The Luo family members also looked over in surprise. Could it be that the Old Prince was so wise that he had already anticipated His Majesty's intentions and moved the wealth away beforehand?
Old Prince Luo felt both anguish over the disappearance of generations of accumulated wealth and nearly suffocated from the indignation of being falsely accused.
"I only woke from my coma this morning and have no knowledge of where the money went…"
Suddenly, Old Princess Consort Tian woke from a nightmare with a start, reaching out to grab at things while shouting, "Silver, my silver…"
Old Prince Luo's voice faltered as he looked hesitantly at his elderly wife. He knew she was fond of wealth—could she have taken it?
Deputy Commander Qi had grown up in the Luo Prince's residence and naturally knew the Old Princess Consort's habits as well.
"Take the Luo family into custody and throw them in prison. We leave the capital tomorrow. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"
As for Old Princess Consort Tian, Deputy Commander Qi took her away separately.
When she appeared before others the next day, though neatly dressed, faint traces of bloody welts were visible on her exposed skin.
"Mother." Second Master Luo Wenhong and Third Master Luo Wentao quickly rushed to support her, their movements careful and gentle.
Tian weakly glanced at her second son, smiled with relief, and fainted again.
The beating hadn't been in vain—at least the silver had been smuggled out by her second son.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commander Qi, having failed to extract any useful information, was not only reprimanded by His Majesty but also suspected of having secretly pocketed the money himself.
From then on, his chances of promotion were gone—unless he could find that wealth.
…
The Luo family members were fitted with shackles and dragged along the streets, with hostile commoners lining both sides.
"General Luo caused my brother's death without even leaving a body—he deserves to die!"
"Give us back our father!"
"Every member of the Luo family deserves a miserable death!"
As the crowd's fury surged, they hurled rotten vegetable leaves at them.
Luo Huai subtly stepped in front of his family to shield them. Zhu Mingqing's eyes flickered slightly—he was just a half-grown boy with a thin, frail back, yet he appeared utterly fearless.
The Luo family, accustomed to being held in high regard, had never endured such humiliation. Foul odors surrounded them from all directions, and they turned aside to dodge the projectiles, their resentment toward the eldest branch deepening.
Old Prince Luo suffered the most. He thought of how the Luo men had fought on battlefields for generations, and how Tingshan, with his cautious and shrewd nature, could never have acted rashly on his own. Could it truly be that "when the cunning hare dies, the hunting hound is boiled"?
The iron chains scraped against their ankles. Within just a quarter of an hour, someone couldn't take it anymore and tried to slack off, only to receive a whip across the body, splitting the skin open.
"All of you, behave yourselves. I don't care what status you had before—here, you're all exiled criminals. On this journey, you'd best not cause trouble, or else… hmph!" Liang He threatened with a fierce expression.
Zhu Mingqing knew this man. He was the head officer responsible for escorting the Luo family to Guancheng.
Though he looked formidable, he was actually a man of principle.
When Third Young Master's leg was injured, it was Liang He who found a doctor for him; otherwise, he might have lost his life.
As she traveled, Zhu Mingqing observed the Luo family members.
Old Prince Luo had fathered four sons and one daughter. The eldest, Luo Tingshan, was born to his deceased first wife, Lady Wang. The second son, Luo Wenhong, the third son, Luo Wentao, and the only daughter, Luo Wenqi, were born to his second wife, Madam Tian. There was also a concubine-born youngest son, Luo Wen'an.
Her branch had four children: Luo Feng, Luo Huai, Luo Xiao, and Luo Fu. The second branch had two sons and one daughter, the third branch had two sons and two daughters, and there were numerous collateral relatives besides—a vast crowd that made one's head spin just looking at them.
Ah, this journey was destined to be anything but peaceful.
…
An hour later, they finally arrived at the pavilion ten li outside the city, where their respective relatives and friends had long been waiting.
The natal families of Second Lady Song and Third Lady Wu had both sent many supplies—plenty of food and clothing. After all, this journey would be fraught with hardship and bitter cold; no one knew what might happen, so it was always better to be prepared.
The others also bid farewell to their loved ones, surrounded by the sound of miserable wailing.
"Third Brother, I'll never see Brother Huan Yu again, wuwu… I don't want to be exiled." Luo Fu seemed to have only just realized the reality of the situation, crying with a flood of tears and snot.
Luo Xiao was only a fifteen-year-old youth. Though usually somewhat arrogant, the thought of exile still terrified him.
He couldn't help but look at his second brother. "Was Father really wrong?"
Luo Huai was the same age as him—the two were twins—but he had always been steady and composed, and Luo Xiao listened to him.
He was silent for a long while before speaking: "Father joined the army as a child. He participated in countless battles, repelled Yueguo, and recaptured all seven cities of Quanzhou. He is a war god general renowned across the four seas. He has never lost a single campaign in commanding troops."
Except this time!
Luo Xiao naturally believed in his father—he was the person he admired most: "But how did the Luo family end up like this?"
Luo Huai clenched his fists. He didn't know much about matters on the battlefield.
But Father had told him that this sneak attack by Yueguo seemed suspicious. Father must have discovered something—that was why he had fallen.
He would definitely uncover the truth and avenge his father.
Zhu Mingqing observed the three children from a short distance away. So far, Luo Huai seemed to have decent character and brains. As for Luo Xiao—well, he was still yet to be determined.
As for the fourth one, Luo Fu, even at a time like this, she was still thinking about Liang Huanyu—the male lead of the book. She was nothing but a lovesick fool.
"Madam." Just as she was pondering how to get along with the children in the future, Fen Tao suddenly appeared. No matter how Zhu Mingqing tried to shoo her away, she refused to leave, insisting that she had completed her mistress's instructions and was now a free person—no one could dictate where she went.
Zhu Mingqing sighed helplessly. "If you insist on following, so be it. But remember one thing: your own life matters most."
"Understood." Fen Tao quietly opened a corner of her bundle and whispered, so only the two of them could hear: "After the Old Master and Old Madam read your letter, they gave me quite a few banknotes. They said they would act exactly as you instructed, and that you must take good care of yourself."
Zhu Mingqing glanced down at the banknotes. The Zhu family had started as ordinary merchants, and it was only through the backing of the Luo Prince's mansion that they could establish themselves in the capital. What they had given her was likely half of their entire fortune.
In the distance, inside a plain carriage.
The two elders of the Zhu family secretly looked this way, wiping their tears without cease.
"My poor daughter! Had I known this day would come, I should have let her leave with Guangyi."
The Old Master also sighed with heartache: "We've come to this point already—what's the use of bringing that up? I just hope Qing'er has truly come around and won't try to take her own life again. Then we can leave in peace."
"I wonder if what Qing'er said is true or false. Must she really leave?"
The Old Madam turned back for one reluctant look. After living there her whole life, once she left, she didn't know if she'd ever live to see the place again.
The Old Master's clouded eyes were filled with resolve. "We must leave!"
Half a month later, the Old Master was immensely grateful they had left early. Otherwise, they would have met the same fate as the other families in the capital.
Meanwhile, Madam Song noticed that none of Zhu Mingqing's family had come to see her off, and that she was even in good spirits chatting and laughing with her maid. She couldn't help but sneer: "Truly a merchant family—timid and cowardly. Their daughter has been exiled, and they don't even bother to come see her."
"Ah, who knows how she'll manage along the way. How pitiful."
Zhu Mingqing knew she was taking veiled jabs at her again, but she had no need to explain the truth to anyone.
With her Spatial Storage, even if she walked to the ends of the earth, she had no fear of not surviving.
Still, that Song woman's mouth really was asking for trouble.
She blinked, putting on a pitiful expression. "Yes, I'm so pitiful. Why don't you share some of your things with me?"
Madam Song was startled by how quickly she switched expressions. Just as she'd said—this woman was always putting on an act.
But why should she give her anything of hers?
Just as she was about to sneer again, she remembered the scene of her going mad yesterday. To be safe, she immediately clutched her bundle tightly and ran off.
The other collateral relatives had been enjoying the spectacle, but when Zhu Mingqing turned her gaze to them, they all began whispering among themselves, pretending not to notice.
Fen Tao couldn't help but laugh out loud. The madam had learned to be mischievous.
When the time was about up, the officers began urging everyone along. They had to deliver the exiles to their destination on schedule, or they would be the ones punished.