CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: NO! I WANT TO STAY HERE, I WON’T LEAVE

Seeing her son’s anxiety, she knew the matter was significant and had to suppress her emotions. However, Qi Lin, upon hearing the news, ran out in disbelief, grabbing Liu Family’s arm and yelling.

"Why, why! Mother, didn’t you say I could stay here? You promised I could follow Lord Dong!"

Liu Family, exasperated: "Didn’t you hear what your brother said? Hurry up and pack!"

"No! I want to stay here, I won’t leave!"

The Liu Family, her mind buzzing with anger: "Lord Dong has already fallen; how can you stay?"

"I... I... I don’t want to live a life where I can’t eat or dress warmly!"

Liu Family slapped her twice and dragged her away: "You think we want this? What can we do now?"

With those words, Qi Nanfeng approached: "There’s still a way."

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they were back on the road.

This time, the Ruan Mansion had a carriage. The original ox cart was used for carrying goods, and the elderly Ruan couple sat in the carriage.

If anyone was too tired to continue, Ruan Mian would evaluate the situation and give them a lift for a distance.

The Qi family, on the other hand, lingered at the back of the procession, occasionally someone turning to ask Liu Family.

"Tell me, Mrs. Qi, where are your supplies? When will they arrive?"

"Yes, I see you are exhausted. Do you also have a carriage like Miss Ruan?"

Liu Family was furious but only dared curse those fair-weather friends under her breath.

She turned to speak with Qi Nanfeng but dared not provoke him when she met his bloodshot eyes.

If anyone was most frustrated and furious at this moment, Qi Nanfeng was one of them.

Out of nowhere, Dong Jun was taken away by the court officials, and the entire mansion was sealed.

Could it be true, as the Princess revealed in the secret scroll?

The situation was more complicated than expected, and for now, they could only temporarily hold back and wait for the right opportunity.

However, the matter had escalated so much that even outside the city, they could hear passersby discussing it.

"I heard Lord Dong’s mansion was robbed! Completely emptied by one person! When the government officers arrived, nothing was left, how strange!"

"What kind of bandit is so capable? Surely, the mansion had many servants, didn’t they notice?"

"Who knows! I say, that bandit did a clean job! Dong Jun oppressed the people, deserved it."

The bandit who cleaned out Dong Jun’s riches became a popular topic of conversation.

Liu Family couldn’t help recall their own family’s situation.

Could that bandit and this bandit be the same person?

Already irritated, and now seeing Qi Lin sulking at her, she angrily tugged Qi Lin’s ear in frustration.

But before she could yell, Qi Lin kicked her away!

Amazingly, she was kicked out of the lineup, falling heavily.

Onlookers laughed, and Liu Family scrambled to her feet but was scared by her daughter’s furious expression, beating herself: "How did I raise such a useless daughter? Woe is me..."

Yet Qi Lin and Qi Nanfeng ignored her, each immersed in their sorrow.

Meanwhile, Ruan Mian walked and sewed scarves with Cui Zhu.

If the duck feathers she bought were insufficient, she would tear down some animal skins.

Later, some women from the mansion also joined in, making the time pass faster.

She heard people on the road discussing the Dong Mansion and thought she had put her trust in the right person. Surely, it was Prime Minister who ordered Dong Jun’s punishment.

They must have found the intelligence office based on her secret letter.

Now that the crucial intelligence office was gone and Dong Jun was down, those plotting rebellion behind the scenes were surely troubled.

Ruan Mian thought of the boy she saved; despite his frail appearance, he was unexpectedly quick.

Given Prime Minister’s nature, he would surely provide the boy with a good path.

After leaving Purple Leaf City, their next stop was Qingchang.

At the normal pace, it would take them three days and four nights without rest to arrive.

Already walking for a whole day, they were nearly exhausted.

Until they saw a large hay shed not far off, the aroma wafting toward them.

It turned out several people were cooking porridge for charity, a rare lean meat porridge with pickles, its aroma fragrant for miles in the wilderness.

Guo, who explored ahead, came back smiling and said: "Head, up ahead, local villagers are offering porridge, they say we can all eat."

"Really? Such a good fortune?"

Even the government officers were surprised, thinking the villagers might have been waiting for them specifically.

Guo nodded vigorously: "Absolutely true, I tried it, nothing wrong with the porridge, they ate it themselves."

"It truly is a godsend! Let’s go."

They all queued up, sitting inside the hay shed to accept the villagers’ generous charity.

The villagers said that there were often destitute drifters with nothing to eat, and their village upheld charity, holding donation events several days a month.

The government officers, satisfied with free food, didn’t bother to question why.

Initially suspicious, Ruan Mian planned to investigate, but upon seeing two people with gourds tied around their waists, she felt reassured.

Could it be the Prime Minister sent these people?

Even though she wasn’t sure, the gourds on their waists warmed Ruan Mian’s heart.

The villagers not only provided food but said the hay shed was windproof. If needed, they could stay the night.

It was precisely what they needed!

With the night winds and snow, the hay shed was like finding half a life again.

Concerned with survival, everyone thanked them profusely.

···

In the deep night, a man in a dark brocade robe walked into the dungeon of Purple Leaf City.

He wore a fur cap, his features calm, with snowflakes clinging to his black cloak.

The dungeon guards clasped their fists respectfully: "Sir! Dong Jun has confessed, here is the confession, but he only revealed higher-level contacts, no more could be extracted."

Through the cell, Dong Jun, nailed to a stake, was covered in blood, looking disheveled.

Barely alive, he was still pleading for mercy.

The man gazed at him emotionlessly, glanced at the confession, then turned to sit on a clean stool.

He poured himself a cup of tea.

Casually, he said just one word: "Execute, if no more is confessed tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Dong Jun mustered all his strength to scream for help, but the man remained indifferent.

Soon, Vice Minister Dong emerged from the shadows, accompanied by a handsome young man.

The youth was slender, but exuded a fierce determination, upon seeing the man, he knelt without hesitation: "Thank you, sir, for your aid, I am willing to serve you loyally!"

The man took a dagger at hand, gently lifted the youth’s hands to help him up: "In that case, accompany old Dong."