Chapter 10: It's over, another one has gone mad

"Big sister, I’m not lying to you! Everything I said is the truth. My father and mother both know that I am a person who never tells a lie."

"Your red makeup does not hide your soaring ambition; a single sword’s frost illuminates the nine provinces. You are simply a role model for women of our generation. Ever since I was little, I have admired extraordinary women like you. You are the heroine I’ve been chasing after in my storybooks! You mustn't belittle yourself."

Everyone:...

You really know how to butter someone up! The younger sister of the Longhu Stronghold’s third-in-command is blushing from your flattery!

Zhao Xun was indeed blushing a little, but her favorability toward this delicate and soft little girl in front of her increased rapidly.

This little girl is so good at talking; I want to listen, I love listening!

However—liking is one thing, business is another.

Zhao Xun said in a muffled voice, "Two pieces of flatbread and two pieces of dried meat is the price for half a day."

"I know, big sister. I definitely won't let you work for nothing. Don't worry, I will definitely make sure you are well-fed. Since you’ve helped us a great deal this time, I’ll give you a waterskin later as a token of my gratitude."

A waterskin is a good thing. After their Longhu Stronghold was raided, they hit the road penniless and without any preparations.

Zhao Xun was delighted upon hearing this, unable to hide the joy on her face.

Xin Wen'an frowned deeply. "You're giving away a waterskin just for five days of carrying? Sixth girl, you should know to consult with your family before doing things!"

"Shut up. Third Uncle, it’s not that your niece wants to lecture you, but I am currently talking to big sister. Why are you so rude, interrupting us suddenly? Does speaking make you feel superior? Would you die if you didn't talk?"

Xin Wen'an’s eyes widened, looking at Xin Nian as if she were possessed by a ghost.

It’s over, it’s all over. Another one has gone crazy!

It’s one thing that the little crybaby didn't cry her eyes out after walking for half a day, but she even learned how to talk back!

"Sixth sister, you..." Xin Mengxue opened her mouth, wanting to defend her father, but before she could finish, she was retorted by a single sentence from Xin Nian.

"Fourth sister, we are currently asking this heroine big sister to help us solve our current predicament. If you have other ways that don't require spending supplies, why didn't you say so just now? You can't carry anything on your shoulders or lift anything with your hands; if you can't help, then don't talk nonsense."

Xin Mengxue lowered her head and sobbed.

Xie Ninglan’s temper, which was ready to explode at any moment, flared up again. She roared like a lioness, "Stop crying! Crying, crying, crying—what’s the use of crying all day? You’ve cried away all our good fortune!"

"Xie-shi, why are you being so fierce? Why are you yelling at Mengxue? Don't think that just because the Ministry of Rites mansion sent you a batch of things, you can act all high and mighty and crap on the heads of the whole family." Third Madam Zhuang also exploded, dragging her chains as she tried to come over to back up her daughter.

"My family sent things to me, what the hell does it have to do with you? That was sent by my mother for our family of four... five. It’s not for you to use, so why would I act high and mighty over you? Does it have anything to do with you?"

Madam Zhuang was stunned for a moment, then began beating her chest and stamping her feet. "You Xie-shi, I knew you were selfish to the core. No wonder you and Xin Nian were secretly eating flatbread and dried meat at noon without sharing even half a piece with us."

"Laughable. Secretly? What secretly? We were eating it openly! What does it have to do with you? If you’re so capable, why don't you get your family to send you some?" Xie Ninglan rolled her eyes. Seeing a few guards approaching aggressively out of the corner of her eye, she immediately pulled her daughter back and fell silent.

Madam Zhuang wailed and made a scene. "Mother, look at her, look at her! She is clearly disregarding the life and death of the whole family..."

The finger she had extended into the air was swiped by the tail of a guard's whip.

Madam Zhuang screamed in pain and retracted her hand with a pale face.

The guards roared, "Who is making trouble? Can you still walk properly or not? If you don't reach the small post station on the outskirts of the capital before dark, you can drink wind and eat dirt!"

Madam Yu quickly waved her hands. "No, no, we aren't making trouble. We just ask the officer to loosen the chains a bit; we have hired someone to carry our unconscious granddaughter."

The guard glanced at Xin Ruoyu, who was slumped to the side, and said irritably, "Your family has the most issues."

After complaining a few times, he didn't say anything else and unlocked the iron chain hanging from Xin Ruoyu’s waist.

Xin Nian and Xie Ninglan worked together to tie Xin Ruoyu onto Zhao Xun’s back, then gave her a sweet smile. "What should we call you, big sister?"

"Zhao Xun."

"Sister Zhao, my name is Xin Nian—'Xin' as in 'hard work' (xinku), and 'Nian' as in 'yearning' (xinxinniannian)." The little girl was soft and sweet, her smile so radiant it was like a beam of light hitting one's body, making one involuntarily want to reach out and pat her head.

Zhao Xun tried hard to suppress the corners of her mouth from lifting and said dryly, "Follow behind me and walk carefully. The dirt road down from Shili Slope is not easy to walk on."

"Mm, mm!" The little girl replied very obediently.

Turning her head, her gaze swept over the inquiring looks from the other families, all of which she ignored as if she hadn't seen them.

What are you looking at? Everyone is reduced to exile; no one is any more noble than anyone else.

As for the days ahead, it will be a matter of each showing their own magical powers.

In the afternoon, it got hotter and hotter, and everyone was drenched in sweat.

The madams and young ladies exiled from the capital were delicate and pampered. Having walked so much for the first time, many of them already had blisters on their feet.

By the end of the Shen hour, nearly five o'clock, everyone was too weak to even sigh or cry.

Xin Ruoyu woke up halfway through, and despite being delirious with fever, she insisted on walking so she could take turns carrying the old lady.

Zhao Xun didn't say much and was very obedient to the arrangements. Whoever they asked her to carry, she carried, and despite the shackles on her feet and hands, she walked as if on flat ground while carrying people the whole way.

Many people in the group collapsed, and after being scolded by the guards, their relatives would drag those burdens forward with faces as gloomy as if their fathers had died.

Hurrying along, they reached the designated location after the sun had set and darkness had spread.

The moment they saw the small post station on the outskirts of the capital, many people burst into tears.

Dali looked expressionlessly at these people with their comical, tear-streaked faces, silently pushing the handcart behind Xin Nian.

Look at these grown men, all of them wilted; they don't look as tough as her delicate little mistress.

She had thought she would have to carry the little mistress halfway, but she didn't expect the little girl to not make a peep from start to finish.

Xin Nian held Xie Ninglan’s arm, secretly channeling healing energy to her. "I think I can break through to the first level tonight."

"Really?" Xie Ninglan was overjoyed. "What kind of ability is it?"

"Two."

Xie Ninglan was thrilled. Oh my, it had to be her precious daughter; she was indeed heroic and far beyond ordinary people.

"Does that mean you can use basic spatial skills, like condensed storage or something?"

Xin Nian nodded. "It should be possible. I'll try it tonight."

Xie Ninglan clasped her hands together and muttered in a low voice, "Thank heavens. It would be best if we could open our original space as soon as possible."

"What Mom is most worried about now is what to do when my period comes. Sigh. Although your grandmother prepared a lot of cotton pads for us, I’m not used to using that stuff."

"If only we could open the space; we have enough sanitary pads stored in there to last several lifetimes."

Xin Nian squeezed her mother’s hand. "Don't worry, Mom. I’ll try my best."

(End of chapter)