Chapter 7: The First Night of Exile Camp

Nearing the hour of Wei, the formalities were completed and we were immediately on our way.

If other relatives of the convict voluntarily accompany him in exile to the border, according to Daliang law, they may accompany him, but they may not interfere with or replace the convict's daily punishment.

Leaving one's hometown and going to a remote and barbarian land, the dangers and tortures on the road are no less than the death penalty. Throughout history, only four or five out of ten exiled people can reach their destination safely.

There were not many relatives willing to follow the prisoners into exile, but a dozen or so people gathered together and followed with their bags on their backs.

Except for the elderly over 60 and young children who were tied with ropes, all other criminals were shackled. The 20 to 30 kilograms of torture instruments weighed heavily on their bodies, making their movements slow and inconvenient.

When the team first set out, the prisoners complained, and the situation was chaotic and noisy. The escorting officers did not tolerate them at all. They carried water and fire sticks and swords and started beating and scolding the prisoners from the front of the team all the way to the back.

Many of the troublemaking prisoners were beaten until they cried out in pain.

"Hurry up! Anyone who dawdles again will be whipped!"

The prisoners' pace immediately increased a lot.

More than twenty people from the Xie family were in the front middle of the team. Because Xie Yuchuan was seriously injured, his brothers from the side branches were afraid that he would not be able to hold on, so they supported him on both sides as they walked.

He had some impression of one of them.

"Are you He Zhi?" He was not sure.

A smile broke out on Xie Wuying's young face.

"It's me, Sixth Brother!"

Xie Yuchuan's eyes were slightly surprised. "Shouldn't you be studying in your hometown of Huaiyang? How... did I get you into trouble?"

Xie Wuying smiled innocently, "Sixth brother, what are you talking about? I, Wuying, am also a descendant of the Xie family. The Xie family prospers and suffers together. Even if we are in our hometown of Huaiyang, I am afraid we will not be able to escape the disaster. I think this is good. I can still protect the old lady and everyone on the way."

Xie Yuchuan nodded slightly.

He looked to the right and saw the other person, a little shy, introducing himself.

"Xie Wenjie, courtesy name Huaizhang, came to the capital with Hezhi and is staying at the Duke's Mansion, awaiting the conclusion of next year's spring imperial examination." He paused. "Brother Hezhi and I share the same aspirations."

The lineage of Duke Xie in Beijing is the pinnacle of the Xie family. If the imperial court cannot even tolerate Duke Xie's family, what future do these Xie family members have in the future?

Xie Yuchuan nodded, without asking any more questions, and simply said: "Since we are traveling together, we will be a family from now on."

Xie Wuying and Xie Wenjie looked at each other and nodded in unison.

"Listen to Sixth Brother."

Most of the female members of the Xie family were in the front. They had lived in seclusion for a long time and had never walked such a difficult road. The female members of the Xie family supported and encouraged each other and did not fall behind, so as to avoid being whipped by some bad-tempered official nearby.

Xie Yuchuan swept his gaze around him, secretly memorizing the appearance of all the escorting officials in his mind without leaving any trace.

"This journey is nearly three thousand miles, and the government has given us two months to reach the place of exile before the middle of winter. So, the escorts will have to push us hard, at least fifty miles a day. I'm afraid the journey will be difficult."

Among the prisoners in the group next door, there was actually someone who had the leisure to settle scores.

Unfortunately, no one responded to him.

The huge group of people walked for most of the day without realizing it, until the sky was filled with sunset glow.

Tu Huan, absorbed in her work in her second-floor study, didn't notice the passage from day to night. She finished a section and, as she stood up to rest, suddenly remembered that Xie Yuchuan hadn't looked for her all afternoon.

When I walked to the balcony, a cool breeze blew towards me, and I couldn't help but pull my long sweater closer.

The escorting officers seemed to have found a suitable place to spend the night.

Tu Huan searched for a long time in the moonlight before she saw Xie Yuchuan.

He was leaning against a tree trunk with his eyes closed, looking very tired.

Tu Huan thought about it and didn't disturb him.

From the moment she came out of the villa and walked all the way to the exile team, until she stood in front of Xie Yuchuan, no one noticed "her" existence.

Tu Huan, who can only maintain her "invisible state" temporarily due to lack of energy, feels very safe.

The ancient nights were quiet and fresh.

Especially the place they chose for their official assignment. There was no village in front and no shop behind. There was a starry sky above and barren land underfoot. It was very primitive.

There was a small river in the distance, the sound of water gurgling in the quiet night. Tu Huan saw several men in uniforms with the character "cha" (official) rolled up their trouser legs and catching fish in the river.

When the officers were resting, they naturally chose the best place to cook and light a fire. In the cold night, many officers and soldiers gathered around the campfire in a short time.

The food was slowly cooked in boiling water, and soon it emitted bursts of fragrance, which made the exhausted prisoners around them drool and their internal organs roar.

Unfortunately, the officials turned a deaf ear.

Most of the prisoners rested in the lower area. More than a hundred people gathered together and walked for half a day. Everyone was so tired that they couldn't speak.

Many people have been used to a life of wealth and prosperity, and it is difficult for them to endure such a sudden decline both physically and mentally.

In the quiet night, Tu Huan could hear a lot of suppressed crying.

Even the female members of the Xie family who were huddled together next to her for warmth were silently wiping away tears.

"well--"

It makes people feel uncomfortable when watching it.

Xie Yuchuan, who was catching up on his sleep, suddenly heard a sigh in his ear. He opened his eyes in a daze, thinking he had misheard.

"What's wrong?"

Mrs. Zhou, who was standing beside her, saw her son suddenly wake up and thought he was feeling unwell.

As soon as Zhou spoke, everyone else looked at Xie Yuchuan worriedly.

Tu Huan, who heard the voice, couldn't help but look back at Xie Yuchuan.

The two were only four or five meters apart. Under the moonlight, Xie Yuchuan's face was paler than in the daytime.

"It's okay. I'm used to marching."

"If you feel uncomfortable somewhere, don't hide it."

Zhou frowned and looked at her son, feeling very uneasy.

"Mom, don't worry, I'm not going to die yet."

"What nonsense you are talking about."

Zhou glanced at him and said, "Drink some water."

"No rush."

He stopped his mother and his eyes looked around inexplicably. For some reason, he always felt that someone was looking at him.

Thinking of a possibility, he restrained his expression and looked around cautiously.

Tu Huan looked at him and found that the wound that had scabbed over a few days ago had cracked again.

He took out his phone and said:

"Your wound is festering. Why aren't the anti-inflammatory drugs I gave you working?"

A familiar voice sounded in Xie Yuchuan's ears.

His eyes suddenly changed, the sharp aura disappeared instantly, and his tense nerves relaxed.

Tu Huan: "No more medicine? No, I can give you some more."

I think I have a few boxes left at home.

Xie Yuchuan: "There are still some, but they were inconvenient to use the past two days. Now they can be used."

Tu Huan understood. A few days ago in the imperial prison, Emperor Longqing's men kept a close eye on him. If there were any special changes in his body, it would be easy for Xiahou Jie to become suspicious again.

She reminded him: "It's not good to let the wound fester. Don't let it get worse."

If the inflammation is not eliminated, what will happen next?

Xie Yuchuan was moved.

"Thank you, House God, for the reminder."

"Um."

She observed the condition of the Xie family. More than 20 people had been walking for most of the day and were not in good condition. Old Madam Xie was old and her body was exhausted after walking for half a day. She was leaning tiredly on her luggage to catch up on her sleep.

It was only the first day of exile, and she felt that most people were already half-crippled.