Before Chen Shiyi could react, too many people surged across the covered bridge—chaos, panic, lost shoes, and people stumbling…
The one who fell lay lifeless under the frantic stampede of those fleeing for their lives.
Only after being jostled on the shoulder did Chen Shiyi snap back to her senses. She quickly grabbed someone to ask, “What’s happening?”
The person gasped for breath. “Offi… officials, soldiers… so many have come. Run… run quickly… they’re killing…”
Chen Shiyi bit her lip hard and swiftly headed in the opposite direction of the crowd.
There lay her only set of old clothes and that quilt stuffed with cotton—she hadn’t even slept under it for one night.
Her face pale, she kept her head down and hurried along the wall toward her dwelling. At a corner near a side chamber, scattered on the ground were a few hairpins and ornaments, and in the grass, a faint, dull glint of gold flashed.
Could it be… gold?
Chen Shiyi’s heart pounded wildly as a shameful thought crept into her mind.
To pick it up or not?
People were fleeing everywhere, and soldiers darted about in all directions.
In such chaos, no one would notice if she took it, right?
With money, her future days might be easier.
In the end, the lure of gold overcame reason. Her legs carried her toward the spot almost against her will.
Two small gold beads—likely fallen from some valuable piece of jewelry.
She clenched them in her hand, her heart racing with tension and anxiety.
As she hurried around the corner, suddenly, a gleaming blade was pressed against her neck.
From behind, she was pulled against a firm, warm chest. Scorching heat and ragged breaths mingled, washing over her neck like a trapped beast’s fury.
Chen Shiyi looked up in terror. Ahead, dozens of gleaming blades pointed directly at her.
A village girl like her had never witnessed such a scene. Though she didn’t faint, her legs went weak—yet the person behind her held her up, forcing her onto her tiptoes.
The leader opposite wore armor, his eyes deep and his lips curled in disdain. “Shizi, cease your futile resistance and surrender!”
From behind her, a gentle voice replied, “His Majesty has issued no decree.”
“This official acts upon His Majesty’s verbal decree. The Wen Su Marquis Estate is suspected of embezzling funds for the dam construction in Miao Wu Town, Yun County—a staggering sum, truly appalling. The old Marquis has already been detained in the Imperial City Prison, and all family members are to be held in the Prefectural Prison, awaiting judgment.”
The person behind her stiffened, his hand on her shoulder trembling faintly.
The shiny official badge, reflecting the midday sun, blinded Chen Shiyi.
Dazed and disoriented, she came to her senses only when she found herself sitting in a corner of the prison cell, staring blankly at the rats scurrying across the floor.
That morning, she had knelt and pleaded—only to end up pleading her way into a prison cell.
The lavish midday meal had been her last supper.
It seemed she truly couldn’t bear such overwhelming fortune.
The cell was gloomy, strewn with messy straw that emitted a strange stench. By the dim light of the oil lamp on the wall, she could clearly see bloodstains on the prison walls!
Chen Shiyi wasn’t afraid.
Whenever Lü Erniang took a dislike to her, she’d lock her outside.
The woodshed, mountain gullies, reed marshes, tree branches—she’d slept in them all.
But the others across from her trembled uncontrollably!
An older woman, two girls around seventeen or eighteen, and a boy about four years old.
The child gazed timidly at Chen Shiyi.
All of them had been dressed in white prison uniforms made of coarse linen, whose stiff edges chafed painfully against their skin.
To prevent prisoners from concealing valuables, the guards had made them undo their hair and change into plain cloth shoes.
Chen Shiyi remained silent, looking down at her left hand—burned, recently medicated, and still wrapped in white bandages.
After a night in the cell, guards came the next day to fetch them. They were shackled at the wrists and ankles, then hurriedly pushed outside.
Chen Shiyi was terrified.
"Officers, you're not going to behead us, are you?"
Ten miles west of Jingdu, at a desolate roadside pavilion, the early spring wind blew bleak and bitingly cold!
Wen Zhiheng sniffled, his nose red from the chill. A heavy cangue weighed on his neck, chains bound his feet, yet his eyes were fixed on the direction of Jingdu, filled with deep concern.
"Why haven’t Mother and Zhirou arrived yet?"
Beside him, his half-brother Wen Zhiyuan replied respectfully.
"Elder Brother, they are women—their pace is bound to be slower."
Before long, four adults and one small figure appeared in the distance, stumbling toward them.
Wen Zhiheng hurried forward to greet them.
"Mother, are you all right?"
Madam Wen’s eyes were sorrowful and grief-stricken. She examined the cangue on Wen Zhiheng, tears welling in her eyes.
"What are we to do? The Marquis’s fate is unknown, and I don’t even know the reason. How did we end up like this overnight?"
Wen Zhiheng quickly comforted her.
"Mother, there’s no need to worry so much. Father is not in immediate danger—he has been exiled to the northern frontier by His Majesty. We are separated from him, exiled only a thousand miles away."
"Our family has never known hardship. Such a long journey—I fear we may perish along the way!"
Wen Zhiheng promptly said.
"Wu Jinghui still remembers the life debt I owe him. I asked him to leave a maidservant behind to look after you all on the journey. Don’t be afraid."
Hearing Wen Zhiheng’s words, everyone’s eyes turned to Chen Shiyi, who stood quietly to the side.
Chen Shiyi lifted her gaze, yet the expressions of those around her seemed not to register. Her mind echoed relentlessly with that single word.
Exile.
Exile!
Back in Xiangyang Village, under the great banyan tree, she had occasionally heard men returning from travels tell stories of the outside world—how some noble or aristocrat offended the Emperor, committed misdeeds, and was exiled.
What she remembered most clearly was their saying: exile was a death sentence second only to execution.
Most would die on the journey into exile; the rest would die in the place of exile.
To this day, she had never heard of anyone who managed to return alive to Jingdu.
A wave of despair rose in her heart.
She only wanted to survive—why was it so difficult?
She didn’t understand. All the other servants had been released—why was she the only one kept?
From the young master’s words, it seemed she was the one destined to be their caretaker on this journey—the great fool!
She shuffled over to a guard and timidly said.
"Sir, I don’t know these people. Why am I being sent into exile? I’m truly innocent—can you let me go?"
The guard was equally baffled.
"That’s not for me to decide. You’ve already been sentenced as a prisoner!"
Wen Zhiheng grew impatient upon hearing this. How dare a lowly maidservant ignore them!
"You, come here!"
Chen Shiyi dragged her heavy shackles over to Wen Zhiheng’s side.
Wen Zhiheng looked the thin and frail maidservant up and down, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Your status now is that of my personal chamber maid, a step up in rank. Along the way, you need only take good care of my family. In the future, wealth and honor will not be lacking for you!"
Chen Shiyi also sized up this young master. He was handsome and carried the air of a nobleman. Even in his current wretched state, his elegance was hard to conceal.
But what did that have to do with her?
"What is a personal chamber maid?"
Chen Shiyi continued.
"You're still wearing shackles yourself. How can you promise others wealth and honor with empty words? I'm not a three-year-old child anymore, past the age of being coaxed and deceived. Go tell the officials quickly to release me."
Wen Zhiheng found her words both infuriating and laughable.
Truly, a tiger on the plains is bullied by dogs—how dare a lowly maidservant speak to him in such a tone!
"Let me tell you, you can only follow us into exile for the rest of your life, to that desolate, uninhabited place. Whether you die of illness or starvation, see if I lift a finger to save you! If you know what's good for you, obey me. Understand?"
Chen Shiyi shook her head.
"I don't understand. With so many servants, why choose me? Besides, I don't even know you. Why should I take care of you?"
"You once ate the Marquis's Mansion's food. Your deed of sale is in the hands of the Marquis's Mansion."
"I only ate one egg and one piece of braised pork! I don't want to go into exile…"
In the desolate Ten-Mile Pavilion, Chen Shiyi's wailing cries echoed along the empty road.
The family of the Marquis's Mansion exchanged glances, wondering if this girl might be a fool.