“That woman fights dirty. The last guy she kicked in the crotch still can’t stand up straight.”

Madam Song’s eyes darted. Remembering what Mama Wang had said, she immediately turned to her husband. “You take the child and go eat first. I’m going back in for another look.”

What if the prices went up tomorrow? She had to buy more steamed buns to stock up.

The other prisoners went into the galley just to see what the commotion was about. When they asked about the prices and learned everything was only one wen, they immediately went into a frenzy to buy.

“I caught less than one catty of fish today. I need three catties to exchange for one wen.”

“I didn’t get three catties either. Why don’t we pool our catches?”

“That’s a great idea!”

In no time, they had made their arrangements and went to find Liu Yanhui to exchange their fish for money.

“Brother, didn’t you catch a fish too? Let’s go find them and pool our money, okay?” Shen Yuantang urged, staring eagerly at the people who were leaving.

Shen Yuanjing looked troubled. “To buy medicine for Grandmother yesterday, I ended up ten taels in debt.”

Shen Yuantang was furious. “I told you Grandmother was faking it! Why didn’t you believe me?”

It was only after he brought the medicine back that Shen Yuanjing realized his grandmother had been pretending. Before that, she had truly looked like she was on the verge of death. As a junior, was he supposed to just stand by and watch an elder suffer?

He gave a bitter smile. “Yuantang, Grandmother may be muddled, but as her juniors, we cannot be unfilial!”

Shen Yuantang wished she could crack open her brother’s head to see what was inside. Her brother owing ten taels was the same as their first branch owing ten taels. This wouldn’t do. When would they ever be able to repay so much money?

“Brother, Grandmother isn’t just your grandmother. You can’t be the only one to repay the silver you owe. Go talk to our uncles and tell them to help pay it back!” Shen Yuantang thought for a moment, realizing that wasn’t enough.

She continued, “Next time you want to write an IOU, think about our first branch. If it weren’t for that IOU, we could have bought steamed buns for Mother today!”

Thinking of their mother, who had been frail and ill throughout the journey, a flash of guilt crossed Shen Yuanjing’s eyes.

“I know. Let’s just forget it this time; I’ve already signed the IOU. Next time something like this happens, I promise I won’t be the first to step up, alright?”

Shen Yuantang pouted and said nothing.

“Yuantang, give your brother some face.” He really couldn’t bring himself to go find his uncles now.

Shen Yuantang’s eyes darted. “Brother, Father is Grandmother’s son. Next time Grandmother needs something, let Father handle it. Look around—did a single child from the other branches step forward?”

Shen Yuanjing’s expression darkened, and he nodded.

“Alright, I understand!”

“I’m going to see Eldest Brother. Are you coming?”

“I’m coming!”

When the prisoners in the ship’s hold learned that food from the galley only cost one wen, they stopped cursing the Shen family and rushed out of the hold toward the galley.

“I want three steamed buns and a serving of meat!”

Mama Wang looked up at the person paying and said coldly, “Not for sale!”

“Why not?” the prisoner demanded anxiously.

Mama Wang: “His Excellency Liu said we only sell to those who worked. If you have a problem, take it up with His Excellency Liu!”

Just then, Liu Laohu saw the crowd and came over himself.

“What’s this? I hear someone’s causing trouble here?”

Hearing Liu Laohu’s voice, the prisoners were so frightened they lowered their heads, shrunk their necks, and dared not make a sound.

“You want to eat without working? I think you want a taste of the whip!”

“What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and crawl back to your rat holes!”

The prisoners didn’t dare to even squeak and scurried back to the hold with their tails between their legs.

In the afternoon, both sides of the ship were lined with people. Some cast nets, while others baited hooks for sea fishing.

“Eldest Brother.”

Shen Yuanjing arrived with his younger brother and sister.

Shen Lanxi put down his book and glanced at the sea in the distance.

“Why aren’t you fishing?”

Shen Yuanjing said embarrassedly, “All the fishing rods were snatched up by others!”

Shen Yuanqing, being the youngest, was the least able to hold his tongue.

“Eldest Brother, if we keep practicing our martial arts, will we get to eat pastries?”

A smile bloomed on Shen Lanxi’s face. He crooked a finger at Shen Yuanqing.

“Come here!”

Shen Yuanqing gave him a suspicious look and shuffled forward with small steps.

Shen Lanxi reached out and pinched his cheek. “You’ve gotten tanner, and thinner!”

Shen Yuanqing’s face flushed red. “I’m a big boy now. You can’t pinch my cheeks anymore.”

Shen Lanxi gave him a sidelong glance. “Other people have to practice martial arts to get pastries. You only have to let me pinch your cheeks to get pastries. So, will you let me pinch them or not?”

Chapter 98: Shen Yuanruan Stirs Up Trouble!

Shen Yuanqing’s little face instantly flushed crimson. Why did Eldest Sister still love to pinch his cheeks like before? Ever since they left the capital, he felt like his Eldest Sister had become a different person, and he hadn’t dared to get close to her. Her suddenly pinching his cheek now, though embarrassing, felt surprisingly dear.

“Eldest Brother, I’m a big boy now. You can’t just let people pinch my face.” Shen Yuanqing was still struggling.

Shen Lanxi let go and smiled. “Alright, you’re a big boy now. I wonder which big boy wet the bed the day before I got married.”

Shen Yuanqing’s face flared red again as he retorted indignantly, “I did not!”

Hearing his eldest sister’s lighthearted teasing of their younger brother, Shen Yuanjing’s tone also became much more cheerful.

“How could you say that? Weren’t you afraid of others finding out, so you secretly poured tea on it? But in your carelessness, you poured the whole pot on it. And you took that teapot from my room!”

Shen Yuanqing’s face grew so hot it felt like it was burning.

“I’m not talking to you anymore!” He turned on his little short legs and ran off in a fit of pique!

Shen Lanxi’s expression turned serious as she composed herself. “Let’s go practice our martial arts.”

The Wei Army was training on the upper deck, their every punch and stance powerful and impressive. Shen Yuanjing led his siblings, practicing alongside them.

On the main deck below, the exiled prisoners who were sea fishing would steal glances at the upper deck from time to time.

The members of the Shen family had also come up from the hold. If they stayed down there any longer, they would be beaten to death by the other prisoners. Besides, the hold reeked of a sour stench, and no one had cleaned up the vomit. If they remained, they would either be sickened by the fumes or die of disgust.

“Why can’t I see Lanxi?” Mrs. Liu muttered under her breath.

“Master, do you think Lanxi might have gone to the ship behind us?”

Shen Conglian replied with indifference, “Who knows? Instead of worrying about others, you should be thinking about how to catch some fish.”

Mrs. Liu pouted and cursed Shen Conglian for a big fool in her heart before going to find her son.

“Grandmother, we’re all out here, exposed to the wind and sun. How come Eldest Sister hasn’t come over to help us?” Shen Yuanruan sidled up to the Old Madam and said.

The Old Madam’s face hardened, and she raised her hand to slap her.

“Shut your mouth. This is not your place to speak.”

Shen Yuanruan’s face paled with fright, and she shrank back to hide.

“Useless fool, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’ve done something shameful and disgraceful yourself, so you’d better keep quiet. Just wait until we get to Dongchuan, I’ll deal with you then!” The Old Madam shot a vicious glare in Shen Yuanruan’s direction.

“Second Son’s wife, fetch me a basin of water to wash up!”

“Third Son’s wife, wash my clothes, shoes, and socks.”

“Fourth Son’s wife, go down to the hold and clean up the spot where we rest!”

“Useless, the lot of you! All you know is how to cling to your husbands and act shamelessly. If you hinder the male members of the family from fishing, see how I’ll deal with you!”

The Old Madam dredged up the skills she had used years ago to curse out village women in the countryside, berating all three of her daughters-in-law!

Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Miao, and Mrs. Tian dared not speak though they were filled with resentment, and they hurried off to do as they were told.

The Old Madam glanced toward the upper deck where the training was taking place. She had seen it when Mrs. Liu and the others had tried to snatch the first branch’s children’s fishing gear. Don’t blame her, their grandmother, for not speaking up. The first branch still had Lanxi. Even if everyone else starved to death, they wouldn’t.

The other three branches were different; they could only rely on themselves to fight for food.

It was the children’s own fault for not being able to hold on to their things, allowing others to snatch them away. Once they reached Dongchuan, she would compensate the first branch more!

Sea fishing was no easy task. That evening, only a few people with fishing experience got to eat a decent meal.

The others could only watch with longing.

Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu had discussed for the entire afternoon, finalizing the list of people going to Tongluo Island and establishing a system of rewards based on merit.

During mealtime, a bailiff was tasked with reading it out to the prisoners.

Ostensibly, the people on both ships were under Liu Laohu’s command, so he had to be invited to preside over any announcements.

“In another day or two, we’ll reach the Jiaodong Archipelago. The pirates and sea raiders there are rampant. Not a single passing ship has ever escaped being plundered!”

The prisoners stared blankly at the bailiff, not understanding why he was saying this now.

“There are two paths before us. One is to switch to the land route. But there’s a plague outbreak on land right now, and refugee riots. The moment we go ashore, it’s a dead end!”

Upon hearing the words “plague” and “riots,” the prisoners erupted into an uproar.

“The other path is to continue by sea. If we encounter pirates, we can fight for our lives, and we’ll have a sliver of a chance to survive!”

The previously clamorous prisoners all fell silent.

Risk their lives? How? They were made of flesh and blood, not shields. Fighting against those pirates who killed without batting an eye, they would only be on the receiving end of a blade.

The bailiff continued, “Mr. Liu has come up with an excellent idea for us. Let’s have Mr. Liu explain it.” Escorting prisoners was one thing, but making a speech like this was truly difficult for him. If he didn’t stop, he would start to stutter.

Liu Yanhui unrolled a sheet of paper and tacked it to a ship plank.

“On this journey, we have killed mountain bandits and fought with refugees. We already have a wealth of combat experience!”

“Mountain bandits are bandits, and pirates are bandits. If we can kill mountain bandits, we can kill pirates too!”

The prisoners’ eyes widened one by one!

Liu Yanhui explained the plan of sending a lamb into a tiger’s den, then pointed at the paper with a bamboo stick and said, “Kill one pirate, and you will be rewarded with one tael of silver!”

The bamboo stick moved down a line.

“All spoils of war will be yours to keep! You don’t have to turn them in!”

The bamboo stick continued downward.

“Kill a minor pirate leader, get twenty taels of silver. Kill a major leader, get fifty taels of silver. And so on, the higher the leader’s rank, the greater the reward. If anyone has the skill to kill the pirate chief, the reward will be one thousand taels of silver!”

“I can kill them!”

The prisoners all turned in unison to look at Madam Song, who had shouted.

“What are you looking at? Your old mother used to be a butcher!”

The prisoners: “…” She was a fierce one!

Liu Yanhui smiled. “Everyone who wishes to participate in the battle, come and sign up with me. For the next two days, participants may get food from the galley on credit. Once you’ve killed the pirates, the cost will be deducted from your reward!”

A few prisoners began to have ideas. They were truly terrible at fishing; after a whole day, they hadn’t even managed to catch a strand of seaweed.

“I’ll sign up to fight.”

“I’ll sign up too!”

“Mr. Liu, if I sign up, can I go get food from the galley?”

…

Liu Yanhui: “You can!”

In an instant, more than half of the people had signed up, with Madam Song at the very front of the line.

Liu Yanhui, who had held a rather poor opinion of Madam Song throughout the journey, started to see her in a new light.

The Shen family, however, was still deliberating.

“Father, I still owe ten taels of silver. My fishing rod was snatched away today, too. If I don’t join the fight, when will I ever be able to pay back those ten taels!” In the past, a single trip to a teahouse would cost him dozens of taels, yet now he was forced to bow his head for a mere ten!

Shen Congwen’s face was etched with worry. “Yuanjing, you must know that pirates kill without batting an eye. Even the court is powerless against them. If you go, you’re just throwing your life away!”

Chapter 99: I know why Liu Laohu stopped Lanxi from helping us!

Shen Yuanjing said, “Father, the next time someone in the family falls ill, I’m afraid Liu Laohu won’t let us buy on credit anymore!”

The Old Madam stiffened, awkwardly turning her head to one side.

“Father, I want to go too!” Shen Yuanjun wasn’t in it for the money to buy medicine; he just liked the feeling of cutting down villains.

Those villains all deserved what was coming to them. What they were doing was enforcing justice on behalf of heaven!

Shen Congwen couldn’t dissuade his sons and sighed repeatedly. His son was right. With such a large family and a long road still ahead, it was inevitable that someone would get a headache or a fever. If Liu Laohu didn’t let Lanxi help them, they could only wait to die!

“It’s because your father is useless and can’t protect you!” Shen Congwen said, his eyes welling with tears.

“Father, don’t say that. This is our own choice,” Shen Yuanjing said. He, too, liked the feeling of earning a living through his own abilities.

“I’ll go with you!” The moment Shen Congwen finished speaking, the Shen elder immediately stopped him in a loud voice.

“No, you can’t! The pirates are vicious and cruel. You’re a frail scholar; you wouldn’t be enough for them to cut down. I don’t want to be a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person. You are forbidden to go!” The Old Madam’s face was taut, her tone firm.

Shen Congwen said in turmoil, “Mother, I don’t want to be a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person either!”

The Old Madam was at her wit’s end, feeling helpless and resentful as she pounded her leg several times.

“Then no one is allowed to go. We can survive by eating dark cornbread buns every day. If we get sick… I refuse to believe Lanxi really has no way to help!” The Old Madam was beginning to resent her eldest granddaughter. Wasn’t she supposed to be so capable? Why couldn’t she even handle a few bailiffs?

Shen Yuanjing frowned. Wasn’t his grandmother making things difficult for Eldest Sister?

“Grandmother, Eldest Brother has already helped us a lot. Without Eldest Brother, we would have been killed by the refugees long ago.”

Mrs. Tian muttered under her breath, “What Eldest Brother? She’s clearly a woman, yet she insists on dressing like a man. Who is she trying to impress by dressing so androgynously? No matter how she disguises herself, she can’t become a man!” In the past, at the palace, they had called her Eldest Miss out of respect for her mother. Had that gone to her head, making her forget her own name?

No matter how brazen or capable she was, she was still a woman. The Shen family had always been run by men; it wasn’t the place for a little wench to be giving orders!

Mrs. Tian had long been unable to stand Shen Lanxi. Before, her husband had been the one to call the shots in the Shen family. If it weren’t for the fact that Lanxi could fight and offer them some protection, she would have long ago coaxed the Old Madam into having her drowned.

Hmph, a woman cast out by her husband’s family didn’t deserve to live!

“You shut your mouth! I won’t have you speak of my Eldest Brother like that!” Shen Yuanjing clenched his fists and glared furiously at Mrs. Tian.

“If not for my Eldest Brother on this journey, you would have died eight hundred times over. No matter what my Eldest Brother looks like, you are not to slander him!”

“That’s right, Fourth Aunt! If you say that again, I’ll go and tell Eldest Brother not to save you the next time we’re in danger!” Shen Yuantang had been fuming for a while. When there was danger, they called for protection, but when it was safe, they started badmouthing Eldest Sister. These people needed to be taught a lesson.

Mrs. Tian’s face twisted in a snarl. “You’re rebelling, are you? How dare you talk back to an elder?”

Shen Congwen stared at Shen Congyi, his face blazing with anger. “Fourth Brother, is this what you think too?”

A sinister glint flashed in Shen Congwen’s eyes. He spun around and slapped Mrs. Tian hard across the face, the force sending her sprawling to the ground.

“The Shen family does not raise ungrateful people! Go and apologize to Lanxi!”

Seeing her husband’s grim face, Mrs. Tian’s own face went pale, and she collapsed on the ground, wailing.

“Big Brother, our Shen family will prosper together or fall together. I will absolutely not allow anyone to undermine the unity of our family. When we get to Dongchuan, I’ll write a letter of divorce and be rid of this muddle-headed woman!” Shen Congyi said through gritted teeth.

Seeing that his fourth brother understood the situation, Shen Congwen’s attitude softened somewhat, and he sighed.

“It’s not like you don’t know what Lanxi looks like. She dresses this way to protect herself. Only by protecting herself can she protect us!”

Shen Congyi nodded quickly.

The Old Madam was very satisfied to see her sons becoming more united. In the past, they had been blinded by the wealthy life in The Capital, and their bonds had grown weaker. This exile wasn’t without its benefits. Her eldest son had always been a good one, and hopefully, he could influence his three other brothers and slowly set them straight.

“Congwen, if Yuanjing and the others want to go, let them. They were able to kill mountain bandits before, so they can surely kill pirates.” After the incident where she was beaten, the Old Madam felt that they couldn’t rely on their eldest granddaughter for everything.

Her eldest granddaughter was not a prisoner. If Liu Laohu wanted to keep her away from them, it would only take a single word.

She wondered, why had they been sent down to the ship’s hold this time? Where had they offended Liu Laohu?

Suddenly, a voice came from not far away.

“Those of you not fighting or helping, get back in the hold! You still want to eat steamed buns? I’d say you want a taste of the whip…” The cursing voice, mixed with the crack of a whip, reached the Old Madam’s ears.

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter as realization dawned!

“I know why Liu Laohu stopped Lanxi from helping us!”

The entire Shen family looked at the Old Madam in unison.

“Mother, what do you mean by that?”

The Old Madam, with an expression of one who had seen through it all, said steadily, “We haven’t contributed to the group of exiles.”

Upon hearing this, some snorted, some looked disdainful, and some grew thoughtful.

A glint flashed in Shen Yuanjing’s eyes, and he said immediately, “Grandmother, all the other prisoners are participating in the battle. Only our Shen family has not sent a single person. Those bailiffs will definitely continue to target us!”

At the word “target,” the eyes of several Shen family members twitched. They had felt something was off before, and now they finally understood. The bailiffs were targeting them!

The more the Old Madam thought about it, the more convinced she became. She immediately began to lecture her children and grandchildren.

“From now on, all of you be more diligent. Whatever work there is to do in the group, rush to do it. Show your faces more in front of the bailiffs!”

The Old Madam looked at her grandsons, who were gazing at her with hopeful eyes. A pang of discomfort went through her heart, but it was quickly overcome by reality.

“Yuanjing, Yuanjun, if you want to go, then go. Be careful!”

“Yes, Grandmother!” Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanjun exchanged a smile.

“Grandmother, I want to go too!” Shen Yuantang also wanted to earn some prize money.

The Old Madam’s face fell. “You’re a girl, what are you getting involved for? Killing pirates is men’s work. You stay here on the ship!”

Shen Yuantang retorted, “I killed mountain bandits last time! The silver grandmother used to buy steamed buns came from me killing those bandits.”

The Old Madam’s face darkened. “How can mountain bandits be the same as pirates? You shut your mouth. If you say one more word, I’ll have your father discipline you!”

Unresigned, Shen Yuantang was about to say more but was stopped when Yuanxin tugged on her sleeve.

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes swept over his uncles and their children. “Grandmother, Uncles, and the children from my uncles’ branches have also been practicing martial arts for many days. This is a good opportunity to earn silver. Why not let them join as well?”

Before the Old Madam could speak, her daughters-in-law shrieked, cutting her off.

“No, absolutely not! Your uncles and the children only practice martial arts to stay fit. If they face those bloodthirsty pirates, they will certainly not come back alive!”

“Yuanjing, it’s one thing for you to take risks, but why are you trying to drag your uncles and cousins into this? What are your intentions?”

Chapter 100: The Disaster Relief Silver All Turned into Stones!

Disappointment flashed in Shen Yuanjing’s eyes, but he spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I’ve heard that Dongchuan is a land of ice and snow for half the year. Eldest Brother spent all his money on the ship. If we don’t earn some now, how will we survive when we get to Dongchuan?”

“I also have a debt of ten taels of silver. I have to kill ten pirates to pay it off. I’m not old, and I’ve only been learning martial arts for a few days. Even if I manage to stay alive, how many pirates do you think I can kill? I might not even be able to pay back my debt!” How could he possibly have money to give to the family?

Even if he were lucky enough to have some left over, he would never give the money to the family!

The Shen family had all forgotten that Shen Yuanjing was shouldering a huge debt of ten taels. A moment ago, they were thinking he could go out and earn money for the family; now, they were only left disgruntled.

Old Madam Shen looked at her three sons and the grandsons behind them, then lowered her eyes and said, “What do you all think?”

Shen Conglian pursed his lips. “Mother, I think we should forget it. The ship’s cabin is perfectly fine!”

“That’s right, Mother. The most important thing for our Shen family right now is the safety of our descendants. Everything else is secondary. Once we dock, can’t we just sell this ship to get money?”

“None of us can swim, and we’re still seasick. How are we supposed to fight pirates?”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shen’s brow relaxed slightly.

It wasn’t that they were unwilling to send men, but that they couldn’t swim and were seasick. The feeling of seasickness was awful; the cabin still reeked of vomit.

“What you’ve said makes sense. We wouldn’t want to become a burden instead of a help!” Old Madam Shen said thoughtfully.

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes darkened. He silently took his younger brother and headed toward the registration area.

The line was a bit long. By the time it was Shen Yuanjing’s turn, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Yuantang, Yuanxin, Yuanqing, Yuanzhao, what are you all doing here?” Shen Yuanjing’s face lit up with a pleasant surprise.

Shen Yuantang huffed haughtily. “Are you the only one allowed to come, Brother? We’re not? We’re descendants of the Shen family too!”

“That’s right, we’re also going to kill pirates and earn silver!”

“It’s just a shame Yuanqing wanted to come too, but Father held him back,” Shen Yuanzhao said with a disappointed look.

Shen Yuanjing was astonished. “Father knows you’re here?”

Shen Yuanqing nodded, a little dejected. “He knows. Father said he wanted to come too, but grandmother is watching him.”

All of them wore expressions of helplessness as they signed up one by one.

Just as they were about to leave, four more people arrived.

“Why didn’t you call us when you came to sign up?”

It was Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuankun from the Second Branch, and Shen Yuanpeng and Shen Yuanhao from the Third Branch.

Shen Yuanjing smiled sheepishly. “I was afraid our uncles wouldn’t let you come.”

Shen Yuanxu rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, “Our legs are attached to us. You’re allowed to sneak here, but we’re not?”

Shen Yuanjing laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. “It was so thrilling when we fought those mountain bandits together last time. Let’s kill them together again this time!”

Shen Yuanxu grinned, lifting his chin. “Now that’s more like it!”

Shen Yuanjing laughingly draped an arm over his shoulder, and the group walked toward the second-floor training area, chatting as they went.

There wasn’t much time left; they had to practice diligently!

With a shrill cry, Little Xue arrived again with intelligence.

After reading the note, Shen Lanxi sent for Liu Yanhui and Wei Dongzhu.

“The Liu family has sent their fleet to pursue us. Tell the boatmen not to rest tonight. Full speed ahead!”

After reading the intelligence report, Liu Yanhui hurried off to find the ship’s captain.

“Tomorrow afternoon, you will take Liu Yanhui to Tongluo Island in a small boat!”

Wei Dongzhu: “Yes!”

Besides the news of the Liu family’s movements, there was another report detailing Zhou Qiwu’s collusion with the pirates.

She had to think carefully about how to use this information.

Jinmen

Zhou Ru’an had rested for two days. The original plan was to depart early the next morning, but he suddenly received an urgent report from a subordinate and had to leave in a hurry.

“Load all the chests onto the ship. Be careful!”

For safety, Zhou Ru’an had stored all the disaster relief silver at the docks, guarded by a heavy contingent of soldiers.

This departure was a bit rushed. The soldiers were hasty as they carried the chests. Walking onto the gangplank, one of them tripped, his hands loosened, and a chest crashed to the ground.

With a loud clatter, a handful of pebbles tumbled out from the opening of the chest.

Zhou Ru’an had been watching the whole time. Seeing the chest hit the ground, he walked over with a dark expression. He had intended to reprimand the soldier, but he never expected to see this.

How could pebbles fall out of a chest meant for disaster relief silver?

“Open the chest!” A bad feeling suddenly washed over Zhou Ru’an. Thinking the guards were too slow, he pried the chest open himself.

Upon seeing what was inside, Zhou Ru’an’s face turned deathly pale, his expression horrified, as if he had seen a ghost.

“Stones? Why are there stones inside?”

Was it just this one chest?

What about the others?

Zhou Ru’an thought of the Wei Army’s stolen provisions and pay, and his heart began to pound violently.

“Quick, open all the chests.”

The soldiers stopped what they were doing and quickly opened the chests.

Stones. All the chests were filled with stones!

A chill crept through Zhou Ru’an’s entire body, and his vision swam with black spots.

The soldiers were equally terrified.

“Second Prince, we swear, we never left the warehouse, not for a single step! We ate, drank, and slept there. The laborers who move cargo at the docks can vouch for the daytime, and those who unload cargo at night can vouch for the night. We watched the warehouse without blinking. Not even a mouse got in!” the soldier commander explained, kneeling on the ground in a panic.

Zhou Ru’an’s face was as white as a corpse’s. This was disaster relief silver. The message he had just received was about a refugee riot in the north. He was supposed to be rushing there to provide relief.

Now that the silver had all turned into stones, what was he supposed to use for disaster relief? The heads of his soldiers?

“Second Prince, I can also testify. Ever since the disaster relief silver was moved to the warehouse, the guards have not left its side. No outsider was allowed within a hundred meters,” the Second Prince’s Counselor hurriedly attested for the guards, which was also a way of attesting for himself.

Zhou Ru’an came back to his senses and roared in a fit of rage, “Then how do you explain all the silver in the chests turning into stones?”

The moment the Counselor saw the stones, he was reminded of the case of the Wei Army’s stolen provisions and pay.

“This subordinate dares to speculate that there was either a problem with this disaster relief silver before it was handed over to us, or something happened on the road after it was handed over. After we left the Capital, we traveled by boat the entire way. It would have been impossible to switch it on the ship!”

These words were like a basin of cold water poured over Zhou Ru’an’s head, instantly sobering him up.

Could it be that the provisions and pay allocated by the national treasury to the Wei Army were nothing but stones from the very beginning?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How could the treasury of the great Great Zhou be so poor as to resort to swapping silver for stones?

But what if… what if it were true?

Zhou Ru’an’s heart pounded in his chest, terrified by his own speculation.

“Second Prince, your subordinate believes that now is not the time to investigate who replaced the silver. The most urgent matter is to quickly raise funds for disaster relief.”

UNTITLED

Chapter 1: Reborn on My Wedding Night!

Chapter 2: Take It All!

Chapter 3: To the Palace!

Chapter 4: The Reason for the Raid!

Chapter 5: Granting Your Wish is Simple. Drink This Cup of Wine!

Chapter 6: A Vicious Vow!

Chapter 7: Who on Earth Was It That Harmed Her?

Chapter 8: Impotent Rage!

Chapter 9: Zhou Ruyuan is Stripped of His Military Authority!

Chapter 10: The Imperial Edict has Arrived!

Chapter 11: Leaving the Prince’s Manor!

Chapter 12: The Staff Howled! The War God of Great Zhou is Nothing Special!

Chapter 13: On the Road to Exile!

Chapter 14: A Grand Gift!

Chapter 15: Young Master Lan!

Chapter 16: The Wei Army’s Families Have Arrived!

Chapter 17: It was Eldest Uncle who harmed the Wei Army, it has nothing to do with us!

Chapter 18: Shen Congwen’s Awakening!

Chapter 19: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand!

Chapter 20: When Has My Daughter Ever Suffered Such Grievances!

Chapter 21: The Great Drought!

Chapter 22: Arriving in Yongcheng!

Chapter 23: Something’s Wrong!

Chapter 24: Officials and Convicts Collaborate!

Chapter 25: The Best Route!

Chapter 26: Is Your Estate in Need of an Accountant?

Chapter 27: In Chaotic Times, Humans Are Scarier Than Wolves!

Chapter 28: The Missing Wei Army Payroll Archive!

Chapter 29: When Did Eldest Sister Get So Strong?

Chapter 30: That Bandit Lair, Should We Raid It?

Chapter 31: Absolutely No Regrets!

Chapter 32: Attacking Black Wind Fortress!

Chapter 33: I’ve Always Been Generous to Those Loyal to Me!

Chapter 34: Some Eat Rice and Meat, Others Can Only Stare!

Chapter 35: If I Didn’t Bring Them Food, Did They Starve?

Chapter 36: Help Grandparents or Help Parents?

Chapter 37: Master, You Can’t Be Partial!

Chapter 38: Encountering Refugees, Getting Separated!

Chapter 39: Ghost Valley, Medicine King Valley!

Chapter 40: Rumors!

Chapter 41: Dog Meat Doesn’t Belong at a Banquet!

Chapter 42: Chaos Befalls the World, a Wise Ruler Emerges!

Chapter 43: The Shen Family Wants Money!

Chapter 44: With Resentment Lingering in My Heart, I Cannot Save Everyone!

Chapter 45: Shameless Robbery!

Chapter 46: Hiding One’s Accomplishments and Fame!

Chapter 47: I Have a Feeling Something’s Going to Happen!

Chapter 48: Is the Shen Family Finished?

Chapter 49: The Ten Thousand Poisons Gate! A Disappearance!

Chapter 50: Darkness Under the Lantern!

Chapter 51: The Iron Mine!

Chapter 52: Rescue!

Chapter 53: Confiscating Weapons!

Chapter 54: Ungrateful!

Chapter 55: Every Man for Himself

Chapter 56: Shen Yuanruan’s Choice!

Chapter 57: From Now On, I Am at Your Command!

Chapter 58: You Reap What You Sow!

Chapter 59: Kill!

Chapter 60: Slaughter!

Chapter 61: I’ll Find You a Good Master!

Chapter 62: To Get Something, You Must First Give Something!

Chapter 63: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them!

Chapter 64: How Could She Not Change!

Chapter 65: My good granddaughter, you can’t abandon us~

Chapter 66: With Guts Like That, They Dared to Steal Military Funds?

Chapter 67: Crisis Averted!

Chapter 68: Pay a Little Respect to the Staff in My Hand!

Chapter 69: Despicable People Will Get Their Comeuppance!

Chapter 70: One More Offense, Banishment!

Chapter 71: Martial Arts Practice!

Chapter 72: Gulan Village: A Birthday Tribute for the Third Princess!

Chapter 73: Hot Soup!

Chapter 74: Serves Her Right!

Chapter 75: Wu Youliang’s Death!

Chapter 76: You Have to Sacrifice the Bait to Catch the Wolf!

Chapter 77: The Shen Family’s First Branch is Captured!

Chapter 78: Ride the Favorable Wind to the Highest Clouds!

Chapter 79: Hijacking the Birthday Convoy!

Chapter 80: Turning the Enemy to One’s Advantage!

Chapter 81: The Most Shameless One Is Here!

Chapter 82: A Nightly Visit to the Dungeon!

Chapter 83: The Shen Family Watches a Torture!

Chapter 84: Treat the Shen Family as Guests of Honor!

Chapter 85: I am Shen Lanxi!

Chapter 86: My Lord!

Chapter 87: The Scheme!

Chapter 88: Aunt, Are You Saying My Fate is Bitter?

Chapter 89: My Shen Family Are Fugitives, But Your Princess’s Manor Isn’t Clean Either!

Chapter 90: Abandon the Horses, Board the Ships!

Chapter 91: How Did It Become Her Fault?

Chapter 92: Pursue them, dead or alive!

Chapter 93: The Copper Coins Went Out for a Spin, and Came Right Back!

Chapter 94: Zhou Qiwu Gives Compensation!

Chapter 95: I Have a Bold Idea!

Chapter 96: Old Madam Shen Gets Beaten!

Chapter 97: Those Who Worked and Those Who Didn’t!

Chapter 98: Shen Yuanruan Stirs Up Trouble!

Chapter 99: I know why Liu Laohu stopped Lanxi from helping us!

Chapter 100: The Disaster Relief Silver All Turned into Stones!