In a small courtyard
Zhao Gao was brandishing his axe, looking very imposing. A refugee came trotting in and called out, "Boss Zhao, I've got some news."
She paused, turned her head and looked at him with some dignity: "Tell me, what's the news?"
"The princess is here, and the Jiang family's young general is here too."
"...What? Who's here? Please explain clearly. Why did the princess suddenly come to the city? Who is it?"
"Third Princess, the court posted a notice a while ago saying that the young general wants to marry the third princess. Isn't this a granted marriage? They are passing through town now and are staying at the Ping'an Inn."
A hint of contemplation flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes.
Wang Er continued, "Also, I noticed a lot of refugees following them. They might be following them to the Northern Wasteland. Boss, do you think we should follow them as well?"
"This will make the journey safer. Although there are hundreds of us, we may seem like a lot, but we are just farmers who can barely fight a chicken. It would be very dangerous if we ran into bandits."
"Hmm, so that's how it is. No wonder Wang Yong asked us to leave a few days later. He probably didn't want us to run into Princess Yizhao. Don't follow them."
Zhao Gao's eyes gleamed with brilliance, and he said in a deep voice, "Think about it, we just killed the imperial officials. How many of these hundreds of people are keeping their mouths shut?"
"If someone sees the Jiang family and lets the cat out of the bag, it will be fatal. Besides, if they follow the team, then we can still rob them when we run out of food."
"To seize food right under the noses of the Jiang family is like thinking you can live longer. This is not right. It is really not right. It is better for us to wait and see before we go on our own."
Wang Er frowned and was a little scared. It would be so dangerous if he ran into bandits.
Zhao Gao reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him: "Don't be afraid. The Jiang family has destroyed many strongholds before. Those small strongholds are not a threat. We can still rob them when the time comes."
"Have someone keep an eye on it and see when Princess Yizhe leaves. We can't just waste time in the city. We need to find a way to get to the Northern Wasteland as soon as possible."
"Yes, Boss. I'll send some beggars to investigate."
"Well, go ahead."
Zhao Gao put down his axe and sat aside, thinking about something.
＊
After the refugees followed them into the city, they sold the wild vegetables and mushrooms they picked along the way, and used the money to buy food to eat slowly on the way.
Maybe I can still beg for some money so that I can survive?
Jiang Sheng ordered a lot of steamed buns and had them distributed to the refugees to ensure they had something to eat and wouldn't starve to death...
The bun stalls in the city became popular all of a sudden, and Zhou Laizi was busy non-stop. He no longer felt so disgusted with the refugees. The most important thing was that he could earn money by being given silver.
Pot after pot of steamed buns were bought as soon as they came out of the pot.
Many refugees huddled in dilapidated temples. Those who were better off were better off, cooking porridge in clay pots. The aroma of rice wafted through the air, and those who had no food watched helplessly, not daring to grab anything.
It’s okay to be a little hungry, but if you rob someone, there will definitely be a fight, and you might be beaten to death before you get to eat.
A group of officials pushed a cart and stopped at the gate of the dilapidated temple. They took down the baskets one by one, banged the gong and shouted, "Come on, line up one by one. Everyone can get three steamed buns."
"Someone will cook the rice porridge soon. During the next two days in the city, the Marquis' Mansion will take care of the two meals a day. Don't make a fuss. Everyone will have something to eat if they line up."
When the refugees heard this, they were all in an uproar: "Ah, did you hear that? The Marquis's Mansion sent people to give us food. We have food now and we don't have to starve anymore."
"That's great, it's really great."
Everyone crowded towards the door and lined up one by one, waiting until dark. Only a little rice porridge was left.
A young woman came over holding a child and pleaded cautiously, "Sir, I wonder if you want this rice soup base. If not, could you give my child a couple of sips?"
"I have no milk to feed my child. I am starving. I would like to feed the child with rice soup. Please grant me this, sir."
As he was about to kneel on the ground and kowtow, the leader Sun Jian softened his heart and said softly, "Sister, wait a minute. I'll ask someone to bring some thicker paste. You're too sensitive to it and it won't get cold."
"Xiao Liuzi, hurry up and go. The porridge has just been cooked in the east. Go and get some thicker porridge for the child."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
The woman's nose felt sore when she saw this, and she choked up and said, "Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much."
Sun Jian waved his hand and said softly, "Hold on. The journey will be difficult, but once you reach the Northern Wilderness you'll be able to survive and won't have to starve anymore."
"Yes, thank you for your comfort, sir."
Soon, Xiao Liuzi came over with a small bowl of thick rice porridge in it and handed it to her: "Big sister, you feed the child."
"Okay, thank you, thank you."
The woman took it and fed the crying child bit by bit. The other refugees looked away when they saw this. They did not dare to grab the rice porridge in front of the officials.
It was completely dark. The woman fed the child and sat in a corner, hugging the child tightly. She put her face close to the child with a happy expression and a smile on her face: "Xiao Mu, mother will take care of you and live."
This was the night the refugees slept most soundly, without being woken up by hunger. The dilapidated temple was filled with snoring. The two patrolling guards took a look and found nothing unusual, so they moved on to the next one.
Li Xue curled up on the bed in the inn room, covering her heart. The stinging sensation came over her, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead. The poison was getting more severe.
Huhu, bear with it, she will be fine if she just bear with it a little longer.
She stayed up until midnight before she felt alive again. She drifted off to sleep, and in her dreams someone kept shouting that she was a disaster and told her to die...
"No, no, I'm not a disaster star, I'm not..."
His hands were waving in the darkness, as if trying to grab something, and his expression was somewhat hideous and painful.
"ah!"
Li Xue screamed out loud, sat up straight suddenly, and looked around vigilantly.
Xiao Zhu, who was sleeping on the floor, was startled. He rubbed his eyes and asked in confusion, "Princess, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I, my heart hurts."
"What? I'll go get the doctor right away."
Xiao Zhu hurriedly opened the door and ran out. Not long after, Jiang Ling and Jiang Sheng arrived. After taking her pulse, Jiang Sheng frowned and said, "Sister-in-law, your pulse is very strange."
Li Xue lowered her head and said nothing. After a long while, she nodded. "Well, I've been weak since I was a child. Maybe that's why my pulse is so strange. I'm fine. I just have occasional chest pain."
"Sister-in-law, I suspect you've been poisoned. Did you eat anything?"
"...No, I'm not poisoned. I'm just not feeling well. Don't worry."
"You all should go back and rest. I just had a nightmare. Maybe it's because of the dream that I feel pain in my chest."
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