“Oh my, let me see which little slut is so good with words. Just one night together and you dare chatter in front of me?”
In the past, Zhao Nuan would probably have let it slide.
But today she wanted to send a clear message to the Hou Estate members, so she flung open the carriage curtain and traded insults with Dai Shi.
“Who doesn’t know you have men to sleep with? Lazing in bed all morning refusing to get up, needing other men to come call for you repeatedly in your room – now who’s the real slut here!”
“You… you…” Dai Shi flicked her handkerchief angrily: “Husband! Look at her!”
Dai Shi had only picked on Zhao Nuan because she appeared delicate and weak, venting her frustration about Xingyi Escort Agency wanting to part ways due to their late start.
She never expected Zhao Nuan, despite her fragile appearance, to possess such fierce fighting spirit.
“Enough, enough!” Escort Li glanced at Zhao Nuan twice.
Zhao Nuan subtly glanced at the Hou Estate members, tightened the loosened swaddling clothes, and retreated into the carriage.
Seeing they had already offended both escort agencies, the Shunshui Escort Agency members frowned and called to the arguing couple who still wanted to continue.
“Get in the carriage, get in! Any more delays and we won’t be traveling today at all.”
Only when they saw their escort leader’s impatience did the reluctant couple finally board.
As the carriages began moving, whether intentionally or not, Zhao Nuan’s carriage ended up last.
Through the swaying curtain, she saw the Hou Estate members watching her depart. Her gaze lingered on Zhou Ning’an as she lightly tapped the clothes on her knees.
Zhao Nuan’s interruption gave the two escorting guards an opportunity to relax their attitude.
“Hey, you can rest under the haystack ahead. We’re going inside to relieve ourselves.”
Eldest Young Master Zhou Wenrui remained humble and polite, nodding: “Thank you, officers.”
These two had just received money and were clearly going to enjoy a good meal at the relay station. He didn’t expose them – being allowed to rest was good enough.
“Mother, please rest.”
He first helped the Marquise sit down against the haystack, then went to assist his wife Lin Jingshu.
Lin Jingshu had been avoiding looking at him these past days, but now suddenly grabbed his hand with tear-filled eyes: “My child, that was…”
“Shh!”
Zhou Wenrui raised a finger to his lips: “I saw, I saw.”
Tears rolled down Lin Jingshu’s cheeks as she nodded repeatedly, obediently falling silent.
Zhou Wenrui helped her sit beside his mother before seating himself.
Zhou Ning’an nestled quietly in his arms, whispering: “Father, Yan’er is wearing the Rong flower I gave her last year.”
“Mmm.” Zhou Wenrui tore a strip from his clothing to wrap around his daughter’s ankles, raw and bloody from the iron chains.
His hands trembled. Having endured torture without a sound, he could no longer hold back the tears welling in his eyes.
Zhou Wenxuan punched the haystack fiercely: “Elder brother, sister-in-law, you’re both too soft-hearted! That nursemaid’s daughter is the same age as Ning’an and grew up together with her – why couldn’t she serve as substitute!”
“Silence!” the Marquise hissed, “Chunlian’s child was already frail from birth, that’s why she replaced Ning Yu. Yan’er is healthy and lively, also someone’s beloved daughter… How could you entertain such thoughts!”
Zhou Wenrui patted his brother’s shoulder, speaking earnestly: “I know you’re struggling to understand, Wenxuan. But both our Zhou and Lin families base our conduct on virtue. If we were capable of such inhuman acts, we wouldn’t have achieved our current standing.”
From Father onward, they weren’t powerless to resist. Their restraint stemmed solely from not wanting ordinary people to suffer the hardships of war.
As for Zhou Wenxuan, being young and raised with teachings of benevolence, righteousness, and virtue, it was natural for him to struggle with this sudden, unjust calamity.
“Wuwu… but…” The once vibrant young man wept bitterly on his older brother’s shoulder: “Our family did nothing wrong, nothing at all.”
Zhou Wenrui held Zhou Wenxuan close, his cheek pressed against his brother’s head: “Don’t be afraid, big brother will protect you.”
In contrast, Zhou Ning’an was all smiles. Being the youngest, she possessed the strongest mental fortitude: “Mother, did you hear what Nanny said? She promised to wait for us in Yunzhou with Little Yu.”
The little girl shifted positions, sprawling out on the haystack: “This is actually nice. I can lie around freely without having to follow all those rules for proper young ladies.”
“Nanny once told Yan’er that if it weren’t so dangerous outside, she wouldn’t want to live in the capital at all. She wants to farm, plant a whole yard of flowers, live in a simple wooden house, and cook delicious food.”
“By the time we reach Yunzhou, Nanny might already have a table full of delicious food waiting for me.”
Lin Jingshu wiped her tears with her sleeve and touched her daughter’s face: “An’er, since you’re close with Nanny, when we arrive, please put in a good word for Mother so she’ll let me stay in her wooden house too.”
Previously, she had planned to die after sending her daughter to Suizhou, but now she felt unwilling—she still had Yu’er to think of.
“Jingshu…” Zhou Wenrui’s eyes were full of heartache.
But whenever Lin Jingshu thought of those filthy affairs, she avoided her husband’s gaze.
“Ahem… All of you are being outdone by a nanny.” The Marquise sighed: “She, a single woman, dared to travel with two children, while we’re all together as a family. Should we really let her show us up?”
Spurred by these words, the Zhou family members rallied their spirits.
Zhou Ning’an kept one more thought to herself, planning to share it with the family only after confirmation.
The Yuchi family wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? They’d better make sure their blade is sharp enough!
Meanwhile, in Zhao Nuan’s carriage, Yan’er couldn’t sit still, frequently climbing out to the carriage shaft to chat with the two guards.
This was their fourth day on the road. Seeing the leaves along the path turning increasingly yellow, they had only covered two hundred li.
Finally, on the morning of the fifth day, after repeated unsuccessful attempts to hurry the Dai couple along, Guard Yuan from the Xingyi Escort Agency, who had been traveling with them for days, could no longer contain his frustration.
“Everyone, my apologies, but I must take my leave now.”
Guard Lei also clasped his hands toward Li (the head guard) and the others: “We both have wives and children at home and hope to return before the New Year. Our apologies.”
The couple insisted on staying at relay stations, but suitable ones weren’t always available. This often meant stopping at a station before sunset, wasting considerable time.
Li the head guard frowned. The route he needed to take was longer than that of the Xingyi Escort Agency. If delays continued like this, he might end up spending the New Year in Yunzhou.
Xiao Bai’s wife was about to give birth and waiting for his return.
So he asked Zhao Nuan: “Sister Zhao, can you all still endure?”
“We can endure!” Zhao Nuan was actually burning with anxiety but didn’t show it.
She believed Zhou Qingci’s claim about having a backup plan, so reaching the border region one day earlier meant gaining safety one day sooner.
“Alright!”
Li Kui dismounted: “You two, please wait a moment. We’ll travel together. Let me go inform the Shunshui Escort Agency.”
The two from Xingyi Escort Agency were more than willing, though out of propriety, they hadn’t previously encouraged the Yangwei Escort Agency to leave with them.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Li Kui emerged from the relay station.
He waved his hand: “Let’s move!”
Four carriages from two escort agencies began to move. Two men from the Shunshui Escort Agency chased out of the relay station, pointing at Li Kui and cursing angrily.