Among everyone, no one wished for Shen Wan to escape more than Sun Shi.
Once she fled, that ugly woman would become a wanted criminal, and if caught, she would be beheaded!
"What nonsense are you talking about running away!" Hu Dahai said, squinting his eyes with displeasure. "She has a lot of things to carry and is lagging behind."
"Enough talk! Take your things and hurry on the road. Don't dawdle here!"
Compared to before, Sun Shi had grown much smarter this time.
She didn't confront Hu Dahai head-on but instead said with a fake smile, "Since Fifth Sister-in-law has so many things to carry, how can we just stand here waiting?"
"Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, let's all go and help her."
Without waiting for a response, she strode forward.
Xie Mubai frowned, his dark eyes glinting with a thin layer of frost.
He had thought that after the market incident, Sun Shi would behave herself, but it seemed he had overestimated her.
He couldn't understand what benefit this woman would gain if Shen Wan got into trouble. Could it be that the Emperor would pardon her from the crime of exile?
If it were anyone else, he would have ended her life with a single stroke of his blade.
But this malicious woman before him was, unfortunately, his own sister-in-law!
"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?" Hu Dahai's face darkened as he shouted sternly, "Take your things and get moving now!"
"Oh, Officer, why are you so nervous? I'm just going to greet my sister-in-law. I didn't accuse you of intentionally letting her escape!" Sun Shi's eyes darted around as she sneered sarcastically.
Her seemingly casual remark was like a boulder thrown into a calm sea, instantly stirring up towering waves!
Intentionally letting her escape?
Yes, that must be it!
As a veteran guard, how could Hu Dahai let a prisoner fall behind? Wasn't he afraid she would run away?
That ugly woman had done him a favor, so he must have let her go out of personal bias.
At this thought, the expressions of all the prisoners changed.
Fortunately, the market incident was still fresh in their minds. Though filled with anger, none dared to act out immediately.
"Third Sister-in-law, your words are a bit excessive," Qian Shi, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Even if you don't trust the officer, you should trust Fifth Sister-in-law. She would never run away, especially since Fifth Brother is still here."
"If you don't believe me, just wait here. It won't be long before Fifth Sister-in-law returns. I believe in her!"
Hearing this, Xie Mubai couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.
In his impression, Qian Shi was a gentle, unassuming person who never stirred up trouble.
But her words just now carried an undertone he hadn't expected.
Perhaps he was overthinking it.
"I believe in her too," Xie Mubai said, his pale lips curling into a faint smile. "Everyone, go ahead. Leave me and the officer here to wait."
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi sneered, "Then I'll wait here too."
The other prisoners also refused to leave.
They, too, wanted to see whether Shen Wan had been let go by Big Beard.
If she had, they could use this opportunity to negotiate terms with the officers.
Even if they couldn't escape like that ugly woman, they would at least have some leverage for bargaining along the journey.
Seeing that none of the exiled prisoners were willing to leave, Hu Dahai grew furious.
With a swift motion, he drew his long blade from his waist and shouted sternly, "All of you, move now!"
"If we don't reach the village ahead before dark, you'll be sleeping in this desolate wilderness!"
But the convicts were equally stubborn and refused to move no matter what.
"Sir, just let them stay here," Sun Shi said with a smile when she saw the situation. "Once Fifth Sister-in-law returns, they'll naturally leave."
"Besides, what if Fifth Sister-in-law can't catch up if we move too fast?"
Immediately, the scene reached a stalemate.
Since the convicts weren't openly causing trouble, Big Beard couldn't very well lower the big blade in his hand.
Time passed slowly. Everyone's eyes grew sore from staring, but Shen Wan's figure still hadn't appeared.
Seeing this, Sun Shi cast a triumphant look at Xie Mubai. "Fifth Brother, it seems you're not that important to that ugly woman after all."
"Maybe she got lost," Qian Shi whispered from the side.
Sun Shi rolled her eyes and sneered, "The Yamen runner knows she doesn't know the way, so he definitely wouldn't have left her too far behind."
At this point, even if Big Beard had mouths all over his body, he couldn't explain himself clearly.
He had escorted convicts for many years, but this batch was particularly difficult to handle.
He had thought he could easily brush this matter off, but who knew they would be so persistent and insist on getting to the bottom of it?
"What are you all doing here?"
Suddenly, a clear voice came from not far away.
Looking up, they saw Shen Wan walking over carrying a large bundle of things.
At the sight of her, Hu Dahai's expression changed abruptly.
"Why are you so slow?" Xie Mubai frowned slightly, seeming displeased. "Everyone thought the Yamen runner had privately released you."
Hearing this, Shen Wan's gaze fell on Sun Shi's face.
Without needing to be told, she knew this woman must be up to her tricks again.
"Ah, some people are so filthy-minded that they assume everyone is like them," she said, raising her eyebrows and giving a strange laugh. "My man is here—where could I possibly run to?"
"But some people are really bold, daring to slander Yamen runners and stir up trouble!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi turned pale with fright and quickly looked at Big Beard. "No, no… I swear, I really didn't mean to doubt you!"
"Earlier, I said I believed you wouldn't privately release a convict!"
Her words weren't convincing—not even a three-year-old would believe them, let alone Hu Dahai.
If she hadn't been deliberately making trouble here, why would the convicts have been baking under the hot sun until now?
Hu Dahai had long been displeased with this woman, and his face was terrifyingly dark. "With just a few casual words, you can incite so many people. If you were deliberately rebelling, wouldn't Da Wei be in danger?"
"Someone! Take this woman away and give her twenty lashes as a warning!"
At these words, Sun Shi trembled like a flower in the wind, pleading for mercy repeatedly.
These Yamen runners were rough and strong.
A single lash would surely break the skin.
After twenty lashes, would her skin even be presentable?
Unfortunately, no matter how she begged, Hu Dahai remained unmoved.
Cherishing the fairer sex?
Sorry, those words had never existed in his life's dictionary!
Soon, two Yamen runners dragged her away.
Shen Wan paid no attention and placed the things she had "bought" on the ground.
She had "bought" so many things—food, daily necessities, and even a large iron pot!
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but somewhat believe what Big Beard had said earlier.
With a woman carrying such a heavy load, it would indeed be difficult for her to catch up with the group.
"This is prepared for you!"
"With this, we won't have to worry about wind or rain anymore!"
Shen Wan smiled at Xie Mubai as she took down the banana leaf umbrella from the cart and replaced it with an oversized oilcloth tent.
By rolling up the oilcloth on all sides of the tent, it became a simple sun umbrella.
Xie Mubai glanced at the tent and couldn't help showing a doubtful expression.
A tent of such good quality shouldn't be something commonly found in an ordinary rural town.
However, he didn't probe further, merely lowering his voice to ask: "Why aren't you leaving?"
Shen Wan looked at him and said with a smile: "Didn't I already explain everything earlier?"
Hearing this, Xie Mubai felt a warmth spread through his heart.