Upon hearing Zheng Wenqing’s words, the escort from Xingyi Escort Agency grew displeased.
“Brother, your words are unfair. Your destination, Pingwan Prefecture, is only five hundred li from the capital—a journey of ten days at minimum, half a month at most. But we’re headed to Yangbao Town, three hundred li farther than you. With autumn deepening, any further delays mean we’ll be braving wind and snow for the latter half of the trip.”
“Is that our fault?” Dai Shi, the wife of the couple, planted her hands on her hips, defending her husband. “Who asked you to choose such a distant destination?”
“You…” The escort, being a man, was naturally less sharp-tongued than Dai Shi and was fuming with rage.
Seeing his senior being overpowered, another escort from Xingyi Escort Agency stepped forward and grumbled, “In that case, we simply have different paths and cannot collaborate.”
“Hey, hey, brothers, no need for that, no need for that.” The escort from Shunshui Escort Agency hurriedly intervened to mediate.
But the two escorts from Xingyi Escort Agency rejected his efforts. Instead, they turned to the three escorts from Weiyang Escort Agency and clasped their hands respectfully. “Brothers, we joined this journey for mutual support. Since things aren’t harmonious now, let us part ways here.”
Li Kui still wanted to persuade them. “Brother Yuan, perhaps this time…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of chains scraping against the ground echoed through the thick fog.
Everyone fell silent and looked toward the official road.
Zhao Nuan pulled Yan’er close, gripping her hand tightly.
The escort from Weiyang Escort Agency suddenly spoke up. “Sister, the fog carries a chill. You should hold the child and get in the carriage.”
“Ah…” Zhao Nuan stared at the gradually emerging figures in the mist, momentarily flustered. “Th-thank you, Brother Zhang.”
The escort helped Zhao Nuan into the carriage, lifted Yan’er inside, tucked them into the compartment, and even adjusted the carriage curtain for them.
Zhao Nuan leaned against the cargo, peeking through a crack in the window.
A leading constable brandished his whip, dispersing the fog with each swing.
“Move faster! How long will it take at this sluggish pace?”
“Damn it, thanks to you lot, I can’t go home for the New Year to be with my wife and kids.” Another voice emerged from the fog, accompanied by the sound of a whip striking flesh.
“Heh, still thinking about going home for the New Year? Traveling to Suizhou in the dead of winter—whether you’ll even survive is another matter.”
Hearing this, the whip cracks grew more frequent in the fog, punctuated by muffled groans.
The clanking of chains drew nearer as the Hou Estate party emerged from the dense fog, appearing on the official road before the relay station.
“Mother, it’s Big…”
Before Yan’er could finish, Zhao Nuan covered her mouth.
The Hou Estate members were shackled, their ankle chains so heavy that each step seemed to drain all their strength.
Leading the way was the Eldest Young Master of the Marquis’s Mansion. It was clear he strained to tighten the rope in his hands, offering support to his mother and wife behind him.
Following him was the Marquise. In just a few days, half the hair of the once-elegant noblewoman had turned white. Yet, her dignity remained unbroken, even as she stumbled along.
The First Madam swayed unsteadily, like a puppet on the verge of collapse.
Next came Zhou Ning’an, a small child dragging heavy leg irons, stumbling with every step.
The child, smudged like a little tabby cat, hid restraint in her wide eyes as the constable uttered disrespectful words.
Pretending innocence, she smiled and said, “Sir, if we weren’t whipped and could eat our fill, we would surely walk a little faster.”
The constable walking behind chuckled twice. “A little brat like you still wants to eat her fill? Do you still think you’re the noble young lady of the Hou Estate?”
“If we walk faster, you can finish your duty and return sooner.”
“Hahaha…” The two constables laughed heartily. One of them raised his whip. “Who said we have to deliver you all the way to Suizhou to complete our duty? Over a thousand li of road—it’s common for the old, weak, and sick to die along the way.”
With that, his whip was about to lash down on Zhou Ning’an.
The child was so scared that they tightly closed their eyes, shrinking into a ball.
Above her, the third young master Zhou Wenxuan leaned over, attempting to block the whip with his own body.
Zhao Nuan’s tears fell like rain. Just as she couldn’t hold back a scream, a sharp shout stopped the constable.
“Stop!” It was the Marquise.
Seeing her imposing gaze, the constable frowned. “Old hag, looking for a beating?”
“My Zhou family has served with loyalty… cough cough cough…”
“Mother…”
The Marquise raised her hand, stopping the first young master from speaking further.
“One could say without my Zhou clan, this empire might not still bear the Yuchi surname. Are you certain, officer, that my Zhou family can never rise again?”
“This…” The constable’s eyes shifted uneasily; he knew the Marquise wasn’t wrong.
The Zhou family not only had merits in establishing the dynasty but had also acted as a stabilizing force like a sea-calming needle during several subsequent imperial successions.
“I know escorting my Zhou family to exile is a tough assignment, but are you two officers certain it’s merely a tough assignment? Perhaps… it could be a ladder to the clouds instead.”
The Marquise had always urged those in the estate to keep a low profile when managing household affairs. This was the first time Zhao Nuan had seen her so sharp and outstanding.
The constable’s whip-wielding hand had already softened slightly. He looked uncertainly at the Marquise, then at his companion.
The first young master timely stuffed a silver ingot into his hand. “Officer, we’ve shared hardships over this thousand-li journey. Though my Zhou family is exiled, the punishment doesn’t extend to married daughters. My eldest sister is still in the capital.”
The constable lowered his whip, gripping the substantial silver ingot.
He exchanged a glance with the other constable, recalling that although First Madam Lin Shi’s father was dead, many officials at court were students of the Lin family.
And the Marquise’s elder brother was still guarding the northwest at Suyeg Pass.
The atmosphere grew tense. Though the constable’s attitude had softened, his pride wouldn’t let him back down easily.
Seeing the first young master’s gesture with the silver, Zhao Nuan pulled out one of Zhou Ningyu’s cotton undergarments with a subtly embroidered Wan-character pattern from her bundle and placed it on her knees.
Then, taking a deep breath, she called out loudly to Li Kui, “Head Escort Li, when do we depart?”
“Oh…” Li Kui realized he’d been watching the spectacle and felt somewhat embarrassed. “Right away, right away. Brothers, hitch the horses, we’re setting off.”
After securing the horses, he waved his whip toward Escort Yuan of the Xingyi Escort Agency. “Brother Yuan, Brother Lei, let’s go together.”
After this incident, the two escorts from Xingyi Escort Agency couldn’t very well continue their dispute with Shunshui Escort Agency. They nodded, giving Wei Yang Escort Agency face.
Zhao Nuan didn’t lower the curtain. The moment she spoke up, the Marquise’s expression changed.
First Madam’s originally dull eyes moved as well; she turned her head as if searching for something.
And Zhou Ning’an was already looking toward the carriage, her eyes shining.
Zhao Nuan knew she had to give them a reason to keep going, so suppressing her trembling, she raised her voice again, “We still have over a thousand li to Yunzhou. Let’s start early.”
Her words were meant to convey a message to the Hou Estate members, but they were misinterpreted by that woman surnamed Dai.
Dai Shi had already boarded the carriage, but upon hearing this, she jumped down and began waving her handkerchief while shouting insults.