Nangong Yunran quietly listened to Su Niyue singing, feeling even more admiration for her sister-in-law. She exchanged a glance with Nangong Yunqi; it seemed they shared the same thought—is this sister-in-law a fairy? Both were completely absorbed in Su Niyue’s song, not noticing Ruan Mingyu’s subtle movements.
Seeing the person he loved most, Nangong Yunteng held his mother’s hand tightly. Ruan Mingyu, seeing her son open his eyes, said nothing—she only smiled and nodded repeatedly.
The matriarch also smiled, tears streaming down her face. Her grandson was awake, and her long-suspended worry finally eased.
Yunteng suddenly felt a surge of relief. He was grateful that he hadn’t continued feigning unconsciousness, avoiding unnecessary worry for his grandmother and mother. Looking at them now, he saw they were slightly thinner but in good health. Their simple cotton clothes were clean and orderly, not as destitute as he had imagined. His gratitude toward Su Niyue grew even more.
Ruan Mingyu kept holding her son’s hand, unwilling to let go. The memory of seeing him bloodied and her own helplessness gnawed at her. If not for Su Niyue saving Yunteng, she might have lost him. Now that he was awake, her guilt only intensified.
Yunteng understood his mother’s feelings. He squeezed her hand firmly, silently reassuring her that he was fine. Ruan Mingyu nodded.
Suddenly, the roof of the cart rattled with raindrops. Outside, Yunran cried out: “It’s raining!”
“Stop the cart!” Yunqi commanded. Su Niyue jumped down nimbly, fetched a raincoat and oilcloth from the back, and returned to the front.
“Yunqi, put this on!”
“Sister-in-law, you wear it—I’m fine!”
“No, you’re driving the cart. You can’t get wet. Listen!”
Yunqi took the raincoat obediently and put it on.
“Yunran, do you want to come inside?”
“No! Sister-in-law, teach me to sing!”
“Alright, then we’ll just cover ourselves with the oilcloth. If you feel cold, tell me immediately. Don’t get sick—we already have one patient in your brother. No one else is allowed to fall ill!” Su Niyue then climbed onto the ox cart and joined Yunran under the oilcloth.
The three inside the cart smiled at her words. Though her words weren’t soft, her tone was full of affection. When Yunteng received the imperial marriage edict, he had resisted inwardly—even considered tossing the woman into the backyard after the marriage. Now, looking back, he regretted those thoughts. He realized he had gained a truly good wife, and all the suffering he endured had been worth it.
The rain was light. The guards didn’t stop the group, only urging: “Move quickly! There’s a cave ahead to shelter from the rain.” These guards, long accustomed to escorting exiles to Lingnan, knew the road well, and no one questioned them.
Hearing about the cave, the exiles quickened their pace, and even the man pushing the cart worked harder, not wanting to fall behind.
Soon they reached the mountain base. The cave was halfway up the slope, and seeing it, the exiles ran even faster.
Yunqi worried: How will we get the ox cart up there?
Su Niyue didn’t hesitate. She shouted: “Quick! Carry your brother into the cave! Yunran, help your mother and grandmother! The cart is too heavy to take up the slope!”
The siblings obeyed immediately, moving swiftly.
Su Niyue went to the front of the ox cart, guiding the ox while secretly using her earth-element ability to help push the wheels uphill. She could have stored the cart in her spatial pocket and released it at the cave, but some guards were watching at the entrance, so she pretended to pull the ox with effort. Her earth power was newly awakened; pushing a cart uphill was taxing, but the cave wasn’t high, and soon the cart reached the entrance.
The exiles were surprised. They hadn’t expected this young woman to manage the cart uphill.
“Sister-in-law!” Yunran ran over, eyes red. She felt concern for Su Niyue, who had borne the brunt of all the hardships along the journey.
“Grandmother and your brother settled?”
“Yes. Sanhu took the innermost spot for us, and there’s plenty of dry straw!”
Su Niyue carried the bedding from the cart with Yunran to their spot. Torches had been placed along the cave wall—likely by Sanhu beforehand. Smoke drifted outside, indicating good ventilation and possibly another exit. She gathered the straw to avoid stray sparks from the torches.
Seeing everyone’s clothes were only lightly wet, she relaxed. She laid out the bedding in a corner, strategically shielding Nangong Yunteng.
Yunqi carefully moved his brother onto the bedding. The matriarch and Ruan Mingyu sat down, perfectly blocking view of Yunteng. Su Niyue activated her earth power to set a protective perimeter around them, then returned to the cart to fetch pots, bowls, and a water bag for their small camp.
She hadn’t expected Sanhu to secure the spot for them. Turning, she saw him reprimanding exiles who had argued over prime spots. Su Niyue smiled, knowing Sanhu’s special care stemmed from gratitude for her saving his life. In her previous life, she had saved countless people, but few truly remembered the favor.
“Yue’er, come rest.” Ruan Mingyu’s voice was filled with concern. She couldn’t imagine how Su Niyue’s frail body had managed to push the ox cart into the cave.
“Okay!” Su Niyue obediently sat beside her.
Ruan Mingyu wiped rain from her hair, gratitude shining in her eyes. Su Niyue noticed it and smiled back. Ruan Mingyu glanced at Nangong Yunteng behind her, and Su Niyue immediately understood. She nodded.
Ruan Mingyu looked surprised, eyes wide. Su Niyue silently mouthed: “He woke up last night. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Ruan Mingyu touched Su Niyue’s head, nodded, and mimicked her lip movements: “Thank you.”
Su Niyue shrank her neck, cheeks flushing slightly, shaking her head—like a well-behaved child.
At that moment, Ruan Mingyu realized: She’s just a child. Only a year older than Yunqi, yet all the burdens of the family had fallen on her slender shoulders. Ruan Mingyu blamed herself for her own inability. She had promised to protect this child, but the girl had been the one caring for everyone along the way.
“Yue’er, I’m sorry, mother has failed you!”
“Mother, what’s wrong? Why say that?”
“Nothing. Mother’s just wiping your hair!”
Warmth flooded Su Niyue’s heart. She looked up at Ruan Mingyu wiping the water from her hair and face, thinking, Having a mother figure is really wonderful!
Yunteng’s heart ached. He silently vowed to always treat her well from now on.