Chapter 110 Encountering Exile
This is what the day was like.
After finally getting out of Luzhou, they happened to come across a dilapidated temple, so even though it was still early, Zhou Yunshu and his group decided to stay overnight in the dilapidated temple.
After the luggage was put away, Hu Zi and his men checked the surroundings. Then, Manager Liang's wife, Li, took her sisters-in-law and Fang Huiwen to prepare dinner. Zhou Yunshu and others sat on mats and watched Zhou Yunjia teach the children their lessons.
Yes, since Zhou Yunjia came, all the children’s homework has been taught by Zhou Yunjia.
Facts have proved that although Zhou Yunjia is a nerd, he is not stupid at all when it comes to teaching and educating people.
He not only teaches students according to their aptitude, but is also very patient with each of his students.
Even if Hu Zi and the others were slow learners, he would hold the book beside them and patiently teach them over and over again until they memorized it.
So now, when Hu Zi and his companions saw Zhou Yunjia, they wanted to hide. Anyway, from five meters away, he couldn't tell clearly whether he was Hu Zi or Du Mazi.
The yamen runners and soldiers who were escorting the exiled prisoners came in when Zhou Yunshu and her group were preparing to eat.
The yamen runners originally thought that they were working for the imperial court. Even though they were the ones who came later to this dilapidated temple, they could still ask the people who came before to get out.
But when they heard the sound of loud reading inside, saw Zhou Yunjia teaching, and Hu Zi and Yan Shilei standing by with knives and fierce looks on their faces, they silently swallowed the words they wanted to say to drive them away.
These people are not easy to mess with no matter how you look at them.
When the heavily dressed yamen runners escorted the fugitives in thin prison uniforms in, Zhou Yunshu and others noticed it and immediately went on alert.
For a moment, the aroma of food in the temple and the condensed atmosphere outside formed a sharp contrast.
The leading yamen runner was unsure of the identities of these people and wanted to go into the dilapidated temple to keep warm, but he was afraid that these people were of noble status and would despise his own identities.
But if you don't go in, it's still very cold on November nights.
Unable to make up his mind, the leading yamen runner stood there and looked at the people in the dilapidated temple.
If they really were of high status, they would definitely ignore him or even despise him, the low-level officials who worked hard for their lives. In this case, he should really take his men and avoid them.
But if it was just a relatively wealthy businessman, he would definitely come out to greet him, and even give away the dilapidated temple and all the food to him.
Zhou Yunshu glanced at the yamen runners and fugitives in the middle of the yard. When Manager Liang looked over and wanted her to make a decision, Zhou Yunshu made a gesture to Chunque.
Chunque came to Huzi and Gouxiong, looked at the yamen runners standing in the middle of the yard and said, "Our master is kind-hearted. You can stay in the side rooms."
After all, Chunque has been in the Zhenbei Palace and the Wei Palace for many years, so if he really wants to scare someone, he still has a lot of style.
So after Chunque finished speaking, the leading yamen runner immediately asked respectfully, "I wonder which family this master belongs to? I..."
"You don't need to know this. Our master just finished celebrating Princess Yuyang's birthday and now just wants to rest quietly and return home early, so please keep your voices down."
The leading yamen runner nodded repeatedly when he heard the words "Princess Yuyang". Anyone who could go to celebrate Princess Yuyang's birthday must have a family background that cannot be underestimated. His previous concerns were correct.
The yamen runners entered the wing room, and the convicts in the yard, wearing shackles and prison uniforms, sat on the ground. Because they were so cold due to their thin clothing, those who knew each other huddled together tightly.
At a glance, the yard was full of skinny convicts.
After Fang Huiwen distributed dinner to the children sitting in a row around the fire, he turned around and saw Wu Yue and Li Jialan standing next to Zhou Yunshu, one on each side, whispering something.
"At first glance, I thought I was seeing things. It really is Lord Meng's family!"
"Not only that, I also saw Madam Li. Her husband is a famous imperial censor in the capital. It seems that he was confiscated and exiled because he offended the King of Qi."
Li Jialan sighed, "At the beginning of the year, we attended the Spring Festival Banquet together in Beijing. Who could have imagined that everything would change so quickly, and we would meet in Tingzhou, and in this way."
"Things change all the time. If it weren't for mother and Shu'er, I'm afraid our current situation wouldn't be much better than theirs." Wu Yue said as she looked at the prisoners who were freezing and starving in the yard.
Li Jialan nodded in agreement. It was not just not much better, it should be even more miserable.
After all, there are many people in the capital who want to take advantage of the Zhenbei Palace or take the opportunity to retaliate. If it were not for the arrangements made by the Grand Princess and her daughter, it would not be so easy for them to get rid of the emperor's people and those around them, and they would not be able to be as free as they are now.
The two spoke quietly, and no one except Zhou Yunshu who was sitting between them could hear what they were saying.
Zhou Yunshu walked over the threshold and looked at Hu Zi and others at the convicts who were huddled together in the yard, without any trace of their former demeanor. Her gaze gradually shifted to the yamen runners who were boiling water and cooking in the wing room.
This batch of escorted fugitives is neither the first nor the last. Too many people have had their homes confiscated this year. They were either exiled to the northern border or taken to the southern barbarians.
Some of them really deserved it, but more of them just stood on the wrong side, said the wrong words, and offended the royal family, so they ended up like this.
"Shu'er, it's time to eat."
Shopkeeper Liang's wife, Mrs. Li, knew that Zhou Yunshu was pregnant, so she specially made an extra bowl of brown sugar eggs for her.
Li Jialan stirred it lightly with a spoon before handing the bowl to Zhou Yunshu.
After Zhou Yunshu took the bowl, she said to the two people who were still whispering beside her, "We can't control their affairs."
After all, they are now fugitives. Once caught by the government, their fate will be even more miserable than that of the fugitives in front of them.
Li Jialan and Wu Yue nodded. They still knew what was important. Nothing was more important than their own family.
At night, when people rest, the temple is filled with women and children.
Outside the door, Yan Shilei, Hu Zi and others were on guard and patrolling separately, taking turns on night duty.
In the early morning, before daybreak, Zhou Yunshu was awakened by a woman's sharp cry. Xixi in her arms was also frightened and grabbed Zhou Yunshu's sleeve tightly, "Mom, Xixi is scared!"
Zhou Yunshu gently patted Xixi's shoulder, sat up and hugged her in her arms, "Don't be afraid, mother will be by your side to protect you."
The crying woke up most of the people in the dilapidated temple. Zhou Yunshu looked at Chunque, who had woken up, and motioned her to go out and take a look.
Xixi nestled in Zhou Yunshu's arms, falling asleep again after listening to her mother's voice, when Chunque finally figured out the situation and walked in from outside.
"A girl among the exiles passed away due to a high fever."
Zhou Yunshu patted Xixi's hand and paused for a moment, then nodded, "Got it."
After saying that, she looked at Hu Zi and Yan Shilei who were guarding the door, "Put on your masks, and don't let them get within ten meters of us."
It's always better to be safe than sorry. It's always better to be more prepared.
Hu Zi and Yan Shilei have always followed Zhou Yunshu's words, and she must have her reasons for saying that.
Fortunately, Zhou Yunshu said it, because the woman whose daughter had died refused to accept this reality and wanted to rush into the ruined temple for help, but was stopped by Hu Zi.
Once he dies, he dies. Even the gods can’t help him.
Besides, no one knew whether these fugitives were carrying any infectious diseases. There were mostly women and children in the house, so Zhou Yunshu would not take the risk.
But something incredible happened.
When the bailiffs wanted to remove the shackles and drag the dead girl away, the dead girl came back to life!
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