Chapter 8: Startling Words from Jiang Lili

[Guan Yue: Let’s do this and then that.]

Guan Yue sent a long string of voice messages.

[Guan Yue: I’m going to consult with the strategist right now! Lili, just wait for my good news!]

Jiang Lili stared at the message in disbelief. But after thinking it over, it seemed like it might actually work?

However, there were nearly seventy people in their group, including both the exiles and the bailiffs. How would Guan Yue manage all of them?

But Guan Yue assured her to not worry.

Jiang Lili felt both hopeful and uneasy. She decided to eat breakfast first to calm herself down.

She brought the basket in front of her, lifted the oilcloth covering it, and found a generous breakfast quietly waiting inside.

There were crispy sausages, shrimp rolls, custard buns, and freshly made soy milk—all still warm.

The fragrance of the shrimp and the sweet, milky aroma from the custard buns made Jiang Lili swallow hard.

However, she was puzzled. Just a moment ago, when she tossed the gold hairpin into the basket, it had instantly been sent to Xiaopang. But now, despite the breakfast sitting in the basket for so long, why hadn’t it been sent back to Xiaopang?

Could it be that the transfer was one-way? With that thought, Jiang Lili took the breakfast bag out of the basket, waited for a moment, and then placed it back inside.

The next moment, the breakfast bag disappeared from the basket!

Jiang Lili understood now. The transfer wasn’t one-way. For anything sent from Xiaopang’s side to return, it had to first be taken out of the basket and then placed back in after a while.

Realizing how the transfer worked, Jiang Lili looked at the now-empty basket, and in a moment of panic, she grabbed her head and groaned, “Ah! My breakfast!”

One of the bailiffs, named Lin Gong, heard Jiang Lili’s frustrated voice. He chewed on a blade of grass and walked over, whistling at her. “What’s wrong, little beauty? Didn’t you eat enough?”

Lin Gong leered at Jiang Lili, taking in her appearance. Though she was thinner, it was clear she was still the pampered daughter of a noble family in the capital. Her beauty was undeniable.

He pulled out a packet of oil paper from his chest, unfolded it, and revealed the pastries inside, which gave off a tempting aroma. “Come, spend some time with Brother. This peach blossom cake is all yours.”

“From now on, I’ll take care of your meals. I’ll make sure you’re full,” he added, emphasizing the last two words. He was about to say something vulgar when Xin Che swiftly covered Jiang Lili’s ears.

A murderous glint appeared in Xin Che’s eyes, and he was about to speak when, unexpectedly, Jiang Lili beat him to it.

The young woman’s words were astonishing.

“Buddy, if you really can’t hold yourself back, why not find a wild boar to relieve yourself?”

Jiang Lili recalled a documentary she had once watched about the animal kingdom. “It’s November, so it’s wild boar mating season.”

As soon as Jiang Lili said this, the nearby exiles struggled to hold back their laughter, while some mocked her for speaking without restraint.

“Did you just call me an animal?!” Lin Gong’s face turned a deep shade of purple in rage. He was about to slap Jiang Lili, but Xin Che grabbed his hand.

The murderous intent in Xin Che’s eyes made Lin Gong’s heart skip a beat.

At that moment, Wang Zifu, the leader of the bailiffs, noticed the commotion and shouted, “What’s going on here?”

“Why are some of you still wasting time when we’re in such a hurry?”

Lin Gong quickly took a few steps back. He was still afraid of this boss.

He shot Jiang Lili a venomous look. “You little btch, I’ll deal with you when we reach the post station!”

With that, he avoided Xin Che’s gaze and headed to the front of the convoy.

Some of the exiles in the group sneered. “This Jiang girl really isn’t a simple one, always causing trouble and attracting attention. Now she’s got herself into a mess.”

Another voice chimed in, “If she were my wife, I’d force her to bash her head against a stone to preserve her honor.”

“Watch your filthy mouths! It’s clearly that Lin bailiff who’s l*cherous, and you’re blaming the victim? Are you all out of your minds?”

Sister-in-law Chen picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it at the person’s head, hitting him squarely.

Everyone knew that Sister-in-law Chen came from a family of merchants and had a fierce personality—she couldn’t stand injustice and was not someone to mess with. The person who had spoken shut up immediately.

Jiang Lili didn’t expect Sister-in-law Chen to stand up for her and looked at her in surprise.

Sister-in-law Chen met Jiang Lili’s gaze, then quickly turned her head away. “Don’t look at me like that! I’m only dealing with the matter, not you! I just can’t stand seeing people acting so lowly!”

“I still remember your bad behavior along the way. Don’t think I’ve accepted you just because I helped!”

Although Sister-in-law Chen said that, she pulled Xin Cheng closer to Jiang Lili, and Xin Che immediately stood protectively around her. The four of them created a protective barrier around Jiang Lili.

Even little Xin Yan, only five years old, tightly grasped Jiang Lili’s hand. His large, black eyes were wide with vigilance, scanning the surroundings, determined to protect his “fairy-like” aunt from any harm!

The usually quiet marquis also spoke up to Jiang Lili, “Don’t listen to those malicious words and empty insults.”

Jiang Lili was touched. She marveled at how reasonable the people from the Marquis’ household were. No wonder they had been successful and had earned their place among the prestigious families.

After a while, Xiao Pang returned the breakfast, and Jiang Lili took advantage of the break in the journey to share the meal with Xin Che and the others.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, and by sunset, the convoy arrived at the post station in Yanzhou.

After Wang Zifu and the local officials verified the documents and checked the list of prisoners, they signed off, allowing the group to rest at the station.

The bailiffs were given rooms to rest and meals to eat, and they could even take a hot bath to wash away their fatigue. However, the exiles were sent to the firewood shed and cattle barn to spend the night.

The Marquis of Zhaoping’s family huddled together in a corner of the firewood shed.

“These are the food my grandfather arranged for us,” Jiang Lili said as she took out the dinner that Xiao Pang had provided. She had specifically asked Xiao Pang to keep it simple to avoid drawing attention.

Xiao Pang was clever and had prepared large steamed buns, which, though plain on the outside, were packed with hidden treasures—beef, pork belly, and shrimp.

Little Xin Yan took a big bite, and his face immediately lit up with happiness. However, remembering his aunt’s instructions to keep a low profile, he could only enjoy the food quietly while sneaking happy little smiles. He was utterly adorable.

The marquis quickly ate a few bites and then began feeding Madam Yang soup. His brow furrowed with worry as he looked deeply concerned.

Jiang Lili noticed the marquis’ concern and tried to comfort him, “Father, don’t worry. Mother will get better soon.”

She was also excited because tomorrow, she would finally be able to meet her companion, Guan Yue, on the road.

Jiang Lili spoke earnestly, but the marquis took her words as a mere attempt to comfort him and did not take them seriously.

“Your mother is blessed by the ancestors; she will recover,” he said, though his eyes betrayed his deep sadness.

Sister-in-law Chen, seeing that Jiang Lili spoke so lightly, without any sign of sorrow on her face, became a bit angry. After all, Yang Shi had treated Jiang Lili well.

“Don’t talk like that. In this situation, nothing can help. If you can really make Mother get better, I’ll respect you and call you ‘sister-in-law.’ I’ll do whatever you say.”

Jiang Lili smiled at Sister-in-law Chen’s words. “Alright, I’ll remember what you said, sister-in-law.”

Sister-in-law Chen, coming from a merchant family, was a bit fiery in personality but was an excellent bookkeeper. Since Madam Yang’s health was poor, and the marquis and his sons were often away at war, Sister-in-law Chen had been the one to manage the household efficiently. Jiang Lili didn’t want to be at odds with her every day, so she decided to take a more diplomatic approach.

The group was exhausted from the day’s journey and quickly settled down to rest for the night. Despite the exhaustion, they still kept their protective stance around Jiang Lili, ensuring she slept in the safest spot, surrounded by the others.

No one knew if Lin Gong, the vile man, might attempt anything under the cover of night.

<< _ >>

Related Posts

Leave a Reply