The young ladies, holding back their grief, supported the old matriarch, Madam Wu’an, and the other madams and concubines, following the jailer in a daze.
Shen Ruyi and the other maids followed behind. Apart from the occasional sobbing, the procession was silent.
“We’ve arrived. Those with relatives to see off, say your words quickly. Once we depart, returning to the capital will be very difficult,” the jailer said, unusually solemn, then handed the women over to a group of soldiers in uniform who had been waiting nearby.
As a low-ranking maid with no family, Shen Ruyi had no one to bid farewell, so she surveyed the scene.
The grand West City Gate had dozens of soldiers and dozens of simple horse-drawn carriages lined up. The long convoy looked quite impressive.
A few horses were nearby—these soldiers couldn’t ride all the carriages. Could these carriages be for the female family members being sent to marry frontier soldiers?
Shen Ruyi had imagined walking as in dramas. The jailer may have mentioned it earlier, but she thought she misheard.
Seeing the carriages now, and realizing the emperor intended the female family members to be married off to frontier soldiers, walking would have been impossible for such a group of frail young girls—survival would be uncertain.
Shen Ruyi let out a relieved sigh, then watched the Wu’an Marquis’s family members.
The old matriarch and Madam Wu’an clutched the two terrified young boys—the heir and the second son, perhaps. After the old Marquis died, his concubine-born sons were sent away, leaving only these two boys under the household.
Some maids in the capital also had relatives come to see them off.
Wait—this wasn’t only the Wu’an Marquis’s family. Two other groups of female family members were also saying tearful goodbyes. Many had clearly failed in supporting the wrong side.
Shen Ruyi, being dragged along for punishment, still didn’t know whom Wu’an Marquis had backed. The injustice was maddening.
After about a tea-cup’s time, the soldiers finished their handover.
“Bang bang—” a guard struck a bronze gong.
The soldiers’ leader then ordered, “Line up and board the carriages. We depart now, don’t waste time.”
He kicked his horse and rode off. From the city gate, the crying and wailing intensified.
Shen Ruyi and the other maids were assigned to one carriage. Though simple, it was surprisingly spacious.
However, larger space had drawbacks—too many people. At least ten young, frail girls crowded into one carriage. The road was bumpy; they couldn’t move, enduring the ride in pain.
After some distance, the carriage stopped near a forest. The sun had almost set, leaving faint light in red-and-blue clouds.
Shen Ruyi, stuck in the middle, found her backside numb. Once others got off, she stretched her legs, wincing at the pain as she moved out of the carriage.
“Ruyi, are you alright? I saw you on the carriage but couldn’t greet you. Too crowded,” someone said.
Outside the carriage stood Xing Yu, who had shared Shen Ruyi’s room in the Third Young Master’s wing. She quickly helped Shen Ruyi up.
“Thank you, I’m sore all over. How are you not hurting? You look fine,” Shen Ruyi said, envious.
“Ha, I was lucky—sitting at the door, I could stretch my legs outside. These soldiers are much more reasonable than the jailers. They saw nothing wrong,” Xing Yu said cheerfully.
Shen Ruyi hadn’t noticed Xing Yu’s lively personality in the Third Young Master’s wing.
“Is it strange I’m different from how I was in the mansion?” Shen Ruyi asked, surprised.
“You really think so? I was always quiet, but now look at me. Before, with that master in the house, we had to be low-profile to survive,” Xing Yu sighed, full of feeling.
Shen Ruyi thought of the Third Young Master, the cause of her transmigration, and fell silent.
“Let’s not dwell on unhappy things. Let’s stretch. I smell food; soon we’ll eat. Tonight, we’ll rest; tomorrow, another day on the carriage,” Xing Yu said, swinging her arms and legs to move.
Seeing other maids stretch, Shen Ruyi joined.
Her body was stiff; joints crackled as she moved.
Watching others, Shen Ruyi noted that all the women were stretching. The old matriarch, Madam Wu’an, and the young ladies were soothing the two surviving young boys.
‘Even they can ride to the frontier—this exile isn’t so bad,’ Shen Ruyi thought.
The soldiers were busy feeding horses, cooking, and watching over the women to prevent escape—military discipline was strict.
Shen Ruyi breathed easier; good discipline didn’t guarantee good men, but it increased the chances.
‘Marrying soldiers may increase the likelihood of widowhood, but at least we’ll be free citizens—not lifelong slaves,’ she reasoned.
Shen Ruyi built herself up mentally to adapt to this unfamiliar environment.
“Ruyi, let’s wash our hands and faces by the river. Food’s almost ready; I can smell it,” Xing Yu said after moving a bit.
Their overnight stop had been well chosen—a clearing between a small river and a forest.