“Ah Si makes a valid point as well!”
After spending effort and money, yet receiving no appreciation, even Zhao Shi—despite being a loving mother who doesn’t expect anything in return—would still feel uncomfortable.
Even Qian Shi, after hearing Wang Si’s words, found it difficult to continue persuading her.
Yes, she had only been thinking about caution and stability, but forgot that everyone in the Wang family was neither reasonable nor grateful.
If they had any sense at all, they wouldn’t have become scapegoats in the Jiangnan salt tax case.
After much thought, Zhao Shi came up with a compromise:
“Let’s do it this way—prepare everything as planned, but give half to the escorts!”
She then borrowed another two hundred taels from Qian Shi and exchanged it into smaller denominations—three-tael, five-tael, and ten-tael notes.
She divided them into three portions: eighty taels, sixty taels, and sixty taels, intending to secretly give them to her three children.
The eldest son would receive the largest share, as he was already married.
The second son and eldest daughter would each get sixty taels. If they were frugal, even if their belongings were taken, the money should be enough to get them through exile.
Zhao Shi felt she had done her utmost. If even this failed to satisfy her children, there was nothing more she could do.
After hearing Zhao Shi’s revised plan, Wang Si said nothing more.
Giving them money was not part of Wang Si’s plan.
She had never intended to give them any money—she wanted them to set out with nothing.
But even if they had money, it didn’t matter!
Those three were not particularly clever.
Her eldest brother was rigid and easily swayed; a few flattering words from others would make him hand over everything sincerely.
The eighty taels probably wouldn’t even stay warm in his hands before being deceived away by Wang Yong, the second branch, the fourth branch, and other “relatives.”
Her second brother was kind, but simple-minded and easy to fool.
On the road to exile, not only would he fail to keep his money, he might even end up working for others—an obvious sucker.
As for Wang Jiao, there was no need to say more—a foolish person who thought herself clever.
The most dangerous part was that she had memories from her previous life. She would place too much faith in them.
For example—
Liu Shi.
She was the true master of household intrigue.
Misled by her past-life memories, Wang Jiao encountering Liu Shi—a woman sweet on the surface but vicious underneath, with superb acting skills—Wang Si could already imagine the miserable defeat that awaited her.
Perhaps due to the resonance between twins, as Wang Si thought of Liu Shi, Wang Jiao in the prison was also subtly trying to inquire about her.
“Grandmother… Liu… Liu Shi, where is she?”
Sitting on a pile of straw, Wang Jiao hugged the Old Madam’s arm affectionately and asked in a low voice.
“Liu Shi? Which Liu Shi?”
As the matriarch of the marquis household, the Old Madam was surrounded by countless people.
To put it bluntly, she couldn’t even remember all her illegitimate grandchildren—how could she recall an insignificant concubine?
“Well—”
Hearing the Old Madam’s casual tone, Wang Jiao suddenly realized—
At this time, Lady Liu was merely a bedchamber maid to her father.
Not even officially a concubine.
When the entire Wang family was thrown into prison, Liu Shi didn’t even qualify to be detained with the female family members.
She and other maids and concubines were locked in a cell across from them.
Wang Jiao didn’t know exactly what had happened in her previous life, but it seemed that during the exile journey, the timid and weak Liu Shi had suddenly become capable and sharp.
She even turned out to be skilled in medicine.
From letters sent by her grandmother and elder brother, Wang Jiao learned:
During exile, Liu Shi used acupuncture to cure an escort’s chronic illness, earning their protection and sparing the family from abuse.
Afterward, she gathered herbs and processed medicine, earning a great deal of money.
Most of it went to the escorts, but the Wang family kept a small portion.
With that small amount, they bought a cart, prepared clothes and bedding, and safely reached the borderlands.
Later, in the frontier city, Liu Shi’s medical skills helped the Wang family quickly establish themselves.
…Until the emperor granted amnesty. When the Wang family returned to the capital, Liu Shi again used her medical skills to save the Empress Dowager.
The Wang family cleared their name and regained their title.
Liu Shi became the highly celebrated Lady Liu in the capital.
“…Mm…”
In the opposite cell, a frail figure curled up in the corner. Her face was pale, her forehead drenched in sweat as she let out a painful groan.
“Xiao Cui seems to have a fever. I wonder if she’ll survive the night.”
“If she can’t, then she dies. Honestly, death might be better than suffering.”
The other maids and concubines noticed Liu Shi’s condition, but no one stepped forward to help.
At a time like this, they could barely take care of themselves—how could they care about others?
Even if they wanted to help, how could they?
There was no water, no medicine—what could they do?
Just as everyone thought Liu Shi wouldn’t make it, she suddenly opened her eyes.
“…I’m not dead?”
“Where is this? A prison? I… I’ve been thrown into prison?”
“Wait! That’s not right—this… this isn’t me—”
Her almond-shaped eyes were first confused, then filled with shock.
“Hiss! It hurts!”
Just as she struggled to understand her situation, a sharp pain like needles pierced her head, nearly causing her to faint.
She shut her eyes tightly, gritting her teeth through the pain.
When she opened them again, she understood everything.
She had died—and lived again.
But she was no longer Liu Wuyang, a palace medical woman.
Now, she was Liu Xiaocui, a lowly bedchamber maid in the Marquis of Wuchang’s household.
“So I didn’t reincarnate—I became someone else. Interesting.”
She raised her hand, turning it over slowly, feeling control over her body and sensing its vitality.
A spark of excitement flashed in her eyes.
No matter what—I’m alive.
And I will live well.
Those “old acquaintances” in the palace… one day, I will return and settle accounts with you all!
…
The next morning.
The sun was high, its light bright—but it could not penetrate the dark, damp prison.
“Get up! All of you, get up!”
“Family members of the convicted official Wang Yong—it’s time to go!”
A jailer walked along the corridor, banging loudly on the cell doors with a wooden stick.
The harsh noise woke the people curled up on the ground.
Instinctively, they trembled in fear.
After experiencing confiscation and imprisonment, they had long become like startled birds.
After a while, they slowly came to their senses and struggled to their feet.
Clank! Clank!
One by one, the locks were opened, and the Wang family was driven out like livestock.
Wang Jiao woke up, clearly annoyed.
But seeing the fierce jailers holding sticks and whips, she swallowed her anger.
Even in her two lifetimes, she had never been shouted at by such lowly people.
She felt deeply uncomfortable, but she knew this was not the time to throw a tantrum.
Biting her lip, she stayed close to the Old Madam as they were herded into the prison courtyard.
The cramped space was filled with members of the Wang clan in the capital.
The adult men, including Wang Yong, were being fitted with shackles and chains by the guards.