Shen Wan took a bite of the cornbread and sneered, "Do you know what Sun Shi was doing behind that rock earlier?"
Xie Murong seemed to understand something.
She felt stomach acid rising in her throat, nearly vomiting from disgust.
No wonder Sun Shi had been complaining about stomach discomfort along the way – she had actually swallowed the pearls!
Yet when looking at the fragrant flatbread, Xie Murong couldn't help feeling envious: "How wonderful it would be to travel with Third Sister-in-law. She's so clever."
Xie Murong wasn't born of Zhou Yiniang and had been spoiled since childhood.
So after some discussion among the women, her name was removed from the traveling companion list as well.
With no other choice, she could only follow Xie Mubai.
Shen Wan didn't hold back, not bothering to conceal the mockery in her eyes: "You might want to join them, but would they even want you?"
Hearing this, Xie Murong was so furious she nearly exploded, wishing she could fight this ugly woman to settle their rivalry.
But she didn't dare, knowing she was no match in a fight.
Shen Wan paid her no further mind, using the same excuse as Sun Shi to go up the mountain.
The mountain was covered with lush bamboo groves. She cut a section to make a simple bamboo container, filled it with spiritual spring water, then took a meat bun from her Space to eat.
After eating and drinking her fill, she casually picked two fruits before returning.
With the National Treasury stored in her Space, Shen Wan could buy as much food as she wanted.
However, since they had just been stripped of their family assets, she didn't want to draw too much attention, especially since their fellow prisoners weren't friendly.
Someone as conspicuous as Sun Shi would inevitably get into trouble sooner or later!
After descending the mountain, Shen Wan offered one fruit to Xie Mubai: "I picked this on the mountain. Make do with it."
"Fifth Brother, don't eat that!" Xie Murong immediately protested upon seeing this. "What if the fruit is poisonous?"
"I've heard people say you shouldn't eat wild things randomly, or you could die."
Shen Wan was unfazed, taking a bite of the fruit: "Suit yourself."
Xie Mubai didn't speak, silently bringing the fruit to his lips.
After taking one bite, he momentarily lost focus.
Strange, this wild fruit tasted exactly like the freshly purchased fruits from their manor!
If he wasn't certain this ugly woman hadn't brought any luggage when leaving the manor, he would have suspected this was from their own stock.
Noticing his unusual expression, Xie Murong's anxiety held a hint of concealed delight: "Fifth Brother, are you feeling unwell?"
"Are you that eager for something to happen to your Fifth Brother?" Shen Wan asked with a fake smile.
Xie Murong's face paled as she defended herself: "Nonsense! I'm just concerned about Fifth Brother."
"I trust Shen Wan," Xie Mubai coldly interrupted her.
No matter what schemes this ugly woman might have, she certainly meant him no harm.
If she did, she wouldn't have requested this cart from Xiangyang Hou Manor for him – she could have just left him to fend for himself.
Xie Murong found herself rebuffed.
After finishing her flatbread, Zhou Yiniang felt unbearably thirsty.
Unwilling to drink ditch water like the other prisoners, she sighed while staring at the bright red fruit in Shen Wan's hand: "Ah, if only I could have a fruit to quench my thirst after the meal."
Hearing this, Sun Shi and the other daughters-in-law immediately understood.
"Yiniang, I should have gone up the mountain to pick fruits for you," Sun Shi said, her eyes shifting cunningly as she smiled. "It's just that I don't know where to find them."
"Fifth Sister-in-law, you shouldn't keep all the good things to yourself," she added. "Yiniang is still thirsty!"
Shen Wan finished the fruit in her hand and casually tossed the pit aside. "You didn't think of me when you were eating alone either."
"Besides, I've already finished eating!"
When Zhou Yiniang heard this, she was so angry she nearly fainted.
Since the late Madame of Zhen Guo Gong passed away, the inner household of the estate had been managed entirely by her.
Coupled with Zhen Guo Gong's favoritism and the respect shown by her four daughters-in-law, she had gradually come to regard herself as the mistress of the house.
Never did she expect that this ugly girl who had just married into the family would dare to look down on her!
"Then go pick some more!" Sun Shi said with a dark expression, using a commanding tone.
Shen Wan stretched lazily and sneered, "Go pick them yourself if you want! We'll be setting off soon. If you fall behind and get accused of trying to escape, it'll be a disaster."
"Besides, Third Sister-in-law, aren't you rich? Why don't you go buy some?"
Xie Murong and Sun Shi had always been on good terms.
Added to her dislike for the ugly girl, she couldn't help but flare up. "Shen Wan, what's the harm in picking one for Yiniang? How can you be so unfilial?"
"Weren't you afraid this fruit was poisonous?" Shen Wan rolled her eyes and retorted sarcastically, "What, are you trying to poison your dearest Yiniang now?"
Hearing this, Xie Murong burst into tears out of sheer anger.
She had been coddled and pampered since childhood, and the grievances she had suffered today alone surpassed all the hardships she had endured in over a decade combined.
She could cry all she wanted—Shen Wan couldn't care less.
She deeply disliked this Xie family and wished they would cut ties with her, just as Xiangyang Hou had.
Thinking of this, she instinctively glanced at Xie Mufbai.
Would this major antagonist agree?
In the original story, he valued family ties above all else and treated this concubine mother with even more respect than his own birth mother, showing more filial piety than a biological son.
Getting him to agree to split the family would be harder than climbing to the sky.
"Time's up! Everyone get up and start moving!" Big Beard brandished his whip and shouted at the crowd, "If we don't reach the relay station before dark, you'll be spending the night in the wild!"
At these words, everyone scrambled to their feet in panic.
"Have some water." Shen Wan handed the bamboo tube filled with spiritual spring water to Xie Mufbai.
With so many people around, it wasn't convenient to treat his injuries, so she could only use the spiritual spring water for basic care for now.
Seeing the sweat on her forehead, Xie Mufbai felt a slight stir in his heart. "I'm not thirsty. You drink it."
"Fifth Brother, I'm thirsty," Xie Murong said timidly, swallowing hard.
Xie Mufbai replied coldly, "This is water Shen Wan fetched. You need her permission to drink it."
Though he genuinely cared for his only half-sister, he would never use someone else's belongings to curry favor—especially since she had treated Shen Wan poorly.
If she wanted to drink, she would have to ask the ugly girl for permission.
Xie Murong shot a resentful glare at Shen Wan and instinctively quickened her pace.
Asking that ugly girl for a favor? She would never stoop so low!
It was peach season, and vendors carrying baskets of fruit passed by frequently.
Under Zhou Yiniang's domineering pressure, Sun Shi reluctantly bought a few peaches. The mother-in-law and daughters-in-law sat by the roadside, eating with relish.
Sun Shi, already in a foul mood, perked up immediately when she saw Shen Wan passing by.
"So sweet!"She deliberately raised her voice, casting a provocative look at the ugly girl." "These are much tastier than the wild fruits from the mountain!"
"Yes, it's still the third daughter-in-law who's filial!" Zhou Yiniang said with veiled sarcasm. "When I go underground to see the Duke in the future, I'll definitely have a good talk with him about this."
Shen Wan couldn't be bothered to respond and looked down at Xie Mubai: "Hey, do you like them?"
"They're my family. You're not allowed to bully them!" Xie Mubai frowned slightly, his expression displeased.
Shen Wan curled her lips.
As expected, this major antagonist was fiercely protective of his own.
If one day she were also included within his protective circle, wouldn't she be able to do whatever she wanted?
Thinking of this, her eyes lit up: "If I can cure your legs, will you protect me for life?"
Even if she wouldn't elope like the original host after reaching the northwest, there was no guarantee nothing would go wrong.
Especially with this scheming handsome man – once he made a comeback, his first move would definitely be to eliminate her, his lawful wife, to make room for his white moonlight.
Hearing this request, Xie Mubai was quite surprised and instinctively looked at her a few more times.
Protect her for life?
Everyone in the capital believed that Xie Mubai was nothing but a pretty yet useless embroidered pillow, barely kept alive by medicine.
Now that he had been reduced to a convict, how could this ugly woman see that he had the ability to protect her?
"So you know medicine!" Xie Mubai's dark pupils slightly contracted as he asked calmly, "What did you do to Huang Gonggong in the front courtyard today?"
He didn't believe she would be kind enough to give acupuncture to that old eunuch.
Shen Wan was startled.
Damn, this major antagonist had sharp eyes – he actually noticed!
"Guess!" She smiled slyly without answering.
Calculating the time, Huang Gonggong should now be learning what it meant to wish for death.
The needle tip was coated with a newly developed potent poison she had created. About an hour after the toxin entered the bloodstream, the person would become paralyzed, with every inch of their bones feeling as if crushed by a cart, causing heart-wrenching pain.
Within seven days, he would die in agony!
Seeing that the ugly woman wasn't willing to talk, Xie Mubai didn't press further.
Shen Wan smiled as she looked at him: "You'd better consider what I said."
"If you agree, I'll treat your legs tonight. This opportunity is quite rare!"
With many eyes around during the day, she didn't want too many people to learn about the Space's secret.
Xie Mubai pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.
If his legs weren't treated soon, they might become permanently disabled. If this ugly woman could cure them, protecting her for life didn't seem like a difficult task.
Seeing the two chatting and laughing, Zhou Yiniang, who had been waiting to see Shen Wan get angry, was greatly surprised.
Strange, wasn't he supposed to hate this ugly woman to the bone? Why were they so close now?
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Sun Shi sneered: "What's so strange about this? Now that Fifth Brother is disabled, any woman – even a sow – would be good enough for him."
Zhou Yiniang didn't care whether it was a woman or a sow following Xie Mubai, as long as it didn't drag her down. After all, he wasn't her own son.
She'd rather spend this free time eating a few more peaches.
Suddenly, a dirty little hand reached over.