Just as Grandma Zhu and her family deliberately slowed down, Zhu Borong, who was originally walking at the front of the group, also suddenly slowed down.
At this moment, Zhu Borong sat leisurely in the carriage, his legs crossed, holding a bamboo tube filled with ice in his hand.
He looked smugly at the Zhu family, who were following behind the car and had swallowed a bellyful of dust.
“Mother, Zhu Borong did it on purpose.”
Tao was so angry that her face turned red from the dust, and she complained to her mother-in-law while coughing.
Grandma Zhu, however, calmly handed the water jug beside her to Madam Tao, offering her words of comfort with heartache.
"Second son's wife, have some water. Walk next to your second son to avoid the dust."
After taking the water jug from her mother-in-law, Tao turned around and stood next to Zhu Haotian with a pout.
Looking at the endless, surging crowd, Zhu Haotian felt a pang of fear and unease. "Mother, are we just going to walk aimlessly like this?"
"If there really are bandits ahead, I'm afraid..."
"Don't speak."
Before Zhu Haotian could finish speaking, Old Mrs. Zhu gestured for him to be quiet, signaling her son to stop, while she stood on the platform of the car, tiptoeing to look ahead.
The previously orderly procession suddenly stopped, and many people even turned back.
[Oh no! Xixi's family is about to be attacked by bandits. These bandits have deliberately blocked their way with tree stumps.]
[The team was deliberately instructed to take a detour to facilitate their nighttime operation.]
[As expected, the female lead is incredibly powerful; even the bandits indirectly help her.]
[It's pitiful for Xixi's family; unknowingly, they were framed by the guards and brought bandits upon themselves while trying to save the female lead.]
Xi Xi frowned anxiously, her round little face showing both fear and worry, her lotus root-like little hands waving up and down.
Seeing this, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly got off the cart with Liu's help and handed the child to her daughter-in-law.
"Second brother, third brother, go ahead and see what's going on."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Haotian and Zhu Chenfeng hurriedly put down their carts and ran towards the crowd in front.
"Mother, could something have happened?" Looking at her husband's hurried back, Sun felt uneasy and ran to her mother-in-law's side.
Grandma Zhu frowned and gently patted her third son's wife's hand, looking around at the surroundings.
If something really happens, they will have a chance to escape.
They are currently in a location surrounded by steep cliffs, with trees only on the steep slope to their left.
If something happens, the only option is to climb the steep slope and enter the forest to seek a chance of survival.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Tao also came to Zhu's side, and became nervous when she saw her mother-in-law's uneasy appearance.
"Take all the luggage you can carry with you, then walk to the steep slope. Once the second and third brothers come back and report that things are bad, climb up the slope. If it's inconvenient, throw your things away. Survival is the most important thing."
After pondering for a while, Old Lady Zhu looked at her three daughters-in-law with a solemn expression, beckoned to them, and gave them instructions in a serious tone.
Upon hearing this, Liu was puzzled and hurriedly asked, "Mother, we have weapons in our hands, why do we still need to run away?"
"Those weapons are for the second and third brothers to hold off the bandits. If there are too many bandits, they might not be able to stop them. But if you can escape, the two of them can focus on dealing with the bandits and do their best to save your lives."
Grandma Zhu held the hands of her three daughters-in-law, her expression filled with grief and indignation, and choked with sobs as she gave them her instructions.
Even if it meant her death, she would protect the lives of the Zhu family women and would never allow them to fall into the den of thieves and suffer inhumane treatment.
"Mother, I won't leave. I want to stay with you." Liu Shi understood her mother-in-law's feelings, but she would never let her mother-in-law face this alone.
With tears welling up in her eyes, Madam Sun bit her lower lip and choked out, "Mother, I won't leave. Even if I die, I want to be with my husband."
"And me. My Tao family is by no means cowardly. Even if we are killed, we will fight our way out."
After hearing what her two sisters-in-law said, Tao also held her mother-in-law's hand, her eyes firm, and said with a choked voice.
Just as the group was making their plans, Zhu Haotian and Zhu Chenfeng jogged up behind them.
"Mother, I got the answer." Zhu Haotian came running up, panting. "The road ahead is blocked by huge rocks. The escorts said we should turn back and take another, more secluded path."
"Mother, this boulder is suspicious. How could it have appeared at such a coincidence?"
Zhu Chenfeng followed closely behind to Old Lady Zhu's side. After looking around, he quietly voiced his doubts.
Seeing this, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, looked at the escorts walking towards them, and quickly put on a flattering smile.
"Officer, what's going on up ahead?"
"The road ahead is blocked. Go back and take a side road."
Several escorts gripped their whips and waved their hands to signal Old Lady Zhu and her family to move. Then, they quickly walked ahead and continued to lead the way.
The sudden turn of events made Old Mrs. Zhu's heart skip a beat, and she gestured for Mrs. Liu to get into the carriage.
At this critical moment, Liu dared not refuse any longer. She hurriedly picked up Zhu Xixi and climbed onto the cart, her face showing unease.
Seeing this, the others quickly helped turn the cart around and pushed it behind the escorts, heading towards the new path.
The escort led the group out of the steep mountains and into a secluded forest.
This road was a small path that merchants secretly developed in order to reduce tariffs. As more and more people walked on it, it became a road.
Although the path was remote, it saved time compared to taking the official road, allowing one to reach the next post station more quickly.
The only downside is that it's a desolate place, and there's a high chance of wild animals roaming around.
After entering the woods, the escorts deliberately gathered together to rest, signaling to Old Lady Zhu and her family to continue on their way.
"Keep going, don't delay your journey."
[It's the female lead's scheme again, to send us cannon fodder to our deaths sooner.]
They deliberately used us as human shields.
Xi Xi's words made Madam Liu sigh with worry, and she looked at Old Madam Zhu and said.
"Mother, these escorts have probably been bribed by Zhu Yanyan. It seems they're going to kill us."
Seeing this, Old Lady Zhu smiled awkwardly and said softly, "Yes! These escorts know it's not safe ahead, so they sent us to scout ahead."
"If it's safe ahead, that's fine, but if anything happens, we'll probably be the first to suffer."
Zhu Chenfeng agreed with his mother's analysis, his dark face growing even more gloomy as he let out a long sigh.
"I'm afraid tonight will be a sleepless night."
Old Mrs. Zhu looked haggard, her brows furrowed, rubbing her lower back, and weakly looked at her son and daughter-in-law.
"Everyone, stay alert tonight and don't sleep. If you're hungry, have some biscuits."
Zhu Xixi noticed her grandmother's haggard appearance and became increasingly anxious, her lips pursed and her brows furrowed.
She needs to find a way to fall asleep. Once she's asleep, she can enter the villain's space and get the medicine to treat her grandmother.
With her efforts, her consciousness gradually drifted away, her body floated up, and she opened her eyes again.
She indeed entered the villain's space again, and roamed freely within it.
She went to the infirmary first and collected all the anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, ointments, medicines to prevent heatstroke, as well as powdered incense, powder to repel wild animals, and so on.
Before taking out the space, she made a point of checking the instructions for each medicine, and only after confirming that there were instructions for each medicine did she proceed.
Only then did he feel at ease waving his short arms to throw all the medicines into the space.
After moving the medicine, she swam to the armory and threw several crossbow bolts and arrows out of the room.
Finally, she went to the food section and randomly picked out roast duck, roast chicken, braised pig's trotters, rice balls, steamed buns, meat buns, rice and noodles, sausages, eggs, etc.
He waved his hand haphazardly, stuffing all the edible food into the basket, and then threw it out of the air with all his might.
However, just as she was feeling pleased with herself and preparing to clap her hands in celebration, her body suddenly lost control, spun around a few times, and then sprang out of the space.
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