Su Nuan remained perfectly composed. She retrieved a handful of medicinal herbs gathered from the roadside from her sleeve. “I understand medicine. My maternal grandfather was an Imperial Physician.”
As expected, this revelation brought a look of pleasant surprise to the captain’s face. “You truly understand medicine?”
Su Nuan also understood that without demonstrating her skills, she wouldn’t earn his special regard.
So, Su Nuan pointed at the plump, pale official and said, “His constitution is weak, and he has no sons to this day. I have a prescription; taking it for half a year will enable the women in his household to conceive and bear children.”
The plump official’s face flushed red, yet he was somewhat excited. “Really?”
He only had one daughter and desperately wanted a son.
The captain said skeptically, “I can’t possibly wait half a year to verify whether what you say is true.”
Su Nuan replied, “I can give him the prescription. If he takes it today, he’ll be vigorous and mighty. You can ask him tomorrow to find out.”
The captain scoffed, clearly disbelieving. “Tiger-Wolf Drugs only harm people.”
However, the official couldn’t resist. “Write it down. If your medicine works, tomorrow I’ll give you a donkey cart.”
The captain felt somewhat embarrassed and said coldly, “These are people under my escort.”
The official wasn’t afraid of him and glared. “Someday I’ll have a drink with your father and chat with your wife about everyday life.””
The captain instantly deflated and said with a forced smile, “Alright, alright, whatever you say, father-in-law.”
So the two were father-in-law and son-in-law. This was even better; the captain wouldn’t make things difficult for her now.
Su Nuan went to a nearby table, took paper and a brush, wrote the prescription, and handed it to the official.
The official had evidently taken many medicines before and could understand the prescription. He asked doubtfully, “There’s no Tiger-Wolf Drug here. Will it really work?”
Su Nuan nodded. “We’ll see tomorrow.”
The official looked at the captain. “Go remove their leg irons and find them a room to rest.”
The captain said nothing, stood up, and walked out.
The official added, “Remember to give that Bright Pearl to my daughter.”
The captain replied helplessly, “I know. Would I dare not to? A fierce father doesn’t have a timid daughter.”
Su Nuan nearly laughed aloud. This was implying that his wife was a shrew.
When they reached the courtyard, the captain said, “My name is Cheng Feng. Call me Captain Cheng from now on. I have a superior above me, and I have to listen to that bastard.”
“Also, he’s not as easy to deal with as I am. Don’t think about bribing him; it’ll only leave you with nothing.”
Su Nuan understood immediately: if this superior were gone, she would live comfortably for the rest of the journey.
So she responded in a low voice, “On exile journeys, not only prisoners die, but officials and soldiers too. Who knows, maybe one day he’ll be gone, and you’ll be in charge for the rest of the way.”
Cheng Feng glanced sideways at Su Nuan. “You have a method? I can’t get involved.”
Su Nuan nodded. “Yes.”
Cheng Feng pondered for a moment and nodded. “As long as you can pull it off, I’ll protect you all the way.”
Su Nuan wasn’t surprised. When the emperor is unkind, officials are full of overt and covert strife.
That superior was named Qin Shou, a fifth-rank external official, greedy for wealth and fond of women.
In her previous life, her mother-in-law and brother-in-law had protected her; otherwise, she would have been ruined. So eliminating him would kill two birds with one stone: remove a threat and gain Cheng Feng’s protection.
In Su Nuan’s eyes, the escort soldiers weren’t there to restrain them, but to ensure their safe arrival in the northern lands.
So, during the journey north, she would do her best to build a good relationship with Cheng Feng. That way, the exile could be treated like a sightseeing trip.
Su Nuan returned to Xue Shi in high spirits, and before long, someone came to remove their leg shackles.
Suddenly, someone muttered under their breath, “That little widow must have gone to seduce the officers. Her hair isn’t the same as when she left—she’s probably already slept with an official.”
Everyone assumed Ling Cang was dead, so they automatically promoted Su Nuan to widow status.
Another person chimed in, “Exactly! Otherwise, why were only their shackles removed and not ours?”
Su Nuan turned to look: a round-faced matron and a sharp-faced young wife. In her previous life, she hadn’t paid attention to these people, so she didn’t recognize them.
With a smug expression, she said, “I see you’re not bad-looking either. Why don’t you go sleep with the officers? Maybe you’ll not only be free of leg shackles but even get to ride a donkey cart along the way.”
The round-faced woman raised a finger, pointing at Su Nuan’s nose, sputtering “you… you… you…” without forming a complete sentence.
The sharp-faced woman spat, “Shameless hussy!”
Su Nuan lifted her foot and wiggled it. “If you care so much about face, you can keep yours shackled forever. I feel so light and free~”
The sharp-faced woman turned livid with rage but didn’t dare say another word. Anything she said would only infuriate herself without affecting Su Nuan at all.
Seeing Xue Shi approach, the round-faced woman immediately cried, “Xue Shi, look at your little widow—she’s utterly shameless! She must have rolled in the hay with someone.”
Xue Shi walked over to Su Nuan with a dark expression.
Su Nuan’s heart trembled—would her mother-in-law despise her now?
But then Xue Shi, ruthless and sparing with words, stepped forward and delivered two sharp slaps that made the round-faced woman howl in pain.
Xue Shi then turned to Su Nuan, tilting her chin up. “See that? Learn from this. Don’t waste words on people who spew filth—just hit them hard.”
After the initial shock, warmth flooded Su Nuan’s heart. Her mother-in-law was just like in her previous life—protecting her unconditionally.
She nodded obediently. “Mhm, next time I’ll do the hitting.”
Xue Shi secretly clenched her fist, rubbing her palm with her fingertips. It stung a little.
She smiled. “Come on, the officers just assigned us a room. Let’s go rest.”
“Okay, Mother, let’s go.” Su Nuan walked off arm-in-arm affectionately with Xue Shi.
The round-faced woman suddenly slapped the sharp-faced woman twice. “You little bitch! This is all your fault for running your mouth!”
The sharp-faced woman looked wronged but didn’t dare talk back, only glaring furiously at Su Nuan’s retreating figure.
Feeling the malicious gaze, Su Nuan declared loudly and triumphantly, “Oh my, this room is quite nice! We’ll be able to sleep well tonight.”
The sharp-faced woman stamped her feet in frustration but could do nothing—she didn’t dare ask the officers for a room.
But just as Su Nuan and Xue Shi entered the room, the door was pushed open. Several people brushed past them, entering first to find spots to sit, remove their shoes, and rub their feet.
Xue Shi fumed. “Third Uncle, this is our room! Why are you bringing these men in here?”
Ling Old Man snorted. “We were exiled because of your family’s mess! Why should you get to stay in a room?”
“Besides, I’m your elder—you should be filial to me, or heaven will strike you with lightning!”
Su Nuan asked curiously, “Mother, is this man related to us by blood?”
Xue Shi nodded. “He’s your father-in-law’s cousin.”
Su Nuan grinned. “I don’t know him. If lightning needs to strike someone, let it strike me.”
Xue Shi looked at her suspiciously, unsure what she was planning.
Su Nuan slowly walked toward the man closest to her—a man who was watching her with a lecherous gleam in his eyes.
She asked, “What should I call you?”
The man leered and said, “You should call me cousin.”
Su Nuan sneered, “But my cousin died years ago. The weeds on his grave are taller than you. Since you’re so eager to be my cousin, you can go keep him company.”
After saying this, she grabbed the man’s arm and began slamming him left and right like a sandbag…
Everyone in the room followed the man’s movements with their eyes – up… down… up… down…
After slamming him seven or eight times, Su Nuan dragged him to the doorway and kicked him flying outside.
She turned back to stare at the remaining people, “Would any of you like to try?”
Who would dare stay now? Stay to become a sandbag?
Ling Old Man didn’t even bother with his shoes, immediately turning to run.
Those outside who had been itching to enter the room instantly lost all interest after seeing the kicked-out man.
Su Nuan picked up her shoes, came to the doorway and shouted, “Stop! Did I say you could leave?”