That damned Zhou Yiniang, does she really think she's the Duchess now?
She's just a lowly concubine, where does she get the nerve to order her mistress around?
Though Sun Shi was gnashing her teeth in anger, she forced herself to suppress her rage and put on a pitiful expression: "Yiniang, my back hurts terribly. I need to save this money to hire a Lang Zhong tomorrow."
It was midsummer, and if the wound wasn't treated promptly, the consequences could be dire.
Take that woman whose tendons were severed, for example. Due to lack of medical care, the skin around her ankles had begun to fester and rot.
Anyone passing by could clearly smell the nauseating stench.
"Lang Zhongs are all men!" Zhou Yiniang's eyes darted around as she deliberately said, "I think it's better to buy some medicine and apply it ourselves. After all, a woman's reputation is what matters most."
"What if you're seen by another man? How would you live after that?"
Hearing this, Sun Shi almost cursed her out.
What right did this old woman have to demand she preserve her chastity?
That man hadn't even lifted the red bridal veil before leaving. Their first meeting was at his funeral!
She hadn't dared to look at the cold corpse, and she didn't know whether he was tall or short, whether his face was square or round.
If the Sun family hadn't been greedy for the Guo Gong Fu's power and forbidden her from remarrying, she probably would have had a houseful of children by now.
"Doesn't Fifth Sister-in-law know medicine? Why not let her take a look?" Qian Shi, who was holding a child, suddenly spoke up.
"I don't want that!" Sun Shi rolled her eyes directly. "That ugly woman would definitely take the chance to finish me off!"
Although Sun Shi refused to let Shen Wan treat her, Qian Shi's words reminded Zhou Yiniang.
She didn't care about preserving chastity or not—the primary task now was to save money.
What if they ran out of money before reaching Lin Family Village? What would she do then?
Zhou Yiniang's eyes shifted shrewdly as she quickly whispered a few words to Xie Murong.
Xie Murong listened, her face showing clear reluctance.
Seeing the Xie Jia women whispering among themselves, Shen Wan knew clearly that they were up to no good again.
She thought for a moment, then discreetly took something out from her Space and tucked it into her bosom.
The night grew deeper, and many prisoners, leaning against trees or lying in the weeds, had drowsily fallen asleep.
The mountain night still carried a slight chill.
So, Shen Wan took out a thin quilt and covered Xie Mubai with it.
Though the quilt's color was somewhat faded, it was light and soft—perfect for summer nights.
"Where did this come from?" Xie Mubai asked.
"I treated someone and didn't take money, but asked for this quilt instead." Shen Wan made a funny face at him and smiled proudly. "Aren't I clever?"
She had thought Xiangyang Hou was just stingy, but she never expected there were inferior goods mixed in with the dowry quilts.
This was just as well—it saved her from finding the right opportunity to take one out.
Seeing her playful expression, Xie Mubai's mood improved considerably.
He gave an "Mm" of agreement.
He had to admit, if not for this woman, he would have suffered much more on this journey.
"Get some sleep, it's late," Shen Wan said, tucking in his quilt corner with a smile.
Xie Mubai hesitated, then asked, "Why aren't you coming up?"
Even without love, he couldn't let himself sleep in the cart while this woman slept on the ground.
Besides, he remembered the nanny saying when he was young that women were particularly susceptible to chills.
Shen Wan was slightly taken aback before quickly regaining her composure.
Oh heavens, had this arch-villain been living too comfortably lately, with warmth and full stomachs stirring up… certain thoughts?
Though inwardly flustered, she couldn't afford to lose ground in terms of presence.
She bent down, deliberately putting on a wicked expression: "Aren't you afraid I might bully you?"
"Shouldn't you be the one who's afraid?" Xie Mubai's cheeks flushed slightly as he sneered, "Are you refusing to sleep here because you're scared of having to empty my chamber pot in the middle of the night?"
"If you're too far away, wouldn't waking you for anything disturb everyone?"
As he spoke, he shifted sideways, making a small space beside him.
After a moment's hesitation, Shen Wan lay down next to him.
So what if she lay down? It wasn't like it was their first time sleeping together.
The blanket wasn't large, forcing the two to squeeze tightly against each other.
Shen Wan didn't dare move, lying stiffly in place.
Seeing her so restrained, a faint smile touched Xie Mubai's lips.
Heh, where had the courage she showed when crashing the wedding gone? Now she was just a paper tiger.
The more Shen Wan tried not to move, the more an oblivious mosquito insisted on buzzing around her face.
Damn it! Why wasn't it biting the tender-skinned handsome man beside her instead of her rough hide?
In a fit of anger, she raised her hand to swat it, only to accidentally elbow Xie Mubai beside her.
Xie Mubai grunted in pain, his brow furrowing.
Scarface, who was keeping watch by a nearby fire, overheard the commotion and immediately flushed red.
Ah, how morals have declined!
That ugly girl was really too much. No matter how badly she wanted it, she shouldn't be tormenting an injured man like this!
He casually took the towel draped around his neck and stuffed it into his ears.
Though the cart was narrow, it was far more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.
Xie Mubai felt a weight on his shoulder and turned to find the ugly girl already asleep against him.
Seeing how exhausted she looked, he felt a sudden softness in his heart.
Abruptly, a thought surged into his mind: If it were Shen Yan, would she have accompanied him into exile as uncomplainingly as this ugly girl?
He didn't know.
Lost in random thoughts, Xie Mubai drifted into a fitful sleep.
In the hazy darkness, a furtive shadow appeared beside the cart.
With trembling hands, the figure gently lifted the blanket.
After feeling around and finding a large paper package, the shadow immediately fled.
Suddenly, Shen Wan's eyes snapped open, a meaningful smile curling her lips…
In the dead of night, the exiled convicts were awakened by a piercing scream.
"It hurts, it really hurts!"
Sun Shi lay writhing in the grass, flailing her arms wildly as bean-sized sweat droplets rolled down her forehead.
The Xie family stood helplessly nearby, unsure what to do.
Hu Dahai, rudely awakened from his sleep, approached with an impatient expression: "What's wrong now?"
Biting her lip until it bled, Sun Shi pointed at Shen Wan and cursed: "Officer, that bitch did this to me!"
Hearing the noise, Shen Wan sat up rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"What did you say?" She yawned, looking at Sun Shi with confusion.
"Don't you dare deny it!" Sun Shi brandished a crumpled piece of parchment, demanding viciously, "I ask you, isn't this yours?"
Shen Wan felt around, deliberately putting on an indignant expression.
"You dare to steal, Sun Shi!" She jumped straight down from the cart, raising her voice to shout, "Officers, catch the thief!"
At the word "steal," Xie Murong's expression darkened.
She was the one who had stolen the items. If she hadn't stolen them, Zhou Yiniang would have stopped giving her food.
"Fine, so you admit this is yours!" Sun Shi, however, showed no fear and continued to yell, "I ask you, why are you carrying poison on you?"
"Why is it that after I used this, my wound not only didn't heal but became hot and painful instead?"
No further explanation was needed—everyone present understood the situation.
Sun Shi had stolen the ugly woman's medicine, only for it to backfire.
Though stealing was despicable, the fact that the ugly woman carried poison was even more terrifying!
What was she planning to do?
If Sun Shi hadn't mistakenly used the poison, who else was she intending to harm?
At this thought, not only the women who had previously cursed Xie Jia but even the other prisoners changed their expressions.
"Is that really poison?" Hu Dahai could no longer openly defend her and had no choice but to look toward Shen Wan.
Just as Shen Wan was about to answer, Xie Mubai's faint voice reached her ears: "Whether it is or isn't, wouldn't we know if we take a look?"
Hu Dahai couldn't help but feel speechless.
Fine, even though he was supposed to be the leader of the group, now he had to follow this man's arrangements.
Complaints aside, he still stepped forward and picked up the paper packet.
On the thick kraft paper, a few traces of white powder remained.
Hu Dahai dipped his finger in a bit, brought it to his nose to smell, and couldn't help but frown: "Shi Hui Fen?"
Upon hearing that a large amount of Shi Hui Fen had been applied to her back, Sun Shi turned pale with rage.
She reached out and viciously pinched Xie Murong.
Xie Murong was filled with resentment.
How was she supposed to know it was Shi Hui Fen?
The ugly woman had treasured it so much, keeping it close to her body—naturally, she had assumed it was medicine for wounds.
Sun Shi was not about to let Shen Wan off the hook. Even trembling in pain, she didn't forget to throw accusations at her: "Even if it's Shi Hui Fen, this ugly woman definitely has ill intentions!"
"What reason does she have to carry such lowly, worthless things around for no good reason?"