Concubine Jiang followed Old Madam Ye's line of sight and understood her intention.
She looked at Ye Jingchuan and said, "Master, the eldest young lady has a cart. It could carry Old Madam for a stretch."
Ye Jingchuan looked troubled. "The cart is loaded with so many things; it can't pull a person as well."
He had not told anyone about severing ties with Ye Chutang.
He had originally planned to announce it to the world only after becoming a marquis.
To make Ye Chutang regret it!
As it turned out, not only did he not become a marquis, but his family was also confiscated and he was exiled.
In their current predicament, he did not want anyone to know he had cut ties with Ye Chutang.
With the marital connection to the Qi family still in place, the officers would more or less give him some face.
Unaware of Ye Jingchuan's thoughts, Concubine Jiang shot Ye Chutang an annoyed look.
"A married daughter is like spilled water. Old Madam is so gravely ill, yet the eldest young lady remains unmoved. How unfilial."
Ye Jingchuan shot a warning glance at Concubine Jiang and rebuked her.
"Hold your tongue!"
Old Madam Ye knew the relationship between Ye Jingchuan and Ye Chutang was strained.
She could understand her son not wanting to back down.
"Jingchuan, you don't need to say anything. I will go speak to Chutang myself."
Ye Jingchuan quickly objected, his tone urgent. "Mother, please don't go and trouble Chutang."
Old Madam Ye paid no heed.
"I can see it now. The Qi household is currently managed by Chutang. Making room on the cart is just a word from her; it won't be much trouble."
"Mother..."
Ye Jingchuan tried to stop her again but was interrupted by Wu Chenggang.
"Old Madam, you'd better hurry. Any more delay and we'll be spending the night in the wilderness."
Ye Chutang quickly said, "Officer, neither of the Qi family elders are riding on the cart. It wouldn't be right for my mother to ride. I can carry her."
Old Madam Ye snorted in displeasure. "If I rely on you to carry me, both of us will die on this exile road!"
With that, she closed her open outer garment, fastened the buttons, and stood up unsteadily.
"Concubine Jiang, help me over there."
Ye Jingchuan still wanted to block her way but was silenced by a warning look from Wu Chenggang.
He had no choice but to keep quiet, praying that Ye Chutang would still care for family ties.
After all, ties can be severed, but blood cannot!
Concubine Jiang supported Old Madam Ye as they walked towards Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang's resting spot was not far from the Ye family, and she had heard their conversation clearly.
A mocking smile touched her lips as she watched the two approach.
Before Old Madam Ye could even thicken her skin to speak, Ye Chutang refused. "Wanting to ride the cart? Out of the question."
Old Madam Ye was stunned for a moment, her face darkening.
She said cuttingly, "Chutang, only beasts deny their own kin!"
The implication was that if Ye Chutang didn't let her ride the cart, she would be a beast.
Ye Chutang nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, they are beasts!"
The label "beasts" was one all the Ye family members deserved.
Seeing that provocation didn't work, Old Madam Ye immediately changed tactics, playing the victim.
"Aiyo! My fate is so bitter! I'm almost dying of illness, yet I can't earn an ounce of pity from my own granddaughter. I might as well just die!"
If they were in a crowded place in the capital, these words would have been very effective.
The Northern Chen Kingdom valued filial piety highly. Those deemed unfilial would not only be vilified but could also be imprisoned.
Therefore, few dared to bear such a reputation, fearing public condemnation and having no place in society.
But here in the wilderness, with no one to accuse Ye Chutang on Old Madam Ye's behalf, her wails seemed like a joke.
"Old Madam Ye, you should save your strength for walking."
As soon as Ye Chutang finished speaking, Wu Chenggang walked over.
"Madam Qi, clear a spot on the cart for the old lady to sit."
Hearing his commanding tone, Ye Chutang retorted.
"I have no relation to her, why should I?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ye Jingchuan grew anxious.
He immediately walked over, intending to pull Old Madam Ye away, but she shook him off.
"Chuan'er, what are you pulling me for?"
"Mother, don't make a scene. Since Chutang is unwilling, let it be. I can carry you on my back."
Old Madam Ye ignored Ye Jingchuan and asked Ye Chutang sharply, "What did you mean by what you just said?"
What did she mean by 'no relation'?
Could it be that the bitch Tang Wanning gave birth to a bastard?
Thinking this, she didn't wait for Ye Chutang to answer and immediately grabbed Ye Jingchuan's arm, demanding.
"Who is that other man?"
Ye Jingchuan: "???"
Before he could even react, Ye Chutang, who had understood the implication, slapped Old Madam Ye across the face.
The force was great, sending two teeth flying out.
Old Madam Ye was stunned by the blow.
The burning pain on her face brought her back to her senses, and she raised her hand to strike Ye Chutang's face.
"You bastard! How dare you rebel!"
Her mouth was full of blood, spraying as she spoke.
Ye Chutang aimed at the hand swinging towards her and with a loud "crack," broke it.
Then she backhanded Old Madam Ye another slap.
Two bloodied teeth flew into the bushes, disappearing from sight.
Old Madam Ye's face swelled at a visible rate, the finger marks clearly visible.
She stared blankly at her own limp, hanging hand, and let out a delayed scream.
"Ah!"
Concubine Jiang, seeing Old Madam Ye's miserable state, scolded Ye Chutang angrily.
"Eldest Miss, how could you assault an elder?"
Ye Siyin spoke with righteous indignation, "Elder Sister, the Kingdom of Beichen upholds filial piety—"
Ye Chutang didn't want to hear Ye Siyin's lecture and cut her off.
"Only an elder deserves to speak of filial piety!"
After saying this, she reached into her sleeve and took out the severance document from her space.
"I severed ties with Ye Jingchuan long ago. Old Madam Ye is not my elder, so what filial piety is there to discuss?"
Old Madam Ye looked at the severance document shoved in front of her, disbelief in her eyes.
"This... when did this happen?"
Her face was swollen, her speech slurred, as she slowly turned to look at Ye Jingchuan.
"Is this severance document real?"
With things having come to this, Ye Jingchuan could only nod in admission.
"It's real. Chutang believes I caused her mother and elder brother's deaths, and that I abandoned her in the countryside without care, making me unworthy to be a father."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ye immediately twisted the facts.
"Tang Wanning and the legitimate eldest son were both killed by Kong Ru, what does that have to do with you? Sending Chutang to the countryside was to spare her from a stepmother's mistreatment, what wrong is there in that?"
Qi Yanzhou walked to Ye Chutang's side and took her hand.
"Favoring a concubine over the wife, wrong. Ingratitude, wrong. Siring but not raising, wrong. Permitting servants to bully their master, wrong. Substituting brides and swapping marriages, doubly wrong."
After speaking, he gave a cold snort.
"What use is such a selfish and vicious father? This severance is well done!"
Old Madam Qi also stepped forward to support Ye Chutang.
"Although the Kingdom of Beichen reveres filial piety, it is also 'fathers first show kindness, children then show filial duty.' Someone who has never shown their child an ounce of goodness has no right to demand filial piety first."
Old Master Qi then spoke.
"Since ties are severed, you are strangers from now on. Don't come near."
Ye Jingchuan, thoroughly embarrassed by the reprimands, quickly said, "Mother, I'll carry you away."
After speaking, he led Old Madam Ye back to the Ye family's spot.
Old Madam Ye's hand was dislocated, her mouth was full of blood, and her screams were weak and feeble.
"Jingchuan, my son, your mother is dying, save me."
Having watched the farce, Wu Chenggang glanced at Ye Chutang and walked over to Old Madam Ye.
He set her hand back in place and also removed the cangue from Ye Jingchuan.
"Move out!"
The journey that followed proceeded slowly, but no further incidents occurred.
By the time they reached the relay station, it was a full two hours later than Wu Chenggang had estimated, and the sky was completely dark.
Seeing they had reached a place to rest, Ye Jingchuan let out the breath he had been holding.
Exhausted, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Wu Chenggang pounded on the relay station gate. "Open up! Someone, open the door!"
The stationmaster and the station attendants were drinking in the main hall.
Hearing the knocking, they immediately guessed who the visitors were.
The stationmaster put down his wine cup and ordered an attendant, "Many officers are staying tonight. Go prepare more dishes."
After saying this, the stationmaster went to open the gate.
Wu Chenggang handed the exile document to the stationmaster.
After reading it, the stationmaster immediately opened the gate wide. "Please come in, officers."
As the station was close to the capital, it was built quite large, barely able to accommodate over a hundred people.
The seven ox-carts were left outside the station.
One belonged to the Qi family, the rest belonged to the officers, and they were guarded by station attendants.
Han Chong, the leader of the Dragon Guard, arranged for thirty men to stand guard outside the station to prevent the Qi family from escaping.
The rest entered the courtyard.
There were too many people; the main hall couldn't seat them all, so many sat resting under the covered walkways.
The Zhao, Ye, and Qi families could only sit on the ground.
Apart from Ye Chutang and Qi Yanzhou, everyone else had blisters on their feet from walking.
The blisters had burst, and the skin stuck to their socks, causing a piercing pain at the slightest touch.
Ye Jingchuan lay motionless on the ground; if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, one would think he was dead.
Wu Chenggang had just sat down in the main hall and ordered the stationmaster, "Hurry up and prepare wine and food."
"The attendants have already gone to prepare, but with so many officers today, I'm afraid there will be a short wait. There are resting rooms on the second and third floors,"
"No matter. The rooms aren't occupied, are they?"
"No, there are five rooms on both the second and third floors, and three more in the backyard."
The station had never received so many officers at once, so the stationmaster had to vacate his own room and those of the attendants.
Even so, there still weren't enough rooms.
He had done what he could; how the rooms were allocated was not his concern.
Wu Chenggang discussed it with Han Chong.
He took two rooms on the third floor.
Although five people to a room was a bit crowded, it was better than sleeping in the open, exposed to mosquitoes.
Han Chong had no objections. "Fine. I'll handle the guard duty."
After speaking, he went to arrange the rotation schedule.
Wu Chenggang poured himself a cup of wine, drank it, then went into the courtyard to assign resting places for the three families.
"The Ye family sleeps in the stables, the Qi family sleeps in the front courtyard, and the Zhao family sleeps in the backyard."
Although the stables provided shelter from wind and rain, the smell was foul and mosquitoes were plentiful, making it the worst of the three locations.
The front courtyard was large, with more people resting there, making it suitable for keeping watch on the Qi family.
After making the arrangements, Wu Chenggang had his men distribute black cornbread buns and pickled vegetables.
Again, no one wanted them.
He didn't insist, simply saying, "There's a well in the backyard."
Zhu Rong, the wife of Zhao Mingxu, immediately asked, "Officer, does the station have a place to bathe?"
After walking all day, their clothes were long soaked through with sweat, dirty and foul-smelling.
The station rooms had bathtubs, but they certainly wouldn't be provided for prisoners.
"Figure it out yourselves."
With that, Wu Chenggang went back into the main hall to drink wine and eat peanuts.
Zhu Rong could not bear the filth and stench covering her body and limped off to find the post station manager.
She used one tael of silver to exchange for three buckets of hot water and the chance for her family to wash up in the storage room.
"Master, the station has no food to sell to us right now. Should we move our luggage to the backyard first?"
Zhao Mingxu didn't want to move. He waved his hand weakly.
"Let's rest for a while first. I'm utterly exhausted."
After resting for a bit, Ye Chutang stood up.
"Ah Zhou, go inform the officers and ask permission for us to cook outside the station."
Even after drinking the spiritual spring water, Old Master Qi and Old Madam Qi were still thoroughly worn out. They needed good food to nourish their bodies.
Qi Yanzhou went to find Wu Chenggang and obtained permission for two people to go out to cook.
Just as Ye Chutang was about to call for Qi Yanzhou, Concubine Xu spoke up. "Madam, let me help you."
"Alright."
She and Concubine Xu went outside the post station.
Two lanterns hung at the station's entrance, their dim yellow light illuminating a small patch of ground.
Ye Chutang took a wooden bucket down from the cart.
"Concubine Xu, take this to Ah Zhou and have him fetch a bucket of water."
Concubine Xu left with the bucket. Ye Chutang took out the vegetables she had bought the day before.
The weather was hot, and some of the leafy greens had spoiled, but easily stored items like potatoes were fine.
The fried meatballs, fragrant and delicious, were also still good.
She also took out a large piece of spiced beef from her space.
When Concubine Xu returned after delivering the bucket, she saw Ye Chutang moving the cooking utensils and hurried over to help.
Ye Chutang declined, "Concubine Xu, you prepare the vegetables. We'll divide the work; it's more efficient."
"Alright. What are we having tonight? I'll handle it."
Concubine Xu was a young lady from an official's family, one whose ten fingers never touched the spring water of the kitchen.
Occasionally cooking for Old Master Qi was merely a bit of marital affection.
And even that was accomplished with the help of maidservants.
So, even with Ye Chutang directing her, she made a complete mess of things, nearly driven to tears of frustration.
Qi Yanzhou arrived with a bucket of water and stood at the station entrance, saying, "Concubine Xu, give the vegetables to me."
When traveling outside the capital, he was accustomed to cooking for himself.
Although his cooking wasn't particularly tasty, he knew how to handle various ingredients.
Concubine Xu, feeling embarrassed, carried the vegetables to the entrance.
"Second Young Master, I want to help too. Please teach me."
"Fine. First, take the water to Ah Tang."
Ye Chutang quickly had all the necessary cooking items ready.
A tripod stand, as high as her calf, supported an iron wok.
A basin for washing clothes was overturned on the ground, its bottom serving as a surface for holding cooking seasonings and a chopping board.
She sliced the spiced beef thinly and prepared a bowl of dipping sauce.
She also chopped some ginger and garlic for stir-frying.
With Qi Yanzhou's help, the vegetables were soon prepped.
While Concubine Xu washed the vegetables, Ye Chutang used the dry branches gathered at noon to start a fire.
As the kindling caught flame, she asked, "Can Concubine Xu chop vegetables?"
Concubine Xu shook her head awkwardly. "I've seen it done, but I've never done it myself."
She felt like a fool, utterly useless!
Ye Chutang had already anticipated this outcome.
In ancient times, it wasn't just gentlemen who stayed away from the kitchen; daughters of noble families did too.
She said gently, "If you don't know, you can learn slowly. But it's too late today. I'll chop the vegetables; you make the meatball soup."
Hearing this, Concubine Xu wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
"I... I don't know how to do that either."
"I'll teach you."
With that, Ye Chutang placed the ladle in Concubine Xu's hand and picked up the sharp kitchen knife.
Exiled convicts were not allowed to carry sharp tools.
The Qi family was a special case, which was why the officers hadn't interfered.
Ye Chutang chopped potato strips while keeping an eye on the pot.
Concubine Xu, seeing her divided attention, was terribly afraid she'd cut her fingers, her grip on the spatula tightening repeatedly.
"Aunt, the wok is hot now. Add half a small spoon of oil. Once the oil starts to smoke, put in a bit of ginger and garlic to stir-fry until fragrant, then pour a large bowl of water into the wok."
"Alright, alright."
Though her movements were stiff, Concubine Xu meticulously followed Ye Chutang's instructions without a single mistake.
By the time the water was in the pot, Ye Chutang had finished chopping the potatoes.
She soaked the potato strips in water to remove the starch.
"Aunt, I'll take over the rest. Watch and listen carefully, commit it to memory."
Concubine Xu hurriedly handed the ladle to Ye Chutang.
"Rest assured, Madam, I will learn to cook with all my heart."
Ye Chutang cooked while giving detailed explanations, and soon two dishes and a soup were ready: garlic greens, sour and spicy potato strips, meatball soup, and soy-braised beef.
There weren't many varieties of dishes, but the portions were generous.
After cooking the dishes, she boiled water to cook rice.
Concubine Xu sat to the side, silently memorizing how Ye Chutang cooked.
She had a good memory and quickly committed it all to heart.
While the rice was still cooking, she practiced her knife skills using the potato peelings she had saved earlier.
Noticing her incorrect grip on the knife, Ye Chutang offered some guidance.
Concubine Xu smiled and said, "Holding the knife this way really is more comfortable and easier."
Then, she looked at Ye Chutang with admiration.
"Madam can do everything. It's truly admirable."
Watching the bubbling rice porridge in the pot, Ye Chutang thought of the original host who had suffered so much.
"The more one knows how to do, the more hardship one has endured. Compared to suffering and toil, I'd rather remain a child who never grows up."
She said this on behalf of the original host.
After all, in ancient times, women didn't need to master many skills; having someone who cherished them and a reliable support was enough.
Qi Yanzhou, standing at the entrance of the relay station, overheard Ye Chutang's words and felt a pang of heartache for her past suffering.
Thinking that he, too, was making her endure hardship, a wave of guilt washed over him.
Concubine Xu, who knew some of Ye Chutang's story, said, "Madam's bitterness will surely turn to sweetness."
Even though they were exiled, she believed the Qi family had a backup plan and wouldn't be defeated so easily!
Ye Chutang nodded firmly. "Of course."
With that, she ladled up a spoonful of the rice water.
Seeing the rice was thoroughly cooked, she used a bamboo sieve to separate the rice from the water, then poured the rice back into the pot to steam over a low heat.
"Aunt, the rice will be ready soon. Please take the dishes inside first."
Concubine Xu carried the dishes, while Ye Chutang tidied up the seasonings, chopping board, and other items.
After clearing the things placed on the wooden basin, they used it as a makeshift table for the food.
Soon, the fragrant rice was ready.
The six members of the Qi family gathered around the basin and ate heartily.
The enticing aroma of the food made others swallow their saliva.
Concubine Su and Concubine Gao looked at the dried meat and steamed buns in their hands, immediately losing their appetite.
"It's so dry. If only we could have a bowl of soup."
This was said by Concubine Su.
Concubine Gao knew Concubine Su was being deliberate, trying to make her the fool who would go buy soup.
She swallowed the dried meat in her mouth. "I bought heatstroke pills at noon. Why doesn't Sister Su go buy some soup?"
The words were blunt. Though unwilling, Concubine Su had no choice but to accept.
"Fine, I'll go ask."
Enduring the pain in her feet, she wobbled over to Ye Chutang.
"Madam, I wonder if you would sell your meatball soup?"
Without even looking up, Ye Chutang said, "If we have leftovers, of course they can be sold. Wait."
The implication was clear: even if Concubine Su wanted to buy, she could only buy the leftovers.
She rolled her eyes, "I don't want it anymore."
Ye Chutang didn't care at all about earning a bit of loose silver.
"Suit yourself."
As soon as the words were spoken, Ye Jingchuan, lying on the ground, said, "If there's extra soup, I'll have it."
He was starving, his stomach practically sticking to his back, but had no appetite for the dry, bland flatbread.
Ye Chutang didn't refuse. "Fine."
It didn't matter who she sold it to.
As it turned out, the dishes she made were so delicious that Qi He'an couldn't stop eating.
Even when he was full, he finished the last bowl of soup.
"Burp!"
He patted his bulging stomach and let out a satisfied burp.
"I'll take care of washing the pots and bowls."
Concubine Xu, watching her son become so sensible and obedient, said happily, "I'll help you, son."
Ye Chutang stood up and said, "Heat more water, for a bath later."
A hot bath after being utterly exhausted was pure bliss.
The Qi family thought they had misheard and questioned in unison.
"A bath?"
"Yes, I bought a collapsible bathtub."
This was made to order by the carpenter's shop, along with the portable toilet.
Hearing the term for the first time, Qi Yanzhou asked curiously, "What's a collapsible bathtub?"
Ye Chutang took the bundled wooden planks from the cart and assembled them into a bathtub.
The joints used mortise and tenon structures, fitting together seamlessly without leaking.
Everyone was stunned.
Even Wu Chenggang, drinking in the main hall, said, "I've lived over forty years, and this is the first time I've seen a bathtub like this."
Ye Chutang said with a smile, "That's because generally, no one brings a bathtub on a journey."
No market, so naturally no one sells them.
Ordinary people on the road can use the bathtubs provided by inns.
After Old Madam Qi praised Ye Chutang a few times, she asked, "Chu'er, where do you plan to bathe?"
"Spend a little silver and use the storage room."
Qi Yanzhou hurried off to find the post station manager.
Since he only needed the space and not the hot water, it only cost one tael of silver.
With nothing to do, Ye Chutang strolled around the courtyard to walk off her meal.
Qi Yanzhou walked with her, and as they walked, he took her hand.
He said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "A-Tang, although we're only thirty li from the capital and the Emperor likely won't make a move, we still need to be careful."
"I know. Tonight, we'll each keep watch for half the night."
The Emperor's desire to destroy the Qi family was too strong; he might not play by the usual rules.
Qi Yanzhou squeezed Ye Chutang's hand. "You rest well. My third brother, father, and I will keep watch."
Old Master Qi's indulgence in pleasure had all been an act for the Emperor's benefit.
Although his body was weak, he had a foundation in martial arts and was perfectly capable of keeping watch.
Ye Chutang needed more sleep, so she nodded.
"Alright. If you get too tired, wake me."
Qi Yanzhou didn't reply, his gaze falling on Ye Chutang's stomach.
"Were you tired today?"
Ye Chutang knew what he was asking, and her eyes softened.
"Not tired. Don't worry."
This wasn't just to comfort Qi Yanzhou; it was the truth.
With her earth-based special ability, walking wasn't tiring at all, though the sun had made her quite hot.
Qi Yanzhou stroked Ye Chutang's head, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Don't push yourself. If you feel it's too much, I'll carry you."
Ye Chutang leaned her head on Qi Yanzhou's shoulder and nodded.
"Okay. Don't complain about being tired then."
"I could carry you for a lifetime and never tire!"
Just as this heartfelt declaration was spoken, Qi He'an rushed over and said, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, the hot water is ready."
Qi Yanzhou released Ye Chutang's hand and said, "I'm going to take a shower first."
He was concerned there might be an issue with the storage room and wanted to check it first.
Ye Chutang had no objections. "Alright, go ahead."
