RWNEFE -Chapter 133 Three Aunts Fawn Over Me!

The dirt road, soaked from rain, was slippery. From time to time, prisoners would trip and fall. The yamen officers didn’t care—anyone who lagged behind was whipped immediately.

“Let’s wait until the ground hardens before moving!” The handover of prisoners wasn’t due yet, so there was no need to rush.

Unconsciously, Shen Lanxi had become the leader of the group. Whatever she said, no one argued.

Small tasks didn’t need her instruction; everyone knew their roles.

They had enough food and water, but dry firewood was scarce. Without it, they couldn’t even cook a proper meal.

Lighting the wet wood produced thick black smoke, so Shen Lanxi moved a little distance away.

She planned to climb to a high point to survey the area when Nu Bai suddenly warned her:

“Master, there are two women in the cave.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered. She instructed the women from Liu-Zhao Village to go check.

Soon, cries of shock, pleas for help, and curses came back.

“Bastards, those sons of bitches… they’re not human…”

Some of their group were frightened, some thoughtful, but all stared toward the cave.

Zhang Niu was quickly called in.

From her vantage point, Shen Lanxi saw that the two exiled convoys had met and were traveling together toward Dongchuan.

Liu Laohu returned, face black with anger, reporting, “Master, both women were violated and mutilated—they even had an ear cut off. Doctor Zhang says it’s uncertain if they’ll survive!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes hardened like ice. “Do everything to save them. Get whatever medicine you need from Chunxue and Qiushuang.”

“Yes!”

The exiled prisoners might have committed serious crimes, but the court had already judged them. That didn’t justify the officers’ crimes against these women!

The officers’ lives could be taken later, but not now.

The cave was damp and unsuitable for recovery. After cleaning the women and making them dry, the Liu-Zhao Village women moved them onto their carriage to make room for treatment.

When the two women were carried out, everyone saw them. All day, no one spoke a word.

One woman didn’t survive and passed away in the middle of the night. The other was still in a critical state, but by the fourth day, her fever subsided, and she was temporarily out of danger.

Good news: the ground gradually dried. Bad news: the temperature continued dropping.

By the seventh day, the wind was piercing, and the ground had frozen.

“The frozen ground actually makes it easier to walk!”

“Easier? It’s snowing!”

The prisoners quickly finished breakfast. On Shen Lanxi’s command, they set off.

Earlier, a few snowflakes had fallen lightly, but today wind and snow arrived together. The stronger the wind blew, the heavier the snow fell.

After half an hour on fast horses, Chunxue gasped, covering her mouth as she looked at the roadside.

“Master, those are the previous exiled prisoners!” They were lying at the edge of the road, bodies frozen stiff.

Others saw as well. The exiled convoy grew even more silent.

At noon, Madam Liu, Madam Miao, and Madam Tian came together.

“Lanxi, the weather is getting colder by the day. We thought of you—since you never did women’s work at home, we made some warm socks for you to change into!” Madam Liu handed two pairs to Shen Lanxi, but halfway through, she spun her hands and gave them to Chunxue instead.

Madam Miao and Madam Tian quickly followed suit.

“We also sent some to your mother’s household, don’t worry about them!” Madam Liu smiled, fawning.

Madam Miao suddenly exclaimed, “How forgetful of me! I also made a pair of gloves for Lanxi.” She laughed and, like before, handed them to Chunxue.

Madam Liu’s face darkened. She was furious—before coming, they had agreed to make two pairs of socks each. Why did the third household suddenly give theirs to someone else? Did it make them look stingy while she alone appeared generous?

Madam Tian curled her lips, thinking disdainfully: I knew someone wouldn’t behave!

“I also remembered—I made a pair of embroidered shoes for Lanxi. Boots are convenient for walking, but after long periods, feet get stuffy. These shoes are for her to wear inside the carriage,” Madam Tian said, acting considerate and caring.

Madam Liu’s head almost exploded. So she alone had obediently made only socks, while the other two sisters-in-law, clever as monkeys, had prepared extra items.

Hmph. She wouldn’t bother consulting them again in the future.

Shen Lanxi smiled at the suddenly attentive three aunts. “You three are kind. I see your hearts and will remember your intentions.”

Madam Liu, annoyed at Madam Tian and Madam Miao, dared not show it in front of Shen Lanxi, so she quickly smiled and acted concerned alongside the other two.

“Lanxi, you’ve taken care of everything on this journey. We have nothing else to thank you with, so we could only sew you clothes and shoes by hand. Don’t mind our clumsiness!” Madam Liu said.

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly, “I wouldn’t. How could I disdain what you three made by hand? If I weren’t so clumsy myself, it would have been my duty to prepare these for you!”

Hearing this, the three women relaxed slightly.

“If you like, we’ll make things for you often!” Madam Tian interjected.

“I’m skilled at sewing clothes. Next time, I’ll make you a warm cloak!” Madam Miao added.

Shen Lanxi accepted their gestures calmly. Seeing that there was nothing more to say, and with Chunxue bringing food, the three women quickly found an excuse to leave.

After finishing their assigned tasks, Shen Yuanjing and the others went to practice martial arts with Wei Dongzhu.

Chunxue asked for guidance, “Master, should we still give them cakes?”

Shen Lanxi said, “If they ask, give it. If not, ignore it.”

Chunxue nodded, murmuring curiously, “Young Master Yuanxin didn’t practice martial arts much before. Now it’s snowing, and he’s still training? Didn’t Aunt Zhang stop him?”

Shen Lanxi lowered her head to eat.

In this weather, the wind cooled the food quickly; if they waited too long, it would even freeze.

Along the road, they came across another prisoner’s corpse. The wind and snow worsened, with frequent stops. Finally, as night fell, they reached a village.

Liu Yanhui went ahead to negotiate and soon rented several houses in the village.

The group was finally settled.

“Liu Yanhui, come here!” Shen Lanxi called him after he finished his tasks.

Wei Dongzhu glanced at the two, his expression dark.

“Master, what is it?”

Shen Lanxi whistled sharply before telling Liu Yanhui, “Rent a few more rooms, pay extra, and make sure everything is comfortable!”

At first, Liu Yanhui thought she was calling Xiaoxue, but he realized she was calling someone else.

In the blink of an eye, twenty female guards from Peach Blossom Valley and disciples from Guigu arrived in front of Shen Lanxi.

Liu Yanhui widened his eyes in surprise. So the Shen family had backup!

“Follow him. We can’t stay warm inside while letting you sleep outside!” Shen Lanxi said seriously.

The female guards and Guigu disciples nodded and followed Liu Yanhui.

Half an hour later, Liu Yanhui returned to report, “They suggested themselves to stay at the front and back of the village!” Could they be Shen family-trained death disciples?