“Yanniang!”
The members of the Second Branch cried out in grief as they saw the woman’s body lying beside the prison cart.
“Chu Linzhang! It wasn’t enough that you got the whole family exiled—you even killed Yanniang! Murderer! I’ll fight you to the death!”
Grabbing a dagger, Chu Wei charged toward him, intending to die together with him.
Chu Linzhang couldn’t move his hands or feet, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.
He cast Chu Wei a single icy glance.
Chu Wei’s heart skipped a beat.
The murderous intent in his heart instantly evaporated. Though he held the dagger, his hand trembled uncontrollably, and he didn’t dare take another step forward.
This cripple had just killed his own wife.
If he rushed over now, he’d simply be throwing away his life.
Afraid of death, Chu Wei chickened out.
“Why aren’t you attacking?” Chu Linzhang sneered. “Kill me, and you’ll get exactly what you want.”
“You… you knew?” Chu Wei dropped the act, fell to his knees, and begged, “Linzhang, please. Have mercy. Save your younger brother and sister. They’re still children. They haven’t even had a chance to live.”
“So I’ve lived enough already?” Chu Linzhang laughed mockingly. “Second Uncle, you’ve truly disappointed me.”
“You’re a cripple now. Staying alive is just wasting food. That person doesn’t want you reaching the place of exile alive anyway. Since you’re going to die regardless, why not sacrifice yourself for your younger siblings? At least the Chu family will still have descendants.”
Still clutching the dagger, Chu Wei crawled closer on his knees, preparing to launch a surprise attack.
“Wasting food?” Chu Linzhang sneered.
It was only the first day of exile.
He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything.
The coarse corn bun distributed at noon had been quietly taken by the Chu family. They intended to starve him to death.
For once, the entire Chu family was united.
None of them wanted him to survive the journey.
That was because Su Wen had said one thing when they were brought out:
“As long as Prince Chu dies on the road to exile—the sooner, the better—your lives will become much easier. Otherwise, don’t expect any of you to make it alive either.”
From the moment they had been arrested, every member of the Chu family believed they were innocent.
It was Chu Linzhang who had dragged them down.
If his death could buy them a better future—
Then let him die.
When survival was on the line, the Chu family knew how to choose.
After weighing the pros and cons, their conclusion was simple:
One Chu Linzhang dead.
Everyone else happy.
He was crippled, after all. It would be easy to manipulate him.
Withholding food and water, he probably wouldn’t survive more than three days.
Chu Linzhang’s smile made Chu Wei’s legs go weak.
He couldn’t bring himself to strike.
Instead, he spat viciously,
“You think you’ll live much longer? Everyone’s waiting for you to die! If you don’t die now, you’ll just starve to death!”
Chu Linzhang merely curled his lips.
His face, already caked with dirt and filth, made his smile look even more terrifying.
Chu Wei dragged his wife’s corpse away, stumbling and crawling in panic.
Chu Linzhang tried to move.
His arms remained limp and powerless.
His wounds had become infected, oozing pus.
He truly was a cripple.
He couldn’t even lift a hand.
No wonder the Chu family was so fearless.
They were simply waiting for him to starve to death.
He had never imagined that after surviving prison, he would still be tormented to death by his own family.
Their hearts were truly ruthless.
The emperor’s heart was even crueler.
He had stolen his identity.
Now he wanted to erase him completely.
Very well.
Using his plant ability, Chu Linzhang quietly guided several edible leaves wrapped in vines toward his mouth while the guards weren’t paying attention.
The leaves tasted sweet and sour.
He had to survive.
He absolutely couldn’t let that dog emperor succeed.
The emperor wanted him dead.
Then he would live.
No matter what, Chu Linzhang would stay alive.
He would reclaim everything that had once belonged to him.
In his anger, the vine thickened until it was as thick as an arm, tripping one of the guards.
“Ow! Where the hell did this thick vine come from? I thought it was a snake! Scared the life out of me!”
Chu Linzhang immediately withdrew his power.
The guard hacked the vine apart and tossed it aside without realizing anything.
Chu Linzhang had no intention of exposing his ability.
His gaze drifted toward the direction Hua Zhiyun had been taken.
His brows furrowed slightly.
Why had they been gone so long?
Had something happened to her?
If anyone was going to get into trouble, it definitely wouldn’t be Hua Zhiyun.
If not for the restriction that prevented her from straying from the exile route, she would have long since changed her appearance, assumed a new identity, and disappeared with an entire dimensional space full of supplies.
In a world without zombies, she could have found a peaceful place where spring flowers bloomed and the sea stretched to the horizon, living comfortably for the rest of her life.
Instead…
She had to continue this exile.
It was infuriating.
And now, people insisted on throwing themselves at her.
She’d be doing them a disservice if she didn’t grant their wish.
Three guards surrounded Hua Zhiyun, grinning lecherously.
“Princess Consort Chu… do you want to make it to the exile destination alive?”
Hua Zhiyun nodded.
The leader reached out with a filthy hand.
“Without someone protecting you, there’s no way you’ll survive.”
“What should I do then?” she asked, her face filled with fear.
“As long as you’re obedient…”
The three exchanged knowing looks before laughing obscenely.
“…our three brothers can protect you.”
“Just make us happy, and we’ll make sure you stay alive.”
“Your husband is a cripple anyway.”
“Rather than sticking with him, why not stick with the three of us?”
Even dressed in coarse prison clothes, she couldn’t conceal her stunning beauty.
Her peach blossom eyes shimmered with frightened innocence like a startled rabbit, making them want to bully her even more.
The thrill of violating a prince’s wife excited them.
They rubbed their hands together and licked their lips.
Thinking she was Prince Chu’s consort only made it more exhilarating.
Before any of them could lay a finger on her—
All three suddenly flew backward.
They slammed heavily into the ground, crying out in pain.
Hua Zhiyun sneered.
“You want to sleep with me?”
“Do you know what happened to the last man who tried to force himself on me?”
Her embroidered shoe came down squarely between the leader’s legs.
Crack!
The sound was followed by a bloodcurdling scream before the man fainted from the pain.
The remaining two forgot their injuries entirely.
They scrambled to their knees and begged desperately.
“Spare us, Granny!”
“Please let us go!”
“It was him! He was the one who talked us into it!”
“Oh?” Hua Zhiyun smiled.
Snap!
With one swift motion, she twisted the unconscious leader’s neck.
He died instantly.
The other two shook violently in terror.
“W-We’ll do whatever you say!”
“Please don’t kill us!”
“I don’t believe you.”
She turned her back to them and secretly took two capsules from her storage space.
They were among her treasured poisons.
She normally wouldn’t waste them on ordinary people.
Facing the two men struggling for their lives, she ordered,
“Open your mouths.”
The guards exchanged helpless looks.
Then they glanced at their dead leader.
If they refused…
They’d end up exactly like him.
If they could live, who wanted to die?
They had originally thought escorting Prince Chu’s family into exile would earn them plenty of benefits.
Had they known they’d encounter someone like this—
Whoever wanted this assignment could have it.
They wanted no part of it anymore.
Humiliated, they obediently opened their mouths.
The capsules flew into their throats.
The pills stuck slightly, forcing them to gulp repeatedly before swallowing them.
Hua Zhiyun said calmly,
“If you don’t receive the antidote within one month, you’ll bleed from all seven orifices before dying.”
“Whether you live or die…”
“…that’s your choice.”
Naturally, they wanted to live.
Satisfied after dealing with them, Hua Zhiyun left the small grove in a good mood.
The moment she stepped back onto the road—
Someone spat directly at her.
“Shameless woman!”