CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: ONLY BEASTS SLEEP HERE

Filled with pigs, sheep, cows, and horses, there are even several large duck pens—just like an animal yard.

Not only is it smelly, but also exceptionally noisy.

The ground is covered with duck poop—there’s nowhere to step.

The courtyard is mostly filled with women, some of whom are directly nauseated by the smell.

Only Ruan Mian quickly organized others to bring out their mats and such, laying a layer of straw first, then placing the mats on top, along with the large leaves they had picked earlier, so they at least had a place to stand.

Seeing this, people from the Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion also instructed some servants to pick leaves from nearby trees and scatter them on the ground.

They were now tired and hungry, having walked all day; their legs were not obeying them.

Fortunately, Ruan Mian’s group had tied their legs, so they could still manage a bit.

Seeing that it was getting late, she and Cui Zhu set up the stove and gathered some firewood nearby.

During the day, they had only gnawed on a few hard buns; their mouths and stomachs were protesting. Now that they had stopped, the first thing was to find something to eat.

Just when she was pondering what to eat tonight, an enticing aroma wafted from the courtyard entrance!

Everyone smelled the fragrance, almost drooling as they looked over.

Soon after, a girl in an elegant skirt appeared, carrying two open food boxes.

Inside the boxes were glistening braised pork, soft sweet cakes, and a variety of pork knuckles.

The lower layer of the food boxes contained some fragrant glutinous pastries.

It truly made the people present envious!!

At that moment, Liu Family rushed over first, exclaiming in surprise and joy, "Oh my, Linlin!! My daughter!"

It turns out this elegantly dressed girl was actually Qi Lin, who had been missing for a day and a night.

Seeing her transformed, the crowd started whispering quietly.

Nobody knew what had happened after she disappeared, not only did she bring delicious food, but also brought the Qi Mansion family out of that stinking animal yard.

They were arranged into specially prepared rooms at the post station, with beds, quilts, and even charcoal.

Even the government officers were quite cooperative.

Having endured hardship for a while, Liu Family began devouring the food, leaving no time to boast.

She couldn’t be bothered to ask about Qi Lin’s situation; only after she finished eating and drinking did she call on the two maids to change into luxurious and thick clothing, swaggering outside the animal yard.

She still carried some leftover soup dishes, throwing them in front of Ruan Mian’s group.

"Mianmian, after all, I’m your former mother-in-law. Unlike you, I can’t stand my relatives suffering, so I’ve specially brought you some tasty food so you don’t have to munch on buns all day."

She gathered the fur cloak around her, walking with a face full of disdain and sarcasm.

"Look at this place, it’s no place for humans to sleep; only animals would sleep here."

"You..."

Ruan Qing’s face changed slightly in anger, but was stopped by Ruan Mian.

Ruan Mian knew all too well what kind of person her former mother-in-law was.

No matter who Qi Nanfeng had been scheming with in the background, it had led their family’s situation to a turnaround.

But even so, what of it?

She coldly smiled, took the leftover dishes Liu Family brought, and unhesitatingly threw them at her face!

She then picked up a burning stick from the fire and threw it over.

The thick fur cloak caught fire instantly!

The flames leaped up, scaring Liu Family into backing away repeatedly, frantically trying to remove the cloak.

The scene was as comical as it could be.

Her face turned ashen, and she pointed at Ruan Mian and angrily shouted curse words so vile and filthy that even Mrs. Zhang and her husband were infuriated!

Mianmian was their daughter, how could they allow her to be insulted like this!!

Mrs. Zhang was so furious she grabbed a pile of cow dung and smeared it on her face!

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey! You! Ah ptooey!" Caught off guard and with cow dung shoved in her mouth, Liu Family nearly fainted.

Even Ruan Mian hadn’t expected Mrs. Zhang to be such a fierce individual, and Ruan Qing was cheering on the side, then carrying a water bag over to help her mother wash her hands.

Liu Family’s hair was messy, many strands burnt; earlier, she had come out bright and beautiful, now returning to the room in a sorry state.

She immediately began yelling at Qi Lin upon entering.

"Aren’t you going to get some water for your mother?"

"You foolish girl! You didn’t stand up for me just now; I’ve raised you for nothing!"

After continual shouting, Qi Lin couldn’t take it any longer, angrily smashing a basin with reddened eyes!

Liu Family, already indignant, saw this and slapped her, shaking while continuing to berate.

"You have a temper now?? Eh?!! I’m your mother! You must be filial to me! Besides, the reason we can eat better now is all because of your brother! You come back with a sour face, who are you showing attitude to, eh?!"

"You’re not even willing to help me to reprimand that little scoundrel and her family, and you don’t even care for your brother. Now when I ask you to bring me a basin, you complain about this and that? What right do you have..."

"Yes, yes, yes! You’re my mother! But precisely because you’re my mother, I was missing for a whole day and night, and you don’t even ask about me or care about me?!"

Thinking back to that night was like a nightmare for Qi Lin, her whole body went cold, and the sadness in her heart was like a flood, overwhelmingly rushing in!

Since she returned, neither her mother nor her brother had asked her a single thing.

Even when she cried out questioning, it only earned her another slap from Liu Family!

"I don’t care what happened to you, as long as you’re not dead!"

These words made Qi Lin cry uncontrollably, her cheeks almost bitten raw.

Meanwhile, a voice from a servant came from outside the room.

"Mr. Qi, Lord Dong is here."

For the quarreling mother and daughter, Qi Nanfeng had no interest in dealing with them; upon hearing Lord Dong had arrived, he immediately reprimanded them.

"Shut up! Lord Dong is here, if you don’t want to die, get inside!"

Soon, a man in a dark round robe stepped in boldly!

Even though his legs were inconvenient, Qi Nanfeng struggled to get up from the bed to greet the man: "Lord Dong."

This man was the only son of the former Assistant Minister of Public Works, Dong Jun.

The women didn’t know much about men’s business, only that this Dong Jun brought Qi Lin back to the post station, gave her plenty of good food, and even arranged for them to stay in such fine rooms.

Behind the screen, Dong Jun handed a secret letter to Qi Nanfeng, calmly stating.

"The Princess’s intentions are all inside."

After saying that, he didn’t forget to remind him: "If you can fulfill the Princess’s wishes, the Princess will undoubtedly handle everything well for you, getting your family out of the exile team, and then arranging property and estates for you."

"Before going to Linzhou Mountain Pass, I will also follow the Princess’s instructions to provide you with ample supplies, enabling you to eat well and stay warm during exile. Tomorrow, I will have someone send them over, and the government officers will be well taken care of. By the way, if you want to see the doctor, go to Lufu Inn tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Qi Nanfeng immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, Lord Dong! Nanfeng shall not disappoint Lord Dong and the Princess."

Dong Jun waved dismissively, then added, "Indeed, your eldest daughter is in her prime, with upright looks—if you and your mother agree, I could leave her here, sparing her from the subsequent exile."