Wei Furong held Su Hanchu’s hand, reluctant to let go.
“Have a good talk with Jun Moye. Harmony between husband and wife is what matters most. I’ll head back now, and I’ll come see you again during the next rest.”
After Su Hanchu’s parents had left, she took a stew pot out of her Nangjie.
“Cui Mama, use this to stew the wild chicken. I also have some chestnuts here—shell them later and add them to the stew. And I bought some sweet potatoes and potatoes during the day. Roast them in the firewood so everyone can have something warm to eat.”
As she spoke, she continued placing the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and chestnuts on the ground, casually taking out a few bowls as well.
Jun Linfeng beckoned to her.
“Chu girl, leave those to Cui Mama and Liu Guanshi. Come here, I have a few words for you.”
Hearing this, Su Hanchu handed everything in her hands to Cui Mama.
She walked over and sat down beside Lady Li of the Jun Family. “Father!”
Jun Linfeng looked at her and said, “Chu girl, are you secretly resentful about what I did earlier?”
Su Hanchu shook her head.
“No. The long-standing ties and friendship between the Chen Family and the Jun Family shouldn’t be severed over the minor conflict between me and Chen Siyu. Today, I put you in a difficult position, Father.”
Jun Linfeng nodded with satisfaction. He hadn’t misjudged this girl—she was sensible. As for her somewhat fiery temper, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“It’s good that you understand. And thank you for the medicine. Without it, I might not even have woken up. Take this medicine and apply it to Ye’er again. He took quite a few lashes too.”
He handed the medicine bottle to Su Hanchu.
Su Hanchu didn’t reach for it. Instead, she said, “Father, you keep it. Mother secretly gave me another bottle just now. I’ll apply medicine to Jun Moye later.”
Jun Linfeng put the medicine bottle away. It might save a life on the exile journey.
“Alright, go ahead.”
Su Hanchu walked over and sat down beside Jun Moye.
“Jun Moye, let’s go outside. I’ll apply medicine to you again!”
Jun Moye replied coldly, “Since Miss Su is already planning to divorce, why bother with whether I live or die?”
Well, he was clearly angry about that remark. Remembering what her mother had said, Su Hanchu patiently explained, “I was just caught up in the heat of the moment and spoke without thinking. Why get so upset over that? Come on, I’ll help you up.”
Jun Moye remained silent, staring at the firewood and not moving.
Su Hanchu reached out to pull him up.
“Even if you don’t want the medicine, won’t you at least help me? I need to go outside for a moment.”
Jun Moye glanced up at her and finally stood up, following her out.
Su Hanchu used Spirit Spring Water to rinse his wounds again. Most of the broken skin had already begun to scab over. The Spirit Spring Water truly was a remarkable thing. After applying the medicine once more, she bandaged him up.
“The wounds are starting to scab over. They should heal soon. Tomorrow morning, we’ll find another chance to apply medicine again.”
Having experienced the daytime treatment, Jun Moye was no longer as awkward as the first time. After the medicine was applied, the two washed their hands by the small stream outside.
Neither spoke further. On the way back, Su Hanchu casually picked some clean, large leaves.
Upon returning, Su Hanchu noticed that the dilapidated temple couldn’t accommodate so many people. Many had to make do under the eaves or in the corners by the walls.
Everyone's faces were etched with exhaustion. Mothers huddled against the walls, clutching their children tightly, while some used their bodies as shields as they fed their little ones the coarse cornbread distributed by the guards.
Occasionally, a few people would sneak bites of the food they had bought during the day—mostly steamed buns or flatbreads. Those who had such provisions were typically the ones whose families had managed to send them money.
Those without relatives or friends to deliver silver had no choice but to rely on the meager cornbread rations issued by the officials.
Cui Mama and Liu Guanshi had already started stewing the pheasant. Su Hanchu naturally walked over, crouched down, peeled some chestnuts, and added them to the pot. She also placed a few near the fire to roast.
She personally used a stick of firewood to poke at them. During the day, time had been tight, and she hadn’t had the chance to familiarize herself with the people from the Qin Prince's Mansion, nor had she even considered it.
Now that there was time, Jun Moye’s father had also woken up, and they had separated from the Chen Family to travel on their own. Naturally, it was time to ensure everyone from the Qin Prince's Mansion was taken care of.
Once the chestnuts were roasted, Su Hanchu wrapped a portion in leaves and walked over to Jun Linfeng.
"Father, you just woke up, and the younger siblings are still so young. You must be starving by now. I gathered these chestnuts myself. Have some first. Later, we should all be able to have half a bowl of chicken soup."
Jun Linfeng reached out and accepted the packet of chestnuts, asking with concern, "Did you save some for yourself?"
Su Hanchu smiled at his words. "I gathered quite a few. There are still more by the fire. Everyone will have some."
She then returned to the fire and continued poking at the chestnuts, placing the roasted ones on leaves—about ten in total.
Su Hanchu still took them over to Chen Wenqiao and handed her the chestnuts. After all, even if a family argued, they couldn’t remain at odds forever.
"Mother, have a few chestnuts first."
Chen Wenqiao hadn’t expected her to bring them over and thought she was merely putting on an act, so she turned her face away. "Putting on a show…"
Jun Linfeng shot her a cold glance. "Wen Qiao, take them. From now on, don’t make things difficult for others or for yourself. If you can’t bear staying with the Jun Family, then go to the Chen Family."
Reluctantly, Chen Wenqiao reached out and accepted the chestnuts.
Su Hanchu frowned slightly but then returned to the fire.
She took out some more chestnuts, placed them in front of Jun Moye, and distributed a few to Ping'er and the others as well.
She also poked at the sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Jun Moye watched her bustling about. After eating two chestnuts and seeing no sign of her coming over, he hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking up. "Su Hanchu, come here."
Hearing this, Su Hanchu handed the firewood stick to Ping'er, signaling her to make sure the potatoes and sweet potatoes didn’t burn.
She walked over to Jun Moye. "What is it?"
Jun Moye tugged at her sleeve. "Sit down. You’ve been busy all this time—aren’t you tired? Are you the only capable one among so many people?"
Noticing his awkward tone, Su Hanchu sat down beside him, took out her water flask, opened it, and took a few sips. Truth be told, Jun Moye was only eighteen—it was just that people married early in ancient times. Having lived two lifetimes, she saw him as little more than a child. Even his words of concern came out so awkwardly.
Jun Moye placed two peeled chestnuts in her hand. Su Hanchu didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately popped them into her mouth.
The aroma of chicken wafted from the pot. Su Hanchu stood up, took a spoon, and stirred it, secretly using the convenience of her Spatial Dimension to sprinkle in some salt and MSG. She didn’t dare add anything else, planning to find a way to take out more supplies at the next rest stop.
With limited bowls and chopsticks, two people had to share one bowl, but each person managed to drink half a bowl of chicken soup and received two small pieces of chicken.
As for the Su Family, Su Hanchu wasn’t worried at all. Her parents, elder brother, and second uncle were all skilled in martial arts. Even though her father was injured, the Su Family could still manage to find food.
The next day, Su Hanchu applied medicine to Jun Moye’s wounds again. His injuries had mostly healed, and he insisted on walking on his own.
Perhaps because Prince Qin had regained consciousness and the Chen Family was now managing their own affairs, the next few days of travel passed without any further trouble.
Prince Qin’s injuries gradually improved as well.
However, as time went on, more and more people struggled with hunger. The officials distributed only one cornbread bun and one steamed bun per day. Without money to buy food or any means to find something to eat, life became truly unbearable.
Slowly, discordant voices began to emerge. Many started blaming the Qin Prince’s Mansion for their exile, directing various sarcastic remarks toward the Jun Family. Even the Chen Family began to murmur complaints in private…