RWNEFE -Chapter 23 Something’s Wrong!

Half an hour later, Shen Lanxi ran into Qiushuang at the inn’s entrance. On their way back, they bought some food before heading to the city gate.

Liu Laohu had already returned and was anxiously crouching at the gate, munching on biscuits with other constables.

Following Shen Lanxi’s signal, Chunxue delivered a bundle of food. On her return, she brought news that Liu Laohu had shared.

“Master, Yongcheng’s county authorities are not allowing exiles into the city!”

Shen Lanxi listened while eating a bun. In the capital, a meat bun like hers cost only four wen each. In Yongcheng, it was already selling for twenty wen—and the price seemed set to rise!

Qiushuang said, “When we first arrived, the entry fee was one to two taels per person. Now it’s risen to two taels!”

Shen Lanxi carefully ate the crumbs from her hands. In the past, exiles had never been forbidden from entering cities!

Before she could finish, Liu Laohu came looking for her.

“Master Lan, Yongcheng doesn’t allow ordinary people in. You look like a scholar, cleverer than us rough men. I want to hear your idea on how to handle this!”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Since Brother Liu asks, I’ll be bold and share my thoughts.”

Liu Laohu’s expression relaxed slightly.

“I suggest we take advantage of the fact that there aren’t many refugees at the gate yet. Prepare what we need for the road, and depart immediately!”

Where to go afterward would be Liu Laohu’s responsibility.

As he came to speak with Shen Lanxi, he had already formed a plan. Yongcheng’s refusal to admit exiles made it clear they didn’t want them. With more and more refugees at the gate, conflicts could easily arise!

And if that happened, people like them in official attire would be the first targets of the refugees’ anger.

Just as Liu Laohu was about to make a decision, a few refugees suddenly appeared, kneeling before them to beg for food.

“Kind sirs, please give us a bite of food and a sip of water!”

“Our elders and children haven’t eaten for two days…”

Though they were kneeling, their eyes never left the carriages. Their gaze implied that if ignored, they might rush forward and snatch the goods!

Liu Laohu acted instantly, drawing his saber.

“If you don’t want to die, get lost! I’m escorting prisoners. Anyone who comes at us is trying to rob the captives, and the authorities will come after you!”

With his hulking, imposing figure, the refugees immediately ran in fear.

“I’ll order men to buy supplies in the city. Once done, we depart immediately!”

Shen Lanxi nodded, signaled her family, and led three carriages to a nearby spot to wait.

After nearly half an hour, Liu Laohu returned, and the exiles began to depart.

“Master, they only bought a few bags of grain!” Qiushuang noted sharply.

Shen Lanxi said, “Grain prices in the city have skyrocketed. A few bags is already very good.”

Qiushuang nodded.

Soon after leaving, Liu Laohu sent word that some female family members and two children had high fevers.

He started being cordial, trying to curry favor with her.

The ones with fever were Father Shen’s concubine Zhang Zifen, and the children of the second and fourth uncles, aged three and four.

“Father, last time Mother had a fever, I didn’t bring her. This time the concubine has a fever, I won’t either. Only the two children will come along.”

Shen Congwen glanced at the exiles eyeing them hungrily and nodded.

“Go. If there’s extra medicine, distribute it to the other exiles as well.”

Shen Lanxi nodded and had Qiushuang take Nanny Li and others to distribute fever medicine to each prisoner.

At first, the prisoners were resentful, but after taking the medicine, they didn’t speak further. The other three Shen family branches also kept quiet.

To avoid possible contagion from the two children, Shen Lanxi had Qiushuang place them separately in the carriage. Using the pretext of caring for them, she administered some anti-inflammatory medicine.

Inside the carriage, she emptied rouge and powders bought in Yongcheng, added modern dark foundation, and taught Qiushuang and Chunxue to blacken their faces. Shen Lanxi also darkened her own face and used an eyebrow pencil to dot freckles across her face.

The further north they went, the more refugees appeared. Green vegetation became scarce, and along the road, they even encountered several mutilated corpses.

Initially, the exiles cried in fear, but gradually their expressions dulled. Seeing corpses became like seeing dead cats or dogs—no trace of grief remained.

This transformation took only two days.

On the third day, the food and water Liu Laohu brought were running out. Fortunately, just as he was about to ask Shen Lanxi for help, they reached a relay station.

“What is this? Charging us money? We are constables escorting prisoners!” Liu Laohu shouted, slamming his hand on the counter.

The innkeeper nearly collapsed in fear, pleading, “We have no choice. Food prices have soared, even water costs money, and the court hasn’t paid us for last month.”

Seeing the innkeeper so terrified, Liu Laohu became even more aggressive.

“Get lost! Serve us quickly so we can continue. If you delay us, I’ll report you and have you removed!”

The innkeeper hurriedly complied, sending the servants to prepare meals.

Shen Lanxi glanced at the innkeeper and the servants, then called Liu Laohu outside to speak.

“Something’s wrong.”

Liu Laohu, who already trusted Shen Lanxi deeply, immediately became alert.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “The innkeeper and the servants’ clothes don’t fit properly, and their skin is far too dark.”

They spent most of their time indoors; their skin shouldn’t be that tanned. They were thin, like refugees traveling from the north, exposed to the sun along the way.

Liu Laohu’s eyes flashed with deadly intent. “Damn it! They dare plot against me—I’ll kill them!”

Shen Lanxi quickly grabbed him. “A relay station should have at least six people. With only the two of them, you can’t handle all six!”

Liu Laohu realized: “You’re saying there are more?”

Shen Lanxi: “I’ll stay here to keep the innkeeper and servants under control. You take the constables and sneak in from the back.”

Liu Laohu nodded, loudly shouting toward the innkeeper: “I’m going out to check the prisoners. We’ll eat when I get back!” Once outside, he immediately guided half the constables to quietly circle around to the back of the inn.

Shen Lanxi stepped forward toward the innkeeper.

“Boss, we need four of your best rooms. Also, your finest wine and dishes. What do you have? Does your cook make clean meals…”

Liu Laohu, having climbed over the wall with the constables, saw the courtyard full of people, weapons in hand, glaring at the inn—ready to rush in at any moment! He quickly retreated and covered the mouths of the constables who wanted to speak, rushing to get help.

Damn it—a whole courtyard of people, all armed, staring down the inn, planning to strike at any moment!