Fangling is thousands of miles long and wide, surrounded by mountains and forests. It is a high and solid hill. If there are houses there, it is extremely difficult to escape. The officers and soldiers only need to guard the few main roads out of the mountain to trap everyone.
However, since it was close to the Han River and had fertile land, life in Fangling was worry-free. However, escaping was extremely difficult.
Since ancient times, Fangling has been the place of exile for kings, princes, generals and ministers, and this was only possible because the emperor showed leniency out of consideration for their old friendship.
Otherwise, if you go to the southwest, northwest, northeast, or islands, not dying on the road is already a good result.
Xiao Feng got up extra early today. He went to the kitchen to boil the medicine, made some vegetable and meat porridge, cut some braised meat, and brought it back to the hall.
Wan Jinlan knew that he had not slept all night and had gotten up four times to add the charcoal basin.
The palace gate opened again and the escorts came.
Seeing that they did not have shackles on their hands or around their necks, Wan Jinlan breathed a sigh of relief.
Wearing heavy chains on her hands and feet, it was inconvenient but not stressful at all for her.
There were thirty-six escorting officers, many of whom were recognized as martial artists when walking. Wan Jinlan was shocked, thinking that the emperor was still worried.
She didn't know what the emperor meant. Demoting them to commoners and exiling them to Fangling seemed to be a way to survive, but she was very skeptical whether these people would attack them on the way.
The sky in the east was already turning pale, and the cold air she breathed into her nose made her more awake than ever.
The gate of Kyoto is tall and majestic, like a crouching lion in the half-light and half-dark sky.
Outside the city gate, the Duke of Zhenguo and Shen Qing had been waiting there for a long time.
The Duke of Zhenguo openly bribed the escort, hoping that the escort would take some care of his daughter during her exile.
Chuntao stood beside the carriage wiping her tears. Shen Qing got out of the carriage, her eyes already swollen like peaches from crying.
Wan Jinlan knelt down and bowed three times to his father and mother.
"I am an unfilial daughter and will not be able to serve you in the future. I hope you take care of your health." Wan Jinlan's voice choked with sobs, and her eyes began to sour when she saw her mother.
Shen Qing was already in tears.
Xiao Feng knelt down beside Wan Jinlan and bowed three times as well. "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jinlan is my wife. As long as I live, I will keep her safe."
The Duke of Zhenguo sighed and helped the two of them up. "Once we get to Fangling, we can rest assured that they can live a good life in the future."
She was only demoted to a commoner, and she didn't have to do hard labor. She could take root in the local area. He would make arrangements in the future, and they would be reunited someday. The Duke of Zhenguo had used these words to comfort Shen Qing many times, and seeing his daughter's appearance at this moment, his heart ached.
As they were talking, the ground shook. Everyone looked and saw flags waving in the distance. A team of no less than a thousand people was quickly approaching.
A man rode his horse quickly and approached. Upon closer inspection, the man wearing armor and looking majestic and with a changed expression could be no other than Xiao Minghuan.
"Uncle Emperor and Cousin Lan, what are you doing..."
Xiao Minghuan's glance at Wan Jinlan from head to toe quickly dissipated her previously turbulent emotions. She glanced at the escort and said, "It's time to set off."
The leading escort mounted his horse and gave the order, "Set off."
"Wait, let me have a few words with my third sister."
Wan Qiuyu finally arrived after rushing for a long time.
She generously took care of the misunderstanding and got a chance to talk to Wan Jinlan.
The two of them went to the side. Wan Qiuyu looked at Wan Jinlan who was shackled, covered his mouth with a handkerchief and curled up the corners of his mouth.
She said with a smile, her tone was a low gloating, "My dear sister, seeing you like this now, I feel really happy."
Wan Jinlan snorted coldly and turned away.
I thought there would be something new, but it turned out to be just a mockery of her.
She was exiled, not dying. There is still a long way to go. Who says her today may not be her tomorrow?
Wan Qiuyu went out of the city today just to see this scene, and what she saw made her extremely satisfied.
The matter of her second uncle could be used by Wan Qiuyu to threaten the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, but she also had a handle on Wan Jinlan, and she didn't dare to fight to the death. Now that Wan Jinlan, the thorn in her side, had fallen, there was still a chance for the Mansion to choose her in the future.
It must be said that Xiao Minghuan felt somewhat relieved at this moment.
Although Wan Jinlan had never explicitly rejected him in the past, her actions had always been a thorn in his throat. Seeing her current fate, he had to admit that his anger had dissipated a lot. He wondered if she felt any regret now.
"Uncle, I have gained a lot from this trip to Jiangnan. After I return to the palace to report, I will go to the mansion to talk with my grandfather and uncle."
Seeing that the Duke of Zhenguo agreed, Xiao Minghuan sneered in his heart.
Wan Qiuyu supported Shen Qing and comforted her, "Mother, when Third Sister is no longer around, I will definitely fulfill my filial duties on her behalf. If it weren't for your kindness, I wouldn't have had the chance to return to the mansion. Qiuyu will always remember this kindness. With Your Highness here, Third Sister's life won't be too difficult in the future."
The treatment of exiled prisoners with or without support is almost the same. When Shen Qing heard Wan Qiuyu's words, he sighed and patted her hands.
It was already bright outside, and Xiao Minghuan and Wan Qiuyu glanced at each other subtly.
The two of them were in sync and would not allow Wan Jinlan and Xiao Feng to live.
The emperor made no secret of dealing with Xiao Feng after the empress dowager's death. In the eyes of those who were interested, Aunt Xia Liu's words had been confirmed.
Xiao Minghuan returned to Kyoto with the army yesterday and already knew the current situation in the capital last night.
If the emperor's own bloodline is not legitimate, then Xiao Feng, the legitimate son of the previous emperor, has a chance of ascending to the throne. The Duke of Zhenguo has been operating in the southwest for many years. Although he has returned to the capital, his old military forces remain. If they want support, they can only support Xiao Minghuan.
As for the ungrateful Wan Jinlan, let her die with her good husband.
Listening to the intermittent sounds coming from behind him in the morning breeze, there was not much emotion in Wan Jinlan's eyes.
If her grandfather and father choose to support Xiao Minghuan again in the future, she will not blame them. The family of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion must survive.
Prisoners who were demoted to commoners and then exiled were still allowed to take their belongings with them. After all, they had to take root in the place of exile and their household registration had to be registered there.
The bag that Shen Qing prepared for Wan Jinlan contained dry biscuits with vegetables and meat inside, as well as a bottle of brown pills for Xiao Feng. The other medicines were just in case.
The weather was cold, and the pancakes could be stored for many days, but they were hard when taken out. Wan Jinlan had a hard time swallowing them with the ice water in the water bag.
Five days passed, and the journey was relatively peaceful. The escorts were cold and indifferent the entire time, neither giving them any convenience nor making things difficult for them. Everything was done according to the rules.
The two men gave out a lot of silver bills, which the escorts accepted without hesitation, but they didn't even give them a sip of hot water.
Wan Jinlan simply stopped paying the bills. She knew without a doubt who these people took orders from, so she didn't want to waste her family fortune.
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