Gu Xin and her group of several hundred people had absolutely no food, while Lu Zheng and his group only had enough rations for a few people for a few days, and everyone had to share a little bit to barely fill their stomachs.
Gu Xin looked at the sky; it was almost midnight. She decided to use up all the jade beads for the day to boil water for everyone, hoping it would last them a while.
Bai Er and his companions rode camels to fetch water again, making several trips in a row, and the water they brought back was just enough for each person to drink a small bowl.
The others didn't understand why Gu Xin insisted they drink water, and Gu Xin didn't explain further, only saying that hot water would warm them up, and everyone had to drink it. They had to make it at least until the day after tomorrow, otherwise they would all starve to death.
Lu Zheng felt extremely sorry for Gu Xin as he looked at her taking on the responsibility on his own, but in this situation, he could only silently help Gu Xin share some of the burden.
After drinking water and eating something, everyone went to sleep by the fire.
Dozens of fires were lit in this abandoned city; with so many people, it was actually quite safe.
Gu Xin sat down next to Lu Zheng, and only then did she have time to look closely at her familiar family member.
She had thought for months about what to say when they met again, but at this moment, she found herself unable to utter a single word.
Bai Si walked over and knelt in front of Gu Xin: "Third Miss, it was my carelessness back then, please punish me!"
Gu Xin glared at him: "From now on, you have to follow me. You wouldn't even recognize someone impersonating me, yet you still follow me every day. You're so stupid!"
Bai Si lowered his head.
Gu Xin helped him up: "I underestimated you this time, so it's not entirely your fault. But you'll have to be more careful from now on. Even if my sister and I have the exact same makeup, wear the same clothes, do the same actions, and say the same words, you'll still have to tell me who I am. So, starting today, Bai Er and the others won't be with me; you have to stay with me. This is your punishment!"
Bai Er nodded: "Third Miss, rest assured, I will definitely do it! I will never allow such a thing to happen again! Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Third Miss."
Gu Xin smiled: "Okay, go and rest! You're not injured, and you can protect all of us on the way back to Liusha Kingdom."
Bai Si obediently retreated to the nearby campfire to rest.
Peng Ze said, "Third sister, seeing you so energetic makes me feel relieved. I can explain things to your eldest sister when we get back."
Gu Xin laughed and said, "Brother-in-law, that won't do. I've suffered a lot, and I can't just be energetic and lively to explain it to my sister. Besides, my uncle must have scolded you, scolded you for having a crazy cousin, scolded your cousin for being wicked, and then went so far as to say that you might also be crazy, that you're bad at heart, and wanted to drag my sister back to her parents' home!"
Peng Ze smiled wryly: "That's for sure!"
Gu Xin laughed: "I knew it. Uncle loves us sisters the most. If one of us is missing, he feels that the line isn't quite right."
Peng Ze said, "Because Peng Ze had ties with Langge, my father-in-law went to Huncheng and beat up the few Langge people. He also called on His Highness Prince Kang and Duke Chengen, and even instigated Prince Jinnan to lend them troops, planning to take the things made by my second sister to bomb Langge."
Peng Ze was not lying at all; Uncle Gu really did have this intention. As a result, he, Prince Kang, and Duke Chengen were scolded by Grandpa and Grandma Gu. Prince Jinnan hid and did not appear at the Gu family, thus escaping a disaster.
Gu Nian didn't have much stock at the time; if she had more, the Peng family would have immediately launched an attack.
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