But the guards had not given anyone any water. Everyone was already desperately thirsty, and the smell of the ginger soup only made their throats feel as though they were on fire.
“Sir, give us some water.”
“That’s right. If we don’t drink soon, we’ll die of thirst.”
“You can’t let her cook ginger soup and refuse to give us water.”
The crowd began to make a commotion. The guards had no choice but to glare fiercely at Cheng Yao before fetching a bucket of water and a chipped bowl from the old clerk and telling them to serve themselves.
No one had the energy to worry about cleanliness. They took turns drinking from the same bowl.
Cheng Yao ladled out the ginger soup and, with Hongxiu’s help, fed a few spoonfuls to Zhan Haoting.
“Yao’er, here.” Lady Zhan handed over a flatbread. “Soak it in the ginger soup until it softens, then feed it to Haoting.”
Zhan Haochen followed by offering his own flatbread.
Zhan Qingrou hesitated before handing hers over as well.
“I can’t finish it anyway. Give it to Brother. But you’re not allowed to sneak a bite.”
Before Cheng Yao could reach for it, however, someone snatched the flatbread away.
“If you can’t eat it, give it to your grandmother.” Second Madam Zhan seized the flatbread and took a bite. She did not forget to issue an order as she chewed. “Cheng Yao, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and ladle a bowl of ginger soup for Old Madam.”
What she said was not entirely unreasonable. Filial piety was considered more important than anything else, and no matter the circumstances, younger family members were supposed to honor their elders before thinking of themselves.
The problem was—did they deserve that respect?
Cheng Yao remained calm. “There isn’t much ginger soup. I made it, so our branch of the family will drink it first.”
“Why, you little—”
Second Madam Zhan met Cheng Yao’s clear eyes and inexplicably lost the courage to continue cursing.
Cheng Yao was no kindhearted pushover. If she provoked her, she would not come out ahead. Besides, Cheng Yao had made the ginger soup herself. It was perfectly reasonable for the eldest branch to drink it first.
Second Madam Zhan gave an unwilling snort and snatched away Zhan Haochen’s flatbread as well. “Bring us some ginger soup later.”
Zhan Haochen rose to his feet, fists clenched. “Second Aunt, that food was for my brother!”
“That flatbread is too hard. Your brother can’t eat it.”
Second Madam Zhan took another bite, marking it as her own.
Lady Zhan stood up. “Second Sister-in-law, give us back our flatbread!”
“That was something you should have offered to Old Madam out of filial respect.” Second Madam Zhan did not even turn her head.
Zhan Haochen stepped forward to snatch it back, but Cheng Yao caught his arm and shook her head.
“Forget it.”
The flatbread was too hard and moldy. Even if it was soaked, it might not soften; perhaps it would not even become tender after boiling. She did not want it anyway.
Zhan Haoting was still unconscious and could not eat.
Zhan Haochen’s eyes reddened. They had all been born of the same parents—why were they tearing one another apart?
Second Aunt and her family had gone too far!
“Young Master Haochen, Sister-in-law is right. We’re better off not eating that flatbread.” Hongxiu spoke softly as she pulled an oil-paper packet from her bundle and handed it to Lady Zhan. “We can eat these.”
Lady Zhan opened the packet and found more than a dozen meat buns inside.
“This…”
“Eat quickly.” Cheng Yao picked one up first and took a large bite.
She was starving.
Actually, meat buns tasted best when hot. Once cold, the fat inside congealed.
But on the road to exile, having anything to eat was already a blessing.
Xiao Fu and Hongxiu stood in front of Lady Zhan, pretending to chat so they could shield her from view.
Lady Zhan handed one bun to each of her children. After hesitating for a moment, she took one for herself as well.
She wanted to save it, but if she became too weak to walk, she would only burden her children.
She finished it in two or three bites, then returned the remaining buns to Hongxiu.
“Madam, there are still…”
“You and Uncle Xiao eat them too. Eat plenty.” Lady Zhan pressed down on her hand. “These are your provisions. It’s already more than enough that you’re willing to share them with us.”
Hongxiu instinctively looked toward Cheng Yao.
Cheng Yao nodded. “You two eat.”
At least this mother-in-law knew where to draw the line. That was a relief.
Otherwise, getting along with her would have been such a bother.
Cheng Yao tore the meat bun into pieces and soaked them in the ginger soup. Then she lifted Zhan Haoting’s head and whispered into his ear, “Eat a little, no matter what.”
Zhan Haoting’s eyes remained tightly shut. He did not respond.
He still hadn’t woken up?
The anesthetic she had given him should have worn off by now. If he still had not regained consciousness, then his injuries must be far more serious than she had thought.
“You have to hold on,” she murmured. “I don’t want to become a widow.”
She set down the bowl and began wondering how she could position him to make feeding him easier.
“Let me.”
Xiao Fu had just finished his bun and came over to take over.
Cheng Yao moved aside and went to pour herself a bowl of ginger soup.
Strangely enough, the moment she walked away, Zhan Haoting opened his eyes.
His dark, fathomless gaze locked firmly onto her retreating figure.
“My lord, Madam is right. You must hold on.”
Xiao Fu’s eyes were bloodshot. Though he was doing his best to restrain himself, his body was still trembling.
That damned emperor had actually wounded His Lordship this badly!
Zhan Haoting withdrew his gaze, and his eyes became calm and unreadable.
Xiao Fu wiped away a tear and fed him the bread softened in ginger soup.
Zhan Haoting did not even have the strength to drink water. His internal organs had also been injured, and every swallow brought searing, heart-rending pain.
Yet he finished every mouthful with an unchanged expression.
Xiao Fu had no idea what he was thinking. He wanted to say a few more words, but there were too many eyes and ears around them. Zhan Haoting had already closed his eyes, so Xiao Fu could only let the matter drop.
Cheng Yao poured the ginger soup into a bowl and had Lady Zhan and the others take turns drinking it.
One bowl for several people—Zhan Qingrou was somewhat reluctant.
“If you want to live, drink it,” Cheng Yao said coldly.
She was so fierce!
The young girl shuddered, her eyes instantly turning red. She bit her lip and did not dare make a sound.
“Your sister-in-law is only trying to help you. Qingrou, be obedient and listen to her.”
For once, Lady Zhan did not soothe her.
Zhan Qingrou held her breath and drained the bowl in one go, as though she were swallowing poison.
But unexpectedly, the ginger soup was sweet.
And surprisingly delicious!
She stared at Cheng Yao in astonishment. Where had this woman gotten sugar?
“Don’t say anything,” Lady Zhan whispered. “Your sister-in-law is doing everything she can to keep us alive.”
Her fingertips brushed over the girl’s hair. “Being alive is more important than anything else.”
Zhan Qingrou trembled, deeply moved.
Cheng Yao poured another bowl of ginger soup and handed it to Xiao Fu.
“Madam, this old servant doesn’t need any…” In his haste, Xiao Fu unconsciously slipped back into the way he had addressed himself in the past.
“Drink.”
Cheng Yao used only one word.
Xiao Fu’s lips trembled. His cloudy eyes were filled with gratitude as he took the bowl with shaking hands and drained it in one go.
“Don’t ask questions.” Cheng Yao’s voice was as light as the wind. “After you finish, close your eyes and pretend to be asleep.”
Xiao Fu was injured to begin with. As the warmth flowed into his stomach, a hint of color returned to his ashen face.
He looked up, wanting to say something, but Cheng Yao had already taken the bowl and retreated into the shadows.
The ginger soup was gone, so she continued adding water to the earthenware pot.
She lowered her head and watched the dancing flames. A fierce blaze seemed to ignite in her heart as well.
For everyone else, this journey into exile led to a dead end. But for her and Zhan Haoting, it led to a path of survival.
Once they left this place, the world would be theirs. The sky would be vast, the earth boundless, and the two of them could soar wherever they pleased.
At the thought, she added another piece of firewood, making the flames burn even more fiercely.
After a while, the water boiled. She poured out a bowl and carried it over.
Zhan Haoting’s bones were broken all over, and he lay there limp as a rag doll.
Cheng Yao noticed Zhan Haochen taking off his brother’s clothes. Her heart tightened.
“What are you doing?”
