Shen Wan was startled.
The streets on both sides were densely packed with commoners.
Their emotions ran high, surging forward like tidal waves.
The officials half-heartedly attempted to hold them back, resulting in Xie Murong's face being swollen from punches, and Sun Shi seemingly taking a blow to her stomach.
Everyone was too preoccupied with their own distress, crying their hearts out, to pay any attention to Xie Mubai on the stretcher.
Hearing the angry voices around him, the last glimmer of light in Xie Mubai's eyes vanished, replaced by a deep, abyssal darkness.
So this was the emperor they had loyally served, these were the people they had desperately protected!
For the sake of the Great Wei Dynasty, the men of the Xie family had shed blood on the battlefield, returning wrapped in horsehide, only to end up in such a state today.
Seeing this, Shen Wan desperately used her body to shield him.
Unfortunately, she was far too frail.
No matter how she tried to block, the rotten vegetables still managed to hit the man on the stretcher.
The journey was extremely arduous, and by the time they reached the city gate, everyone was disheveled and in a sorry state.
A large crowd had already gathered at the city gate. Due to their association with Zhen Guo Gong, many were being exiled this time, mostly as entire families.
However, there were few people there to see them off—only a handful had come to give their friends or relatives some clothing or loose silver for the journey.
When the Xie family arrived, the other convicts' expressions darkened.
"It's all your father's fault!" a woman pointed at Xie Mubai's nose and cursed, "If he hadn't colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, why would we be exiled?"
"Yes, it's all his fault! My husband only worked under him for a few days, and now he's labeled as an accomplice—what an injustice!"
"Such a scourge should be wiped out! It'd be better if his whole family died!"
Listening to the accusations, Xie Mubai's marble-pale face showed no trace of emotion.
No matter how vicious the words, they elicited no reaction from him.
Shen Wan was not one to tolerate such behavior. Seeing their ugly faces, she sneered, "Why only start cursing now?"
"When the Duke was in his glory, which of you wasn't fawning and flattering him?"
"When there were benefits, you wagged your tails more eagerly than dogs. Now that we're in trouble, you turn on us—how utterly shameless!"
Xie Mubai's eyes flickered slightly.
He had always despised her sharp tongue, but now it sounded unexpectedly comforting.
Yet those who had once benefited from the Duke's mansion had all turned against him, wishing they could slice him to pieces a thousand times over.
The fickleness of the world could not be more apparent.
However, the journey ahead was unlikely to be peaceful.
More people gradually arrived to see the exiles off. Seeing the heavy bundles they carried, Sun Shi and the others couldn't help but feel envy and resentment.
They hadn't been able to bring any of their belongings, and without support from relatives, they might not survive the journey to the Great Northwest.
But after waiting for a long time, none of the families who had once claimed to care for them showed up, fearing they would be implicated.
Suddenly, a carriage stopped in front of them, and an elderly steward stepped out.
Noticing the Xiangyang Hou Manor emblem embroidered on his collar, the widowed sisters-in-law felt a pang of bitterness.
Sure enough, Xiangyang Hou still cared for his daughter.
The old steward approached Shen Wan and bowed respectfully. "Second Young Miss, I am here on the orders of the master to deliver something to you."
"What is it?" Shen Wan was somewhat surprised.
The book had mentioned that the original owner was not well-liked by her family.
The old steward presented a letter with both hands and said clearly, "Since the Second Young Miss snatched the Eldest Young Miss's marriage, the Marquis has been so angry that he took to his bed, swearing to sever ties with you."
Hearing this, the Xie family widened their eyes in shock.
They had thought it was heartless enough that their own families did not come to see them off, but they never expected the truly cold-blooded one to be the Marquis of Xiangyang, who was reputed to be a gentleman. He would actually kick his own daughter when she was down at such a time!
Shen Wan, however, was indifferent. She cast a cold glance at the old steward and said, "Severing ties is fine, but you must agree to one condition of mine."
"Second Young Miss, you're putting me in a difficult position," the steward said, feeling troubled. "I'm just a servant, how could I make such a decision?"
Shen Wan sneered, "Then go back and tell them that I have always been outspoken."
"If I happen to say something interesting, it wouldn't be impossible for the people of Great Wei to suspect that he and the Zhen Guo Gong are accomplices."
Hearing this, the steward paled in fear. "May I ask what condition the Second Young Miss has, so that this servant can report back to the Marquis?"
Due to the theft incident, the household was already in chaos. If this ugly girl made exorbitant demands, he seriously suspected that the Marquis of Xiangyang would vent his anger on him.
"Get me a cart, a sturdy one!" Shen Wan thought for a moment and said.
The steward stood there respectfully, waiting for a long time without hearing anything else, so he tentatively asked, "And then?"
"That's all," Shen Wan said indifferently.
The steward was truly astonished.
If it were him, he would definitely seize the opportunity to demand a large sum of money.
He had even prepared to bargain with this ugly girl, but who would have thought that after thinking for so long, she only wanted a broken cart!
"There's no need to trouble the Marquis with this matter. This servant will give you one," the steward said, quickly retreating for fear that the ugly girl would change her mind.
Soon, he had someone bring a brand-new cart, absolutely sturdy!
Looking at the cart, Sun Shi burst into laughter.
She stiffened her neck and glared at Shen Wan with hostility. "So you've come to this too!"
"How wise of the Marquis of Xiangyang to sever ties with you, this jinx, early on."
"But we are the unlucky ones! The prestigious Zhen Guo Gong residence has a legacy of over a hundred years, yet as soon as you entered, it was confiscated. It's all because of you!"
One stone stirred up a thousand waves.
Everyone who already disliked Shen Wan now looked at her with intense resentment.
Indeed, all the misfortunes of the Guo Gong residence began the moment this ugly girl entered!
If it weren't for her, perhaps they would never have fallen to such a state!
Seeing the woman causing trouble again, Shen Wan sneered, "Third Sister-in-law, you overestimate me. I don't have your skills."
"I heard that right after you finished the wedding ceremony, before your bridal veil was even lifted, your husband went off to battle."
"In just a few days, the four young masters of the Guo Gong residence died on the battlefield. It's hard to say which of us is the real jinx."
Hearing this, Zhou Yiniang immediately changed her expression, her gaze toward Sun Shi growing sharper.
"No matter what, I'm still better than you!" Sun Shi grew frantic and spoke without thinking. "I believe my Third Lang would rather die than end up crippled like someone else, becoming a burden to others!"
Listening to those cold words, Xie Mubai's eyes darkened.
Shen Wan was about to scold her when she saw a bearded officer approaching.
"Enough arguing!" he snapped with a dark expression. "We're taking a headcount now and preparing to leave the city!"