CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: ANYONE WHO DARES LINGER HERE AND DELAY MATTERS WILL BE BEHEADED

Who would have thought the situation would take such an unexpected turn!

They all benefited from Ruan Mian’s influence, moving from the stables outside to inside the post station.

The people of the Ruan Mansion were even arranged to stay in private rooms.

Inside, it was incredibly warm, no longer subject to the torment of wind and rain outside.

Those from the Qi Mansion, who were complaining earlier, now didn’t dare utter a word.

They were even afraid they wouldn’t be let in, running faster than anyone else!

Liu Family, already embarrassed, shamelessly slithered in like a snake.

The elder sister couldn’t help but comment.

"Sister, your former mother-in-law is the most shameless woman I’ve ever seen!"

Ruan Mian didn’t pay her any mind, simply saying, "The shameless are invincible."

Seeing them like this, it’s only a matter of time before they cause trouble.

As for Qi Nanfeng, she still couldn’t quite figure him out.

Usually silent, but if he were his usual self, how could he stay calm?

The more composed he was, the more Ruan Mian felt like he was bottling something big.

At this moment, the elder sister quickly grabbed Ruan Mian’s arm, signaling her to look down the corridor. A group of women in elegant dresses were passing by with their heads down.

The elder sister was very curious: "Sister, they don’t look like daughters from aristocratic families, and they are wearing identical clothes. What’s their status?"

Ruan Mian didn’t know the status of those women either.

However, not long after they settled down, the post station’s government officers ordered them outside to work.

Due to the road being blocked by heavy snow, they couldn’t stay in the post station forever, as the supplies wouldn’t last long if the roads remained impassable.

So the officers handed them shovels and brooms.

Dispatching this group of drifters to clear the road ahead until it was passable.

They hadn’t even rested well yet and had to brave the wind and snow for labor.

Ruan Mian thought for a moment, and while others weren’t paying attention, she ladled some spiritual spring water into several water bags.

Then, she let her family drink some first.

With the input of Spiritual Spring Water, their bodies seemed to be infused with a magical power, energizing them noticeably.

Indeed, it had the effect of strengthening the body, which explains why the original owner’s sickly body was so healthy and vibrant now, even on the path of exile.

The rest of the family who drank the Spiritual Spring Water had the same outcome, full of vigor and immune to the cold.

Compared to the people from the Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion, the officers thought these people were slacking off.

Especially the few people from the Qi Mansion looked half-dead, prompting the officers to whip and urge them on.

"If you keep slacking off, I’ll cut off your hands and feet! Hurry up!!"

During a break, Ruan Mian approached the officers and inquired: "Lord, I noticed besides that group of monks, there is also a group of women in the post station. Do you know who they are?"

Pretending to ask casually, Guo Yong casually replied: "Just some women being sent to Lord Prefect, slave servants not much different from your current situation."

Not to mention slavery; they had been exiled with their household confiscated, even losing their identity records. Dispatched to Wuheng for labor.

Ruan Mian knew those women were going to Ding Cheng’s mansion tomorrow, seizing this opportunity at once.

Soon, she took a bracelet from the space and found the leader of those women.

It was a middle-aged woman with a slightly cold demeanor, unsparing with words and smiles, and she seemed difficult to deal with.

Upon seeing Ruan Mian’s friendly gesture, she was a bit surprised: "What did you say? You want to attend Lord Prefect’s birthday banquet with me?"

Ruan Mian nodded, saying deliberately: "I’ve never seen such a grand occasion; I just want to see the world."

The woman noticed her beauty despite her plain and ugly outfit, but her face was still quite exquisite.

Had she not intentionally smeared dirt on her face, her appearance would have stood out immediately in a crowd.

Since she approached voluntarily, the woman had no reason to refuse.

After all, she was just an exiled criminal; if the Lord Prefect took a liking to her, she could even earn some silver!

So she agreed immediately, raising her chin and handing her a set of clothes: "Just follow me tomorrow morning."

Ruan Mian thanked her with a smile: "Thank you!"

Having settled this, she returned to the group and relayed some instructions to Cui Zhu, taking advantage of the excuse to procure supplies and sweetening the deal for the officers.

With prior benefits, the officers were even eager for her to go out for procurement!

They thought Ruan Mian had an associate of the Prime Minister in the city supplying them with resources.

So the next morning at dawn, Ruan Mian was already dressed to find that woman.

Unexpectedly, she ran into Qi Nanfeng, emerging from the outhouse along the corridor.

He didn’t recognize Ruan Mian at first, initially stunned by the graceful figure and stunning appearance of this woman.

Upon a closer look, he realized she was his ex-wife!

"Ruan Mian, what are you doing!?"

Ruan Mian didn’t want to waste time with him: "What’s it to you?"

Who knew this person would block her path, solemnly saying: "Why disgrace yourself like this! Who are you trying to allure by dressing this way?"

"You must be trying to escape exile; that’s why you’re looking for a shortcut, hoping to entice someone to anchor yourself here, right!!"

Ruan Mian’s gaze turned cold, raising her fist as if to punch him.

Qi Nanfeng instinctively dodged, whispering: "If you harbor such dishonorable thoughts, I advise you to reconsider. But if you truly wish to escape exile, I can give you one last chance."

"As long as you’re willing to follow me, I’ll always have a chance..."

Before he finished speaking, Ruan Mian unhesitatingly lifted her foot and kicked him hard in the groin!

"Look at you, with your gall!" Instantly, Qi Nanfeng was in such pain he rolled on the ground, his face flushed red, unable to utter a word.

Ruan Mian joined the group of women just as they were leaving.

The women around her were well-behaved, none dared to speak, nor even lift their heads.

Whatever the woman ordered, they did, clearly having been severely disciplined.

These were all pitiful people. Once they entered Ding Cheng’s mansion, these women would become their playthings.

Thinking of this, Ruan Mian’s gaze grew harsher.

All along the way, heavy snow was falling, making the journey extremely difficult; it took them some time to reach the city.

Possibly due to the weather, the once bustling Hui City’s streets were sparsely populated.

Only as they approached Ding Cheng’s mansion did the crowd gradually increase.

Yet these people were all pitiable commoners, some even beggars. In this icy snow, they wore very little.

They lined up in a long queue, and upon reaching the mansion’s entrance, a group of guards emerged from the street, brandishing broad knives and shouting angrily!

"Today is the Lord Prefect’s birthday! Anyone loitering here and causing delay will have their heads cut off!"