Marquis Quling’s anger flared even higher. “It’s precisely because of his embezzlement that the Shen family ended up like this! Now that he’s being punished, he deserves it! The third and fourth sons are born of concubines, but they’re still my sons. Their branch has never benefited from Yaowen. Now they’ve saved some money to buy things—why should they give it to you?”
Lady Zhou didn’t expect Marquis Quling to say this and froze for a moment before bursting into tears. “Marquis, how can you say that? Yaowen is the legitimate son! There’s a distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children. The third branch should be serving our eldest branch! How can you turn a blind eye like this?”
“Serve you?” Marquis Quling sneered. “How have you treated the third branch all these years? They ate stale meals, wore old clothes, and the monthly allowance wasn’t even enough to buy two pounds of meat. Meanwhile, you feasted on delicacies and wore gold and silver! I’ve already refrained from punishing you—how dare you cry here now?”
Lady Zhou was left speechless, collapsing to the ground in tears.
Shen Jiaojiao didn’t dare cause more trouble and quietly wiped her eyes.
Zhang, seeing Marquis Quling’s dark expression, knew continuing the fight would get them nowhere. She helped Lady Zhou and Shen Jiaojiao up and whispered, “Let’s go.”
The eldest branch slunk away, heads low, with Shen Zihan, Shen Zixiang, and Shen Zikun’s injuries especially visible.
Shen Shuangshuang watched them leave, snorted coldly, and turned to organize her cart.
Marquis Quling looked at her, wanting to say something—perhaps to ask her to share some supplies with the eldest branch—but recalling her boldness just now, he swallowed the words.
He could only sigh and turn away.
The crowd gradually dispersed. Members of the second and fourth branches watched from a distance, not daring to provoke the third branch.
Shen Mingwu and his wife of the second branch exchanged glances, seeing caution in each other’s eyes. They had occasionally bullied the third branch before but, seeing Shen Shuangshuang’s strength, feared retaliation.
Shen Yaozu of the fourth branch considered approaching Shen Yaozong but was stopped by his wife, Li: “Don’t go. The third branch is not to be messed with now. We’d better stay out of their affairs.”
Shen Yaozu thought it reasonable and let the idea go.
“All right, no one will bother us now.”
Shen Yaozong helped Xiang Meimei organize the supplies. “Everything you bought is practical. It’ll definitely be useful on the road.”
Xiang Meimei touched the bedding on the cart and smiled. “With these quilts, we won’t freeze at night. Shuangshuang, you thought of everything.”
Just as Shen Shuangshuang was about to reply, a familiar figure approached—Lu Xuening from General Weiyuan’s household.
She held a cracked bowl, head bowed, and said quietly to Shen Shuangshuang, “Shuangshuang… could you… give me a flatbread? My mother fainted from hunger.”
Shen Shuangshuang glanced toward Lady Lu.
Lu Zhenzhen lay on the ground, pale, lips cracked—clearly starved.
The officials nearby didn’t pay her the slightest attention, busy chatting among themselves.
Xiang Meimei frowned. “Wasn’t your mother always so proud? How did she end up like this?”
Though she had conflicts with Lu Zhenzhen, seeing Lu Xuening’s pitiful state, Xiang Meimei couldn’t refuse.
Shen Shuangshuang took two flatbreads from the cart and handed them to Lu Xuening. “Here. And this.”
She also pulled a small water pouch from her clothes containing diluted Spirit Spring water. “Let your mother drink this. She’ll recover.”
Lu Xuening accepted the flatbreads and water, eyes reddening, and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Shuangshuang. My mother wronged you before. I apologize on her behalf.”
Shen Shuangshuang waved her hand. “Don’t mention the past. Now we’re all fellow sufferers; helping each other is only right. Go feed your mother.”
Lu Xuening nodded and ran back to her mother with the food and water.
Xiang Meimei sighed, watching her retreating figure. “I never thought Lu Zhenzhen would come to this. She used to be so imposing at banquets. Now she can’t even get a flatbread.”
“Good and evil always have consequences,” Shen Yaozong said. “She used to rely on her husband being a general to bully others. Now he’s imprisoned, she’s exiled—she’s getting what she deserves.”
Soon, Lu Xuening returned, holding a silver hairpin. “Shuangshuang, this is for you—consider it payment for the flatbreads and water. It’s the last valuable thing I have.”
Shen Shuangshuang refused. “No need. One flatbread isn’t worth anything. Keep it—you may need it later.”
“I can’t take it without giving something in return.”
Lu Xuening pressed the hairpin into her hand. “My mother said, if you owe someone, you must repay. It’s not much, but it’s my token of gratitude.”
She then ran back to her mother.
Shen Shuangshuang smiled at the hairpin and tucked it away.
Xiang Meimei said, “Lu Xuening’s a sensible child. Much better than her mother.”
“Indeed,” Shen Shuangshuang nodded. “If we meet them in trouble on the road, we can help if we can.”
Half an hour passed quickly, and the officials began urging everyone to gather.
Shen Yaozong helped Xiang Meimei, while Shen Shuangshuang pushed the fully loaded cart, following behind the group.
A few steps ahead, Shen Jiaojiao shouted from behind: “Shen Shuangshuang, wait!”
Shen Shuangshuang frowned. “What do you want now?”
Shen Jiaojiao ran up, face red, stammering: “I… I want to buy a flatbread from you. Is that… okay? I’ll pay.”
She held a few coins she had taken from Lady Zhou earlier.
Shen Shuangshuang looked at the coins and her pale face. She realized Shen Jiaojiao was truly starving.
Although she disliked her, she couldn’t just watch her starve.
She handed her a flatbread from the cart. “No need to pay. Take it.”
Shen Jiaojiao froze, not expecting such generosity.
She took the flatbread and whispered, “Th-thank you…”
Then she hurried back to the eldest branch’s group.
Xiang Meimei was surprised. “Why did you give her a flatbread? She bullied you before.”
“Being hungry is miserable,” Shen Shuangshuang said. “I can hold a grudge, but I won’t let her starve. Besides, it’s just one flatbread—worth nothing.”
Shen Yaozong nodded. “You did the right thing. We shouldn’t provoke trouble, but we also can’t be heartless.”
The group continued walking. The landscape became increasingly barren, with nothing but bare earth and low shrubs.
The sun tilted westward, and the air grew cooler.