Chapter 33 Who Dares to Stop Me Today?

Xiang Ying, while in pursuit, cursed him in her heart.

What's going on with Jie Chen? Leaving just like that, not willing to wait even a moment longer.

She sped towards the city gate, planning to lead a horse out from her space once she left the city, to chase after the Exile Team.

In just that brief moment, Xiang Ying had already imagined the children not seeing her return and starting to cry again.

When she sees Jie Chen later, she's definitely going to give him a scolding!

Just as Xiang Ying arrived at the city gate, she suddenly saw that familiar tall figure, standing with his hands behind his back at the side of the porridge shed.

Without thinking, she charged over and grabbed Jie Chen by the collar.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave? As an Exiled Criminal, losing me doesn't matter that much to you? You just leave when you say leave!"

Jie Chen furrowed his brow: "Let go."

But Xiang Ying gripped even tighter: "What are you so angry about? I was just a bit late coming back!"

Jie Chen raised his hand and directly pulled her hand down.

"What are you going crazy about?" His voice was displeased.

Xiang Ying felt the surrounding grow extremely quiet.

She looked around, and to her shock, the government officers who had opened the shed to distribute porridge and the citizens lining up for soup were all looking at her with astonishment.

How could an Exiled Criminal dare to speak to their own Military Supervisor in such a manner?

At that moment, the soldiers brought by Jie Chen returned, dragging four horse-drawn carts filled with grain.

"Military Supervisor, everything is loaded."

It was then that Jie Chen nodded, ordering the City Garrison to be dragged over.

Xiang Ying saw the City Garrison with a bruised nose and a swollen face, gasping for breath as he cried upon seeing Jie Chen, and with two front teeth knocked out as he opened his mouth.

Jie Chen's tone was icy cold: "Since you've already sided with Nanyue, when the passing troops asked you for grain, not giving it was a minor issue, hiding it was a major one."

"This time I'll let you off, but if I hear any rumors again, I will report to the Vice General and have you dismissed and exiled."

The City Garrison nodded repeatedly, admitting his mistakes while his teeth whistled, claiming he would not dare again.

Only then did Jie Chen cast a cold glance over Xiang Ying: "Let's go, we're heading back."

Xiang Ying followed him silently.

Only by listening to the conversations of the soldiers next to her did she learn that Jie Chen had suddenly returned to the tavern and led them to raid a mansion in the city.

It was said to be the City Garrison's secret residence where white, pure grain was piled high.

As a result, the City Garrison was beaten, and while Jie Chen took away all the grain, he left two bags of white rice for the officials.

They oversaw the making of porridge on-site, which was then distributed to the local citizens.

So that meant… Jie Chen didn't intend to leave her and go ahead first.

Xiang Ying stared at the back of his head, filled with a light suspicion.

The man in black at the City Garrison's house was too similar in build to Jie Chen, could it have been him?

If so, he must have recognized her too, but Jie Chen did not ask any questions.

Xiang Ying decided to play dumb to the end, and even if he asked, she would deny.

They returned to the Exile Team together.

Xiang Xiuxiu immediately plunged into Xiang Ying's arms, asking softly, "Mother, did you buy a lot of things?"

"Of course," she pulled the little one over to Tao Xue's side.

From her pack, she took out new shoes and clothes she had prepared earlier.

"These are for you, and for Tao Xue, as well as your brother."

The three little ones were overjoyed, with Tao Xue helping them get dressed, attracting envious glares from the surrounding criminals.

However, Xiang Ying felt that the murmuring about her seemed to have noticeably decreased.

She went to check on Xiang Li, who was still unconscious, with Lin Lingxiang by his side.

Xiang Ying took out a parcel of dry cakes: "Lingxiang, take these to Mr. Lin and the others."

Lin Lingxiang was stunned for a moment: "Thank you, elder princess."

With the replenished food supplies, the Exile Team set out again.

They had to reach the next post station before dusk.

As Xiang Ying walked on, she noticed that several of the Concubines and ladies tried to approach her to chat and probe for information.

Each one of them wanted to know how much grain she had bought in the city.

Seeing Xiang Ying's expressionless face and unable to get any information, they left in frustration.

Tao Xue complained to Xiang Ying in a low voice, "It's good that you didn't tell them. When the elder princess wasn't here, all these people kept talking about you, accusing you of saving the Nanyue soldiers and shaming Xizhou."

Xiang Ying listened with an indifferent expression on her face.

"They can only grumble with their mouths now."

Can't bear it now? The road ahead will be even harder.

The earthquake was merely a prelude to a drought year, but Xiang Ying was fully prepared mentally.

It was well into the afternoon when suddenly a messenger on horseback sped towards us, cracking his whip.

The Exile Team quickly stopped and made way, watching him rush forward to report something unknown to the three Military Supervisors.

Everyone instinctively sat down on the spot to rest and reorganize.

The weather was scorchingly hot, the sun unrelenting!

And the stomach, having eaten so little, was utterly devoid of sustenance, suffering immensely.

In contrast, the three little ones around Xiang Ying were plump, fair, and sprightly.

Even Tao Xue didn't have a dusty face, appearing clean and unlike someone being exiled.

During the Exile Team's rest, Xiang Ying took out a lot of beef jerky.

Tender, chewy, with a five-spice flavor, biting into it was both satisfying and delicious!

Seeing them enjoying their food, Seventh Princess couldn't help but come over and ask, "Elder sister, did you buy this in the city?"

"Yes," Xiang Ying replied generously, handing her two strips of jerky, "Would you like to try?"

Seventh Princess originally felt too embarrassed to ask directly and was afraid that Xiang Ying would refuse, but being offered so readily, she accepted it with surprise and delight.

"Thank you, elder sister!"

Several others with kind faces came over to ask, and Xiang Ying shared with them, though not in large amounts.

Hearing their voices full of gratitude towards Xiang Ying, the group with Xiang Qianqian not far away felt a sour twinge in their hearts and clenched their teeth in displeasure.

Yet, they stubbornly couldn't lower themselves to ask for any.

The Exile Team stopped for a long time, causing Xiang Ying to look around in impatience.

"What's happened? Why have we been waiting so long without moving?"

"Another group of the Exile Team was caught in an earthquake, suffered severe losses, and now some of their Military Supervisors want to merge a portion of them with us."

Out of nowhere, Scar Face's voice came from behind.

Xiang Ying turned around to see him, holding out his water flask to her.

Seeing Xiang Ying not taking it, Scar Face coughed uncomfortably and explained, "This is some spare clean water of mine, do you want it?"

Xiang Ying shook her head: "You drink it yourself, we have plenty."

Rejected, Scar Face didn't say much else, only uttered an embarrassed grunt and pretended to be busy as he walked away.

Tao Xue couldn't help but say, "This Scar Master, when he speaks nicely, it's so strange that it makes a servant feel uncomfortable."

"From now on, no matter what he gives, we won't accept," Xiang Ying instructed.

Another thirty minutes passed.

A group of criminals, escorted by about twenty people, were brought over and merged with their large contingent.

Most of them were still women, but this time they were the families of military generals.

Suddenly, Xiang Xiuxiu pointed to one person among those who had just joined the Exile Team.

"Mother, why is that person not wearing clothes?"

Xiang Ying looked up and her pupils immediately constricted.

Among the exiled crowd, several women were barely clothed.

Their vacant eyes and the marks on their bodies made it clear they had suffered through some sort of hellish torment.

This group was obviously much more brutalized.

Xiang Ying immediately had Tao Xue cover the children's eyes.

She saw a girl lying stiffly on a wooden cart, indistinguishable between life and death, her clothes torn badly.

The sight was unbearable, Yu Pin and the others felt embarrassed and averted their gaze.

Xiang Ying took the cloak Tao Xue had just taken off and gently covered the girl with it.

Unexpectedly, this gesture angered the team leader on the other side.

"What are you doing? Mind your own business!" He lashed out with his whip, intending to hit Xiang Ying on the head.

However, he didn't expect Xiang Ying to grab it directly, and after he tugged it twice, he found he wasn't as strong as her.

Her Phoenix Eyes sharp, she warned, "I'm just giving her a cloak. You'd best not object."

"Wretch, you're looking for death!"

Soldiers from behind the team leader rushed forward to take action, but Scar Face and his people on our side charged up resolutely.

The two groups collided and a standoff ensued.

Scar Face roared, "Our Military Supervisors haven't said a word, who do you think you are!"