RWNEFE -Chapter 20 When Has Your Daughter Ever Been Treated This Unfairly!

Shen Lanxi shook the stick in her hand; streaks of blood crisscrossed over it, shocking and horrifying to behold.

Liu Laohu’s brows jumped violently. This wasn’t a refined young master—this was a living, breathing king of death!

“I just went into the mountains and killed two chickens. Liu, why are you here?” she said, tossing the items in her left hand to the ground.

Sure enough, there were two wild pheasants.

Even Liu Laohu, no fool, didn’t believe that the blood on her stick came from killing chickens. His brows twitched again, and he hurriedly bowed with his fists pressed together.

“There’s been a night raid. I came to check the situation. Master, are you alright?”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “I’m fine. We’ve been traveling nonstop for the past few days, and I was feeling a bit weak. I thought I’d go into the mountains and catch a couple of chickens to stew and replenish my strength.”

Liu Laohu’s mouth twitched violently. If he had heard correctly, the one claiming to be weak just swung that heavy stick with a whoosh, as if playing with it. That stick must weigh at least twenty to thirty jin, and she swung it like it was a toy. Anyone else would feel weak—except her!

“Master, you rest well. I’ll scout the surroundings!” Liu Laohu respectfully stepped back two paces before turning. If he didn’t leave, he feared the twitching at the corners of his mouth would betray him.

Chunxue: “I’ll fetch water!”

Qiushuang: “I’ll drive the carriage over!”

Shen Lanxi gave a soft hum, pretending to pull a handkerchief from her sleeve, but in truth she pulled a piece of burlap from her space to wipe the blood from her stick.

The blood was left intentionally, meant to intimidate Liu Laohu and the other constables.

The carriages and ox carts were returned to their original positions. Chunxue brought a basin of water for Shen Lanxi to wash her hands, while Nanny Li and her family went to prepare the chickens.

The long stick, buried a third into the ground, stood beside Shen Lanxi. The two maids didn’t dare even glance at it and busied themselves with chores.

The firelight reflected on Shen Lanxi’s calm, unreadable face, emphasizing her depth. Chunxue and Qiushuang once again realized how formidable their mistress truly was and served her with even more reverence.

The aroma of chicken soup spread. Shen Lanxi stood.

“I’m tired. Eat the chicken and soup yourselves. Guard the carriages and don’t disturb me while I rest!”

Qiushuang hurriedly asked, “Master, what about that dead fake Wei Army family member?”

Shen Lanxi: “There are wolves in the mountains. Throw him somewhere far away. People who try to kill others don’t need their bodies preserved.”

Qiushuang hurried to obey.

Shen Lanxi entered the carriage and waited two seconds to make sure no one would disturb her, then immediately went into her space to wash up.

Even though the fight hadn’t stained her body with blood, it had left her sweating profusely.

Nanny Li didn’t dare disturb her, quietly asking Qiushuang: “Should I bring some chicken soup to the master and mistress?”

Qiushuang shook her head firmly. “Miss didn’t say to deliver it, so we won’t!”

Nanny Li hesitated but nodded and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the aroma of the soup reached the exiled prisoners, and their stomachs began to growl.

Shen Conglian leaned to the old matriarch: “Father, Mother, when Lanxi brings soup over, have her send a few more buns.”

Grandmother Shen nodded. “Have her see if she can send some meat too.”

The sons around her nodded in satisfaction.

The main branch of the Shen family was eagerly anticipating as well.

“Father, will our eldest sister bring us soup?”

Shen Congwen looked worried. “These past two days, our family has been too conspicuous. When she sends soup, tell her it’s enough to send one meal a day—no need for every meal!”

Shen Yuantang’s stomach was already churning with hunger. Had she known she’d be so hungry so soon, she wouldn’t have pitied the young woman and shared the food.

“Father, that won’t do! If our eldest sister doesn’t bring us food, how can we survive?”

Shen Congwen’s expression darkened. “Haven’t you noticed that the other exiled prisoners have already started targeting our Shen family?”

One sentence silenced everyone.

“They’re jealous that no one brings them food!” Shen Yuanqing muttered.

Shen Congwen looked worried. “Tonight, has anyone been beaten?”

Shen Yuanjun instinctively held his stomach—he had been hit. Those despicable prisoners dared to strike him amid the chaos, while the constables all turned a blind eye.

“You’ve seen what happened today. If our Shen family wants to reach Dongchuan safely, we must act discreetly. Follow my instructions!”

Shen Yuantang glanced in the direction of his eldest sister. Even if they had to be discreet, tomorrow was the start. Tonight, at least, there would be meat soup to eat.

But the Shen family waited and waited, and even after the constables slept, the soup never arrived. They went to bed resentful and hungry.

The next day, Shen Lanxi personally brought food to the family.

“Father, Mother, I heard from Nanny Li yesterday that you were unwell. I couldn’t bear to worry, so I got up early and made some meat porridge for you. Please eat some.” She reached to feed her mother herself, but her father took the bowl.

“Lanxi, I know you care for us. But you saw what happened yesterday. Our Shen family must stay low-profile among the exiles. From now on, only one meal per day should be delivered, and try to remain in the carriage—don’t appear in public!”

Their daughter was their only support on the journey; she couldn’t be put at risk.

“Father, one meal a day… can you manage?” Shen Lanxi asked, eyes full of concern.

Shen Congwen recalled how the constables had harassed her while delivering food and felt his heart ache.

“If others can bear it, so can we. Your two younger half-brothers were beaten yesterday. Those exiled prisoners now hate our Shen family. If they see us living too well, they’ll make trouble in secret. You are filial, and we will endure some hardship now—once we reach the place of exile, it will be better.”

Zhou Xinrou’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her daughter. “Lanxi, have you ever been treated this unfairly before?” Seeing her daughter bow to the constables earlier, her heart ached endlessly.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes also reddened.

“Father, Mother, I know you’re doing this for the good of the whole Shen family. But what about Grandfather, Grandmother, and the uncles? What if they don’t want to suffer?”

Shen Congwen looked at his daughter with tenderness. “Don’t worry. This morning, I already explained it to them. During the sudden raid, no one in the family had hidden silver. At the city gate, no one dared see us off. From now on, their daily expenses…” In the past, these household matters were managed by the women of the family. Now, it was probably only the daughter who had money.

Shen Congwen couldn’t say the rest. He couldn’t tell her she was expected to support the entire Shen family—he didn’t have the heart!

“Lanxi, my daughter, you’ve had it so hard! If anyone dares to complain again, don’t send them more than one meal a day. Let them go hungry a few days—they’ll learn who truly cares for them and who doesn’t.”

In the past, he would never have said such words. Shen Lanxi nodded.

“I will follow Father’s instructions. From now on, let Nanny Li continue to deliver your meals.”

Shen Congwen wanted several times to ask how much silver his daughter still had, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.