“Mother went back to the Wei State Duke’s residence and received five hundred taels of silver from Qian Shi,” Wang Jiao counted silently on her fingers.
Her gaze swept over the two carriages and the silver notes in her hand.
After calculating, she realized: “There’s still over a hundred taels missing! So Mother actually kept that much money back.”
“In the last life, when Wang Si was exiled, she gave all the money to the brothers and sisters.”
“This time it’s my turn to be exiled, and she—”
Her arms were tightly bound, and she had already walked several li on foot. Wang Jiao was already in pain and exhaustion. Realizing the difference from her previous life only made her more resentful.
“Bias! Mother, you’re biased!”
Wang Jiao suddenly shouted without restraint.
Zhao Shi was carefully speaking to the officials, begging them to take care of her three children along the journey.
Hearing Wang Jiao’s shouting, Zhao Shi’s heart sank.
She had already been hurt deeply by this daughter, and now she worried—was she going to say something reckless and drag everyone down?
As expected, in the very next moment, Wang Jiao shouted again:
“Mother, you hid silver! Why didn’t you give it all to us? You and Wang Si stayed in the capital enjoying yourselves, so why are you withholding our money?”
Wang Jiao felt wronged. The exile was already suffering enough, and yet her mother—
She completely forgot that this exile journey was something she had fought for herself.
Silver?
Zhao Shi had already given her children money.
Wang Youzhong was crying with the Old Madam when he suddenly heard Wang Jiao’s shout and pricked up his ears.
Even the Old Madam’s cloudy eyes flashed with interest.
Wang Si couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly.
Just as expected.
Wang Jiao, this fool—even after two lifetimes—still didn’t understand the most basic principle.
Do not expose wealth in public.
Sister, you really asked for it.
Not only the officials, but everyone in the Wang family will now know you three have money.
Money is life on the exile road.
Wang Si could already imagine that before Wang Jiao even suffers the hardships ahead, she would first be targeted by others.
Zhao Shi opened her mouth, wanting to explain that the silver had also been used to prepare gifts for the officials.
But the words reached her lips—and she swallowed them back.
Because she knew people like Wang Jiao would not listen, nor believe.
At best, it would only make things worse.
“Mother!”
Seeing her silence, Wang Jiao grew even angrier.
“Mother, there’s still over a hundred taels! Give it to us!”
Li Shi, seeing her sister-in-law act up again, quickly stepped forward.
“Sixth Sister, lower your voice! Do you want everyone to know Mother gave us silver?”
She didn’t care whether Wang Jiao lost her money. She only feared being implicated.
But her patience had limits. She pinched Wang Jiao’s arm hard.
“Shut up! If you want to die, do it yourself—don’t drag us down!”
“Ah! It hurts! Li Shi, how dare you hit me?!”
Wang Jiao, never having suffered such humiliation, flung her arm violently—and actually threw Li Shi aside.
“Wife!”
“Sister-in-law!”
Wang Zhi Li, Wang Zhi Yi, and Wang Si all cried out and rushed forward to catch her.
The brothers, restrained by heavy shackles, staggered and fell to the ground, already exhausted and in pain.
“What’s going on? Making noise again?”
The escort officer didn’t care what happened. To him, any commotion meant disobedience.
Without hesitation, he raised his whip and lashed out at Wang Jiao and the others.
Zhao Shi quickly rushed forward, grabbing Li Shi with one hand and Wang Si with the other, pulling them aside.
She still cared for her other children—but she had no choice.
Turning back, she pleaded with the officer:
“Sir, they were just arguing among siblings! They are not deliberately causing trouble!”
The leading officer narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t trust words. I only trust whips and shackles.”
Zhao Shi froze.
The officer then grinned coldly.
“Don’t misunderstand, madam. I’m a man of rules. I took your silver, so I will do my job.”
“But when and how I do it depends on whether they behave.”
Zhao Shi pressed her lips together.
She disliked his roughness, but knew he wasn’t entirely wrong.
It was all Wang Jiao’s reckless shouting that caused this.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Shi forced a smile.
“Of course, I trust you, sir.”
But beneath her words was a faint warning—she was still from the Wei State Duke’s residence.
The officer understood perfectly.
He smiled meaningfully.
“Understood.”
Then he gave the order:
“Move out!”
With that, the officials drove the Wang family forward again with whips and curses.
Li Shi helped her husband up, reluctantly parting with Zhao Shi and Wang Si.
Her eyes glanced at the comfortable carriage being taken away, burning with anger.
It’s all because of Wang Jiao!
She is nothing but a disaster!
But Wang Jiao herself still didn’t realize the trouble she had caused. Instead, she was still resentful:
“Such a biased mother… I don’t need you anymore!”
“I still have Aunt Liu!”
Yes.
Liu Shi!