Such turmoil made the Zhou family take notice of Zhao Nuan.
Zhao Nuan walked alongside the procession, tears streaming down her face as she smashed things.
The once wealthy and benevolent Madame of the Hou Estate now stood unsteadily.
The eldest son, Zhou Wenrui, was covered in blood, clearly having suffered torture.
Lin Jingshu, the eldest daughter-in-law—usually so gentle and serene—was now filthy, her clothes torn to shreds. What she had endured was all too evident.
The fourteen-year-old third son, Zhou Wenxuan, despite being covered in whip marks himself, shielded his niece Zhou Ning’an in front of him.
Yet in their eyes when they looked at Zhao Nuan, there was only one emotion: gratitude.
However, Zhao Nuan noticed someone missing from the procession—the second son, Zhou Wenzheng.
Before she could ponder this, a hand pulled her out of the crowd.
Zhao Nuan stiffened: “Who’s there?”
“It’s me. Keep your voice down.”
She saw a man, but the lowered voice sounded somewhat familiar.
“This is… Yu’er?”
“Aunt?”
The Hou Estate had three sons and one daughter.
The eldest son, the third son, and the married daughter before her—Zhou Qingci—were all born to the Madame.
The second son, Zhou Wenzheng, was a concubine’s child, and Zhao Nuan rarely saw him in the Hou Estate.
The person disguised as a man before her was Zhou Qingci. Two years younger than the eldest son, she had married the eldest son of the Grand Councilor’s Sun family.
“Come with me.” Zhou Qingci suppressed the urge to reach out and touch her nephew, turning to lead the way.
Zhao Nuan had no time to think further and immediately took her daughter’s hand to follow.
Keeping a moderate distance from Zhou Qingci, she spoke in a hushed voice.
“Aunt, where will the Hou Estate be exiled to?”
“Suizhou.”
“Why have you sought me out?”
“If you have nowhere to go, could you take the child to Suizhou?”
Zhao Nuan frowned: “Are there contacts there?”
“It’s an exile region, but my father has former subordinates there. However…”
Suizhou was surrounded by mountains, scorching in summer and bitterly cold in winter.
Exiles survived by charcoal burning, leaving the entire city blackened.
And it was a full thirteen hundred li from the capital. Zhao Nuan traveling with two children would find it difficult to reach.
“I’ll go!”
Zhao Nuan made her decision in an instant. As a woman alone with two children, anywhere would be dangerous.
If the exile location had Zhou family arrangements, then as long as she could endure the journey, life afterward should be more manageable.
Her swift agreement took Zhou Qingci by surprise: “Do you realize… the road ahead is perilous?”
“I know.” Zhao Nuan coughed softly, observing their surroundings. “When the Madame released the servants, it wasn’t just out of kindness—she also meant to provide cover for me.”
“But all servants are registered. If officials investigate, they’ll start with those closest to the masters. While they’ll eventually reach me, there’s still time.”
“So why not leave before they investigate? Who would expect a lowly maid to dare travel north with young children in late autumn to such a harsh land?”
Zhou Qingci turned to study Zhao Nuan closely, understanding why her mother and sister-in-law had entrusted the young nephew to her.
Zhou Qingci, who had intended to direct Zhao Nuan’s actions, now wavered. She asked, “How do you plan to go?”
“Hire a escort team to Yunzhou to celebrate the New Year with my merchant husband.”
Going directly to Suizhou would be too obvious, so Zhao Nuan planned to first go to Yunzhou—three hundred li from Suizhou—and then decide her next move.
Zhou Qingci’s throat tightened: “Tomorrow, thirty li outside the city, an escort team will be waiting for you.”
After speaking, Zhou Qingci was about to turn into an alley to part ways with Zhao Nuan.
“Madam!”
Zhou Qingci stopped walking but didn’t turn around.
“Only by preserving yourself can the Zhou family be free from worries.” After saying this, Zhao Nuan felt it was too vague.
After a moment’s thought, she continued: “Suizhou is bitterly cold. While in the capital, you should earn more silver to support them.”
Zhou Qingci had originally steeled herself for a fight to the death, but these words made her shudder.
The Zhou family had served the nation in battle since the founding emperor’s time. Now that the borders were peaceful, the court prioritized scholars over warriors.
Her father had thought that by having the family’s men abandon martial arts for civil service, and marrying her into the Grand Chancellor’s Sun family—voluntarily offering a vulnerability—they could ensure the family’s safety.
Unexpectedly… Zhou Qingci felt tears roll down her cheeks.
Winter was approaching—how could her family possibly reach Suizhou safely?
“One more thing, does Madam know where the second young master has gone? The Hou Estate’s backyard has been dug up thoroughly. You should stay vigilant.”
Not daring to linger further, Zhao Nuan quickly led Yan’er away.
Zhou Qingci’s expression tightened. Controlled by the Sun family, she knew nothing about the Hou Estate’s affairs.
Zhao Nuan’s words had torn open a crack in the conspiracy, allowing a sliver of light to seep through.
Fearing complications from staying too long in the city, Zhao Nuan left some wilted vegetable leaves in her basket and endured disdainful looks while purchasing a small handful of white rice with Yan’er.
Finally, at a general store, she bought needles, thread, a water pouch, wooden bowls and chopsticks, and a tinderbox.
The city guards, accustomed to peasants selling vegetables for meager earnings, waved them through without a second thought.
Outside the city, Zhao Nuan flagged down an ox cart: “Uncle, where are you headed?”
“Twenty Li Village. Need a ride?”
Zhao Nuan feigned skepticism: “Which household in Twenty Li Village do you belong to? I don’t recognize you.”
“I’m from Hill Hollow Village, four or five li north of Twenty Li Village. Don’t often pass through town. Where are you from, little sister?”
“From town—the inn run by an old couple.” Zhao Nuan had never been to Twenty Li Village, but she smoothly extracted information.
As for the inn, every town had one; whether it was run by an old couple depended on luck.
Fortunately, luck was on Zhao Nuan’s side—Twenty Li Village did indeed have an inn run by an elderly couple.
“Oh… I know it, I know it. So you’re…”
Zhao Nuan smiled cheerfully: “Today, my mother-in-law finally let me sell vegetables in the city and buy some white rice for the little one’s porghum. This girl loves to play, and before we knew it, it got late. Could you give us a ride?”
She patted her clothes: “Ah, I’ve spent all my coppers. Could you take us to my doorstep, and I’ll pay you then?”
“Sure, sure.” The old man, who had sold firewood in the city, was delighted to pick up paying passengers on his return trip.
Once on the cart, Yan’er pulled a piece of malt candy from her pocket and offered it to the old man.
Chuckling, he accepted it and tucked it away, teasing: “Little girl, did you spend all your mother’s money on candy? Otherwise, why wouldn’t she have even two coppers for the fare?”
Worried about Yan’er’s response, Zhao Nuan subtly tugged at her sleeve.
Yan’er pouted: “Hmph! The handful of malt candy she bought me cost only a few coppers. But the white rice for my brother cost dozens—of course there aren’t any coppers left!”
“You silly girl, your brother is still young.”
“Hahaha… clever little lass.”
Seated on the ox cart, Zhao Nuan watched the towering capital city gates grow increasingly distant.
Five years ago, she had entered the city in a sorry state, and now, six years later, she was leaving it just as disheveled. She shook her head with a bitter smile.
“Pop…”
A drool bubble burst, making a sound.
Zhao Nuan looked down and saw a pair of dark, glistening eyes.
Yan’er leaned closer too. “Mother, little brother is so well-behaved.”
“Yes, and you’re well-behaved too.” Zhao Nuan kissed her daughter on the forehead, then planted a smacking kiss on Zhou Ningyu’s cheek.
“You’re both Mother’s good children.”
As she said this, Zhao Nuan couldn’t help but think of Zhou Anning, her heart filled with worry.