“Sister, I’m not lying to you! Everything I said is true, my father and mother know—I never tell lies.”
“Your feminine attire cannot conceal your lofty ambitions; a single sword shines coldly across the nine provinces. You’re truly a role model for women like us. I’ve admired extraordinary women like you since I was a child. You’re the very heroine I’ve been chasing in my storybooks! You mustn’t underestimate yourself.”
Everyone: …
You really know how to lay it on thick! Even the sister of Dragon-Tiger Stronghold’s third chief is blushing from your flattery!
Zhao Xun was indeed somewhat flushed, but her fondness for this delicate, soft-spoken little sister grew exponentially.
This little sister really knows how to talk—want to hear more, love listening!
But—liking is one thing, business is another.
Zhao Xun spoke in a muffled voice, “Two flatbreads and two pieces of dried meat is the price for half a day.”
“I know, sister, I definitely won’t make you work for nothing. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re well fed. You’re helping us tremendously this time—I’ll give you a waterskin later as thanks.”
A waterskin was truly a valuable item. After their Dragon-Tiger Stronghold was suppressed, they had to set off penniless without any preparations.
Hearing this, Zhao Xun couldn’t conceal her delight, her face brightening with joy.
Xin Wenan frowned deeply, “Giving away a waterskin for just five days of carrying? Sixth Girl, you should consult your family before making decisions!”
“Shut up. Third Uncle, no offense, but I’m talking with sister right now. How can you be so rude, interrupting us like that? Do you have to show off by speaking? Could you die from keeping quiet?”
Xin Wenan stared wide-eyed at Xin Nian as if seeing a ghost.
It’s over, it’s over—another one’s gone mad!
The little crybaby has been walking for half a day without collapsing in tears, and now she’s even learned to talk back!
“Sixth Sister, you…” Xin Mengxue opened her mouth, wanting to defend her father, but before she could finish, Xin Nian cut her off.
“Fourth Sister, we’re currently asking sister warrior for help to solve our immediate difficulties. If you have another method that doesn’t require spending resources, why didn’t you mention it earlier? Since you can’t carry anything on your shoulders or in your hands, if you can’t help then stop the nonsense.”
Xin Mengxue lowered her head and began sobbing softly.
Xie Ninglan’s quick temper flared up instantly, roaring like an eastern lion, “Stop crying! Cry, cry, cry—what’s the use of crying all day? You’ll cry all your good fortune away!”
“Xie Shi, who are you shouting at? Why are you yelling at Mengxue? Don’t think just because the Minister’s residence sent you some supplies, you can throw your weight around and trample over the entire family!” Third Madam Zhuang Shi also exploded, dragging her chains as she tried to come support her daughter.
“My family sent things to me, what’s it to you? That’s my mother sending supplies for our family of four… five people. It’s not for you to use anyway. Why would I throw my weight around over you?? What does it have to do with you?”
Zhuang Shi was momentarily stunned, then began beating her chest in anguish, “You wretched Xie Shi, I always knew you were utterly selfish. No wonder you and Xin Nian secretly ate flatbread and dried meat at noon without sharing even half a piece with us.”
“How ridiculous, what ‘secretly’? We were eating openly! What’s it to you? If you’re so capable, why don’t you get your family to send something?” Xie Ninglan rolled her eyes, and noticing several Escorts approaching aggressively from the corner of her eye, immediately pulled her daughter back and fell silent.
Zhuang Shi wailed and made a scene, “Mother, look at her, just look at her—she’s clearly disregarding the entire family’s survival…”
Her outstretched finger hung in the air, struck by the tip of an Escort’s whip.
Zhuang Shi cried out in pain, her face pale as she quickly withdrew her hand.
Several escorts roared, “Who’s causing trouble? Can we not just keep moving peacefully? If we don’t reach the small post station on the outskirts of the capital before dark, you’ll all be drinking wind and eating dirt!”
Yu Shi hurriedly waved her hands, “No, no, there’s no trouble. We just ask that you loosen the chains a bit. We’ve found someone to carry our unconscious granddaughter.”
The escort glanced at Xin Ruoyu slumped to the side and said irritably, “Your family certainly has the most issues.”
After grumbling a few more words, he said nothing further and removed the iron chain attached to Xin Ruoyu’s waist.
Xin Nian and Xie Ninglan worked together to secure Xin Ruoyu onto Zhao Xun’s back. Xin Nian smiled sweetly at the woman, “What should I call you, sister?”
“Zhao Xun.”
“Sister Zhao, I’m Xin Nian. ‘Xin’ as in hard work, ‘Nian’ as in longing and remembrance.” The young girl’s voice was soft and sweet, her radiant smile like a beam of light shining upon her, making people instinctively want to reach out and pat her head.
Zhao Xun struggled to suppress the slight upturn of her lips and said flatly, “Follow behind me and watch your step. The dirt road ahead after Shi Li Po isn’t easy to walk.”
“Mm, mm!” The girl responded with utmost obedience.
Turning her head, her gaze faintly swept over the inquiring looks from other families, all of which she ignored as if she hadn’t seen them.
What are you looking at? We’ve all been reduced to exiles here—none of us are any nobler than the others.
In the days to come, it’ll be a case of each showing their true abilities to survive.
By afternoon, as they walked further, the heat intensified, and everyone was drenched in sweat.
The ladies and young misses exiled from the capital were delicate and unaccustomed to hardship. Having walked continuously for a whole day, many already had blisters on their feet.
By the end of the Shen hour, around five o’clock, everyone was too exhausted to even muster the energy for sighs and cries.
Xin Ruoyu woke up midway, persisting through her feverish haze to walk, switching to carry Old Madam instead.
Zhao Xun didn’t say much, obediently following arrangements—switching when told to switch, carrying whoever needed carrying. Despite dragging shackles and manacles, she carried people along the way as steadily as walking on level ground.
Many in the group collapsed, and after being scolded by the escorts, their relatives, looking as mournful as if their fathers had died, dragged these burdens along to continue forward.
Pushing hard and rushing along, just as the sun set and darkness spread, the crowd finally reached the designated location.
The moment they saw the small post station on the outskirts of the capital, many broke down in tears.
Dali watched these tearful, comical-looking people expressionlessly, silently pushing the flatbed cart behind Xin Nian.
Look at these grown men, all wilted and weak—they don’t even seem as capable as our delicate young miss.
She had thought she might need to carry the young miss along the way, but unexpectedly, the girl hadn’t made a single complaint the entire journey.
Xin Nian held Xie Ninglan’s arm, secretly transferring healing power to her. “I think I might break through to the first tier tonight.”
“Really?” Xie Ninglan was overjoyed. “What kind of supernatural power?”
“Two kinds.”
Xie Ninglan was ecstatic. Oh my, it had to be her precious daughter—truly extraordinary, far beyond ordinary people.
“Does that mean you can use the most basic spatial skills, like condensed storage or something?”
Xin Nian nodded. “Probably. I’ll try tonight.”
Xie Ninglan clasped her hands together and murmured quietly, “Thank heavens. I hope we can quickly access our original space.”
“What worries me most right now is what to do when my period comes. Ah, even though your grandmother prepared plenty of cotton pads for us, I’m just not used to using those things.”
“If only I could open a dimensional space—we’ve stockpiled enough sanitary pads to last several lifetimes.”
Xin Nian squeezed her mother’s hand. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll work hard.”