The next instant, Song He'er let go, and due to inertia, Song Chanyue lost her grip and threw the porridge bowl away, spilling porridge all over herself.
Song He'er sneered, glanced at the soldiers eating under the shed not far away, and deliberately raised her voice, shouting, "Sister, even if you don't like it, you shouldn't spill this food!"
Upon seeing this, the soldiers rushed over without even understanding the situation and slapped Song Chanyue across the face. "You filthy woman! We've only just left the capital, and we're lucky to have anything to eat. Once we get to remote areas, we won't even have hot water, let alone rice. How dare you waste food! Get out!"
Song Chanyue stood up, looking aggrieved, and cried out, "It was her! She splashed me!"
“You’re the one who’s taking my porridge. This is my bowl, and yours is over there!” Song He’er said, pointing to three empty bowls on a straw mat not far away.
Sure enough, the soldiers believed Song He'er's words, pulled out rattan canes, and were about to strike Song Chanyue.
"Mother! Mother, save me!"
Madam Li, who was washing her hands by the river, heard the commotion and rushed over to protect her son, crying, "Sir! Don't hit him! Don't hit him!"
"You lot are really pushing your luck! You've already become wanted criminals of the imperial court, so why are you putting on airs and acting all high and mighty?"
"Yes, we were wrong. The child was just being ignorant. Please, for my sake!"
As she spoke, Li took off the only Hetian jade pendant from her chest and handed it to the soldiers, pleading, "This is my last possession. Please, sirs, give us a way to survive and take good care of us..."
The soldier took the pendant, weighed it in his hand, and replied, "Behave yourself from now on, don't cause trouble. Go eat."
"Thank you, sir!"
After seeing the soldier off, Li immediately turned her gaze to Song He'er. Her cold eyes were filled with malice, as if she harbored a deep-seated hatred and wanted to stare a hole through her.
However, Song He'er was not afraid of Li's threats. That jade pendant was her last vestige of dignity. There would be another time, and another time after that.
How much does she have to bribe people who travel three thousand miles?
Thinking of this, Song He'er returned a nonchalant smile, then carried the porridge and left the group.
Li pulled her daughter aside, wiping her clothes as she admonished her, "You're always so impulsive. Why did you have to provoke that donkey's hoof?"
"Mother, that little bitch, she usually doesn't even dare to fart! What's wrong with her today? It's like a ghost!"
"Just pretend she didn't die in the fire. Even if she's the reincarnation of Nyingma, how long can she live? With that sickly little brat of hers, she'll die on the road sooner or later!"
The thought of someone dying on the road immediately made Song Chanyue worried again: "Mother, what about us? We don't have a single penny!"
Madam Li smiled faintly: "Don't worry, there's an estate in Xinyang Town where the dowry money I prepared for you is buried!"
“Then we can’t take it.” After saying that, Song Chanyue continued to grieve.
“Silly child, your uncle has already made arrangements. When we are almost there, someone will come to deliver the money in person. It will be a total of ten thousand taels of silver.”
“What Mother said is true.”
Upon hearing about the money, Song Chanyue immediately perked up and walked past Song He'er with her head held high.
Song He'er ignored the mother and daughter, turned around, and carefully took out two steamed goose eggs from her space and handed them to Qin Xiaoniang.
“Mother, these things are nutritious. If you eat them, your little brother will have milk to drink.”
Qin was somewhat surprised: "Where did you get these things?"
"I took it from the kitchen while things were in chaos, and I've been hiding it in my clothes so no one can see it. You should eat it quickly, or you'll be in big trouble if the soldiers see it."
Qin looked at her daughter's small frame. Although she had some doubts, she didn't ask too many questions. She quickly ate a goose egg and left the rest for Song He'er.
The sun quickly set, and the large group continued their southward journey.
Beyond the fertile paddy fields on the outskirts of Beijing lies a mountain range, not only steep and treacherous but also frequented by wild beasts. Except for officials and criminals exiled by the imperial court who take shortcuts through this area, ordinary people never pass by.
If we can climb to the top of the mountain before dark and set up a tent by moonlight, we can get through the night safely. The real fear is that the whole team will get stuck in the deep forest at night.
Ah, if only she had a map, along with the compass in her own space, she would definitely be able to get out of this mountain!
pity……
"Hey! You guys in the back, hurry up! We need to get up the mountain as soon as possible, you know?" the soldiers continued to shout from the front.
Song He'er led her mother, step by step, up the mountain path.
Suddenly, a cold, sharp voice came from behind, "Who goes there!"
Song He'er looked back and saw a soldier holding a knife to the neck of a farmer dressed in coarse cloth.
The farmer turned pale with fright. "Sir...sir! I'm a perfectly law-abiding citizen! I just came up the mountain to hunt!"
The officers and soldiers looked him up and down, somewhat skeptical. Seeing the bow and arrows on the man's back, they instinctively felt that he was no ordinary person.
"Nonsense! This is the Huaihe Mountain Range, stretching for dozens of miles. There's even a forest there where wolves frequently roam. You dare to come here to hunt?! Tell me, are you an accomplice of these prisoners, trying to bribe them with money?"
"Silver? Where would I get any silver? I'm a tenant farmer in a village at the foot of this mountain. I have elderly parents and young children to support. Five or six people in my family depend on me for their livelihood. Oh, sir, please don't make fun of me!" the farmer tried to explain.
"Search him! Search him!" With that, several soldiers rushed forward and pinned the tenant to the ground.
The exiled group consisted of only ten officers and soldiers.
The soldiers sent by the imperial court to escort the female prisoners were all insignificant common soldiers who knew nothing about swords or guns and were only good at scaring women.
Song He'er stared at the bow and arrow behind the tenant farmer and fell into deep thought.
If she had such a good bow and arrow, could she also hunt white foxes and black bears in these deep mountains and forests?
These things are much more valuable than deerskin or horsehide!
Just then, Song He'er shouted to the soldiers, "Wait a minute!"
Qin Xiaoniang thought she was going to cause trouble, so she immediately shielded her behind her and watched her.
However, the soldiers still heard the shout and immediately released the farmer, asking impatiently, "What's all the noise about?"
"It's getting dark. Since he's a tenant farmer here, he must know the mountain paths well. Why don't we let him lead the way?"
The news was good news, after all, no one wanted to die in this desolate mountain forest. After hearing this, the officers and soldiers thought about it and agreed.
The tenant, drenched in cold sweat, shakily stepped forward to lead the way...?
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