Shen Laofuren forced herself to calm down from the earlier shock. She knew that every question her granddaughter asked was a matter of life and death for the whole family.
She leaned closer, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear: “That one who fell the hardest, Li Ze, son of a Ministry of Personnel official—a typical useless rich brat.”
“The woman over there, crying and whining, is Madam Zhou of the Zhou family from the Tongzheng Department. She’s mean-spirited and notoriously fond of petty gains.”
“And over there…” The old lady’s gaze sharpened, “the He family trio huddled in the corner, the head of the Construction Department’s He family. I barely remember them—they’re too low-profile, unusual.”
Shen Qingzhu’s gaze followed her grandmother’s line of sight, scanning the He family trio. A plain-looking middle-aged couple with a boy around fourteen or fifteen, tucked away in the far corner as if they didn’t exist.
Yet Shen Qingzhu keenly noticed the boy’s peripheral vision subtly observing everyone in the dungeon without a hint of emotion.
A cold smile crossed her mind, though she showed no outward reaction. Before she could fully process this information, a low murmur came from outside the dungeon gate.
“Sir, excuse me, excuse me! It’s my master inside!”
It was Shen Zhong’s voice!
Immediately, led by a post station attendant, Shen Zhong entered quickly, carrying a large food box and accompanied by the maid Ling Yin.
“Young master! Grandmother! Madam! Misses!” Shen Zhong’s eyes reddened the moment he saw his family. With a “thump,” he knelt, holding the food box high. “Your servant… your servant is late!”
“This is clean hot water and freshly steamed meat buns! And some medicine!” Ling Yin opened the box, the rich aroma of meat blending with the sweet scent of wheat.
Glug.
Someone swallowed hard.
The other prisoners, smelling the overwhelming aroma and glancing at their own hard, black biscuits, instantly reddened with envy—a hunger and greed like wolves smelling blood.
“Why do the Shens get meat to eat!”
A sharp scream broke the silence. It was Madam Zhou. She shoved her husband aside and lunged at the food box, screaming, “We are imperial prisoners too! Why should they have special treatment! The food must be shared!”
Her shout immediately ignited the powder keg.
“Yes! Share it!”
“No fairness!”
A dozen or more prisoners stirred and moved toward the box.
“Get away!” Shen Zhong, frail but determined, shielded the box, but two young, strong prisoners shoved him aside, sending him stumbling into the wall.
As the food was about to be snatched, Shen Qingdai and Lin Shi turned pale with fear.
At that critical moment, Shen Qingzhu stepped forward, delivering a swift kick to the shin of Madam Zhou as she lunged.
“Aoooh—!” Madam Zhou screamed like a slaughtered pig, collapsing to the ground and rolling, clutching her leg.
Shen Qingzhu then grabbed a man’s hand reaching for the box. With a snap, the man’s wrist hung at an unnatural angle.
“Ahhh! My hand! My hand is broken!”
In a flash, two were incapacitated.
The dungeon went completely silent. Everyone froze, terrified by Shen Qingzhu’s lightning-fast ruthlessness, eyes fixed on her cold expression.
Her gaze slowly swept over everyone.
“Who else wants some?”
“My food, I give; only then may you take it. If I do not give, you cannot snatch. Is this hard to understand?”
The dungeon was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
“Or…” Shen Qingzhu’s lips curved into a cold smile, “you want to see which is stronger—bones or my feet?”
The prisoners, previously riled up, now shrank back in terror, not daring to breathe.
Li Ze, who had been punished earlier, turned pale, realizing he had narrowly escaped death.
Having intimidated everyone, Shen Qingzhu turned, helped Shen Zhong, and took the food box.
She did not immediately distribute it to her family. Instead, she picked up a steaming meat bun and walked to the He family in the corner.
Amid the astonished stares, she handed the bun to the boy who had kept his head down.
The boy slowly lifted his head, showing a delicate but expressionless face. His eyes lingered on Shen Qingzhu for a moment before he accepted the bun and quietly said, “Thank you.”
He then split the bun into three portions, sharing it with his parents. Throughout, his movements were calm, without excitement or greed.
Shen Qingzhu looked at him deeply before returning to distribute the remaining food to her family.
Once finished, she stood in the center of the dungeon, gazing over everyone again.
“Everyone, you’ve just witnessed a spectacle. This is what life will be like on the road for the next three thousand li.” Her voice was calm yet carried undeniable authority.
“Without order, we are sheep to be slaughtered. Over a single bun, you can fight to the death. The officers enjoy watching, and once we’ve nearly killed each other, they’ll drag us away like dead dogs.”
“But,” she shifted, “I can provide order.”
She looked at her second sister, Shen Qingdai.
“This is my second sister, Shen Qingdai, a former sixth-rank imperial female physician. She can set broken hands like the one just now, treat Madam Zhou’s leg, and care for any illness you might encounter on the road—cold, diarrhea, even epidemics.”
“I can ensure loyal servants bring food and water so no one starves. My sister can ensure no one dies from illness.”
Her gaze then fell on Madam Zhou, still groaning on the ground, voice icy as a blade.
“I can save your lives. Naturally, I can also take them. Now, I give you a choice.”
“To continue as scattered, weak sheep—claiming ‘I am weak, therefore I am right’—and die halfway, or to follow me, Shen Qingzhu, abide by my rules, and live.”
“Choose.”
After a brief silence, Li Ze was the first to bow deeply to Shen Qingzhu.
“I… I, Li Ze, will follow Master Shen’s command!”
Once one acted, others followed.
“We all obey Master Shen’s command!”
The voices rose like waves, each one now filled not just with desire, but respect.
The Shen family ladies looked at Shen Qingzhu, surrounded by the crowd, indifferent yet regal like a monarch, eyes full of awe and pride.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Jingzhan watched the entire performance—from the “scramble” to the “suppression” to the “submission”—through the slit in the cloth.
A deeper smile spread across his lips.
To establish authority with force, then dispense favor through sustenance and protection of life… this is no mere negotiator; this is a natural-born strategist.
Interesting. Truly… increasingly interesting.
Shen Qingzhu ignored the surrounding shouting, went to Shen Zhong, and during the distribution of food by her family, used her body to block all views, whispering quickly.
“…Do as I say.”
A small porcelain vial was discreetly slipped into Shen Zhong’s large sleeve.
Shen Zhong nodded firmly, a trace of determination in his eyes.
Then he loudly commanded, “Zhongshu, please make another trip and prepare food and hot water for everyone—truly for everyone.”
At once, the dungeon erupted again.
“Thank you! Master Shen!”
“Thank you!”
“Waaa… we live! We can survive!”
Shen Zhong obediently replied, “Yes, your servant will follow orders!” And, accompanied by Ling Yin, he hurried out again under the post station attendant’s flattering guidance.
Watching the prisoners’ tearful gratitude, Shen Qingzhu remained unmoved. She knew this fragile obedience and awe were built entirely on food and force. But she didn’t care, for she had no intention of staying on this exile route for long.